Bridgnorth Library - your comments

A selection of comments made about Bridgnorth Library appear below. All suggestions and complaints are carefully considered and action is taken to make improvements where these are possible within physical and budgetary constraints. Do you agree with these views? Is there anything you would like to add? If so, please do tell library staff or comment online.

The following comments were made as part of an children's survey (for up to 16 years) carried out in October 2007.

• 1.A toy library would be good but there’s not enough space.
2.Traditional fairy tales suitable for pre-schools in a separate section.
• Safe enclosed baby area.
• More touchy, feely and noisy books!
• More rhyme time and other activities for babies/toddlers.
• Have more computers.
• It’s Fab!
• For example if a trilogy is in the library then all 3 books should be in the library and you shouldn’t have the 1st and 3rd but have to order the 2nd.
• More computers, magazines.
• More computers and books, comfier seats, and magazines to read.
• Always have a rocking dragon (or similar). This is really really good. Have Rhyme Time sessions.
• Open every day Monday to Saturday. Toilet facilities. Children size desks.
• Kids’ toilet. Library book bag so I can keep them all together at home.
• More computers.
• Open at more convenient times.
• Open all days, close later.
• Toilets!
• Open on Thursday
• More CD books as dyslexia prevents me reading at my age level. Tapes now outdated.
• It would be useful to have copies of the reading schemes I use at school, such as the Oxford Reading Tree etc.
• Have more computers.
• Hiring out toys. Having an arts and craft section to do drawings in.
• More computers (+ drawing of computer).
• Playstation corner. PC games for loan PS2 games for loan.
• Have more transformers DVDs and books.
• Open on Sundays.
• More toilets. Story telling/headphones. More activities.
• Homework Club at Bridgnorth.
• No it’s just perfect! Staff are always friendly and approachable.

The following comments were made as part of an adult survey carried out in October 2006.

Customer Service

• Always found staff to be very helpful.
• Overall staff and service are excellent. Thursday opening might be a good idea.
• Staff always helpful and friendly.
• Particularly lovely, helpful staff.
• Perfect!
• Staff could not be more helpful or friendly.
• The service and friendliness of staff is very encouraging for someone who is not too well accustomed to using the library or computers. The new improvements/refurb has made a vast difference to the atmosphere within the library.
• A lovely library, I visit every week. Everyone is very helpful.
• An excellent service.
• The staff are exceptionally helpful.
• This Library and its staff in particular are a credit to Bridgnorth.
• Excellent library. Staff always very helpful.
• Very pleasant atmosphere.
• Staff are very helpful. The service is very good.
• The staff at Bridgnorth Library and the Tourist Information Office) are outstanding and I have nothing but praise for the library its facilities and its staff. Thank you!
• The library is absolutely lovely and the staff are excellent, friendly and helpful.
• Excellent service, excellent staff.
• For its size, I think this library is very good and the staff excellent.My only criticism is for a wider choice of music C.D.s but I realise the limitations of space.
• Excellent, with friendly, helpful staff.
• Staff are always very helpful, knowledgeable and friendly/welcoming. I know they will always do their best to help with queries, etc.
• A friendly place to come, staff always help and will reserve books if asked.
• Staff are always very pleasant
• Always friendly, helpful staff. Very efficient. New make-over excellent.
• I am very happy with Bridgnorth Library. It is a bright, cheerful building and the staff are excellent. Nothing is too much trouble for them.
• Staff are always very friendly and helpful, making it a pleasure to visit.
• The staff are always friendly and helpful.
• The staff are very customer-friendly, cheerful, helpful and efficient.The book stock has benefited from a considerable input of new issues.
• Great! Staff very helpful and polite.
• Friendly, helpful staff. I can always find something I want to read. Today, I just came to renew my books but normally, I borrow 2-3 every 3 weeks.
• This is an excellent library where the staff are second to none. They are always extremely pleasant and helpful.
• It is a pleasure to visit the library as the staff are very welcoming and ready to help!
• I always enjoy my visits to Bridgnorth Library. Everyone is so happy and helpful it is a joy to come to such a bright, happy place.
• I found the staff and facilities very helpful and efficient.
• Extremely good, staff are exceptional. Bridgnorth is very lucky.
• Very good service. Staff very helpful.
• Staff are always helpful and approachable.I like the fact that the visitor info. centre has been integrated into the library.
• V. good in all aspects.
• I really enjoy visiting this library. All staff very helpful.
• The staff are really nice and helpful and the library is lovely.
• The staff team in this library is excellent.
When asked for help they will always give the time until one has found the required information.I have spent a lot of time in the library recently and hold them all in the highest regard.
• Staff are very helpful and always in attendance at kiosk. If you have a problem, eg. Ordering a book or finding a certain book, the help given is excellent.
• I think the library is an excellent service and the staff are always very pleasant and helpful.
• I have always found the staff to be most helpful with any request made.
• A very friendly and helpful place to visit.
• A truly excellent place to visit. The staff are very friendly and very helpful.

