Library’s Community Conversations held this week

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Only a handful of residents turned out last night for a Community Conversation held at the Knox County Public Library.


Library officials sponsored the meeting to receive feedback from the public on the type of services they’d like to see the public provide.
At least one patron indicated that some of those using the library could use some help provided by a social worker or health official. For some who have limited mobility or no family, the library is their only social outlet.
Library director Emily Bunyan says that’s something they’ll have to look at moving forward.

 

Bunyan says despite the small turnout Wednesday they plan on conducting an online survey and send out random mailings to people in the community to get feedback. She says the information will be compiled and prioritized in the library’s master plan which must be submitted to the state by the end of the year.

Meanwhile in Wheatland Tuesday night at a similar hearing, residents there were in agreement that they would like the Knox County Public Library to continue offering outreach services to their community. Residents also discussed possible alternatives should the mobile book station close. Bunyan says the owners of the property Bill and Connie Robbins donated the ground to the library four years ago for the book station . Now the Robbins are wanting to sell the property and have offered to sell it to the library for 5-thousand dollars. Bunyan says the Robbins have given them until October 1st to decide what they want to do.\ One alternative discussed at the public hearing was having a drop box available to deposit materials checked out of the main library. Bunyan says the materials would then be collected by one of the Library’s outreach workers.