Local and Regional Trends
What local, regional and national Trends will affect the Estes Valley?
Ecological Movement – Better uses of resources and saving resources (recycling, saving energy, etc.)
Technology
Development & redevelopment
Wildlife management
Immigration laws
Development of winter economy
Inclusion of big business (WalMart, etc.)
Traffic issues
More retirees
Aging population
Increasing medical needs
Higher housing costs
Changing – more transportation needs
Increasing pollution
Skiers to snowshoers
Dillon to EP migration
Globalization
Tech growth
Gas expensive/Rewp
Electronic/distance business increasing
Aging population
Real estate escalation
Multiculturalism
Fire recovery
Trends – 5 Big Trends – Estes Park
Cost of living in general
Baby boomers – aging population/retirees
More expensive housing in Estes Park
Fewer children in Estes Park?
Challenge of managing infrastructure
Demand on services by retirees
Gas & rare supply
Impersonalization of the world – computerize
Pollution
Electronic & distance businesses
Funding for cultural – smaller pieces of pie
Water supply concerns – not enough
Multiculturalism
Government doesn’t always respond to citizens
Change in operation of Rocky Mountain National Park & Forest Service
Recovery from a large fire in our area
Increased population
Impersonalization of world
Computerization digitor
Funding for cultural facilities – drying up
Government & those in power not listening to the people
Graying of America
Changes in Park operation
National Forest Service operation
Use of public lands
What are changes/trends Elevated vs. Lowered
Retirees
Immigrants to serve hotels, etc.
Building
Water/land availability
Population that can afford local housing
Local wildlife
Air pollution
Bad traffic
Public lands
Landfill
Children learning more than 1 language
Adult education
Mass Transportation (changes)
Vacationers – length of stay shorter
-age with income levels
Who will the workforce be?
Where are visitors coming from?
Fewer children
Aging demographic
More affluent retirees
Greater technology use
Fewer places for seasonal employees to live (more problems finding those employees)
More outside places for children to go
Merchants going out of business because of lack of employees
Summer jobs & volunteer jobs for local teens
More construction
Empty storefronts
Bigger homes that no one can afford
More children who need outside (of school) educational materials
Parents needing jobs w/benefits
Foreign families who need education resources
Teens who need jobs/volunteer places for summers/after school
Fewer children coming into school
Greater number retired & semi retired Aging demographic
Affluence of 2
Higher traffic
Far greater technology use
Employees – lack of housing decrease continues worse
Transportation changes i.e. cost of fuel
Length of stay in Estes
Age of visitors? Older as opposed to families or college age kids, young families
Where are visitors coming from?
Front Range
Out of State
Out of Country
Work force? Retirees
Foreign Students
Back to College kids
Hispanic population
Young families
Merchants continuing to struggle – economy affected by gas prices. Housing market.
Greater reliance on technology
Fuel costs/availability
Available land to build filled up
Leisure time demands for more educational/extreme experiences
Increasing pressure/conflict between natural resources and people
Town seeking upscale growth & marketing
Estes Park residents want small town atmosphere
Merchants want another Aspen & Breckenridge
Building increase
Part time residents/second home owners
More winter tourism – snowshoeing & cross country skiing increasing in popularity
More retirees
Surviving businesses will be more upscale
Leisure time demands for more educational/extreme sports activities
Library –school/public library – share facilities & staff
People with a lot of money or spending all they make may make a demand for more upscale stores & businesses. (up-scale expectations)
Demand better services & welcome & personal treatment
Year round demand – better stores & restaurants
Tourists may stay in one place longer
Available land will eventually be used up. Rebuilding on those sites will be bigger & better.
More upscale business
Longer tourist stays in 1 place
Greater awareness of how much disposable income is available
Closer scrutiny of how it is used.
Money to spend
Ecological movement – electricity
Language
Diversity culture
Family size
Age of resident population
Upscale businesses service
Combination school/public library
Computer usage (increased)
Education (mini classes)
Graying of America/Estes Park
Larger divide between “haves” & “have-nots”
More recreation time – leisure time
Growth electronic age/digital divide between young & other population
Immigration – Hispanic America
Globalization – smaller world
Future – anticipate what’s coming
Future – create – new
Present – what you want
Past – what is traditional?
Future – what is coming – culture, community, world, tech, population, demographics
What is the big picture?
What is the better future for Estes Park?
Project future trends
Peak oil/gasoline
More retirees
“ Asians
“ Hispanics
Technology changes – e – book, smart paper
More remote learning
Climate changes
Cost of living
Young families leaving
Increase in population
Gap – haves & have-nots
More demand for upscale infrastructure
Shift of attention from I -70 to corridor
Updated material
More population
We’ll need a bigger place
We’ll need more people to help in the library
Aging population
Greater diversity in population
More technology
Global warming
Globalization
Third world “pockets” in U.S. (growth)
Less human contact
Greater sense of alienation
Updated material
More people – more service people
More library space/bigger
Less gift shop tourism & more park visits
More retirees/summer residents
More Hispanic residents
More kids headed to college
More Asian residents
Climate change
Peak oil
More distance learning
Technology – e-books
Smart paper books
Young families leaving /cost of housing
Less gift-shop tourism
More park (RMNP) visits
More retirees
More summer residents
More Hispanics
Hopefully, more kids headed to college
Better high-speed internet
Large percentage of retirees vs. younger people
Increasing cost of housing – limited area for expanded building
Lack of diversity, ethnic, economic
High cost of living due to transportation of goods
Seasonal economy
Wildlife mgt – town/Nat Park Interface
Water resources
Growth
Environmental issues
Tourism growth-meeting the needs.
Globalization vs. local
Increased need for public transportation
Estes Valley government decision making vs. only Estes Park
Need for educational excellence
Public schools
Continuing education available for adults
Need to plan for growth
Type of community we want
Technology
Changing demographic
Cost of living increasing
Shift of attention from I-70 to Estes Park
Water management
Winter economic
Immigration
Lack of diversity – ethnic & economic
Seasonal economy
Development
Redevelopment
Wildlife management
RMNP interaction
Self-determinism – what type of tourists do we want to attract to town?
Inclusion of big business
Globalization
Transportation & traffic
Educational demands
Changing demographic, aging population
Higher cost of living. Homes too expensive for young families
Shift of attention from I-70 corridor to here
Water management
Winter economic development
Increasing Hispanic population
Changing legislature
Genealogy is THE leading hobby in the U.S.
It teaches us all to more appreciate our freedom, our constitution & our republic.
The Estes Park Genealogical Society owns a collection here at the library which has the ability to grow more & more books, periodicals & atlases & manuscripts over the next decade. At least, thereby alleviating travel to Greeley, 50 mi, Denver 70 mi and Cheyenne 100 mi. We of the Society know that our collection is a GREAT asset to this community.
1 Billion dollars a year is spent on genealogy.
More service people
Lower economic population
More traffic
More travel
Older population (baby boomers)
Environmental sensitivity
Smaller cars
Big weddings
Family reunions
Cell phones, iPods etc.
Changing population: Spanish-speaking newcomers need to learn English.
Aging population has specific needs; more retired people coming to Estes Park
Needs will change w/advanced age, and some will move away to be cared for elsewhere.
Possible fuel shortages and/or increased prices may cause some not to come, or to leave Estes Park.
Needs of youngsters must be kept in mind. As technology advances, they may need different resources for school & entertainment.
Haves vs. have-nots
Materials to support hobbies, ie. genealogy
Increased medical needs of aging / expanding population
Electronic/digital info
Needs of immigrants to assimilate
Changing transportation needs
Globalization
Increased population
Technological growth & breakdown of communication
Increased population & higher percentage of the population will be retirees
Universal wideband internet service to all homes
With library holdings on line (digitized), in addition to the physical holdings
Digitize the library holdings
Better cell phone service
Trends – Friday
Growth
Change in society
Reducing bureaucracy in government
Cultural awareness
Technology scientific industrial consumer
Exmosion
Global warming – pollution, fire danger, elk further down
2nd homes & large
Healthier longer – hiking, golf, swimming
Rescue squads
Immigration control
Energy costs?
Auto travel?
Terrorist activities
Environment pollution
Family crises
World famine
WATER?
Government reorganization = local, national, regional
Population explosion – growth
Basic educational system overhaul – restructure
Health problems
Location?
School attendance/enrollment?
Electronic/communications center
No young people (?)
Presumptuous – future???
What do we read? TV? Internet?
Stuck
Elicit
Share
Capture
Multiply
Better future
Future – anticipate what is coming
Future – create way
Present – what you want User driven
Past – what you love traditional
Better future for EP.
Trends in community
Growth – growth – growth change in environment
Ammenities – WATER, energy, costs of water, garbage, energy, etc.
City services for public
Access to & from Estes Park containing services
Declining school environment
Declining school enrollment
Multi cultural & generational issues
Technological explosion
Availability for families
Global warming
Available expertise
Ronfation
Reducing
Health, aging
School reorganization
Population explosion
Environment
Terrorism
Family crisis-changing formats in families
Famine
Government re-organization
Baby boomers retiring – health
Awareness of pollution/transportation
Need for education past high school
Formal
Trade
Globalization/trade
Knowledge of other cultures
Distribution of wealth
Aging populations/health care issues
Rising home prices/growth
Boomer retirements – aging population
Immigration & health care crises
Environmental (climate change)
Human impact
Energy/water issues
Employment needs? income imbalance
Class disparities
telecommuting
technology/communication revolution
globalization
environmental growth/incentives/progressions
Energy credits – solar, etc.