The Building

• The new library layout is a great improvement.
• You’ve got rid of many books to make room for newer books but this has severely limited the choice. It means that much more ordering of books needs to take place. Too little room for exhibitions/display – you had much more in the past. No room for sizeable meetings any longer. What a pity. This was a good space with a good ambience.
• Best thing ever, the coffee machine – time to relax and wander through stuff. Good information leaflets. Brave attempts to interact with community. Poorest thing – lack of space for exhibitions, external information, links with community organisations etc. bringing outside world in. Range of books (fiction) in some areas rather limited.
• My impressions of the library are: light and airy, covers a full range of services (including tourist information), caters for all age groups, very friendly staff, a one-stop centre for information. I was very impressed.
• Find new lay out bit confusing. No doubt will eventually get used to it. Could do with more fiction.
• This is a very good library in every respect. My only criticism is that even though it has been recently refurbished, no air conditioning is available and in the very humid summer months, the air in the library is unbearable, and I don’t use it for those months until things cool down.
• Nice place – a credit to all involved.
• It’s just been refurbished and seems to have lost its way somewhat – there isn’t even a subject category list on the ends of the shelvings to help relate Dewey numbers to subject. It gives the impression that people are thought of as having to be coaxed in rather than seeing the library as a valuable resource: the children’s area is now even more open to the rest of the library (and of course their natural ebullience can’t be discouraged these days!). The books seem to be getting more populist rather than ‘serious’ in both the fiction and non-fiction sections. What twit decided that a drinks machine was an asset around printed matter and computers? Never mind the slurping noises that result!
• Air conditioning would have been very useful. It is often very ‘stuffy’ and could have been included when the major refurbishment happened.
• Study Room: The playing of tape recordings (whilst attempting to work) is distracting. Can users of the study room ask library staff to intervene? A small table/similar by the microfilm machine would be convenient for users. Currently a chair is pulled up. The ‘office’ seat cannot be adjusted re height – or at least I am unable to do so.
• I think that the renovation of the library was very well done, and much more pleasurable to use. Have always found the staff attentive and helpful.
• The bookshelves are nicely spaced out, making it easier to find the required book
Could do with more modern releases (books) and maybe a larger book section.Yet being able to order books in is very helpful.
• I find that the library is always clean and welcoming. The staff are friendly and helpful.
• Refurbishment is excellent.
• The recent refurbishment has been very successful. The ambiance is improved as is the lighting, furnishing, openness, etc.
• Particularly since its refurbishment, it is an inviting and pleasant place to visit.Thank you staff for being welcoming and unthreatening!
• Sad at loss of exhibition space.
• The refurbishment has made the library seem more spacious and modern.I do miss the exhibitions in the old meeting room and feel local clubs and societies are rather lost without this space.
• Since the library has been refurbished, I enjoy using it very much. It has an excellent choice and is sectioned very well, i.e. new books. The choice is so good, I usually come out with far too many books- heaven!
• It has a nice feel and is very welcoming.
• Good improvement on the old library.

