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From PPL Comments
Welcome!
This is the Prescott Public Library Suggestion Box. It will always be a work in progress, so please check back frequently. Meanwhile I invite you to submit your suggestions and comments, whether full of praise or complaint, via the "Ask a question" form, the Suggestion Box at the Main Level Check Out Desk or by email to toni.kaus@prescott-az.gov. Thank you! Library Director Toni Kaus
New
- "The kids that use the computers should be in a confined area. They should not be controlling the majority of computers playing games." A Tax-Paying Adult
Kids with library cards are generally children of tax-paying adults, and entitled to the same two sessions a day. We don't interfere with adults, whether they use their time to play solitaire, watch a TV show on Hulu, write a resume, or exchange email with their grand-kids. Kids are similarly welcome to use their two sessions to do homework, exchange email with their grandparents, or play games.
- “I like the old computer system much better.”
- “The computer reservation system is very confusing! I really dislike it. If another computer opens up first and I go for it, what happens to my reservation? Can others use it? Do I lose a session? I know the idea is that people can go do other things while waiting for a computer. But you can’t do that anyway, because your computer may come up early! So people just wait around anyway. What’s the point? I just counted four computers unused while others were waiting! I would much rather just waiting for the first available computer.”
- “The reservation system with the computers is not efficient and simply standing in line worked better. A lot of patrons are unhappy. If a person ends their session early, then the computer is locked up. Or if a person does not use their reservation, it is locked up. First come, first served makes more sense. If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”
- “Dear Library, I wish you would change back to the old way of using computers. I need a private corner to do my work, and now I can’t choose my spot anymore. It is frustrating!”
Although most response to the reservation system has been positive, it is not a hit with everybody. Here’s hoping these questions and answers will help. How much time do I have on the computer? You have two sessions per day. Each session can be up to 45 minutes. If you choose to accept a computer offering a shorter time, this still counts as one session. How does this new computer system work? The best way to use the system is to go through the reservation station. The system will give you a reservation on a computer with a full session available. If all computers are in use, it will assign you the next computer that should be available. Although you can walk up to a computer that becomes free, you may not be offered a full session if you have not gone through the reservation station. Can I get extra time? If there are free computers and no reservations, the system will automatically offer a time extension. There is a maximum of two time extensions per session. Can library staff give me more extra time? Library staff cannot extend time. If extra time is an option the system will offer it. I have a reservation on computer number 2 at 11:30. What happens if the person there now leaves early? Your reservation at 11:30 is still valid. You can do other things until 11:30 knowing that your reservation is waiting for you. You can log on early. You will be asked if you wish to trade your 11:30 reservation for a session now. Another person may walk up to the computer for a shortened session. A shortened session counts as one of the two daily allowed sessions. There is an unused computer but my reservation doesn’t start for another 15 minutes. Can I use the empty computer? Yes. If the computer has more than 20 minutes before the next scheduled reservation you can log on. It will ask if you want to give up your reservation for a session at the computer at which you are sitting. Remember that there may not be a full 45 minute block of time on the open computer. If you trade a reserved full 45 minute session for an open computer that has less than 45 minutes available before the next reservation, it still counts as one of the two sessions you are allowed per day. The computer didn’t give me 45 minutes. What happened? If you walk up to a computer or if you have a reservation for a computer, but take a different one that someone has left, there may not be 45 minutes before the next scheduled reservation. The system will ask if you want to accept a shorter session.
- "Please subscribe to the Tucson daily newspaper."
We often get requests for the library to subscribe to the Arizona Daily Star. We stopped our subscription some years ago because there is no local delivery of the newspaper. The newspaper is delivered through by the U.S. Post Office and is received here about 5 days after publication date. You will find the Arizona Daily Star online edition at http://www.azstarnet.com.
- "Happy New Year. The more I use the library the more I realize how fortunate Prescott is to have such competent people working there. One wish though and that is to somehow increase the available parking. Good Luck."
Thanks for the kind words. I too feel fortunate to have such a competent staff. Parking is indeed a problem. All I can offer are a couple of tips. If you're just picking up a book, you can usually find 20-minute parking in front of the Goodwin St entrance. Last year the City added 22 all-day spaces across the street on Marina. Maybe someday an underground parking garage?
- "At the Palm Desert (CA) library, when you first come into the library, you go to a computer to sign up to use one of their computers. The computer tells you what time the next computer will be available, makes a reservation, then prints out a receipt. When you are using a computer, the system allows you to continue for another 10 minutes if no one is waiting. This allows a person to make better use of their time than standing in line for perhaps up to an hour. Updating your system would be much appreciated by the citizens of Prescott. Thank you for your attention."
