Community Survey Results - Part 2 Social Media

 

4-26-2024

Last week I focused on the community survey responses of respondents who infrequently or never use the library. This week I’ll shift to a little comparison. The question that allows that the easiest is regarding how users find out about community events and activities. The responses are essentially in exact opposition.

Over 50% of regular users of the library learn about our activities through signage at the library (61%) itself and the library’s website (56%). Also ranked highly are word of mouth (43%) and the local newspaper (41%). The last three sources, library social media, East Troy Park and Rec guide and community signage all received 32% or less responses. This makes absolute sense. Fliers for each program we run are located in multiple spots throughout the library: community board in the entryway, bulletin board on the ladies’ bathroom, book display immediately inside the library, circulation desk. We also make an effort to mention programs to patrons they seem to fit. Although we are not as good about doing so as Nancy was.

We were really happy to see the number of people that use the website as Lisa in particular has put in a great deal of work on the redesign. The new site has less clutter, which I always prefer, and is updated weekly providing the most current information immediately. One problem we discovered right after it launched was the reliance on graphics. At a director’s meeting, a service was brought up that increases a websites accessibility by allowing the user to change fonts and colors and also reads the script aloud. Script, not pictures. There will be more verbiage added in future.

Responders who don’t frequent the library list social media as their primary channel for learning about community events to the tune of 70% - higher than any means for either group. That is followed by the local newspaper at 52%, word of mouth at 43%, and community signage at 30%.

Comparing the two it was pleasing to see both indicate the newspaper as a source of information. Perhaps, this column needs to include weekly schedules/program reminders. It is also transferred to a blog which my mother reads from our website. Since creating the blog and seeing the survey results, I’ve been sharing the blog with Facebook. The other day I created an Instagram for the library in order to further broaden our reach.

Third on each list was word of mouth so please talk about us.

Reading Now: Dona Barbara by Romulo Gallegos (PBS's 100 Great American Reads), The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate (May book club)

Listening to Now: Crime on the Fens by Joy Ellis (Nikki Galena series book 1 - this series was actually written before the Jackman & Evan series I discovered last July. Time to catch up.)