Libraries

Today I went to the library because I needed to get out of the house and I needed to renew my library card.

Their children's area is on the main floor and from time-to-time they have story telling. Today was one such day.

The main library downtown where I go is 4 stories tall and takes up an area of 4 cubic blocks. Basically, it's surrounded by streets on all 4 sides.

I swear the guy telling the story must have been using a microphone at times because you could hear him throughout the entire building, even on the upper floors, and even across the street through the second floor walkway to the neighbouring mall!

The way the library was designed is somewhat open concept with the clear glass elevators and escalators being the "centre court" at the back of the building, so to speak. The back of the building is basically a large wall of glass overlooking a reading garden/park.

Each of floors 2 through 4 have glass wall fences that you can lean over and look down to the main floor. It was designed like that in order to provide light and a grand view. It's beautiful!!

I love the idea of getting children interested in reading!!! But seriously, between the kids yelling and running around, and the guy telling the story with and without a microphone, it was disruptive to everyone in the building, no matter what floor you were on. I went up to the 3rd floor to try and get away from the noise, but it was almost as loud up there.

3 university students were there trying to study. When I was waiting for the elevator to the second floor, they were packing up to leave. I heard them talking about how they couldn't concentrate because of the noise.

I decided to go to the mall across the street using the second floor connecting walkway. The sound followed me through the walkway into the mall and past 4 stores before I turned a corner to head to the food court for lunch.

I think that the children's section of the library should be on it's own floor. A floor that isn't open concept where the sounds can be contained.

I remember when I was a kid going to the library, you got shushed if you even whispered. And it used to be a great place to go and get some quiet time for studying, but there don't seem to be any rules regarding noise levels anymore.

On a positive note, I found out that they now offer download able books, FREE! And you don't need one of those readers to download and read. I can read on my desktop or my mini laptop. And according to the librarian I can pick how long I want the book for (up to 21 days) and at the end of the time, the book automatically deletes itself from my computer. I don't know if I can read a whole book on a computer. My eyes get sore from just day to day usage, but I'll give it a try and see how it goes.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

I don't know if I can read a whole book on a computer. My eyes get sore from just day to day usage, but I'll give it a try and see how it goes.

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For me to read a whole book I need real paper and ink. Nothing bright and glaring in my face for a long time thank you very much

I too remember getting shushed for talking in the library. That's how it should be in my humble opinion.

I believe they did consumer surveys and stuff, and found that library patrons thought the quiet environment and being shushed were unwelcoming and made them less likely to go to the library . I suppose you have to listen to your customers. . .the fewer people who use the library, the less funds they receive. They should have at least one quiet study room, though.

I spent hours upon hours at the library when I was a kid. I haven't been there in years, though.

I forgot the drum he used during parts of the story!!!!

Before I went up to the 3rd floor I was sitting at a computer station looking up books. To my left was an area with tables/chairs and lounge-style chairs for people to sit and relax and read, or study. You could see people rolling their eyes, shifting in their seats and glancing towards to children's area, looking very annoyed.

So I know it wasn't just me who was deeply annoyed by it. I wanted to go there and sit in a comfy lounge chair in the inside garden area and look outside at the park and relax and read.

That environment was not conducive to doing either of those things. I felt badly for anyone who was there trying to do any type of research or studying.

And what gets me is that they have 2 closed off auditoriums in that building that they could be using for these story times, but instead they do it smack in the centre of the main floor of the library where there is no getting away from the noise.

You need to complain to the management. The post starting this thread, sent to the director of the library, and the board members, if you can, is compelling testimony, that you, a paying customer (through taxes) did not get what you needed from this library.

If people don't complain, how are they to know?


Robin

As a librarian, this thread made me smile.

There was this 'great' trend awhile back to build architecturally interesting libraries...unfortunately they tended to do so without any thought as to how the space would be used. We just installed a sound masking system in our branch because no matter where you were, you could hear the lobby loud and clear. We ended up declaring an entire floor quiet because of noise complaints. While I agree with storytime in the open (for a multitude of reasons I won't bore you guys with ) the fact is that programming will always need it's own space, as will study. A lot of libraries are moving away from being "study space" but the reality is that this is still a big use, and needs to be accommodated.

