SUGGESTION BOX

 

March, 2006

 

1.  Can the library get a vending machine that serves coffee? Soda and/or milk?

We actually are considering providing vended beverages in the coming year, if we can find the right vendor and the right location in the library.

2.  Please purchase:  DVDs: Everybody Loves Raymond season 5, I Love Lucy, Deadwood, more Barney, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Concert for Bangladesh, The O.C.; CDs: Elizabethtown soundtracks; books: children’s Rainbow Fairy series

These are being considered for purchase.  Thanks for the suggestions!

3.  I understand the need for reservations if there is a line, but I am not a 12 year old playing online games.  I was paying bills and doing IRS work! I can’t believe I am not allowed to sign on anymore!  I am a taxpayer!!  This is making me sound like an old lady, but I’m irritated!  I can’t afford a new computer right now so I’ve been relying on the Library to get things done.

You don’t need a reservation to use the computers unless they are all busy.  You can sit down at any open computer, simply type in your library card number and you will have one and one-half hours to use that computer.  If you need more time, you are allowed a second session of computer time that same day.  Please be aware that we also provide wireless laptop computers for patrons who are at least 18 years of age.  Between the regular computers and the laptops, it’s possible for you to use computers here for a total of 7 hours per day!

4.  My compliments to your staff.  They are always very helpful.  Your Reference Librarian, on her own initiative, has called me several times researching computer data for books for me.  Absolutely outstanding service!

We appreciate your compliment.  We realize some questions take more research time than others and are happy to follow up later with you.

5.  I am very happy about your new system for the computers.  There have been more times than I can count that my kids have homework and we had to drive to Lake Zurich to use the computers.

Glad you find that the new PC Reservation System provides greater access to our computers – this is why we installed it!

6. I am traveling to Poland in June and was very disappointed to find nothing (DVDs, tourism books) here for me!

We are in the process of removing outdated titles and selecting new ones for our travel collection.  We own The Eyewitness Travel Guide to Warsaw, 914.384 WAR; and Fodor’s Eastern and Central Europe, 914.7 FOD, as well as have a new edition of the second title on order.  If you do not see what you need please stop at the Adult Services Reference Desk.  We are glad to locate materials you need through interlibrary loan and/or take your purchase suggestions to fill in gaps in the collection. 

7. Allow “new” DVD releases to be placed on hold (in person or by Internet) allowing all patrons an equal chance to watch a new release DVD.

Please understand that placing holds on our new materials would mean that they would spend much more time on shelves waiting for people to pick them up.  This, in turn, would make it harder to access to our most popular materials.  We feel that the current policy – first come first served – is the fairest.

8.  Lower volume level in Children’s Department please!

Given that the bustling Children’s department serves infants through fifth-graders, the noise level is a condition that the Children’s librarians constantly monitor.  If you need to have the “volume adjusted” when you visit, please feel free to speak to the librarian at the Children’s Reference desk. 

9.  This is the finest library in Illinois.  So accommodating and so much to borrow.  I love to come here.

Thank you SO MUCH – we hope to see you often!

10.  I think the new idea of limiting computer usage is wonderful.  I don’t have to wait anymore.  Thank you!

Glad to know you find the new PC Reservation System helpful – this is why we installed it!

11.  You have very little activity for children in 2nd grade.  Example: In April, except for a Drop-in craft, nothing, yet if you are in 4th grade there is the Book Brunch, Drop-in Craft, Parent-Son Book Club, Mother-Daughter Book Club.

Over the course of the year, we strive to provide programs for children from birth through fifth grade.  Due to staffing and cost considerations, it simply is not possible to offer children’s programs for all age groups every month.  There will be numerous activities and events for second-graders this summer which will be promoted in the upcoming issue of the library’s newsletter, Focus, and on the library’s web site.  Registration will begin on Monday, June 5th; we hope your child will enjoy the many exciting programs planned! 

11.  Why aren’t there any books on or in Polish?  Transfiguration Church in town has weekly Polish Masses, and holds a large Saturday Polish school, drawing a large Polish community.

We have recently begun purchasing Polish titles for the Polish collection located next to the Spanish collection in the Adult Services Department.  We welcome your suggestions for purchase.  As well, we can obtain Polish titles for you through interlibrary loan at the Adult Services Reference Desk.

12.  I am currently studying to be a special education teacher.  I always enjoy coming to the library to do homework and research.  The staff is always so nice and helpful. The Children’s section is so colorful and engaging.  I get so many of my teaching ideas from books in the Children’s section.  I love the themes and decorations.

Thank you for your kind comments; they really brighten our day! 

13.  The Librarian in Children’s Parent-Son Book Club is awesome!  Thank you for this great format – we enjoy the attention to “physical” activities to go along with the wonderful books.

We are delighted to learn that you and your son are enjoying our new book discussion group! 

14.  What a great library we have!  I love that I don’t have to go far to find great programs.  Our entire family enjoys it here.  Please consider staying open on Sundays this summer

Thank you for your kind words.  We will consider staying open on Sundays in through the summer. 

15.  The new system on the computers has a serious flaw.  I was in the middle of filling out a college application online and was booted out and all my information was lost!  There needs to be way to stop the timer.  Overriding the system should always be an option.  Thanks to this, now four hours of my time will have to be re-spent on the essay.

The PC Reservation System has a session length timer running on the screen during your session. The system warns you that your session is running out of time, 1) at ten minutes, 2) at four minutes and 3) at two minutes before session shut off.  The system offers no override capability.   The warning offers sufficient time to save your work. 

16.  I'm not sure I have the correct name, I believe Tom Kern is the director of the Wauconda Library, of which I am a member for many years. I just want to tell him how much I have enjoyed your books on line with the Mobipocket Reader it is the best thing that has happened for me in years I am so excited with this I just can't believe it. Thank You

We’re glad you're enjoying our MyMediaMall service!  This service was made possible because of a "Creative Use of Libraries" grant we applied for last year.  There is much more coming.  We'll soon provide access to NetLibrary, a service similar to MyMediaMall, but mainly e-audiobooks.  We ultimately will provide special preloaded ebook readers for checkout.  It sounds like you already have a way to read your ebooks, though.   Sometime soon (May or June), we'll be announcing all these new services in a special brochure which will be mailed to all Wauconda Area Library residents (paid for by the grant!).

17.  Any child under the suggested Rating age should not be allowed to check out that movie unless you have on file permission from their parent to do so.  Here is why.  It is now a well known fact among minors that they can check out movies at the library that they CANNOT check out at the local rental store, because they impose proper restriction thereof.  And requiring parents to attend their preteens and teens every time they go to the library would embarrass the child amongst their peers most likely resulting in the child NOT wanting to go to the library.  Most minors already know they should not be viewing these movies, but will always try to see what they can get away with, not to be bad, but merely to test their limitations.  But most importantly they are minors and as such are the responsibility of their parents or guardians, and as a community services organization you should supporting community norms, not providing ways for our youth to circumnavigate the rules and guidelines of their community and family.

The ratings are assigned by the Motion Picture Association and may or may not reflect parents' values regarding items to which they feel it is alright for their child to be exposed. The library currently does not restrict access to any part of the library collection, unless a parent has requested that restriction for his or her child.  Parents have the option of having a block placed on their child's library account.  Once the block is placed, it will appear whenever the child attempts to check out any item, alerting the circulation clerk to the restriction.

 

That having been said, the board will review policy and procedures related to circulation of R-Rated videos.