Broken Arrow highlights library survey; schedules three public forums

Eric McCullough, director of communications for the City of Broken Arrow, said Tuesday that the city’s recent library survey drew its largest response to date and that the results show strong community interest in a larger library.

Councilor Lisa Ford said more than 4,000 people completed the survey and that roughly 58% of respondents indicated support for spending over $5,000,000 on a new or expanded library. “This is the most responses we have had on any of our surveys,” Ford said.

The council has scheduled three public forums where residents can meet library representatives and ask questions: Aug. 28, Sept. 3 and Sept. 25. McCullough said the forums will be held in different areas of the city and that department heads and the city manager are expected to attend.

City officials described the library as a community gathering place used by families, homeschoolers and seniors. Ford said community was a recurring word in open-ended survey responses. “Community was 1 of those words that popped up a lot,” McCullough said, summarizing the survey feedback.

McCullough said the full survey results were not yet posted on the city website but would be available on the agendas and minutes page under the government section once uploaded. No council vote or funding decision for a library project was recorded in the meeting recording; officials described the survey results and outreach steps as part of ongoing planning.

Officials said the forums will allow residents to review library plans and to ask questions about funding, timing and services. Dates and locations will be posted on the city website when available.

For more information, the city directed residents to the government section of the city website and the meeting’s agendas and minutes listing.