Listening to your community (and responding)

I "like" several of NCLS member libraries on Facebook.  It's great to see what they post and how their patrons respond.  A few days ago I was scrolling through my feed and came across a status update from a particular library.  The Croghan Free Library posted that, in response to the community's request, they were extending their hours an extra 6 hours each week to include morning hours (which the library is currently lacking).  The request came as a result of a community-wide patron survey that library conducted several weeks prior. 

CFL is currently open the state required minimum of 20 hrs a week (based on their service population), which is basically all their modest budget allows.  The 30% increase in open hours represents an added cost to the library.  The library board didn't make the decision without considering this, so they are enacting the extra hours on a trial basis.  If the change needs to be made permanent, the Board will make sure they have the resources to do so.

Ultimately this is a great example of a library making a change in order to stay relevant in their community.  They library saw the need to be open more hours and isn't letting an added expense prohibit them from serving their community better.  Their community asked, and the library answered. 

Kudos to the staff and board of the Croghan Free Library for listening (and responding) to your community.