Real recycling options
Impact on Rocky Mountain National Park
Population growth
Affordable housing (service industry)
Traffic patterns/flow (i.e. Elkhorn)
Services
Public transportation – Boulder, Denver International Airport, etc.
Health Care
Choices/competition for consumers
Grocery, restaurants, etc.
Recreation/Health care incentives/proactive
Bike paths
Global Energy/ vs. isolationist
Cultural awareness/diversity
2% -20 Income distribution
Naples housing
growth – population
computerization – how people get info
no newspapers
better mass transit
ethnic diversification
multilingual
growth
housing market prices/cost of living
# families young/retirees
communications
Internet & etc – books downloaded – audio – less printed material
School district – paring down work force is parents at Good Samaritan
Spanish in schools – library needs
Multi-languages – need books Ethnic Diversification
Parenting needs, etc. – what are needs of
Better environmental
Mass transit with gas prices
Programs to meet parents working needs (evening story-time)
More books bilingual
For all the kids who are going to start learning Spanish through school next year.
Programs in the evening for the parents the work in the morning
Continue to develop & build housing
Possible Aspen/Vail Community with no homes for low income
No homes for workers to live.
More “green” building
Less “families” staying in town
Global warming
Increase in the diversity of the US & region & Estes Park
Changes in the political scene
Global economy
Increase in numbers of older folks – more retirees
Health care issues
More demands on leadership
More and more electronic community
Increased need for sorting out information for the valid parts
Possible increased isolation
Greater need to have conversations about the things people really care about
Housing – price growing need for attainable housing
More lower class families
Energy costs
Hard to find employees
Money for schools
The whole & diverse community to work for the common good through greater communication — all differences
Recycling
Environmental contamination
Crime increase
Food costs
Transportation
Pollution in the park
Overbuilding of condos
Elk population
Lack of natural gas
Water
Fire danger
Growing retirement population and the related need for attainable housing to serve the needs of the growing community.
I would like to see a method in place (whole and diverse) that would better enable the community to work together for the common good.
Computer isolation
Housing market & economy
More retirees/less middle class families
Gas prices
Problem with finding employees
Money to support schools/dwindling students
Fire danger worsening – drought
Pollution in the Park and town
Condos & other over-building
Elk population
Natural gas for home heating being rationed or even gone
Organic food may be harder to come by – E.P. dependence on the Valley for this & farms without wells.
Global warming
Recycling
Mass transportation
Immigration
Energy costs
Health care costs
Crime
Food costs
Environmental contamination
Pop explosion altered animal behavior
Pollution
Global warming-increased fire danger
Less open space – threat to quality of life
Increased cost of living
Increased senior population
Increased dic entre high & low economic status
Higher expect for quality services with better responsiveness
More 2nd homes & larger
Healthy longer – increase in recreation needs
More rescue squads
Declining school enroll
Decreased young population
Scarcity of affordable housing
Increased visitation
“ upscale resort
“ expertise
Water supply taxed
Multi-cultural issues
Increased pedestrian malls – closing sts.
Terror threat
Increasing senior population
More division between upper & lower socio-economic status
Higher cost of living
Greater expectation for quality services with better responsiveness
Increasing population
Global warming – fire danger
Pressure for service for seniors at expense of young people
Becoming a retirement community
Too many condos
Crowding
Using up natural resources
Destruction of animal habitat
Hispanic immigration
Multi-cultural
Environment
Energy
Education – cost
Government services – Social Security
Medicare
Medical costs & availability
Housing, growth, 2 tiers of society
What types of people fill summer work needs?
How supplies (and cost) are delivered to Estes
Increasing 2 languages in schools
Types of employment
Master List
Increase of cultural diversity, immigration
Demand for a more multicultural approach
Becoming a retiree community
Availability of expertise
Loss of animal habitat
Loss of natural resources
2 tier society – 2 job approach
Medical services
Changing nature of social security
Polarization of political ideas
Hispanic: et al population prevalence
Work force housing
Environmental conditions worsen
Commercial establishment to matching “tastes” of tourists we draw
Polarization of political views – local, national
Pressure on wilderness/park
Diminishing young families – housing too expensive
Too many condos for elder couples which might curtail “neighborhood” feelings
With even more emphasis on “enticing” visitors, will have held traditional businesses suffer as owners retire
Dire property taxes too high proportionately
Increased pressures for services for seniors –less for
Increasing number of retirees/elderly
Housing increasingly too costly for working families
Declining school enrollment
Increased proportion of working families who are Hispanic – possibly non-English speaking
Disengagement in civic affairs
Increased pressure for services for seniors at expense of services for young families
Growing volunteer training
Global warming
Limited housing for employed folk – condos exploding
Expansion of services – medical, educational, foods, etc.
Rising prices, inflation speeding up
Growing volunteer training
Leadership training for all conditions
Central pedestrian area developments
Entrance enhancement (for town)
Diminishing young families and neighbor spirit
Proportional (to other towns) properties
Increasing no. of retired/elderly – baby boomers
More increased prepare for senior retirees – less for young family
Disengagement civil affairs
Global warming
Water fights – continuing
Breakdown of families
Terrorism
Gas prices/supply
Drug use
Expansion into national forests/parks
Musical influence
Traffic congestion
Curb appeal (flowers, trees, fountains…)
Gas prices
Tourists – amount of tourism
Expansion
Drug use
Popularity of town, vacation spot & as a place to live, buildling new houses
School improvement or change (people in charge)
Increasing pollution of skies
Influx of Hispanic and other folk – increasing
Corporate takeover at some level – WalMart talk
Holiday Inn – Trendz/newspaper
Older folk increasing in numbers
Needs are different
Pressure on Park – population explosion
Pressure on wildlife – population explosion
McMansions
Gas prices / supply
Drug problem
Delinquency
Public buses
Curb appeal – beyond downtown
Animal life
Terrorists
Business turnover
Drought or fire
Transient people
Median age
Small business problems
Supporting needs of younger people
Pop etc machines/something beneficial
Elk – relocate to areas that need or can sustain them
Disasters – weather/many other kinds possible/earthquake, pollution, bombing, water Poison, fire, drought
Population growth/decline schools
Bringing community together
Traffic
Business turnover
Drought/fire Rocky Mountain National Park
Rising gas prices
Transient community
Tourism
Median age/income of fulltime residents
Small business – taxes, support
Increasing pollution
Influx of different nationalities of people
Corporate takeovers
Elderly people increase & needs
Traffic pressures/community transportation
Population explosions
Gas prices/supply of gas
Drug use/delinquency
Expansion into RMNP
Curb appeal
Tourism changing
Housing market – second homes vs fulltime residents
Pop machines/convenience
Elk population (relocation)
Natural disasters: pollution, floods, terrorism
School enrollment
Community involvement cooperation
Small business – support
Transient community
Support young community
Technology trends – digital, divide Instant communication
Decentralization/or info anywhere
Specialization of interest
Increased older population
Need for connectivity for foslep community
Compression of time
High tech industry
More public transportation
Center for arts – coordinating with
a. hometown activities
b. tourists needs
Chamber of Commerce – community leaders develop “packages” to invite more people to spend a week or weekend in the community
Keep small town atmosphere in building
Development – “bigger is not better”
Specialization
Increasing senior services
Energy – transportation, esp.
Computers – technology – disperse knowledge – push to specialization
Education
Multi-lingual
International
Interest in Rocky Mountain National Park
Increased age of population
Tele-computing
Aging of population
Decrease in retirement (older workers)
Population growth
Increased use of library
Government bureaucracy
Increasing land values
Decreasing middle & lower class population
Increasing commuter driven workforce
Decreasing family population – less kids in school system
Decreasing low income housing availability
Decreasing construction workforce as land is used up
Economic development other than service, i.e. tech trends
Increasing senior population – good & bad
push the computer industry in town – decrease the “digital divide” between haves and have-nots.
Specialization of interests
Decreasing needs for connectivity of internet
Increasing land values
Gas prices
Larger corporations coming in
T in Hispanic community
Transient community
More seniors
Traffic
Demands on local government
Travel packages for tourists amongst businesses
Response to natural disasters
Loss of affordable housing
Families leaving
Increasing pollution
Greener living
Special districts
Due to economy, more local – regional – hit lodging instead of global travel
More here! Not traveling far – Front Range – gas prices
Need more low income housing/programs/Mexican immersion
Workforce housing – support – subsidies – require builders
Literacy
More young families – Hispanic
Baby boomers
2nd homes
services – recreation center for active adults,
grandchildren, young families
Youth Services (personal)
Deal with small town problems (as in anyplace)
Education
Local Government (can’t pay) without taxes
Special districts – why so many – combine
Computer/internet
Fewer jobs / outsourcing
Greener living
More active role in community
What are the big trends impacting Estes Park
Increasing cost of housing making it harder and harder for low and middle income workers to find affordable housing
Increasing costs of fuel – inflation of food prices
Limitations on travel – affordable energy needs
Interest in immigration reform – where will it lead – literacy programs-ESL
Interest in improving education
Job Fair
Continuing Education
Hispanic integration
Increasing computer & internet presence
Increasing Hispanic population
Fewer jobs as outsourcing & technology replace jobs
More regional visitors instead of countrywide/international as fuel/energy prices increase. Travel/lodging
Greener living, better environment. Choices
Increase in population growth of retired people
Low income population decrease-unable to afford to live here
Problems local government paying for all of the services public wants
Increase in senior population = less school age children
Concerns with so many special districts (cost) – combine them
library. 2nd sanitation dist., recreation, hospital, town, county
Housing – mid/income
Rising prices – inflation
Global warming
Water supplies
Increase in senior services and less for younger
Transportation – need for mass transportation
Declining school enrollment
Changing family
Population explosion
Available expertise
Affordability for families
Higher expectations for services
Multicultural & generational community issues
Technical explosion
Pedestrian centers
Environmental pollution
Terrorism
Increasing land values
Gas prices
Transient community
Senior community growing
Demands on local governmental services
Response to natural disasters
Decreasing family populations
Greener living
Support for younger population
Cost of transportation
Educational & sports activities
Younger families leaving
Shift of attention from I 70
More demand for upscale infrastructure
Increase in population
Increasing gap – have & have-nots
Expansion of medical facilities
Retirement population
Technology – growth
Needs of immigrants
Cost of living
Cost/supply of gasoline
Need for good civic management
Remote learning
Communication – personal treatment
Sense of alienation
Trend-needs of immigrants-global environment
Trends- increased population> need for affordable housing and good environment for non-retirement community
Evidence of Success
If we were to look 10 years into the future, what evidence would show that the Estes Valley was a better place to live?
