Staff
The participants broke into small groups to discuss these questions.
What excites you about this project?
What scares you?
What are the challenges we need to address?
What excites you?
Bigger and better library offers the ability to provide more resources and opportunities for users
More possibilities for better service if both communities work together
Stronger library
All new future, snack and gift shops
The ability to keep up with modern technology
Green building
A warm and fuzzy environment
New clean and pretty building
State of the art building
Pride and a feeling of unity
Improved relationship between the towns
Quiet room for readers
Having more space to do things
Staff bathroom and gym
Windows that open
Environmentally friendly
Possibilities for a lounge area, employee restrooms, dedicated custodial staff, more space for movies, separate children and teen areas, accessibility for the disabled, all on same floor
Improved location and layout
Better collection
Less running back and forth
Enough computers for kids
New computers and training lab
Guinea pigs
Dedicated staff for reference, technology, improved customer service
Potential for in-house technology support
Uniform hours
What Scares You?
Will we have jobs, new demands on staff, uncertain about salaries?
Community may not accept
The possibility of a cold, modern feeling
Don't want to loose the community feeling
Will the new library be so big that it's overwhelming?
Chaotic?
Will we get lost in it?
Can we sell it to the public in appositive manner?
Percentage of joint library projects that have failed
Increased taxes
Percentage of people in town who are library users and not just card holders
Allergies to guinea pigs
Fanwood will be swallowed up and lose the neighborhood quality and familiarity
Self-checkout and other efficiencies will mean the loss of jobs
Job security
Civil service versus non civil service
Seniority and rank may be lost
Duplication of jobs
Co-directors
Biggest Challenges
Maintaining the balance between the towns
Having to learn new things
What we may not anticipate? We can't plan for what we don't know
Will the directors be able to facilitate our working together?
Answering questions from the public and educating them to the pros and cons of the joint library
Contrary discussion on two sites
May not provide the educational focus needed to convince people - use TV 34, local newspapers
People may not think it is necessary
What is there for the public in all of this?
How can we factor the Board of Education into the discussion in a way that benefits the libraries
Guinea pigs
Duplicated items in the existing collections will require weeding
Adjustment period
Who will be in charge?
Civil service, seniority and job security
Rivalry between libraries
Loss of identity in each town
Creating a Perfect Library
Fish, wildlife -something for the kids to pet and see
Small group study rooms
Private computer rooms
Sound separation from kids and adults
Caf� /food service
Staff lounge, restrooms, vending area and kitchenette
Big meeting room/auditorium with separate entrance for after -hours use
Courtyard or reading garden with wi-fi access
Media room with surround sound - a place where people can watch/listen to all types of media
Lower shelves but not too low
Larger magazine area
IT support staff
More storage space
Movie section
YA area that is soundproof but visible
Local history area
Lockers
Space for passport processing
All varieties of online resources
Architecturally cutting edge - a building that stands out
Great air - windows and modern HVAC
Comfortable seating area for the public
Escalator or elevator access
Stand up terminal for email
Quiet zones to accommodate older adults
Home away from home feeling
Copiers fax, business support
More private staff work space
Craft room for kids/story room
Improved software for the circ desk
ADA compliant
Soft good modern lighting
Central entrance and good security
Attention to overall ambience and environment
What are people doing in the new library?
Looking at what just came back/ shopping for the recent reads
Interacting and meeting
Listening to music and watching a movie
Using wi-fi and cell phones
Create a boundary around the check out and self check out area
May need security
Tutors are working with children in study rooms
People are working with tax advisors
Literacy classed
Browsing in DVDs and videos
Teachers tell staff about projects and there is a place to display the materials
Book clubs are meeting
People are playing games
People are congregating and doing different things at the same time
New books are on the shelves as soon as they are released
Moms and dads are changing their babies
The maintenance guy is emptying the trash
There are programs of all types going on - poetry, movies, art exhibits
There is a catering kitchen for kids and programs
People are listening to music like in Barnes and Noble
People are sitting in comfy chairs
What do you like about the current libraries?
Collections have a good variety of materials
Homelike feeling
You can see everyone who comes in and have a sense of what is going on
The ability to make decisions on the spot and empowered staff
Compassion
Separate children's area
Story pit at SP
Wildlife at Fanwood
The ability to get to know patrons
Clean
What do you dislike?
Don't like the overcrowding
Restrooms that are poorly located
No open windows
Lack of a staff bathroom
Disorganized collections
Noise
Book drop noise
Overloaded with passports
Lack of cross training
How could we improve the workflow?
Provide a separate staff entrance
Staff parking
Consider the proximity of the circ desk to the front door
Reference desk should be more open and less fortress like, need a reference office
Children's desk should be low and accessible and also proximate to the office
Encourage a level of gray area between departments - create more of a team environment so everyone can pay attention to customer needs
Enough copies of popular books and movies
Streamline the bill paying
Create a sense of personal space at the service desks
Provide space for a DVD and CD player in the tech area to preview items and eliminate mix-ups
Ergonomic chairs for staff and public
Floor cushioning
Ergonomic keyboards
Defined and designated areas for returns
If you could change three things about the libraries what would you do?
Improve air quality
Create a computer training area
Create a YA area
Provide staff bathrooms
Create the same sense of responsibility and respect for work
Prevent flooding
How can we best communicate with you about this project?
Periodic newsletter
In-person and email
Written information for the public
Staff to take responsibility to communicate information back to Meg and Dan
Information to staff about the focus group outcomes