The library board has a clearer understanding of how to move forward with its capital campaign for a new library.
The board sent out a survey about how and why residents voted on the new library bond issue after it failed in 2022. The board also asked what people wanted out of their library, if they use it and if it’s important to them.
Robert Heacock with ETC Institute presented the results. The board only expected about 100 residents to send surveys back, but received about 250 responses.
About 89% of respondents said they believe the library is important to the community, and 63% said they have used it in the last five years. Many were aware of services the library provides, with 79% aware of Feeding Eudora and 47% aware of the community resource navigator and guide.
About half of those who filled out the survey said the proposed library was too large and expensive, and 29% said they could not afford an increase in taxes.
“That sounds like a lot, but I will tell you in just about any survey you do, if you put a ballot issue in front of people, one-third of the people were going to vote against it, no matter what. You’re never gonna get over 70% approval on just about anything, so keep that in mind,” Heacock said.
Of those who responded, 85% had voted on the issue, but out of the people who did not vote, 45% of them said it was because they were not registered to vote and 18% said they needed more information.
The survey also asked residents what could have changed their mind if they voted no. About 30% said a smaller and less expensive proposed library and 59% said none of the above. Another 6% said they didn’t have enough information and 4% said the library needs a new feasibility study.
“To me, what you just showed us with the data really paints a pretty clear picture of where we need to go from here forward as we work on rejuvenating this process and moving forward,” Board President Kenny Massey said.
The survey also had a comments section, and Massey said the board needs to do a better job going forward of dispelling any confusion to make sure people know the plan.
“I think we need to do a much better job of letting those that question where we are, where we want to go, know that the land across the street was purchased and paid for in cash several years ago,” Massey said. “It’s been paid for, and hopefully that will eliminate some of the discussion we’ll go out and buy this high dollar commercial ground, which is never going to put a library in there anyway.”
Library Director Carol Wohlford said the last bond’s failure could be attributed to many factors, some of which were out of their control. The board and staff were not able to get out and tell their story enough due to the pandemic, she said. They couldn’t show people the library, hold town halls or knock on doors as much as they wanted to.
“We couldn’t have people come in to see the library and show them really how crowded we were,” she said.
In other business, the library will be a location for parents to pick up Narcan if they have children in the home struggling with drug abuse, Wohlford said. Fire Chief Mindy Andrasevits proposed the library be the third location besides the Community Center and fire department, she said.
The library also had some donations come in to the honor of Kurt Von Achen that will go into the capital campaign fund.
The next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17.
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected].
