Branch Recommendations

Struthers Library
95 Poland Ave.
Struthers, OH 44471
(330) 755-3322

Photo:

Service Area:
1990 Census Population of Primary Service Area: 10,537
2000 Census Population of Primary Service Area: 10,186
2003 Population Estimate for Primary Service Area: 10,119
2008 Population Projection for Primary Service Area: 9,988

Six-Year Circulation History:

Circulation Trend:

Struthers served a majority of user of the former Poland Library in 2000 and 2001 while the new Library was under construction. Circulation returned to its pre-New Poland Library use in 2002. Like many of the other PLYMC, it suffered a loss in circulation in 2003. The trend (discounting the Poland Library construction period factor) is gradually downward.

Year Built: 1957

Year(s) of Additions: None

Year(s) of Major Remodeling: None

Year(s) and Nature of Refurbishing Projects: None

Total Size: 6,700

Space Currently in Use: 6,700

Reason(s) Total Space Not in Use: All space is in use

SF per capita (using service population): .66 sq. ft. per capita

Physical Condition Rating:
(5 point scale - 1 = Very Poor, 2 = Poor, 3 = Fair, 4 = Good, 5 = Excellent)

Overall Condition: 3
Structural Integrity: 4
Roof: 3
HVAC: 3
Electrical: 3
Plumbing: 3
Fenestration: 3
Ambiance: 2 (very dated)
ADA Accessibility Issues: 3
Other (specify):

Site/Location Rating:
(5 point scale - 1 = Very Poor, 2 = Poor, 3 = Fair, 4 = Good, 5 = Excellent)

Overall Site/Location Rating: 3
Convenience: 3
Visibility: 3
Curb Appeal: 3
Parking: 2
Size of Site/Expansion Potential: 2
Proximity (to shopping, services, etc.): 2

Distances to Nearest Branches/Main:
Brownlee Woods 2.0 miles
Campbell 2.4 miles
Poland 2.8 miles
East 4.1 miles
South 4.7 miles
Main 4.9 miles

Current Hours of Operation: http://www.libraryvisit.org/locations.htm

Estimated Annual Operational Cost (2003):

$ 261,615

Estimated Staffing Costs (2003):

$ 166,631

Professional/Clerical Bi-Weekly Pay Percentage (2003):

47.58% Professional, 52.42% Clerical

Current Collection Size:

43,776

Cost per Circulation:

$ 3.80

Circulation per Sq. Ft.:

10.26

Circulation per Hour Open:

41.06

Visits per Capita:

4.28

Visits per Hour Open:

25.86

Reference Transactions per Hour Open:

1.11

Turnover Rate:

1.57

Struthers summary:
The Struthers Library serves approximately 10,000 people from a 6,700 square foot branch library built in 1957. At .66 square feet per capita, the building is about the right size for the community served. However, the building is very dated in appearance and has a parking lot that is nearly invisible to a potential first-time visitor.

The Struthers Library bore the burden of serving many of the users of the Poland Branch Library during the closure of the old Poland Library and before the opening of the new Poland facility. When Poland reopened, Struthers quickly returned to previous circulation levels. Both population in the area and circulation are declining slightly.

The Struthers Library performs quite well on many measures. On average, over twenty-five people (25.86) visit the Library each hour. Furthermore, these visitors check out over 40 items (41.06) each hour.

Recommended Action for Struthers/Brownlee Woods, adopted by Library Trustees on March 18, 2004:
The current 5,040 square foot Brownlee Woods facility should be replaced with a new facility of approximately 12,000 - 15,000 square feet designed to serve residents of the Brownlee Woods / Struthers areas, pending further cost modeling that demonstrates the long-term cost-effectiveness of such an approach. A community/neighborhood branch of this size would effectively serve approximately 25,000 people by providing .6 square feet of library space per capita. It is estimated that the combined populations of Struthers and Brownlee Woods areas will continue to decline and that it will reach the 25,000 level by the year 2020. It is expected that a combined library could offer a significantly larger selection of materials and services and could be open additional hours at a lower cost then operating each independently.