Rockport residents have no doubt noticed the signs around town asking "What do you think?" in reference to the Rockport Public Library. Over the past few days, red stickers have shown up on the signs indicating that the response period for the town-wide survey about the future of the library is about to end. The number of responses so far is quite robust with almost 1000 replies tallied by the independent organization carrying out the research.

To all who have already mailed in or completed the survey online, a sincere thanks for participating in the process. For those who have not yet responded, please take the time to complete the survey to help the town have as much data as possible. Paper copies with postage paid return envelopes are available at the town office and at the library, and it is even easier to submit your responses online by going to www.RockportLibrarySurvey.com.

Even if you do not have strong feelings about the various issues that have been brought forth in the discussion over the past few years, you can let the town know that by completing the survey. In fact, one of the goals of undertaking the survey was to gather information from those who have not been able to attend public meetings to make their views known, or who have not been as involved in the debate as others have. Everyone's thoughts are important, and the greater the response rate, the clearer the picture of what the citizens want will be.

As your Select Board Chair, I am committed to move forward on the library issue based on the results from the survey. Your responses will be my primary guide in helping to formulate a proposal that the whole town can get behind. I have no pre-conceived notions about what the results will be, only a sincere desire to make sure that the Rockport Public Library remains an integral part of our town for generations to come.

Thank you for your participation.

Ken McKinley is chairman of the  Rockport Select Board