Pierce County Library System
Information & Imagination

Number of participants selected item as priority

Preferred Ranking of All Top Ten Items

14

Be a fun place, somewhere kids want to go, attractive to families

12

Partnering for services and programs – PPP’s, schools, etc.

12

Should be designed by and for people of all ages, diversity

11

Be a gathering place

11

Providing spaces and programs for gathering, meeting, social learning and entertainment

9

Collaborative, 1 + 1 = 3.  Think outside the box; don’t create/maintain official boundaries.

9

Be a venue for community events – buildings and surrounding property

8

Promote culture.  A conduit for diversity, art., etc. 

8

Book sales, food and beverage services – income and convenience, “Books and Booze”

8

Library as community living room – co-located with food, technology, book shelf.

7

The library should be conveniently located, by other popular destination

5

Transportation.  Access by public transit.  What will it be in 2030?  Where will it be in 2030?

5

Bridging cultural diversity.  English as a second language, partner with Tacoma Community House.  Cultural events to explain cultural differences and traditions.  Help the “former majority” adjust to a new realty.  What does “multi-cultural” really look like.

5

Be a place of continual learning, i.e. resources for business, jobs

5

Should have plenty of “People” space vs. collections space

4

Sustainable practices starting in all facilities

4

Promoter, convener of everything local community, “Share your stuff”

4

Virtual library branch component – download books, reference material, webcasts; interface with home computers/web; 24/7 accessibility; advertise community events; searchable database.

3

Inclusive – not silos.  More than school children/schools, multi-generational. 

3

Provide more than books – arts, web, gathering place (all sizes, provide intimate spaces), partnerships, food. 

3

Support literacy – early learning, adult , ESL

3

Marketing all library services – branding, communication

3

Is a catalyst to create partnerships to build community

2

Fulfilling the needs of people (in a given community?) 

2

The Library will maximize access to information for all of the community’s residents. 

2

The Library will be or create a welcoming environment serving as a magnet to bring people together to learn, meet, socialize, grow as individuals. 

2

Eco – explore doing more with less, support the sustainability principles. Valuing books and reading are still the most important functions of library service. 

2

Technology – part of mainstream. Reflect community you need to serve.  

2

Expanding services that appeal to diverse audiences, i.e. story time in other languages

2

Lead, facilitate, convene community planning

2

Should be expert at sorting through the sea of information which surrounds us

1

The libraries need to be safe, secure places where people can feel at ease. 

1

Library as a physical center for people and groups to meet. Community developing a physical presence. 

1

Provide access/training/support for technology

1

Information concierge – partnership for information distribution

1

Inter-generational learning

1

Hands-on activities – interactive, add-on to book learning, building partnerships, leverage community expertise, age appropriate (e.g. music center for teens)

1

Homework assistance available to everyone – equal access.

1

Takes the form that best meets community needs (i.e., fits service with need- flexibility, evolving)

0

PCLS facilities will reflect good stewardship of community dollars. 

0

PCLS must be partner/collaborator with other public entities and private enterprise. 

0

Responsiveness – read to children, off site reading to seniors (senior homes). Librarian/staff = big brothers/sisters, mentor, role model, teacher…  

0

Zones by use, by time, by need, by flex rooms

0

Publicizes its offerings and availabilities customized to user’s needs. Something for everyone/user-defined.

0

Merge with Tacoma Public Library

0

Space defined by needs “in the moment.” Multi-generational to refresh the world.

0

Consider adding “fee for services”. Like Netflix, ship (mail) books, keep lists of favorites, recommend new or related works; database access; rented space – studio, meeting.

0

Have an iconic, distinctive features (like churches have a steeple)

0

Serve multi-media martinis J