Comments on: Re: Holds Policy Update

By: James L Wieland

James L Wieland — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:59:13 +0000

I MUST SAY I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS NEW POLICY!
Cut backs seem to be what it is all about and who can be against saving money.
However, even though I live in GR, I donate every year to KDL in both time and money. I used to also give to the GR Library system until they chose to be non-compatable with KDL. Then I gave the entire amount to KDL. I also have been a long term member of The Friends of East Grand Rapids Library, and I sort for them regularly. I also volunteer for their sales. I received a very nice thank you letter from KDL this year too for our donation. I also donate books and other media to help the KDL libraries.
It sounds like I can not even set a hold at a branch and then go and pick it up at that branch even though this would not cost KDL anything. This means you expect me to drive to a branch where the item I want is supposed to be available, but you will not put a hold on it. I can see that often these so called “on shelf items” really are not on the shelf. So, I stand in line and take up an employees time to try and find it. If it is not available, my time and money and your employee’s time and your money has been wasted and another supporter of the KDL libraries is not happy and frustrated. This just does not make sense.
By the way I always vote for library millages because libraries are one of the most important community resources we have.

By: Morgan (KDL)

Morgan (KDL) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:52:59 +0000

Hannah – yes, if you have a KDL card you can change your pickup location. Stop at a reference desk with your library card and ask to have it switched.

By: Hannah

Hannah — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 14:25:39 +0000

So if I live inside the KDL “service area”, can I still have holds delivered to whatever branch of KDL I want?

By: PageTurner

PageTurner — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 14:29:42 +0000

The bottom line of these policy changes is twofold: property taxes (by which libraries are locally funded) have decreased and state funding to local libraries was cut by 40%. 40%!! The Lakeland Library Cooperative is trying to cut costs in order to deal with these major decreases in funding- reducing current delivery costs makes the most sense. KDL, GRPL, and other libraries are also individually trying to cut costs. From where would you have them cut the spending? Staffing has already been reduced to the bare essentials, and many patrons aren’t too happy to have to wait in line for five to ten minutes to talk with a librarian or worker. Library hours have been reduced in the past and may well be the next step. You can still place printed items on hold to be picked up at your home library. Collection purchases have NOT been reduced: the desired materials are still on the shelves and you can still walk in and check out other items (non-print) from those libraries. You may just have to inconvenience yourself a bit to get them if you really want them. Plan your road trips with a little more foresight. Carpool. In these economic times, the libraries can not cater to the whims and circumstances of every individual. For every person that speaks out against the policy change, there are many who will accept the changes for what they are: necessary. This isn’t “punishment” being inflicted on anyone; everyone is still welcome to come in to the branches and borrow the materials. The current policy change only affects *placing holds* on items. Individual libraries have to be responsible first to those people who are financially responsible for their support. Anyone outside those boundaries is truly privileged to be able to use a library for which he is not paying. As for paying a user’s fee, it was approximately $120/year five years ago and was used by a very small number of people. To adjust it for these current times and for the increased number of people who say they would pay, would make the cost soar (due to overhead and administrative costs) and be prohibitive for most families.
The answer is twofold: vote yes on the next millage for your own library, and contact your state representatives regarding library funding.

By: Ned

Ned — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 22:02:31 +0000

I understand the budget crunch and the need to save money. But the two catalog systems work together now, so evidently the separate systems are not the problem.

KDL has decided to save money by restricting delivery of AV and new books to KDL members and by restricting holds on all materials by GRPL or other non-KDL members. Meanwhile GRPL will allow KDL members to place items on hold and pick them up at a designated GRPL branch.

Items will continue to be delivered among KDL branches every day. So why not let GRPL and other non-KDL members designate a KDL branch where they can pick up a KDL book (more than 6 months old)? The volume of items on the move would be larger, but the number of trips would be approxmately the same. Why discriminate against the patrons of the largest system in the area, whose resources expand the offerings of KDL?

By: Starr

Starr — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:01:09 +0000

I'm a Tallmadge resident, so I'm really out of luck. We pay taxes to no library, so we're stuck, which is heartbreaking.
The way I read this information, it seems like everone is mad at KDL, when it was the Lakeland Coop who had to institue the cutbacks. We should maybe vent at them, but money is so tight that they did what they had to. Like Granny said, library use is a priviledge, not a right.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:28:18 +0000

Concerning a non-resident card: charging a fee for people to use a library is completely against the ideals and practices of our democratic society. Public libraries, like schools, are provided through taxes by all, so that all may use them, regardless of their ability to pay. If your local government is not providing adequate library services, you should speak to them about it loudly. Freedom to read, listen and learn is one of our most important and cherished privileges.

By: jvanderploeg (KDL)

jvanderploeg (KDL) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:44:22 +0000

Jessica-

Unless you are a Grand Rapids Library card holder, you will still be able request materials through the Lakenet catalog and pick them up at your home library. In fact, the only items that will be restricted are new books and AV materials. New books and AV materials can only be placed on hold if your library owns the title.

By: annoyed

annoyed — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:45:16 +0000

If you live in a community outside of KDL, your tax dollars go to fund your local library. The employees at your local library are paid with your tax dollars. Not KDL employees. KDL employees are paid with the tax dollars of KDL residents. They should not be doing the work of residents who don’t pay their wages. It’s that simple. If you live close to a KDL location but don’t pay taxes to KDL you should be thankful that you will still be able to walk in and use their services. Maybe someday soon even that privilege will go away.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:28:18 +0000

This is a no win situation for many library users. I live in a city with a very small library and a small budget for buying new books. Unfortunately since I have a non-KDL library this will make it harder for me to read many of the books I’ve enjoyed. Most of the books my kids want to read won’t be found at my “home” library. Out of 6 books I put on hold today only 1 of them will have a copy at my “home” library. Granted the changes don’t take effect yet but little libraries don’t have a budget to spend on all the books to keep up with the KDL’s of the system. I see that everyone wants to save money but with so many people utilizing the libraries this may have the wrong outcome. Many of us aren’t willing to drive to other libraries that are far from home because we are trying to save money too. It’s too bad that other solutions haven’t been looked at. I won’t be using the library system much anymore. It was great while I could use it.

People are willing to pay a fee to continue this service —– why won’t anyone listen??????