A place for the community to share comments and questions about the library.
It seems a little chilly/drafty in here. Is the air conditioning turned way up? You could save some energy with a warmer library.
Staff Reply
It IS chilly in here! We are in the midst of replacing the outdated controls for the heating and cooling system, and we're having trouble maintaining the building at the proper temperature during that process. Our maintenance staff are doing their best to adjust the building temperature as the outside temperature changes, but we won't really have full control again until the installation of the new control system is complete. It should be up and running by mid-June, and then we'll be able to maintain the temperature at a level that's more comfortable and energy efficient. In the meantime, we apologize for the chilliness - please bear with us!
Did you consider closing on Saturday instead of Friday, if needed?
Staff Reply
UPDATE - The library will NOT be closed on Fridays during 2010.
Original Reply:
We chose which day to close based on several factors, including how many people use the library each day, how many books check out, when programs are usually scheduled, and how other people and groups use the building. Friday is neither the busiest nor the slowest day for users and checkouts - in fact, it's about average. But it's not a school night, so parents and school kids needing our resources for the next day's homework aren't affected. We don't usually offer programs (such as story times, Reading Buddies, and the Homework Center) on Fridays, so closing on Fridays doesn't disrupt our program schedule. And because we are closed on Friday evenings anyway, groups wanting to use the meeting rooms aren't affected either. On the other hand, many library users can't get to the library Monday through Friday and rely on our being open on the weekend. Saturday is often one of our busiest days of the week. So, it made more sense to us to choose Friday as the day we will be closed, if we must do so.
I read in the paper that Boulder Public Library, along with the libraries in Louisville and Broomfield, has introduced a special way to view their catalogs on a mobile phone. Why doesn't Lafayette have this, and why isn't our library part of the Flatirons Library Consortium that Broomfield, Boulder, and Louisville belong to?
Staff Reply
At the time the Flatirons Library Consortium was formed in the 1990's, Lafayette had an opportunity to join but was unable to afford the cost. We chose a different vendor for our library system, so the software that works for Boulder wouldn't work for us.
Our vendor, Sirsi/Dynix, does have a similar interface that simplifies the look of our catalog and makes it easier to view on a mobile phone. Stay tuned - we are in the process of implementing the new interface.
That's too bad about the library will/may be closed on Fridays! Did they spend too much on the new wind turbine? It seems to hardly ever run. Thanks for your time.
C & B
Staff Reply
UPDATE: The library will NOT be closed on Fridays during 2010.
Original Reply:
Good questions! First of all, we wish, too, that closing on Fridays wasn't necessary. However, 2010 is a tough budget year for the City, and like all City departments, the library must find a way to reduce its costs this year.
As for the turbine, it was funded by a grant and the cost did not come from our operating budget or the City's General Fund. It's a demonstration of the City's commitment to finding alternative energy sources, and while it doesn't run often (Lafayette isn't as windy as some other places!) it IS expected to save us $400-500 per year in energy costs.
Could you please tell me if you accept book donations? If not, are you aware of a local facility to take (hardcover) books for recycling? Thanks.
Staff Reply Thank you for asking about donating books.Our Friends of the Library group accepts used books here at the library for their book sale. You can drop off materials during our business hours: Mon-Thu 10-9, Fri, Sat 9-5, Sun 1-5.
Please find the book donation guidelines below :
Book Donations
Thanks for all your donations. Yearly contributions equal approximately $10,000 worth of additional library services.
The Friends of the Library (FOL) accepts:
• Books, hardback and paperback
• DVDs
• Compact Discs
• Audio Cassettes
If you wish to donate items not included on this list, please call 303/665-5200, x 3800.
Please do not donate books or other material in poor condition. The FOL cannot use them and must make arrangements for their disposal. Items in poor condition can be recycled at CHARM in Boulder and the Broomfield Recycling Center.
The Friends cannot use:
• Books in poor condition (torn, dirty, highlighted, written in)
• Investment books published more than 3 years ago
• Computer books published more than 1 year ago
• Tax books published more than 1 year ago
• Reader's Digest Condensed Books
• Text books
• Encyclopedias
• Art prints
For more information see our website under Friends of the Library
Would love to see Investor's Business Daily here as I use it extensively and go to Louisville now to read it. Also daily issues of NY Times would be nice instead of only Sunday edition.
Thanks!
David
STAFF REPLY
Thank you for your suggestions. We review our magazines and newspaper subscriptions yearly. We aim to balance the collection, the budget and requests in making these decisions so we'll keep your suggestions for consideration later this year.
Bernice went out of her way for me. She looked up, found, and printed an article from Scientific American I've long wanted. A willing spirit is always a blessing to be around. Thank you.
Dave B.
I am very interested in the potential for the e-reader, Kindle. What are libraries thinking these days regarding servicing Kindle owners with electronic downloads of library books? It is a remarkable technology and I am curious about how libraries will address this opportunity. Thanks.
Marjorie J.
STAFF REPLY
Amazon’s Kindle reader is indeed an exciting and remarkable product of today’s digital and wireless technology. Currently, however, its terms of service (http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200144530) have been interpreted as prohibiting libraries from lending Amazon’s digital content. Down the road, Amazon may loosen its restrictions and make content for the Kindle available for libraries to lend.
I just want to thank you for havng the Book Group to Go Kits. Our neighborhood group discovered them and it''s just great. Good selections and in a handy tote!
STAFF REPLY
We're happy to hear that your group is enjoying the kits. Our plan is to add a few new titles each year, so if you have suggestions, please pass them along. Click here to find info on all of our Book Group kits!
