Omaha Public Libraries conducts survey
On Feb. 15, the Omaha Public Libraries announced a survey asking for the public’s input on changes they wished to see at their local neighborhood branch that will better accommodate their needs and their community for a better environment.
The completion date for the survey is scheduled for May 1. The survey will then be evaluated and a determination will be made for the 2023 Library Facilities Plan. The survey’s main goals, are to get community feedback, as well as to ask people in the Douglas county area what specific areas they want to see improved or developed upon. Marketing and Media Relations Manager Emily Getzschman commented on the survey contents and subjects requesting data input.
“Libraries are always changing and evolving over time, and the way people use them change over time as well. We can’t accommodate to the needs of people unless we ask them, in this case a survey,” Getzschman said.
The primary purpose of a public library is to provide services and resources in a variety of different content to meet the needs of individuals and groups for information, education, and personal development including both leisure and recreation.
As libraries and spaces that help people achieve personal goals and evolve over time, frequent library user CHS English Teacher Tracey Menten commented with her opinion on the survey. “I want the focus to remain on literacy and whatever that looks like. I think that reading is really important, and I would hate to see books, both digital and copies get moved around,” Menten said.
With the 3,000 surveys already turned in, many may choose a space that differs drastically from another. Some may have picked a business and career center that can help them reach their goals, while another may have just picked a polite reading nook to read on their own time.
“We have one budget for all of our 12 locations. So basically whatever the needs are it’s allocated across the system. It’s really just dependent on the needs of each branch,” Getzschman said.
To find and respond to the survey, you can visit cityofomaha.org, and oplsurvey.org.
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