2009 Suggestions

You may view our 2009 suggestions here, or click on the links to view older suggestions.

2008 Suggestions
2007 Suggestions
2006 Suggestions
2005 Suggestions
2004 Suggestions

IL=Suggestion Made In Library OL=Online Suggestion

December 2009

396. IL Comment: I would like to thank and commend Joanna for her assistance. She was able to suggest new books for me. I was grateful to learn about the Edgar Award winners as well.

A: Thank you for your compliment of Joanna’s Readers’ Advisory service. We are always happy to help patrons find new authors. Please stop by the Reference desk or call us anytime for further suggestions.

397. IL Suggestion: Kids under 15 get 1 free movie every Wednesday. A lot of kids would come.

A: Thank you for your suggestion. We recently modified our DVD rental fee policy, and will consider your input for any future changes.

November 2009 Suggestions

394. OL Q: Many thanks for a marvelous Halloween event. The staff obviously put in a great deal of work and we greatly appreciate that. The puppet show was great. Thanks.

A: Thank you for the feedback about Family Fireside Halloween. Our staff has a wonderful time hosting this annual event and we are very happy that our patrons enjoyed it as well. We look forward to providing similar programs at the library in the years to come.

395. IL Q: I think it would be nice to have a 2 for 1 DVD rental for children.

A: Thank you for your suggestion. We recently modified our DVD rental fee policy, and will consider your input for any future changes.

October 2009 Suggestions

389. 0L Q: Purchase Suggestions: The Unforgettable Fire by U2 and Live at Reading by Nirvana.

A: Thank you for your purchase suggestions. Our staff member who orders audiovisual materials does plan to purchase both of these titles for the library. We will reserve these for you when they arrive.

390. 0L Q: Well I would just like to say that recently I got a fine because I didn’t renew a book on time. I tried repeatedly to renew it over the phone, but no one was there to answer it. Also I left a call back number and message but it was never answered. I guess my suggestion is that whoever deals with giving the fines take into consideration that effort that was put into renewing the book and that whoever recieves answering machine messages make their best effort to get into contact with that person.

A: We apologize that you were unable to reach a staff person to renew your item and that your message was not returned. We will credit your library card the $.30 that you paid. In the future if you need to renew materials and are unable to reach a staff person, an alternative would be to send an email to circulation@riverforestlibrary.org, or you could renew your items online at https://swan.mls.lib.il.us/patroninfo. Please note that you would be unable to renew online if the item is overdue or another patron has a hold on it. We are always happy to receive a call to assist patrons and again, we apologize that you were inconvenienced.

391. IL Q: Have a café upstairs!

A: Thank you for your suggestion. Our current facilities are not equipped for a café, however we note your interest and will consider it in future plans for the library.

392. IL Q: DVD’s for children; they should be free and not cost $1.00.

A: Thank you for your suggestion. We understand that the $1.00 charge for DVDs does occasionally present a barrier to use. The $1.00 charge for checkout of feature films enables us to maintain the collection by reducing the cost of cleaning and replacing damaged DVDs, replacing damaged DVD cases, and keeping our collection current. Please note that our DVD policy has recently changed, and there is no longer a charge for non-fiction/documentary DVDs for River Forest residents. Additionally, River Forest resident senior citizens are entitled to two free DVD checkouts on each Wednesday. We hope that this helps and welcome your future suggestions.

393. IL Q: Purchase Suggestions: Cooking for Friends, Williams Sonoma 2009 edition, The Knitter’s Book of Wool, The Knitter’s Book of Yarn, French Girl Knits, and Knitting Circles Around Socks. Thank you for considering these choices.

A: Thank you for your suggestions. The library does currently own The Knitters Book of Yarn. We will purchase The Knitter’s Book of Wool, French Girl Knits and Knitting Circles Around Socks, however. We can place you on reserve for these items when they arrive if you like. We are not planning on purchasing the Williams-Sonoma cookbook at this time, however, if we do decide to we will let you know. In the meantime, we can place a hold to get it for you from another library.

September 2009 Suggestions

383. IL Q: At the River Forest Library’s Jan. 20, 2009 board meeting, a suggestion was made to “consider reducing our own inventory in favor of using SWAN to serve patrons’ needs”. As a River Forest resident, I find this suggestion unacceptable. Although it is fine to use SWAN as a backup to our own inventory I do not want our inventory reduced or reliant on SWAN.

