|
Mr. Prokosch posted:Why is it disruptive to the rest of the library's operations? Because it's a boondoggle paid with money that libraries don't have, and don't have any plans for because basic operations are already stretching the budget/people thin. At best it's paid with money that's part of a tax-avoidance scheme. That sort of income can only be used for that specific purpose, which might as well be a pile of money lit on fire, joker style. 3D printers are the ultimate, "libraries need to do modern poo poo", claptrap that people who don't know what libraries DO say they should do. edit: basically this: Cythereal posted:It's a common problem. What most library users want is really quite simple: more books, especially bestsellers, more public computers, more quiet study rooms, things like that. Libraries throughout the US also tend to be desperately under-funded, and rely heavily on grants and donations. However, these grants and donations want to know what their money will be used for, and the vast majority of people who run these things and decide who to give money to and how much money to give find those basic library functions that people want to be boring and not worth spending money on because after all that's basic functionality of the library and why should they give libraries extra money for such things? And librarians want to be writing articles in magazines about how they're hip and on top of new trends. The whole thing about donation-based charity (for tax write-offs) is that it's actually more wasteful than taxes, you're always stuck with a bunch of stuffy old white people that want stuff that their grandchildren rave about, not actual useful stuff that will be used for years to come. DONT TOUCH THE PC fucked around with this message at 08:15 on Dec 23, 2019 |
#
?
Dec 23, 2019 08:10
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 26, 2024 12:17 |
|
|
All this chat about "what else can libraries offer?" is super amusing to me right now, because, as I mentioned, I'm looking for a library job again. I was just at my old library's website (couldn't remember a phone number for one of the departments I worked in), and hey! They're renovating the kids' section at one branch, to make it more interactive and enticing! It's gonna have a LEGO wall, some crazy thing called Awesome Air Tubes, and loads of other fun stuff! Would you like to take a panoramic look at the changes? https://api2.enscape3d.com/v3/view/505f3ae2-ae21-4826-9657-89095a82134f THAT SURE IS SOME NICE... carpet.  Like, I don't even want to know how much this company got paid to stick a camera on the floor and render that "panorama". Talk about a waste of money. I mean, maybe they were going for "this is how a toddler is gonna see it", but it's really not doing much to dissuade the "my tax dollars are paying for this?!" harpies. edit: now, if I was still working there, you'd best believe I'd be putting this goon shibboleth on the LEGO wall: I II II I _ JacquelineDempsey fucked around with this message at 17:32 on Dec 23, 2019 |
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2019 17:26
|
|
|
Leperflesh posted:Textiles could be better, although of course sewing uses needles, sewing machines are nearly as finicky and prone to needing to be adjusted/tuned/fiddled with as 3d printers, etc., but at least it's possibly a little quieter, and things like knitting/crocheting are fairly accessible and safe. Sewing machines are probably too loud for the library (and expensive for ones that won't go to poo poo the second someone looks at it funny). But I'd be at my library even more than I already am, if they had knitting needles and crochet hooks for testing, and lessons, especially if they could get specific ones. Like "Learn to Knit This Specific Hat!" for people who already have the basics, instead of just "Knitting 101". Having needles and hooks on hand, though, would be especially of interest to me. Gauge (numbers of stitches and rows per inch) is really important to a lot of patterns, and the simplest way to fix a gauge issue is changing your needle size. If I couldn't get gauge on...we'll say size 10 needles, and wanted to try going up to 11 but didn't own them, it'd be really nice to have a way to test that size without just buying them and hoping they're what I need.
|
|
#
?
Dec 23, 2019 22:48
|
|
|
Knitting guilds/groups/etc. should have resources like that, fwiw
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2019 03:22
|
|
i like nice words
|
Several of the libraries in my system have weekly knitting clubs, full of old ladies that would gladly help you learn how to knit things.
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2019 03:30
|
|
|
My local (excellent) library does semi-regular presentations at my office and they always, ALWAYS get asked why they don't have makerspaces. As a frequent patron and community member, I appreciate their summer lunch program for kids and classes that prep immigrant parents for public schools much more than I would a place to 3D print stuff.
