Greenwich Library is evaluating potential improvements to the Cos Cob Branch Library and has launched a survey to examine the community’s views about its spaces, collections, and services.
Feedback from the survey results will help identify community priorities for new and possibly expanded spaces at the branch. The survey is currently available via the Library’s website or directly at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CosCob.
“Whether you visit Cos Cob several times a week or if you’ve never been before, we want to hear your opinions on current or potential services and amenities at the Library,” said Joe Williams, Greenwich Library Director. “Completing the survey only takes a few minutes, but its impact as the voice of our community will resonate for years to come.”
The survey will be live from Monday, April 17 through Sunday, May 7, and will be available in English, Spanish, and Japanese.
Current Library users and non-users, as well as individuals of all ages 12+, are encouraged to participate.
The survey is easily accessed on mobile devices and a dedicated computer station is available at the Cos Cob Branch Library and a limited number of print copies available at all three locations.
As an incentive for participants, those who complete the survey can opt into a raffle for a chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite.
For several years, Greenwich Library has explored renovating the Cos Cob Branch Library. The building is well over 20 years old and is in need of refurbishment. In 2022, Library Trustees approved a plan to enhance the branch and expand the community room which was in line with the Library’s strategic plan of targeted enhancements for the branch. Concerns raised by community members were heard and as a result, the Library Board of Trustees paused the project to reevaluate and assess the long-term space needs of the branch. The Library’s Buildings and Grounds Committee is working with an architect to conduct a space analysis as part of a larger master plan for the branch. This will include review of parking studies, site usage, and internal data as well as consultation with neighbors and other community organizations.
Funding for the Cos Cob renovation is expected to come from a combination of public and private funding, and decisions regarding the full scope of improvements will come from a composite of counsel gleaned from the community survey, the recently released 2023-2025 Strategic Plan, and input from the Greenwich Library Board of Trustees, the Friends of Cos Cob Library, and Library leadership and staff.
The survey was designed by a committee of Library staff, trustees, and the Friends of Cos Cob Library in consultation with BERK Consultants, Inc, a Seattle-based consulting firm. The Library also collaborated with BERK on its recent Strategic Plan, Greenwich Library Reconnects. The Library’s Board of Trustees provided funding for the project.
Access the survey directly at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CosCob.