•  I have noticed for the last couple of weeks there are no printers working. When will you get one?

The network printer for the Internet computers was having problems most of the winter, and was declared dead in early April. A new printer was ordered right after that, and will be installed by the time you read this.

 

• How did you pay for the expensive lights?

I presume you mean the lights in the main room. They were paid for with a grant from the NJ Department of Community Affairs. They were installed in April 2007. They replace the old fluorescent lights from the 1950's, and are significantly more energy efficient. The new lights also closely resemble the original fixtures in the room.

 

•  This library needs to invest some funds into its number and quality of computers. I see changes to the way things look in the library but no improvements to its functionality. For a library this size, serving this town's demographics, there should be more computers for adults and children. Shame on you!

For the past two years, the Library has requested capital funds from the borough to purchase new computers. Unfortunately, there has not been a capital improvements ordinance passed by the mayor and council since 2005. We are now pursuing a grant opportunity in lieu of borough funding.

However, due to our space limitations, we only foresee replacing the existing public access computers. When it comes to space, a community the size of Roselle should have at least three times more floor area, to allow for a collection big enough to serve 21,274 residents, more computers, and more space for groups to meet.

I hope you are taking advantage of all the new books and DVDs we add on a weekly basis. The Library is much more than computers.

•  After using the Library for different paperwork, I could see a need for office supplies for us patrons. Paper clips, envelopes, file folders are items commonly needed but are not available. Surely these could be sold at a reduced price to Roselle Library patrons.

We are somewhat limited in storage space to be competing with Staples, let alone Walgreen's and CVS just three blocks away, in the office supply market However, we do want our patrons to get the most out of their visit to the Library. I'll bring the matter up at the next staff meeting and the next board meeting, and see what problems and possibilities our staff and trustees see in this idea .

•  Please “sell” bricks to celebrate birthdays, deaths, births etc. The bricks could be used in the new building construction, or in a courtyard. Also “sell” park benches for the new building. And “sell” gift certificates!

Good ideas! We will be looking for contributions small and large to offset in some way the expenses of the expanded library. So far, the Board of Trustees has approved a “naming chart” for the major spaces; this will allow us to go to major donors and foundations for large contributions. Already, the Reading Room (currently the main room) will be the Elizabeth and Warren Brody Room, thanks to Beth's lead contribution to this project.

As we get closer to actual construction, the Library will have opportunities for people to “buy” (i.e., underwrite) furniture such as desks, tables, and shelving units.

We will look into doing something about gift certificates and a “buy-a-brick” program.

 

•   The computers need to be fixed (two notes about this).

  As of the end of September, we replaced one printer (for the word processors), and had a quote on new computers turned down. By the end of this month, we should have two new computers here, which will allow us to replace some existing equipment and install some missing software. We have also been waiting for some capital funds from the Borough to upgrade our computers, but that is taking longer than we expected. 

•   I think that the Library should have a typewriter.

  The last typewriter we had died of loneliness. It was infrequently used, and took up space in our very cramped building. I don't see us adding a typewriter to our collection.

• I would like to suggest that the stuffed animals be replaced or removed. They carry a lot of germs.
  
  The small animals get washed a couple of times a year, and the larger ones are wiped down and then put in a dryer with the same frequency. All of them get sprayed with Lysol regularly in between cleanings. As they get “loved to death”, we also replace them with new toys.
  

•    It stinks in here. Very disturbing.

  A few months ago, someone complained about the smell in the entrance, and we addressed that with some carpet freshener. We will be cleaning the carpets in the main room soon. If it's something else that offends your olfactory senses, let us know with a more specific note.
  
  

•   Let people get a library card (that is, if they lose it) for a lower price.

  The price was low, and unfortunately, some people abused that ability to replace their cards. They would toss a dollar on the desk and demand that we get them a new card, because they didn't feel like looking for their card. Every replacement card (just like every replacement book) takes up staff time and money that is not budgeted for. When we raised the cost of replacement, our replacement rate dropped by 2/3, because it became cheaper to actually look and find the missing item. The Library believes you should be as careful with your library card as if it were a credit card.
  
  

    •  Let kids over 11 work at the library.

  State law restricts how many hours a week people under a certain age may work, as well as other restrictions. You may be better off mowing lawns and shoveling snow.
  
  

    •  Please identify the smell that hits your nose as soon as you walk through the front door. Could it be the carpets?

  Could be. We'll get some carpet freshener to use there. All the carpets are due to be cleaned after the summer, anyway.
  
  

    •  There should be more gospel books for children and adults to read.

  We actually buy more religion based books, including fiction, than most public libraries around here. We do try to get books that would have broad appeal, rather than those of scholarly interest. If you have specific titles you are interested in, please fill out a request form at the Circulation Desk and we'll either buy it or borrow it.
  
  

    •  Put more minutes on the computers.

  Thirty minutes seems to be sufficient at busy times. If you are here at a slow period (like weekday mornings), and no one is waiting, ask the Circulation staff if you can get an extension.
  
  

    •  Open the library a little later.

