SULPHUR — The Calcasieu Parish Public Library hosted its first in a series of meetings Thursday at the Sulphur Regional Library.
The public meeting was held to discuss plans for improving services and to get input on which areas of the libraries in the
system needed attention, and what the system can do to improve each person’s visit to the libraries in the parish.
Gabriel Morley, library director, said the goal of the meetings is to establish a plan for 2014-2018 that will not only make
the library a better place for the people who use it, but also appeal to people who don’t use the libraries.
He said in 2012, 754,260 people visited libraries across the parish, with 233,921 using computers, 32,627 using Wi-Fi, 80,122
borrowing books and DVDs, and 121,842 attending programs.
Morley presented five goals the library
has for the upcoming four-year plan, which include creating a welcoming
place, stimulating
curiosity and imagination, fostering loyalty and user experience,
marketing the libraries to the public, and increasing its
online presence.
Morley said some of the goals that fall
under the five are adding wireless printing, allowing patrons to use
debit or credit
cards at the libraries, having the libraries use social media more
effectively, and advertising at non-traditional locations
where people who don’t typically use the library gather.
“We have to stop just asking the same
people over and over what they want to see in the library,” he said. “We
also need to
ask the people that aren’t using the library why they aren’t using
it and what they would like to see. We need to market to
all different types of people.”
Morley also discussed the possibility of building a digital branch and how technology is changing how the library functions
and fulfill’s its purposes.
“Our goal is to please everyone,” he said. “We’ve talked about building an entirely digital branch for people that want to
use the library’s services but can’t or don’t want to go to the library. We need to cater to everyone.”
Morley said the Calcasieu Parish Library will be taking input from the public until May 2 when it will present a rough draft
of its plan to the board.
Other scheduled meetings will be held:
• Feb. 15 — 3:30 p.m., Central Library, 301 W. Claude St.
• Feb. 18 — 10 a.m., Fontenot Memorial Library, 1402 Center St.; 7 p.m., Hayes Library, 7709 Perier St.
• Feb. 19 — 10 a.m., DeQuincy Library, 102 W. Harrison St.
• Feb. 20 — 10 a.m., Westlake Library, 937 Mulberry St.; 4:30 p.m. Carnegie Memorial Library, 411 Pujo St.
• Feb. 22 — 10:30 a.m., Iowa Library, 107 E. First St.
• Feb. 25 — 6 p.m., Epps Memorial Library, 1320 N. Simmons St.
• Feb. 26 — 6:30 p.m. Moss Bluff Library, 261 Parish Road
• Feb 27 — 11 a.m., Starks Library, 113 S. La. 109