Curious about how many people are visiting the Durango Public Library? Rest assured, the library is “killing it” in attendance, as Library Director Luke Alvey-Henderson said.
During last week’s Durango City Council meeting, he said more than 20,000 people visit the library every month, and over 290,000 books are checked out annually. Library programs are averaging 42 members per program, and the library has increased its community outreach efforts by over 300% compared with 2022.
Because library usage is faring well, the library should pursue demographics of people who aren’t using or engaged with it at all, learning why that is, and implementing solutions, Alvey-Henderson said.
The library’s new strategic plan approved by City Council outlines just that.
It contains six major areas of focus:
- Collections and resources.
- Spaces and technologies.
- Customer service and marketing.
- Programming and outreach.
- Professional development and employee engagement.
- Future library funding.
The first section, collections and resources, lays out three steps to take to extend library services into new communities:
- Extend library resources to underserved and unserved communities.
- Improve access to collections (books and other media) to everyone.
- Assess and audit digital collections and their use “to ensure offerings are cost effective, relevant and of interest,” Alvey-Henderson said.
Alvey-Henderson said by working with the library’s existing nonprofit partners to identify underserved communities, the library can identify what it’s missing for those people and how that can be remedied.
In an email to The Durango Herald, he said on Friday one demographic he knows the library is struggling to reach is people who speak Spanish as a first language. He suspects there are several other demographics the library is missing, but the research hasn’t been done yet.
He said the library’s starting point to finding those demographics is the American Library Association’s definition of traditionally underserved populations:
“Including poor and homeless people, ethnically diverse people, older adults, adult new and non-readers, incarcerated people and ex-offenders, people with disabilities, LGBTQ populations, and rural and geographically isolated communities,” he said, citing the ALA.
The library will look at how such demographics currently use the library, awareness of the library’s services, needs and improvements, and solutions.
After assessment, the library can test new pilot projects, modify its media collection and increase resources where needed, he said at the meeting.
Although, it hasn’t yet been determined which demographic the library will look into first.
Alvey-Henderson said getting in touch with unserved residents will help the library understand their needs and to meet them.
For example, if access to the library for people with disabilities needs to be improved, the library would partner with that demographic, he said.
“We’re going to assess, improve, share and repeat,” he said.
The library is also taking a renewed interest in customer and employee feedback.
Alvey-Henderson said library survey responses grew by 45% from 204 responses in 2020 to 457 responses in 2022, but the reasons for it aren’t totally clear. Those responses provided some insight into what the library is doing right and what needs work.
A 2022 survey returned surprisingly positive results, where respondents indicated they are open to having a library district (and an attached mill levy).
At the time, Alvey-Henderson said the most favored use of a mill levy would be to extend nighttime and Sunday hours of operation, a sentiment he’s certain hasn’t changed by now.
Another goal for the library this year is to secure future funding to increase staffing capabilities, whether through a library district or other avenues, he said.
But other forms of feedback – online and written comments and desk interactions at the library – are largely anecdotal. The library currently does not have a process for storing that feedback. The library will work to implement one over the next three years, Alvey-Henderson said.
“Regardless of where that decision goes, we are dedicated in the next three years (to) looking at every possible avenue for sustainable funding for the library,” he said.
Durango City Council voted 5-0 to approve the 2023-2026 library strategic plan.
cburney@durangoherald.com
In a previous version of this story, incorrect information about library visits was provided to the Herald. The library actually receives over 20,000 visitors every month.
