Press enter after choosing selection

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.

We care about what you have to say, and do our best to address each and every concern.

Please let us know how we're doing by submitting a comment or suggestion.

Filter Patron Comments

Date Received: 2007-01-25
Type: other
Regarding: inquiry from other institution

Patron Comment: Hi, we are thinking about incorporating blogs into our library website. Can you give me information about your blogs? What software are you using? How do you decide who posts? When? Who answers/addresses comments? How did you decide to add blogs? Please tell me more! Virtual Library Las Vegas Clark County Library District

AADL Reply: Hi, thanks for your interest! To answer your questions: Our entire public website is powered by the open-source Content Management System, Drupal (http://drupal.org). We've made lots of modifications to it, but the blogs, comments, tags, and user features are mostly out of the box. Anyone on staff is empowered to blog with the permission of their manager; we set up a blogging account for them and they attend a 30-minute training session with our website content coordinator. The 'when' is mostly up to the blogger, but many staff members (especially librarians) are assigned to make a certain number of posts per week (usually 2) and some have beats to cover, like author obits, local events, governmental happenings, new DVDs, kids' content. etc. Bloggers are expected to monitor their own posts for comments and respond as appropriate. We started with a teen blog in early 2004, and when we migrated our automation system in 2005, we bascially converted the entire website to blog-style publishing. It's a natural fit for libraries who want to have fresh content on their websites and not just an online brochure. We do not premoderate staff or public posts, but we do reserve the right to edit inappropriate content later, which we've had to do exactly once in over 10,000 public comments (most from teen gamers) over the past 18 months. I hope that answers your questions; please let me know if you have any others, and thanks again for your interest. Eli Neiburger AADL Tech Manager


Date Received: 2007-01-25
Type: web site feedback
Regarding: Interlibrary loan/MeLCat

Patron Comment: I use MelCat quite a lot and it use to be that when the item I was looking for wasn't in the Ann Arbor system, my search had the option "Search other libaries. Now, that link isn't there anymore and I have to open a new window and find Mel.org and long story short, it's a big hassle. Why did it change and will you ever bring it back?

AADL Reply: Thanks for contacting us. As you may have noticed, the MeLCat link that forwards your search to MeLCat has been restored. Its removal was an oversight, and thanks for bringing it to our attention. Thanks for your patience, and please let us know if you have any further questions or trouble. Eli Neiburger AADL Tech Manager


Date Received: 2007-01-24
Type: complaint
Regarding: computers

Patron Comment: Kids/minors wanting to use PC for pleasure (email and myspace) only should be accompanied by a parent. When this branch only has 14 pcs and more than half are being used by loud young teens (if that old) we older patrons who are trying to find jobs are unable to do so. PATRON RESPONSE TO LIBRARY REPLY: Thank you for you response, and for the record, when I know I must be on the computer for longer than the allotted 30minutes, I almost always DO go to the Pittsfield branch, there I must only suffer through the nagging noise of the "COOL" machine every body much touch at least five times every time they pass by. A policy stating that a 13 year old can chaperon someone under age six for the PC's at Westgate is ridiculous! None of the PC's at Westgate warrant use by anyone under six. (They do, however, have a wonderful area at the branch on Oak Valley Drive set up for those users.) When any child under 18 pays to the City of Ann Arbor what I do annually in property taxes, then I will feel differently about us having "equal" time access. Until then, I will still begrudge and be upset by teenage socialites being able to "boot" me from a computer during a job search so they can see who the new "hottie de jour" is. No reply to this is necessary, thank you.

AADL Reply: Thank you for contacting us regarding computer usage at the West branch. Our Policies require children under the age of six to be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 13. Other than prohibit illegal activity, the library does not make judgments on how patrons use their allotted computer time. Rather, we enforce time limits to ensure equity of access for all patrons. Each computer user is guaranteed 30 minutes of computer use at a time; if no one is waiting, patrons may remain on their station until such time as they are finished or a waitlist is initiated, in which case the patron who has been on a computer the longest (but for at least 25 minutes) is given three warnings--at 5 minutes, 2 minutes, and 1 minute--to complete his/her work and relinquish the computer to the waiting patron. For your convenience, our new Pittsfield branch, located just one-and-a-half miles to the south of West branch, has more public computers--28 compared to West's 14--due to its larger size. You may find that you are able to remain on a computer longer at Pittsfield due to the greater availability. I hope this answers your questions. Thank you for taking the time to contact us.


Date Received: 2007-01-24
Type: compliment
Regarding: compliment

Patron Comment: (All locations checked) I really enjoy coming to the library. You have a great selection of books, movies, and music. Keep up the good work.

AADL Reply: This comment was submitted anonymously.


Date Received: 2007-01-24
Type: compliment
Regarding: compliment

Patron Comment: Staff are really nice! :)

AADL Reply: This comment was submitted anonymously.


Date Received: 2007-01-24
Type: complaint
Regarding: security

Patron Comment: An elderly, handicapped woman was almost knocked down in the foyer because there was a loud boisterous crowd of youths shoving each other and hurling themselves at the window. Why were they not asked to stop before someone got hurt? Please take better care about letting wild kids run down old ladies! Thanks - Neesha

AADL Reply: This patron did not provide any contact information for a response.


Date Received: 2007-01-24
Type: compliment
Regarding: compliment

Patron Comment: I have been coming to this library for 53 years and it only gets better! I love it!

AADL Reply: I am so glad, and I hope that you visit the library for many, many years to come. Sincerely, Josie Parker Director


Date Received: 2007-01-24
Type: general suggestion
Regarding: cell phones

Patron Comment: Please post No Cell Phone use in Library thru out library.

AADL Reply: This comment was submitted anonymously.


Date Received: 2007-01-24
Type: general suggestion
Regarding: maintenance

Patron Comment: Get a good exhause system for the restrooms. The odor is most unpleasant.

AADL Reply: This comment was submitted anonymously.


Date Received: 2007-01-24
Type: compliment
Regarding: website

Patron Comment: I love the new saerch view on the catalog page. It's nice to see what top searches are. Additionally, I also like that the site now tells you whether you already have an item on hold. Thanks for the nice website advancements! No need to respond to this compliment.

AADL Reply: Thanks so much! We're very glad you like the new enhancements.... stay tuned for more! Eli Neiburger AADL Tech Manager