Peoria Public Library : CLOSED
Summer hours at the Downtown Library blow. I knew that it was closed on Sundays and I have a hard time getting out on weekday nights after work, so I planned ahead and sliced out some free time to pay a visit to one of my favorite childhood hangouts.
I drove on down, plunked some spare change into the parking meter, walked up to the front door and proceeded to stare dumbfoundedly at the operating hours with a few other people who had the same idea as I did.
Main Branch operating hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9am – 9pm
Friday & Saturday: 9am – 6pm
*Closed on Saturdays Memorial Day through Labor Day
I certainly hope part of the $35 Million Dollar library expansion that I voted for includes being open on weekends when us working stiffs actually have some free time!
August 11th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
In Canton, the Parlin-Ingersoll library is not only open on Saturday, it’s open on on SUNDAY as well. The PPL is funded by taxpayers whether or not they are happy with services or not. The Parlin-Ingersoll is a PRIVATELY funded instutution. It depends on the public’s good will, and thus strives to provide quality service.
I am now standing buy to be flamed by government employees and apologists.
August 11th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Pet Peeve #2 is that the PPL isn’t open on Sunday either, but I wasn’t even going to go there!
August 11th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Well at least they unlocked the bathrooms on the main floor so you don’t have to go telling a librarian everytime you (or your kids) has to pee!
August 11th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Dear Peoriaillinoisan,
The short answer to your concern about the Peoria Public Library not being open on Sunday is that it will be open on Sunday as part of the recently passed vote of the people. However we cannot issue the bonds that will let us move forward without the approval of the City Council.
In fact ALL branches will be open on both Saturday and Sunday when we finish this building alignment.
FYI Paying for parking is no necessary for evenings, Saturday and Sundays.
There are no Bathroom on the main floor and all other bathrooms on other floors are freely open to the public without seeking help from any staff member.
Thank you for supporting the recent vote. 72% of your fellow citizens who voted that also supported that measure. Now getting the City Council to support what the citizens voiced is becoming a very difficult task. Why is no
one questioning that issue.
SIncerely,
Ed Szynaka
Director, Peorial Public Library
August 11th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
I too am annoyed at the hours as well. It also boggles my mind why the hours are less during the Summer. You would think they might cut back on daytime hours during the school year and put the extra hours into the summer. But what do I know… maybe I will go hang at Barnes N Noble like so many others do on weekends.
August 11th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Thanks for the info Mr. Szynaka.
August 11th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Kudos to Mr. Szynaka for his prompt explanation.
August 11th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
It was not too long ago that you had to walk in to the resource or reference room to get a key to use the bathroom that was located on the same floor as the childrens section. Not a problem unless you (or your toddler) REALLY has to go. And yes, there is a childs bathroom but adults are not allowed to use it. I’m cool with that. Glad to hear of the library’s expanded hours. I did always think it was strange that a library of all places wouldn’t be open on a weekend! Now PI you just have to convince us that you really plan to use it!
August 11th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Oh yeah, and I’d like to know who went tattle-tailing to the Library Director that PI was crabbin about it
August 11th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
No tattle tales
— as soon as he came to town, Mr. Synaka started reading local blogs, and I’d bet PI’s is one he checks frequently. Obviously he knows the value of checking a wide variety of sources for information.
I now live in SC and belong to a subscription library. It is antiquated and runs on volunteers and love. I think it’s wonderful. (It’s closed on Sundays, but again, this is the South.)
I am going to ask friends / family back home to call their council member to pursue the issue the director mentioned.
m.
August 12th, 2007 at 1:29 am
The fact that the director took the time to fire up the ol’ web browser to share that with us deserves an applause. If only all our important leaders would follow suit. Not necessarily by way of the blog, but, y’know, throw us a fricken’ bone, we’re dying here! Mr. Szynaka, this Bud’s for you.
August 12th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Well, at least you all can access the PPL. We here in West Peoria have no such luxury, unless of course we pay something like $100 for the privilege. I don’t even want to take up actual city of Peorians’ hard copies…I just want to be able to download books to my PDA to read them for the 2 weeks allowed. That you can do anytime of the day or week!
