Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Project 1 reference observation

JoAnn Toney Project 1 Reference Observation

For my reference observation project I decided to visit my local library, The North Library located at 5571 Orange Ave Long Beach Ca 90805 phone number is 562-570-1047. I have been there before not to observe, but for books. The Library is quite small and in my opinion. I did not feel comfortable being that everything was so close together. When you walk in the library the information desk is there to your left and to its left there the area for the small children and the small tables and chairs right a cross from the information desk is the reference desk which there are 2 people that sit there and behind them is about 4 rows of tables across from there is a row up against the wall of computer about 5 that I noticed. At the reference desk there were no specialty section, they had a few books for every category, but they did not have the library of congress, I was told that most main libraries carry that one. There cataloging system in the library and on line was quit well and I have used both. I ask the help desk what type of online access they use and he replied venison and that they use the regular internet and what ever you could access from that is basically what they used. The computer usage was 30 minutes at a time if there was more time need and you could have it at the discretion of the librarian and there is no one else that need to use it. The library had a family learning center that help the children with there home work and it was open everyday. There were pamphlets letting you know of different functions. The Library from what I could see catered to everyday people such as kids needing to do research you average reader who enjoyed reading and I Evan noticed that the children would use the computer for my space as well. I Evan saw people on the computer feeling out job application as well. So the Library was use for every aspect of a persons needs. The Librarian and assistants were very pleasant, very helpful. You did not feel intimidated by them. Over all it’s a small comfortable Library, but for me personally I feel it should be broken up into areas with tables in other space so that everything that everyone is doing would not disturb you.

2 comments:

Vanessa said...

I am glad to see someone else completed Project #1. Your local library does seem very quaint.

Joanne said...

Hi JoAnn,
Sounds like a pleasant library environment, especially the vibs you received from the staff. The Stanton Library did not have a set of Library of Congress Subject Heading volumes either, yest the Rossmore and Cypress libraries did have these volumes on display.