Southington Public Library
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Demonstration of Need

The Board of Directors has consulted many methods and resources to develop a comprehensive demonstration of need, including:​
  • Statistical Comparisons & Analysis
  • Community Feedback
  • Southington Plan of Conservation and Development
  • Current Building Conditions & ADA Compliance Assessment 

Statistical Data

The existing facility was built in 1974 and was not constructed for a community of our current size. 

Population in 1974:       33,600
Population in 2019        43,791
​
That is an increase of over 30%.
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Usage has grown exponentially in many ways—but the building has remained the same.

For practical purposes, the building size has actually shrunk, as current codes require more open space than when the building was originally constructed. The current building size is 21,000 sq ft. 
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Statistical charts based on pre-pandemic usage, developed by the Connecticut State Library,  allowed comparison of the Southington Public Library to other local libraries or those similar in size (population) and wealth (ANGELC). 

Community Feedback

​Feedback from the community was sought at many different times and in many different ways for more than 10 years. Some of those avenues are discussed below. 

Long Range Planning

2009-2015 Long Range Plan
File Size: 1802 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

2015-2019 Long Range Strategic Plan
File Size: 1122 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Community Survey - November 2019

A community survey from November 2019, received more than 1,300 responses and over 2500 narrative comments from both library users and non-users, and helped develop the top four community wants:
  • Larger Aisles & Elevator,
  • Bigger Children’s Area,
  • Better Acoustical Separation,
  • Public Meeting Rooms. 
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Comments and data from this survey:

Post-Pandemic Outlook Survey - June 2021

A final survey, to ensure the community still stands behind their needs and wants from 2019 and before the pandemic, was conducted in June of 2021. There were 370 responses. 
The first question asked "What is the most important feature for a new library," to determine if there were different community priorities. 
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The second question read: “Please select your top priority for the future building.”
The survey provides the three priorities that don’t relate to necessary infrastructure and Code compliance. Survey participates were allowed to select more than one option. The second chart shows write-in options. 
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The Participants were asked if they had additional comments.

Out of 149 written comments, 145 were "in favor of" the new building and only 4 were "against." This chart shows priorities for the new building. 
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Southington Plan of Conservation & Development

The Southington Public Library is not expected to be adequate for community needs to 2026. The full plan can be viewed at the link below. 
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2016 Plan of Conservation and Development

Existing Building Conditions & ADA Compliance Assessment 

Accessibilities (Americans with Disabilities Act)
  • Not all of the Southington Library is accessible to everyone.
  • ​Aisles, bathrooms, elevator, and entrances are not fully accessible. 
    • ​Space between aisles should be 36"-42", but our shelves are as narrow as 23''-28'' in places.
    • The elevator is too small to maneuver wheelchairs.
    • ​The bathrooms do not have wide enough doors and do not have enough maneuvering clearance.
Fire Code
  • Many doors and interior walls do not meet fire codes.
  • As Fire Codes have changed over the years, program space capacity has also shrunk. This means that fewer people can benefit from the program and event opportunities than even a few years previous due to our limited space.
Building Code
  • Mechanical room drainage and other elements do not meet current building codes.
​​Building Conditions
  • Infrastructure elements such as the HVAC, plumbing, and electric systems are far past their expected lifespan and require costly annual repairs. 
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  • Home
  • Building Project
    • Building Project Updates
    • Need
    • Priorities
    • Concept Plans
    • FAQ
    • Use Calculator
  • Catalog
    • What's New!
    • Search the Catalog
    • Check Your Account
    • Pay Fines Online
    • Reserve an Item
    • Renew an Item
    • Get a New Library Card >
      • How do I get a library card?
    • Renew Your Library Card
  • Services
    • How do I...? >
      • Get a library card?
      • Place or cancel a hold?
      • Borrow an eBook?
      • Reserve a museum pass?
      • Sign up for the e-newsletter?
      • Support the library?
    • Renew Your Library Card
    • Digital Resources >
      • eBooks, Magazines, Movies, Music
      • Databases and Research
      • Online Classes
      • Consumer Reports
    • New Materials >
      • First in a Series
      • Mysteries List
      • Thriller List
    • Reference Desk >
      • Reference Desk Services
      • Local History Room
      • Genealogy
      • Health Resources
      • Recycling Information
      • Career Resources for Veterans
    • Museum Passes
    • Author Alerts
    • Newspaper Archives
    • Wireless Printing >
      • Wireless Printing Instructions
    • Maker Space >
      • 3D Printing
      • Cricut Maker
      • Maker Kits
    • Homebound Delivery
    • Dementia Friends
    • Pop Up Libraries
    • Book Groups
    • Special Circulating Collections >
      • Chromebook & Hotspot Kits
      • Board Games
      • Vinyl Records
      • Cake Pan Collection
      • Unique Circulating Items
    • Register to Vote >
      • Voter Registration (English)
      • Voter Registration (Spanish)
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Virtual Art Gallery
    • ​John E. DeMello Sr. Veterans Coffee Hour
    • Past Programs on YouTube
    • How to Join a Zoom Meeting
    • Downloadable Program Materials
    • Event Suggestions and Feedback
  • Kid's Place
    • Kid's Place
    • Upcoming Events
    • Kindergarten Suggested Reading List
    • For Caregivers
    • Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington >
      • COVID-19 and Children
      • Early Childhood Resources Directory
      • Preschool Options
      • Homeschooling
    • Online Programming
    • Digital Adventures
    • 2023 Nutmeg Nominees
    • Storytime Anytime
    • Cake Pan Collection
    • Unique Circulating Items
    • BookFlix
  • Teen Zone
    • Upcoming Events
    • Board Games
    • Maker Kits
    • Links
  • About
    • Hours
    • Directions
    • Contact Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Friends of the Library
    • Policies
    • Strategic Plan
    • Town of Southington 2022 Draft Annual MS4 Report
    • 2020-2021 Annual Report
    • Patron Behavior Policy
    • The Barnes Museum
    • Community >
      • Town of Southington
      • Southington Public Schools
      • Historical Society