Library Experiences

Because of a temporary loss of my home Internet access, My fiancee and I have become customers at our local library for our internet needs. My fiancee has also been using the library and Internet for school research and online testing for her college classes.
The library we use is the main library in a different system than the one I work for.

The restrictions regarding time usage and guest passes as well as general policies are much more relaxed in the system I work for. I often get exasperated that the children, teens and many adults would rather get a guest pass instead of remembering their card or getting one. At least they are coming in and using the libray.

The library I have been using will not give a guest pass without an ID showing you are out of area otherwise you must use a library card. No exceptions. I have no idea what they do with new residents or those that refuse to or can't have a card. I guess they just can't use the library.

They use Cybrarian which is the same system we used at one time for computer reservations. Because of an hour long timed test was to be taken by my fiancee, she asked the reference staff if she can have her time extended a short amount to allow her to finish. She was told no. I don't know if this function has been disabled or if the staff just were unwilling to accomadate but Cybrarian does have this function available . Because of the hour Limits in place she was not able to take her exam.

I returned some books and was going to renew the remaining items. I was unable to renew my fiancee's materials. I had the library card number but missing a number on the pin so I was not able to log on. Staff at the desk refused to renew or verify numbers unless I had her actual card or books in hand. Yes I am aware of privacy Issues, But they wouldn't even go into her record and let me tell them what titles to renew.

My first visit was very exasperating. I finally had to ask a librarian why all the web addresses I typed in did not work and I had to find them using Google. No Instructions were posted at stations. It turns out that you have to type in the address leaving out all the http://www/ otherwise it delivers an invalid address. And every few minutes a box pops up asking me if I was still there and if I wish to continue. Arrrgh, Every time those come up I was in the middle of typing something or inputing something into a form.
Obviously it can't detect I am on and using the computer.

The reference desk? Where is it? Hidden way in back out of the way , not front and center. It's Like a service counter at a department store off in the back area of the building. I did not notice much in the way of phone calls or the Librarians out and about much helping customers. But then again the place was almost always pretty empty the times I visited. Did I say this was the main area library?

Another obsevation I noticed right off on my first visit was the reserve pick-up area while getting a card. It had perhaps 100 items being held. I swear on any given day we have close to 10000 items waiting to be picked up. We had to give up the manned check out station years ago because the library was just to busy to dedicate staff to sit at the check out station, its nice to see they still can afford this service.

I really dislike using that library and I dislike saying it even more. I am sure what I felt is also felt many of my neighbors who have to use that library system. I am sure that is why it is always empty and underused.

So even though customers take advantage or abuse our more relaxed or accomadating policies where I work I would much prefer them to the restrictive ones I have encountered.
I am sure that also has a lot to do with why we are always busy and often a noisy and sometimes chaotic place to be in, we are not an empty echo chamber.
It is a customer friendly, family friendly library and we encourage the use and accomadate the customers needs. I much prefer the hustle and bustle of a place everyone wants to use and a place where staff, facilities and policies accomadate that use.