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2019 03:38
|
|
|
DeadFatDuckFat posted:Several of the libraries in my system have weekly knitting clubs, full of old ladies that would gladly help you learn how to knit things. Every public library I've worked at has had knitting clubs, agreed. One of them had a full on quilting club.
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2019 03:39
|
|
|
Cloks posted:As a frequent patron and community member, I appreciate their summer lunch program for kids and classes that prep immigrant parents for public schools much more than I would a place to 3D print stuff. Those are a lot better, although I have to say that a lot of librarians overestimate their educational skills, which reduces the effectiveness of these programs.
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2019 09:02
|
|
|
DONT TOUCH THE PC posted:Those are a lot better, although I have to say that a lot of librarians overestimate their educational skills, which reduces the effectiveness of these programs. Uh, are librarians actually leading those classes themselves? I've only ever seen guest presenters actually teaching those types of programs in my system.
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2019 09:17
|
|
|
DeadFatDuckFat posted:Uh, are librarians actually leading those classes themselves? I've only ever seen guest presenters actually teaching those types of programs in my system. In the Netherlands they were, because actual qualified personnel was too expensive.
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2019 10:20
|
|
|
DeadFatDuckFat posted:Uh, are librarians actually leading those classes themselves? I've only ever seen guest presenters actually teaching those types of programs in my system. It varies. At one of the county library systems I worked at, all staff, even the paraprofessionals, were required to teach a minimum of one class per year.
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2019 14:38
|
|
|
I posted this to the interior design thread, but it feels relevant here as well.Zamboni Rodeo posted:Who wants to read about a library designed with metal grating floors (and why that’s a big “whoops”)?
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2019 20:22
|
|
|
Pretty sure I've seen a game or two on steam with similar design principles
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2019 20:35
|
|
|
Zamboni Rodeo posted:I posted this to the interior design thread, but it feels relevant here as well. the Special Collections of the UvA (Aniversity of Amsterdam) library had a glass bridge over the entrance, it took them about a week to put some privacy tape on it, this… god... edit: my partner just informed me that TU Delft also had this issue with grating in their library.
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2019 20:53
|
|
|
After reading about creeps in this thread...quote:Ultimately, the team chose specially-manufactured steel grates from Poland’s Progress Architektura with gaps big enough to allow air to circulate in the main enclosure (more solid flooring with similar attributes proved too pricey). The super see-through material, Tschapeller said, challenges the idea of the floor as most stable elements in architecture. When I told him that I could see clear up into the stacks at other students, he urged visitors to respect each other—no creeping permitted. This is not friendly to anyone wearing dresses, much less niqabs and other such clothing. You can see the slats in the top right of this image:  And if you zoom in on this image:  You can absolutely see up skirts. Not much may be visible, but that's not the point at all of peeping toms and other creeps. Plus, creeps could just say 'oh I was looking at books on the top shelf, that's all, I didn't mean to follow the person above me constantly around, staring! tee hee!]
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2019 21:00
|
|
|
value-brand cereal posted:After reading about creeps in this thread... That’s dumb as hell in anything that isn’t a warehouse, good to see the architect of the Berlin airport is still getting a paycheck!
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2019 22:01
|
|
|
quote:Winter could turn this porosity into a dirty hazard. Slushy boots will have to be thoroughly de-crudded before entering to avoid spreading debris on other patrons (or worse, the expensive monographs). Here too, Tschapeller emphasized taking care of the space—it should be common sense to make your filthy shoes less gross before entering a $21.6 million building. ....... what e: This designer has never been in a real library, apparently, because what the gently caress
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2019 22:33
|
|
|
In addition to all that's been said about it being terrible, there's this earlier thread topic:quote:The renovation also involved adding wood, metal and digital fabrication shops, a makerspace, research lab and small-tool repository to the building's ground floor.
|
|
#
?
