Snapshot Day - Preliminary Results

Here's a sampling of some of the candid snapshots we've taken during today's Snapshot Day festivities. You can also check out shots taken at libraries across the Commonwealth at the Massachusetts Snapshot Day Group Flickr Page. A big thank you to everyone who has filled out a survey and posed for a picture here at the Pollard. We wouldn't be the special place we are without your patronage. We're open til 9pm tonight (and showing a special Independent Film from Israel called Vasermil at 6:30pm) so it's not too late to come down and get involved.

Next Thursday is Library Snapshot Day! #snapmass12

Thursday, April 12th, the Pollard Library is joining libraries across the Commonwealth and the nation to try and answer the question, what happens in a single day in a library? We'll be taking photos and asking patrons to fill out a short survey that asks them how they are using the library. We're trying here to raise public awareness about the fact that libraries are busier and more integral to their community than ever. If you want to know more about Massachusetts Snapshot Day you can visit their website. They've also posted a list of participating libraries. Here it is again in map form. Here's a slideshow of photos from our 2011 Snapshot Day.

As a special bonus this year our Children's Department will be hosting a free drop-in craft from 10am-12pm and from 2pm-4pm. Stop on by the Children's Desk on the ground floor to decorate picture frames—while supplies last. The library will also be having a Moving & Grooving play group in the afternoon and our Independent Film Night features the Israeli film Vasermil at 6:30pm. But you needn't be using the library for anything you wouldn't already to fill out a survey or pose for a picture—so, come on down Thursday, April 12th and be counted. We want to hear from you and count you in!

Snapshot Day Numbers!

The numbers are in for last month's Snapshot Day. On April 13, 2011 the Pollard Library took part in a National Library Week effort to document a day in the life of a library. The numbers and comments below are compiled from observational records from staff and an optional patron survey.

Snapshot Day Numbers:

Total Visits: 502

Total Circulation: 465

Interlibrary Loan Requests: 131

General Reference/Research requests: 142

Reference questions related to computers and printers: 18

Reader’s Advisory Questions answered: 37

Museum Pass Questions answered: 7

Tax Form Questions answered: 4

Attendance at programs: 44

Use of meeting rooms: 44

Use of Internet PC's: 223

Newly registered borrowers: 17

Optional Surveys completed: 95

From the surveys completed here are the number of patrons who listed as a reason for their visit:

Visit General: 45

Check items out: 60

Job Search: 13

Research: 33

Homework: 17

Use Internet/Library computers: 44

Interlibrary Loan: 17

Get a library card: 16

Get tax forms: 4

Attend a Class: 2

Attend a program: 13

Volunteer: 3

Use a quiet room: 2

Read newspaper: 3

Play chess: 1

Here is what people wrote in the feedback portion of the survey. I have corrected obvious spelling and grammatical errors but by and large remained true to the original message. The question on the survey read:

Other feedback is welcome:

1. “The kids programs at the PML are awesome!”
2. “I really like the library – I like the interlibrary loan”
3. “The library is invaluable to me—for research and writing. Great collection and staff.”
4. “Love this library. But the video collection is pathetic.”
5. “I love the library, it helps me give my child an A. When it comes to making memories from the videos, books, down to puppets. Awesome place to be!!! Thank you.”
6. “The library is the best thing Lowell and Massachusetts have to offer”
7. “I have been coming to the library for over 50 years and it remains one of my favorite places in Lowell. Staff are always pleasant and helpful and the general atmosphere is equally pleasurable.”
8. “My visits to the Pollard Memorial Library are always pleasant, as I receive service with a smile!”
9. “More time to computer up to 1 hour. Also some employees are crast [sic]. Most are friendly and very helpful.”
10. “Computer time is short. Cannot complete tasks.”
11. “Enjoy being able to order items from other libraries.”
12. “The workers are very polite”
13. “Outstanding people.”
14. “What ever they decide for the library program. They should keep this option available for current residents and children.”
15. “In general, I have found the staff to be very helpful and informative, not just to me but to others. This is particularly so at the reference/research section.”
16. “I believe the staff here is very friendly, and helpful. Always willing to answer questions and address me politely and professionally.”
17. “Through the Interlibrary Loan section of the library, I was able to borrow the most recent edition of a physics textbook by name Conceptual physics, Paul Hewitt which has been very useful for me. Making use of the Library’s quiet reading room is such a great idea. Thank you, Pollard Memorial Library.”
18. “Staff is pleasant and helpful”
19. “Staff is pleasant and helpful”
20. “The library is of crucial importance to the community. There are some great staff at the library. However recent difficulties expressed in the press are one sided and patrons in general suffer due to mis-perceptions that have been created. There are obvious staff issues that need to be acknowledged and addressed as well as the difficulties with a small percentage of patrons.”
21. “The atmosphere is very pleasant. And the staff is very helpful.”
22. “Great music and other media such as movies / books / DVDs. Great source of community activities and classes/programs. Awesome activities for children. Other historical activities throughout the year are awesome.”
23. “Very quiet and relaxing library. Nice staff.”
24. “This library is very helpful for me in terms of getting on the internet and doing homework.”
25. “We love our public library!!”
26. “Always enjoy working—environment friendly and helpful”
27. “The library is a quiet place, most of the time, where I can go, relax and do my homework, research and studies in peace and serenity. Plus, not many people bother you, unless you’re doing something ridiculous. It’s a students’ paradise.”
28. “Love the Lowell Library. Building is beautiful, librarians are accommodating and you always have what I need. Thank you.”
29. “TTY is very old. We want to you suggest set up for the video phone only deaf people to the communications.”
30. “In restrooms use electric dryers.”
31. “Good place for me, interesting.”
32. “Helpful – professional – informed.”
33. “I like how the library is well ordered and the librarians are helpful and nice. If I could choose anywhere to be, I’d be here to focus on school and such.”
34. “The library is great. Thank you.”
35. “All your employees are very helpful and welcoming always bright and cheery”
36. “Staff are very professional and proactive. They are an enormous asset to one of Lowell’s greatest assets.”
37. “We love the Lowell Library’s history and stately beauty. Have used it since moving to Lowell in 1977. I love to see libraries in other places as well.”
38. “I mostly use the website to get books rather than picking them off the shelf.”
39. “The library is a quiet place to study”
40. “Excellent help.”
41. “The library is invaluable”
42. “I have found the staff to be very helpful and pleasant. Beth is great with the children during youth programs. Love the children’s reference librarian. Thanks to everyone.”
43. “Exceptional architecture. Pleasant staff.”
44. “Parents don’t realize they can check puppets out.”
45. “I love the library. To browse, read, just look….walk through the stacks reading whatever catches your eye.”
46. “Staff is great. Should wear name tags.”
47. “We do a weekly visit, my 2 year old grandson love this library. We also love story time.”
48. “We found that getting DVDs for our small children helped us and them to come back every week without fail to get books also. Now they are older they get several books each a week and they still like the DVDs.”
49. “Huge library fan—love getting items for free. Library staff is friendly and helpful!”

