Page 40 - 2015 Compass Now

Figure 12: Rating of Community Concerns 2.7

Efforts to prevent abuse or neglect

Availability of quality childcare 2.7

A placement that meets the overall needs of elderly persons 2.7

A placement that meets the needs of persons with disabilities 2.6

Ability to pay for quality childcare 2.5

COMMUNITY Scale: No Concern=1; Very Concerned=4
Source: COMPASS NOW 2015 Random Household Survey

Opportunities to enhance culture/quality of life

Many of the qualities discussed in this report have an impact on the quality of life for citizens. In order for
the community to attract citizens and keep them happy and thriving, it is important that the community offer
a variety of cultural opportunities that can enhance quality of life.

In a society where lifelong learning is valued, public libraries play an important fundamental role. Public
libraries provide educational and cultural opportunities for people of all ages. Libraries provide a variety of
activities and a range of reading materials to accommodate diverse learners and learning styles. Libraries
play an important role in supporting childhood education through creative and fun summer reading
programs for children and young people. Public libraries also offer guidance and training in information
search.

Funding for public libraries comes mainly from local, county, state, and federal sources. Adequate funding
for public libraries enhances the quality of life in a community and also allows the library to offer programs,
services, and updated collections. In challenging economic times, public libraries offer important cost
saving services such as free internet and computer access and traditional circulated items such as books,
DVDs, videos, and audiocassettes. Library services are difficult to measure, in part, because their benefits
are often intangible. The amount of library materials circulated is an indication of utilization but does not
fully measure library service usage.

Within the Great Rivers Region there are eight movie theaters and nine live theater venues for music, arts,
and theater performances. In addition, most school districts have at least one theater performance each
year, increasing the number of fine arts available to residents. The newest of these theaters is the Weber
Center for Performing Arts, which had its grand opening in January 2013. The Weber Center is a collaborative
venue, supporting the missions of La Crosse Community Theatre and Viterbo University. It serves as
a performance and administrative center for La Crosse Community Theatre, providing opportunities
for creativity and personal growth. It also serves as a performance and learning center expanding and
advancing Viterbo’s regional and national arts reputation. The American Alliance for Theatre and Education
reports that participating in drama activities improves reading comprehension, both verbal and non-verbal,
as well as communication skills9. Drama participants are also more likely to have higher rates of school
attendance and less likely to drop out of school9.

32 COMPASS NOW 2015