I agree with all the previous replies to Helene’s question. I hope that she
will forward my reply to her concerned committee.
I see here three issue:
1. How to increase the foot traffic to any library and especially a synagogue
library
2. Using computers for research
3. Public access to the catalogue (Barbara Mends from ? )
1. A synagogue library is considered a special collection library like a law
library or a medical library. As such it does not get the same traffic that,
for example, the public library gets, but members of library committee are
always concerned b/c it looks like it does not justify the cost. The synagogue
library is important. It serves the synagogue school, individuals who wish to
become Jews by choice and those that wish to expand their Judaic studies .
Since the number of users is small theses libraries are open limited hours
with, often, one staff person. Are those eager to increase the foot traffic
also ready to support full time staff and support staff ? Are they willing
to keep the library open and staffed 6 days a week from 9:00am to 9:00pm ? The
users deserve the best collection and a knowledgeable person to direct them to
the best resources available in the library or that can be borrowed from
another library.
Foot traffic is increased by offering programs, but I found that it did not
increase the circulation. I saw parents coming for a children program yet they
did not even look at the books around them or adults coming for a lecture and
never come again, but the publicity for the programs creates awareness of the
library which helps when you ask for support. We revived donations from
people who had never set foot in the library.
2. As Andrea and others noted, With PC, laptops, wireless etc. having
patron computers in a synagogue library will not do much to increase traffic. A
lot of research is done at home today and we cannot change it even if we can
offer better resources.
3.We had a a public access computer just in front of the patrons’ eyes. at the
entrance before they approached the circulation desk, but they still asked a
staff person to locate a book for them.
I strongly recommend an on-line catalogue. Many patrons no longer browse for
books. They find on-line what they need and put it on hold. I love the self
service checkout in my local public library. It saves time and gives me what I
need, but it does not really increase the foot-traffic in the library therefor
one the branches here in Charlotte NC offers now a drive thru for pick up items
on reserve. Hurray for the lazy. For most of the potential library users it is
dayyenu.
Shabbat shalom,
Amalia Warshenbrot
From: Barbara Mende
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2012 10:03 PM
To: Andrea Rapp
Cc: Hasafran
Subject: Re: [ha-Safran] adding patron computers
It gives the public access to our catalog, which we don't have on the Web.
Also, everyone doesn't carry a computer in. But we also get a certain number of
people who come in with laptops and use our slow wi-fi.
Barbara
On May 3, 2012, at 6:51 PM, Andrea Rapp wrote:
With laptops, ubiquitous wireless, and tablets, I don't see that having
patron computers in our synagogue libraries will do much to increase traffic.
Now if we could get *rid* of those things....
Andrea Rapp
--- On Thu, 5/3/12, Barbara Mende <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Barbara Mende <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [ha-Safran] adding patron computers
To: "Helen Chronister" <[email protected]>,
"[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Date: Thursday, May 3, 2012, 5:47 PM
We have one. It doesn't get us a lot more traffic, but a little; and
it makes the catalog available even if a lot of Hebrew School parents use it
for job hunting. The big consideration we had was to make sure that it wasn't
on the synagogue network, for security reasons. This means that I have to
manually transport our catalog to the public computer on a flash drive every
couple of weeks, but it's no biggie; and if the catalog is small enough to
email, you can do that too.
Barbara
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Helen Chronister <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, May 3, 2012 4:45 PM
Subject: [ha-Safran] adding patron computers
Library committee members and I have discussed the possibility of
adding computers to the synagogue library so that congregants can do research
here. I really need something to increase foot traffic. I am looking for advice
as to whether this is a good idea and the kinds of things that I need to
consider.
Thanks,
Helen Chronister
librarian
Congregation Tifereth Israel
Minnie Cobey Memorial Library
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