Survey Results: The West Florida Public Library System

MyEscambia.com recently asked residents to complete an online survey to gauge the communities' thoughts and ideas about the West Florida Public Library System facilities in Escambia County. Here is what you had to say:

Envision Escambia 2028: The West Florida Public Library System

Question #1: In which area of Escambia County do you currently live?

Nearly 51 percent of respondents to our West Florida Public Library System survey live north of Nine Mile Road. Another 3 percent came from the extreme southern portion of the County on Pensacola Beach. More than 6 percent of respondents were from Perdido Key, 8 percent represented the neighborhoods in the area East of Palafox, South of Brent Lane/Bayou Boulevard to the Escambia Bay on the East and Pensacola Bay on the South and another 3  percent lives West of Palafox, East of New Warrington Road, South of Fairfield Drive, North of Pensacola Bay. No area of Escambia County was unrepresented in this survey. 

Question #2: Do you have a library card?

• Yes: 86 percent
• No: 14 percent

Question #3: How often do you visit the library?

• Daily: 6 percent
• Weekly: 28 percent
• Monthly: 28 percent
• Rarely: 23 percent
• Never: 14 percent

Question #4: Why do you visit Escambia County libraries?

• To check out materials (books, DVDs, music, etc.) for home use: 82 percent
• For research or reference assistance: 8 percent
• For computer access: 4 percent
• For classes or programs: 6 percent

Comments included:

“Classes and programs for my kids.”

“Buy used books from Friends of Library.”

“Read periodicals.”

“Meetings.”

Question #5: Please choose any/all reasons you may have for not visiting the library. Choose as many as are applicable.

• Hours of operation are not convenient: 29 percent
• Location of facilities is not close to my home: 71 percent
• Security is insufficient: 0 percent
• Facilities are not well maintained: 5 percent
• I don’t know where facilities are located: 10 percent
• We are too busy or not interested: 33 percent

Comments included:

“Too many computers, not a wide enough selection of books.”

“Been years since I’ve been in a library and wouldn’t know what to do.”

“No reason. The internet has more and is convenient to all.”

“Haven't had the need to go to the library lately. However, I am glad we have one in the north end of the county.

“My grandson has used the facility a couple of times.”

Question #6: More than $6.7 million of Local Option Sales Tax III funds has been used to build, upgrade and restore libraries throughout Escambia County. Please tell us how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements. Well maintained libraries:

Are versatile community centers, offering access to reading materials, classes and computer access:

• 73 percent strongly agree
• 19 percent agree
• 5 percent neither disagree nor agree
• 0 percent disagree
• 3 percent strongly disagree

Offers residents improved economic prospects and an enhanced quality of life:

• 57 percent strongly agree
• 25 percent agree
• 10 percent neither disagree nor agree
• 5 percent disagree
• 3 percent strongly disagree

Contribute to safe, thriving neighborhoods:

• 51 percent strongly agree
• 32 percent agree
• 9 percent neither disagree nor agree
• 6 percent disagree
• 3 percent strongly disagree

Foster learning and skills improvement:

• 70 percent strongly agree
• 22 percent agree
• 6 percent neither disagree nor agree
• 3 percent disagree
• 0 percent strongly disagree

Question #7: How would you rate each of the following library services?

• Customer service:
  • Excellent: 45 percent
  • Good: 29 percent
  • Fair: 7 percent
  • Poor: 4 percent
  • Don’t know or not applicable: 15 percent
• Collection (books, DVDs, music, newspapers, etc.):
  • Excellent: 20 percent
  • Good: 39 percent
  • Fair: 23 percent
  • Poor: 4 percent
  • Don’t know or not applicable: 15 percent
• Children’s programs and classes:
  • Excellent: 19 percent
  • Good: 23 percent
  • Fair: 12 percent
  • Poor: 1 percent
  • Don’t know or not applicable: 45 percent
• Adult programs and classes:
  • Excellent: 9 percent
  • Good: 29 percent
  • Fair: 13 percent
  • Poor: 3 percent
  • Don’t know or not applicable: 45 percent
• Computers and printers:
  • Excellent: 19 percent
  • Good: 35 percent
  • Fair: 9 percent
  • Poor: 3 percent
  • Don’t know or not applicable: 35 percent
• Internet access:
  • Excellent: 22 percent
  • Good: 30 percent
  • Fair: 10 percent
  • Poor: 3 percent
  • Don’t know or not applicable: 36 percent
• Facilities:
  • Excellent: 39 percent
  • Good: 37 percent
  • Fair: 8 percent
  • Poor: 1 percent
  • Don’t know or not applicable: 15 percent
• Hours of operation:
  • Excellent: 19 percent
  • Good: 34 percent
  • Fair: 28 percent
  • Poor: 7 percent
  • Don’t know or not applicable: 12 percent

Question #8: How important are each of the following library services to you?