August 12th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Dear Grandma’s Attic,
I am sorry that you do not have Library service in West Peoria. That is one of the few areas where Library service is not provided by you local government.
With regard to the fee you pay to use the Peoria Public Library that is established by State Law and we are bound to charge the fee.
And yes I read the blogs as frequently as I can. I try to answer factual questions but not emotional brick bats.
I like the name Grandma’s Attic.
Edward M. Szynaka
Director
Peoria Public Library
August 12th, 2007 at 10:57 am
So, why isn’t the library currently open on Saturday? Did I miss that? I read why they hopefully WILL be.
“Now getting the City Council to support what the citizens voiced is becoming a very difficult task. Why is no one questioning that issue.”
In my humble opinion, I think that is an easy question to answer. In all due respect, Mr. Szynaka, if I’m a city council person or anyone else responsible to raise property taxes to partly assist paying for 35M worth of new or renovated libraries, I have to really dig deep within myself for answers. Do we ask our citizen to pony up that type of money so some people (although all could if they had the want or need) may benefit or if we institute those types of tax hikes, should we be putting that type of money into like extra police, fire, crumbling sidewalks and other essential services. I’m not saying it is a want over a need, but would the residents of Peoria rather have nice new shiny libraries or feel safe getting there? Barely 10,000 people saying “yes” is not a resounding “heck, yeah” of what ALL the citizens of Peoria want. If the question on the ballot was: “What should Peoria do with $35 Million Dollars”, would I, as a city council person think “build and refurbish libraries” would have been the top vote getter? I doubt it. So, why, if I’m a council person, am I (if I were a councilperson, I’m not speaking for them) hestitant to say “Go For It”? Because spending that type of money on libraries while people have a real fear of being shot while walk down their street makes me question whether or not my vote to say “yes” is REALLY in the best interest of the community. Educating our children is essential, but getting rid of the idiots shooting at us and supplying drugs to our children is critical.
August 12th, 2007 at 11:57 am
[...] blogger PeoriaIllinoisan recently expressed his dismay that the Peoria Public Library is not open on Saturdays over the summer. Library director Ed [...]
August 12th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Mr Szynaka, I appreciate you paying us a visit here, but I too am curious as to why the main branch is closed on the weekends in the summer. Is attendance that low? If it is cost prohibitive, how about changing the operating days to Tuesday through Saturday?
August 12th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
I do not know who to respond to first.
The issue of the number of people voting is interesting because if the vote had been below 50% then I think we could all agree that the idea of a tax for updating our facilities would be mute. I might add that the at large candidates who ran in the same election were seated with the same turn out.
It is true that weekends in the summer are very slow. But being on the job one year we are looking at alternate days during the week to be closed so that weekends would be open. I am interested in suggestions. FYI the slowest day is Thursdays during part of the year and Mondays at other times.
As far as Library costs are concerned the Library Board has determined NOT to request an increase in our operating rate but rather seek economies in opreation. The staffing of the Main Library is a difficult issue because of the way it is constructed. The building program envisions a reworking of the interior of the Main Library to permit a smaller staffing situation without compromising service.
As far as other priorites for Peoria I agree that a case can be made for everything. Clearly public safety is a major issue. Adding a policeman on every corner 24/7 would certianly reduce crime. However fighting crime with just policemen is not the only part of the solution. Citizens with jobs, homes, and an ability to prosper is also part of the solution. The Library is one of thoes institutions that provided a means for individuals to better themselves. On April 17, 2007 and in the weeks before that date a solid debate was held on that issue and part of what the citizens I think said was that a mix of solutions is needed. Our Public Library has been morbundum for many years. Other communites have used Libraries to revitalize and give hope where not existed. That is not liberal bleeding heart stuff. When I attended the end of the Summer Reading program event at the Peoria Zoon last month I was astounded at the thousands of people in attendance of all ages, races and economic status. Things really change in small simple ways with consistancy and fairness. The Public Library stands for that principal.
