A Community Study of Public Libraries in St. Petersburg, FL
Prepared by League of Women Voters of St. Petersburg Area Library Committee
INTRODUCTION
The League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area (LWVSPA) unanimously approved the convening of a library committee as a part of the program year. The LWVSPA library committee convened with the intention of determining the actions and advocacy necessary to strengthen St Petersburg public libraries as vital resource in the local community. Based on the mandate for libraries to be vital community resources, the committee decided to ground efforts in community analysis. As such, the committee conducted a study using research, surveys, and large group dialogue to engage a random sample of the community on their opinion on the current state of public libraries, their service usage, and suggestions for library improvements.
BACKGROUND
We are at important crossroads in the battle for the future of public libraries in St Petersburg. Over the past several years, the library budget has gone down from $6,114,425 to an adopted $5,846,968. The steady decrease of the public libraries budget indicates a concerning trend towards defunding which has eventually led to library closures in other municipalities like Duval county.
Despite the decrease in funding and decreased hours of operation, St. Petersburg library circulation has increased from 1,514,469 to estimated 1,592,442. More people are using the library services. While cities like St. Petersburg defund the library as a part of austerity measures, other cities understanding people use community services, like the library, more during economic slowdowns have invested in increasing library services. For example, Central Library in Bradenton offers special events for teens i.e. an annual comic book convention, classes in foreign language, and employment sessions focused around job hunting. Within Pinellas County, Largo Public Library has a café inside the library and Clearwater Main library has lots of special event including a Manga Book Club and Book Lovers Bistro, as they also have a café.
The choice becomes are we St. Petersburg as a community going to continue to allow the defunding of public libraries or to invest in our libraries becoming a community center, a “destination” for community events/activities, a learning center, a technology hub, social services, and a place for people to connect.
ST. PETERSBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM-Service Area
Seven branches compromise the St. Petersburg public library system: Main Library, James Weldon Johnson, Mirror Lake, North, South, West, and Child's Park. Every library, except Child's Park, has a Friends of Library committee “a nonprofit group whose purpose is to support the library through volunteerism, fund-raising activities, and sponsorship of programs and services.”
The seven branches cover a service area of 61.7 square miles and a population of 247,673 people. The city’s population is fairly evenly distributed 0-14 16.6%, 15-24 12%, 25-34 13%, 35-44 13.8%, 45-54 16.3%, 55-64 13.1%, and 15.2% were 65 years of age or older. The media income is $44,510 with 16.1% of population living below the poverty line. There are 27 elementary, 6 middle, and 4 high schools within the public library system’s service area.
ST. PETERSBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM-Current Services
Kids
Branches offer the following programs for children and their caretakers. The programs largely centered on reading with several tutoring forums. However, tutoring doesn’t happen on a daily basis only weekly at the several different branches. There is a definitely a lot of science, technology, games, and other interactive events.
Story time for multiple age groups: Humpy Dumpy for infants, Mother Goose (1-3yrs), Pre-school Story time (3-5yrs), After School Story time (6-12yrs), and Family Story time.
Knights of Square Table-Chess Club (both child and teen)
Afterschool homework assistance (elementary age) (once a week at several branches)
Arts Activities i.e. Kids Craft Corner and Library Lego Mania
NetzSmartz internet safety program for Kids and Teens
SPARK using story time to develop reading abilities
Tail Waggin Tutors practice reading to therapy dogs
Battle of the Books (both child and teen)
Teen
The library system has non-age specific programs, specifically the Knights of Square Table and Battle of Books, are open to teenagers but there are no events or programs that are teenage specific.
No teen only programs or events are planned
Adult
The adult programs are slightly more diverse with programs like the Contemporary Composers Chamber Concert, but are still mainly focused around reading, writing, sewing/knitting, and other programs geared towards an older population. Even the computer classes mostly focus around beginner and basic level software instruction.
Downton Abbey Tea and Trivia
Contemporary Composers Chamber Concert
Free Public Information Sessions i.e. Affordable Care Act
Book clubs i.e. Modern Classics and Real Deal Nonfiction
South Branch Yard Guild
Writer’s Clubs Meetups
NeedleCraft club
Computer classes (mostly beginner level) i.e. PowerPoint, basic email, and computer classes
Reading Buddies volunteer have kids practice their reading by reading to the volunteer
COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS AND FEEDBACK
Library User Survey Results
The LWVSPA library committee surveyed 302 library users over a three week period between hours of 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm. The surveys were administered in front of the Main Library, James Weldon Johnson, Mirror Like, North, and South branch libraries. Surveys were completed on a voluntary basis.
Which of the following services would you like to see expanded to better serve the needs of our growing community?
