In May 2025, The Westport Library conducted a community-wide survey to learn more from you, our remarkable patrons, friends, and neighbors, about what you like about the Library, what you don't, how you engage, what matters to you, and much, much more. Using email, direct mail, our bimonthly magazine, social media, and more, we extended a wide net to make sure we got meaningful feedback — and unsurprisingly, you came through!
This feedback informed our decision-making as well as our 2025-30 strategic plan, which includes a new vision, refined mission, core values, and strategic goals to carry us through the next five years. (Click here to access the full strategic plan.)
Below, you'll find some of the key takeaways from the survey.
Importantly, the survey upheld the Library’s commitment to creating space for diverse viewpoints to be heard. Most frequently, we do this work through our collection, our programs, and our access points to resources that showcase a variety of perspectives and ideas, like databases and news sources. Developing an open-to-all survey introduced a new way to create space for differing ideas and voices to be surfaced in Westport. The results speak to a range of viewpoints, opinions, and ideas that the Library appreciates and acknowledges with respect.
The number of people who participated in the survey. Women, people over age 45, and adult-only households were highly represented in the survey.
Overall Library satisfaction rate. Even better, 2/3 of respondents rated the Library’s features 10 out of 10.
4 out of 5 respondents said the Library does “well” or “very well” in supporting students.
Respondents rated authors, books, and writing as their favorite program topic.
Accessing materials and attending programs were the top two ways people use the Library.
Our store, café, and meeting rooms also got a lot of love!
Date night in a meeting room with a board game? Can’t-miss café chicken skewers? The survey revealed many ways patrons have made the Library their own and their favorite ways to enjoy our space.
Questions? To learn more, reach out to Westport Library Chief Impact Officer Tory Donohue at [email protected].
