Santa at AnnArbor.com in 2009. He visited again in 2010.

AnnArbor.com file photo

Whether your answer is yes or no, we want to hear from you.

We've put together this brief survey to help us understand how we can build on the many wonderful events and interactions that have taken place here over the past year.

We opened the Community Space in Nov. 2009 with the goal of bridging traditional barriers between the newsroom and the public. It was and remains a groundbreaking concept in the news industry.

Since opening, we've held dozens of events in our first-floor Community Space at 301 E. Liberty St., from live political debates to book discussion groups, concerts, panel discussions, events for kids and more.

In addition to all the special events, every weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the storefront space is open to the public. Housed in a former coffee shop, the space retains a cafe atmosphere, with locally-roasted coffee, comfortable seating, free wi-fi, and a variety of music selected by our own Jessica Webster.

People often come in to use one of our computers to browse AnnArbor.com, or work on their laptops, or hold meetings in our conference room, which seats up to 12 people. Groups and organizations can reserve it for free to hold non-commercial meetings.

Our reporters and editors occasionally work in the Community Space, and the Community Team is regularly here, so during the day you can stop by and likely find one of us around to chat. The Community Team includes me, Pam Stout, Edward Vielmetti and Jessica Webster. Customer advocate Elizabeth Palmer greets and assists folks as they arrive; she also coordinates reservation of our conference room.

So while the progress has been good, we think there's still a lot more we could do to engage the community with the space. Just the other day, a man wandered in after attending the LA2M meeting where AnnArbor.com CEO Matt Kraner spoke. Kraner mentioned the Community Space, but it was the first this man had heard of it.

After hearing all we have to offer, he responded: "Do other people know this is here?"

That's what we want to know. So please take our survey, and let us know what you think!

Jen Eyer is the Community Director for AnnArbor.com. Email her at JenEyer@annarbor.com.