McMillan Videos: Commons Area & Philosophy

Cheryl's note: some of the videos here are blurry at times--I blame my inadequate filming skills and the occasional thumbprint accross the lens...

Ellen's notes:

Philosophy – to provide a social gathering place for residents (noise level much higher than normal library – 60 to 80 YAs gather most afternoons), level the playing field (free movies so no barrier due to wealth), Ronald B. McCabe, Director of McMillan Memorial Library, author of Civic Librarianship: Renewing the Social Mission of the Public Library  (2001).

Entrance into commons area

Lots of chairs for lounging, even booths (very popular with YAs, very tall backs)

Magazines & newspapers shelved here

All AV shelved in this section

Recycled rubber floor – easy to clean, especially coffee

McMillan Videos: Coffee Shop

Ellen's Notes:

Coffee shop (hospitality service)

Had outside vendors first, but none could make enough profit to continue (they make about $1500 or $15,000 per year)

Now use staff – they stay in general area, but also check-in, pull items to fill holds

Sell Madison coffee & baked goods (decent pricing), ice cream bars, Slurpees

Back wall "art" consists of framed flyers from previous Library Pograms.

McMillan Videos: Magazines

Ellen's notes:

Magazines -- Grouped by subject (sports, food, craft, YA, finance, …)               

All issues are kept in one place, discard after 1-2 years

McMillan Videos: Newspaper Display

Newspapers take up very little room in this display, but are easy to access. It does look rather messy though.

McMillan Videos: No Butt-Brush DVD & CD Areas in Commons :)

Ellen's notes:

All AV shelved in this section

Prefer all units be 4-6 feet apart to prevent “butt brush” (not to block access)

Don’t ever use lowest shelves and not too high

Much smaller collection – newer DVDs, didn’t notice non-fiction DVDs

CDs on same shelves as rest with dividers to hold in place – very spacious looking

(Butt-Brush happens when shelving units are too close and patrons brush or come close to brushing against each other when in the same aisle.  This makes them feel uncomfortable, and they will spend less time browsing and have a less enjoyable experience at library)

McMillan Videos: Security camera at service desk

Ellen's notes:

Circulation desk at far end (too far from door as it was the only place for returning items)

Took care of address changes (done every 18 months), lost cards, fines, DVDs

2 self-check stations – took care of 75% of check-outs (30% of their circs are AV)

Trained people to use these – correct address then go to self-check

Kept screen clean and simple to use – vary voice so staff know problem

One voice for address change, one for fines, one for lost card, …

Holds shelves – 100,000 items come in from system libraries and 100,000 items go to system libraries

Used red DVD boxes for ALL DVDs from other libraries (had too many thefts) –

Pick up DVDs from circ desk (did not notice any cds though)

Very similar to our holds system

ILL – about 600 per year –

most items filled within system (Madison part of their system – South Central)

agreement with Madison – they have popular, Madison purchases specialized fiction & non-fiction

holds ratio – about 10 local holds for own copy

do keep some copies just local (walk in copy) – always makes sure also have copy to loan

Have $1/week rentals

McMillan Videos: Downstairs Main Lobby & Theatre

Ellen's notes:

Main lobby – lots of youth artwork on walls (very similar to display at Rahr West)

Wonderful Theater – seated 260 in theater seats, state of art sound system, blue-ray player

Offers free movies – variety, did check youth for parents when R movies played, use new copy only

Offers free concerts – some big names – overflow in lobby area

Offer free refreshments for intermission            

McMillan Videos: All-Purpose Meeting Room

Ellen's Notes:

Large room currently being used for more youth artwork – variable seating arrangements

McMillan Videos: Signage

Nice clear Directional Signage. 

Made rather inexpensively so that changes can be made without busting the bank.

McMillan Videos: Laptop Area

Some computer work areas were left empty so patrons could hook up their own laptops.

McMillan Videos: NEW Fiction

Ellen's Notes:

New fiction divided into genres (Mys, Sus, Crime, Romance, Christian, Science Fiction, …)

Labels on spines – handwritten yellow dots with 1/10 so they could de-new after 1 year

Once de-newed, shelved by Fiction, Mys, SF, Christian, Classics (back corner on non-fiction side)

McMillan Videos: NEW Non-Fiction (part one)

Ellen's notes:

New non-fiction divided into categories (cooking, family, pets; ) and then by author

Once de-newed, then just back into dewey order...

McMillan Videos: NEW Non-Fiction (part two)

Ellen's notes:

New non-fiction divided into categories (cooking, family, pets, self-help, etc. ) and then by author

Once de-newed, then just back into dewey order.  Dates are on location stickers so it's easy to see what should be de-newed.

McMillan Videos: Christian Fiction

The Christian Fiction Section.  Wonder if they have people ask for a more general Religious Fiction section?

McMillan Videos: Fantasy

Fantasy section...camera did not focus well so you really can't see the labels....but you get the idea.

McMillan Videos: Science Fiction

Science Fiction also has it's own area (sep. from Fantasy)

McMillan Videos: Graphic Novels

Graphic Novels have their own section in regular collection.  Volume numbers are noted on spine labels.

(sorry for blurryness!)

McMillan Videos: Classics

Ellen's notes:

All signage can be seen from elevator – large, clear

Classics have been pulled out and their circ. has increased...

McMillan Videos: Signage for Collections

Ellen's notes:

All signage can be seen from elevator – large, clear

New fiction divided into genres (Mys, Sus, Crime, Romance, Christian, Science Fiction, …)

Labels on spines – handwritten yellow dots with 1/10 so they could de-new after 1 year

Once de-newed, shelved by Fiction, Mys, SF, Christian, Classics (back corner on non-fiction side)

New non-fiction divided into categories (cooking, family, pets; ) and then by author

Once de-newed, then just back into dewey order

Genealogy along corner walls with a computer set aside for genealogy work

McMillan Videos: Job Center

Had a small shelving unit just for Job search books across from 3 or 4 computers set aside for job searching and resume building.