Anonymous wrote:Why aren’t libraries open? Elrich said he doesn’t have enough staffing to open the libraries. Did a bunch of librarians quit? I thought they were all still getting paid or were they laid off?

https://www.mymcmedia.org/elrich-i-dont-have-enough-staff-right-now-to-open-up-all-the-libraries/?fbclid=IwAR1h8PGS79cyK3YRAp1DRs7CY6olDbKsvN_v-IHkMobmoMvIaQAzTQlmB90

Yes, a bunch quit or retired. And, money is being saved by not rehiring people right away. Read the article.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? I went to the library today.

I went inside, picked up my holds, got some recommendations from the librarian at the charge station, and headed out.

You can make reservations to work on the computers or even go in to use the bathroom.

You can't hang around and browse, but you can get books and DVDs and plenty of library services, plus get a dose of that institutional-architecture vibe while you're in there.

Look it up:
https://www.dclibrary.org

Yes, I don't understand all this "MoCo libraries are closed" business. They are basically open by appointment.

I like it, and don't have to work to avoid the homeless sleeping that way.

It's like people posting here never noticed the large number of homeless and all day lurkers in MoCo libraries, which is probably a big credit to the librarians.

The all day library users have been the best behaved here of any I have ever encountered, but it doesn't mean they are not there. One poor older man at my local branch would be there sleeping almost everytime I went in.

Why do you think the MoCo libraries are "open" but not "open for browsing?" Duh.

Once the county population has a large enough percentage of people vaccinated, things will open back up the way you want them. So encourage people to get those vaccinations.

Why aren’t libraries open? Elrich said he doesn’t have enough staffing to open the libraries. Did a bunch of librarians quit? I thought they were all still getting paid or were they laid off?

https://www.mymcmedia.org/elrich-i-dont-have-enough-staff-right-now-to-open-up-all-the-libraries/?fbclid=IwAR1h8PGS79cyK3YRAp1DRs7CY6olDbKsvN_v-IHkMobmoMvIaQAzTQlmB90

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? I went to the library today.

I went inside, picked up my holds, got some recommendations from the librarian at the charge station, and headed out.

You can make reservations to work on the computers or even go in to use the bathroom.

You can't hang around and browse, but you can get books and DVDs and plenty of library services, plus get a dose of that institutional-architecture vibe while you're in there.

Look it up:
https://www.dclibrary.org

Yes, I don't understand all this "MoCo libraries are closed" business. They are basically open by appointment.

I like it, and don't have to work to avoid the homeless sleeping that way.

The "appointment" is scheduling a curbside pickup time, you can't go in and browse. Which I often have to schedule a week in advance to get a lunchtime or weekend pickup slot. Do they schedule one pickup per 15min time block or something? The process has always been a bit weird to me. Plus they did away with all fines so there are some titles I requested months ago that are still on perpetual hold, it's not that there are many holds (I've checked), it's that no one is returning their copies.

Do MoCo libraries have a lot of issues with homeless camping out?

The branches I frequented pre Covid, yes.

But, unlike other places I have lived, the homeless people.were mostly unobtrusive, but they tended to be there sleeping.

Pre Covid I have seem them at Olney, Aspen Hill, and Twinbrook. Gaithersburg seemed to be a drop off site for adult day care or something, and I have seen some of the disturbed / mentally disabled get into a screaming fight with library staff a while back. Gaithersburg was the branch I felt most unsafe in, and I tended to go to Wheaton or Aspen Hill.

This has been my experience too. I used to go to the downtown SS branch more frequently when I worked in SS and occasionally saw a couple there too but always minding their own business and frankly I’m surprised there weren’t more there, considering how the homeless population in silver spring has risen over the years. But agree that overall it’s nothing like DC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? I went to the library today.

I went inside, picked up my holds, got some recommendations from the librarian at the charge station, and headed out.

You can make reservations to work on the computers or even go in to use the bathroom.

You can't hang around and browse, but you can get books and DVDs and plenty of library services, plus get a dose of that institutional-architecture vibe while you're in there.

Look it up:
https://www.dclibrary.org

Yes, I don't understand all this "MoCo libraries are closed" business. They are basically open by appointment.

I like it, and don't have to work to avoid the homeless sleeping that way.

The "appointment" is scheduling a curbside pickup time, you can't go in and browse. Which I often have to schedule a week in advance to get a lunchtime or weekend pickup slot. Do they schedule one pickup per 15min time block or something? The process has always been a bit weird to me. Plus they did away with all fines so there are some titles I requested months ago that are still on perpetual hold, it's not that there are many holds (I've checked), it's that no one is returning their copies.

Do MoCo libraries have a lot of issues with homeless camping out?

The branches I frequented pre Covid, yes.

But, unlike other places I have lived, the homeless people.were mostly unobtrusive, but they tended to be there sleeping.

Pre Covid I have seem them at Olney, Aspen Hill, and Twinbrook. Gaithersburg seemed to be a drop off site for adult day care or something, and I have seen some of the disturbed / mentally disabled get into a screaming fight with library staff a while back. Gaithersburg was the branch I felt most unsafe in, and I tended to go to Wheaton or Aspen Hill.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? I went to the library today.

