Corbin Public Library seeks input

May 20, 2008 04:03 pm

— Click here to download a copy of the Corbin Public Library survey.

By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor
Need more parking? Want a greater book selection? Now’s the time to speak up — board members of the Corbin Public Library want to know what you think about their services in a new needs assessment survey.
“We’d just like to know from the public what they want of the library, what can we do to better serve them,” said board president Diane Mitchell.
Surveys can be picked up at the library on Roy Kidd Avenue, or can be downloaded from The Times-Tribune Web site at www.thetimestribune.com and e-mailed to the library at cplibrary@2geton.net.
Deadline to return surveys is May 23.
The survey asks participants to write down their opinions for hours of operation, materials available, programs offered, atmosphere, facility suggestions, or any other comments.
“We are trying to make improvements in the library all the way around,” Mitchell said. “We’re looking into the possibility of a new building and of course, that would come from funds that we don’t have.”
In the past year, the library has added several new programs — such as a digital camera class for seniors, video game contests for teens, a monthly book club and scrapbooking classes.
“The digital camera class has been full every time and we have a waiting list,” Mitchell said.
Library Director Brenda Huff said another popular program was the tax stimulus rebate package, which helped seniors understand how to file for their rebates.
Mitchell and the other library board members already have a good idea what one comment will be from the public — the library’s 10 public parking spaces hardly accomodate larger gatherings.
“We need parking, and the only way we can have additional parking is to go to a new facility somewhere,” Mitchell said. “That will entail money and we don’t know how we can get it at this point.”
The library is funded by a 25-percent share from the Whitley County Library Tax and an annual contribution from the city of Corbin. The library’s projected annual budget for this fiscal year is $171,000.
“We realize the necessity of it (a new building), and we’re looking,” Mitchell said.
Huff said aside from parking, a common request she hears is for a “teen” area of the library.
“Probably the secondary problem we deal with is not having an area for teens,” Huff said. “If we had a larger facility, one goal would be to separate the computers that the teens use and the adults use, because one group tends to be a little louder than the other.”