Library offers computer assistance for 2020 Census

Posted Thursday, January 16, 2020 7:03 pm

It seemed like a natural fit for what libraries do.” Jennie Rozycki, McCullough Free Library

NORTH BENNINGTON — To make it easier for community members to participate in the upcoming census, the John G. McCullough Free Libary is setting aside one of its computers for census responders.

Starting March 12, people have the option of filling out the 2020 Census questionnaire online. This the first time since the U.S. census was first conducted in 1790 that the internet will be widely used to conduct the population count. People can also respond by phone or mail.

The results of the census, held once every 10 years, are used to allocate seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. It also determines how much each state gets of the $675 billion that funds various federal programs each year.

The McCullough Library, realizing the importance of getting every resident counted, has decided to offer one of its three Chromebook laptops for the public's free use in responding to the census.

"It seemed like a natural fit for what libraries do," said Jennie Rozycki, the library's director.

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The census also has a direct effect on organizations like hers. The McCullough library, a nonprofit, applies for grants to fund certain projects — and Rozycki said census data informs both applicants and funders about the community that applicants serve. Funders could use the data to determine how to distribute their money.

"If I have an inaccurate count then that data's not good," Rozycki said.

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People interested in using the McCullough Library's computer to respond to the census, or who would like assistance in filling it out online, can stop by the library. Located at 2 Main St. in North Bennington, it's open 1-8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 1-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

Rozycki will also bring a Chromebook to the Bennington Farmers Market in case people would like to shop and complete their census forms on the same day. During winter, the market is held 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on the first and third Saturday of the month at the First Baptist Church on Main Street.

The U.S. Census Bureau is encouraging people to respond to the census online or by phone, said Bob Stock, a bureau spokesman in Vermont. The web address for the online questionnaires have not yet been released, Stock said, adding that households will receive this information in a mail from the bureau.

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The online forms and phone service will be available in 12 languages besides English, including Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Russian.

Households that don't respond after a certain period will receive the traditional printed questionnaire by mail. Those who don't self-respond will get a knock on their door from a census taker anytime starting May 15.

April 1, officially designated "Census Day," should be used as the reference point for responses.

The bureau estimates that this year's census will reach 330 million people in 140 million households.

Contact Tiffany Tan at ttan@benningtonbanner.com, @tiffgtan on Twitter or 802-447-7567 ext. 122.