Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library SPACE NEEDS ASSESSMENT Prepared by Anders C. Dahlgren Library Planning Associates, Inc. Normal, IL April 4, 2008

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Goal of the study: To identify service and resource inventory goals to meet the needs of the community over the next generation To define the long-term space needs of the library To evaluate strategic planning considerations that emerge as a result of those findings Today’s goal: To share study findings To hear your reactions, concerns & questions

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Space needs assessment method Collection space Books Magazines Videos and audio recordings Electronic information resources (computers for public use) Reader seating space Staff work space Meeting / program space “Special use” space Nonassignable space

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Data was gathered from a variety of sources Library annual report data, tracking the library’s progress over time Comparative benchmark analyses, placing the library in the context of peer groups statewide, regionally, nationwide The library’s patron database Interviews conducted with the Board of Trustees Interviews with staff Key informant interviews conducted with numerous individual opinion leaders from the community Four group interviews with community representatives

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Data review – volumes held Increased from over 105,200 (1997) to over 145,400 (2006) An increase of 38.2% Average net increase: more than 3,900 volumes per year Average gross increase: over 3,900 volumes per year (high of 5,680 in 2002, low of 2,984 in 2005) In most years, the library registered a net growth in print holdings, but in four years withdrawals outpaced additions

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Data review – nonprint held Audio increased from over 2,800 to over 5,800 – an increase of about 100% Video increased from over 2,600 to over 4,600 – an increase of 76% In 1992 the library held 2.3 nonprint for every 100 print volumes held; by 2006 that ratio increased to 7.2 nonprint for every 100 print held

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Data review – circulation Stable during first part of last decade, then up & down Peak of 226,000+ in ,900+ transactions in 2006 (decrease of 23.5%) Ratio between adult and children’s circulation relatively constant Adult circ averages 70.4% of total Adult circ = 68% to 70% of total most years

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Existing data review key observations: Collection resources have generally expanded over the last ten years Nonprint holdings have increased at a rate 3x as fast as print holdings reflecting patron interest in and demands for new formats Traditional measures of use (such as circulation) show a mixed pattern from year to year, decline over time – cause uncertain Anecdotally, nontraditional measures of use (web hits, in-house patron computer use sessions) are increasing Balance among revenue sources and expenditures has been constant over time (“local” sources about 75% of total revenue, personnel costs about 69% of total expenditures, collection costs 15% of total)

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Comparative service benchmark findings – three peer groups Libraries in MS serving 50,000 to 100,000 population (n=13) Libraries in region serving 50,000 to 100,000 population (n=50) Libraries nationwide serving 50,000 to 100,000 population (n=538)

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Patron mapping – 50 or fewer uses / 200 or more uses

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Projected service population 77,911

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Recommended service and resource inventories Collections 190,000 volumes* (66 th percentile / national peers) 250 magazines (40 th percentile / national peers) 22,600 audiovisual items (75 th percentile / national peers) 100 computers for public use (95 th percentile / national peers) Seating – 200 reader seats Staffing – 37 stations Meeting / programming Auditorium to seat 250 Multi-purpose room for 150 Conference / board room for 16 Children’s storytime room for 50

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Recommended space need based on service and resource inventories

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Strategic planning issues – expansion strategies Build on Must integrate existing with new The site does not appear to be large enough to support full build-out Other limitations (multiple entries, poor vertical circulation, power dist) Build new Designed for optimum operational effectiveness Designed for ADA compliance Supports today’s power distribution, data transmission needs Minimizes disruption of interim / construction conditions Selection of a new site Disposition of the existing building Convert an existing structure

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Strategic planning issues – site selection Site size – about 4.8 acres needed exclusive of allowance for future expansion Building floorplate On-site parking ( cars) Landscaping / easements / set-backs Central location Cost / availability Visibility Adjacent uses / services Vehicular access / pedestrian access Topography / existing conditions Utilities Zoning

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Strategic planning issues – branch library services Reasons for developing branches Basic physical access Geographic barriers Political conditions Site constraints

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Strategic planning issues – branch library services Branch library deployment Statistics confirm the common-sense observation that larger libraries are more likely to deploy branches The larger the community, the more branches are likely to be deployed A population of ± 50,000 seems to be the no branch / branch tipping point For libraries serving 60,000 to 79,999 population, 36% have no branch and 64% have one or more (15% have one, 12% have two)

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Strategic planning issues – branch library services Access / drive-time studies Drive-time survey

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Strategic planning issues – branch library services SUMMARY There is some evidence that introducing branch libraries may be warranted There was some support for branch libraries voiced among key informant and group interviews, but not overwhelmingly so Confirm current accessibility by way of a formal drive-time survey THE BOTTOM LINE: the library’s need to address the space deficiency at the current library is greater than the imperative to expand services via branches; address those needs – ensure a strong foundation for service – before considering branch service

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Strategic planning issues – staging expansion Total project costs to pursue the full build-out may be too great Evaluate sites and make selection with the full build-out in mind Scale an initial phase to accommodate the library’s IMMEDIATE space needs + some room for growth: An optimum initial allocation would fall toward the middle of the difference between the library’s long-term and immediate space needs

Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library Space Needs Assessment Got questions?