Community Needs AnalysisCommunity Needs AnalysisGolden, ColoradoGolden, Colorado

2006 Golden Community 2006 Golden Community SnapshotSnapshot Total Golden Area (estimates) - 6, 000 acres, 9.7 sq. miles

Total Jefferson County Area – 495,000 acres, 653 sq. miles

Population – 17,458

Age Composition 2000 Under 5 - 977 5 – 14 1,850 15 – 19 1,664 20 - 24 1,899 25 - 44 5,732 45 - 54 2,383 55 - 59 772 Over 60 2,582

Average Annual Wage - $51, 601

Households – Family households – 56.9%, with children under 18 – 26.4%Female housholder – 8.8%, with children under 18 – 5.5%

Education of those over 25 (10,706)28.3% with a bachelor’s degree and 18.0% with a graduate degree or higher

(Sources are the City of Golden and US. Census Beaurau.)

Another kind of Community SnapshotAnother kind of Community Snapshot

What What isis the role of the the role of the library?library?

To meet information needs – real needs vs. perceived needs

To be a community center

To meet information needs -- in a rapidly changing society.

To organize, transfer, and deliver needed information resources (even the first Sumerian temple libraries in about 3,000 BC)

To manage collection development – print, media, electronic

To adapt to change, i.e. increasingly digital –

provide technological mechanisms for information access

[ Information needs include leisure reading/viewing/listening.]

To be a community center

1997 Article - Providing Social Interaction in the Digital Library

Provide mechanisms for social exchange and interaction within our systems.

Research shows that the more assets are connected and mobilized, the stronger a community becomes.

Libraries help build knowledgeable, connected communities.

Libraries are repositioning themselves not only as community resources but community gathering places.(Pam Sandlian Smith, just named the Colorado Librarian of the Year)

There is no limit to the role local branch libraries can play in building vibrant communities. (Urban Libraries Council,

Chicago Stories of Community Building)

Libraries are catalysts for building social capital . . . In a community with strong social capital, crime decreases for all residents, economic activity increases, and schools improve. (Putnam and Felstein, an examination of the Chicago Public Library’s successful strategies for community development).

Libraries are here to support having an educated community. (Head Children’s Librarian in small metropolitan town)

What is a Community Needs What is a Community Needs Analysis? Analysis? It’s in the dIt’s in the details.etails.

Follows the Path of a Follows the Path of a Diagnostic CycleDiagnostic Cycle“The role of any [service] professional, e.g., physician . . .

financial planner, is that of diagnosing needs, prescribing a service. . . Implementing. . . And evaluating the outcome . . .”

Greer, Grover, and Fowler 2007

Diagnosis/Analysis

Prescription/Recommendation

Treatment/Implementation

Evaluation

CNA – Four Parts for Systematic CNA – Four Parts for Systematic AnalysisAnalysisLifestylesAgenciesGroupsIndividuals

Each has gifts and strengths. Each has unique assets.

1st Component:

Lifestyle: the culture of a community

History Values Customs Traditions Topography and climate Leisure activities Other attributes

LifestyleLifestyle includes Local includes Local History.History.

What are the implications of What are the implications of Lifestyle findings?Lifestyle findings?

One Example:Analysis: Strong interest – Environment,

Natural ResourcesImplications: Partner w/ Jeffco Open Space,

invite nature speakers, movie night – watch March of the Penguins and discuss, carry trailguide books.

Agencies are the institutions and businesses. They are the public, private, and non-profit institutions.Agencies are not always large.

A Church in GoldenA Church in Golden

. . . but sometimes they . . . but sometimes they are. are. Photo below of Coors Photo below of Coors

BreweryBrewery

Examples of Agencies Examples of Agencies ((public, private, and public, private, and

non-profitnon-profit))

Implications – Implications – Small Business Small Business Development serviceDevelopment service

“Most small businesses are micro-enterprises with fewer than five employees. They don’t have the resources to pay for outside research or marketing services. Getting the right information can make a critical difference to their survival and success. The public library can provide the information these small businesses need.”-

(Christine Hamilton-Pennell, CAL Conference 2009)

Small businesses generally employ about 60% of the members of a community.

Libraries can provide data on potential customers, marketing strategies, and core completitors.

GroupsGroups share common share common interests.interests.

Examples of Groups (Examples of Groups (organizations, clubs, & organizations, clubs, &

associations)associations)

Individuals Individuals guide library guide library planningplanningDefinition: single human with an individual

consciousness

(the Free Dictionary)

How to Obtain Data: Census report, library registration records, conversation, clubs.

2 surveys

Personal interviews – non-probability, purposive sampling

Implications – Implications – local musician Jana Johnslocal musician Jana Johns

Parting Snapshot of Golden.

Golden at night.

Successful community building involves discovering and mobilizing layers of assets already present in every community.

A Community Needs Analysis provides critical information for a library in order to decide how and where to engage in the fabric of community life.

