[Publib] Interesting dilemma regarding phone access

[Lu Benke]

Hello, PUBLIBBERS,

We have a problem we are hoping those of you out there who have a similar situation can help us answer. 

We are opening a small branch in a shopping center with a service model that is focusing specifically on browsing popular materials and being conveniently open as many hours as the surrounding retail stores. Because the staff will be referring reference questions and the placing of its items on hold to the centralized system of two much larger libraries where it is better handled, we are planning to NOT publish a phone number for the new branch. However, we are concerned that this will not work during those hours when this is the only branch open, e.g., Saturday night from 5-9 p.m.

Have any of you encountered this situation? Should customers be able to get response from the Library by phone when the specialized branch is the only branch open? Have any of you successfully kept branch numbers from being published? Have you experienced any problems from this? 

Thanks in advance for any feedback you can provide.

Lu Benke
Lead Librarian
Fort Collins Regional Library District