A Community Scan
1. What is the population of the community? ____________________
What was the population ten years ago? _____________________
What is the projected population in the next ten years? ___________
2. Of the people living in your community, what percent are:
| Under 5 years old | |
| Between 5 and 14 years | |
| Between 15 and 19 | |
| Between 20 and 34 | |
| Between 35 and 54 | |
| Between 55 and 74 | |
| Between 75 and 84 | |
| Age 85 and older |
3. How many single-parent households are there? __________________________
4. What languages are spoken in the homes of the people in your community?
_______________________________________________________________
5. What ethnic groups are represented in your community? _________________
_______________________________________________________________
6. What are your community's three largest employers? What do they do? How many people do they employ?
How is it likely to be different in five years?
First Largest _________________________________ Employs: ____________
Makes/ Does ______________________________________________________________
In Five Years ______________________________________________________________
Second Largest ______________________________ Employs: _____________
Makes/Does ______________________________________________________
In Five Years ______________________________________________________________
Third Largest: ________________________________________
Employs: ____________
Makes/Does _______________________________________________________________
In Five Years ______________________________________________________________
7. What are the major industries in your community? What do they do? How many people do they employ?
How is this likely to be different in 5 years?
First Largest _________________________________ Employs: ____________
Makes/ Does ______________________________________________________________
In Five Years ______________________________________________________________
Second Largest _______________________________ Employs: _____________
Makes/Does ______________________________________________________________
In Five Years ______________________________________________________________
Third Largest: ________________________________ Employs: ____________
Makes/Does ______________________________________________________________
In Five Years ______________________________________________________________
8. Are there any other significant employers in your area? What do they do? How are they likely to be different in five years? ______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
9. What percentage of your community is unemployed? _____________ %
10. What is the median family income in your community? $ _____________
11. What percent of the families in your community are below the poverty line? _________ %
12. Does your community's population change widely during different seasons? __________
If yes, which seasons? ______________________________________________
+ /- How many people? ___________________
Source: _________________________________________________________
13. Where do people in your community get their information? How many are there of each of the following? Which provide information in languages other than English?
|
Services? |
How many? |
In languages other than English? |
| local newspapers | ||
| local radio stations | ||
| local television stations | ||
| bookstores | ||
| video stores | ||
| music stores | ||
| local community-access cable | ||
| Internet/electronic services | ||
| Other (community organizations, etc.) |
Source:___________________________________________________________________
14. What libraries are there in your community?
|
Libraries? |
How many? |
| Community | |
| School | |
| Academic (College and University) | |
| Hospital/Medical | |
| Legal | |
| Special/Other |
15. List the number of schools in your community. Are they public or private?
|
Schools |
How many? | |
| Pre-schools | ||
| Elementary | ||
| Middle or Junior High | ||
| High Schools | ||
| Vocational/Technical | ||
| Community Colleges | ||
| Colleges/Universities |
What is enrollment in your school district in K-12 now? ________________
What is projected in five years? ___________________
16. What percent of the people aged 25 and older have at least a high school diploma or a GED? (This includes all technical school and college grads as well.) ___________ %
What percent of people 25 and older have a least some college? ____________%
What percent of people aged 25 and older have at least four years of college? ________%
17. List the number of medical care organizations in your community.
|
Medical Care Organizations |
How many? |
| Hospitals | |
| Clinics | |
| Long-term and rehabilitation | |
| Hospices |
18. How many social service providers are located in your community?
|
Social Service Providers |
How many? |
| Nursing Homes (Extended Care) | |
| Day Care Centers | |
| Shelters/Halfway Houses/Drug Treatment Centers | |
| Youth and Recreation Centers | |
| Others (List) |
Do these facilities draw local/regional people to your community? ____ yes ____ no
Do the people who work in these organizations live in your community? ____ yes ____ no
19. List (small communities) or estimate the number (large communities) and types of organizations in your community (service groups, clubs, churches).
___________________________________________________________________________
20. Are there any state or county offices in your community? _____ yes _____ no
What services do these offices provide?_______________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
21. List the five most important issues facing your community in the next five years:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Questions adapted from Workform G of:
Planning for Results; a Public Library Transformation Process.
ALA, 1998.