[Libs-Or] Just released: Oregon Public Library Needs Assessment

[Penny Hummel]

It gives me great pleasure to announce that the very first Oregon Public Library Needs Assessment has just been released.  It is attached, but you can also download it from The Oregon Community Foundation’s website <http://www.oregoncf.org/news-resources/news-publications> or from my company website <http://www.pennyhummel.com/projects>. 
First off, I want to thank the Oregon library community for your enthusiastic participation in the data gathering for this project, which included:

	51 participants at eight focus groups around the state

	86 of Oregon’s 131 public libraries (66%) participating in the survey--a tremendous response rate! 

	68 additional survey responses from Friends, Foundation and library board members

	18 interviews, providing regional and national perspectives

	 Innumerable instances of sharing insights, resources and support, as well as helping to promote the project. 

Truly, it took a village!  My sincere thanks to all of you who have helped me make this project the very best it could be.

I also want to thank The Oregon Community Foundation for commissioning this study, as well as the Lora L. & Martin N. Kelley Family Foundation Trust and the Betsy Priddy Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation for their support of this work.  

Earlier this week, OCF hosted a summit with other Oregon funders, where the overview I provided of the needs assessment’s findings was enthusiastically received.  It is safe to say there is great interest in exploring new ways to support public libraries in Oregon, and that the needs assessment is viewed as a starting point to that effort.  Stay tuned for future developments!    

As those who participated in the research may recall, in the needs assessment we explored how public libraries create resilient communities through the lens of eight different library roles.  My friends at The Oregon Community Foundation would like me to emphasize that OCF’s competitive grant program supports each of these eight library roles, and to encourage public libraries to review their guidelines to consider how they might support your important work.  Here are some links to more information about the opportunities that OCF provides:

OCF Community Grant Program <http://www.oregoncf.org/grants-scholarships/grants/community-grants>
Developing a strong proposal <http://www.oregoncf.org/Templates/media/files/grants/community_grants/developing_strong_proposal_2014.pdf>
Capacity building proposals to  the Community Grant Program <http://www.oregoncf.org/Templates/media/files/grants/community_grants/capacity_building_guidelines.pdf>
Again, my heartfelt thanks to the Oregon library community for understanding the importance of this project and making it a success. 

Penny Hummel
Penny Hummel Consulting
www.pennyhummel.com 

503.890.0494
penny at pennyhummel.com

 
 
 

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