Growing youthful population
Performing arts center
Reduced pollution
Adequate, affordable housing
Annual elk hunt
Old town vehicles below dump out of sight
Comprehensive public transportation
Close Elkhorn to cars! Ride through town and to Park and surrounding area conveniently and economically on small environmentally comfortable electric or propane buses. Buses every 8 minutes
Heal their people- “community recreation facility” including pool, gym, recreation rooms- modern up-scales
Environmentally friendly community-comprehensive recycling plan facility
Fewer elk in town eating vegetation
People attending theater and cultural events or modern theater: Cultural Arts Center
More bike paths connected
Cleaned up Moraine Ave.–entrance road to Park–get rid of used car lot and old restaurants
Lot between Safeway and Stanley Hotel a solar farm
Every downtown building has solar collectors
Commercial signage off by 10:00 PM
All outdoor lighting on motion detection
National Park access by shuttle (except Trail Ridge Road)
Aerial Tram from Stanley Park to Prospect Mountain to Park entrance
No Wal-Mart (car lot)
More affordable housing mixed into neighborhoods
More children walking to school/wellness
More retired people reading to children
More people taking Spanish lessons
More prophetic voices speaking from the Interfaith Council
More friendships among racial groups
Fewer black top areas
More computer literate seniors
Better educated population
Less racism
More young adults
More year round residents
More book readers
More high school kids going to college
Less political anger
Solar farm between Safeway and Stanley Hotel
Every downtown building having solar collectors
National Park access by shuttle exclusively, except through traffic by Trail Ridge Road
Quality education – a higher community priority
A better educated populace
Less political anger and loud “patriotism”
Less racism
More readers
More high school kids going to college
More young people (young adults)
More year-round residents
See/Hear/Behavior
Fewer cars downtown
More trees and open spaces
More people walking/ using other than automobiles
More visitors in colder seasons
More and varied recreation venues
More citizen empowerment
You can see the stars
Less noise in ten years
Substandard housing at a minimum
Estes would still be a family destination with affordable entertainment and lodging. Population would have stayed fairly stagnant.
Schools would be operating at about the same capacity
Estes Park would be like it is today but without the crabby people-this about covers it
Been here since 1964, so it’s already too late to make it what I would envision. It’s changed beyond what I ever imagined so can’t imagine it in 10 years. Is it possible to go back?
What would I see 10 years from now in Estes Park if was a better place to hear, behaviors of people, natural environment, physical evidence.
People would always look each other in eye on street
All cars electric and quiet
No traffic jams-no smelly pollution-no loud vehicles-less noise
Fewer cars downtown
50% of people ride bikes or walk on extensive paths
No fire recovery needed-forests beautiful and strong
Hear no complaining
See more books in the Library
People will be excited to cooperate and be friendly
A return of some of “old time Estes Park” flavor
See the stars
Increase people using alternative transportation, etc.
Increase and varied recreation venues
Substandard housing at a minimum
People are empowered here
Fewer exposed power lines
Alternative forms of power
Families will be encouraged and keep children here
Diverse and tolerant community
Better future
All residential areas would have sidewalks and garages-actual neighborhoods
All open space would remain and actually increase
Speed limits would increase as the roads have been widened Hwy 34-Hwy 36-Hwy 7 coming into town would be 45
All boards-town, hospital, museum, library, etc. would actually listen to input and act upon it
Local shopping encouraged so folks don’t run to the Valley
Trail system linking Estes Park to RMNP, Lily Lake
Not much vehicle noise or pollution-lots of bikes, walkers, hybrid vehicles
Downtown converted to “walking downtown”-no cars allowed
New development ceased-redevelopment taking place
Winter draw for tourist in place-snowboarding, skiing, convention center with winter activities (as a result, merchants winning year round, less turnover in population)
All of our homes that are worth 300,000 now will be worth 3,000,000!
Excellent educational opportunities for kids-a community that draws excellent teaching staff
Thinning of elk herds-fewer seasonal traffic problems
Leads to fewer bear and mountain lions coming into near town residential neighborhoods
Police off of Segways on streets and sidewalks
More awareness by tourists of eating behavior-i.e.: throwing gum on sidewalks, expectations of stores amenable to food
More grocery stores, large and Mom and Pop
More less expensive housing for summer employees
Continuing with stores open at night (too many tourist towns “close up” at 5:00). In business many visitors are very positive about later hours.
More trees in town
Better parking for visitors to keep them off the streets- without bulldozing a mountain
Better mass transit
Better playgrounds
A place for teenagers to meet/have fun
More walking/hiking trails away from houses: to Lily Lake and RMNP
More places for pet owners to deposit their pets’ dropping-visitors and those who live here
A place for kids of all ages to meet, play and learn from each other-especially about different cultures and languages
Shops where locals are happy to purchase most of their daily needs-including clothing-rather than only tourist shops
No Starbucks
Natural food market/2nd large grocery store/competition in grocery stores
More interactive Parks: tables, playgrounds, fire pits
Indoor/ outdoor pool
Full store fronts- no empties
More redevelopment
Some actual “neighborhoods” sidewalks and some lights
More families together often
Removal of speed traps
Winter excitement for tourists, outdoor and indoor activities so local businesses can survive year round
All boards actually listening to locals, working together, definite term limits and accountability
Thinning of Elk herds
Police not on Segways-walking the beat
New train station-trains from large cities to here-less traffic- shuttles from trains to hotels
Full store fronts, crowded sidewalks with happy tourists. In people’s homes-at least one parent at home with the children: better incomes for employees (one income families and health benefits)
Indoor /outdoor pool for locals and visitors to go to
Natural food market that was busy and had to always restock their shelves
Locals riding/walking on paths and shopping in their town, not going the Valley to shop
Parks in town with flower gardens, playgrounds for children and places for days to play
Less home construction and more occupied homes
NO STARBUCKS!
Winter recreational facilities- XC ski, ice climbing
Better summer facilities- bike lanes, sidewalk, transportation
Uniform residential development ie: nicer homes next to run down rentals no longer a problem
Better traffic planning- not traffic jams on Elkhorn, maybe no cars on Elkhorn? easy flow of traffic from Front Range to RMNP
No obtrusive development, ie: Devil’s Gulch Condos.
Well kept buildings in town, freshly painted
Wide variety of shopping….not just candy, jewelry and t-shirts
Top notch educational facilities and staff
Young people grow up here and stay here
See, hear, observe
Well cared for houses surrounded by native landscapes (no blue grass lawns and water demanding landscapes)
People enjoying being out and about in town in the evening (good restaurants and safe streets)
Outlying parking with shopping district pedestrian-friendly
Economic and cultural diversity-one unified community
Open spaces throughout community-evidence of planned growth
Public transportation to Boulder, Denver, Loveland, Ft. Collins and East
Decreased dependence on automobile
More bike paths and walk ways
Green buildings
Use of alternative energy-wind, solar, recycle containers throughout town
Economic and cultural diversity that forms a unified community
Planned community with open space and development, etc
Public transportation that’s timely and cheap
Bike paths and walkways- less autos
Alternative energy usage
Native landscaping not water guzzling non-natives
Buildings well kept and maintained/ paint, etc.
Variety of shops, not just candy shops, t-shirts, trinkets
Closed Elkhorn-pedestrian traffic only like Pearl Street
Ice climbing park-like Ouray, CO
Fountain and downtown playground-kid/ family friendly
People respecting the personal space of wildlife
Increased bikes with cycling lanes
Fewer “sale” and “clearance” signs- shop owners getting what they need to stay in business
No trash
Year-round upkeep of lawns and parks
Shops and restaurants open year round
Day-to-day interaction of ethnic groups
Historical markers/plaques on pedestrian walk
More uniformity in business frontages
More high-rise buildings
Quieter-more walking and removed parking
Less cozy-bigger business areas, more defined shopping areas and malls
Streets with no auto traffic allowed
Social services available for all who need them
Everyone would communicate on a regular basis with his/ her neighbors
We would be more “green”
We would have regular transportation (not just a little in the summer)
Recycling center takes all recyclables
See elk and deer in town and hear wolves howl at night
Open space preserved in and around town
Sky is clear and stars at night are bright-ambient lighting controlled
Elk are no longer downtown or in dense neighborhoods
Traffic is absent from downtown
Auto travel is limited to Trail Ridge Road
Shuttle bus service to Bear Lake and Glacier Gorge
See: Sensory specific detail in terms of National environment
See pets not running lose
Supervision of pets when outdoors
Community recreational center: activities, childcare, workshops
Public civility
Hear quieter motorcycles
Behavior change? People more aware of wildlife behaviors: less activities which aggravate the animals to cause aggressive behavior
-less injuries
-less pets killed
Sensory Specific Details: 10 years from 2007
1. The Library was expanded again and we have an ever growing Genealogy Dept filled with people (seniors and students, etc.) doing research
2. Families, couples, individuals smiling and having a good time on their vacation because they are enjoying the food , lodging and feeling welcome by the courteous people in town.
