As Wheeling-based Indian Trails public library district officials plan for the future, patrons are invited to take a survey about their library habits.

The survey – available at itpld.org, in the main library at 355 Schoenbeck Road and in the branch at 99 E. Palatine Road – is important for planning purposes, officials said.

“We always like to be as inclusive as possible in all life situations,” said Jen Schmidt, library communications manager.

Schmidt said the investigation was not directly related to the Library District’s discussions about opening a branch in Buffalo Grove. Despite having over 41,000 residents, Buffalo Grove does not have its own library. The Indian Trails District serves about half of the village’s population, and the Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire serves the rest.

Another investigation focused on such a company is possible in the future, Schmidt said.

Anyone can respond to the current survey, including those who live in the neighborhood but do not use the library or have not visited it recently, as well as patrons who live outside the neighborhood. The latter group could include students studying with friends in the library, people from out of town visiting relatives here, or people using the library meeting space, among others.

The questions relate to library services, programs and employees.

Among the questions, the survey asks: how satisfied are people with the library; the value people place on certain services or materials, such as books, Internet access, meeting rooms, and teen programs; and how interested people are in news programs, crafts and other topics.

Some questions ask respondents to choose from several possible answers, while others allow short personal answers.

The answers will be kept confidential.

The investigation is open until November 1.

A consultant will be paid $ 8,700 to analyze the data and lead the community focus groups, Schmidt said.

The Library District includes parts of Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Prospect Heights, and Arlington Heights. For more information or for help with the survey, call (847) 459-4100.