For my public library visit, I spent some time in the Lynchburg public library. I was impressed with both the facility and the personnel as everything was very well laid out and easy to navigate and the staff were very helpful and attentive.
The entrance to the building is perpendicular to the main service point – the circulation desk. In addition to this main desk, there are also service points on either side in the youth and adult sections. At the desk you could check out, register for a library card, and ask any questions. To the right of the circulation desk is the youth side where children through young adult literature is located. The youth side is very colorful and filled with posters and brightly colored furniture. The youth side of the library is organized by reading level, there is a section for children’s books, middle grade, and young adult. There are many bright and colorful displays as well as computers with the youth catalog on them for browsing.
On the adult side you will see more available seating, computers, and printers. There are some displays set up that are showcasing Oscar nominated and award-winning films and a self-service hold shelf where materials requested for pickup are placed and labelled with the patron’s name. Each stack of books has the spines turned inward for patron privacy. Patrons can check these books out using one of the two self-checkout stations or with a library staffer at the main circulation desk.
There are some aspects of the library that are not as they would normally be due to covid-19 response. There are meeting rooms and a study room that are located in the library, but they are currently not available for reservation. There is also much less furniture than there usually is, but their cloth furniture had to be put into storage because it was not a wipeable surface. Employee desks and spaces appeared free of clutter and tidy, even with the addition of the plexiglass protective shields.
One thing that I was really impressed with was the rules put into place on the youth side to ensure that young patrons and their families felt safe in the library. There are seating areas on this side, but only for children and their families – any adults sitting on this side will be asked to leave. Of course, anyone can browse the YA or children sections, they will just be unable to sit and read on that side unless they are accompanying a child. The bathrooms on the youth side are locked and can only be opened by a library employee from the desk. These bathrooms are only for the use of children and their families. Any unaccompanied adults are referred to the bathrooms on the adult side. It also seemed that they had all necessary accessibility requirements as far as entry doors and furniture is concerned. I was very impressed with this facility and their employees.
***Im sorry the lighting in my photos is weird, I forgot to take pictures during my visit so I had to pop back in and take these as they were closing up for the night.
Miranda,
Lynchburg Public Library appears to be taking extra precautions with patron safety and privacy. The plexiglass shields and limited furniture as a result of the pandemic must be frustrating at times. I’m sure the staff will be happy to return the additional furniture when the time is right. It is very considerate of the library staff to place holds on the shelf with the spines facing in. I haven’t thought about it before, but I am sure patrons appreciate that extra layer of privacy this small act affords them.
Hi Emily, Thank you for your reply. I also had never seen a hold shelf with the names facing inwards but it really is a great idea. I know that not everyone wants their choice of reading broadcasted to the public, so I think this is a great approach.
Lynchburg Library looks rather spacious. I am guessing with some of the furniture removed, they have more open space to play with. I can see the plexiglass and the big jug of hand sanitizer in your picture, remnants of the pandemic. Interesting they have not opened their meeting spaces yet. The children’s section looks nice and welcoming with the bright colors. That is very interesting on the safety protocols put into place so that the parents and children felt safer and the turning in of the holds so that the patron’s name is not visible. I guess the library was taken into account, “more than 70% felt that the availability of books and media, librarian assistance, a quiet safe place…” (Rubin and Rubin, 2020, p. 110). The facility and rules definitely seem like safety is a priority.
Rubin, R. E., & Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.
Hi Tiffany,
We recently had a large surge in numbers (Covid wise) in our area so I think this is just continued precaution. I believe we are getting closer to the reopening of these spaces though.
I was wondering why the space looked a little dark until I saw your comment! That being said, I have noticed that a lot of the public libraries that our “team” has observed has lots of windows and natural light, but this library does not appear to follow that pattern (of course, it could just be the missing perspective as I’m only seeing a few sections of the library!). I really like the painted walls, as it gives it a kind of homey feel and livens up the space.
The library is in an older building, so although they do have some windows, it is predominately fluorescent lighting. The library, especially the youth side, is so colorful and welcoming. I know that kids enjoy using the space and the different programs that are hosted there.
Miranda,
The Oscar nominated and award-winning film display sounds very timely! My husband and our friend are currently watching various movies tied to award lists, so they would be great examples of patrons who would engage with a display such as this. I also thought it was interesting that you noticed that the materials on the hold shelf had their spines turned inward for patron privacy. The public library that I observed for my post also has a self-service hold shelf, but I didn’t notice which way the spines were turned. I will pay attention to this next time!
One similarity between the Lynchburg Public Library and my own public library has to do with the policy surrounding the children’s section of the library. I often utilize the children’s section of our public library to borrow picture books for various projects that our high school students do for speech. When I entered the children’s section space by myself, I was immediately greeted by a staff member who was cordial but also seemed to be figuring out why I was an unaccompanied adult. When I explained why I was visiting, they left me to myself to grab books, but I got the impression that they are vigilant about unaccompanied adults in that space!
Thanks for sharing your visit with us,
-Allison
Hi Allison,
I also was drawn to the Oscar display. As a movie lover, I was impressed by their selection! I have seen many great displays during my visits to the public library and I think they recognize the value of having these eye-catching displays.
It was interesting to note the presence of a self-checkout machine at the Lynchburg library. It’s something we haven’t discussed in class but I wonder how library staff feel about it. I recognize its convenience but I always feel a little sad when I miss checking someone out at the circ desk. I enjoy the personal interaction and it’s a great way to get to know patrons.