NEEDS ASSESSMENT RESULTS SEDLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCH 7 APRIL 2014

WHAT IS A NEEDS ASSESSMENT? A COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT GATHERS INFORMATION ABOUT A COMMUNITY’S OPINIONS, NEEDS, CHALLENGES AND ASSETS.

WHY ARE WE DOING A NEEDS ASSESSMENT? THE LIBRARY WILL USE INFORMATION FROM THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO HELP POSITION ITSELF TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

HOW DID WE DO THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT? COMPILE KNOWN INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMMUNITY (SEE BOOKLET) BOARD INPUT: COMMUNITY ASSETS COMMUNITY CHALLENGES LIST OF COMMUNITY LEADERS COMMUNITY LEADERS INTERVIEWS

WHAT DID WE FIND OUT? INCREASING POPULATION 2 DAYCARES PLAYSCHOOL 4 SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS GYM/HALL RINK QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER POST OFFICE DECREASING MEDIAN AGE (34.1) K-8 SCHOOL PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 RECREATION GROUPS 2 PLAYGROUNDS 2 CHURCHES 4 EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDERS

INTERVIEW STATS 10 INTERVIEWS RESPONDENTS WITH 5-65 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE COMMUNITY (MEAN AVERAGE OF 27 YEARS) SECTORS COVERED: MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY SERVICES BUSINESS COMMUNITY EDUCATION ARTS AND CULTURE SPORTS COMMUNITY FAITH COMMUNITY LOCAL VOLUNTEERS

WHAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE TO SEDLEY? CLOSE PROXIMITY TO REGINA (5) LOW COST OF LIVING, AFFORDABILITY (4) GOOD SCHOOL (4) SAFE, SMALL TOWN LIVING (4) FRIENDLY, NEIGHBOURLY, COMMUNITY MINDED (4) AMENITIES, FACILITIES, BUSINESSES (3) SEVERAL COMMUNITY GROUPS (1)

WHAT ARE SEDLEY’S CHALLENGES? COMMUTING TO REGINA: DISTANCE, “BURN OUT” OF RESIDENTS (6) THERE ARE NO CHALLENGES (3) LIMITED DAY CARE SERVICES (2) LACK OF VOLUNTEERS (2) DISLIKE OF CHANGE (1) NO SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION (1)

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT SEDLEY WHAT WOULD IT BE? INCREASED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (4) BUILD A MOVIE THEATRE (1) HOURS OF OPERATION FOR BUSINESSES (1) PAVED STREETS (1) MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDES AMONG RESIDENTS (1) WOULDN’T CHANGE ANYTHING (1) INCREASED DAYCARE (1) MORE FOR KIDS TO DO (1)

ACTIVITIES OF MOST INTEREST: ACTIVITIES AT THE RINK, ESPECIALLY HOCKEY, SKATING, CURLING (9) SENIOR CENTRE EVENTS EX. COFFEE, CRIBBAGE (3) SMALL GROUP COMMUNITY EVENTS EX. WOMEN’S SNOWMOBILING (3) SCHOOL EVENTS (2) BASEBALL (2) DANCE CLASSES IN FRANCIS (1) LIBRARY EVENTS (1) CHURCH EVENTS (1) CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES DESPITE DIFFICULTY FINDING VOLUNTEERS (1) PARK USE (1) BEING OUTDOORS IN SUMMER (1) TENNIS (1) UNSURE (1)

“HOT BUTTON” ISSUES: STREET PAVING, USE AND MAINTENANCE (4) RISING COST INFRASTRUCTURE EX. WATER, SEWER (3) GARBAGE PICK UP (2) DESIRE FOR MORE ECONOMIC GROWTH (2) LOCAL GOVERNMENT (2) RISING COST IN GYM HALL USE (1) PRIDE THAT VILLAGE HAS ALL THAT IT NEEDS (1) LOSS OF COMMUNITY GROUPS DUE TO VOLUNTEER BURN OUT (1) LACK OF GRANTS (1) DOGS – NOW RESOLVED? (1)

PERCEPTION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY: KEY TO THE COMMUNITY, LOVED, FULLY SUPPORTED, VALUABLE ASSET (8) UNDER UTILIZED, OVERLOOKED, NOT WELL USED (5) BUSY WHEN OPEN, WELL USED (3) NO COMPLAINTS, NOTHING NEGATIVE (3) NEEDS ADDITIONAL AND FLEXIBLE OPEN HOURS (2) PROGRAMMING EX. COFFEE, CHRISTMAS SHOPPING (2) A GOOD MEETING PLACE (1) HAD PROBLEMS EX. LIMITED BUDGET (1)

WHAT SHOULD SEDLEY BE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION? GROWTH, CONTINUAL GROWTH, THRIVING, MORE BUSINESSES, VIBRANT (8) SAFE, HELPING, SMALL TOWN ATMOSPHERE, FUN (5) PLACE FOR YOUNG FAMILIES (2) GET THE HIGH SCHOOL BACK (1) COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE OF FAMILY, EDUCATION, FAITH (1) FEELING OF HOME (1) KEEP IT THE SAME (1) GET A DAYCARE (1) SEE MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY (1) DESIRE FOR LIBRARY AND LITERACY (1)

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS? THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT TEAM IS “PASSING THE LEAD” TO YOU AT THIS TIME. PLEASE USE THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT INFORMATION FOR SOMETHING MEANINGFUL AND PRACTICAL AT THE LIBRARY. DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN (SEE SAMPLE).

ACTION PLAN CONSIDERATIONS CONSIDER: WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS, WHAT IT IS MISSING, WHAT IT WANTS TO BE. IS THE LIBRARY WORKING TOWARDS THE SAME GOALS? CONSIDER: COLLECTIONS? SERVICES? PROGRAMS? FACILITIES? FUTURE GOALS? WHATEVER YOU DECIDE PLEASE SEND A COPY OF YOUR ACTION PLAN TO HQ. THE ACTION PLAN IS THEN SHARED WITH YOUR MUNICIPALITY. A REVIEW OF THE ACTION PLAN OCCURS IN 3 YEARS.

FOLLOW UP JAMES AND KATE-LEE REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AND FOLLOW UP IF DESIRED! IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLES DEVELOPING AN ACTION PLAN, PLEASE CONTACT US AND WE WILL BE HAPPY TO FACILITATE A DISCUSSION, MAKE SUGGESTIONS, BOUNCE IDEAS, MEET WITH YOU AGAIN, ETC.