A: We are in agreement, though a bit more information might be useful to you. In order to make the highest and best use of limited shelf space, your librarians constantly tweak the topics and proportions of books and materials, relative to the needs of all of our patrons. Our goal is to have the greatest number of materials that our patrons seek to physically be here at their fingertips. In this context, SWAN (our database of books and materials that we share with 79 other libraries), serves as a wider and deeper supplement to our own collection.

384. IL Q: Many times the CEO receives reports from patrons when there has been a minor disagreement. I thought you would like to know the other side of that news. This week I asked your reference librarian Joanna if she could get me some information on an author. I wasn’t sure I had the entire name correct but informed her. As a good librarian she sought more information on the author. I informed her that the author was a Dominican graduate and some of her books reflect this college atmosphere. Joanna used her good training and called Dominican library with her information and her questions. Later that afternoon she called me at home and informed me that Dominican had other inquiries into this published author. She also had a book for me at the Circ desk. After 17 years of working at the library, I suddenly felt like a patron and was truly impressed with your reference librarian’s thoughtfulness and graciousness in helping me. Your staff has been wonderful to me and it’s great to realize the graciousness of the library lives on. Thank you.

A: Among our patrons and our staff, it seems that “graciousness” is a recurring theme. There is both a yearning for and an appreciation of the nourishing respite that kindness and warm courtesy provide. We strive to do our best and we thrive when our best is noted. Thank you for your kind words.

385. OL Q: Purchase Suggestion: Apocalypse How by Rob Kutner

A: Thank you for your suggestion. We will look into adding this item to our collection.

386. IL Q: Please have parking lines repainted in front of the library.

A: Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We believe that The Village will repaint the lines once construction is complete, however we will check in to confirm this.

387. IL Q: General Housekeeping Matters: 1. The reading lamps should be checked daily for burned out bulbs. There are also a couple of lamps without finials. These need replacing and are a small matter. 2. I have long been worried about the presence of the sleeping homeless. In the past there were several permanent library “residents”. Now, perhaps fewer. But what is to be done? They do not encourage other patrons and are not a great example for the young…Thanks for the suggestion cards and for general, ongoing library improvements and initiatives.

A: We appreciate knowing more about things that need improvement (we will replace the bulbs and finials as soon as we can), and your encouragement and appreciation for things that have already been improved (we have painted the library interior and will soon be replacing some tired carpeting in the meeting room).

We don’t know that things will ever be perfect with respect to balancing the needs of all of our patrons, for we are a public building. Nonetheless, in the future we will try to do even better in meeting the needs all of our patrons. Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention.

388. IL Q: I truly enjoy the “Teaching Company”- College Lectures on Cd/Audio. Thank you! Please acquire more. Please do not eliminate VHS movie tapes as other libraries are doing…they are essential for those who have no DVD capacity. Please do not eliminate books on tape. I need them due to a visual disorder. I got scared when I saw blank shelves where books on audio were before.

A: Many of our patrons enjoy the “Teaching Company” series. It is very popular and we will be adding additional titles, so please keep a look out for additional selections. They will be on the shelf by the end of November.

We are not eliminating VHS movies at this time, although we do occasionally weed out the videos that are damaged or that haven’t circulated in a long time. Please note that in addition to the VHS videos that we have, there are well over 26,500 VHS (and over 32,000 DVD) titles available through the SWAN catalog. We can place these requests for you, and or show you how to do this yourself if you wish.

We have cut back a bit on our books on tape selection. Please do not worry, for there is access to over 47,500 titles through the SWAN catalog. Our librarians will be happy to assist you with your next selection from this much larger pool of items. Once your request is placed it generally takes just a few business days for the items to arrive at the library. Thank you for your suggestions.

August 2009 Suggestions

380. OL Q: I am a librarian at another library, and also a resident of Oak Park. I have an OP library card and so cannot sit down at a computer in your library to email anyone. I am emailing you now from your library stand up computer and since I am a senior citizen, and have sore arthritic knees, I am finding it hard to email you this email without falling over. As a librarian, I know that libraries can change policies and are doing it all over the United States. Please provide sit-down computers for the disabled and senior citizens who are living in the local area. I would like to tell you that otherwise I love this library and love coming here, it is one of the best libraries in the western suburbs. Thank you for your consideration of this problem.
A:Thank you for your comment. We will consider your request. Do stay in touch as we hope to solve this issue for our seniors in short order.

