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Greenwich Library Wants To Know What You Want

When Claudia Gibb moved from Switzerland to Greenwich last year, she said she was blown away by Greenwich Library’s main branch, from the selection to the resources. Now she and other Greenwich residents can have their say in the library’s future.

“I heard that they were planning to increase eBooks and Kindle selections,” said Gibb. “I think it’s great that they have both options, because books are important, but the Kindle is convenient.” She added she would suggest an expanded foreign language section, with more up-to-date titles.

The Greenwich Library is launching a new survey from May 20 to June 6 to gauge community opinions on how the library should move forward. The information will be gathered through the summer to develop a strategic plan that the library will use for the next five years at its three branches in Greenwich, Cos Cob and Byram.

“People in Greenwich love their library,” said Carol Mahoney, the library’s executive director. “But they need to assist us in deciding how to proceed and how we can allocate financial resources to meet their needs. It’s essential that we have this information to write the strategic plan because in the end it’s their library.”  

Starting next week residents can log onto the library’s website or pick up paper copies at each library location to take the 10-minute survey with questions about the catalog, technology, service and program use. A big portion is for non-users, said Mahoney, adding the library was using social networking to get the word out to those who don’t use the library often or at all.

Elizabeth Lee of New Jersey was checking out the fiction section during her first visit to the library’s main branch. “It’s one of the prettiest libraries I’ve ever been in,” she said. “They have lots of new books, more than you usually see in the library. The people in this town must want them, and the library clearly has money to put into buying them.”

While shelving books, Kari Fuscaldo, a resident who also works in the library, said patrons liked the extended hours when the library stayed open late during school exam season. “I hope it makes the library more aware of what the public wants,” she said.

For some library patrons, however, the Greenwich Library should stay as is. “I think it’s perfect,” Phyllis Andrews said while lounging in a chair and reading a newspaper. “I like everything — the help, the books, the CDs, the Friends of the Library concerts. I think it’s a gem.”

What changes, if any, would you like to see at the Greenwich Library? Comment below or send responses to ahelhoski@mainstreetconnect.us.

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