Comments on: 14 Queens Libraries to Close on Weekends http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/ Blogging From the Five Boroughs Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:51:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.2 http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/section/NytSectionHeader.gif NYT http://www.nytimes.com By: GCL http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/comment-page-1/#comment-613287 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:36:34 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/#comment-613287 I have all three cards. (NYPL, QBPL, and BPL.)

Of the three the website for NYPL just changed, and looks poor, but not useless. That belongs to Queens.

BPL, on the other hand is still using the same site that went online at the beginning of the Century.

They also re-opened on Sundays, and are also open on Mondays.

Part of the problem is that the monies to run these libraries that come from certain sources haven’t been doing that. Next time BPL has a bag open for penny collection, donate!

And do your share.

In the case of Queens, that might mean offering a donation.

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By: kinopku http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/comment-page-1/#comment-594399 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:46:50 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/#comment-594399 the fewer public services that are available to the people means there is less need for a government, which will eventually lead to revolution. cutting libraries and transportation is not a sign of a healthy society. any squabbles over how many employees are needed, or what days the library should be closed are probably not important in the long run. the important thing is that public services are being stripped away from the people. this is a sign of a society on the decline – a steep decline.

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By: JC http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/comment-page-1/#comment-594159 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:16:07 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/#comment-594159 Why does anyone claim that computers have replaced libraries (Justin, 13), or that some how those with income can afford all that a library offers without actually going to visit one?

Computers, including the internet, don’t have the information available at a big public or academic library –I’ve been to two branches of the NYPL this week to look read books whose contents can’t be found online–it’s really that simple.

Yep, I also have a Queens library card.

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By: PDub http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/comment-page-1/#comment-593735 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:05:26 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/#comment-593735 Geez, I never heard anyone complaining about those highly paid librarians before. Now there’s a career path alternative to slaving away on Wall Street.

But seriously, what they should do is re-purpose the check out areas into cafes, bring in part time students as staff, put up a tip jar and ask, “Would you like to check out a book with that latte?”.

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By: Frances Chapman http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/comment-page-1/#comment-593603 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:39:00 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/#comment-593603 When I was growing up in Chicago and Oak Park, Ill, I was a frequent library user. It was a big deal to go to the old main library, now a cultural center, but the Blackstone and Kimbark branches were also important to me. They were open until 8 or 9 every evening and on Saturdays. The big issue is priorities. A city this wealthy should be ashamed it cannot fund its libraries properly.

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By: Demidan http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/comment-page-1/#comment-593555 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:57:32 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/#comment-593555 Mmmmm, more bumsickles!

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By: Joanne in Jamaica http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/comment-page-1/#comment-593503 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:13:09 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/#comment-593503 To Meg: in an ideal world, you would be correct. Children should not be left unattended. Seniors should not have to rely on public spaces for heating/air conditioning. Parents would direct their well-behaved teens into enriching recreation. Adults would have sufficient education for well-compensated, fulfilling work.

In the real world, public libraries pick up a lot of that slack. They aren’t “catch-all spaces.” They are community destinations that are affordable to all and open to all.

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By: JoAnn in NYC http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/comment-page-1/#comment-593461 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:53:45 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/#comment-593461 I believe the Queens system chose to close Saturdays because of the heavy afterschool use during the week. Yes, it is a terrible shame to close libraries on the weekend but hard choices are hard choices. I think most users don’t understand what library staff do when they aren’t directly helping you. They are probably working on filling reserves, checking in those books you dropped in the box, ordering replacements for damaged materials, planning programs, filling out reports and more. Most of that is done sitting in front of a computer, so what looks like goofing off to you often is not. I work for one of the public library systems in NY and I don’t know of any branches that have more staff than they need to maintain the hours and the work required to deliver good service.

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By: Hank http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/comment-page-1/#comment-593449 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:24:59 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/#comment-593449 Staff cutbacks? Our branch of the Queens library always seems to have more staff members than they need! – Sunnysider
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This is an assumption. You don’t know. Then you get all bent out of shape as if your assumption is true! How silly. The fact is, you just don’t know. So why don’t you do a study to find out what the best number of workers at your branch is, then count them, and then you will know. Until them, it’s an assumption.

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By: Farhaly http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/comment-page-1/#comment-593349 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:26:07 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/#comment-593349 Has anyone commenting here ever worked in a library? Because I have, and I do, and I can tell you that most of you are woefully ignorant of what librarians or library assistants do.

Nor do most of you have any idea how library administration works.

I work at a private library that is in no danger of running out of funds because because of the abundent revenue stream available from wealthy patrons. Sometimes the circulation staff and reference librarians here appear to be “doing nothing,” when in fact they are standing by and/or preparing to perform a huge task the patron will not see or understand the need for.

If anything, these public libraries probably need more trained, paid staff in order to run more efficiently. Fat chance of that ever happening thanks to people like you.

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By: Meg http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/comment-page-1/#comment-593347 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:23:27 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/#comment-593347 Cuts to library hours are a shame. I hope this will spur people to *use* the library more, including the myriad on-line options that can be accessed from anywhere, at anytime of day with your library card.

To Joanne in Jamaica, children should never be left in the library unattended. The public library is not intended to care for children while parents are at work since *anyone* can utilize the library. It’s a valuable, but not safe space.

I think this attitude is partly the reason public libraries are seen as expendable – -they are no longer viewed as vital information and literacy hubs, rather catch-all spaces that can be replaced.

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By: Kevin http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/comment-page-1/#comment-593339 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:10:49 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/#comment-593339 I dont understand why they don’t cut hours during the week when most people are working. I know many neighborhood libraries have programs for little kids during the week, but the library would better serve the community if they stayed open on the weekends.

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By: z http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/comment-page-1/#comment-593337 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:05:52 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/#comment-593337 It’s a nice idea, cynthia, but it doesn’t work out that way in practice. Working for the Queens Library system, I always had two days off during the week, but they were rarely consecutive and when they make cuts like these, they wind up spreading their employees across multiple locations so you people work at two or three different branches throughout the week, and again, sure they get two days off, but I can guarantee that for most employees those days are not consecutive.

George L, what employees are you referring to who do nothing? The actual librarians? I’m not sure who you are referring to that would be volunteers working in the library system, but you’re incorrect to think that ‘quite a few’ of the people you see working in the library are volunteers. That’s just not accurate.

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By: Erika http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/comment-page-1/#comment-593323 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:25:02 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/#comment-593323 Maybe if the libraries stopped trying to compete with netflix and filing their shells with DVD’s; money would be available for books, ESL and literacy training.

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By: paul http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/comment-page-1/#comment-593319 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:16:35 +0000 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/14-queens-libraries-to-close-on-weekends/#comment-593319 If the hours absolutely have to be reduced it makes more sense to me to close earlier in the evening, and/or to close Monday and Tuesday and allow weekend openings…that’s when it’s busiest.

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