North Regional Library

s smith

Sad and disappointed with the remodel. After being shut down for nearly 2 years from Covid and another 9 months for remodeling, I was saddened and deeply disappointed with the re-opening. Positives. The library has a nice, new carpet smell Winner. The North Regional library staff. -The staff now has an over large check out space with a beautiful white top. This replaced the large custom veneer check out station -There are now several new automated check out stations so that parents can check out up to 4 books at a time. Supermarkets install automated check out line to reduce the need for staff. The library appears to have installed these expensive check out stations because they are colorful. Same number of staff. I have been in this library and the one before it hundreds of time over the last decades, at all hours, and on all days. I never waiting for more than a few minutes to check out -Enclosed offices. The two very popular group study areas have been closed and converted into staff offices. These two now supplementing the large enclosed area behind the main desk -LED lighting over the check out station and throughout the library. LED lights are still not cost effective compared to other options, but these new high tech fixtures are very handsome. This library itself was designed for natural light so the color of these bulbs are nearly useless and a little distracting during the day. Winner. The Green Road Library. This tiny gem became my go-to library while the North Regional was closed. It needs a refresh, but the staff is super helpful, the library is never busy and it has a nice, comfortable layout. I will keep using this wonderful library Loser. Kids and their volunteer tutors. The library converted the beautiful flat table with awkward single-station partition-tables. Volunteers working with students will have to go elsewhere Loser. Anyone working on a group project, or anyone who needed a quiet area to take a video call. The two very useful enclosed areas are now closed and reserved for staff use Loser. Anyone who enjoyed periodicals. The library eliminated all paper periodicals and converted this area into a very uncomfortable longe that includes a couple a tiny flat work tables that are sized for kindergarten students. I spent many comfortable afternoons reading special interests magazines here in the past. That is now over. Certainly less work however for the staff Loser. Anyone who wants to bring a laptop stand with them. The new single station work station are very narrow and wide - a nearly useless configuration Loser. Taxpayers. Months of expensive work and the library is now less useful than before. My sense is that the design was done by someone who never used a library. Perhaps the designer hoped to showcase the new check-outstations and light fixtures on their website? Overall, the refresh gave the already superb library a colorful uplift and removed the the apparently dated light-oak-veneer furniture. However the extremely expensive refurbishment appears to have been done by people who: apparently never use libraries; and, were either unaware or were tone-deaf to the way Post Covid people now use libraries. Yesterday's technology today is on full display. No new capabilities were created and many old capabilities were lost Refresh=Fail. Public money wasted

Desiree Gist

This library was nice and big. The staff were all nice and we found the book we needed quickly

Ginny Tessitore

It's absolutely beautiful inside. The staff was very helpful and accommodating.

Rebecca Ruano

Great library! Friendly and helpful staff. Kids love it! All it needs is a coffee shop 😉 As of August 1, 2022, they are re-open!!! Yay!