• Borrowing materials (books, DVDs, music, etc.):
  • 73 percent said very important
  • 16 percent said important
  • 3 percent said somewhat important
  • 7 percent said not important
  • 3 percent don’t know or not applicable
• Reference assistance:
  • 30 percent said very important
  • 36 percent said important
  • 14 percent said somewhat important
  • 14 percent said not important
  • 5 percent don’t know or not applicable
• Children’s programs (classes, storytimes, etc.):
  • 28 percent said very important
  • 18 percent said important
  • 19 percent said somewhat important
  • 14 percent said not important
  • 22 percent don’t know or not applicable
• Adult programs (classes, training, book clubs, etc.:
  • 32 percent said very important
  • 22 percent said important
  • 16 percent said somewhat important
  • 17 percent said not important
  • 13 percent don’t know or not applicable
• Computers, printers and internet access:
  • 33 percent said very important
  • 22 percent said important
  • 17 percent said somewhat important
  • 17 percent said not important
  • 10 percent don’t know or not applicable
• Bookmobile:
  • 19 percent said very important
  • 22 percent said important
  • 14 percent said somewhat important
  • 28 percent said not important
  • 18 percent don’t know or not applicable
• Genealogy research:
  • 17 percent said very important
  • 26 percent said important
  • 23 percent said somewhat important
  • 27 percent said not important
  • 8 percent don’t know or not applicable
• Overall, how important is the library to you and your family?:
  • 57 percent said very important
  • 21 percent said important
  • 11 percent said somewhat important
  • 11 percent said not important
  • 1 percent don’t know or not applicable

Question #9: Do you have any suggestions regarding programming or services you would like to see at one or any of our branch libraries?

Comments included:

“More weekend hours, especially in the summer.”

“Don’t close at 4 p.m. on Friday’s.”

“Employment assistance.”

“Mobile library at the beach.”

“Online newspaper.”

Question #10: What is your overall opinion of the West Florida Public Library System branches? Answer as many as applicable.

• Century Branch:
  • Excellent: 10 percent
  • Fair: 5 percent
  • Good: 6 percent
  • Poor: 3  percent
  • No opinion: 76 percent
• Main Library:
  • Excellent: 33 percent
  • Fair: 18 percent
  • Good: 21 percent
  • Poor: 3  percent
  • No opinion: 24 percent
• Molino Branch:
  • Excellent: 22 percent
  • Fair: 9 percent
  • Good: 7 percent
  • Poor: 0  percent
  • No opinion: 61 percent
• Southwest Branch:
  • Excellent: 21 percent
  • Fair: 8 percent
  • Good: 17 percent
  • Poor: 2  percent
  • No opinion: 53 percent
• Tryon Branch:
  • Excellent: 21 percent
  • Fair: 14 percent
  • Good: 23 percent
  • Poor: 0  percent
  • No opinion: 42 percent
• Westside Branch:
  • Excellent: 5 percent
  • Fair: 8 percent
  • Good: 8 percent
  • Poor: 3  percent
  • No opinion: 75 percent
• Bookmobile:
  • Excellent: 5 percent
  • Fair: 15 percent
  • Good: 5 percent
  • Poor: 6  percent
  • No opinion: 69 percent

Question #11: Do you have any additional questions, comments or concerns?

Comments included:

“Please build one in Cantonment!”

“Best part of my tax dollars.”

 “Looking for bus service to and from the library.”

To learn more about the West Florida Public Library System and the services it provides for Escambia County residents, programming information, library locations and more, visit MyWFPL.com. To connect with the libraries on social media, follow @MyWFPL on Twitter and ‘like’ The West Florida Public Library System on Facebook.