Posted: Dec. 13, 2009

Muskego — With the new year will come a Muskego Library survey that will help the Library Board make crucial decisions on things like how far to go into technology databases versus how much it should stick to traditional print reference material.

The survey will be ready just after Jan. 1 and will be available on the library's Web site and in paper form at the library, W16663 Janesville Road.

The library can provide databases for reference and access, but it cannot invest strongly in technology and acquire paper resources with the same information, Library Director Jane Genzel said.

The survey should help library officials strike a balance between technology reference and paper reference sources, she said. But it will never be just one format or the other.

"It is so important not to deny anyone access to information because of the format," Genzel said.

Among the other questions she hopes the survey will help answer is how heavily to go into Playaway recorded books.

Playaways are electronic players about the size of a package of cigarettes. Each one holds an entire book and comes equipped with ear buds.

Because of the climate of scarce resources, it may come down to a choice between Playaways and books, she said.

"Many people prefer them to paper books," Genzel said.

But the people must be asked for their preferences, she said.

The survey will generally ask what people like, what they think works well at the library, what they do not like and what they would like to see in the future, she said.

"We are here to serve the community and want to verify what our community wants and needs," Genzel said.

The Library Board was to meet this week to develop the survey questions. Once the survey starts, responses will be accepted for at least two weeks.

The survey also will help library officials develop a long-range vision. Officials expect the city will grow to a population of 25,000 in the next several years, and they are looking at library guidelines for serving communities of that size.

Tom Hennen, director of the Waukesha County Federated Library System, will help local library officials develop a vision for the library. Hennen assists libraries all over the county with producing long-range plans.

 

- Jane Ford-Stewart