Dec 24, 2019 23:49
|
|
|
What a hideous loving library, upskirt potential notwithstanding.
|
|
#
?
Dec 25, 2019 00:32
|
|
|
value-brand cereal posted:After reading about creeps in this thread... I never thought architecture could adequately capture the spirit of  , but I was clearly mistaken.
|
|
#
?
Dec 25, 2019 00:38
|
|
|
I was describing this horrow-show of a library to my husband. He's never worked in a library, but has heard all the stories I've posted here (and then some). Between my "holy poo poo they have metal grate floors" and "so it's basically upskirt reddit heaven", he interjects: "How the gently caress do you push carts on that?" Me:  Creep-factor aside, how DO you lug a book truck on metal grating? Also, how acoustically horrible must that library be, also gerkjgebrkgbjerkblkgvsbjk I'm having a stroke just thinking about how Cornell, the Ivy League crown jewel of upstate NY education, could gently caress this up so terribly
|
|
#
?
Dec 25, 2019 01:54
|
|
|
There is definitely a large large contingent of architects who hate that people and their silly needs keep getting in the way of their beautiful buildings
|
|
#
?
Dec 25, 2019 02:19
|
|
|
Why are book carts so expensive
|
|
#
?
Dec 25, 2019 02:32
|
|
|
On top of all the other problems with it, using that library looks like it would be awful for anyone with vertigo, or even just a fear of heights.
|
|
#
?
Dec 25, 2019 03:02
|
|
|
Also it'd be really, really hard to find an isolated corner in which to masturbate. See, it's not all roses for the pervs.
|
|
#
?
Dec 25, 2019 04:47
|
|
|
Lemony posted:On top of all the other problems with it, using that library looks like it would be awful for anyone with vertigo, or even just a fear of heights. Gaaaahhhhh, I hadn't thought of that either! I'm pretty okay with heights, but I used to hate riding my bike over the bridge that crossed the river in my hometown because it was a metal grate bike/pedestrian path. If I looked down, it would freak me the gently caress out. Now I'm imagining trying to browse the stacks, looking down, and brrrr. And just echoing the "slushy boots" factor: Fleta McGurn, you can back me up on this, upstate NY winter shoes/boots are a fuckin' mess of not only snow and mud, but salt, too. Oy, those poor books and people on the lower levels.
|
|
#
?
Dec 25, 2019 05:24
|
|
|
This is bad in so many ways that it reminds me of an old thread called 'if I failed at everything in life I wish to be an rear end in a top hat architect' where everyone came up with the most aggravating un-ergonomic designs ever. E: one of the very first posts there was stairs at an extremely steep angle.
|
|
#
?
Dec 25, 2019 09:53
|
|
|
BIG FLUFFY DOG posted:There is definitely a large large contingent of architects who hate that people and their silly needs keep getting in the way of their beautiful buildings Our building won an architecture award. Our reception area is cramped, we're currently running into major trouble redesigning the space because there's just no room, meanwhile there's a large empty lobby right outside our doors. Gotta have exhibition space 4 weeks a year! Also the untreated wood they're so proud of that makes up our floors and countertops is splintering like mad and makes it so you can't write on top of it. You never notice that sort of thing until you have to fill in multiple forms a day. This is a university that's famed specifically for its architecture department. e: don't even get me started on the trend where every library built in the last ~15 years has to have curved shelves.
|
|
#
?
Dec 25, 2019 09:54
|
|
|
Dropped pen/phone/keys/etc. Plinko will be amazing. Bonus points if the centers of the stacks have inaccessible black holes.
|
|
#
?
Dec 25, 2019 18:18
|
|
|
My Lovely Horse posted:Also the untreated wood they're so proud of that makes up our floors and countertops is splintering like mad and makes it so you can't write on top of it. You never notice that sort of thing until you have to fill in multiple forms a day. Ugh, that sounds like a nightmare. When our department got renovated, the asst director was pushing so hard for some pebbly-textured faux-granite countertops until I showed her how much fun it would be when every meeting room application and credit card slip would look like the Squiggle Vision from Dr. Katz.
|
|
#
?
