March is census month, and the Library is here to help. Between March 12-20, you should get a mailer asking your household to take the census survey online. It will include a household-specific code to start the survey. You can do this at home and be all finished, or you can come to the Library where we will have at least one computer reserved specifically for this purpose. If you don't respond, you'll get a reminder letter. Then a postcard. After that, they'll mail another reminder with a paper questionnaire to fill in. After that, you'll get one final reminder before they start sending people to knock on doors.
PLEASE RESPOND to the census. There is no reason not to. None of your responses in the survey can be used against you or even linked to you personally. Statistics from the census are used to divvy out state and federal aid to communities, referenced when submitting grant applications, and looked at by any business considering moving into an area.
In 2010, Douglas had a 20% non-response rate. This has translated to 20% less state and federal funding, fewer (and smaller) grants, and lackluster appeal to potential commercial developers. Let's get our fair share in the next ten years. Take your census!
