After watching the library users for a few hours, it became clear that a certain trend was occurring. The men, ranging from 19-60 would enter the library, and surf the internet for the given hour and then read the newspaper, or do homework. Younger women also did this, perhaps 19-23, but the older the women got the less time they spent inside. They would peruse the new fiction, perhaps pick up a hold, and then leave. Their average time spent could be no longer than half an hour. This positive correlation dwindled as the age of the women entered the 60’s range, and then their attributes mimicked the men, spending more time sitting and reading. This idea of the library as a place of extended time holds some problems though.
When I first entered the library I desperately had to pee. I searched out the washroom and quickly found it. My hands found the knob and turned, but to no avail. In my hurry, I completely missed the sign reading “Ask for key at circulation desk”. I returned to the desk and grabbed the oversized key chain and made a mental note to investigate the matter. While talking with the children’s librarian, I brought up the locked bathroom issue. I work at the North East Branch, and our bathrooms are only locked during the final closing minutes. She explained that because of the location of the branch, they were frequented by transients and vagrants. Being a public institution, and a haven from the elements, it came as no surprise. The bathrooms were constantly locked to prevent misuse that had happened before. She also noted that they were constantly occupied, and sometimes had to be cleared of over users.
When I first entered the library I desperately had to pee. I searched out the washroom and quickly found it. My hands found the knob and turned, but to no avail. In my hurry, I completely missed the sign reading “Ask for key at circulation desk”. I returned to the desk and grabbed the oversized key chain and made a mental note to investigate the matter. While talking with the children’s librarian, I brought up the locked bathroom issue. I work at the North East Branch, and our bathrooms are only locked during the final closing minutes. She explained that because of the location of the branch, they were frequented by transients and vagrants. Being a public institution, and a haven from the elements, it came as no surprise. The bathrooms were constantly locked to prevent misuse that had happened before. She also noted that they were constantly occupied, and sometimes had to be cleared of over users.
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