The Guestbook

1. VISITOR COMMENT (5/5/08 at 3:04 PM - Library Branch):

[Plaza] I am from New York City and I have never been in such a noisy library. People shout, children literally race in the aisles. Even New York City librarians would not allow such disregard for decorum. Whoever manages this library needs to enforce some rules for behavior. Allowing children to act wild in a library is a disservice to their sense of how society works.

STAFF REPLY:
Thanks for your comment.

The Plaza Branch is a busy, active library used by people of all ages for multiple uses.

We try our best to correct behaviors that are consistently inappropriate in a library environment.

Joel Jones (Plaza Branch Director)

2. VISITOR COMMENT (4/25/08 at 2:42 PM - Outside the Library):

Whatever happened to that nice person who used to answer a lot of these questions? She always did a wonderful job.

STAFF REPLY:
I assume you are referring to Therese Bigelow, who left The Kansas City Public Library almost a year ago, taking with her encyclopedic knowledge of not only our Library's operations and history but of the larger world of public libraries and children's literature.

A longtime Deputy Executive Director here working with Branches, Outreach Services, and Community Services, most recently Therese was Associate Director for Strategic and Community Planning. She is now an administrator with the Chesapeake Public Library in Virginia. If you go to its Web site at www.chesapeake.lib.va.us and click on the "Chesapeake Read" Photo Gallery in the lower lefthand corner, you will be able to see her smiling face.

We miss her.

Dorothy Elliott (Deputy Executive Director for Branch and Outreach Services)

3. VISITOR COMMENT (4/23/08 at 11:35 PM - Outside the Library):

I used to be able to access the Rosetta Stone. We took a lovely class on how to do this online and now I'm not familiar with the website and am unable to find this program. Is it still available? Thank you, Carol

STAFF REPLY:
I wish the library could have continued offering Rosetta Stone. However, last fall we learned from Rosetta Stone's producers that their contracts with public libraries would no longer be renewed.

Language-learning books and media are available for checkout at the library. To find them in our catalog, do a subject search on "language self instruction."

You can also find links to online language-learning resources on our Web site by navigating to our "Travel" subject guide.

We will continue to evaluate and add other resources that will help people pursue their interest in learning languages.

Pat Mulsoff (Director of Collection Development)

4. VISITOR COMMENT (4/22/08 at 4:07 PM - Library Branch):

[Waldo] Ashlei is wonderful, helpful and the reason I use this branch. I have trouble finding books and she is always willing to go the extra step and help. She is very pleasant

STAFF REPLY:
Thank you so much for taking the time to send in such positive comments about Ashlei.

She is a pleasure to work with, and the entire Waldo staff is very grateful to have such a hardworking, dedicated employee who is valued by the community.

Alicia Ahlvers (Waldo Branch Manager)

5. VISITOR COMMENT (4/22/08 at 4:03 PM - Library Branch):

[Waldo] The Waldo Library is fantastic! There are always great DVD's to check out and terrific events going on! Keep up the great work!

P.S. The staff does a great job too!

STAFF REPLY:
Thank you very much.

The Waldo staff really believe in the public library and work very hard to make sure that every customer has a good experience when they visit.

I am also glad to hear that you enjoy the collection and the programming.

If you ever would like to see the library offer something new, please let us know. We are always happy to find out about potential new offerings.

Alicia Ahlvers (Waldo Branch Manager)

6. VISITOR COMMENT (4/20/08 at 6:25 PM - Library Branch):

Please order "First Position: A Century of Ballet Artists" by Toba Singer, Praeger, 2007. I am a dancer with the ballet company and would like to read this highly-recommended book!

STAFF REPLY:
Log on to our catalog. Click on "I Need Material." Click on "Recommend to Order." Provide the requested information.

Thanks for your interest in our collection.

Dorothy Elliott (Deputy Executive Director for Branch and Outreach Services)

7. VISITOR COMMENT (4/15/08 at 7:39 PM - Central Library):

Why can only staff reply to the comments here on the website? This is a VERY outdated system. Instead I would like to see the opportunity for the original submitter or even others to add comments, thereby creating an open discussion. What are your thoughts?

STAFF REPLY:
I believe that this current system was designed as a suggestion box for customers to offer feedback to staff, not an open forum. The concern may have been staff time; we have time to respond to direct concerns and complaints, but reading long threads of discussions may mean that we miss something if the thread gets long or digressive.

It might be best to have two things: one system for direct suggestions to staff and one system for discussion on any number of topics.

When our new website is launched this summer, we can revisit this process. Thanks, as always, for taking time to make suggestions!

Kate Barsotti (Digital and Web Manager)

8. VISITOR COMMENT (4/14/08 at 1:14 PM - Library Branch):

[Plaza] Parking lot attendants made me feel harassed!

STAFF REPLY:
I apologize for your bad experience with security at the Plaza Library. Copaken, White, and Blitt, which manages the Plaza Colonnade complex in which the library is located, contract the security guards. One of the duties of the guards is to keep auto traffic flowing through the traffic circle and parking areas. This is often a difficult and frustrating job. In my observation, the guards do an excellent job balancing the parking needs of all those who visit the Plaza Colonnade each day.

Joel Jones (Plaza Branch Director)

9. VISITOR COMMENT (4/14/08 at 1:05 PM - Library Branch):

[Plaza] Let us have more time on computer and don't pay for DVD's or copying.

STAFF REPLY:
Computers at the Kansas City Public Library are a limited resource which has great demand. We place a 135-minute daily limit on computer use so that more people may use our computers throughout the day.

The $1 charge for feature DVD's is used to offset the cost of acquiring this material. If we stopped charging this fee, we would have to reduce the number of feature DVD's we purchase.

We charge $.10 a page to print from our computers and our photocopiers to offset the charge of paper and printer ink.

Joel Jones (Plaza Branch Director)

10. VISITOR COMMENT (4/14/08 at 1:03 PM - Library Branch):

[Plaza] Cell phone conversations in computer and reading areas should be regulated or perhaps eliminated. People talk way too loudly on them, and it's not just a few words, but multiple conversations.

STAFF REPLY:
Thanks for your comment.

Recently we placed signs throughout the library asking customers not to use cell phones in the library. We hope this will reduce the number of cell phone conversations in the library.

Joel Jones (Plaza Branch Director)