Notes from First Meeting of Central Square Work Group
11/1/1996
A meeting was held in the Central Square Library hosted by Fran Wirta with a large number of neighborhood residents to discuss the Central Branch and the Main Library and obtain input for future planning by Library 21.
1. When & How do you use the Central Square Branch?
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Borrow, rather than buy
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Also checks out CD's
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Librarian can find it if item is not at branch
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Location is important
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Books on tape
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Size fosters intimacy
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Wishes library was open on Saturday in summer
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on-line connects to main branch only, wishes it could serve this branch
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Meeting room good and is only such location in the Square
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Book signings
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Computer terminal--need additional link to main on-line
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Want wider range, particular of popular fiction
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Computer/word-processing, particularly for children
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Staff knows users personally, can make recommendations
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Uses book request and reserve services
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Walk in services
2. When do you use the Main Library? How accessible is it to you? What new materials are needed?
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Tax forms available there
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In fair weather -- she's a bike rider
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Seldom in Cambridge, MA
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Pick up videos
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Magazine reading
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Seats could be more comfortable
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User finds wait list too long for popular new work
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Reference use for high school students, helpful staff
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Uses stacks
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Author signings attended
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Circulation is an issue
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Main library has archival information on City
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Teacher borrowing privileges on at Main
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CD borrowing not as well-established in inter-library system
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Magazines and newspapers in closed stacks
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Opera music and scores should be together
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Isolated location, not near T or busses
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In winter, especially hard to reach
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Telephone books, internationally
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Newspaper collections better, more languages
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FUTURE needs for knowledge; citizens use library as place for participation in govt.
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Communications center, video hook ups to other cities
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Teleconferencing
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Community gathering place
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Intercity communications
3. What would you like to see in children’s' services?
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Latch key children not in regular after school programs
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Literacy
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Free programs are important
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Enrichment
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Safe local neighborhood place for local kids
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International cooperation
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Summer reading club, after school
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Computers needed for success in completing homework
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Facilitate volunteer participation and contributions
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Where should children's services go?
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--all branches
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High school kids not allowed in library during the day
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Better partnership needed with schools
4. How do we attract non-users
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Attract through kids
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Meeting spaces get people in the door; parking permits and other services bring people in
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Community learning centers, ESL, adult education
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Small business support: conference centers, etc.
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Need for more information: health, pensions, etc.
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Boring environment: design is important
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Lack of knowledge about what is in the library
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Kids: what would they like to hear, see -- lectures, authors
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Depository for free or loaner books
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Cable hook up so neighborhood can see local functions: City Council, School Comm
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Cable broadcasts in general; use earphones? (Don't want to go to a bar)
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Career resource center -- on-line workforce development
5. What kind of computer services do you want?
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Internet connections bring many libraries around world to you
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New technology: librarians have to deal with it
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More electronic information: CD RAM, etc.
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Computer terminals can be used as cable TV's
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Hook ups of all city buildings are coming
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How many terminals? Lots; hardware low cost space, training
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Kids are falling behind if they're not computer literate
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Schools open for community to use after 2:30; community sharing of resources; can health centers, public housing, schools, youth centers all be viewed as computer/library sites?
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Sentiment for dispersing wealth of information, knowledge and access throughout the city
6. Functions: branch or main or both?
SUMMARY THOUGHTS
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How do kids think? This is open door to using knowledge
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Need a second catalogue terminal
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More summer hours
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Give up on big buildings
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Library uses located close to where people are living
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Branches have maximum services
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Kids, close to home
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Use non-profits to provide Internet training
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Employment link to education to computer training
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Computers, education
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Cooperation with other organizations
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$15 million could be used for staff development instead of a building
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No bricks and mortar except to provide disabled access
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Staff and equipment are most important
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Weave library with non-profits and businesses, etc.
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Give up main branch idea
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Exciting shift in thinking about libraries
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Kids of the future will be the smartest and most comfortable in the 21 century if the library has prepared them adequately.
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Put library where use is lowest -- that's where people need it the most
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Operations $ -- not bricks and mortar; staff need to run programs, instruct users
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Allocate resources to neediest neighborhoods, e.g. Area 4
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Bring back the Bookmobile
NEXT MEETING: November 7th