To Branch or Not To Branch

In the time before the next round of community meetings, we'd like to share some of the discussions from the February 16 and 17 meetings.

At the first of our public forums on library expansion, the question of branch libraries was posed. We responded by stating three factors that were involved in the decision not to pursue expanding library operations through branch libraries.

• One factor is whether Ames is big enough for branch libraries.
  
• A second factor is the costly redundancy of services in terms of staff and collection building.
  
• The third factor is the public library as a focal point for downtown vitality.

Let us consider the size of Ames first. At the public forum, the consultants stated that Ames’s population, variously estimated now to be between 51,000-53,000, is on the cusp of the community profile for branch libraries. Actually, it is a bit more complex than that. The decision to introduce branch libraries to the community is a determination based on population size in relation to its area in square miles. We also take into consideration the "urban mass" of the community.

The City of Ames is 22 square miles in area. In reviewing cities that are 25 square miles or less in area, we find several cities with branch libraries, but most have much larger population bases. For example, Newark, NJ, which features ten neighborhood branch libraries, packs over 270,000 residents into its 24 square miles.

Of the cities with less than 60,000 people residing in cities of 25 square miles or less, we find very few that have branch libraries operating at least 20 hours or more per week. These libraries are typically located within suburban communities of large metropolitan areas, such as Worthington, Ohio (Columbus); Grosse Pointe, Michigan (Detroit); Burlingame, California (San Francisco); and Shaker Heights, Ohio (Cleveland). Branch libraries are typically considered as an option when a drive to the library is greater than 15 minutes from any given point within that community. In Ames, we do not have the traffic congestion problems that characterize these communities, despite our similar populations.

Cost is another factor. A branch library would require additional staffing, including replication of supervisory staff, which would add to the expense of operating a library system. The need to duplicate a core collection of books and other materials would affect our ability to build a collection with depth at the central library. On the other hand, splitting off a special collection would affect convenience for customers wanting materials from multiple locations.

Finally, our main library is centrally located in downtown Ames. With nearly 475,000 visitors each year, Ames Public Library is a leading draw to downtown. Its central location allows the library to contribute to the vitality of the Main Street Cultural District.

Stay tuned for more questions and answers along with a schedule for the next round of community meetings!