New master plan designed to shape future of Aurora, Colorado's library system, public input wanted
"It is a significant challenge," said Jo McNeal, the deputy director of library services. "However, checking in with the community allows us to fine tune what we do and use the resources that we have most effectively."
That's why they launched a strategic and facilities master plan. It's an effort to shape the future of the library.
The library will assess the condition and usage of its facilities, identify necessary capital improvements and evaluate future needs. All are based on recommendations from the community they receive from an online survey.
"It's connecting with the community and getting input from the community, not just library users, but non-users as well," McNeal said. "To check in and see what exactly they need in their lives that the library might be able to help with."
They want to know what Aurorans want to get out of their libraries. The library held a survey like this before, but it says it's been a while, and now more than ever, it needs to fine tune its efforts to have the most impact.
"We haven't talked to the community since 2015. It's 10 years ago. A lot has changed in that time," McNeal said. "We just want to make sure that we're not spread too thin and that we are focusing on the top needs, the highest needs of the community."
"Engage Aurora" website.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
04-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
For Aurora residents, Fourth of July parade in city's downtown a patriotic tradition
For Kasey Diestelkamp of Aurora and her family, the city's annual Fourth of July parade is a must before her family thinks about backyard barbecues or anything else that might accompany the holiday. 'We always come to the parade,' she said while holding her daughter Beckett, who is almost 3 years old. 'We come every year. We live down the street and ride our bikes and it's an important holiday for families to get together. After the parade, we go home and change into our swimsuits and go to our in-laws where we swim and we eat. But it wouldn't be the Fourth of July without the parade. That's the start of everything.' Beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, Aurora welcomed in the Fourth of July with the city's annual parade that kicked off at the intersection of Benton Street and Broadway downtown. The night before, the city celebrated America's 249th birthday with a Thursday evening fireworks show. The parade on Friday featured more than 30 floats, a number that officials said was similar to years past. 'This is an important day for Aurorans as well as all of our surrounding communities and the nation,' said Jon Zaghloul, communications manager for the city of Aurora, before the parade began. 'Our grand marshal is Hugo Saltijeral, who is such a welcome part of the community. He is what Aurora is – he's someone who is resilient, who is generous and who is very actively involved in pretty much everything that goes on here in Aurora.' According to a press release from the city, Saltijeral gives back to the community in many ways and 'currently serves as the executive director of the Valley Sheltered Workshop, leading a bold transformation in disability services.' Zaghloul noted that Friday 'is a great opportunity for city residents to come out and celebrate America's birthday and have a fun time watching all of the great floats and groups that walk in the parade.' 'This is very similar to Memorial Day where people can come to the parade and then take some time to relax. It's primarily a day off for most people and a great opportunity to come together downtown and celebrate and then have family time,' he said. Spotty rain which moved into the area before the parade helped keep things cooler this year as thousands gathered along the parade route. Brie Blue, 28, of Yorkville, said she was the head coach for the West Aurora High School cheerleaders and while the school has participated in the parade for many years, 'this is the first time for this coaching staff to be in it.' 'The importance of today is kind of what I coach my kids in all the time – it's all of us coming together and celebrating all our accomplishments and our future and what we have and everyone who came before us,' Blue said. 'It's like our alumni and all of those who served for us – fought for our country. The girls are super-excited about being in the parade. They love walking in it and doing community involvement.' Nick Sargis, who is the theater supervisor for the Fox Valley Park District, brought a slew of participants – more than 80 – to the parade. 'We have a great relationship with the city of Aurora and it's great that we get to walk and support our community,' he said of the parade. Diestelkamp and others spoke about the importance of the holiday for Americans. 'This is important to teach our kids about the Fourth of July and what it really means and it's a good sense of community being with all the Aurorans,' she said. Kathy Maltese of Aurora and her husband Tony said the parade is always on their Fourth of July to-do list. 'When it's the Fourth of July, it's the first box we have to check,' Kathy Maltese said. 'It's a tradition. It's something you've got to do.' 'This shows your patriotism and right now with all the things going on you have to show up now more than ever and this is one way of showing some kind of unity,' Tony Maltese added. 'You don't get a chance to do that all the time.'
Chicago Tribune
01-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Aurora Public Library District wins award for legal assistance programs
The Aurora Public Library District was honored recently with the Liberty Bell Award by the Kane County Bar Association for the library district's legal assistance programs. The annual award, which was given at the 2025 Kane County Bar Association Annual Dinner on June 12, recognizes a non-attorney individual or community organization that has promoted a better understanding of the law, encouraged a greater respect for the law and the courts, stimulated a sense of civic responsibility and contributed to good government within the community, according to a news release from the Aurora Public Library District. 'The work of the Aurora Public Library District staff in ensuring that your constituents have access to and understanding of the court system has been nothing less than remarkable,' Halle Eichert, Kane County Law Library and Self Help Legal Center director, said in the news release. In particular, the Liberty Bell Award was presented to the library district's court support and access initiatives, such as the Lawyers in the Library program series, participation in the statewide pilot program of Court Access Library Centers and its partnerships with outside agencies to host expungement clinics and immigration consultations, the news release said. The Lawyers in the Library series offers free consultations at the downtown Santori library in Aurora every second Thursday of the month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. In partnership with the Kane County Law Library and Self Help Legal Center, the library hosts two volunteer attorneys who offer walk-in, pro-bono legal assistance with a limit of 15 minutes per person, according to the release. The Aurora Public Library District is also one of 18 across the state to participate in the Court Access Library Centers pilot program, which has a goal of breaking down barriers for people without lawyers and with limited resources by offering easy-to-access legal information and assistance at their local public library, the release said. Through the program, the library district offers assistance with finding and filling court documents, attending court hearings via Zoom and finding general information about court rules and procedures. 'The legal system can be confusing and intimidating, and it's important and meaningful work to make access easier for everyone who needs it,' Aurora Public Library District Executive Director Michaela Haberkern said in the news release. Previous recipients of the award include Linda Hagemann, who received the award in 2024; Lori Herte, who received the award in 2023; Nancylee Brown, who received the award in 2022, and Jenny Maxwell, who received the award in 2021.
CBS News
01-03-2025
- CBS News
New master plan designed to shape future of Aurora, Colorado's library system, public input wanted
The folks at the Aurora Public Library District want to help their community. But with a budget of $8 million for a population of nearly 400,000, the city of Aurora ranks in the bottom five for per capita public library funding in the state. That means finding the resources to do everything the community wants is a challenge. "It is a significant challenge," said Jo McNeal, the deputy director of library services. "However, checking in with the community allows us to fine tune what we do and use the resources that we have most effectively." That's why they launched a strategic and facilities master plan. It's an effort to shape the future of the library. The library will assess the condition and usage of its facilities, identify necessary capital improvements and evaluate future needs. All are based on recommendations from the community they receive from an online survey. "It's connecting with the community and getting input from the community, not just library users, but non-users as well," McNeal said. "To check in and see what exactly they need in their lives that the library might be able to help with." They want to know what Aurorans want to get out of their libraries. The library held a survey like this before, but it says it's been a while, and now more than ever, it needs to fine tune its efforts to have the most impact. "We haven't talked to the community since 2015. It's 10 years ago. A lot has changed in that time," McNeal said. "We just want to make sure that we're not spread too thin and that we are focusing on the top needs, the highest needs of the community." "Engage Aurora" website.