3. More public exportation in addition to the taxi’s and special transit.
4. A more improved intersection on Moraine Avenue near the Donut Haus.
5. Natural Environment-People more aware of wildlife behavior so the two better co-exist with less injury to wildlife.
6. More winter activities
7. All motorcycles have mufflers.
8. Emergency helicopters- full time availability.
9. Hwy 36 and 34 with no dead trees.
Elkhorn closed to all traffic
Only electric carts in town public transportation
Quieter-no gas engines- Harleys, etc. No trucks
A great circle 4 lane highway
Activities for all ages of kids so parents can shop
Small fees-so people appreciate what is being provided
Wading pools along river
A tubing area along river
Street performers
Musicians- quiet areas and noisy areas
On going workshops-genealogy, crafts, fly fishing
The Library in 10 years has another story added and the elevator now goes to the third floor. People have tired of TV and the liberal media. They are engrossed in reading again and the genealogical collection has grown and grown. The pollution from car exhausts has killed a complete line of trees both on 34 and 36. That browning began in 2007 and those trees near the highway are dead and gone. There are just too many people in the summer here. Now many come up for the day by a new rapid transit system. There are buses and trolleys everywhere to handle those who came by rapid transit. The fumes from the buses are overwhelming us all.
Substandard neighborhoods of shabby homes have been replaced with safe, tidy dwellings that their occupants can afford to own. Vandalism in these areas is reduced as families take pride in home ownership for the first time.
The network of hiking/biking trails is complete, and many people enjoy using them regularly.
The town has ended its relentless development phase (paving everywhere), and the natural environment is being restored.
Public transportation with clean quiet buses. No cars downtown. Workshops aimed at various ages and interest groups so there is something for all visitors to do. Would also provide work for locals, who would lead the workshops. Community recreation center would host varied activities. A third floor added to the library, with elevator access. Improved housing for low income population. Fewer elk in town, so improved vegetation. Comprehensive recycling.
Walkers, bikers, people outside and active participation in community activities
Thriving churches, civic groups
Increased participation in government – voting, boards, League of Women Voters
Decreased dropout rate, students all graduating
No litter on streets or in Park
Smiles, respectful talk, actions > other focus
Obedience to laws of community
Specific in 16 years
Appearance-more mixed income housing-more xeriscaping, and landscape open areas behind Safeway
Sound?
Actions of people- less littering, more involvement of citizens in city
Extend bike trails
Literacy program at library
Youth oriented
Playground-Hispanic and non-Hispanic children playing together with no language barriers. Hispanic adults working at higher level jobs because of fluent English
A city bus driving down to the Valley full of men and women commuting on public transportation who have higher paying “valley jobs”
Children in after school classes, workshops and activities, not bored with “small town living”
Droves of snowshoers headed into Rocky Mountain National Park in the winter, making Estes Park one of the top winter town destinations and keeping local businesses open year round.
Not very many “For Sale “signs on residences because people want to stay here, and the housing market is strong
Solar panels and wind power devices on many of the roofs and recycle pick up trucks diving along the streets.
A large performing arts complex and all the talent and culture in our town that having one draws in.
No evidence of mountain lions anywhere
Increase in shuttles, parking, public transportation.
Middle and low income housing integrated into higher income homes.
Computers connection directly into the library and other community areas.
Stanley Park Fairgrounds-Performing Arts Center, ice skating, tennis, indoor track.
Local year-round public transportation.
Low to middle housing
School district winning National Awards
Walking trails connecting to entire town
Pavilion at Stanley Park
Hands on learning at library
Live music from Stanley Park amphitheater
Kids-seniors meeting at town recreation centers for meetings and clubs
Things at the Park for older youth
People living in Estes year round
More local business – support-less t-shirt shops.
Co-operative program with school district with home-schoolers and public school
Senior-led programs for kids
More community involvement, less government
Xeriscaping in yards
Regional parking lots on down outskirts with shuttle buses taking residents to downtown shopping
Interspersed throughout the neighborhoods, middle income housing-diversified sub communities
Within homes, through computer connection to library and school resources-courses, books
Complete recycling in all homes-street side recycling
Stanley Park Fairgrounds, theater, ice skating, tennis, inside track, year round activities (kid oriented)
Public transportation year round
New neighborhoods with housing for our teachers, police, hospital staff
School district which is winning national awards
More familiar?
Future:
Year round living
Transit, not only visitors
-kids from library to recreation center to park
-walking trails/bikes (alternate transportation)
solve traffic/less traffic
-local business support-don’t have to go to Valley
-cooperative programs with school/individual (college)
-recycling/reuse
-senior involvement with kids-learn from
-language
-tutor
Kid involvement with senior-help
-programs in community –if we help them, they might vote for us
-Community involvement-not wait for vote,
-do it for your self
-work together
Pedestrian walking trails with beautiful red rock trails
The tasty burgers grilling while inviting tourists to barbeque
Families meeting at park pavilion and local families meet for get- togethers at park to enjoy the Estes outdoors
Children playing in green space at Stanley Park
Hands on learning at Library discovery area
Lively music filling the air from amphitheater at Stanley Park
Young and seniors meeting at recreation center for clubs and meetings
Outdoor tennis courts
The sounds of laughter coming from middle-schoolers engaging in a game of basketball and tennis
Continuing education facility
Increased school enrollment with quality/like no other education
Integrated youth and senior center
Recreation, town and coop
Winter tourism activities
Boys and girls club
1. Sit and watch the stars and planets
2. Birds could be heard all day
3. Average working person could have less worries, better education, better jobs
4. Visitor and locals could be downtown and have less commotion
5. Diversity in community and closeness
6. Family community
7. Friends walking downtown for a very diverse small business population
8. No road kill
9. Stable school environment/quality
Dream creating a scene
1. I could take you outside after sundown and we could sit on our deck and watch a myriad of stars and planets
2. You as a visitor, and me could sit outside downtown and hear one another it would be so quiet
3. I could take you to a meeting where I had learned to meet newcomers of a different ethnic/or age and we would get to know them
4. I would encourage my friends to join me in a walk downtown to see how small businesses thrived here with diversity in every window
5. Older citizens, like me, could find the way to go but with others by using free senior services with appropriate ramps, etc.
I live where you can hear the birds
I would have a job that would allow me to live here
I would be able to own a home and live without money concerns
Curb appeal-Brownsville, NE
When I walk out my door at night I can see the major constellations on most nights
I see my grandson and his wife planning a home in Estes Park to raise their family here
I have a flat tire on my car and a stranger stops to help me
Hear the birds instead of the machinery
Diverse age groups doing things together
You could see trees on every block surrounded by flowers or fountains
You could connect the stars at night
Birds could be heard over machinery
Gas prices are reasonable
Acceptance of various racial groups, mixed race cliques
Many small specific shops specialized
Small businesses making lots of money
Road kill is absent from all of the roads
No drug use
Tourist and local integration
Families together, walking dogs, enjoying each other
Hear the birds all day, wildlife
Flowers, trees, parks everywhere being enjoyed
Enjoyable schools with good teachers and stable principles, rules, schedules
Seeing stars
People helping each other out-opposing businesses working together and big town support groups
People sitting or walking peacefully, enjoying where they live, appreciation
RMNP use, more locals enjoying it
Support for younger/older groups-everyone helping each other out
Estes Park Public Library helping out schools, making it interesting
Able to learn and enjoy and work effectively
A place that an average working person can live, support a family, and enjoy themselves happily living here, not worried or on edge
Everyone who can afford it will have a personal digital device that they can carry
Those devices will provide connections to their digital media (memories and knowledge) that they share
More people working from home offices looking at community organizations to interact outside the home connecting with people
Older people doing (living) younger, longer
Non-profit and co-ops thrive serving the community and their members.
Preserve green open spaces
Residents/guests preserve and respect local ecology (including other people)
Develop sustainable lifestyles
More buses through town with parking lots on the perimeter
RTD stops to Boulder and Loveland
More encouragement from Light and Power and water for energy conservation. Therefore more solar panels on houses and less water sprinkling around town
Recreation center similar to Loveland’s that combines with the senior center
Center-turn lanes on all state highways through the whole valley
Pedestrian walks along the main roads through the whole valley
Saving/preserving green spaces
More communicating between neighbors
Sustainable lifestyles
Senior health and environmental organizing
More eye catching businesses
Buildings that are more efficient and modern – maintaining a small town feel
Everyone carrying a personal digital device
More people connecting with people in community organizations
Non-profits thriving and serving the community
More people shop in Estes rather than go to valley because prices aren’t higher
People can support themselves with one job
More families can afford housing and medical services
Public transportation is improved
More land under conservation easements
More educational facilities
The swimming pool is operational/ survived, open more hours
There is an orchestra in the middle school, high school
Fine Arts building completed
No pine beetles
Hospital renovation completed
No traffic problems-people/cars
Population is stabilized
Condo development is arrested
Distribution of population normalizes and stabilizes because of a more diversified economy and employment opportunities exist
More people shop here
Gasoline prices aren’t high
Community college and other educational facilities
No traffic problems
Fine Arts
Community center
Intergenerational discussion groups
Partner with CSU or UNC to offer classes at library
Fine Arts building completed
Hospital renovation completed
No trash blowing anywhere (town, park and country roads)
No pine beetles
New schools, maybe?