381. OL Q: The River Forest Library combines the best of old and new. Cozy reading on 2nd floor with armchairs and fireplace yet technology is readily
available.
A:Thank you for your compliment. We aim to provide the best of both worlds with regard to new and traditional materials in our collection, as well as overall atmosphere. Please let us know how we can continue to meet your needs in the future.

382. IL Q: Please provide more bookmarks with “Readalikes” for popular authors.
A:Thank you for your suggestion. We do currently have a few “readalike” bookmarks available, but we can certainly create additional ones. Let us know if you have a suggestion for a “readalike” for a particular author.

July 2009 Suggestions

374. OL Q: It is wonderful that you have an array of special events for teens — thank you very much! Could you post an estimated end time on the web site, along with the anticipated start time? It would make planning much easier. I would call you, but I didn’t find out my teen wanted to attend until you already left – leaving me nothing to do but ask when we bring her by. Thanks.
A:Thank you for your suggestion. I apologize for any frustration this may have caused, and we will make sure to provide all start and end times for our programs on the website in the future. We hope your teen was able to join us last night, and if so, let us know what she thought of the program! Thank you for your understanding, and we will do our best to make program information clearer in the future.

375. OL Q: This is a request for the reduction of Sr. Citizen Movie Rental Fees. We would appreciate your sincere consideration in this matter.

A: The River Forest Public Library is happy to offer a compromise in response to your suggestion and to additional similar suggestions that we have received. We agree that occasionally the rental fees associated with DVDs present a barrier to use, so beginning in August, on Wednesday of each week we will have a DVD special for River Forest resident Senior Citizens aged 65 and up. On Wednesdays, ask at the Circulation Desk on the first floor when you are checking out for our Senior Citizen special, and you will be entitled to 2 free DVD checkouts. Additionally, beginning in August, all Nonfiction DVDs will be free to all River Forest resident patrons. And finally, all patrons are encouraged to take advantage of our “Dog Days of Summer” August DVD special- which entitles patrons to check out 2 for 1 DVDs during the entire month. The “Dog Days of Summer” special will only last during the month, but the Senior Special and Nonfiction pricing will continue permanently. We hope that you find this to be a reasonable solution, and appreciate your feedback as our valued patrons.

377. IL Q: The upstairs glass-enclosed and glass-covered meeting room is warmer (in July) than the rest of the library. I’ve been told the HVAC system is currently being worked on. So I suggest the somewhat excessive heat in the room is either due to the HVAC problems or would be an issue with a properly functioning HVAC system due to a greenhouse effect induced by the glass enclosing the room.
If it’s due to a greenhouse effect I have two suggestions that might work. First, tinting the glass. Second, installing an aesthetically pleasing shade structure on the outside.
In the case of a shade structure, these can be placed so that the high sun in summer is blocked (to help cooling) but the low sun in the summer can get under the shade and provide solar heat via the greenhouse effect. This type of placement is possible with normal windows but might not be possible in this meeting room.
Finally, I’ve never heard of this but I wonder if tinting could be placed to allow sun in the winter and block it in the summer.
A: Thank you for taking the time to offer your suggestion. We apologize if the temperature in the study rooms has been an issue, and appreciate your bringing this to our attention. We will consider possible solutions to alleviate this problem, including the ones that you have posed in your suggestion.

378. OL Q: Would the library please replace the two non-working fax machines it has had for some time with a fax machine that works? Patrons appreciate that the library offers fax service for its patrons but we do need a working machine, please.
A:Thank you for your suggestion. We apologize if you have had trouble with fax requests at the library. The library has recently purchased two new fax machines. We do our best to accommodate fax requests.

379. IL Q: Program Suggestion- Origami Class for Christmas ornaments i.e. when German librarian was here, we made very miniature stars (I later glittered mine at home and gave them away as gifts)
A: Thank you for your program suggestion. We have passed this along to the librarian responsible for scheduling these events. Please let us know if you have additional ideas for programs that would be of interest to you.

June 2009 Suggestions

371. IL Q: Purchase Suggestion: Simple Style by Ann Budd and other books in this series.
A: Thank you for your suggestion for Simple Style by Ann Budd. We have ordered this title, along with 2 other titles in the series: Color Style and Folk Style. Please let us know if you would like to place a request to hold any of these titles once they arrive at the library.

