My friend Jen over at Flannel Hippos posted about her favorite things. One of them was the online catalog for the library. I agree with her about using it but I would like to go one step further.
I was thinking today how much I love the online catalog for the library. The only thing that would make it better is if they had a drive up pick up area. Similar to the old fast food places that had multiple food windows with the little elevator that came in and out. They could have a person working the hold room and you drive up, send in your card, they scan it, retrieve your items, send them and the card and the receipt back to you and you go on your merry way.
There have been many many times (less now that the kids are older but it still happens regularly) when I passed ona trip to the library because someone was asleep in the car or is was pouring down rain and I didn't want to drag everyone in or someone was sick and I didn't want to infect the whole library or any of a dozen other reason why I would want to drive through.
Of course, the hold roomw would still accessable to people in the library so you can pick up stuff if you are in (we are there a couple of times a week typically) but you don't have to go in if you don't want to. Unfortunately, with our new building, I doubt we would see anything like this any time soon. They won't be remodelling the builidng to include it and there isn't a way to do it without some construction.
Showing posts with label library. Show all posts
Showing posts with label library. Show all posts
Friday, December 5, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
A day in my life
So Looseyfur asked us to blog "A Day in our life" and I'm doing that for today
7:30
Wake up to the sound of the kids changing beds and trying to play together quitely (they do this every morning and lasts for all of ten seconds before I have to yell at someone for something)
Try to go back to sleep, hoping I won't have to yell this moring.
7:35
Yell at The Boy for hitting his sister with the view master. Yell at Ms Thang for trying to take the view master away from him.
7:40
Turn on cartoons
Get online
Play around on facebook for a while
8:00
Change cartoon
Read for 30 minutes
8:30
email Quigs to see what they are up to this morning.
Decide to meet at the library at 9:30
Hustle to get the kids dressed and fed so we can be there on time
9:10
RF gets up just as I'm telling everyone to use the bathroom so he goes with us
9:30
Get to the library
Wait for Quigs to get her babies out of the car and join us
Ms Thang almost gets yelled at by the librarian for being too loud because she wore her party shoes and was stomping around the entrance. I wished her good luck in getting my child to do anything she doesn't want to do.
Play at the library were The Boy put on a rousing puppet show for PG, MT and Bubba.
Ran into everyone I know at the library. Quigs had a good laugh at the fact that I knew nearly everyone that was there :)
10:45
Quigs babies are melting down so they leave. we turn in the kids summer reading forms and I signed up for the adult summer reading program. I tried it a couple of years ago but couldn't remember to fill out the forms so although I read the books, I didn't get any credit for them :(
11:00
Home and started lunch for everyone.
The kids watched Scooby Doo while they ate
12:00
Put Lizzie down for her nap
12:30
Dozed off myself
1:30
Woke up from my nap
Cleaned the living room
2:00
Talk to my mom, who called to see if the backyard had been mowed yet.
Came back down stairs to find that Ms Thang had gotten up from her nap.
Got the kids ready to go to the pool
2:30
Got to the pool
Covered everyone in sunscreen (although I think I missed some of my spots because my shoulders feel a bit warm)
Watched Ms Thang jump in and climb out repeatedly
Talked to a mom whose daughter used to go to daycare with MT. She filled me in on some interesting gossip
4:30
drug the kids out of the pool
Got dressed
Ran by McDonalds for some ice cream
Stopped by the store for salad and baby carrots
5:10
Got home and lit the grill for dinner
Prepped the chicken, tossed it on the grill
played with the kids in the yard while dinner cooked
5:40
My mom got home and we chatted for awhile
6:10
dinner is finally done
made my salad
got the kid's food (because chicken breast aren't good enough, because they aren't chicken legs blah)
Ate
6:40
Finished eating
Called the IRS to see where the heck my refund is (not my stimulus check since that is done spent but the other piece of my actual refund that they can't seem to send me, even though it has been 9 weeks since I sent the paperwork they asked for)
7:15
Walked to Deals to look for a banana clip since Quigs said the Piggies are a no go :) They didn't have one so I'll look at Walgreens tomorrow.
7:30
Came home and played with the kids in the back yard. I'm thinking of changing The Boy's name to Mark McQuire because while we were playing baseball, he was nailing them out of the yard. Fortunately, the neighbors weren't pissed that the ball dropped on their patio while the were eating dinner.
