The Westfield Athenaeum is hosting the first of two Community Forums tonight to gather input for the library’s strategic planning process.
The forum is set for 6:30 p.m. in the Athenaeum’s Lang Auditorium. A second form will be held Saturday, June 16, at 2 p.m. in the same location.
Athenaeum Director Christopher Lindquist said public input is crucial to the strategic plan.
“We want to know what it is that people want,” Lindquist said. “Do they want different hours, different kinds of programs? We want to be relative to the community,”
The Strategic Planning Committee, comprised of members of the Athenaeum board, staff and the community, created a survey, which can still be completed and turned in by June 16. Lindquist said 700 surveys have been completed to date. However, having feedback from people in person at the forums is important.
“We want to hear from past users, current users and people who have never used the Athenaeum to see what would make them want to come here,” Lindquist said.
The committee is working with the Massachusetts Library System, which uses the SOAR method of identifying Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results.
Lindquist said with the recent upgrades to the Athenaeum plaza on Elm Street and the construction at the Green coming to an end, now is the perfect time to spark interest in the Athenaeum.
“We are centrally located at the hub of the community,” he said. “We want to know how we can be part of that revitalization.”
Lindquist said one area the committee hopes to improve with public input is technology. The Athenaeum offers computers for public use and Lindquist said people often come in seeking assistance using their e-readers.
“Because of the nature of technology, libraries are changing so fast we have to constantly update our strategic plan,” said Lindquist.
The Westfield Athenaeum is unique, said Lindquist, because it is not a municipally run library. Lindquist said because of this, the community forums are especially important.
“It will be an awareness raising opportunity as well as getting feedback,” Lindquist said of the forums.
No registration is necessary to attend and refreshments will be served.