- “You need to modernize your computer reservations system to one where patrons can come in and use a reservation computer to reserve a PC. When their hour is up, patrons should be able to reserve for another hour. I see a lot of vacant computers that someone could be using.”
The Downtown Library now uses a reservation system much like the one you describe. Library patrons will be able to reserve two 45-minute sessions per day. If nobody is waiting when your time is up, you will be offered up to two additional 15-minute extensions.
- "The library is one of Prescott’s most valuable assets. It deserves the support of every citizen with a commitment to learning, knowledge—and ultimately, wisdom."
- "The first thing I did when we moved here 30 years ago was get a library card and I’ve been using it ever since. I can’t believe the changes that have been made over the years. Each year I thought it was absolutely perfect and then it would get even better."
- "The violinist today played beautiful music. Thanks."
Violinist Marie Rhines appeared as part of the "Music for Lunch" series, funded by the Friends of the Prescott Public Library.
- "Please place bottles of hand sanitizer by the public computers."
The library has hand sanitizer available for public use at each of the library service desks.]]
- "Please keep books on cassette. Compact discs stink when it comes to the spoken word. You have to go back a whole track to re-hear something you missed."
Although most library patrons no longer check out books on cassette (or movies on VHS), you are not alone in your dismay. Pros and cons of formats aside, cassettes have given way to compact discs and downloadable audio like the library’s OverDrive service. Most of our books on tape have been checked out well over 100 times, and are simply worn out. As our suppliers are no longer supporting this format, when a cassette breaks or goes missing, we are unable to replace or repair it.
- "It is very convenient to be able to log in to my account at PPL and see what books I have out, due dates, etc. It would be REALLY convenient if I could easily see my account at other Yavapai Library Network libraries. When I want to check my account at Yavapai College, I have to log out, go to their website, and log in there. It would great if all those records could be viewed in a central place."
Your suggestion is spot-on, and when we migrate to new software this spring, all will be as you hope. With our current software, although you may use the same card at other libraries, you have a separate account at each. With the new software, your Prescott Public Library card will be accepted at any library in Yavapai County. Better yet, when you log in, you will see everything you have out or on hold, no matter which library you used to check out or to place the hold. For now, you may find it convenient to use this Yavapai Library Network page. It offers links to each library’s web page.
- "What is with all the men sleeping at the library? When I was there this week, I saw one guy asleep on the picnic table, one sleeping in the grass and one sleeping by the puzzles. It is pretty creepy. I know people need a place to go, but do they have to use our beautiful library as a flop house?"
As long as people follow library rules, they are welcome in the library and on library grounds. Because many patrons, not just homeless men, occasionally snooze while reading a book or magazine, we do not prohibit sleeping. If a patron is snoring, we wake them up. If they are unwashed enough to disturb other users, we suggest they leave and get a shower. Sleeping on the picnic table is prohibited. Next time you see something like that, let us know, and we’ll take care of it.
- "It would be great if the library had a book drop at the YMCA. This would be very convenient for our family, and I'm guessing, many others as well."
The library already has a book drop half a mile away at the Fry's Food Store on Fair Street. If that's not convenient, I hope another book drop location will work for you.
- "Mostly the library is really great, yet I have a gripe. We are borrowing the full span of West Wing DVDs. Seasons one and two arrived with four discs each and a loan period of less than two weeks. 22 shows in 10 days! Then the 3rd season arrived from Wilhoit, and included only the 2nd disc of four. Why not allow us to reserve one disc only, but in sequence? Or allow longer rentals for a complete season?"
We have a limited budget for DVDs, and are more likely to use funds to buy multiple copies of filmed literature classics like Little Dorrit or Pride and Prejudice than of The West Wing: The Complete Fifth Season or Desperate Housewives: The Complete Third Season. On the good news front, PPL just switched to a two-week loan period for DVDs. Our library automation software doesn't allow patrons to sequence holds (as in don't fill my request for Season 2, Disc 3 until after I've received Season 2, Disc 2), so breaking the seasons into separate discs solves one problem and creates another. A few suggestions: (1) As soon as you receive a notice that Season 3 is waiting for you, place a new request for Season 3. Although you may have to wait a while to finish the season, other patrons won't have to wait a year or more to start it. (2) If you get a partial set from another Yavapai Library Network library, ask staff to place a copy specific hold on one of Prescott Public Library's full sets. (3) Fines are only $0.25 a day. If you really want to finish a season and need more time, keep it a few days longer and pay the fine.
