I have been a patron at S.G.R.L. off and on for close to a decade. I first came to the system as a six month out of state patron while visiting my daughter’s family, and then became a regular patron when I moved to Valdosta after my husband’s death and my retirement. Before moving to the South, I was a library branch manager for nearly thirty years.
The new library is a vast improvement upon the old one. The facilities are superior in so many ways. Overall, the workers provide excellent service to us patrons, are superb at making the library a welcoming place, and are quite skilled at providing assistance. I would like to specifically applaud Allison, Megan, Philip, Linda, and Aliya!
Unfortunately, I have encountered an employee who is not so good. She spends most of her day at the reference desk, on a computer looking at news stories, or on her smart phone, which she keeps up at the desk. I have stood there many times waiting to check out books while she is reading the news! She seems too busy to help patrons and will do just about anything to avoid moving from behind her desk, and will only do so when she absolutely has to.
Even worse is how she insults patrons. I have heard her refer to patrons with horrible names including “Pyscho”, “Schizo”, and “Wakanda.” She does not seem to be aware that we are able to hear her when she talks up at the desk. At the old library, there was a woman who came in often when I was there on the computers. Over time, I learned that the woman has Tourette’s. That worker regularly insulted that woman after she walked away from the desk. We can hear you!!! One time, that woman heard the awful things that she was saying and started to cry at the computer. She said she was used to people making fun of her for her disability.
That worker continues that behavior towards patrons at the new library. Surprisingly I have heard her talk with the branch manager (or who ever the brunette woman is back in the glassed-in office) and use those demeaning nicknames while discussing patrons. That sort of ableist behavior is obviously tolerated. Even more surprisingly, I have seen that branch manager join in on the “game” and make the "Wakanda Forever! "salute when discussing a patron who bears a passing resemblance to Okoye from Black Panther. We can still hear you up at the new desk!
There are still some accessibility problems; thankfully not as bad as the old library. I am glad the large print section is no longer in a poorly lit section of the library as it was previously. It might be my eyes getting worse with age, but it seems like the font for the new signs at the end of rows is a bit smaller than it used to be. Having the row labels only at one end is not the best for people with mobility issues. Furthermore, having the accessibility aid devices hidden away back in the genealogy room, makes them nearly impossible for the people who need them to be able to find them.
I have also been having issues with books that I have returned not getting checked-in. This has happened three separate times with my own books, and twice with the books of my granddaughter. This never happened at all, at the old library. The books have turned out to be on the shelves, but just not checked-in. I do not like not being able to hand the books directly to an actual human and watching them get checked-in. The employees in general have been helpful during these instances, and have explained that this is a policy that was created by the administrators. I do not like it.
The library is good, but there is still room for improvement.