During the last few months, nearly 100 of you filled out a comprehensive survey about library services and access that you either received with your utility bill, or found on our website. First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to do that! Your responses will help us draft plans for how to improve in the future so that we can better serve our patrons.
Based on our early assessment of your responses, you fell into a few camps: Many of you indicated that you appreciate what we do (thanks!), many offered helpful suggestions for improvements (thanks!), and some seemed confused about what our current status is as an organization (also thanks!). There were no wrong answers to these questions, and if there is confusion about our – YOUR – library, then we need to be more clear and consistent with our communication.
The purpose of this post is to address a few of those responses to which there was some confusion. In the future, we will write more about the results of this survey, but for now we’re sticking to a couple basics. Number one – the Community Room IS available for public usage. Groups can reserve the room by emailing hplevents@midyork.org or visiting the “Contact” tab on our website. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there are some restrictions in place: Masks must be worn at all times during events, events must take place while the library is open, and State and County guidelines regarding social distancing and occupancy limitations will be enforced. We apologize for the inconvenience, and hope to return to the old ways of doing business as soon as possible.
Speaking of Covid restrictions, at least one respondent mentioned a lack of open bathrooms as a barrier to visiting the library. Well, you’ll be happy to know that we have reopened our bathrooms! We do ask that only one patron/family unit enter the bathroom at a time, but otherwise these have been open for probably a full year now. I apologize for the lack of a formal announcement on that.
There’s so much more to go over regarding these survey results, look for more information from us in future library columns! As always, thanks for reading!
Connect with/complain to Travis Olivera at the Hamilton Public Library by phone at (315) 824-3060 or by email at tolivera@midyork.org, or in person at the library.
