What you have told us
Here you can search through numerous patron comments and the corresponding AADL replies. Search by the type of comment, in general by what the comment is regarding, or by a particular issue.
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Type: other
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Hi there. Do you have any information of Covid precautions in the library system? Have the HVAC systems been updated to improve air circulation? Thanks.
AADL Reply: Hello, thank you for asking. While we still recommend masks in the library, and all staff are masked at work, we're not able to guarantee that other patrons in the library will be masked. I will say most patrons in the building are wearing masks currently. As for ventilation, we have made substantial changes to the configuration of our ventilation systems, and we measure CO2 levels in all parts of all buildings to make sure we're bringing as much fresh air into the buildings as we can through the ventilation systems. We're happy to say average CO2 levels at all AADL locations are excellent, and close to outdoors in terms of CO2 concentration. Let us know if you have any other questions about any of this, and thanks for your interest in AADL! -eli Eli Neiburger Deputy Director Ann Arbor District Library
Date Received: 2022-03-11
Type: complaint
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: I was at the Mallet creek branch last night and saw the 1619 display. The work has serious factual problems. and should even be promoted. But, if you are going to keep it up any longer there should be a disclaimer. The book " The Gray Lady Winked: How the New York Times's Misreporting, Distortions and Fabrications Radically Alter History' by Ashley Rindsberg would be an appropriate counter view to 1619. Thanks,
AADL Reply: Hello, thank you for taking the time to send us your feedback on this exhibit. We will be keeping the exhibit up through its planned end date near the end of March. Thank you as well for the suggestion of a related title; we have passed that on to the collections department to be considered for purchase. Best wishes, and thank you for using your library. -eli Eli Neiburger Deputy Director Ann Arbor District Library
Date Received: 2022-03-04
Type: programs and events
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Good Morning! I am writing to inquire if your library is accepting proposals for virtual presentations. My lecture tells the story of my journey to authenticate a marble bust of Napoleon sculpted by Auguste Rodin, which had been sitting in a New Jersey town hall for almost 80 years. I recount the story of being hired straight out of college for a part time art cataloging project and how it morphed into a search for this mysterious piece’s provenance, eventually culminating in its authentication by the world’s leading Rodin expert. Along the way I also share the story of Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, the woman who gifted this artwork, along with an entire town hall, all in the name of her one and only lost son. My lecture is fully illustrated with engaging present day and historic photographs. If you would like more information about the story please check out the article the New York Times wrote: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/20/nyregion/a-rodin-hiding-in-plain-sight-in-a-new-jersey-suburb.html At this point, I have presented this lecture to over 100 different institutions around the country. Each presentation has been incredibly well received. I have ample references to share upon request. Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing back from you!
AADL Reply: Thank you for contacting us, and thank you for your interest in working with the library to provide public events. We will keep you in mind as we plan future events. Best, Sherlonya Turner Associate Director, Public Experience and Desk Service
Date Received: 2022-03-02
Type: suggest a title
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: NOTICE: THIS COMMENT IS AUTO-CLOSED AND AN AUTOMATIC REPLY HAS BEEN SENT TO THE SUGGESTER SUGGESTION CATEGORY: Adult BOCDs ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have been wondering why so few audiobooks have been added to the collection so far this year. Thanks
AADL Reply: Hello, An order in January added around 50 audiobook titles to the collection, and our selector is working on another order to send in the next few weeks. Because of the way the vendors and release dates operate, we tend to place large orders several times a year, rather than weekly or monthly, so it's not unusual to go two months or so between orders. As far as the retail market goes, we continue to see some titles either not released as audiobooks, or released as exclusives to Amazon's Audible download service, but we're not noticing any major reduction in available titles on disc yet. We always keep an eye out for this as more and more companies shift to digital-only but thankfully, we're not there yet with audiobooks! I'm sorry you haven't seen as much growth in this area as you'd like, but I can assure you that there's no intentional reduction on our end. I hope this is helpful. Please continue to send requests and recommendations as you come across them, and thanks as always for using your library! Sara AADL
Date Received: 2022-03-02
Type: programs and events
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Hi! I was wondering if there were plans to start regular letterpress up again in the secret lab? Thanks!
AADL Reply: Thank you for your question! Yes, we are actively preparing to resume letterpress events Downtown. Stay tuned! Thank you for telling us how you'd like to use your library. Best, Sherlonya Turner Associate Director, Public Experience and Desk Service
Date Received: 2022-02-28
Type: programs and events
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Hello A2DL, I am wondering and hoping you might be starting some of you in person art classes (craft and Sunday drawing for adults) in person soon (with safety protocols of course. Can you let me know when they might be scheduled again? Thank you and have a nice day.
