To the Editor:

I love the Warwick Public Library. It’s been a place of education, adventure, challenge and pleasure since I moved to Warwick in the ’70s. I’ve seen it change over the decades. Some changes were pleasant; others not so much. 

I’ve written before about my disappointment at the downsizing of the books available…the empty shelves that seem to cry out for books to fill them.

 On Monday, I entered the Library at a few minutes after 9. The first view greeting me was the dark and empty Idea Studio. Then, the fingerprints on the doors, the dust that seems to cover so many areas, the dirty rug. There are books on carts with signs saying they were “recently returned.” (Why aren’t they re-shelved instead of being put on a cart?) There are cracked floor tiles in the foyer. The ladies room is not clean. The electronic faucet doesn’t work properly, nor does the hand dryer.

 The walls are empty of display. There are so many open areas that I feel could/should be filled with bookshelves and books.

In the parking lot, the back chain link fence has a section that is falling over.

 I feel that my beloved library is being neglected. It looks shoddy. In this, its 50th year, I expect there to be pride, not shame. Yes, shame. The pleasant place that was so special to me seems tired and worn.

I feel that I am losing a friend. 

Marsha Leonard

Warwick

Library director responds:

First, I want thank you for your comments, and encourage you and others with suggestions and comments to contact me at 739-5440 ext. 223 or laroux.chris@gmail.com.  I am always available to talk to patrons.

I apologize that the building is not up to your standards, and would like to explain, not make excuses, but give reasons for the problems as well as resolutions.

The Library Trustees, Mayor and City Council have been very good about approving my last two budget requests, and I commend them for their support.  I have been conservative in my requests, respecting the taxpayers as well as the need for improved services.   I have brought in over $90,000 in grants this year alone to assist with the operation of the Library.  

The book budget has been increased 10 percent over the past two years.  We are purchasing more books, more best sellers, and more non-fiction.  We have a well-used library, with over 40,000 items out each month, it isn’t any wonder that the shelves are not full.  Our professional librarians are very good at selecting books, dvds, and audio books that meet the public’s demand and removing materials that are outdated and no longer used.   

Public libraries need to change with the times.  We don’t only supply books to the public.  We are community centers and need to provide areas for tutoring, group discussions, quiet study, and meetings.  We have seen a marked increase in meeting room use and program attendance over the past two years.

 I apologize for the building not being as clean as you would expect.  We have three full-time maintenance staff to take care of the 62,000 sq. ft. central library and three smaller branches.  During the past year we have had only 2/3 of our maintenance staff due to medical situations.  I must commend them for keeping the buildings as clean as they have been.  It is important to realize that we have over 1,000 people visiting our buildings daily.  It is impossible to keep the central library carpet perfectly clean at all times.   I would also like to point out that well over half of the central library has been re-carpeted over the past four years.  The two meeting rooms are being re-carpeted at the end of this month and new sound and video systems have been installed.  Many improvements have been made to the central library and branches over the past several years—new carpet, painting, and new furniture.    All these improvements have been done with operating money and grants, without increasing the library’s budget.  

 The Idea Studio is not open all the hours the library is open—we don’t have the staff or the public demand to keep it open more.  We make appointments for one-on-one training and the room is open all day Thursday for public use.  We will extend those hours if the public requests it.  We also provide several group trainings weekly.  The room is well used.  

 The restroom hand dryers were just replaced in both the men’s and lady’s rooms and I hope we can find the funds in this year’s budget to replace the faucets and broken floor tiles.  They didn’t seem as important as other repairs at this time.  

 I agree that the fence near the parking lot looks terrible.  I have been asking public works to fix that fence for over a year.  They are overworked and overextended.   I expect that the fence will be fixed this summer and apologize for the look of it.  

 Finally, I want to address the “Recently Returned” book carts.  These are display carts with books that patrons have returned this day that we thought others might like to read. 

The Warwick Public Library is the second largest and second busiest library in the state.  We serve over 400,000 patrons and loan out over 500,000 items annually.  MSNBC recently ranked Warwick Library as the best in Rhode Island.  Our goal is to be the best and to offer the best service. I am proud to work for the City of Warwick and the Warwick Public Library and want to meet your expectations.  

Chris La Roux

Director 

Warwick Public Library