1. Could you please keep CD audiobooks separate from the cassettes?

Yes – good idea – we’ll reorganize these shelves.

2.  Need books on school hazing.

Okay – thanks!

3.  I think your librarians and Pages (people who put books away) are the best!

Thank you!

4.  More CD’s.  Better punk and ska.

We’ll add some.

5.  Please get: “With Honors”, “An American Tail” “Stir of Echoes” “The Cheese Monkeys”

We have ordered these books, videos and compact discs.

6. I want to commend the author birthday party reading program for children.  It has been superior in every way, from the colorful reading log sheets, to the adorable invitations, to the well-planned “parties”.  I was so impressed with the idea, that I described it to the parents of my 2^nd grade Brownie troop in one of my bi-monthly letters. It is easy to be average.  Every aspect of this program has been highly creative and original. The party activities always included games that got the children into their library section and taught them things about what was where in the Children’s department. This program’s level of originality and excellence of execution is rarely (sadly) seen in a publicly supported institution.  This program introduced us to authors we were unfamiliar with and probably – in Paul Goble’s case - would not have been exposed to without being “required” to read them. We have enjoyed the 15 books that my 2^nd grader read as she participated. This library should be proud to have such a creative and innovative staff.

Thank you for your kind comments!  We are very excited about our new “Happy Birthday, Dear Author” program, as it encourages children to explore high quality literature and illustration in a meaningful and celebratory way.  We plan to continue offering this program throughout 2003; look for the new line-up of featured authors in the winter issue of Focus or on the library’s web site!

7. Ask library personnel to whisper or talk quietly.  Street voice level is disturbing.

We will try harder!  Please keep in mind that our Quiet Study Room is now fully enclosed and much quieter!

8.  Reference staff should check and replenish HP laser printer paper supply at least two or three times per day.  They are always out of paper when I try to print.  A time-waster.

We are determined to keep the printers stocked with paper before they run out.  Although we will check periodically, please let us know if they are running out of paper. 

9.  Express PC’s should be marked as such with a label or poster above them.  No one knows which PC’s have a time limit on usage.

We agree – we’ll do this and try to make it more clear.  Thanks!

10.  Contrary to all your awards and disclaimers, I think your lighting is really awful and should be re-done.

Please be more specific.  The building won an important architectural award not for lighting but for design.  We have made no disclaimers regarding the lighting.  We are aware of the need to improve lighting in several areas throughout the building – particularly the stairway and the Children’s Services department. 

11. Videos should be more evenly due-dated.  Families with children cannot always keep track of receipts for so many due dates.  Make them all two days.  PLEASE too too too much fines!! for small children.

Thank you for your suggestion.  Actually, we just changed our loan periods on the videos and DVD’s to make it easier for patrons.  All Children’s videos and DVD’s now have a loan period of 7 days.  NEW adult videos have a 2 day loan period and all others are loaned for 7 days.

12.  The library is great and has a lot to offer its’ patrons, however, had the thought of sound-proofing the Lincoln Room been considered?  The sounds travel to the adult section.  There are sound-proof panels that go over the existing drywall and no need to remove what is there.  Please take this into consideration.

We will consider this in the future.  Please keep in mind that our Quiet Study Room is now fully enclosed and much quieter!

13.  Could you please have a chair for old people like me to sit on?  It’s a long walk by the front entrance.  Thank you.

Yes – we will purchase this soon!

14.  Too many printer problems in adult reference.  Maybe you should have printers where you pay before you print, or have printers at the Reference Desk and patrons have to claim their printing pages.

Thank you for your suggestions – your solutions are all good ones and are already under consideration – we are well aware of the problems caused by the current system.  These problems are typical of libraries using the honor system to offset printing costs.

15.  Around the World books.  The library can have a session showing about different countries and different kids in those countries.

Thanks for program recommendation!  The Children’s librarians will discuss it at their next planning session. 

16.  I think you should get more “Royal Diaries”.

We own 12 of the 13 “Royal Diaries” titles currently available.  Kaiulani: The People’s Princess is on order and will be here soon.  Two new releases are scheduled for spring of 2003 and we will add them to our collection as soon as they are published. 

17.  It would be nice if there was a hard copy (index) of the video selections available in the local school libraries so teachers could plan and incorporate curriculum-related video materials several weeks or months in advance.

While such an index might be useful, it would be very difficult to keep it up to date since the library purchases new videos frequently throughout each month.  With advance notice, the librarians will be happy to assist teachers in selecting and obtaining curriculum-related videos. 

18.  You could let us talk louder!

There is sometimes a fine line between acceptable and unacceptable talking in a public library.  We mainly ask that everyone be considerate of the library patrons who are trying to concentrate on their reading.

19.  (Via web site) You should get rid of the new look-up computer system because it is so confusing to use, and you can’t even put a hold on a book, you need a PIN number.

Please come to the library to the Reference Desk – we’ll show you how to use the web-based catalog.  It’s easy to get a PIN number – just call us at 847-526-6225.  Most patrons agree that this new system works much better than the former system – please let us know what problems you are having!  Please click here for further info: http://www.wauclib.org/computers/onlinecatalog.html