Speak up! Batavia library seeks input from residents

The Batavia Public Library will host "Speak Up!" - a series of town-hall community engagement sessions - over the next four months to find out what library district residents like or dislike about the library and what they want from their library in the future.

The first session of "Speak Up!" will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 1, in the Batavia High School cafeteria, 1200 Main St.

Longtime Batavia residents Kathryn Hubbard and Daniel Russo will serve as co-chairs of four sessions.

Subsequent sessions will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. March 1, April 12 and May 10, also at the high school. Each session will begin with a brief presentation followed by discussion.

At the February session, Library Director George H. Scheetz will offer an overview of the library today - its programs, services, funding, collections, and challenges - to district residents seated in small groups at tables.

After Scheetz's presentation, participants will be given two to three questions to initiate dialogue at the table. Before the conclusion of the session, table groups will be asked to share highlights of their discussion with the group at large.

Hubbard, Russo, Scheetz, other community members, and library personnel have been working behind the scenes to prepare for the community engagement sessions.

"We're hoping for a large turnout," said Scheetz, "The success of 'Speak Up!' relies on participation from a broad-based representation of community members. The board trustees wants to hear from as many people as possible, and we want residents to hear what other residents are saying. Information gathered from the workshops will serve as the basis for a communitywide collaborative vision that will inform the decisions for future Batavia Public Library programs and services."

All Batavia residents are invited and encouraged to participate in "Speak Up!" An RSVP is appreciated, but not required, for planning purposes at bit.ly/speakuprsvp.