Jadwiga Nowacka An Analysis of Local Community Needs as the Basis for Library Services Offered by the Public Library in Suwałki
	Public Library in Suwałki
	This article was translated thanks to the grant received from the Open Society Institute

The tasks and functions of libraries have changed throughout centuries. At first, libraries focused their attention only on the processes and functions associated with collection growth, i.e. acquisition and cataloguing. Since the mid of the 18th century when public libraries were set up, the focus of attention was on providing access to library materials.^[1] This does not mean reordering the priorities. Obviously, libraries still acquire and preserve various materials, and library cataloguers describe resources according to professionally approved international rules and procedures, which is the sine qua non of the functioning of every library. The matter in question is not the usual recording of materials in the library's catalogue, but making these materials available to library users

Nowadays it turned out that the mere cataloguing is insufficient by far. Public libraries, which were set up to provide general access to library resources ^[2] took appropriate measures to promote reading habits among general public from the beginning of their existence. In the report on the activities of the Załuski Library, the first Polish library open to the public, the problem of low use of library resources was touched upon on every occasion, which signified it was treated as a matter of great importance.

An intensive growth of libraries on the Polish territory took place during the two and a half centuries of existence of public libraries. It was mainly on the initiative of local communities who were aware of the role of books and reading in the educational process, of building up knowledge, and raising the cultural level of community members. These activities can be hardly overestimated, especially that the emerging library institutions, from the very beginning of their existence, were accomplishing one of the most important tasks of libraries. They were set up to meet the needs of particular communities. Thus, it is worthwhile to keep in mind that nowadays, when we thoroughly examine users' needs using the methodology worked out by library scientists, in fact we do not invent anything new. We only draw on the theories of our predecessors.

The Maria Konopnicka Public Library in Suwałki has undergone several major reorganisations during more than a half century of its existence. It was a municipal, district, and provincial library, yet always serving the local community. The thing that turned out to be the most durable, what can be called the core of our activity, was our library's active presence in the life of the inhabitants of our town and its environs. Being useful was always a guiding principle for all librarians, even when nobody formulated this mission. It is worth noting ( what is often not included even in comprehensive surveys ) that nearly all librarians who are mostly women come, and used to come in the past, from Suwałki or its nearest vicinity, and it was natural for them, having families and bringing up children, to learn the needs of library users, and to use this knowledge in their work. Nowadays, when library staff are required to have special education, also in the field of information technology, such remarks may seem to be simply out of place, but after all our library coped with various tasks also in the past years. To make sure about it, one only needs to search the archives and check it out in the annual report on the library's activities.

Undoubtedly, a thorough analysis of local community needs is one of the high priorities now. It should be carried out basing on the methods used in practice, and taking advantage of the achievements of modern librarianship as well as social sciences, , especially sociology and psychology. It concerns all types of libraries, public institutions in particular.

Since over ten years we have been living in a new political, social, and economic environment. This situation calls for substantial changes, also in our workplace. It is more and more difficult to gain funds for the purchase of library material, whereas collection growth is indispensable for the existence of every library. No money can be squandered, and the budget must be used up in the best possible way. It is paradoxical that there is a shortage of money at the time when they are needed most. We are all aware of the necessity of renewing substantially the collections in every library. It is not only the matter of replacing damaged books with new ones, but a considerable part of the collection should be replaced.