Opening Times

• It would be nice if it was open on a Thursday and it’s a good idea if computer games and PC software could be borrowed from this library. And new Audio CDs every week.
• Could we have more than one daily paper. Is it possible to open on a Thursday.
• Needs to open on Thursday.
• Closing for ½ a day would be better than all day Thursday. Staffordshire only does ½ a day and open on Sunday for 4 hours.
• Please open later and on Thursday.
• A wonderful library for a town of this size. Probably staffing would not allow for Thursday opening, but if a shift system for days off could be arranged, then it would be really useful if the library could be open for six full days each week.
• Could not a rota of Librarians allow opening on Thursdays too?
• Opening hours could be better for those who work full time. Could perhaps open later in morning and so stay open later in evening.
• I have not used the computer facilities. I would like the library to open on Thursdays.I would prefer more non-fiction books. I would like to see more newer books.

Stock

• Excellent – service to get requested books.
• The books do not include the great classics: Dickens, Thackeray, Boswell etc. Very important for the general culture of young readers! Too much ephemeral stuff.
• I find talking books limited and quite expensive @ £2.00.
• Extend the music catalogue.
• Excellent choice of new books every month. All staff helpful. Excellent IT service. Good choice of cassettes/books. I would like another evening opening time.
• I wish the books were rotated more often between the local branches – so a favourite author is available in those books I haven’t enjoyed yet. I am l always ordering books whether new (understandable) or up to 5 years old, which could be here in Bridgnorth on a rotation scheme. Staff are always helpful beyond what is initially asked of them.
• If I can be Irish then it is only logical that I can be English. I use the reservation system and find the service really excellent. Getting a new book first is wonderful. The new library has greatly reduced the number of books but the quality is very good. My age tells me a library is mainly about books – I wouldn’t wish to see the “modern” destroy the main concept of library: that is to say books.
• I also take out large print and talking books for my 96 year old client and get excellent help for the above from the staff. Many thanks.
• As a small library we realise it cannot carry the vast choice we would all like. Some of the books in poor condition should be taken off the shelf. The staff are pleasant and there is a nice atmosphere here.
• I wish I could find more short-story books and more paper-back thrillers. I appreciate book sales, hopefully soon!The library is lovely and clean and plenty of seats available. The staff are always helpful and (chatty).
• I came in to browse scientific books. Poor selection. I preferred the library before refurbishment. I have no interest in: Music CDs Videos/CDs Talking books Computer games.
• A good selection of books.Lots of new books.
• The facility to reserve books and C.Ds over the net is a huge benefit to us.
• I never use the computer facilities. I use the library most weeks but today I am accompanying a family member. I would love to see more foreign films available and also more classical music. Would you consider a sheet music section? I am always looking for duets and quartets.There is always a thriving music scene round the pubs. I’m sure many of the bands (often quite young and therefore poor) would appreciate a ready supply of music.
• It is a very good place to come with a range of books to enjoy.
• 1.The refurbishment of the library is excellent. 2.Choice of books restricted in general section. 3.World History poor – eg nothing on Spain before Civil War- nothing on Ferdinand and Isabella. 4.I like the pre-sorting of books into Crime, Fantasy, etc.
• As a rule, the books I need have to be obtained from other libraries in Shropshire. Bridgnorth often has fewer of the better titles than other branches in Shropshire. Otherwise it is an excellent service that does not fail to deliver the book requested. The staff are exceptionally pleasant and helpful – even compared to other branches. There are too few Classics in Bridgnorth.
• It is the range of new books (fiction) that is poor.
• I would like to see a larger selection of books British travel and walking.
• I am a teacher. This library is extremely resourceful and the staff are excellent. If they do not have the resource I am looking for, they will assist in locating it.It is a long way to Archives in Shrewsbury, occasionally, it would be helpful to have a wider range of resources on places I have to research for my work. Keep up the good work and many thanks.
• Many books that I borrow have foul language in them, I bring this to the attention of staff from time to time but without any clear commitment to do anything. One answer I got was that they have to accept all books. I believe that the library should be there to promote decent books and what is referred to as The Queen’s English. To say that books with foul language in them should not be read by under 18s is not good enough. Our money should not be spent on rubbish.

