Public focus groups held Wednesday and Thursday, January 27 and 28, started the process of discovery for the C.H. Booth Library. The library is seeking input for long-range planning, scheduling a series of forums facilitated by Maxine Bleiweis of MB&A, a library innovation consulting firm out of Bridgeport, and her associate, Erica Byrne.

Ms Bleiweis is a former library director with more than 25 years of experience in the library field.

"Public libraries are reflections of their communities," and can thrive if they listen to the needs and trends of a community, Ms Bleiweis said at the 7 pm focus group, Wednesday.

With the advent of technology, particularly e-readers and personal devices, libraries have had to reassess how information is distributed to patrons, and what patrons are seeking from a modern library, she said. Strategic planning is important. At the C.H. Booth Library, Ms Bleiweis pointed out, more than 400 people a day pass through for a variety of reasons. To be responsive and responsible to its townspeople is critical for a library to remain a force in a community. MB&A will guide the process of collecting and processing information from focus groups, as well as from an online survey, found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/chbcommunitysurvey. The survey can also be found at www.chboothlibrary.org.

"We're looking for trends," said Ms Bleiweis.

Newtown residents, including young people, are urged to fill out the survey, and to register for remaining focus groups, most of which are held in the conference room (lower level) of Town Hall South.

Participants at focus groups will be led through a series of questions posed by MB&A, with time for all to respond. On Wednesday evening, Ms Bleiweis asked participants to consider why they live in Newtown, and what is important to them about the town. She asked them to reflect on where their lives might be five years out, and what is on the "to do" list to learn in the future. How technology plays a role in lives and how that technology is learned, as well as whether or not technology can be isolating were other questions participants were asked to respond to.

Technology facilitates communication, said Newtown resident Leigh Smith, adding that he feels it is a personal choice people make as to how much technology is allowed to interfere with a personal life. There is some technology overload that leads to stress, he and Tom Dwyer, another resident taking part in the Wednesday focus group, agreed.

Where do people go in Newtown and the area for enrichment, asked Ms Bleiweis, as well as asking "Do you remember the first time ever you were in a public library?" What was special about the early library experience, said Mr Smith, was the access to "all kinds of information."

Participants were also asked to think about the C.H. Booth Library and what it offers, as well as what would be on a wish list of offerings. "What would be the most important achievement of C.H. Booth Library in five years?" she asked, with responses of combining technology and tradition, allowing for the human factor in information gathering. Compelling programming, using residents with knowledge to enhance the library's offerings, and ways to make the library more of a community gathering place were suggestions offered.

"The biggest thing is for a library to walk in your shoes. Libraries represent so much of what is possible. This process helps discover those champions," said Ms Bleiweis, thanking those who attended.

The focus group series continues Tuesday, February 2, from 9 to 10:30 am, and again from noon to 1:30 pm; and Wednesday, February 3, 7 to 8:30 pm, at Town Hall South. A special focus group for teens is scheduled in the Board Room of the C.H. Booth Library, Wednesday, February 3, from 3:30 to 5 pm. Registration is limited to 12 persons per session. Call 203-426-4533 or go to www.chboothlibrary.org to register.