Dec 25, 2019 19:21
|
|
|
JacquelineDempsey posted:And just echoing the "slushy boots" factor: Fleta McGurn, you can back me up on this, upstate NY winter shoes/boots are a fuckin' mess of not only snow and mud, but salt, too. Oy, those poor books and people on the lower levels. Another upstate NYer here and listen: the only way you are keeping that kind of slush/salt out of your library is by literally making me take my boots off at the door. I can scrape them all day but slush is coming in anyways.
|
|
#
?
Dec 25, 2019 19:55
|
|
|
Uh, how the gently caress do disabled people use that library?
|
|
#
?
Dec 26, 2019 19:06
|
|
|
MAKE NO BABBYS posted:Uh, how the gently caress do disabled people use that library? Another extremely good point. When the theatre in my library got decimated by Hurricane Isabel, and we replaced all our seating, our seating size shrunk a bit because thanks to US obesity, we had to put in wider chairs,. for ADA compliance Also, when we renovated our lobby/desk, we had to put in a lower section of the desk for folks in wheelchairs. We took ADA compliance seriously. None of which I objected to either then or now, mind you --- libraries should be for everyone (well, except some of the creeps/stalkers/sex pests I've talked about earlier). But yeah, how the gently caress did THAT nightmare get by ADA standards? If you have to use a cane, grated floors are just  My library was two-story, and we did have a private, keyed elevator primarily used for getting books trucks up to the 2nd story, but also available for differently abled folks. Circ shelvers would take the key to get the trucks up to non-fiction, and that was always the time a person in a wheelchair would show up and ask to use the elevator. Cue me running up the stairs and then around the 2nd floor hunting down a key-hoarding shelver.
|
|
#
?
Dec 26, 2019 21:54
|
|
|
Oh yeah our reception counter also has this wooden beam running along so we can just slide books right under it, and it's exactly the right height to block any face to face visual contact between us and any visitors in wheelchairs, we have to either stand up and loom over them or hunker down and peer through the book slot. Silver lining: we're redesigning the entire reception area next year, somehow I ended up on the committee, and I have made it my mission in life to push as hard as I can for getting rid of that beam and the untreated wood. Mind you since we're still dealing with architects we first had to convince them to not put up shelves so visitors couldn't even see us behind the counter coming in
|
|
#
?
Dec 26, 2019 22:43
|
|
|
I wanna see (from a safe distance) what happens when someone on the top floor vomits.
|
|
#
?
Dec 27, 2019 04:30
|
|
|
The grated decking isn't even nearly as offensive as the hundreds of thousands of wasted cubic feet above the centerline
|
|
#
?
Dec 27, 2019 05:40
|
|
|
Leperflesh posted:I wanna see (from a safe distance) what happens when someone on the top floor vomits. I had this thought as well. If it was a public library, no doubt there would be piss or poo poo from some kid or homeless person. "Oh, well, it's Cornell, not a public library" I start to to think, then remember how Cornell has a reputation for a staggering suicide rate because of the stress of trying to make it in an Ivy League school. There's either gonna be blood or drunk/overdose vomit on those stacks. 
|
|
#
?
Dec 27, 2019 07:43
|
|
|
A reputation for a staggering suicide rate and three levels of stacks with an easily scalable railing and a large empty concrete area in front of them, you say!
|
|
#
?
Dec 27, 2019 09:13
|
|
|
We've gone from throwing oneself in the gorge next to Nabokov's old house to throwing oneself off what can only be described as a perve grate; I don't predict a shining future for the Ivies.
|
|
#
?
Dec 27, 2019 09:23
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 26, 2024 12:17 |
|
|
*throws down Diana Gabaldon paperbacks to break the fall* More like... Ouchlander amirite???!!! DeadFatDuckFat fucked around with this message at 09:30 on Dec 27, 2019 |
|
#
?
Dec 27, 2019 09:25
|
|