tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post1677369492748197752..comments2023-09-16T04:58:07.261-04:00Comments on the Annandale Blog: Library staff, supporters battling plan to overhaul library systemAnnandale Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07543558586252790593noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-28150430954938367482013-09-11T15:31:41.532-04:002013-09-11T15:31:41.532-04:00ONE DESK for everything? That's insane. Put ...ONE DESK for everything? That's insane. Put your volunteers and nonMLS people at the renewal and fine desk. Put your knowledgeable MLS librarian or *possibly a retired or other MLS volunteer* at the information desk. What are they thinking? The Wayward Gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08705216107612753637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-10795881670201905892013-09-10T11:10:02.479-04:002013-09-10T11:10:02.479-04:00It is indeed a sad day when the public library sys...It is indeed a sad day when the public library system is being downgraded at the expense of the users. The loss of MLS employees and those who specialize in assisting children shows a lack of vision on the part of system leaders. Streamlining work, finding ways to save money, and shifting employee emphasis can be done in a more professional manner. Is Mr. Clay only concerned only with the bottom line - or providing modern answers to much needed community service?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-21992421937572154542013-09-04T09:07:44.372-04:002013-09-04T09:07:44.372-04:00The last paragraph of this article contains the ma...The last paragraph of this article contains the main issues that staff members are having with the proposed changes. Thank you so much!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-82391201430932689302013-09-02T12:03:19.594-04:002013-09-02T12:03:19.594-04:00An example of how poorly thought out the beta proj...An example of how poorly thought out the beta project is, is the way it will be implemented at Reston Regional. The Reston Information Desk, currently tightly configured and barely adequate for two reference librarians, will become the One Desk Center supporting ALL services: checkouts; renewals; holds and interlibrary loan requests; information requests; in-depth research questions; recommending books; homework help; library card registrations; telephone inquiries, service, and information requests; computer sign-ups; computer assistance; help with online research; database instruction; e-book assistance and device instruction; computer troubleshooting, patron printing and photocopying; program registration; billing and payments issues; booking meeting rooms; and much more. <br /><br />However, the plan is to simply crowd everything into a footprint that is already too small and inefficiently designed for its current function. FCPL is doing this project "on the cheap," unwilling to even make the facility improvements needed to insure that the One Desk will big enough and specifically designed so staff can provide all the services needed to meet patron demands. <br /><br />For the life of me, I cannot understand why Reston was selected as a beta site if there is no intent to give it the facility support it needs to successfully provide for the community's needs. The county needs to at least pony up for a new, state-of the art One Desk full-service center, one with line-of sight and easy access into the children's area, so the staff can successfully handle all the tasks it must deal with in this model. This seems like a truly half-*ssed effort to save money, not improve library service. If it's going to be done, at least do it right from the beginning! It will be a shame if an excellent library is allowed to be destroyed because of the hubris of a management team that is determined to save face at all costs. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-10534445662489737342013-08-29T14:53:09.728-04:002013-08-29T14:53:09.728-04:00As a Burke Centre Library user, I do not think the...As a Burke Centre Library user, I do not think the beta test is working very well there either. The single desk configuration means that anyone asking a question can easily tie up the desk for other patrons who might need to pay fines, apply for a library card or ask simpler questions.<br />I don't think that you have to have an MLS degree to be a really experienced and capable library user or guide. But the fact is that over the past nine months, I've had several questions be unanswerable by the staff on hand. They are wonderful, polite, helpful people. But if their experience doesn't extend to standard literature reference works, it's hard for them to answer questions that would utilize those references. (I don't think that it's unreasonable to expect that a librarian should be able to point me to the reference book that lists children's books by topic or time period. That seems a library competency that shouldn't be replaced with an appeal to the internet.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-53464691841710061992013-08-27T21:04:47.849-04:002013-08-27T21:04:47.849-04:00The Reston Citizens Association Board of Directors...The Reston Citizens Association Board of Directors approved a resolution by a 10-1 vote Aug. 26 calling for the beta project to be cancelled, a new library strategic plan to be developed “with full participation of all library stakeholders,” and library funding to be restored. They also endorsed the position that “libraries should be considered a core responsibility of the county.”<br /><br />According to a majority of the board members, the beta project is “merely an extension of the substantial decreases in the FCPL’s budget share of the county’s budget over the last six years.” They found the county’s decision to destroy large numbers of books paid for by county taxpayers “especially objectionable.”<br /><br />http://reston2020.blogspot.com/2013/08/rca-board-of-directors-opposes-beta.html<br />Annandale Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07543558586252790593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-49143507544620904632013-08-27T19:39:53.253-04:002013-08-27T19:39:53.253-04:00Yes, I second 12:15 poster. Thank you Ellie for r...Yes, I second 12:15 poster. Thank you Ellie for recognizing the importance of this issue. I would not know ANY of this information had it not been for your blog.Amynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-85038655063895764572013-08-27T14:24:37.378-04:002013-08-27T14:24:37.378-04:00And the Beta testing is only being done at librari...And the Beta testing is only being done at libraries with wealthier patrons. It might not work well at libraries which are over utilized. I think this was done deliberately. What works for Reston and Burke Centre (near Fairfax Station) may not work in places like Annandale with our diverse population that relies heavily on library services.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6246743662284890173.post-49606015333292854862013-08-27T12:15:44.643-04:002013-08-27T12:15:44.643-04:00Excellent article. You are doing an outstanding jo...Excellent article. You are doing an outstanding job of reporting on this important ongoing story . THANK YOU !!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com