Recycling curbside
Vehicle emissions (less reliance on cars)
Renovation, restoration and preservation of old buildings and historic structures as community projects
More attention to history of town and preserving for the future to learn from
Keeping it a “small town”-no Big business
More activities for local children to do year round
Including recreation and education
Community service, volunteer (toward Seniors)
More friendly to one another
Enrollment up in schools
Library to be extra, extra friendly
Elderly in schools volunteering (breakdown differences)
Teens volunteering with elderly
Everyone participates in community. Town governs through civil conversation. Meetings about concerns and issues.-they talk to each other about what they care about
Friendly conversations with visitors
Folks greet each other on the street and at community gatherings- in different languages
People feel free to pick up each other so that fewer cars are used for transportation
Everyone who does have a car has a hybrid fuel efficient one. There are fewer cars and more public transportation, more flowers and trees. Scooters, hybrid buses
Everything that can possibly be recycled is Photovoltaic
Estes is energy and food independent as possible-community gardens etc.
Greenhouses-commercial
Clear skies –no smoke-no fire
Town more pedestrian friendly
Recreation center used by all ages
Bus service to valley
Affordable housing-Mary’s Meadow
Every child-wonderful center-affordable, beautiful for visitors as well as residents
People of diverse backgrounds-race, ethnicity, generation, philosophy, etc.
Connect with other on issues respecting and honoring diversity
Less anger and bitterness in political process
Older generation helping younger-older woman keeping younger woman with her children
Education-involvement in students lives
Young people serving at senior center, nursing home
Less time wasted
Music training
Young person visiting a lonely shut in
Pool
Learned optimism
People of diverse backgrounds (age, ethnic, ideology, religious, economic, residents/ visitors are engaging in dialogue about community issues. We are learning to better communicate with each other on a person to person level respecting and honoring diversity
Less anger and bitterness in the political process. Ads that feed hatred and bitterness don’t work.
Recycling info and containers everywhere
Shuttles running all over town from outlying parking areas
Recreation Center being used by all ages
Bus service to the Valley
Affordable housing
Every child that needed childcare had access to affordable quality care
Go into the schools and see interested and happy involved youth
Ability to walk and get groceries
Or take public transportation
More housing for young families in a diverse community housing age /ethnic
Safe water and air
A green space within walking distance
Day care/ senior center combined
Free bicycle loan for transportation
Free adult education
Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority eliminated
Blighted housing replaced
Community center built
Proper signage for visitors/ improved
New entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park?
Downtown relocated/ revitalized
Accept that auto travel continues….
Environmental concern
Proactive responsive environment
Public transportation
Downtown improvements
Population growth
Improving schooling
Evidence of environmental change: solar panels, windmills, fuel cell “centers” for cars to change, recycling centers, etc.
Pedestrian walk/Elkhorn
Diversity (cultural)
Late evening activity- performing arts, restaurants, etc.
A lot of evidence of physical activity (bicycles, walking, bicycle paths connecting neighborhoods and parks)
Small specialty stores
Better schools- not so much “social engineering”, discipline, academics, trade
Affordable housing
Youth involvement
Environmental changes, i.e. solar-proactive
Community center
Curbside recycling
Public and civil discourse
Co-housing for seniors
Safety watch/signage
Pedestrian downtown
Places to gather
Public transportation
Families who work in Estes would be living in Estes
Estes Schools-provide a first class experience for all-strong leadership, stable teaching force
Latino families would be thoroughly represented across the spectrum of town services and businesses
Evidence of environmental stewardship
For all of us to be more friendly to one another
For our younger generation to do more community service and become more caring towards their elderly
No more war between cultural communities
I would like the schools and library to be extra, extra friendly
See modern housing for low income families
See multicultural events in which multicultural families interact
See a pedestrian/ non-car downtown
Hear a town with children laughing
Increase vocational tech training at schools
Transportation to the valley
Co-housing for seniors
People smiling on the streets
Inter-modal transportation connecting smaller towns: cross fertilization of ideas
More co-housing for seniors, not able to afford “pricey” accommodations
Opportunities for our young people entering the job market- expand technical training (all high schools shall offer same in depth??(someone there to fix stuff)
Fewer cars- more people walking- using buses
Elementary/ secondary school enrollment up
Transportation on Highway 7 will have hybrid buses or 1 person scooters from Carriage Hills into town
Less traffic on 7
Most houses will have photo static panels for their electricity that will heat the home
Clear skies because no smoke from fireplaces
Greenhouses will predominate for raising food. Both commercial and family homes
The town will have net metering
Water?
Population less dense, less seasonal, more community conscious
Condo development
More age diverse trend to middle of spectrum
Less traffic and congestion people and cars
Fine Arts, hospital improvement complete and on pace to meet needs
Friendly conversations with visitors
Less single vehicles traffic-pedestrian friendly streets
More trees and flowers
Less litter
More camaraderie
Active engagement to live safely
Safety Watch
No one would say a mean or hurtful thing about someone they don’t know
There would be many attractions for kids of all ages-we would see mutigenerational and multicultural groups together
No one would say hurtful things about other people (civility)
Many attractions for kids of all ages; Mutigenerational-multicultural
Less litter
Safety watch – for neighbors, people in your own area. More than crime- include health and people to depend on
Pet management (litter receptacles, leash)
Limited dead trees
Bond Park- prettified
Small gather spots
Green spaces with water (Bond Park)
Shaded rest areas for conversing
Estes will be about the same-still a resort area, still want to live here
More condos-people will want
More Hispanic
Older-lots 60’s
Population up
Service level about the same (a few tax income)
More senior housing
More civil participation
Library can
Try???
Non English Seniors work with kids (monitoring)
More public meetings
More interaction with schools
The key is knowing that the library’s function changes.
Co-housing- get a high school group to make a mock-up to show a group housing
Work with neighboring towns for Vo-tech? – each town offering a different aspect, a comprehensive program
With the renovation recently completed it would be hard to suggest anything for library as the idea might be in the overall plan
Estes people proudly smile on the street
People shop on Elkhorn and Moraine free of traffic
Our schools and town boards sit in a circle with an empty chair-rather than in current raised crescent
Town board publishes surpluses and asks us to suggest uses for such funds
We see new light industries in town and our graduates returning to work in these new systems
Inter-town transport systems
Vocational-technology offered at high school
Pedestrian downtown
Low income housing
Spanish and English teachers working from K thru 12 and a
Hire school kids for afternoon work at the library
Library/schools/chamber of commerce partnerships for Vo-tech in schools and job training – on site in businesses and service center.
Sponsor monthly inter-generational and multi-cultural events in Bond Park, Lake Estes, Hidden Valley, etc.
Partner with city fathers to use conference center for town meetings
More public forum
Lit/speakers on world issues
Branches at schools and community centers
Become a green building
Inter-board appraisal of kid’s needs
No graffiti
New train station
Winter activities for tourists
Center for indoor activities
Planned outdoor activities
Less substandard housing
Affordable housing
Young people want to stay in town not wanting to leave as soon as they can
Solar energy use visible
Civil public discourse
Safety watch/signage
Community center
Greenhouses/community gardens
People smiling/pedestrian downtown
Places to gather
Educational campuses
Beetle control
Preservation of historic structures
Public transportation
Public transportation
Curbside recycling
Few closed stores
Co-housing for seniors
More senior-children interaction
Buying gas – groceries – etc. at same level as downtown
High school students doing vocational internships
More hybrid cars
People look each other in eye
Public civility
All motorcycles have mufflers
Better parking – parking garage
Third floor added to library
Buildings maintained
No empty storefronts
Permanently stationed emergency helicopter
Fewer exposed lines – more alternative energy
More public transportation
Different kind of stores
Forests strong & beautiful
Clear skies…elk—wolves
No Starbucks
Streets w/o auto/traffic – shuttles pedestrian ways
Planned community – good flow of traffic
Community recreation center
activities, workshops, child care
Resource center/community service center
No crabby people
No dangerous intersections (like Donut Haus)
Waiting lists for Spanish classes
Recycling bins by every trash cans
Fewer pet/wildlife negative stories
Sidewalks & bicycle paths extended
Solar panels for downtown businesses
Clear skies
Safety outdoors
Home offices interacting w/others
Parking & buses to valley
Performing arts center @ Bond Park
More diverse small businesses
Curb appeal
Winter town appeal
Less traffic noise
Connectivity among individuals
Mixing ages to share ideas
Red center/senior center
Connected bike/hiking trails
More free/playtime
Continuing education facility
Cultural offices
Solar presence
National awards for school district
Diverse community (ethnic)
Larger corporations coming in
Increasing internet
Hispanic community
Traffic pressures
Tourist packages
Affordable middle class housing
Increasing pollution
Public transportation
Combining districts
What we would see>affordable housing and teachers and police, etc living in town
Senior health and environment
Change with seniors working with other groups (age, color, ethnic) to create a community which becomes safer as well as forward looking.
Businesses that become more eye catching and open to visitors & customers
Building of homes: more attractive and unique in keeping up with small town “quaint” but efficient and modern.
