Colorado: Wilkinson Library Embarks on Public Outreach Initiative

From The Watch:

In the face of ongoing criticism for its decision to close the Wilkinson Public Library on Sundays, the San Miguel Library Board of Trustees is reaching out to the Telluride community over three weeks with a series of public forums, focus groups and a survey — all aimed at learning which library services library patrons value most.
At a cost of $4,000, the trustees have hired an independent consultant, Hilary Taylor of Hilary Taylor Consulting, to conduct the public outreach initiative, starting on Monday, July 15. The survey will be available for a three-week period for residents to participate in, either online at the Wilkinson Public Library’s website (telluridelibrary.org) or in person at the library.
Taylor will also be soliciting public comment through several focus groups and will be holding four public forums to gather input as well.
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“Everything we do in 2013 is in preparation for the huge revenue fall-out in 2014,” Library Director Barbara Brattin said at the time the Sunday closures were announced. “Whatever we can save now will minimize the impact of 2014.”
Critics of the decision to close on Sundays have argued that library administrators, specifically including Brattin, are paid too much.

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