  I presume you mean keep the library open later. When we revised the hours in 2000, we cut back to 8 pm from 9 pm because there was no foot traffic in the evenings. Circulation has improved markedly since then, so maybe its time to reconsider those hours. Another idea we are thinking about is opening on Thursday nights until 8 pm . Sunday hours, alas, remain a dream.
  
  

• [Have the staff] look more happy when customers come in.

  Everyone has their good days and bad days – even good hours and bad hours. But that is a good point you make: public service should make customers feel welcome, not tolerated. I'll remind the staff to look less funereal when people come in (and also buy more happy pills for them).
  
  

  •  Why doesn't Roselle Library have CDs with updated music?

  That reflects a conscious decision on our part to maximize our limited financial resources. So much of popular music today is downloaded from the Internet, that it seems a waste of money to try to keep up with the volume of new music, let alone compete with Napster, iTunes, and other sources. We do buy music CDs, but we are concentrating on genres that appeal to older tastes, such as classical music and show tunes.

  Many public libraries have stopped buying music CDs altogether, because of the Internet. We continue to monitor the developments in technology to see whether we are being as effective as we can with what we offer.
  
  

• I propose that the Library set up a drop-off bin for DVDs and VHS tapes. There are very genuine reasons why one may not be able to return a DVD or VHSA tape on time.

  We agree. In fact, in early 2006, we obtained a grant to purchase a drop box only for media. However, just before we were to spend the money, there was a discussion among local library directors about this exact subject. A few directors said they combined books and media, with no problems. The idea was discussed at a staff meeting and it was agreed to give it a try here in Roselle .

  So, since last January, we have been allowing media to be returned to the outside drop box (we also keep that open 24/7 now, thanks to another patron suggestion). You will notice that the newer tapes and DVDs do not have the warning label on them, and we will try to remove those labels from the older items.
  
  

• Suggestion: [order] DVDs or videos on exercise, Jazzercise, dancing lessons.

  We did have some videos on exercise, which were gathering dust, so we removed them from the collection about two years ago. However, we will get a couple of DVDs in that area, and see if those get some attention. They will be available for you (and for others) before the end of April.
  
  

• You should allow 25 books out instead of 20.

  But then we wouldn't see you as often.

  Seriously, 20 books is a lot. We would consider letting more books go out per person, or even no limit, but we don't have enough books to go around. Normally we should have about 75-80,000 books for a community the size of Roselle , but actually we only have about 50,000. So, when we have more to check out, we'll let people take more home.
  
  

• This library is a great library. It helps me a lot. Thank you.

You're welcome. We still need some improvements, so don't hesitate to let us know what's missing, or what could be better.

• You should get more new YA books.
  
  We do, about ten per month. You can find the new ones over by the computer catalog, next to the bay window. But, we keep moving the YA books around the building, so they may have been hard to find. The rest of the YA collection can be found in the non-fiction stacks on either side of the copying machine.
  
  
  
  
• [I am ] interested in forming a ‘circle of friends” book club, to convene at the Library."
  
  We have been looking for people to start a second library book club, because the demand seems to be there. Anyone else? Just get a form at the Circulation Desk or print one here to let us know who you are and what your reading interests are.
  
  
  
  
  Maybe you could get more than one copy of best sellers – I've been waiting for a book for over two months now. Books should come out at the same time as the supermarkets, not weeks later.

Most public libraries order multiple copies of best sellers based on anticipated demand. That is usually reflected in advance requests by patrons (“reserves”), and the formula is somewhere around one copy for every 5 to 7 requests.

Unfortunately, none of the best sellers in Roselle get that many advance requests. At best, we get 2 or 3 requests. Given our limited funds, buying extra copies so that 2 or 3 people can read the book immediately upon publication isn't a good use of tax dollars. The trade-off of a public library has always been: if you want it for free, you have to share it.

As for books appearing in the supermarkets first, we get the books we select at the same time as the stores. Unlike the stores, we need to add the books to our inventory first: assign a bar code, create a DDC number, and then add covers and pockets. Because we are part of a consortium, we need to have a major library put in the first record before we can add our information. That's the delay. We are looking into changing to another library consortium which would provide more flexibility.

• There is only one word processor.

We just added a second one.

• Anybody should be allowed in the library at anytime, whether you have a library card or not (two comments).

The Library is aware that some parents from out of town use us as a babysitting service. That is not our function. If you do live in Roselle , all you need to do is bring a parent or guardian in with proof of address to get a library card. We are open 57 hours a week, including 3 evenings and most of Saturday.

•  Please have envelopes or folders available to mail forms of letters.

When we get to an expanded building and have more space, we will offer more services such as that.

•   Give a promotion to X and Y.

If you are their agent, call me and we'll do lunch.

•   [The library should have] surveillance cameras.

We are in the process of upgrading our security system.

•   You should make DVDs a week and not 3 days, and to borrow only 50 cents, and lower the late fees.

As our DVD collection gets bigger, we'll reconsider the length of the loan period. Last year, we increased the number you can check out from 2 to 3. As for the borrowing fees, we charge what we do to make up for the small budget we have. The late fees are high to get people's attention: low fees seem to encourage keeping materials out much longer.

 
 ( All responses from the Roselle Public Library Director Keith McCoy )