Traffic moving smoothly both in vehicle and on foot
Clean air and environment promoting health and beauty of our mountains
Create more green areas
More green spaces with water (Bond Park)
Shaded rest areas for conversing
Limited dead trees
Civility
Attractions for kids of all ages multigenerational – multicultural
Less litter
Safety watch for neighbors, people in your area
More than crime, include health & people to depend on
Pet management (receptacles, litter, trash)
Bond Park “prettified”
Small gathering spots
Immigrants need to adapt to U.S. ways, not choke us with their ways.
An ice skating rink
Better communication with the city fathers. There are awful politics in this town!
The gasoline prices are highly elevated here. Most of us go to the Valley for gasoline.
Selected refuse containers for recycling when we set our trash out. Glass, aluminum, newspapers, etc.
Green spaces
Wise use of resources
Covenant & restrictions on buildings not up to scale – improved!
Continuing to be a friendly, volunteering, caring, educated community with a concern for others.
Nice stores – not “trinket” stores but also not “out of our league” type
Availability to meet the needs of residents; gas-restaurants-stores
Eco friendly town with an emphasis on saving resources & recycling
Sky clear – less ambient light
Elk, deer, wolves howling at night
Social services for everyone who needs them
Increasing age in retirement population presents challenges in ability to do volunteer jobs available
Outlet stores or appropriate to the area – Coleman, Panera’s, Christopher & Banks, REI, Cabela’s, Eddie Bauer, Levis
Some streets without auto traffic -shuttle buses only
Town quieter – no buses, traffic jams or motorcycles coming through
Conversation – not noise & fumes
Parking lots close to shops
Recycling containers by all trash cans
What should our response be?
If we took these things seriously, what would the library do?
Structural learning center that addresses variety of learning needs & issues
Multicultural
Environmental
Interpersonal
Verbal communication center (as well as technological)
Setting for small group discussion of community issues
I’d like to see the library start a senior/child partnership for all type of reasons:
Apprenticeships, music lessons, parenting skills
Spanish/English language interaction, vocational skills
A research/debate forum on different issues to see what really works to help our town.
Educational opportunities, specific to literature – literary analysis class or book clubs for teens, where they come once a week to meet.
Books in many languages to represent many ethnicities.
I would like specific help/classes for home school families.
Offer varied adult education classes on pertinent community issues
Combined youth/senior activities – garden
Programs on environmental issues: how to use solar, wind, etc.
Outdoor space for intergenerational activities
Environment
History
More publicity
First: SHOULD the library be this active?
It has been until recently a repository and reference center
Now it has become a school and internet communications center — FREE
Where do we go from here?
Are we seeking new career opportunities for librarians?
Keep doing what we’re doing, only better
More youth/senior programs
Senior computer program
Better communications
Partner mentors/tutors with “at risk” kids
Advertise to community
Volunteer resource center (example model: “Friends In______” in Green Valley, AZ)
Adult education center (English Second Language, etc)
Partner with community colleges to create a center for continuing education
Become a physical location for forums on specific concerns for the future, i.e. develop a program that partners, developers, utility supervisors, government representatives, and commercial manufacturers interested in promoting solar energy in the community.
Cooperation between library & schools
Combination of __________
Partnership with______________
Community – all phases
Seniors – medical – business
Town
Big question?
How to become more pro-active
Adult education
Tap local expertise
Why are we here??
School-library partnerships and outreach (this may already exist beyond my awareness)
Library outreach/collaboration with language minority communities and services – literacy? English Second Language
Library services to elderly/nursing home residents (mobile service staffed by volunteers)
Computer / internet research classes/instruction
Library tapping community expertise even further
Library collaborating on adult education
For the library to work together with schools to reach the younger generations the importance of learning about other cultures
Expand the area of bilingual books to a big, big area with lots of bilingual books
For all of us to be more friendly to each other
To work on how they can make the younger generation feel welcome at the library
Multicultural programs in the evening, not only in the morning
To have classes for people to learn English
Multicultural celebrations
Partner with schools & businesses on various identified issues
Offer group discussions on specified issues
Offer support for educational institutions
Serve as an example to the community regarding solar energy, other preservation issues
Publicized themes with materials at the library
Co-Housing, global warming, green building, speakers & literature/models
Community book (everyone read one book) & discuss at the library
Branch library at the school or any future community center
Active participants in any continuing education program that is brought to Estes Park at the community center
Become a green building – an example to the community
Be active partners with schools for after school programs
At the leadership level, school board & library board – library director & superintendent – discuss common needs for children’s literacy
Keep books beyond the 2 year limit – especially the classics
Have many reference books for the vocational needs of students
Books on fixing solar panels, maintenance of hybrid cars
Make room in the library for continuing education class for all ages
Book mobiles
Conference rooms for community meetings
A friendly place – as it is now
Keep books – make it a real library, depositor of books
Library is center of “go green”
Larger facility for community meetings, information, grant writing, economic development for:
Transportation (buses, less polluting)
Energy (solar, wind)
Green businesses – create employment
More families
Water conservation
All ages and cultures involved in research development and implementation
Energy – efficient housing – lower cost housing
Education system with emphasis on go green
Active recycling with capturing energy
Regular community meeting for idea sharing
Greenhouses
Library as senior/child partnership
Library utilizing existing expertise making it available
Library center for sharing cultural info
WHAT SHOULD LIBRARY DO TO ACHIEVE THE DREAMS
(For Business Services Collection: Attention: Dick Davis Digest)
Library part of resource/community service center
Library services directed toward supporting population :
i.e. – genealogy research support
– meeting space, both formal & informal
– reading programs/book clubs
– education programs
Clearing house for volunteer opportunities/volunteer services
More room for expansion
Room for the genealogy materials and other information pertinent to other groups
Use the old elementary school or part of it for library services
Library bookstore to sell used books, magazines, DVD, etc. (Great money-maker – staffed by volunteers)
Partnerships with museums & schools
Sponsor debates on local and national issues (make rooms available to groups with a single issue with participants all of the same or similar views on a subject)
Computer instruction and equipment geared to the novice (regardless of age) or physically challenged
Sponsor programs that will attract participation that reflects community demographics, i.e. Anglo, Hispanic, old and young, etc.
English language classes for interested persons – i.e. parents of children whose classmates learn some Spanish.
Seminars on environmental issues & transportation
Help to get recycling & mass transportation setup within the community
Study groups with seniors tutoring school children either at school or within library
Coordinating transportation for shut-ins to health appointments
Provide more community center space/gathering
Repository of Safety Watch
On-line center or link to college courses – affiliate with colleges for older community
Branch library facility in assisted living/Long Term Care
Put a children’s center in primary building
Work with hospital & schools to offer career training & awareness for HS kids
Work with town and National Park & Forest Service to notify residents of tree spraying, times, and companies
Place book drop-offs in convenient locations
Have small information kiosks around town
Offer parenting, technology, life-skills classes for community with schools
Build an Internet café downtown and/or on school campus
Have activities for young and old
Be involved with the school district, school library
Encourage & promote different great things about Estes
Work with small businesses – advertisement for and with brochures
Promote the park
Involved with the arts, programs, lessons, groups, with the arts (music, writing, etc)
Support idea for buses, gather businesses to make tourist package
Insist on stable school systems
Promote Estes in winter, advertise snowshoeing, etc.
Lead programs for senior community to share their history and talents with our youth and community
Provide English as well as other language classes for our youth/adults
Host continuing education classes
Start cultural diverse clubs
Host a traveling class where community- can learn from our diverse community and possibly get pointers
House an after school program offering tutoring and extra classes of interest
Offer classes to help our seniors jump into the next age in technology
Library could offer an opening to old & young to work together on projects
Library could offer studies for citizens in various areas of concern – air pollution, parking
Library could initiate discussions on areas of concern- bring in speakers?
They already serve children with entertainment & learning: how about small theatre for adults?
Our newspapers could work with the library to develop ideas on how to implement “wishes”
Some town/library/newspapers coalesce with a new group to work on ideas
Boys & girls club
Floral curb appeal
Connecting old and young people
Recreation/senior center
Schools stability and thriving
Ethnic cooperation
Activities with young/old
Educate – what other communities are doing
Provide meeting facilities
Advertise – let people know about problems – available helping groups – social groups
Lead discussion groups on various subjects, problems, etc
Promote social groups, helping hands type groups
Make the library desirable, accessible and usable to the Hispanic families
Teach continuing education type classes to adults about sustainability, computers, communication
Offer a shuttle from the schools to the library for older youth. Provide interesting programs to older youth.
Setting an example in the community by “going green” , low voltage computers, solar panels, recycling bins, etc.
Arrange workshops for kids, taught by seniors
Offer job fairs
Offer a form of networking among residents
Offer art classes for kids
Developing strong volunteer & community involvement –fiscally and otherwise – for less dependence on local government
Larger children’s computer lab
Support home schooling with weekly programs
Develop literacy programs for non-native speakers of English
Grand-parenting program for all children
Mentoring program for school children
Book discussion groups
Educational programs:
Diversity training
Computer training
Rocky Mountain gardening
Hiking, biking safety
Improve reference materials for middle and high school students
Serve as clearing house to collect information about community services for all ages
Continuing education center
Support classes with resource material
Multicultural
Providing foreign language resources
Old/New
Create an oral history program (interview the older residents as to what Estes Park was like in the past before we lose their perspective)
Green
Provide resources on solar/wind power. How-to-do materials.