8:30
Brought the kids home and let them watch a cartoon show
Read my book while they did that
9:00
did bedtime
Argued with The Boy that he didn't get to pick a show
Then argued with MS Thang about going to the bathroom
Then argued with TB about who got read to first tonight
Read to MT and then TB
9:20
Bedtime done
Came into the living room
Read emails
Read blogs
9:30
watching "Code Name: The Cleaner"
Started this post
9:55
Finished this post
10:00
going to play on facebook for a bit
have some candy
and then go to bed
7:30
Wake up to the sound of the kids changing beds and trying to play together quitely (they do this every morning and lasts for all of ten seconds before I have to yell at someone for something)
Try to go back to sleep, hoping I won't have to yell this moring.
7:35
Yell at The Boy for hitting his sister with the view master. Yell at Ms Thang for trying to take the view master away from him.
7:40
Turn on cartoons
Get online
Play around on facebook for a while
8:00
Change cartoon
Read for 30 minutes
8:30
email Quigs to see what they are up to this morning.
Decide to meet at the library at 9:30
Hustle to get the kids dressed and fed so we can be there on time
9:10
RF gets up just as I'm telling everyone to use the bathroom so he goes with us
9:30
Get to the library
Wait for Quigs to get her babies out of the car and join us
Ms Thang almost gets yelled at by the librarian for being too loud because she wore her party shoes and was stomping around the entrance. I wished her good luck in getting my child to do anything she doesn't want to do.
Play at the library were The Boy put on a rousing puppet show for PG, MT and Bubba.
Ran into everyone I know at the library. Quigs had a good laugh at the fact that I knew nearly everyone that was there :)
10:45
Quigs babies are melting down so they leave. we turn in the kids summer reading forms and I signed up for the adult summer reading program. I tried it a couple of years ago but couldn't remember to fill out the forms so although I read the books, I didn't get any credit for them :(
11:00
Home and started lunch for everyone.
The kids watched Scooby Doo while they ate
12:00
Put Lizzie down for her nap
12:30
Dozed off myself
1:30
Woke up from my nap
Cleaned the living room
2:00
Talk to my mom, who called to see if the backyard had been mowed yet.
Came back down stairs to find that Ms Thang had gotten up from her nap.
Got the kids ready to go to the pool
2:30
Got to the pool
Covered everyone in sunscreen (although I think I missed some of my spots because my shoulders feel a bit warm)
Watched Ms Thang jump in and climb out repeatedly
Talked to a mom whose daughter used to go to daycare with MT. She filled me in on some interesting gossip
4:30
drug the kids out of the pool
Got dressed
Ran by McDonalds for some ice cream
Stopped by the store for salad and baby carrots
5:10
Got home and lit the grill for dinner
Prepped the chicken, tossed it on the grill
played with the kids in the yard while dinner cooked
5:40
My mom got home and we chatted for awhile
6:10
dinner is finally done
made my salad
got the kid's food (because chicken breast aren't good enough, because they aren't chicken legs blah)
Ate
6:40
Finished eating
Called the IRS to see where the heck my refund is (not my stimulus check since that is done spent but the other piece of my actual refund that they can't seem to send me, even though it has been 9 weeks since I sent the paperwork they asked for)
7:15
Walked to Deals to look for a banana clip since Quigs said the Piggies are a no go :) They didn't have one so I'll look at Walgreens tomorrow.
7:30
Came home and played with the kids in the back yard. I'm thinking of changing The Boy's name to Mark McQuire because while we were playing baseball, he was nailing them out of the yard. Fortunately, the neighbors weren't pissed that the ball dropped on their patio while the were eating dinner.
8:30
Brought the kids home and let them watch a cartoon show
Read my book while they did that
9:00
did bedtime
Argued with The Boy that he didn't get to pick a show
Then argued with MS Thang about going to the bathroom
Then argued with TB about who got read to first tonight
Read to MT and then TB
9:20
Bedtime done
Came into the living room
Read emails
Read blogs
9:30
watching "Code Name: The Cleaner"
Started this post
9:55
Finished this post
10:00
going to play on facebook for a bit
have some candy
and then go to bed
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Library
Seriously, we have a VERY PRETTY new library. I desperately want to like it but everytime I go in, there is another problem and it makes it hard for me to appreciate it. My orignal complaint, before it even opened, was the book drop being a pain. It is automated and you have to put things on the belt one at a time and if anyone on the other side (inside if you are out and outside if you are in) is using that belt, your belt stops for up to several seconds. I thought make this was a small kink in the system but it appears to be a perpetual problem, although I'm the only one that seems to have a real problem with it (possibly that is my type A++ personality that can't stand to wait for anything but whatever). Other people notice it but I'm the only that it makes want to scream and throw my stuff at the damn slot before stomping off in a huff. When I'm outside, I just put all my stuff on the belt at once and forget about it. Inside, I let the kids load the belt and they operate at about the speed of the belt so it is all ok.
