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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Filter Patron Comments
Type: compliment
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: I just wanted to say thank you. Your programming and support to the community right now has been so appreciated — from closing doors in a timely manner (but making sure everyone still gets paid!) to live streaming a variety of activities and showcasing your online resources — it's all so great. The library is already my favorite place in Ann Arbor, but I feel especially thankful to be a part of this community now. Thank you for all that you do.
AADL Reply: Dear E, Thank you so much for your kind words to all of us at AADL. We so appreciate hearing from you. We are glad to be here for you now, and look forward to when we are all able to be together in the library buildings. Take good care. Josie
Date Received: 2020-03-23
Type: compliment
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Just wanted to say that I really appreciate EVERYTHING you're doing to help us all be entertained and pleasantly distracted during this time. Have been passing on things I've learned and heard to others, too - so it goes a long way. You're the best, and I'm looking forward to seeing you all in person again!
AADL Reply: Thank you so very much for letting us know. Comments like yours are just what we all need to hear right now! Stay safe. Sincerely, Josie
Date Received: 2020-03-22
Type: general suggestion
Regarding: other
Patron Comment: The tone & message are both pretty silly in the announcement of a wonderful game to keep us from being bored. Implication that we have no resources & that you must entertain us, is pretty inane. How about reading a book?
AADL Reply: Dear M For the hundreds of people playing the game, the tone seems to be just right. We aren't trying to discourage reading books, and I am sorry if our messaging came across that way to you. We are reading to children on AADL TV weekly, and there are book discussions, too. I hope that you are able to find something in our online offerings to read and enjoy during this unprecedented event in most of our lives. Thank you for taking the time to express your opinion. Sincerely, Josie
Date Received: 2020-03-20
Type: compliment
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: THANK YOU!!!! Your preschool storytimes online have been amazing! They are allowing my three young kids to have something they were used to going to still happen - albeit in a different medium. For tiny folks, predictability is particularly important and in this unpredictable time your story time staying consistent is such a gift. We have always adored our libraries but now that it especially true. So thank you to all your library staff who are making these storytime videos happen!
AADL Reply: Thank you for letting us know! I am so pleased to know that your family is enjoying the storytimes on AADL TV. The staff involved were very enthusiastic about offering storytimes online, and it is clear that they are having fun, too. It is good for all of us to be doing these programs. I hope that you are all doing well during this difficult time, and we hope to see you and your children at storytime in the Library sooner rather than later. Sincerely, Josie
Date Received: 2020-03-19
Type: programs and events
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: That lead guitar lesson on AADL TV with Austin was great, thank you so much! Will there be more? Would I be able to put in a request for a lesson on strumming patterns, or more about scales/theory? Thank you for putting on programming during this time of social distancing.
AADL Reply: Thank you for contacting. us! I am so glad that you enjoyed Austin's guitar-teaching stream. We'll keep your suggestions for additional sessions in mind and thank you for passing those along. Stay safe out there! Best, Sherlonya Turner Public Experience & Desk Service Manager
Date Received: 2020-03-19
Type: general suggestion
Regarding: other
Patron Comment: Any chance the library will sometime soon restore partial operation of the request-hold-pick-up process? Here's one idea. Assuming you don't want the public in the buildings, spring should allow limited operation from a big overhead tent. You could, for example, operate a system where people could show up by appointment to pick up a bag of material already pulled from the hold shelves and checked out by staff. Double the normal check-out times. Hours could be quite limited. Appointments could be done on-line. Material drop-off could be done any time as was the normal prior standard. With many staff continuing to be paid but no open libraries, surely handling returns would be feasible, especially with out-going material no doubt at far less than half the usual rate. Just a thought about one of many ways to restore partial functioning, especially important to those who are shut-in, with logistics challenges that might be feasible.. Anything on your minds along these lines?
AADL Reply: We are thinking through how to offer a pick up of holds currently on the reserve shelves that does not require staff to be in direct contact with the public, or with each other. Stay tuned for something about that. However, resumption of our regular hold/pick up service in any form is not possible while public libraries are ordered closed by the Governor. We appreciate your suggestion and your ideas. Best, Josie
Date Received: 2020-03-18
Type: general suggestion
Regarding: other
Patron Comment: I miss my library! Anyway, this suggestion is in reply to the newsletter and people dropping off books. Perhaps you've done this but have you thought of placing tape and a note on the drop-off bins. This would prevent books from being dropped off. Stay safe!
AADL Reply: Thank you so much for your support of the Library, and for your suggestion. We feel that if someone comes all the way to a library building to return material, we don't want to prevent them from doing so. We are simply encouraging folks to keep library stuff until we reopen. Overdues won't accrue! Regards, Josie Parker
Date Received: 2020-03-18
Type: other
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Ms Parker and I had talked, before the closure, about bringing in a number of books from the VFW post. Even with the closure on, is it permissible to still enter the staff parking and leave them on the dock and is the dock under cover for the weather. These are donations and is the lot open, for example, on a Sunday. thanks for any cooperation
AADL Reply: Hello, I am so sorry, but the closure for the COVID 19 situation has changed our ability to accept donations. There is no one to accept them on Sunday, and our dock is not out of the weather. Please delay the donation. I apologize for the inconvenience, and do appreciate your support of the Library. Sincerely, Josie Parker
Date Received: 2020-03-18
Type: branch expansion comments
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Hello! I just would like to let you know that I returned the "Sideways Stories From Wayside School" on Monday, March 16th, at Pittsfield location, but it is still on my account. I do understand the situation, and just would like to remind you to take the book from my library account when the library will be open again. thank you! Irina
AADL Reply: Thank you! We will check everything in when we reopen and there will not be any fines accrued on your account. It may be a few more weeks, so don't worry that it is still on your account. Let us know if it is not checked in soon after we reopen. Thanks for using the Library, and take care. Regards, Josie Parker
Date Received: 2020-03-17
Type: programs and events
Regarding: - NONE SELECTED -
Patron Comment: Thank you so much for live streaming your story times! I'm actually a Pittsburgh resident but along with my two and half year old Sam and one year old Maya we enjoy several storytimes a week in typical times. I know putting these live streamed story times together takes work and is significantly different that doing an in person story time, but I think being able to still enjoy story time with my kids in these difficult times will make a positive difference for our whole family. Thank you again and I wish you all the best. If I ever find myself in Ann Arbor I'll definitely stop by. Patrick
AADL Reply: Dear Patrick, I saw your message and got caught up in all that had to be done to close the Library, and am just now responding. I hope that Sam, Maya and you, are all continuing to enjoy our storytimes. The response has been amazing, and gratifying to everyone involved here at AADL. Please if you ever come to Ann Arbor, we'd love to see Sam and Maya at one of our in person storytimes. All best, and stay safe. Josie Director aadl.org