Increasing internet
Support the younger population
Continuing education
Winter town appeal
Language classes for English speaking & vice versa
Programs for young & old
Tutoring
Reading together – book club for young and old
Computer classes for seniors
Setting up groups for multicultural assimilation
Kids – music
Teens – book club (coffee)
Coffee/snacks for sale winter programs
Senior – internet/intro to computers/email
English Second Language programs/ classes/ computers
Language – Rosetta Stone courses
Community based festival/events
Home bound/delivery to reduce traffic (book mobile)
Recreation Center – library branch/homework/tutors
For the locals/ & schools
Playground behind parking
Longer winter hours/inside space for warmth
Open 9 – ? winter as well
Winter programs YEAR ROUND LIVING!
Senior / kid programs to bring them together – mix ages
Through library website, list businesses & services
Search, looking for……..
Invest in technology & technical training of staff & community
Invest in meeting rooms/facilities to incubate (facilitate) -learning and community interaction
Focus on continuing to bridge the digital divide
Provide services and support needed by local small business & home workers
Winter town appeal – create learning groups with expert speakers as demos on community interests – coordinate with overall direction of community
Library should provide information to public through classes & meetings given by experts that address local interests, such as sustainable living, educational classes, providing books, material for learning on subjects requested: i.e. languages, arts, hobbies such as genealogy, computer programs.
Be open to suggestions from patrons to explore valid needs.
Listen & learn
Provide classes (free or pay) for computer, art, environmental, cultural, political, municipal education.
Short-term (1-2 hr) day care services for parents to “get their errands done”
Assist startup nonprofits with an in-house consultant
Be the source for bus passes that would ferry people around town or even to Boulder/Loveland
Provide more Spanish story times or other services
Pick a cause and be the flagship in the community to fund raise, sounding board, speakers
Library – more info available via internet (e.g. genealogy)
Teach technology/programs for people who need/want them (e.g. seniors)
Partner with schools?
Information hotline
Work with park/city/forest to set up notification on times to spray trees
Book drop-offs in convenient locations
Information kiosks around town
Build internet café downtown
Info brochures on multitude of topics (trees, animals, fire sources, weeds, etc) all at library
Speaker’s bureau
Conflict management training
Develop brochures
Provide day care (winter) in library
Put a children’s center in the primary building
Put a branch library in assisted living facilities
Work with hospitals & schools to do vocational training and awareness
Affiliate with college – in valley, distance learning
Repository for neighborhood resources
Keep collective books! Don’t discard older classics
Continuing education classes
Do library storytelling at the senior center
Make use of community expertise
Conference rooms
Structured learning – multicultural
Verbal community center not just technology
Gather examples from other successful communities
Library could house more educational programs
Library could encourage Estes Park Historical Society a.k.a.: Heritage Festival
Library could become a volunteer resource center for all non profit organizations
Master List
Partner w/non-profits – Center for Non Profit
Reasonable debate center
Inter generation discussions
Book discussions
Partner with colleges to offer credited classes
Statistics in community resource use
An approachable place to come for information for all ages and ethnic populations – because of its wealth of knowledge
Offer informational programs that appeal to all ages
Clearinghouse for “available expertise”
Storytime at the senior center/nursing home
Book clubs (reading groups)
More programs involving seniors & children
More educational programs about environment = trees, recycling…
Speakers: use our pool of experts in town to educate about different programs
Members of senior center or Good Samaritan & other groups of retirees to give talks about issues
Reading programs between seniors & children.
When kids are being read to at the library have a senior volunteer come in to read.
Have kids read to seniors who have vision problems
Continue outreach for seniors from library. Many seniors no longer drive & cannot get books from library
Teach by example – “go green” at library with light bulbs, recycling….
Small town library feel
Comfortable, cozy, wealth of information through books & other media
Emphasis on books – they can be taken home to be read & studied vs. computer use
More after school programs for kids
More literary programs
More language classes – free
Easily access the local history sources – you can’t move forward if you don’t know where you’ve been
Emphasis on books – can’t repeat that often enough – knowledge is the key to solving any problem
Emphasis on books – 2 min computer bits don’t do it
Staff & board that is responsive to community
More books
Less emphasis on technology
More teenage patrons to encourage ________________-
Book mobile to target areas: Pine Knoll, Lone Tree, Talons Point, etc
Library sponsored college “fairs” with speakers from various colleges at the high school
Library sponsored “Speakers’ Bureau” on topics of significant import for town, county, world
Library sponsored “culture months” on cultures found here & elsewhere
More books
More teenage use of library
Less emphasis on technology
Satellite downlink for national/international conferences
Pre-kindergarten learn to read programs
Continuous English Language Learners classes
More low vision and hearing impaired resources
Pro-active relationship with public schools
Study skills classes
Needs of immigrants
Promote public civility
Staff interaction in community
Staff interaction with visitors & patrons in library
Educational activities
Remote learning
Library could be the central point for town activities
Library could ensure that all people (age, language, disability) have access to information
Bigger bike racks
Collaborative presentation/planning of adult ed. Leaders in town (i.e. senior center, recreation district, Rocky Mountain Nature Association)
After school classes for kids
Maintain the sacredness of the library & the mystique that “all” the answers can be found at “The Library”
Internet education classes for older adults – computer use
Emphasis remains on books– promote value of actual books
Be a central point for cultural activities
More free language & literacy classes
Assist needs of immigrants
Small town library feel – i.e. homey décor, homey feel, not so pristine
Ensure all people regardless of age, language, or disabilities have access to information
Easily accessible local history sources
Staff interaction w/visitors & patrons; be able to see staff & interact
Library teams with recreation district for multi-use facility with programs for all ages: pre-K, K-5, 6-12, young adult, young parent, middle age, retiree, elderly.
Programs include: books clubs, tech clubs, after-school programs , educational speakers, visiting authors, writing classes, for all ages (Claudine Perrault at the helm, of course)
More books on display or separate area in front to show what urban sprawl does to communities.
How the pollution affects people/animals & what Americans are doing to themselves by buying new & building new instead of re-using & re-furbishing
Offer college courses through Front Range that can be taken at library (Spanish professors too)
Educate young families how to start their own businesses so they can further their lives in the Estes Valley.
Library is Resource Center for Social Services support and development in the Community- It is focal point for fundraising efforts through grants and foundations
It uses the library resources (i.e. computers, outside funding, community contact) to train social services agency staff, Boards and other volunteers
Adult continuing education
Library should be a part of new Community Center, hub of activities for Estes
Old fashioned ambience with up to date technology: smell of old leather, wing back chairs in reading areas with lamplight, stacks and stacks of books (CD’s-computers, etc, unobtrusive)
Resource friendly- Recycling information and energy saving displays
Recycle containers for water bottles
Joint program with the school and library. Empty building could be a library extension and joint effort between the library and the school
After school programs
Language- learning English through books and activities
Meeting rooms for sharing ideas and community interests and /or concerns
Display-“Where to find in Estes Park”: visitor center, hospital, social services, shuttle routes, National Park entrances
Display-community responsibilities, taking responsibilities for pets, “don’t feed wild animals”, recycle, reuse, renew, wellness program information
Expanded physical presence in community: computer center, classrooms for adult education, multiple book drops
Library services-places for meetings, or places to talk, adult reading programs, book clubs
Room for expansion
Library services to the non-profits in town
Resource room and person specialist
Clearing house for volunteers
Trained/staffed community resource center. One stop for activities, social services, information, referral services.
Expanded physical presence in the community-computer center, classrooms for adult education, multiple book drops
1. Increased programs for young people and school age children (after school book clubs, internet groups ie: chess; homework helper
Tutoring by volunteers (seniors)
2. Additional community rooms for expanded community groups:
– adult education, English as a second language, Spanish classes, fly fishing classes, genealogy classes, book groups, current event discussions, other workshops
3. Expanded DVD-electronic books and reserved resources and services (on-line)
4. Seniors paired with school age children in groups
5. Drop in children programs
A bulletin board for: Constructive ideas, projects, activities
Announcements, possible solutions, resources
Volunteers available to serve needs
Information available for education: ie.- understanding how to
co-exist safely with wild life
To whom to report: experiences which could be prevented,
Incidences which enforcement should know – about frequencies,
reality, citizens should realize where, how these things happen
Additional workshops in genealogy and other popular activities.
No need for Spanish classes; the Hispanic must learn English!
Center for ESL classes, Spanish classes, computer literacy classes
Put recycling bins around all their outdoor trash cans
Drop in children’s programs with supervision
Offer programs that bring more people into the library-
Workshops, language classes, partner with adult education institutions
Start book clubs all over town-male, female, couples, teens that would meet at the library
Retirement population-More Baby Boomers
The library needs to allot a good amount of space for the genealogy department, at least as much as it had before. This is the fastest growing hobby in the US, but most importantly, it is an “educational” section of the library needed by students and adults of all ages. A genealogy researcher has to become a historian, especially of American history, in order to accomplish really accurate family history research. We need books and periodicals that are current, out of print and in between because everything is not on the internet. We have such a diversified population and it will become even more so as more retirees move here with free time to do family research. With proper understanding of how important this specialty area is to the future of our community, it can become the jewel in the library’s crown.
It will also be good for the community’s economy because its residents will not spend their dollars in other communities because our facility is sorely lacking in what is needed by its residents and visitors.