Computers

• The computer facilities are very good – but I think it would be a good idea to have an “Adult Only” session – as I, and other people find the school children distracting when they are playing games – they can be rude and disrespectful when asked to quieten down. Perhaps they could have it reiterated to them that a library is a quiet place where people are trying to study/concentrate. Thank you.
• Noisy when children are off school as they use the computers for games and disrupt other users and cause computers to be booked out for adults/teenagers working on computers.
• A fantastic IT facility which I only wish were available at other libraries. It is wonderful to be able to use such up-to-date equipment free of charge and without having to be a Shropshire resident. My husband and I travel all over the UK on business and it is not always possible for me to find internet facilities – especially if we are renting a cottage!
• I have used this (the computer) facility in the past.
• As a tourist I would have appreciated a slot on the computers to download photos on camera memory chip to CD. [Opening hours] till 7.00 p.m. would be better. Had trouble reading tiny text on monitor. Had to cut/paste reply using WORD. Couldn’t change resolution (ADMIN only).
• I do not know enough to judge the computer facilities.
• I have always been very satisfied with the services provided. Internet access is excellent.
• Computer facilities are usually very good. Kids are too noisy playing on computer games.Staff assistance is usually excellent. The staff are always excellent.

Services for Children

• Since being done up, the children’s section is very good. I feel very at home when I come here and both my children like it too (ages 3 + 5). Very impressed with all the cushions and toys.
• Would be good if you would consider a toy library if possible.
• My daughters and I enjoy coming to the library. The children’s area is excellent. Occasionally we have found story tapes/talking books to be in poor conditions. Overall we think the library is very good.
• I have only ever used the children’s section, which we love!
• I would like to see Bounce And Rhyme and other children’s activities.

General

• No choice of newspaper! Independent OK but limited in news value.
• It is time that the ethnic groups English/Welsh/Scottish/Irish were recognised. No. 10 question was sloppily posed and open to wide interpretation. After consultation with the library staff all of whom interpreted it differently. Nobody agreed on what it was really asking. See my comments against it. What do you mean? Condition? Choice? Display?
• As a researched of local history and genealogy I would very much like the Library to provide copies of the Bridgnorth Parish Registers on microfiche for use in the local history room. The local history room is excellent.
• I came in to use the photocopier machine. The computers can be slow. Staff are helpful a wonderful resource for the town. Consider increasing opening hours.
• I come here to help with my family tree, and I find most of the staff (especially ((staff name)) helpful and friendly. I would like to be able to use the facility for reading old Bridgnorth Journals, but each time I come the same man is (on) one of the machines for hours. I don’t know when I am coming to the library so I cannot always book and it is really annoying that one man can monopolise the machine.
• I like to use the microfiche reader, but it’s not very good I have asked the Librarian about a new one, but nothing seems to be done about it.
• The library is still noisy from telephones and ebook system. Could use visual cues only as in hospitals.Too much is spent on computer games and pulp fiction. This is a library, not an amusement arcade.Computer games should not be a library service.I do not use the following services: Music C.D.s. Videos/DVDs. Talking books. Computer games.
• I have no idea about the computer facilities in the library.Today, I have not used the following: Music CDs Videos/DVDs Talking books Computer games.
• Control needed over use of mobile phones and group games played by youths on computers.A SILENCE notice required.
• I have never used the computer facilities.
• Excellent! If you sold coffee and tea, I would stay all morning.
• 1.Would like library open on Thursdays. 2.Better control of people – talking, etc. 3.Less use of computers, for games, etc. 4. Volume, i.e. talking at enquiries desk!
• I cannot comment on the computer facilities as I have never used them.I cannot comment on: Music CDs, Talking books, computer games.