13 Replies to “Visiting the Slover Library”

  1. jreyn035

    Carla,
    Great presentation! I chose the same library. I was stopped by security for taking pictures and was told I needed a permit. They ended up letting me finish since I was taking them for an assignment. Did you have the same experience?
    Jessica

    Reply
    • clean001 Post author

      Hi Jessica!

      Thank you! That is unfortunate to hear that happened to you. I did not have any incident with security; I barely saw anyone during my time walking around the building! It was fairly early in the morning when I went, though, so maybe that is why I did not see any security or staff.

      Best,
      Carla

      Reply
  2. mscav001

    Beautiful presentation for a beautiful library; when I worked in Norfolk it was always fun to visit Slover. I like the combination of the old stone building in the more modern glass upper floors, but I do agree that it makes the area feel somewhat gentrified. Other nearby libraries don’t look nearly as imposing or glitzy, and if you’re looking for something more “welcoming” this could be a turn off.
    I also like how thoroughly you covered transportation! The library I did for my second visit has an almost unnecessarily huge parking lot, but it’s in southern Virginia Beach where there’s hardly any public transportation. Norfolk is better than Virginia Beach in that respect, but a lot of patrons (and other library workers) when I worked at the smaller branches in Norfolk complained about lack of free parking! Being so accessible by public transportation (and being in a walk-able area) ironically made it somewhat inconvenient for anyone who relies primarily on their own car.

    Reply
    • clean001 Post author

      Thank you! I agree. I live close to the Kempsville Area Library and that building, though slightly more “dated” in its appearance, is very cozy and fitting for a neighborhood library. It is much more welcoming than the Slover’s appearance, though on the other hand, people could say it needs a face lift. I guess you have to pick your battles!

      I agree. I wish there were more free parking options in Norfolk…trying to find street parking on Granby Street at any hour of the day is a huge chore and near impossible! I don’t mind the parking garages, and I think they are an excellent addition, but that is almost entirely because I can afford the extra dollar or so. You never know who may not have that excess.

      Reply
  3. iberr002

    I really like how you incorporated the google slides directly onto your portfolio. I’m definitely going to steal this look for future projects! 🙂
    What a cool library! I need to get back to Norfolk sometime again in the near future. Good catch on the signage not being available in other languages. I would expect that the signage would be in English and Spanish, is there not a large Hispanic or Latino community in Norfolk? All around beautiful presentation Carla, thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • colen002

      I agree! Carla, how did you get it to do this? I could only figure out how to achieve something similar by converting the slides to a PDF first.

      Reply
    • clean001 Post author

      There is, in fact! There was always a heavy emphasis on learning Spanish at my school when I was younger — there is a pretty prominent Latinx community in and around Hampton Roads. Many businesses are taking the time to translate their signage into Spanish, and a large handful of the mutual aid coalitions I partner with always make sure to include a Spanish translation in their informational fliers.

      Here is a link that helped me get started in placing my Slides presentation. I had to brute force it a little bit to get it to fit the proper size (since the layout for WordPress is slightly different now), but the process is mostly the same!

      Reply
  4. Leah Merone

    Your library looks very nice! It’s a shame, however, that there was a lack of language options. Most places I’ve been to at the very least have a Spanish option, and the fact that your library seems to only have English is slightly sad. The first step towards making a library more inclusive is to make it multilingual.

    Reply
  5. twill125

    Your presentation is spectacular Carla!!
    I love the library’s very traditional look when mixed in with the city aesthetic for downtown Norfolk while not seeming like it’s out of place.
    I used to work at Slover and while I was there I was surprised they didn’t have other options for the language which it can certainly use.
    Love to opportunity to fully visit Slover myself again once things finally calm down.
    The display you give your presentation is very professional and advanced(especially the slides).

    Reply
    • clean001 Post author

      Thank you! I am hopeful that they will include more options in the future. It really is a beautiful space and I hope more can utilize it!

      Reply
  6. Paige Nichols

    That is such a cool looking library! Though I can see how it could be off putting to some by how grand it does look.

    Reply
    • clean001 Post author

      Agreed. Upon first look I was fascinated by it, and I definitely see the appeal, but digging a little deeper I saw how it could be a little bit problematic. I do appreciate the efforts to renovate and keep the building in great condition, though.

      Reply
  7. smere005

    What a beautiful and unique building! I love it! I really want to visit all of the libraries in these presentations!

    The building is huge! I’m so envious of all those who get to visit and use all of the resources available in this place. The accessibility options are good. I love the wide ramps. I did notice the lack of other languages on the signs. The library I visited had a similar situation; I know that it’s very welcoming to people who speak languages other than English, but if you were a first time visitor, you wouldn’t know that.

    Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *