Never in my life have I encountered such a horrid, branch community library. The bathrooms carry the stench of an unventilated truck stop, and the staff are the rudest humans. Upon my second visit to the branch with my children, I arrive 5 minutes before the noon opening time. I happen to be 35 weeks pregnant, standing outside in July 5th heat, with a 20 month old, so I politely knocked on the door for speedier service. My knocking was summarily ignored by three library staff. When the door was finally opened at 12:02, and I asked if this was a common standard for the Gordon Branch library, I was scolded for "knocking too hard." I am not at all sorry to say that this is entirely unacceptable behavior and defies the standards to which we can and must hold each other in this community. I immediately called the central library manager to demand more of his staff. If anything, rather than ignore the needs of their patrons, they can simply (and politely) say, "We open in 2 minutes." I could have been bleeding, in labor, or in the midst of a major emergency, and these horrid people assured me that I should have just called 911 instead of hoping to gain their attention and assistance. As a tax payer I demand more of my local library, and you should, too. read more