372. OL Q: A family restroom would be very helpful at the library. Our 3 year old son is a frequent visitor to the library, and the adult size toilets are quite difficult for him to use. The very loud noises the hand dryers make are also very distressing for him.
A: Thank you for your input regarding the need for a family restroom at the Library. Your suggestion is timely, as the Board and Director are currently considering an interior remodel for the Library. In the future, we will be looking to interested patrons to participate in a community focus group regarding these types of changes, and if you would like to be a part of that group please let us know.

373. OL Q: Purchase Suggestion: Would you please purchase a copy of The Million Pound Note for the library? It is a classic film of a classic fable by Mark Twain. According to http://www.amazon.com/Million-Pound-Note-Gregory-Peck/dp/B00005IAV4, “VHS copies of this film can be found, with some digging, through classic video sites located in the US and Canada.” One used copy is available at that link for $27.99. (Apparently, European DVD’s of the film won’t play on US equipment. So if you purchase a DVD, first make sure it will work on our equipment.) The library can create back up copies to protect its investment. The library might want to consider purchasing some additional classics of British cinema. Many are available. Some are amusing satire like this one. Others are more serious. But all depict an extict sensibility that may astonish folks today.
A: Thank you for your suggestion. At this time, we will not be purchasing this item for the Library. We do not currently add to our VHS collection unless the items are donated, and it looks like the DVD is unavailable in the format we typically purchase in. We do appreciate your suggestion, however, and will consider your additional suggestion regarding classics of British cinema.

May 2009 Suggestions

370. IL Q: Re: the new 2nd floor book islands: They look great with the new items displayed on the top 2 shelves. However, this means that the majority of newer items are shelved on the bottom of 2 shelves and you must crouch or squat to read titles. This is not always easy for Seniors. Reversing the display procedures might solve the situation.
A: Thank you for your suggestion regarding the shelving of the new display units at the River Forest Library. We appreciate your input, and would like to accommodate your request. We have rearranged the new display shelving so that each row now has books with their covers facing out as well as books shelved with their spines facing forward. Please take a look on your next visit and let us know if this has resolved the issue.

April 2009 Suggestions

367. OL Q: Suggestion: With the economy the way it is, please consider offering adult programs that would be a resource to people who are unemployed/looking for work. I noticed that the Forest Park library is advertising a resume workshop on its marquis. The Oak Park library is offering a computer class about searching for jobs on the internet. I volunteer my time with a job group that meets weekly at my River Forest church (I am also a River Forest resident and library patron). I was searching local library websites to see what resources are being offered, and thought it would be great if the RF library could offer some programs in this area too.
A: Thank you for your suggestion. We agree that this would be a good time to offer programs for job seekers, and have been exploring the available program options that would fill this need. We are currently working on hosting a resume program within the next few months, and may consider other related events as well. Please let us know if you would like to be notified when we have the details confirmed. Thank you for your interest.

368. OL Q: Suggestion: Hello, I am a River Forest resident, and frequently use our library. I’m interested in the new downloadable books available, and have searched River Forest’s selection and those available elsewhere throughout the SWAN network. I think River Forest could benefit in subscribing to the My Media Mall. A few of our sister SWAN locations (Riverside and Elmhurst in particular) subscribe to this service. There appears to be substantially more books available.
A: Thank you for your suggestion. We are glad that you are interested in My Media Mall, because the River Forest Public Library will soon be offering the same service under a slightly different name. Our downloadable media service will be called Media On Demand, but it will work the same way as My Media Mall. We are planning to have the program available to patrons within the next few months. Please let us know if you have other questions about downloadable media or Media On Demand. Thank you again for your interest.

369. IL Q: It seems rather silly to continue charging for DVDs-with the amount of taxes the RF citizens pay, somehow even a $1.00 charge is unreasonable!
A: Thank you for your input. We are sorry that you find this policy unreasonable. Overall patrons have responded favorably to this modest fee; nonetheless we understand that this charge might occasionally present a barrier to use. Our desire is to make as many materials available to our patrons free of charge as we can, yet we must balance this wish with the requirements of our modest budget. We will be re-examining this in the upcoming year and will do our best to reduce this cost.