I went inside, picked up my holds, got some recommendations from the librarian at the charge station, and headed out.

You can make reservations to work on the computers or even go in to use the bathroom.

You can't hang around and browse, but you can get books and DVDs and plenty of library services, plus get a dose of that institutional-architecture vibe while you're in there.

Look it up:
https://www.dclibrary.org

Yes, I don't understand all this "MoCo libraries are closed" business. They are basically open by appointment.

I like it, and don't have to work to avoid the homeless sleeping that way.

The "appointment" is scheduling a curbside pickup time, you can't go in and browse. Which I often have to schedule a week in advance to get a lunchtime or weekend pickup slot. Do they schedule one pickup per 15min time block or something? The process has always been a bit weird to me. Plus they did away with all fines so there are some titles I requested months ago that are still on perpetual hold, it's not that there are many holds (I've checked), it's that no one is returning their copies.

Do MoCo libraries have a lot of issues with homeless camping out?

Anonymous wrote:What? I went to the library today.

I went inside, picked up my holds, got some recommendations from the librarian at the charge station, and headed out.

You can make reservations to work on the computers or even go in to use the bathroom.

You can't hang around and browse, but you can get books and DVDs and plenty of library services, plus get a dose of that institutional-architecture vibe while you're in there.

Look it up:
https://www.dclibrary.org

Yes, I don't understand all this "MoCo libraries are closed" business. They are basically open by appointment.

I like it, and don't have to work to avoid the homeless sleeping that way.

Anonymous wrote:Bumping this. I’m in MoCo and waiting not so patiently anymore for the libraries to reopen to patrons. Would like to see some benefit from tax dollars...what gives, Elrich??

Usual mismanagement by Elrich and company. We're an hour away in Washington County and our libraries are open. Just took my kids there this week to browse for books and check a bunch out. There are capacity limits but they'll never hit them anyway.

Our libraries were closed for about 2 months this fall when the situation was at its worst, which I agree with -- then we only had curbside pickup.

DC libraries are de facto homeless shelters and guessing the librarians aren't up for that babysitting right now. When we pick up/drop off there is a long line of homeless waiting for their 30 min. Also lots sleeping/defecating outside. It's sad. City needs to institutionalize the folks who wont go to shelters at night, and provide day stations (not libraries) for those who will.

FCPL closed for in person services right after the holidays. They still had curbside pickup. March 22nd, they are reopening for in person browsing with 30 min time limits and reservations for computer use.

Anonymous wrote:Bumping this. I’m in MoCo and waiting not so patiently anymore for the libraries to reopen to patrons. Would like to see some benefit from tax dollars...what gives, Elrich??

They are going to be among the last things that open, because there’s no economic incentive to opening and geared towards kids/families. Even if they were open, it would likely be a pain on the weekends due to capacity restrictions (only time we could go). Not waiting in a line with two squirmy kids to go to the library.

Bumping this. I’m in MoCo and waiting not so patiently anymore for the libraries to reopen to patrons. Would like to see some benefit from tax dollars...what gives, Elrich??

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What? I went to the library today.

I went inside, picked up my holds, got some recommendations from the librarian at the charge station, and headed out.

You can make reservations to work on the computers or even go in to use the bathroom.

You can't hang around and browse, but you can get books and DVDs and plenty of library services, plus get a dose of that institutional-architecture vibe while you're in there.

Look it up:
https://www.dclibrary.org

That’s not “going to the library”. That’s turning your library into a combination Barnes and Noble and Office Max.

Until I can leisurely browse for books at my own pace, and read to my kids there, it’s worthless

More of the DC scam we’re all forced to accept from mother mayor.

OP here- I agree. That’s not going to the library for me or my kids. I hate that BandN is open for browsing and buying but my local library isn’t. If it’s safe for us to browse at Target for an hour, it seems like it would be safe to browse at the library for the same length of time. They could have reservations, and 45 minute slots, etc. I’m more bummed than angry, but I do feel the nanny state thing here in MoCo more strongly than I ever did before. Between the libraries and the irritating and antiquated liquor laws, it sucks!

Anonymous wrote:I would love for the libraries to re-open! I can and do reserve books on Libby but the wait is very long for the more popular titles.

It was actually easier to find popular books in the different branches.

Try Hoopla...also available with MCPL. No limits/waits for books.

Anonymous wrote:What? I went to the library today.

I went inside, picked up my holds, got some recommendations from the librarian at the charge station, and headed out.

You can make reservations to work on the computers or even go in to use the bathroom.

You can't hang around and browse, but you can get books and DVDs and plenty of library services, plus get a dose of that institutional-architecture vibe while you're in there.

Look it up:
https://www.dclibrary.org

That’s not “going to the library”. That’s turning your library into a combination Barnes and Noble and Office Max.

Until I can leisurely browse for books at my own pace, and read to my kids there, it’s worthless

More of the DC scam we’re all forced to accept from mother mayor.