After the year 1989, when strict censorship was lifted, it was necessary to present a new, undistorted picture of Polish and world history (especially contemporary history) as well as the history of literature, and to restore the works of many writers. This process, which is called the filling in of blanks, was introduced by our library almost immediately. The situation was easier for us, because we had taken similar measures as early as a few years before, not giving publicity to it. On the request of teachers and schoolchildren we organised, together with the Adam Mickiewicz Literary Society, a few symposia and a series of meetings with outstanding literature specialists. It was only the tip of the iceberg. It soon turned out that not having purchased any new books (obligatory reading matter), the library collection would become in great part of little use to schoolchildren, the largest group of readers. Only just this problem had been -to some extent- overcome with great effort, we had to cope with some completely new tasks, unfamiliar to librarians before. Our collection was of a universal character, this being the result of many years' work. Belles-lettres as well as books for children and youth predominated then. Meanwhile, a great education boom took place. Persons who have completed their secondary school studies, as well as young employees threatened with unemployment, had to study hard to get ready for the entrance exams to private and state-owned universities, and they had to face strong competition. The greatest number of candidates was for courses in law and economy. A lot of young readers used to come to the library to ask for the newest publications concerning these branches of knowledge. Needless to say that the books on economy became out of date to a greater extent than those on history and literature. At the same time the book market offer became extremely rich. A lot of publications had a beautiful book graphics, and they were printed on a good quality paper. Before that we could not even dream of having some of these books. They were known only to a few veteran fair-goers. More and more frequently the librarians had to turn down requests for newest titles. In a short time we had to face the consequences of this situation. The annual report on the activities of our library revealed amazing results: the number of library users was growing, and the number of circulated items was going down. This is what was published in The Descriptive Analysis of the Activities of the Maria Konopnicka Public Library in Suwałki for the year 1999: " This year's survey on reading habits shows a tendency characteristic for the last years: a growing number of users, and a declining number of circulated items, which calls for the necessity of adding new titles to the library collection". ^[3] I must note here that the situation is worse than bad as far as the purchase of new titles is concerned. The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage recommends that libraries purchase 18 volumes per 100 inhabitants, whereas in our library this indicator is less than one volume. In 1999 it was 0.86, that means 20 times less than the recommended number. There is no hope for the acquisition budget to grow considerably.

This situation puts us under an obligation to identify very thoroughly the needs of the local community, and to satisfy them, as finances permit. Luckily, thanks to many years' library practice, we have accumulated a considerable amount of data concerning our users. Over half of them (about 55 per cent) are schoolchildren ^[4], over 15 per cent of library customers are future students (from the age group from 20 to 25 years), and over 20 per cent are adults (from 25 to 44 years of age). The remaining groups of users, ranging from 45 to 60 years of age and over, make up as little as about 8 per cent of all users. Another grouping, according to the library users' profession, is not so crucial. The largest group here are also schoolchildren. The next group, white-collar workers, is four times smaller, about 14 per cent. The same figure applies to our users who are unemployed. The smallest group, which is to be regretted, are farmers who make up only 0.3 per cent of users. It bears witness to farmers living in degradation since a long time. It seems to be even more surprising, since farmers were heavy readers as recently as 25 years ago; they made up over 60 per cent of library users then. ^[5] These data do not correspond with the above grouping according to the profession. Nevertheless they reveal, to some extent, this astonishing discrepancy.

Basing only on the above breakdown, I can characterise our library's customers. They are mostly young schoolchildren who not only use the library's collection, but are also eager to attend various events taking place in our library, such as meetings with authors, lectures, various competitions.

It must be stressed, however, that it is an internally diversified community, and it cannot be treated as a group having similar reading needs. It is best exemplified by the fact that the most important structural dividing line in the library goes through this community. The Children's Division forms a separate structure with its distinct library collection, different forms of activity; and it can even be distinguished by its own lending and reading room equipment. Presently, after the educational reform and the setting up of secondary schools, the schoolchildren's community has been divided into the following groups: the youngest children (forms 1-3), older children (forms 4-6), and secondary school-goers. Each group obviously has different reading needs. Secondary school students as well as university students need a separate collection of books.

Therefore, the question is whether it makes sense to distinguish such a big, and, let me repeat, so very diversified group. It has, however, one common integrating feature. Besides being the most frequent library users, the members of this group have the most definite reading needs. These needs are mainly determined by the necessity of having access to the books from the suggested reading list as well as popular science books. Thus, having an everyday contact with schoolchildren and their teachers, it is made easier for the library to get to know their needs and adjust the services accordingly. Young readers' interests are, however, far more wide-ranging. This group of readers not only borrow the items from the suggested reading list, but the majority of them look for outstanding works belonging to Polish and foreign classical literature, and for some interesting new titles.

Focusing my attention mainly on this group, I decided to draw up a questionnaire in order to get to know the readers' preferences. I formulated six questions giving three possible answers:

1. How do you use the Maria Konopnicka Public Library?
   1. I borrow only the items from the suggested reading list and use reference library in the reading room.
   2. Sometimes I borrow books other than the ones from the suggested reading list.
   3. I regularly use the library collection, because I do not imagine going through life without reading books.
2. What books do you usually look for in the library?
   1. Well-known recent titles.
   2. Works by my favourite writers.
   3. Popular science books, because I thing it is a waste of time to read fiction.
3. How do you perceive the notion of belles-lettres?
   1. I think they are the most important literary works, and I read them most often.
   2. I think they stimulate and develop sensitivity and imagination, so they are worth reaching for.
   3. I think it is a waste of time to read these books; it is better to reach for books that let us enrich our knowledge.
4. Do you have any specific literary interests?
   1. I like novels and short stories with heroes and plot clearly outlined.
   2. I like poetry; I reach for the poems of my favourite poets most often.
   3. I like science fiction books.
5. How do you get to know about interesting books you borrow?
   1. During the Polish classes.
   2. From my friends.
   3. From press, radio, and T.V. reviews.
6. What do you do when you cannot borrow a book you need?
   1. I buy it in a bookshop.
   2. When I cannot afford it, I wait till it is available in the library.
   3. I give it up and reach for another book.

It seems to me that thanks to this questionnaire I could get to know better the interests of the most numerous and the most important group of library users. It turned out that schoolchildren's reading preferences were similarly diversified as their interests pursued in school. Not too many schoolchildren reach for poetry or some more refined prose compositions. What seems to be common for most of them is the interest in the newest publications and eagerness to know the books that are currently bestsellers. Often it is called snobbery, but I think it is not the case here.

Psychologists stress that young people have a strong need for group identification by showing community spirit. Thus they get rid of fear of being worse than others. That is why they listen to the same music, and some of them read the same books. In this respect the young people from Suwałki do not differ from those who live in another towns, even in big cultural centres. They ask for books by Andrzej Sapkowski, Olga Tokarczuk, Manuela Gretkowska, Małgorzata Musierowicz, Joanna Chmielewska, as if they have followed the latest list of bestsellers. The situation is similar with foreign literature. The books by William Warton, Paulo Coelho, Robert Ludlum, and just lately the famous Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding enjoy popularity for many years.

I am far from overestimating the results of a single questionnaire. I would rather tend to admit that through this surveying I could confirm what I have already experienced in my everyday contacts with customers. While analysing diverse forms of our library's educational activities, I learned that this is also the way to identify the needs of local community. Every meeting with an author and every lecture do not attract so big an audience as they used to in the past. Today, it often happens that the customers are the ones who suggest a meeting with an author to be held in the library. This was the case a few years ago when the Rev.Jan Twardowski's poetry lovers had long asked for arranging his visit to Suwałki, when finally the poet, in spite of being advanced in years and in poor health, visited our town even twice. An equally enthusiastic reception was given to Ernest Bryll who keeps repeating that there is no other town in which he has such a huge readership, since on his both visits to Suwałki, each time he signed over 500 books of poetry written by him. It has not always to be an author of national acclaim. From among our local writers, Józefa Drozdowska was the one who visited us several times, and our users had asked for these meetings. Crowds of secondary school children come to listen to the lectures of Waldemar Smaszcz who has been cooperating with our library for years.

Especially successful events organised by the Maria Konopnicka Public Library were a series of lectures entitled "W drodze po indeks" (On the way to becoming a student). Undoubtedly, a good identification of the needs of secondary school children from Suwałki was the basis of this success. Until now, there has not been any university in our town, hence it was difficult to contact university lecturers. It was a real hindrance for many secondary school leavers when they were studying for their university entrance examinations. Yet, we managed to invite the most renowned Polish humanists to give lectures in our library. They were among others: prof. Jan Błoński from the Jagiellonian University, prof. Artur Hutnikiewicz from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, prof. Alina Kowalczykowa, prof. Teresa Kostkiewiczowa, prof. Irena Maciejewska, prof. Roman Loth from the Institute of Literary Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences, prof. Andrzej Lam from Warsaw University. The eminent researchers praised the young people who listened to their long lectures in our library and made notes carefully.

The above mentioned popular science sessions organised during the Mickiewicz Year (1998) and the Słowacki Year (1989) proved equally successful. Thus the needs of schoolchildren have obviously been identified, and also included in our library offer as means permitted. It seems to me that we have a model cooperation with all types of schools. Now, we have to investigate the needs of two numerous groups of adult users, i.e. office workers and the unemployed.

Footnotes

[1] See: Czachowska J., Loth R. Bibliografia i biblioteka w pracy polonisty, Wrocław, 1977, p.138.

[2] See: Słownik literatury polskiego Oświecenia, Wrocław, 1977, p. 32.

[3] See: Archiwum Biblioteki Publicznej im. M. Konopnickiej w Suwałkach [author's underlining].

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

Translated by Michalina Byra