[Publib] Children's Room Upstairs?

[Marsha Grove]

I've worked in two different Main Libraries where the Children's dept
was on the second floor and the current library with Children's on the
first floor.  I think first floor is best for a Children's dept.  It
takes a group of 2 year olds a long time to climb stairs, not to mention
all the people with strollers, 2-3 children in tow, and the large amount
of picture books that they check out.  I remember at one of the second
floor children's libraries being so saddened by parents who used the DVD
collection on first floor, but would not take the time to take their
children to second floor to look for their books--even with the kids
begging---yes, we brought some children's books to the DVD area.

At least in our building, the new adult fiction, nonfiction, and all
the DVDs, audiobooks, and CDs are right up front on first floor for
people to grab and check out quickly.  For CPL, Children's fiction circ
increased 48 percent in the new building, but adult materials only
increased 13-16 percent.  I'm sure part of that is because Children's is
on first floor.

I am surprised by alll the people who tell me that they don't like to
take elevators.  However, after 20 months in our new building we are now
seeing more adults going to the second floor to browse the adult
nonfiction and fiction collections.  The adult computer users have
always been willing to go to second floor to use the computers.


Marsha Grove
Library Director
Champaign Public Library
200 West Green Street
Champaign, IL 61820

phone 217-403-2050
fax      217-403-2053
www.champaign.org