The public library is a place of educational empowerment . . and a community pillar.

There is no limit to the role local branch libraries can play in building vibrant communities.

Personnel NeedsPersonnel NeedsPart Time - Project Coordinator – Recommend use

of a consultant experienced with this procedure.Volunteer CoordinatorProject Teams – 2 People Each (26 people)

Staff + Volunteers + InternInformal observations group 1Survey 1 teamMap study teamSurvey 2 teamInterview teams – 8 teams of 2 each. 16

peopleInformal observations group 2Intern

Budget

Expenditure CategoryBudget Request

Pre-Existing Adopted Budget

Item

Total Budget Request

Salaries     Consultant Fee (85 hours) 2,000 2,000Volunteer Coordinator/Trainer Yes

Library Staff Hours   Yes Operating Expenses     Computers and Software 100   100Education and Training YesOperating Supplies YesPaper Supplies 100   100Postage 100 100Printing – Outside 150 150Programming Supplies 275 275 for early response to CNA resultsTelephone YesTravel and mileage reimbursement 300   300      Total Expenses 3,025 3,025

Projected Timeline – February 2011 – December 2011 Projected Timeline – February 2011 – December 2011

(to be redesigned as six month plan) (Each Group (in green) comprised of 2 people, unless otherwise

noted.)

February Workshop for library staff, volunteers Implement Intuitions and Impressions Intuition box - Each staff member asked to add an intuition

card monthly. Cumulative cards discussed at Staff Meetings. Informal Observations Group 1: Walk-around/Drive-around. Complete “Intuitions/Impressions” Observation - decorated box Members of this group have 3 months to take off 1 day as comp

time. Must request it 2 weeks in advance.)

 

March Intern begins analysis of census data Survey 1 Group - Develop 1st customer survey Lifestyle Group – Begin Lifestyle study – gather data Map Study Group - Conduct map study.

 

April -

Intern continues analysis of census data Survey 1 Group - First customer survey implemented in library for 2 weeks (Incentives for

patrons to fill it out) Summarize/Analyze results of Survey 1 Lifestyle (CARI) Group – Do Lifestyle study – compile results into report

Map Study Group - Map study results displayed at library board m

 

May - Intern prepares Snapshot of City of Golden Survey 2 Group - Develop 2nd customer survey. Groups (CARI) Group - Do group study. (Use Roger’s Matrix, ncluded in

Methods. Revise it: Groups - informal groups, clubs = associations; organizations; Agencies -institutions; Local Economy. Transcribe matrix information onto Engaged Library Diagram for Existing Partner/Potential Partner. Sources for collecting data are to use yellow pages, newspapers, internet, other local newsletters/publications.

 

June -

Second customer survey Survey 2 Group - First customer survey implemented in library for 2 weeks (Incentives for patrons

to fill it out) Summarize/Analyze results of Survey 2

  July - Interview Partnering teams - Conduct interviews. Complete as

finished document by end of month. (Details [to include in Body of CAN proposal]: Staffed by 2 people per age group. (Need 12 people). (One staff member, 1

volunteer. Could also be two volunteers) 6 age groups – Childrens, Tweens, YA, Adult (25-44),

Adult (45-65), Older Adults (65+). 2 interviews per age group   August - Intern begins analysis of Interviews Appropriate interviews distributed to corresponding department

heads/specialty librarians. Each department head involves staff in informal review of interview data and recommendations based on results.

  September - Informal Observations Group 2: Walk-around/Drive-around. Complete “Intuitions/Impressions” Observation Report Form. (Members of this group have 3 months to take off 1 day as comp time. Must

request it 2 weeks in advance.) Completion of community data collection. Analysis and recommendations begun by age groups  

October –

Staff begins meetings series to plan/delegate assembly into binder/digital version of:

Snapshots Final Engaged Library toolkit charts Assemble binders with tabs for age groups, Individuals, Groups, Agencies,

Lifestyles. Interviews Recommendations

November –

Begin discussions for final recommendations/proposals in services/programs. Input/brainstorming by entire staff and volunteers. Then to administration for final decisions.

December –

Plan implementation/evaluation procedures.

ReferencesReferencesBabbie, E. (2007). The Practice of Social Research. 11th ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson

Learning, Inc.

City of Golden (n.a.). Retrieved September 12, 2010 from http://ci.golden.co.us/Page.asp?NavID=214

Golden, Colorado. (2000). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved September 12, 2010 from http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=golden&_cityTown=golden&_state=04000US08&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&show_2003_tab=&redirect=Y

Grover, R. J., Greer, R. C., & Agada, J. (2010).  Assessing information needs: Managing transformative library services. Denver, CO: Libraries Unlimited.

Inskip, C., Butterworth, R., & MacFarlane, A. (2007). A study of the information needs of the users of a folk music library and the implications for the design of a digital library system. Information Processing and Management, 44 (2), 647-662.

http://ci.golden.co.us/Page.asp?NavID=214