Thanks for your help! We are pleased to announce that response to the strategic planning surveys was better than expected. We thank the 159 respondents to our Library Staff Survey and we are grateful to the many libraries that posted links or distributed copies of the Five Minute Library Patron Survey. Over 600 patron responses were received . . . they are still coming in. In addition, we had good turnouts at seven member focus groups facilitated by Alan Brickman, our planning consultant. Thank you for your contributions.

The Strategic Planning Committee will review the results of the surveys and focus groups at its next meeting. We will post summaries of survey results by March 1st. In the meantime, here are some of the preliminary survey findings.

NMRLS Members clearly consider online databases, continuing education, and delivery as the three most important services. Two-thirds of respondents favored restoration of online databases if restoration of a service becomes possible. For you insomniacs, we asked, "What challenge in your library keeps you awake at night?" I'm sure that you will not be surprised to learn that your sleepless colleagues are also concerned about staffing/personnel issues, funding, and technology challenges. We were extremely pleased that 69 percent of members consider NMRLS knowledgeable and responsive staff an important strength. Members also made many thoughtful suggestions that will be considered by the Committee as we look out five years toward 2010.

Patrons who responded to the Five Minute Survey tend to visit their library at least once a week. They come from all age groups and two-thirds are females. Forty percent do not use the online catalog from home; only two percent of respondents are not satisfied with turnaround time for delivery of ILL items; and 44 percent do not use online databases. We asked how the importance of libraries would change in the future. Seven percent of patrons thought libraries would become less important while 47 percent said they would be more important. Patrons had many comments and made numerous suggestions. Two of the repeated suggestions requested "more library hours" and "wireless Internet access."

We will share a compiled summary report of all responses on our Web site. We will share the full results of responses from patrons of individual libraries with the director of those libraries that were identified by respondents.