Thank you to everyone for your patronage, and for making 2011 Snapshot Day a success here at the Pollard and across the Commonwealth!

Snapshot Day a Success -- National Library Week Half Over

Photo by Marianne Gries

Thank you one and all for the Pollard's Snapshot Day success. We couldn't have done it without you. Keep an eye on the library's flickr account to see photos from the day. And don't forget you can look at the Massachusetts Snapshot Day Pool to see photos from all the participating libraries in the state.

We thought this would be a good opportunity thank you for supporting us and Massachusetts' libraries during National Library Week and ask you to to let your state legislators and governor know how important libraries are to you! If you can find the time, please send an e-mail to your governor and your representatives today, to let them know how much libraries mean to you.

Snapshot Day is Here! And it's a rainy one...

I took this photo looking out at the Smith Baker Center from one of the front windows of the library this morning. It's Library Snapshot Day and I've been taking quite a few photos of all that's been going on inside the library all morning. But since it's also pouring outside, I thought I'd take one of the unfortunate weather. It'd be a perfect day to curl up in the warm library with a book.

Anyway, the shot reminded me of an Ezra Pound poem so I thought I'd share that as well (it being National Poetry Month and all).

In a Station of the Metro
    
    The apparition of these faces in the crowd ;
    Petals on a wet, black bough.

                                             --Ezra Pound

Happy National Library Week

This week is National Library Week (April 10th-April 16th) and the Pollard's celebrating by letting you, our patrons, know that you really matter:

• Massachusetts Library Snapshot Day
  Wednesday, April 13th
  Pollard Library will join libraries across the Commonwealth and the nation to provide a “snapshot” of what happens in a day in the life of libraries. How many books are checked out? How many people receive help finding a job? Doing their taxes? Doing their homework? During Snapshot Day, libraries will collect data and photos that help demonstrate the value of libraries and raise public awareness that libraries are busier than ever. Everyone can participate just by doing your regular library business: using the Internet, picking up books, checking out DVDs, returning CDs, tutoring and/or being tutored, participating in a storytime, conducting research, learning, laughing and/or enjoying a moment of quiet reflection. So come on down and be a part of it just by doing what you do. Pictures from the day will be posted on the Pollard's Flickr page.
• Pollard's Annual National Library Week Poster Contest - All Week!The entries are in and they've been displayed all around the ground floor children's area. Starting today, and running through Saturday, April 16th, patrons can vote for their favorite posters. Ballots are in a small pink plastic box at the Children’s Reference Desk. One Ballot Per Person. Even grownups can vote. At the desk is also a marked jar to collect completed ballots. Winners will be announced during the week of April 18th. The categories are:
• Preschool/Kindergarten
• Grade One/Grade Two
• Grade Three/Grade Four

So please come on down to the Pollard this week, make your voices heard, let us know what you think, enjoy our space, materials, and services, and celebrate your library, as we celebrate you! See you there!