The short form of this is yes! complain about it. If it's an ongoing problem, you can bet they can come up with solutions. Believe it or not, librarians (at least the ones I know) don't build building suggestions. Since we live with it everyday, we tune it out.

And I' so happy to hear about someone discovering the e-books!
If you are interested in an e-reader - ask at the library. lots of places are starting to lend them out loaded with novels.

On a sort of side note...have you heard Jimmy Buffett's song about a library?

Love in the Library

An open concept library doesn't make sense to me. Our library is in an older building downtown. It's one main floor with the children's stuff in the basement. I've not taken Tressa to story time just because parking is horrid and she doens't sit still anyway. I think they are working on a new locaiton though. It's not a very big library really.

Originally Posted by Ms. Freya

AThere was this 'great' trend awhile back to build architecturally interesting libraries...unfortunately they tended to do so without any thought as to how the space would be used.

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The library downtown was totally revamped. Basically closed for 2 years and gutted. The sad thing is that the building was only about 15 or 20 years old when they decided to do a complete "renovation" on it. The new style building opened in 2005.

Images 3, 4, and 5 show the area behind the elevator with the huge glass wall to the right which overlooks the reading garden/park. You can see how open it is. All of the floors are open air, so the sound travels.

Picture #2 shows the back of the building and the park when it was first built. The park is now undergoing it's 4th renovation since the library reopened. The first was too "sterile" so it was made more park-like. Then people complained that it was too "hidden" from the public streets due to tall concrete walls and too many alcoves, so it was opened up somewhat. Now I don't know what they're doing because it's all ripped up again and under construction.

http://www.cbc.ca/manitoba/imagegallery/millennium2005/

Here is the back shown at night. You can see one of the revamps that added the park-like detail with trees.

http://www.lynxcommunications.ca/wlf...iumlibrary.jpg

Originally Posted by mrblanche

On a sort of side note...have you heard Jimmy Buffett's song about a library?

Love in the Library

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Ahhhh... isn't Jimmy Buffett just wonderful? That's a beautiful song, thank you for posting it!

Folks using the library and having issues definitely need to complain. It's difficult to expect something to change if the library thinks everything is fine.

I recently started downloading audio books and love it. I have been doing a lot of knitting so wasn't able to read as much as I used to and missed it. By downloading audio books and transferring them to my IPod, I can do both at the same time. I volunteer for the seniors' centre to drive people to their appointments which means I have to stay with them during their appointment. I sit in the waiting room knitting and listening to my IPod. I love it.

Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

Ahhhh... isn't Jimmy Buffett just wonderful? That's a beautiful song, thank you for posting it!

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I'm sure much of it goes over the heads of anyone under 30.

K

Originally Posted by Yosemite

I volunteer for the seniors' centre to drive people to their appointments which means I have to stay with them during their appointment. I sit in the waiting room knitting and listening to my IPod. I love it.

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Thank you so much for doing this! My 83 year old mother uses a service like this. Some weeks she has 3 doctors' appointments. If this service wasn't available, I dont know
what I'd do. I guess I'd have to retire from my job, and that isn't good for me at this point. Taking taxi cabs wouldn't work because she walks with a cane, but she still needs someone to walk with her. The trips cost a $12 "donation" but it is well worth it.

My mother listens to books on CD's for hours every day as she can't see well enough to read much anymore. Her library has a "senior outreach" person who brings them to her home.

Robin

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

The library downtown was totally revamped. Basically closed for 2 years and gutted. The sad thing is that the building was only about 15 or 20 years old when they decided to do a complete "renovation" on it. The new style building opened in 2005.

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Nice building! It reminds me of a newer one here that opened in 2007 - they have the same sound problems. The good part is it's probably fixable if they can afford to invest in a sound masking system. That's what we had to install because of sound travelling.