It is very interesting that the most complaints I have ever recieved in my 30 year career have always called for something we are not doing–not a complaint about what we were doing. We worked very hard following the correct path to the April election. We engaged the community. Nothing was done in the shadows or without a active public effort. What are we now suppose to do with the results of that election. Start over again. I am not sure thoes who voted would agree with that. In fact not a day goes by where I do not get a call asking when we are going to start the construciton projects.
I happen to like Bloggers. And I think it would be good to have a convention of bloggers to address issues of interest to the community. Perhaps the Library would be a good partner to make that happen. I am willing to take the first step by inviting all peoria bloggers to such a meeting at the Main Library at a time suitable to all.
I only ask that we keep our discussion based on facts and not personalities. My biggest problem with bloggers is the sometimes savage swipe with poor language and ignoring facts. The Public Library is dedicated to helping our citizens find the truth based on information not emotions or private agendas.
Long post. Sorry.
Edward M. Szynaka
Director
Peoria Public Library
August 12th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
When I reread that last post I found that I should have checked my grammar and spelling better. I clearly got carried away with my message.
Sorry,
Ed Szynaka
August 12th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
I think that the PPL hours suck. Where I am from, the public library is open from 6:30am until 2:30am the next morning. They close for only 4 hours to clean and whatnot. The place is packed due to students in the area and is well equipt for people to use the internet (over 74 computers available within the 5 story building which includes a food court in the basement.)
I went to the PPL two times. That was it. I will NOT go back. The staff was very un-friendly, and due to the lack of cash flow, they only have a limited number of computers available.
That sucks for people actually doing real work, and have to get kicked off for some punk kid who is going to MySpace his girlfriend and giggle like a school girl for hours. I don’t have anything against MySpace or sites like that, I just think that it is a library, and they should have more resources than the PPL does. The woman working was extremely rude because I live in Peoria, but have not changed my ID over to my new address. I could not rent any books, nor use the computer til I got a new one. When I got one, I came back and was very rudely attacked by the lady working the desk. I asked a simple question, and was given a very rude answer by what seemed like a disgruntled employee.
My advice…Boycott the PPL, and get your own computer. Do the research at home, go to the Eureka Public Library, at least there, the people are nice and ask no questions.
D.S.
August 13th, 2007 at 6:39 am
Dear DS,
I know of NO public library with the hours you state.
As far as change of address is conserned all public libraries require proof of current address as a minimal level of accountability. We have a legal obligation to make sure that what we loan does indeed get back in the library for others to use.
Edward M. Szynaka
Director
Peoria Public Library
August 13th, 2007 at 6:42 am
From the
Eureka Public Library District Illinois
web site
Library Hours
Sun CLOSED
Mon 10 am — 8 pm
Tues 10 am — 8 pm
Wed 10 am — 6 pm
Thurs 10 am — 8pm
Fri 10 am — 6 pm
Sat CLOSED
August 13th, 2007 at 6:53 am
From the Eureka College Library web page. Only students who are registered can use this library. Eureka College library is a fine private college 18 miles from Peoria. Please note that staffing is limited and limited to the hours listed as Reference Hours. All other times two work study students are used to staff the circulation desk. The only other staff used by the library are campus security guards. I might note that the circulation of this library is very small and the collection only supports the courses offer by the College.
Sunday 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Monday – Thursday 7:45 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Friday 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday 1 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Term Break and Summer Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday Closed
Regular Reference Assistance Hours:
Monday – Friday Daytime 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sunday-Thursday Evening 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
That is true that often we get emotional and ignore facts, but many bloggers blog just for the pure fun of it. Most are not trying to change the world or be a political talking head that sounds like the teacher in the Peanuts comic strip. We are an organization of citizens that take an interest in our community and are frustrated with the political correctness and sluggish inertness of all levels of government. So if we have bad manners, or burp and don’t say excuse me so be it!
August 18th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
[...] with a sarcastic grin on her face, she said “well, the kids are gone, so why don’t you run down to the library and see what you can [...]