About
MISSION STATEMENT
The General N.B. Baker Public Library exists for the purpose of enriching the lives of residents of the community and surrounding area by providing equal access to resources and services for quality information, lifelong education and for entertainment.
Values:
· Equality: Accessibility, respect and fairness
· Diversity: Valuing individual needs, experiences and differences
· Intellectual Freedom: Protecting intellectual freedom and respecting individuals’ rights to privacy and choice
· Innovation: Encouraging creativity, experimentation and the generations of ideas
· Service Orientation: Providing excellent, responsive services
VISION:
· As the General N.B. Baker Library fulfills its mission on these values, our vision is that: Patrons will receive efficient, effective and friendly assistance from library staff.
· Residents will discover library experiences that anticipate and satisfy their learning and leisure staff.
· Community members will experience convenient access to library services in a welcoming environment, where they can explore their interest.
COMMUNITY DATA:
The town of Sutherland has a population of 625 and is located in O’Brien County, Iowa. Median age is 54.43 years; predominantly the same for male and female. Average household is 2.1 with average family size of 2.6 O’Brien County is a rural community in northwest Iowa. Town residents are predominantly white (93.3%) people, with other ethnicities making up less than 1% each. English is the predominant language spoken in our community. The population of Sutherland has declined by four (4) people in the last four (4) years. The unemployment rate was 4.85 in 2023.
Our school district is South O’Brien Community Schools. Elementary school located in Primghar and the middle and high school are located in Paullina, Iowa.
The basis of this data summary is taken from the U.S. Census 2023 Data on State Library of Iowa webpage
Adopted by Board of Trustees: 12/31/2021 : Reviewed, revised and approved 12/2/2025