15-20 year old libraries often do need a revamp (sad, because you hope they'd last longer) because the building practices at the time were less than stellar for a building that sees that kind of usage. Our main building is 20 years old and we're pushing for a big reno because its just failing. A lot of public buildings in the 90's (according to our facilities head, anyway) were built using techniques and materials developed in milder climates, like California. These didn't hold up so well when they were used in Canada.

I think a big part of the problem is that libraries have to adapt to changing times just like everybody else. In a lot of cases, the library is housed in a hundred-year-old building and the only thing it had in it originally was shelf after shelf of books. Now, the have computers, audio-visual, class rooms, children's areas, and more. It's hard to make all of those changes without having some adverse effects. The solution is a newer building or a remodel, but these days most libraries are lucky if they're not having to lay off staff. I think that in addition to letting the library staff know about problems, complaining about the noise helps them to make the case to the city government that they need more money to make the changes. If they're getting 50 complaints per week, then obviously there are quite a few people using the library, and there is a good case to be made that the taxpayers would like to see their money spent upgrading the library.

Originally Posted by Willowy

I believe they did consumer surveys and stuff, and found that library patrons thought the quiet environment and being shushed were unwelcoming and made them less likely to go to the library

. I suppose you have to listen to your customers. . .the fewer people who use the library, the less funds they receive. They should have at least one quiet study room, though.

I spent hours upon hours at the library when I was a kid. I haven't been there in years, though.

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It seems like they're also chasing away a segment of the public who goes to the library to study and read and get away from the noise. i haven't been in a library in ages, but I used to absolutely love going there when I was younger. And it would not have occurred to me to be loud and noisy. Kids are raised differently these days.

Originally Posted by bastetservant

You need to complain to the management. The post starting this thread, sent to the director of the library, and the board members, if you can, is compelling testimony, that you, a paying customer (through taxes) did not get what you needed from this library.

If people don't complain, how are they to know?


Robin

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Exactly! Not enough people complain these days.

Originally Posted by Whisky'sDad

Exactly! Not enough people complain these days.

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You're joking, right? IMO people complain too much.

In all honesty, a respectful word to the librarian at the time would have been more effective, and possibly achieved results. A letter sent days later would achieve very little. Posting it here without contacting the library achieves nothing. IMO, a simple conversation at the time could have kept this mountain molehill sized.

I agree that telling the librarian is a better idea. The storyteller doesn't need a microphone...

I'm taken Z to story times, and they're always in a separate part of the library which can have the doors closed, and part of the appeal is listening to the storyteller's voice - if they have to yell or use a microphone, it would ruin it.

I've also been to a library to study, and it was really noisy and drove me NUTS. Even the librarians were yelling across to each other talking about the upcoming weekend! If I need to get some peace and quiet, I go to the library. The one closest to me is nice and quiet, a good place to get work done (and is always full of people working), and has a nice story time, which is on a separate floor to the work areas, and has the ability to close the doors.

That's how a library should be IMO.

I love the library in my town. Well sorta new it was revonated a few years back IMO it is by far the best library in the county and it is really quiet. They still insist on quiet. BUT to offer a compromise they have a cafe, an art gallery and a theater in the basement and the children's room while on the first floor and the teen room on the second floor are usually quiet and what helps are the beautiful french doors they have that they usually keep closed to keep the noise contained.

The only time it was loud was when I walked in during aschool tour day and even then only the lobby was loud.

I love to go there in the winter when they have the fireplace running.

PLUS they get all sorts of great authors in to talk...I met James Patterson last summer there.

Most of the time though i get lazy and just browse the catalog online and then place a hold and pick it up on my way home from work. (this is great because they will send books back and forth between the libraries in the county and there are many and just place them on hold when they arrive and I usually get a call from the drone when they are in) and when I'm done i just drop them off at my home library and they take care of returing them to whereever the ycame from.

This new inter-library loan system is so much easier then the old system they had in place before.