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: programs and events
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Pls consider CO2 Monitor Lending Program in Ann Arbor District Library / AADL . Toronto Public Library plans lending CO2 monitors beginning in mid-July: Toronto Public Library @torontolibrary | 12:46 PM · Jun 20, 2022: ...Hello - We will introduce a CO2 Monitor Lending Program in mid-July as a pandemic response. Look for more info in the coming weeks. -HF https://twitter.com/torontolibrary/status/1538926354871341058 A2's sister city, Peterborough, ON, has lent CO2 monitors through its library (since April 2022?): Carbon Dioxide Monitors You can now borrow a C02 Monitor from the library! https://www.ptbolibrary.ca/en/browse/carbon-dioxide-monitors.aspx Peterborough Library to lend carbon dioxide monitoring devices Posted on March 29, 2022 https://www.peterborough.ca/en/news/peterborough-library-to-lend-carbon-dioxide-monitoring-devices.aspx
AADL Reply: Thank you for your question. The library does circulate indoor air quality meters that measure carbon dioxide (as well as temperature, humidity and ventilation). You'll find a link to the catalog record here: https://aadl.org/catalog/record/10260025 I hope this helps! Best, Sherlonya Turner Zobel Associate Director, Public Experience and Desk Service
Date Received: 2022-06-21
Type: programs and events
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Dear staff of AADL, I was wondering if your library was going to host A2CAF (Ann Arbor Comic Arts Festival) in the future again? I understand that you had to take a few years off due to the pandemic. I just haven’t been hearing any news about if you’re bringing the event back anytime soon. Thank you for your time and have a good summer.
AADL Reply: Thank you for the question. The library does plan to host A2CAF again in the future. This year, we will have a few comic related events on July 16, but expect to return to a fuller experience next year. Thank you for your interest in this event!! Best, Sherlonya Turner Zobel Associate Director, Public Experience and Desk Service
Date Received: 2022-06-04
Type: programs and events
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Curious why the movie, "Fantastic Fungi" is scheduled on a Sunday evening (6:30 PM)? Wouldn't an afternoon showing (or even a Saturday evening one) be better (many Ann Arbor Public buses stop running circa 6 PM on Sundays.
AADL Reply: Thank you for your question. Many factors go in to determining the time of each AADL event. Most of our events do take place at times when the AAATA busses are running. However, in this case, the Sunday evening time is where we landed after finding a time that worked both for our partners in presenting this event and the AADL's open hours. Thanks again for your question. And thank you for using your library. Best, Sherlonya Turner Zobel Associate Director, Public Experience and Desk Service
Date Received: 2022-06-03
Type: compliment
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: I have nothing but praise for how the AADL has handled the pandemic. As someone with an auto-immune disease, it's meant a lot to me the precaution you've taken, especially at the beginning with the speed of response in shutting down all locations and the slow road to "normality". The comment below from the "tough-minded" (but in reality fragile, scared, selfish individual) is a infinitesimal minority. Your handling of that comment also shows class and decorum of the new director, such a small person is owed no apology.
AADL Reply: Hello there, thank you very much for your comment. We've stayed focused from the beginning on keeping the library as broadly accessible as we safely could. Our staff continuing to wear masks at work, and our signs asking patrons to wear a mask in the library, remain in support of that goal. We're so glad this has made you feel more comfortable visiting the library. Thanks again for your comment and support, and thank you for using your library. -eli Eli Neiburger (he/him) Director Ann Arbor District Library
Date Received: 2022-06-01
Type: complaint
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: As a taxpayer I think your leadership and staff are obligated to eliminate the AADL's despicable woke agenda and rather stick to your job of lending books, being the nursery that parents apparently like to avail themselves of, warming up the homeless. The library is no place for politics, let alone that of the radical Left. I no longer use the AADL because politics, racism, hate, virtue signaling, Socialist, Leftist and otherwise warped ideologies permeate the environment. To say nothing of your idiotic obsession with masks and Fauci-CDC demagoguery. Democrats, which all of you obviously are, have become what they claim to hate. Which is to say, haters. And you will claim that this correspondence is hateful. No, it's tough-minded and true.
