What's On Your Mind?: July 2017

Patron Comments: June and July 2017

Comment: You guys absolutely have to fix the internet. The pages don't move. Find out what Cornell and IC have and get that!
Response: We fully understand and appreciate how frustrating slow internet service can be, that's why TCPL has been a long-time advocate for improved broadband services in Tompkins County--Library Director Susan Currie was a key member of the County's Broadband Committee and has worked tirelessly to ensure that adequate, accessible internet service is available for all members of Tompkins County. While we can't provide the type of infrastructure afforded to the campus communities due to prohibitive costs, we are pleased to report that we are working with our internet service provider to increase our bandwidth, which should help to make your browsing a little more efficient and enjoyable.

Comment: {I really like} where fiction is now.
Response: We're glad to hear you are enjoying the results of our renovation-related stack-shifting. Library staff worked diligently to assess traffic and use patterns before making the current changes to our floorplan and have received many positive comments about how much our patrons are enjoying our reconfigured space. Happy reading!

Comment: Please consider a drop/return box. This would help older folks, those with mobility challenges and small children in the car. Perhaps located in the back parking garage driveway?
Response: Thank you for your thoughtful suggestion. There are few issues more important to us than accessibility, and trying to ensure that patrons can easily return books and A/V materials is at the top of our list. While the space behind our building once housed a book-drop, it is now used as an emergency fire lane, which cannot accommodate book-drop traffic. We will continue to work on alternate location and commend you for working to make the library more accessible to community members at every age and stage!

Comment: Thank you for the excellent writing class with Paige Eve Chant and {Information and Learning Services Department Head} Teresa Vadakin Please offer this again for others to experience--insight, friendships, resources and much more.
Response: We love to hear that our patrons have enjoyed library programs. It is the best reward for the efforts of the staff members who work so hard to plan them! We will happily share your feedback with our programming team and hope to offer Paige's program again in the future. In the meantime, be sure to visit http://tcpl-news.blogspot.com/ or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tcplny/, to learn about all of our upcoming programs.

Comment: I like the location of the Reference Desk but the desk isn't good, and it's too small a space. There is also no space for a fax machine and less shelf space.
Response: We're glad to hear that you like the new location of our Adult Reference Desk and even more pleased to let you know that we wholeheartedly agree with your assessment and have plans to look at options for a new, larger desk in the coming months.

Patron Comments April and May 2017

Comment: Please procure a color copier for the digital lab.

Response: We’re delighted that you are looking forward to the opening of our 21^st Century Digital Learning Lab and pleased to report that it will, indeed, have a color copier.

Comment: I love the library!

Response: We can’t think of a better message to receive than this one during national Library Lovers Month! Thanks for sharing the love!

Comment: Could the surfaces of the tables in the youth section study rooms be cleaned on a regular basis? They are often gray with dirt.

Response: Thanks for sharing this important feedback. The tables in our Youth Services section are heavily used by our young readers and their families, and we will make sure that they are cleaned even more frequently than they already are to ensure that our patrons continue to enjoy a clean space for individual and group study.

Comment: Can the library stay open on snow days if roads are open and fine.

Response: We recognize just how important access to the library is to our community, which is why making the decision to close for any reason is always difficult. Our primary concern during inclement weather is the safety of our staff and patrons. Since most of our staff members live outside of the downtown area, we have to take a broader look at the weather, which means that sometimes, even when the roads in Ithaca are passable, we have to remain closed. During these rare closures, please know that many of our services can be accessed online, 24/7 by visiting http://tcpl.org/.

Comment: The library’s new arrangement is not well thought out, especially the relocation of the newspapers.

Response: We’re sorry for any inconvenience our renovation-related relocations have caused. If you can bear with us through this process, we are confident you will enjoy our improvements and additions.

Comment: My compliments on the vast improvements to the men’s room, but the same wall-mounted, cantilevered toilet at another local business leaks due to the weight of some users causing the wall-seal to split. Install supports under the rim directly to the floor to prevent later damage.

Response: We’re glad you like the improvements to our public restrooms as much as we do and appreciate this terrific advice. One of the best things about TCPL is that our patrons have incredible insight and expertise and are willing to share it with us for the good of our library!

Comment: Thank you for the following: the computers, the tables, the photocopier, the stapler table, the study carrels and for giving people space to read.

Response: The thanks belongs to patrons like you who recognize how important these things are and support our amazing library!

Comment: Love the free bookmarks.

Response: Making reading easier for our patrons is kind of our thing! We’re glad the bookmarks help.

Patron Comments February and March 2017

Comment: Open a lunch counter! Seriously—coffee, bagels, hamburgers, pop-tarts and lasagna.

Response: It sounds like you worked up an appetite during your most recent library visit! With so many visitors sharing our common areas each day, a valuable collection, computers and electronic equipment and an already taxed Facilities team, we’ve decided on a policy that prohibits eating in the library. We do, however, allow covered beverages. So, feel free to grab a cup of coffee and settle in to one of our quiet areas with a good book!

Comment: We need ventilation. The plastic carpet and bathrooms are off-gassing and making me nauseous.

Response: We’re sorry to hear that you weren’t feeling well during your recent visit. While each of the products we used in our recent renovation are environmentally friendly and low-emitting, we recognize that some people have sensitivities to new materials. As a result our County Facilities team has set our ventilation system to run 24-hours a day. For more information about the materials used during our renovation process, visit http://media.wix.com/ugd/c0a9ee_91adf1052ab44d7a99d58f4871f5b82a.pdf.