You've Been Heard @Sycamore Library

Coffee Maker

2011-03-15T12:39:00.000-07:00

Comment: Get a coffee maker like the Elburn Library. It's a single-cup brewer. I think the brand is Kruenig or something like that.

Reply: Thank you for your suggestion. We have tried to contact Kuerig about getting a trial. So far, they have not gotten back to us. We will try again. While the Town and Country Public Library in Elburn provides coffee and asks only for donations, it is likely that we will charge a fee to cover the cost of supplies if and when we get a coffee maker.

Blu-Ray Discs

2011-03-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

Suggestions: Please Consider getting Blue Ray discs for patrons to check out. They are becoming very popular. Thanks!

Reply: Buying Blu-Ray discs is a funding and demand issue. We have limited funding for adding new collections to the library and need to have enough demand to warrant shifting funds for a new purpose. I did speak with the Head of Circulation and asked how many Blu-Ray discs are coming to the library through Inter library loan. She said the number is very small about one or two a month. We will not be purchasing movies on Blu-Ray at this time.

You are welcome to place holds for Blu-Rays discs at other libraries in our system. Any movie that has been owned by a library in the system for more than three months is shared between the libraries.

New Music CD's

2011-03-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

Suggestion: Have separate section for New CD's like you have for books. Thank You.

Reply: We appreciate your suggestion. We have looked at the music shelving and find that it would be difficult to create the space for new CD's. The other thing is that most of our new CC's are checked out all the time. We do have a list of New CD's posted in the sign spaces above the CD racks. We noticed the list is a bit hard to read so we plan to enlarge the print. You can place a hold for any item you would like to borrow.

If you do not know how to place a hold on an item, stop by the Reference desk by the public computers for assistance.

Phone System

2010-12-17T13:49:00.000-08:00

Comment: If no one at the desk have the call revert to the Tech desk instead of the head librarian's office. One can't reach a live person after 6 or so.

Response: All calls to the library are answered by the answering system. You may dial your parties extension at anytime once the automated attendant has started the message.

Here is a list of the library extensions:
Library Hours and Joiner History Room information 49
Current Events 48
Circulation and renewals 11
Youth Services 31
Information and Reference 26
Administrative Assistant / Meeting Room Reservations 25
Executive Director, Sarah Tobias 33
Cataloging and System Administrator 14
Head of Circulation, Jeannie 10
Head of Youth Services, Mary 28
Young Adult Librarian, Evelyn 28
Head of Adult Services, Larry 27

Downloadable E-Books

2010-12-13T09:09:00.000-08:00

Request: We receive daily requests regarding E-books for E-Readers.

Response: We do have a selection of non-fiction E-books from Net Library that can be loaded onto most e-readers. The Kindle will not work as they have proprietary software. You can use the Kobo, the Nook, the Literati, and iPad after downloading the BlueFire app. There are other readers that will work as well. You may need to add software such as adobe digital editions to download and view the books.

We have recently signed an agreement with a company called Overdrive to join a library consortium of downloadable e-books and e-audio books. With your Sycamore Public Library card you will be able to download a wide variety of e-books to your computer and then upload them to your reader or player for one or two weeks. We expect to be up and running by the first of February.

These materials are available 24/7 from the convenience of your computer.

For instructions on downloading NetLibrary e-books follow this link below:
http://www.netlibrary.com/Help/DisplayTopic.aspx?Name=ReadingOffline/CheckOutAndDownloadEbookProcess

For instructions on Project Gutenberg:
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Gutenberg:PDAs_and_eBook_Readers_How-To

Scanner

2010-12-13T08:56:00.001-08:00

Request: There have been several phone calls asking if the library has a scanner for patron use.

Response: We heard your request and have added a computer and scanner to the public computer section of the library. You do need to have your library card to log on to the computer and there is a two hour time limit for use of that computer. We have included Microsoft Word and Publisher, and Paint, so you can edit your work. There is also Internet access so you can email your scans.

There are directions on the scanner for basic use.

If you want to save the images you scan, you should bring a writable CD or a flash drive. We do have writable CDs available for $1.00 if you forget.

More Movies

2010-11-08T13:22:00.000-08:00

We purchase new movies every month. If you are not finding what you want, you need to be more specific about your request.

Don't forget to place a hold on your favorite new movie. This will ensure that when the movie is available, you will get a call or email to come and pick it up.

Most movies that are in the PrarireCat Catalog can be borrowed. Just place a hold and if you get a message that we will contact you when the item comes in, your hold went through. If you get a message that the hold could not be placed, then you need to talk to staff for further assistance. Either the only libraries that own that movie do not share and we don't own it, or there is a problem with your account that needs to be dealt with. We are in a consortium with many libraries so that you will have access to a larger variety if items.

We do have a listing of the new movies that is updated each time we make large purchases. We do not make a paper list of the whole collection because it is ever changing and over 3,000 items long. We are always buying new movies and we have to withdraw those that are damaged.

If you want to learn how to search the catalog and limit a list to meet your needs, stop at the reference desk and ask for help with searching the catalog. The reference staff can help you use the advanced search tools.

If there is a movie that you want that the Sycamore Library does not own, let us know. We will consider the title for purchase.

Hand Sanitizer by Computers

2010-11-08T12:47:00.000-08:00

Below are three articles about the effectiveness of hand sanitizers and flu protection. Before you go and spend more money on giant bottles of hand sanitizer this winter, you may want to head to the sink and just wash your hands with soap and water.