AADL Reply: Hello there, thanks for contacting us. We're sorry to hear that these perceptions have led you to stop using AADL. We will continue to make evidence-based decisions about mitigating public health risk to library patrons and staff, and we will continue to strive to be a library that is welcoming to everyone. I'm sorry that these efforts seem like the permeation of warped ideologies to you, but these are basic functions of any public service, not controversial political positions that the library is taking. If you have some suggestions for library services that would be valuable to you, or any questions about library operations, we'd be happy to hear them. Thank you again for taking the time to express your perspective about AADL, and we hope that you will someday again be able to find value in your public library. -eli Eli Neiburger (he/him) Director Ann Arbor District Library
Date Received: 2022-05-31
Type: programs and events
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Hello - Will baby playgroups or story time be happening at the Traverwood branch anytime soon?
AADL Reply: Thank you for your question. We are hoping to resume both Preschool Storytimes and Baby Playgroups at Traverwood toward the end of June. We look forward to seeing you there. Best, Sherlonya Turner Associate Director, Public Experience and Desk Service
Date Received: 2022-05-28
Type: general suggestion
Regarding: collections
Patron Comment: Hello, this is a suggestion about the uprooter tool ( https://aadl.org/catalog/record/10433394 ). It's so cool that this tool is available! I'm writing because I noticed the checkout period is 4 weeks. Because of the typical usage of the tool, I'd like to suggest it might be better to have a shorter checkout period. The tool is used to clear weeds, which is most often done around this time of year, so there will probably be a lot of demand for it over a short period of time once a year. A yard can also be cleared in a few hours, so most people will only be using it for one or two days of the checkout period. I think I shorter period like 2 weeks would help more people benefit from these items. Thanks!
AADL Reply: Hi, Thanks for this suggestion! I think you're right and stay tuned for an upcoming service update that will include loan period updates! Thanks for using your library! Sara AADL
Date Received: 2022-05-26
Type: programs and events
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Hi, I noticed that the Baby Playgroups for the summer have been removed from the calendar. Are those still happening? I was really looking forward to taking my baby to those.
AADL Reply: Thank you for your question! We're hoping to resume Baby Playgroups toward the end of June. We look forward to seeing you and your baby there when they're back. I hope this helps! Best, Sherlonya Turner Zobel Associate Director, Public Experience and Desk Service
Date Received: 2022-05-22
Type: complaint
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Just returned from Downtown branch after picking up a Hold. Noticed Mask needed on front doors. Who started that again? Really, why is that necessary? Please move on. Just foolishness.
AADL Reply: Hello there, thanks for contacting us. We're sorry that this seems foolish to you. New cases in Washtenaw county are now higher than at any point in the pandemic other than the January Omicron wave. As the CDC community level for Washtenaw county is now at the HIGH level, the recommendation from public health authorities is now to wear masks indoors. Please note our signs ask you to wear a mask, and that is the extent of our masking approach. If you choose not to wear a mask in the library you will not be asked to leave as a result. We understand that some patrons are tired of being asked to mask in public settings, but AADL will continue to follow evidence-based public health guidance, and asking visitors to a public building to wear masks during a respiratory pandemic remains a safe and effective way to mitigate risk for everyone. We are looking forward to when these signs will no longer be necessary. Unfortunately, we're not there yet. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns about this, and thank you for using your library. -eli Eli Neiburger Director Ann Arbor District Library
Date Received: 2022-05-06
Type: programs and events
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Good morning. I was wondering when they will offer the in person art activities for youth (12 yrs old) at the library. I reviewed the events as I am aware that they are working on this but did not see the art classes for this age group. Can you let me know when these would be posted?. There is a serious need to restore in person events for our youth as a result of the past 2 years pandemic . thank you for this!
AADL Reply: Thank you for your question. Beginning in June, you will start to see a programming schedule for kids that looks a lot closer to what you saw pre-COVID. As you mentioned, we have begun to bring back in person events. There was an in-person Drawing for Kids event on April 4. And there is another Drawing for Kids event planned for May 22, and we will continue to offer these throughout the summer. If you're thinking both of art and craft events, you will see several of these on the schedule in June and throughout the summer. I hope this helps! We look forward to seeing you and your family at upcoming in-person events. Best, Sherlonya Turner Zobel Associate Director, Public Experience and Desk Service