My next problem is the parking issue. Parking as been a joke since they started construction on the new building. The parking lot is too small, the drive is too narrow and no one can seem to figure out that the parking lot is one way in a counter clockwise pattern. To compound that problem, now you have to park in this awful lot and walk all the way around where the old building used to be. When it is 70 and sunny or I'm by myself, it wouldn't be the end of the world. When I'm dragging 2 kids along and it is 13 degrees or raining, it is a huge PITA. Add to the fact that the corridor between the new building and place the old building was is the worlds fastest wind tunnel, I almost don't like going to the library anymore because it so difficult. I've been parking across the street in the scrapbook store lot because it is a little closer, but then I have to cross the street with 2 kids so it is far from an ideal option.
My dad has decided to go to the other library because he objects to the idea of self checkout. I'm seriously considering following in his footsteps because I object to the reality of the self check out. Typically, I don't mind it. At most places, I actually prefer it. Not so at the library. The scanners don't work half the time and even when the do, a lot of the books aren't tagged to be read by it. Why do we need those pad scanner things anyway? Why can't we have the mounted barcode scanners like they used to use at the old building? We can figure them out at grocery store, what makes them think that library patrons can't figure them out. No, they give us these janky pads and books that aren't tagged so not only do you have to wait in line to USE the self check out, then you have to wait in line AGAIN to see a librarian to check out half o your books. I fully understand the people that refuse to use the self check out and I think I'm going to become one of them. Unfortunately, they have like 1 person working the counter at any given time trying to check out all the people that won't use the self check and helping all the people brave (or dumb) enough to try.
My final complaint deals with the automatic check in again. When things are put in the drop box, they are automatically checked in. When things are checked in and you have it on hold, a notice is automatically generated telling you your item is in. It matters not that your item is actually sitting in a hold bin somewhere waiting to be tagged with your name and card number (another thing I don't like. Put my name on, don't make me rifle through everyone's stuff looking for mine because I can't remember the last four digits of my card unless I'm sitting at the computer and then I don't really remember it, I just know the keystroke sequence). They've gone from a 7 day hold to a 3 day hold (yet another complaint of mine, although I understand that it is because the hold room is tiny, yet another problem, you build a whoel new building and you can't make a hold room big enough to hold all the holds, and they can't keep everyone's junk for a week at a time) and when you book scans in, it starts your hold time. Nevermind the fact that it could be 2 days before your hold actually makes it to the shelf. So I get my email, I deal with the bad parking to go get it, only to find out it is no where to be found and I have make another trip a day or so later and deal with the hassle of getting there all over again. I'm going to start being a PITA. When I get my email, I'm going to call and have someone confirm that my holds are on the shelf before I go in.
All of this automation is supposed to make less work for the library staff and makes things easier for patrons. What has actually happened it has probably doubled the work for the staff because they are running all over looking for stuff that isn't where it is supposed to be and fixing the self check outs all the time. And it has made the library completely user UNfriendly and down right unpleasant for the people forced to deal with it. I completely freaked today while trying to use the self check out. I slammed the CD on the pad, snarled at the computer and yelled at my mother (who was with me) that I "would most certainly not calm down. This was the biggest piece of crap that I had ever been forced to endure and I was freaking done" Then she suggested that maybe I should go to the other library for awhile and responded loudly, right in front of the children's librians desk that "I fully intend to use Urbana exclusively because Champaign was like a supermodel, pretty but completely freaking useless besides that"
I just want this stuff fixed. I LOVE the library. After all, where else can I get my minions? I love all the stuff it has to offer, I really like the new building and it has so much potential, and the children's department is super. I HATE that I'm having such issues with a place that should be so much better than this. However, I do think that for the time being I will be using Urbana. I'll have to be strong and refuse the coffee (Lizzie calls them "the coffee library" and "the regular library", I haven't mentioned they will both be coffee libraries eventually) and I'll have to get over my objection to paying for parking but that is a minor annoyance compared to all the issues I have with Champaign right now. Maybe, in a couple of months they will have some of the kinks worked out and I can go back to enjoying the library again. :(
My next problem is the parking issue. Parking as been a joke since they started construction on the new building. The parking lot is too small, the drive is too narrow and no one can seem to figure out that the parking lot is one way in a counter clockwise pattern. To compound that problem, now you have to park in this awful lot and walk all the way around where the old building used to be. When it is 70 and sunny or I'm by myself, it wouldn't be the end of the world. When I'm dragging 2 kids along and it is 13 degrees or raining, it is a huge PITA. Add to the fact that the corridor between the new building and place the old building was is the worlds fastest wind tunnel, I almost don't like going to the library anymore because it so difficult. I've been parking across the street in the scrapbook store lot because it is a little closer, but then I have to cross the street with 2 kids so it is far from an ideal option.
