Non-staffed libraries are nonsense. Even self-serve gas stations have an attendant on duty! Librarians are at the heart of each community library providing a welcoming, safe place for all to read, learn and socialize. Staff have a real function and are essential if we want to keep our world-class library system.
S
Sinead OBrien
8 years ago
I'm in Cork Ireland where we are facing the same crazy idea of staffless libraries .People need to talk to eachother it's good for our mental health.
G
Greg Cooper
9 years ago
This government must stop the attack on unions and decent paid work with good pensions.
D
Debbie Davies
9 years ago
Management has stressed the importance of customer service but a library with no staff is not a service. We can anticipate our customers' needs but if we aren't there it will be an impersonal and an unsafe place.
J
Janet Graham
9 years ago
Featured
Those who do not like or are intimidated by technology, would feel left out yet again by a staffless library!! Libraries are supposed to promote inclusiveness and learning not elitism.
V
Vicki Nicholls
9 years ago
Should not even be called libraries, because they are not. Call them Material Centres, no Service Kiosks.
D
Doug Hodgson
9 years ago
A library is not a library without staff.
Will city hall let you pay your taxes, water bill and parking tickets after hours without staff...I think not
L
Lorne Landry
9 years ago
A library is not merely a collection of books. It is the heart of the community and professional librarians keep the spirit of the community alive. They not only provide technical information and reference services; they design and run programs to meet the various needs of the people. The librarians also provide a friendly face and a smile to many people who have no where else to socialize. KEEP LIBRARIES STAFFED.
S
Sophie Gorski We use our birth names.
9 years ago
A library is not merely a collection of books. It is the heart of the community and professional librarians keep the spirit of the community alive. They not only provide technical information and reference services; they design and run programs to meet the various needs of the people. The librarians also provide a friendly face and a smile to many people who have no where else to socialize. KEEP LIBRARIES STAFFED.
S
Sophie Gorski We use our birth names.
9 years ago
The best way to provide professional library service is in person by conducting a reference interview to determine what the customer needs whether it is readers' advisory, answering a reference question, or showing a customer how to download an eBook. It is very difficult to conduct a reference interview if the library is staffless. Please don't start dismantling our excellent library services. Customers move to areas where there are libraries and expect professional service.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Libraries are a place where people connect with information, ideas and one another. I agree fully that staffless libraries privilege affluent individuals. Knowing the kind of service I and my colleagues provide to people who visit the library on a regular basis, I am fearful and saddened at the idea of community members losing the personal, responsive, and adaptive service that only physical staff are able to provide.
J
Jean wise
9 years ago
Not a librarian or a member of ola but I am opposed. to staff less libraries and I am for a living wage for all library workers and the elimination of the trend to part time workers as well.
D
Dale Kent
9 years ago
The strength of good library service relies on good customer service - service given by well-trained staff.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Featured
Please oppose staffless libraries. There is next to no accountability for customers and very few consequences for poor behavior. With no supervision, I think about personal safety in areas cameras don't cover as well as disrespectful use of the spaces and items.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Unstaffed libraries will give less service for users and also be unsafe for them. They also devalue the employees. Libraries are community centres and personal service is crucial.
G
Grace Evans
9 years ago
I am a part-time Information Clerk at the Hamilton Public Library.
L
Lisa Hagan
9 years ago
Staff are the library. Without the staff it is simply a building.
K
Kyle Brough
9 years ago
When you subtract library workers from the library equation, you are taking away most of the services that the public needs and wants.
Please, do not support staffless libraries in Canada.
S
Susan Blakeman
9 years ago
A library without staff - seriously who dreams this nonsense up!! Our library staff guide us, help our children with school projects and research. They put on community workshops and engage children of families who are quite often less fortunate. Who is going to want to live in Ontario anymore?? Dear Lord - self checkouts, call centres for Canadian Banks now based out of India, who is going to have a job in Ontario. If there are no jobs there is no tax revenue for the government. Wake up!!!!!
L
Lynda Lewis
9 years ago
This is so shocking. We need staff in our libraries for help and encouraging programs. Libraries without people working for people, especially those less fortunate is extremely important.
Non-staffed libraries are nonsense. Even self-serve gas stations have an attendant on duty! Librarians are at the heart of each community library providing a welcoming, safe place for all to read, learn and socialize. Staff have a real function and are essential if we want to keep our world-class library system.
I'm in Cork Ireland where we are facing the same crazy idea of staffless libraries .People need to talk to eachother it's good for our mental health.
This government must stop the attack on unions and decent paid work with good pensions.
Management has stressed the importance of customer service but a library with no staff is not a service. We can anticipate our customers' needs but if we aren't there it will be an impersonal and an unsafe place.
Those who do not like or are intimidated by technology, would feel left out yet again by a staffless library!! Libraries are supposed to promote inclusiveness and learning not elitism.
Should not even be called libraries, because they are not. Call them Material Centres, no Service Kiosks.
A library is not a library without staff. Will city hall let you pay your taxes, water bill and parking tickets after hours without staff...I think not
A library is not merely a collection of books. It is the heart of the community and professional librarians keep the spirit of the community alive. They not only provide technical information and reference services; they design and run programs to meet the various needs of the people. The librarians also provide a friendly face and a smile to many people who have no where else to socialize. KEEP LIBRARIES STAFFED.
A library is not merely a collection of books. It is the heart of the community and professional librarians keep the spirit of the community alive. They not only provide technical information and reference services; they design and run programs to meet the various needs of the people. The librarians also provide a friendly face and a smile to many people who have no where else to socialize. KEEP LIBRARIES STAFFED.
The best way to provide professional library service is in person by conducting a reference interview to determine what the customer needs whether it is readers' advisory, answering a reference question, or showing a customer how to download an eBook. It is very difficult to conduct a reference interview if the library is staffless. Please don't start dismantling our excellent library services. Customers move to areas where there are libraries and expect professional service.
Libraries are a place where people connect with information, ideas and one another. I agree fully that staffless libraries privilege affluent individuals. Knowing the kind of service I and my colleagues provide to people who visit the library on a regular basis, I am fearful and saddened at the idea of community members losing the personal, responsive, and adaptive service that only physical staff are able to provide.
Not a librarian or a member of ola but I am opposed. to staff less libraries and I am for a living wage for all library workers and the elimination of the trend to part time workers as well.
The strength of good library service relies on good customer service - service given by well-trained staff.
Please oppose staffless libraries. There is next to no accountability for customers and very few consequences for poor behavior. With no supervision, I think about personal safety in areas cameras don't cover as well as disrespectful use of the spaces and items.
Unstaffed libraries will give less service for users and also be unsafe for them. They also devalue the employees. Libraries are community centres and personal service is crucial.
I am a part-time Information Clerk at the Hamilton Public Library.
Staff are the library. Without the staff it is simply a building.
When you subtract library workers from the library equation, you are taking away most of the services that the public needs and wants. Please, do not support staffless libraries in Canada.
A library without staff - seriously who dreams this nonsense up!! Our library staff guide us, help our children with school projects and research. They put on community workshops and engage children of families who are quite often less fortunate. Who is going to want to live in Ontario anymore?? Dear Lord - self checkouts, call centres for Canadian Banks now based out of India, who is going to have a job in Ontario. If there are no jobs there is no tax revenue for the government. Wake up!!!!!
This is so shocking. We need staff in our libraries for help and encouraging programs. Libraries without people working for people, especially those less fortunate is extremely important.