A group of volunteers from the Friends of the Springfield Public Library greeted patrons at the library doors to inform them of the new Monday closure due to substantial budget cuts.
Community Reaction
Over 100 adults, some with children, were surprised by the closure and expressed disappointment and anger. The volunteers listened to their concerns and helped them as best they could.
The interactions with patrons fell into three groups: mothers with children who had to rethink their day, patrons needing internet and printers, and those wanting to browse the shelves. The library’s reduced hours are a big loss to the community and its valued Main Street.
The city’s failure to effectively communicate the change and provide the expected level of service was evident. However, the volunteers saw this as an opportunity to distribute the recently released Library Patron Survey, which was well-received by most visitors.
The survey, available online or in paper form at the library front desk, takes about 10 minutes to complete and provides valuable feedback on the library’s services.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