My dad has decided to go to the other library because he objects to the idea of self checkout. I'm seriously considering following in his footsteps because I object to the reality of the self check out. Typically, I don't mind it. At most places, I actually prefer it. Not so at the library. The scanners don't work half the time and even when the do, a lot of the books aren't tagged to be read by it. Why do we need those pad scanner things anyway? Why can't we have the mounted barcode scanners like they used to use at the old building? We can figure them out at grocery store, what makes them think that library patrons can't figure them out. No, they give us these janky pads and books that aren't tagged so not only do you have to wait in line to USE the self check out, then you have to wait in line AGAIN to see a librarian to check out half o your books. I fully understand the people that refuse to use the self check out and I think I'm going to become one of them. Unfortunately, they have like 1 person working the counter at any given time trying to check out all the people that won't use the self check and helping all the people brave (or dumb) enough to try.
My final complaint deals with the automatic check in again. When things are put in the drop box, they are automatically checked in. When things are checked in and you have it on hold, a notice is automatically generated telling you your item is in. It matters not that your item is actually sitting in a hold bin somewhere waiting to be tagged with your name and card number (another thing I don't like. Put my name on, don't make me rifle through everyone's stuff looking for mine because I can't remember the last four digits of my card unless I'm sitting at the computer and then I don't really remember it, I just know the keystroke sequence). They've gone from a 7 day hold to a 3 day hold (yet another complaint of mine, although I understand that it is because the hold room is tiny, yet another problem, you build a whoel new building and you can't make a hold room big enough to hold all the holds, and they can't keep everyone's junk for a week at a time) and when you book scans in, it starts your hold time. Nevermind the fact that it could be 2 days before your hold actually makes it to the shelf. So I get my email, I deal with the bad parking to go get it, only to find out it is no where to be found and I have make another trip a day or so later and deal with the hassle of getting there all over again. I'm going to start being a PITA. When I get my email, I'm going to call and have someone confirm that my holds are on the shelf before I go in.
All of this automation is supposed to make less work for the library staff and makes things easier for patrons. What has actually happened it has probably doubled the work for the staff because they are running all over looking for stuff that isn't where it is supposed to be and fixing the self check outs all the time. And it has made the library completely user UNfriendly and down right unpleasant for the people forced to deal with it. I completely freaked today while trying to use the self check out. I slammed the CD on the pad, snarled at the computer and yelled at my mother (who was with me) that I "would most certainly not calm down. This was the biggest piece of crap that I had ever been forced to endure and I was freaking done" Then she suggested that maybe I should go to the other library for awhile and responded loudly, right in front of the children's librians desk that "I fully intend to use Urbana exclusively because Champaign was like a supermodel, pretty but completely freaking useless besides that"
I just want this stuff fixed. I LOVE the library. After all, where else can I get my minions? I love all the stuff it has to offer, I really like the new building and it has so much potential, and the children's department is super. I HATE that I'm having such issues with a place that should be so much better than this. However, I do think that for the time being I will be using Urbana. I'll have to be strong and refuse the coffee (Lizzie calls them "the coffee library" and "the regular library", I haven't mentioned they will both be coffee libraries eventually) and I'll have to get over my objection to paying for parking but that is a minor annoyance compared to all the issues I have with Champaign right now. Maybe, in a couple of months they will have some of the kinks worked out and I can go back to enjoying the library again. :(
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