A) Quiet reading space 19.2%
B) Computer/Internet stations 28.1%
C) Community meeting space 15.9%
D) Book selection 34.1%
E) Children & Teen activities 16.2%
F) Audio-Visual material 9.3%
G) Meeting Space 19.2%
H) DVD/CD selection 24.2%
I) Program and Special Events 15.9%
Didn’t Answer (Left Blank) 7.3%
Surveyors were allowed to choose more than one response. The top services surveyors wanted to see expanded were Book Selection (34.1%), Computer/Internet Stations (28.1%), and DVD/CD Selection (24.2%). Also, meeting space listed twice: once as community meeting space and second as meeting space with a combined total of 35.1%. While having meeting space on their twice caused some level confusion, the response rate still indicates an interest in expansion of meeting space available to community. Lastly, in our committee meetings and in the knowledge café event there was lot of conversation about program and special events as a way to increase the vitality of libraries in the community. However, 15.9% of surveyors wanted to see program and special events increased (basically ranks it in 8th place out of the 9 possibilities).
How do you find out about what is happening at the library?
A) Someone I know 25.2%
B) Library 52%
C) Publications 10.6%
D) Library website 27.2%
Didn’t Answer (Left Blank) 5.3%
Surveyors were allowed to choose more than one response. 52% choose the library, while 27.2% choose the website. Since most people are getting the information from the library and the website, the library should ensure notices about events are placed prominently in entrance areas, as well as change the homepage layout to more easily display events, as well as expand web presence into social media vehicles.
Is a computer available when you need it?
A) Always 35.1%
B) Sometimes 41.1%
C) Rarely 6.6%
D) Never 3%
Didn’t Answer (Left Blank) 14.2%
76.2% of said computer always or sometimes availability, so it appears computer access is not a big issue with St. Pete public libraries. Please note these surveys were largely completed in the early (11am-1pm) and late afternoon (2pm-4pm) during the week.
How many times have you been to the library in the past 6 months?
A) Once 5.6%
B) Less than once a month 18.5%
C) 6-20 visits 41.7%
D) 20 or more visits 33.1%
Didn’t Answer (Left Blank) 1.1%
Roughly 75% of library users’ surveyed visit the library on average of at least once a month with 33% visiting on average of three times a month.
Do library hours (choose all that apply):
A) Meet Your Needs 57.9%
B) Need to Open Earlier 18.2%
C) Need to Close Later 18.2%
D) Need to Have More Weekend Hours 18.2%
Didn’t Answer (Left Blank) 1.3%
Surveyors were allowed to choose more than one response: While library hours are a continuous complaint among advocates, yet 57.9% felt library hours met their needs. Beyond that, there is equal demand for earlier, later, and weekend hours among library users.
What percentage of the city 199,800,000 million dollar budget do you think is spent on libraries?
A) Less than 1% 48%
B) 3% 29.1%
C) 5% 9.6%
D) 10% 7.6%
Didn’t Answer (Left Blank) 5.7%
The correct answer is 3%. Please go to next question for contextual explanation.
Would you be willing to pay more taxes than you currently do for library services to ensure that library services are maintained and improved?
A. Yes 73%
B. No 23.5%
Didn’t Answer (Left Blank) 3.5%
73% are willing to pay more taxes for library services to be maintained and improved. Given that 46.3% of surveyors think libraries account for 3% or more of the budget, the fact so many surveyors would pay more taxes speaks to the level of investment the community would like to see put into our public libraries.
In your opinion, which of the following community services is most beneficial to the community (rank from 1 (the highest) to 6 (lowest)):
Libraries ranked # 1 (67.2% of the answers); #2 (14.2%); #3 (6.6%); #4 (2.3%); #5 (2%); and #6 (1%) Didn’t Answer (Left Blank) 6.6%
Swimming Pools, Parks, Arenas, Libraries, Sports Fields, or Art galleries/museums
81.4% felt libraries were the most beneficial or second most beneficial community services when measured against swimming pools, parks, arena, sports fields, and art galleries/museums. Yet, as a community we invest more in the areas mentioned than we do in libraries.
Your age group:
A) 18 or under 2.3%
B) 18-29 16.2%
C) 30-39 14.9%
D) 40-49 14.9%
E) 50-59 18.2%
F) 60 or over 31.8%
Didn’t Answer (Left Blank) 1.7%
18-39 compromised 31.1%, 40-59 compromised 33.1%, and 60 or over comprised 31.2% of the age range for surveyed. Advocacy campaign should target all age groups as there is interest in libraries evenly dispersed among the ages. While these numbers make sense in a supporter context, they cannot be used for programmatic needs as being a surveyor does not reflect indirect or direct use of library services. For example, someone may be coming to the library for a child’s program and not for themselves.