Hand Sanitizer Effectiveness

Hand washing vs. Hand Sanitizers

Can Sanitizers really prevent people from getting the flu?

As for the soap in the library. It's heavy duty and will get your hands clean. We are looking into more natural soap products that are affordable.

Charging for DVDs

2010-07-27T11:34:00.001-07:00

Comment: DO NOT CHARGE FOR DVDs for residents

Response: We can stop charging 50¢ for DVDs rentals which we have been collecting for three years. If we do, we will also stop purchasing them as the revenue we get from the small fee pays for us to purchase, replace, and repair the movies.

Book Pockets

2010-06-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

Comment: It would be helpful if all the books have a pocket so the computer print out slip would have a secure place to stay in the book while it's being checked out.

Response: We stopped adding pockets to our books when we started providing due date printout slips in 2002. Each pocket costs 10¢ plus staff time to add the pockets and we felt that the money spent on pockets could be spent on other things like purchasing more books.

To help people remember when their materials are due, we also have offer every patron a plastic pocket for their library card which can be used to hold the due date slips, each individuals account information is available to the individual online, and if we have added an email address to the library account, we send a notice three days before the item is due as a reminder of the due date.

TV Series

2010-06-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

Suggestion: Pie in the Sky DVD Series 3&4 I need to know what happens next!

Response: 3&4 are not scheduled to be released on DVD until September 7, 2010.

Our collection policy for TV series is that we will purchase those TV series that are not readily available to the public. This includes shows that are on on premium cable channels or no longer readily available on television and are in high demand for our patrons.

Since TV series are expensive to purchase and there are hundreds of different shows to choose from,, we felt that this was the best way to meet the needs of the residents of Sycamore. If we don't own it, we can borrow it from another library in the our library system or you can watch for it on TV.

Your request meets the high demand and not readily available qualification. We are in the process of ordering the first two seasons and will purchase 3&4 when they are available in September.

Library Service Boundaries

2010-06-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

Comment: Just because someone is not inside of the library limits, does not mean that they are outside of the city limits.

Response: Actually, yes, it does. The Sycamore Public Library is a City library and our boundaries are the Sycamore City limits.

Every household that is in the city limits pays property tax to support the Sycamore Public Library. Every household that lies outside of the City limits does not pay any property tax to the Sycamore Public Library. People who live outside of the City limits have the option to purchase a library card each year for the same cost as a person who lives in the City and has the fee automatically added to their tax bill.

Key Chain Cards

2010-06-22T10:04:00.000-07:00

Suggestion: Non-Residents should be able to get key chain cards.

Response: We only have about 50 people who have purchased non-resident cards. We have to purchase a minimum of 1,000 key chain cards. The cost for doing that is $430. By State law, we are required to have it clearly imprinted on the card that it is a non-resident card so we can't use what we already have for the resident cards. It is not cost effective expenditure of library funds especially since we have the yellow non-resident cards on hand.

Anyone who would like to donate the $430 to purchase the key chain cards for non-residents may do that, and we will gladly order special cards.

Graphic Novels & Blue Ray

2010-06-07T15:11:00.000-07:00

Comment:Please get more graphic novels and Blue ray discs

Response: Thank you for your suggestions. In the last two months we have added Otoman, Ooku, The Sandman, Animal Academy, Pluto, Love.com, Skip Beat, and Fables. Some are located in Young Adult and others are in the Adult collection. The call number for graphic novels is 741.59xxx. If you have a specific series in mind that we do not have, let us know what that series title. We have a limited budget for materials and must be selective about which and how many graphic novels we purchase. You can also place holds on books that are owned by other libraries and they will be delivered here.

At this time we will not be adding Blue Rays to our collection. We just don't have the funding for another media type that does not hold up to heavy use. We are keeping track of emerging media types and will look toward a format that can withstand the use and abuse that DVDs and Blue rays can not.

Money

2010-06-07T15:07:00.000-07:00

Comment: Give People Money

Response: Would be nice wouldn't it? Kind of a crazy circle though since all the money the the library has is money that is paid out in property taxes, income taxes, fines, and fees paid by patrons directly to the library. We would be giving the money you gave us to run the library back to you. We could do that, but then there wouldn't be a library.

Big Library Cards

2010-06-07T15:04:00.000-07:00

Comment: Get Big Library Cards!!!

Response: Every individual receives a credit card sized library card and one key chain sized library card. Families who opt for the family card receive one credit card sized card and all of the rest are key chain cards. Library cards cost money, the key chain cards are the least expensive option so rather than spend money on library cards, we can put the money toward all the materials that you borrow. You are welcome to put your key chain card into a pouch rather than on your key chain. You are also welcome to arm wrestle the member of your family who got the credit card sized card and make that your own.

Teen Reading Program

2010-06-07T14:36:00.000-07:00

Comment:Kids (not teens) who read BIG Books should be aloud to compete in the teen reading thing.

Response: Thank your for your thoughts.

The teen reading program is, first of all, not a competition. It is an individual challenge with rewards. Yes, some of the rewards are really cool. We hope that when you are going into 7th grade you will still want to read and then you will have the same opportunity to earn chances to win the teen prizes.

Right now, you can win prizes and have a chance to win swimming pools and other cool things in the "kids" reading program.

All of our reading programs are based on the amount of time you spend reading this summer so the size of the book won't get you any more or less rewards.

Sometimes you just have to wait to be old enough. It's a part of life.