March 2009 Suggestions

361. OL Q: For the Kindle, I’d suggest buying one more and calling it “Kindle Classics” and include on it all the (relatively cheap) classics, such as Jane Austen, Dickens, etc… thanks!
A: Thank you for your suggestion about our Kindles. We are planning on purchasing several more in the near future, and we will take your content request into consideration. We have forwarded your suggestion to the employees in charge of creating Kindle content.

362. OL: Q: I’d like to be able to access an archive of your e-newsletters– new
non-fiction, fiction, best sellers, etc. Thank you.
A: Thank you for your suggestion about archiving our e-newsletters for new materials. We will consider adding links to the PDF files for past e-newsletters, so that you could view an archive of each list via our website.

363. OL: Q: Why in the world would the lib staff schedule a computer class at 9:30 in the morning???? There are alot of people in R.F. who actually work during the day and may be interested in computer classes at night and pay big taxes to support our lib. So, a A.M. class on Monday is not a good idea, actually it re-defines the word stupid( a word I hate to use but you earned it on this one – sorry). Get with the program pls. or just drop the computer class idea and do us all a favor so we who work during the day do not get PO’d over the time. And, so I have been told, that most of you actually have a Master’s degree – amazing and scary…… concerned patron.
A: We apologize that the 9:30 a.m. class time is frustrating for you. We are currently offering several computer classes at a 7:00 p.m. timeslot, and will plan to continue offering both morning and evening classes for our future courses. Our meeting room is in high demand, and during our first round of course planning, we did not have as many evening options available to us. The 9:30 a.m. class time does fill a need for some of our patrons, but we are happy to provide alternatives to those that would prefer an evening class. Please let us know if you would like to register for an evening class, and if you have particular course topics that you would like to suggest. Thank you for your input.

364. IL: Q: Purchase Suggestion- Emergency: This Book will Save Your Life by Neil Strauss.
A: Thank you for your suggestion. We have ordered this title for the library. Please let us know if you would like to place a hold on this title, so that you can check it out once it arrives.

365. IL: Q: Purchase Suggestion- Lake Michigan Travel Guide by Nina Godomski
A: Thank you for your suggestion. We have ordered this title for the library. Please let us know if you would like to place a hold on this title when it comes in.

366. IL: Q: Purchase Suggestion- Vending Machine!
A: Thank you for your suggestion. The River Forest Public Library will consider it as an option, as we investigate our future space planning.

February 2009 Suggestions

359. (IL) Q:Please purchase additional books by Daisy Meadows (Rainbow Fairy Books)A: All of the Rainbow Fairies books are exceedingly popular with our young library patrons! If shelf space allowed, I’d try to have two copies of every title. Sadly, this is not to be. If we do not have a copy on shelf, our staff will be happy to place a hold on a copy from one of our MLS member libraries. We did recently purchase the 7 titles in the Days of the Week Fairies and are continually trying to plug any holes in our collection. Today, I placed an order for Abigail the Breeze Fairy, Penny the Pony Fairy, and Tia the Tulip Fairy. It looks like Ms. Meadows has a few more title in print (in the U.K only at this point) that will be released to our book vendor in the U.S. soon: Izzy, the Indigo Fairy, Phoebe the Fashion Fairy and Polly the Party Fairy. I estimate that these titles should be on our shelves sometime this summer. I also wanted to let you know that we have recently added a new series–The Tiara Club by Vivian French. It is geared for the same reading level and audience as the Rainbow Fairies. Take a look for these titles on our New Book Display the next time you visit the Children’s Room.
-Susan Quinn, Head of Children’s Services

360. IL Q: Please post information in the library regarding Pennies for Peace, a charity that helps build schools for children in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
A: Thank you for your suggestion. The Library provides a Community Posting board for information such as the organization that you are speaking of. We also have a spot upstairs for displaying pamphlets and other community information. If you would like to bring in some promotional material for Pennies for Peace, you may do so and we will display it for you. Our posting policy is limited to non- profit, dated materials, but we would be happy to post this information for you provided that it fits within those guidelines. Thank you for your interest.

January 2009 Suggestions

358. IL: Please fix the front door! It is too heavy for me to open.
A: We sincerely apologize for the difficulties that our front door has caused this season. We are currently investigating options for dealing with this issue, and we do hope to have a solution in the works. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to ring the front doorbell if you need assistance opening the front door, and a staff member will be able to help you. Thank you for your patience as we try to implement a positive solution to this problem.