Do you have access to the internet at home?
A) Yes 64.6%
B) No 31.8%
Didn’t Answer (Left Blank) 3.6%
31.8% do not have access to internet at home, which indicates a larger technological cap than originally expected.
FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY DIALOGUE
The LWSPA hosted a knowledge café conversation about St. Petersburg public libraries. We had 25 people in attendance and collected 42 books for our children’s book drive (books donated to weeRead Literacy Program which collected books at all public libraries to give kids in preschools and apartment complex books for Christmas).
Are libraries important cornerstones of the community or relics of the book age and why?
Majority of audience expressed libraries are relics because no longer gathering place for knowledge, have become a place for homeless population to spend time during the day, too book focused, no longer intimate, no longer centers for community/civic engagement, and for the most still function within book age structure and have not reinvented themselves with the times.
Also, felt libraries were once cornerstones of the community and should be, can be cornerstones again. The majority of the comments focused around suggestions how libraries could become cornerstones again:
Meeting Places, Community Hubs, Computers, Seed library/Food Sources, Children's Program, Renting E-
Books, Tech Classes, and Increased Study Space were most common responses.
What does a library look like in the digital age?
Starbucks mixed with our current understanding of libraries seemed to be an echoed sentiment as most people stressed comfortable chairs, intimacy, small spaces for people to gather, small reading, coffee/food, and study spaces. Additional, people thought there should be a learning institute dynamic to libraries with classes, programs for kids, and advanced learning opportunities. There was a strong focus on technology integration, specifically the integration of tablets, laptops, and smartphones. Lastly, a couple people suggested libraries have multiple floors, so you could have at least one floor for books. The overwhelming opinion libraries in the future are intimate spaces with multiple uses.
What are the biggest challenges facing public libraries and how do we (as a community) overcome the challenges?
Two biggest challenges expressed were lack of money and lack of advocacy. Ways to overcome as a community: we had a city wide Friends of Libraries in addition to each individual library having own committee that focused on overall library advocacy, projects engage community, have discussion on community values maybe as part of Peoples’ Budget Review, and libraries needed to communicate more about issues they are facing.
LWVSPA LIBRARY COMMITTEE STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS
Advocacy
Throughout the committee meetings and the knowledge café event, the need for advocacy repeatedly came up. There is a lack of awareness about the challenges libraries face and the possible services/programs libraries could offer to fill needs within the community.
The LWVSPA library committee’s recommendations are:
an advocacy campaign focused on an increase in the library’s budget on the city level.
a Friends of Libraries committee for the entire city system that focuses on advocacy and ways to generate revenue for the entire public library system.
the library system host a series of knowledge cafés, one at each branch, focused on getting community feedback on how and why they use the library, as well as additional programs/services they would like to see offered.
Action
The surveyors were asked about additional services/programs offered at the local public library. The most common requests are listed below. We have added recommendations of creative ways to implement the requests from the LWVSPA library committee.
Increase in Storytimes and Better Promotion of Storytimes
Host storytime in different languages
Add more story times on the weekends (destination for working parents)
Create an early literacy program and book exchange with daycare /preschool providers
Increase in Teen Programs
Post-high school workshops (i.e. everything from college preparation, technical/certificate options, apprentice programs to military options)
Teen zone (room or area) for afterschool hang and study space
STEM and video game programming
Beginner and Advanced classes in more sophisticated technology related topics and software: InDesign, html code, creating your own app, etc.
Improving Library Services
Customer service training program for all staff and volunteers
Happy Hour theme: range of time people can come to library for one to one service
Expansion of Classes and Workshops
Foreign language classes
Other craft DIY classes aside from sewing/knitting
Advanced software classes
Job training/Career building courses
Revise Library Space
Change furniture in teen zone and other intimate area with easily movable, comfortable chairs, two top tables, and laptop desks
Add study rooms for 4-6 people
Additional seating for laptop/tablet use spread throughout the library
Food/drink service i.e. café or cafeteria
Community Board: Things to Do area in lobby or entrance area
Additional Recommendations for committee
Diversity
ESOL, citizenship, naturalization, DACA, and other immigration related workshops
Ensure World Language section reflects changing demographics in area
Partner with community groups/organizations to host events and programs for marginalizedgroups
Special Events & Programs (making the library a community destination)
Host conventions i.e. annual Comic book convention hosted by Central Library in Bradenton
Night time events i.e. in Northern Virginia do an annual fundraiser at night with actors impersonating and reciting works for famous authors
Concerts and gallery showing
Children’s events i.e. magic shows, clowns and face painting, etc.