The Observation Deck

There's an extensive article about the expansion and renovation of Lakewood Public Library in the May issue of Properties.

See:
http://www.propertiesmag.com/cf02.htm

Please try to celebrate with us on June first at noon as we dedicate the library and celebrate the completion of the project.

Robert A.M. Stern will be speaking.

There will be entertainment and refreshments, too.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

Great article Ken!
Congratulations!
Rhonda

Ken

Nice article about the building and the new space. While it is amazing, and a wonderful job. Nothing compares with the people inside the library and the incredible job they do.

You have created with much help, a civic space we can all be very proud of, enjoy and use for decades to come.

It was interesting watching the face of the publisher for the Heights Observer as she walked through the library in awe. The Heights library had been considered one of the best of the new libraries, but as she said, the Heights pales in comparison to the new Lakewood public Library, that it was truly incredible.

My thanks to you and your staff, the board, and of course the voters that made all of this possible.

Standing ovation.


.

I second each and every comment in Jim's post.
I spent most of last week studying at Lakewood Public Library and relished each day.
Thank you Ken, Kim and all of your staff for an amazing facility.
Kudos as well to Jeff Endress and the Board of Trustees as well as the community for their support of Ken's vision.

Ken,

So what's the deal with young children accompanied by parents having to have and surrender a library card before entering the 2nd floor media room?

Dee

Dee:

For anyone seven years or older, a library card is now required for admittance to the AV Room.

It’s never a pleasure to impose new rules but with the bad economy, rise of E-Bay and regionalization of banditry more stringent steps needed to taken to reduce the loss of AV materials.

In reviewing security strategies with several off-duty police officers that LPL employs, we hypothesized that a combination of increased customer contact and identification in combination with video surveillance are likely to deter theft and aid in materials recovery efforts.

Again, I take no delight in the imposition of new rules and the negative effects felt by some people when a frame-bending change occurs in a long-standing practice. But increased customer contact and identification and rule enforcement are necessary responses to current conditions.

I have spent a fair amount of time in the AV room explaining the need for the rules to people. And the vast majority of people, totally get it.

I apologize for the inconvenience and surprise of the frame-bending change in access to AV materials. These steps are necessary for the conservation of limited public library resources and materials all too easily fenced by thieves who can be as young as seven.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

Kenneth Warren wrote:I apologize for the inconvenience and surprise of the frame-bending change in access to AV materials. These steps are necessary for the conservation of limited public library resources and materials all too easily fenced by thieves who can be as young as seven.

Rather than oppose and resist these social changes shouldn't we embrace them? Is demanding accountablity and respect for public property beyond the pale? Isn't there a constitutional right to free DVD's? If not why not?

Why isn't here a place for graffiti on the new Library? What about free expression? Isn't graffiti just public art? What does the Library have against art? Are all these calls for accountablity, responsiblity and good citizenship unfair to those who dance to the beat of a different drummer?

Thanks for the clarification Ken.

Not that I'm not embracing protecting the library's investment, I just can't wrap my brain around how surrendering a library card will catch a thief.

Anyway, I would suggest the policy bend a bit and allow children accompanied by a parent surrendering their card be allowed in. At that point the parent is assuming responsibility for anything their child/ren may do and lessens the hassle to carry multiple cards when out and about.

Dee:

I appreciate the difficulty good and long-standing library patrons might have wrapping their brains around a security strategy that functions on several levels not necessarily obvious to the right-minded and ethically inclined.

Perhaps the most easily-overlooked level is the preventive level. The card surrender and identification practice is, at the first level, a preventive measure designed though raising the bar for access to stop people who do not play by the rules, who scam, swarm, create diversions and act-out in order to abscond with AV materials from occupying the AV room and boosting public property.

For a certain classes of thieves and criminals, the insistence on personal contact and positive identification is a game-changer. I know this from experience. Add video surveillance and off-duty police officers in the frame of positive identification and the game of anomie, chaos, crime and disrespect is now changed on the behavioral front.

Our community shares an interest in consistent and fair rule enforcement, respect for public property, responsibilities and an increased valuation of the library card itself.

The reality, rights and responsibilities for respectful action and attention in the public library situation are useful lessons for children over seven to learn.

I appreciate your point of view, even when it diverges from mine. I'll think further about your suggestion and observe how the situation enfolds over the next few months. Thank you the opportunity to explain the rationale for the practice.

Kenneth Warren
Director
Lakewood Public Library

Ken,

Your observations, as usual, are interesting.

I also appreciate the idea that first, one must have a library card to surrender.

Since today is a good day for childhood memories, I recall that for children of a different age, this was the first piece of adult-style identification that we could get on our own and therefore the acquisition of our cards was a memorable experience. It signified the inclusion into a wonderful club, where we could get all manner of cool things for free.

Of course there were responsibilities that came with such a prize, but it was thrilling that even a young child could be entrusted to what amounts to the keys to a kingdom of riches.

Kenneth Warren wrote:The card surrender and identification practice is, at the first level, a preventive measure designed though raising the bar for access to stop people who do not play by the rules, who scam, swarm, create diversions and act-out in order to abscond with AV materials from occupying the AV room and boosting public property.

What about people who do not have a card, but are visiting with friends and family?

While I commend the library in taking steps to secure its collection, perhaps having to surrender a card upon entry to the AV room is a bit drastic. Especially when the card does not have the patrons name printed on it. Sure, people sign the backs of their cards, but what if they don't? Or if the signature wears off? Signatures are not the most legible way to differentiate library cards.

Why not just have the patrons show their card upon entry? And allow them to enter with a guest?