Survey: Park Ridge Public Library a major draw to Uptown

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Updated: February 13, 2012 8:24AM

Results of a Park Ridge Public Library survey completed by nearly 700 library patrons the past fall will be discussed in the coming months by members of the Library Board of Trustees.

The survey, answered in written form and online, polled library users on their reasons for coming to Uptown Park Ridge that day, their thoughts on library programs and services, their use of the library’s online catalog and whether they found the materials they were looking for during their last visit.

Library Executive Director Janet Van De Carr said one of the most “interesting” findings of the survey was that a majority of the respondents — 85 percent — named the library as the primary reason for coming to Uptown that day. They also indicated that they visit other Uptown businesses during their library trips.

The library will look at using the data to promote both the library and Uptown, Van De Carr said.

“A vital Uptown is important to us, as well, since we’re a major anchor in the Uptown area,” she said.

Fifty-three percent of respondents said they attend programs at the library while the remainder said they do not. Suggestions for future programming ran the gamut from more computer classes and a Swedish folk music concert to parenting seminars and an event to mark the release of the “Hunger Games” film.

Some patrons indicated, in some form, that they wanted Circulation Assistant Manager Matthew Hoffman to present another film series.

Nearly half of respondents said they visit the library on a weekly basis, and 24 percent visit “several times a week.” A majority of the respondents were female and the largest number of respondents were between the ages of 31 and 65.

The survey, offered every year since 1984, also indicated that 92 percent of patrons who browse materials are successful in finding what they are looking for, and 98 percent of in-library computer users are able to find the information they need, Van De Carr said.

The survey was conducted Oct. 11-17 and results were initially shared with the Library Board in December.

Van De Carr said library trustees will discuss the results of the survey during the next few months and look at how they may impact decisions about services the library provides.