1. More presentations by experts on various subjects
2. Free tutoring sessions or fees that would be donated to library, ie. critical thinking skills
3. Digitize library’s holdings
4. Bulletin board for “constructive” ideas and projects
Technology growth
Digitize the library’s reference collection, including all genealogy material, so reference material could be accessed on-line: ie.- Enos Mills books, especially genealogy books
Computer classroom for public to reserve and hold technology classes
Small business resource center
After school programs
Greater outreach to community
Share resources with museum, library, Rocky Mountain National Park
Art classes
Community center for education, etc. (language, etc)
Resources for abused, victims, alcoholics, social services, etc.
Café attached/lounge with food and drink
Rotating interactive science and history displays and exhibits, sort of a discovery center
Finance and business finance classes
Seminars, speakers on current events
Remote learning – like genealogy programs
Cross cultural programs
How-to programming (internet, finance, etc)
Community forums to facilitate better planning and communication between citizens and government ; specifically relative to development and marketing.( ie. Study growth, establish panel to direct appropriate development)….closer to the pulse of the community
Child care to help young families-preschool, after school programs, more
Adult education: civil education (home rule? Current events): Business education: planning, technology, marketing, personal finance; language-Spanish, Chinese, ESL; Art and theater, music
Continue developing and expanding opportunities for “remote learning”. Purchase software and make it available to library patrons via their home computers.
Recognize large retirement population and offer programs and collections of interest to them-gardening with native plants, genealogy, travel.
Develop inter-generational and cross-cultural programs to promote and celebrate cultural diversity.
More “how-to” programming-ie. using the internet for family history research
More “invited speakers” on current event issues and topics.
The library can contribute to the future of Estes Park by being a center for additional educational needs, for foreign language classes, adult continuing education
Resource on: green building, alternative energy, community planning
Community meeting, gathering room/space
After school program for school age children
Latest technology as well traditional materials
Interface and coordinate with Estes Park Medical Center, Rocky Mountain National Park, EPM—-exchange resources
Community resource center-meeting community needs
Volunteer opportunities
Educational opportunities
Medical services
Environmental education
Transportation
Estes Park/Estes Valley history
Social services
What could library do- services to support younger families-(library is critical to families with children)-cooperation with local school library, reading times
“Waiting list for Spanish classes”….
Interactive teaching of Spanish for all ages and.
Interactive teaching of English for all ages.
Involve at-risk youth of all cultures in teaching younger students and adults of differing cultures.
Encourage interaction between families of all cultures
Old fashioned ambiance with up to date technology
Educational Display area: promote re-use, promote recycling, show the effect of urban sprawl
Team with recreation district for all age programs. Increased resources, decreased need for duplicated costs.
Using empty school building as a library extension
More books
Technology education
Lifelong learning center
Maintain homey hallowed halls of library
Additional computers and longer use times
Genealogy center
Offer credit classes (college)
Partnership between older and younger persons
Offer educational seminars, communication center
Publicize themes-using books, speakers
Affiliate with colleges – long distance learning
Generate senior computer education
Publicize programs better
Verbal communication center
English and other language classes
Tutoring/ book clubs
Winter town appeal/ speakers
Multi-age activities
Travel lectures
Library more accessible to Hispanic community
Education/Everything
Theatre
Delivery of books via internet
Tech training
Meeting rooms
Library Staff Ideas:
ART DISPLAY:
Feature art books – with a twist. Have live artists working on their art by the display. Could be a series of artists: drawing, weaving, carving, etc. Maybe for a couple of hours each day, or once a week, or in the evening for the duration of the display.
ATTRACT NEW PATRONS:
Work with realtors to include library info with paperwork given to each new property owner.
SOUSAPALOUSA:
Challenge all ages to write poetry in the style of Dr. Seuss, then host a reading at the library, publish entries in the newspaper, hang up entries in the library, read them on local radio station throughout the day between songs. Cat in the Hat striped red socks for prizes. Staff wears striped red socks that day. Circ desk says “Thank you for checking out a book. Thank you for taking the time to look.” Hmm..this might get out of hand…
WEEKLY BOOKMARKS:
Used to promote events, featured books, Dewey Decimal system, local authors
AMNESTY WEEK:
No charges if you return long overdue books during Amnesty Week. Promote it with newspaper releases and flyers.
100,000th CHECK OUT (or another significant number such as issuing 14,500th patron, etc):
Patron willing, take photo of the check out and put in newspaper.
COMMUNITY TABLE:
In the computer waiting area have a jigsaw puzzle in progress.
CELEBRATE THE WIND:
During the winter, have “wind” week with wind power guest speaker, kite flying, wind book display (Gone with the Wind, The Wind in the Willows, The Kite Runner, etc), hang kites throughout the library, make kites, borrow a wind meter and have the readings displayed in the library.
PATRON BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS ON OUR WEBSITE:
Have a spot on the patron account page of the website where patrons can write a book review that will then appear on a patron book review section of our website. (we get to screen them first so comments other than book reviews don’t appear – “the women’s rest room needs soap”, etc.)
PATRON BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE NEWSPAPER:
The question of the week currently in the paper could take place in the library, asking what patrons are reading.
SPONSOR/CO-SPONSOR COLLEGE CLASSES:
Partner with colleges/universities by providing classroom space.
PARTNER WITH LOCAL EATERIES:
Encourage restaurants, coffee shops, etc. to host a book group. Or host a dinner themed around a book.
LOCAL AUTHORS:
Special sticker for books by local authors, local author panel for book discussions of their books, display, newspaper article listing works by local authors, partner with MacDonalds
PHONE BOOTH:
Buy an old fashioned phone booth (the kind you sit in and close the door) for the library that can be designated for cell phone calls.
DRIVE IN SILENT MOVIE:
Show a silent movie on the side of the library and sit in cars to watch it. Hang a sheet out of the upstairs window to use as the screen.
SUMMER GREETER:
Volunteer who mans a info desk in the foyer during busy times…helps direct patrons, gives out directions, etc. Like the people at DIA who volunteer where you step off the escalator.
HIGH SCHOOL FINALS NIGHT HOURS:
Stay open late (or open for special hours) during finals week as a study place.
WORD OF THE WEEK:
Leading up to the Adult Spelling Bee, feature a word of the week in the library with a poster, put the word in the newspapers, have staff use the word with each other, put in on the website
ADVERTISING:
Check into having book recommendations or library news on the slide show that plays at the movie theater prior to the movie.
SMALL BUSINESS OUTREACH:
Flyer to business owners outlining items in the collection geared towards running a business.
BOOKS ON TAPE/CD OUTREACH:
Info to quilting, knitting, artists, elderly, commuters, etc. describing listening resources available. Host an evening of listening to a book on tape – ask patrons to bring a project such as mending or addressing Christmas cards, etc.
WINTER FRIDAY NIGHT:
Once a month during the dark winter months have extended Friday night hours with chess and checker sets out on the tables.
TECH
Mount an electronic sign downstairs on the wall, high above the copier with a swing arm. This sign will communicate information to our new patrons re: locations of services and upcoming events. It’s very presence will indicate our cutting edge mindset.
PROGRAMMING
Since we have many programs where authors are featured, wouldn’t it be neat to have EPPL sponsor writing instructors to come and teach writing courses? Among topics could be:
*Write your family history
*Create interesting characters
*Plot your novel
*Get your article or book published
I know that a fellow offered to give an introductory program on screenwriting. Perhaps a writing group sponsored by EPPL would grow out of these classes.
YOUNG ADULTS
Skateboarding programs for YA’s sponsored by EPPL at the skate Park
Young adult librarian on staff
YA activities in collaboration with Estes Valley Youth Center
YA game night– big screen video game
FUNDRAISING
Fundraising that includes more of the community—-more family focused fundraising-
Country dances for the family with a live band and dance caller
The Foundation Dinner is an excellent fundraiser but it seems to exclude young families and people who would love to support us but can’t afford $100 for dinner and a babysitter
BOOK CLUB BAGS
Book club bags—pre-packaged for club discussion and books to check out (They do this at the Louisville Public Library)
Could be bags for youth as well as adults
SELF CHECK OUT
I believe some patrons would like to see self check out become available. In a way I don’t want to see this happen as I enjoy seeing and talking to patrons when checking them out.
AUTOMATED CHECK IN SCANNER
ON LINE ILL REQUESTS FROM OUR PATRONS THAT PRINT OUT
MARKED EPPL STAFF PARKING (3-5 spaces?)
SOUNDPROOF OUR LOBBY
A BOOKMOBILE
TRAVELOGUES FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES
A POETRY CAFÉ
Sponsor a poetry café or readings for adults at a local restaurant. Set up the microphone… a kind of
“open-mic” situation
TWO PROGRAM COORDINATORS
One coordinates programs during the summer months only. The other coordinator is a full time staff person who plans adult events during the off season. That frees up the staff member to work desk hours during the summer.
CAMP READ
A literacy camp that would meet 1 1/2 hours every day for a week or two. This would be offered for children entering 1st through third grades who are struggling with reading. During the sessions they would play reading games, do chants and they would be matched with seniors (Rotarians?) for one on one reading practice.
YOUTH ROOM
Move Kerry and Melanie’s desks to the kid’s computer room and take out the sink in the youth room and make a computer area there. Put in a Dutch door type of gate to keep the toddlers out of the computer area.
OTHER COMMENTS:
By the time we implement this plan there will either be no books or no need for a public space except for meetings.
Let’s flip the kid space and the adult space and have storytime by the fireplace.
All self-checkout and automated returns. No need for staff interaction with the public.
WHAT’S YOUR PASSION?
Collect community input on what locals are passionate about….hobbies, travel, writing etc.
Then, collect the information for future programming possibilities.
A BOOKMOBILE!