AADL Reply: Thank you for your email, and for your interest in the Drawing for Adults events. We will be resuming these in-person art classes, and you can expect to see them in the calendar beginning in early April. Thank you for letting us know how you'd like to use your library. Best, Sherlonya Turner Associate Director, Public Experience and Desk Service
Date Received: 2022-02-25
Type: other
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Hi -- What do you expect as the timing for resuming the Sewing Lab occasions? I miss them so much. Now that it's almost two years since they were suspended, I'm hoping resumption may begin in the near future. Thank you.
AADL Reply: Thank you for your question. We are actively working on resuming our Sewing Lab events. Currently, we are getting the sewing machines serviced and reaching out to our instructors. While we don't have a specific date in mind, we do expect to offer these events this spring. Thank you for letting us know how you'd like to use your library. Best, Sherlonya Turner Associate Director, Public Experience and Desk Service
Date Received: 2022-02-23
Type: programs and events
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Hello, I'm curious when storytime might open up again for little ones? Dexter library is offering a limited capacity reservation sign up (masks required); I'm hoping our neighborhood library can follow suit. Online storytime is great, but in person is so much better! I know many parents who are wondering about this Ann Arbor past time. Please consider opening up storytime soon!
AADL Reply: Thank you for your email. We are currently in the process of adding in-person storytimes to the schedule, beginning with an all-ages storytelling event on Sunday, February 27, at the Downtown Library: https://aadl.org/node/582673. Preschool storytime is returning in March, and we will continue to add storytimes to the schedule moving forward. You can find the list of March storytimes (and others as we add them to the calendar) here: https://aadl.org/events-feed/33782 Thank you for taking the time to let us know how you'd like to use your library! Best, Sherlonya Turner Associate Director, Public Experience and Desk Service
Date Received: 2022-02-18
Type: programs and events
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Hello, I'm Deaf. I need accommodation I will go to Feb 21 Washtenaw Reads about True Inclusion and Disability Justice events. Very excited. Will have ASL interpreter at events? How do I request interpreter? cuz I need ASL interpreter. Thank you
AADL Reply: Thank you for your email, and letting us know that you need an ASL interpreter. We have arranged to have ASL interpretation at both the 9AM session and the 6PM sessions of the Washtenaw Reads | True Inclusion is Revolutionary: Practicing Disability Justice event. We look forward to seeing you there! Best, Sherlonya Turner, Associate Director, Public Experience and Desk Service
Date Received: 2022-02-10
Type: general suggestion
Regarding: storytimes
Patron Comment: We would like to know when the preschool storytime and other children’s programs will resume? We feel the absence of it, especially during the long cold winter, along with many of our neighbors and their children. We have asked for it repeatedly and just got the ‘hopefully soon’ response month after month. The lack of having in person children’s activities go on for this long, while neighboring districts have found a way to include this is a significant problem of AADL. Our family has always been advocates for AADL, but have joined other libraries just to attend their children’s programs. This used to be such a bright spot for AADL. This comment does not take away from the virtual storytime efforts by your great staff. When you offer in person option storytime, see how many children attend. The families that prefer virtual can continue with that model if they desire. After 2 years of early learning development lost when their public library closes activities for them, it is hard to come back. As a parent of 3 children, there is a large difference between my older two having attended the programs at many of AADL’s branches, meeting wonderful friends, and my youngest does not get a voice to share this loss. Not having in person storytime hurts our youngest and earliest (hopefully lifelong) readers. When we advocate for early literacy in public spheres, this is one major piece of the puzzle that brings communities together. Please reinstate children’s programs (use whatever covid protocols you need - sign up registration/masks/etc.) - our community of young children and their parents need this. I’m sure it’s easier to put it off until Spring or summer, but the community needs this today. Mallets Creek community
AADL Reply: Thank you for your email. Currently, we have one in-person story-based event on our schedule approximately two weeks from today on Sunday, February 27. This is part of a soft launch to resume in-person events at the library. You can expect to see more in-person events on the calendar in March. We will be re-building our program offerings, taking what we learn about how patrons are using events into consideration as we add more events to the calendar. We recognize that not having in-person events, especially storytime, has been a loss for your family and for others. We thought that we would have returned to in-person events by now, and were actively taking steps to do so when we suspended these plans due to increasing COVID spread in the community. However, with COVID numbers declining, and also with the news that vaccine availability for our youngest audiences is not a few weeks away, we're adjusting, and will provide select events for those who feel that attending these events is the right choice for their family in the coming weeks. As we schedule events, we will promote them on social media and list them on our website. Thanks again for reaching out to tell us how you and your family would like to use the library during this time. Best, Sherlonya Turner Associate Director, Public Experience and Desk Service