Suggestions and Comments

1205. Arrived with van carrying special need adults. We parked and then realized there was not a safe way to walk to the building. No walkway is available! Very dangerous to allow any patron to visit your facility. Do better, GEPL.

We are unsure as to where you parked in our lot. We would invite you to have a conversation with us, so we can learn more about your experience and determine how we might improve our crosswalk.

1206. What happened to the radon detector?

It is part of the Library of Things collection and is circulating under the name GED Home Radon Detector. You can place a hold on it or ask a staff member to help you place it on hold.

1207. Staff – outstanding! I now come often to the library and the 2nd floor staff – so helpful and knowledgeable. The tech service, I feel I should pay for! They always figure it out. Thanks to ____, ____, ____, and ______ in particular.

So glad we have been able to assist you! Your kind words will be shared with these staff members and their supervisor.

1208. I think the cafe should have a sugar cookie and bigger chocolate chip cookies. Also, if you add a sugar cookie can I have 5% of the sales because I want to raise money for St. Pet’s pool to be fixed. It needs a lot of dollars!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We learned something new. We were not aware that St. Pet’s had a pool or that it needed repairs.

1209. Thank you to ____ for helping me with “scanning”! They made my library experience easy!

So glad we were able to help!

1210. It is very loud here!

Please know that we have study rooms available on the 2nd floor as well as study carrels along the north wall of the 2nd floor. Both of these options provide an atmosphere with less noise.

1211. Thank you for all that you guys do! The library was my favorite place as a kid-loads of lovely memories.

Thank you for the lovely complement. We hope to create more memories for you over the years to come!

1199. Very clean library. Staff is very helpful. The computers are excellent. All in all a GREAT place. Cafe is GREAT too.

We are so happy to hear you like many aspects of the Glen Ellyn Public Library.

1200. Take 5 is so fun! More games please!

Thank you for letting us know how much you enjoy playing games at the library.

1201. Our family is so glad you have gender neutral restrooms. Thank you for welcoming all of us.

You are very welcome!

1202. It would be cool if the library has some kind of book discussion resource for people that read a book but don’t have anyone to talk to about it and/or may be intimidated by a formal book club. Some suggested ways to implement

• Book Pen Pal Program
• Online discussion feature on website tied to people’s library cards
• Book discussion wanted board (place a book title on a bulletin board and people leave their name and contact info if they would like to talk about this title)

Thank you for sharing your ideas. Let us give this some thought.

1203. Open the workshop on Monday!!!

We continue to look at ways to provide more hours of operation in The Workshop.

1204. Could a message be added at the bottom of the checkout receipt that says Total amount saved by using the library today $xxxx.

This has been discussed for years. Sadly, the last time we investigated this, the library collection management software was not equipped with that feature and doing it with 3rd party software was not practical. We will check again.

1,191. Hi just moved to Glen Ellyn from Hawaii and noticed that your welcome in many languages around the world has everything from Russian to Arabic but no Japanese, no Filipino, no Korean, or Chinese. Is there a reason? Did we forget that part of “the world?” Would be nice to see this be more well-rounded.

Thank you for your feedback. This display is not meant to represent all languages spoken in the community, but it includes many used in community schools at the time it was created and one spoken by the people who were here long before the village was formed. Its goal is to express enduring welcoming sentiment to all.

1,192. _____ in the Makerspace area was PHENOMINAL! Very welcoming as soon as I entered the space and immediately offered to help me (because I am clueless with advanced machinery). They went over and beyond being proactive when I stepped out and then returned to finish what I was doing. THANK YOU!!

We’re so happy to know you had a good experience! This comment will be shared with the staff member and their supervisor.

1,193. Thank you _____ for taking the time to help us with the passport even though we didn’t have an appointment. You were wonderful!

Thank you for the lovely compliment. It will be shared with the staff member and their supervisor.

1,194. I really like this Library, but I have found a sudden craving for Garfield books you have a lot, but I want more.

We are so glad you like the library! Please talk to a staff member when you visit, and we will help you locate more Garfield books.

1,195. Love this Children’s Library. I wish Gurnee, IL had this!

Thank you for the compliment. We are glad you had a chance to visit.

1,196. I love the Library!

That makes us happy!

1,197. This place is absolutely lovely. This is my first time here for Reality Illinois and I sm really blown away!

Glad to hear it. Hope you will be back again.

1,198. I love your outside tables. What a great thing in the summer for your customers.

Happy you like them!

1,184. Really wish you had not installed the speed bumps in the parking lot. They’re slowing me down.

Yes, the speed bumps do slow down the vehicles in the parking lot, making it safer for the individuals who are walking in the same area.

1,185. Thank you for charging only 10 cents each for copies!!

You are welcome!

1,186. Your collection is totally Rad! Love the Ant cards!

Thank you for the lovely compliment.

1,187. For the ice cream social – next time consider paper bowls vs styrofoam, please, please, please. We’re trying to ban styrofoam in Illinois.

Thank you for the suggestion. We will look into this next year.

1,188. I love this place. Everything is on time and delicious. Looking forward to coming here with friends.

We’re so glad you enjoyed everything! Thank you for the lovely compliment!

1,189. I absolutely love the GEPL Pride display! I had no idea that there were so many books to check out- Thank you for being an inclusive safe space!

We are so happy to learn that you loved the display! We strive to be an inclusive safe space for everyone in our community.

1,109. The individual who led Story time was wonderful. You should have her more often.

Thank you for the lovely comment!

1,182. I was sad to see the adult bookshelf is now missing from the youth section. As a mom of four with kids in various stages, I can’t leave them in the youth area alone while I go upstairs. I also do not feel comfortable taking my one-year-old up into a quiet area to look for books.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We will investigate how we might be able to make room for a small number of adult books again. In the meantime, please feel free to ask staff to assist you in retrieving a title or titles from upstairs.

1,183. Thank you for the variety of excellent books you stock. In this particular case I would like to express my gratitude and give praise for your world language books. What a delight and opportunity to experience a book and brush up on a language. Also, I would like to say that your monthly awareness table is an opportunity to learn about communities in our greater community. In particular, I learned a lot when you put out trans authors.

Thank you for the lovely compliments. They really are appreciated!

1,175. It would be nice for more adult programming between college and senior citizen age like board games and puzzle night/event. I would suggest not saying group or club as that may deter people with anxiety from attending as it creates illusion everyne already knows each other. Also do not require pre exisiting teams or tell people to bring teams as it makes it not welcoming/inclusive to new people who don’t know anyone.

Thank you for your input. This has been shared with the Adult Programming Coordinator and the Marketing department.

1,176. The silent dance party was an absolute blast! Thank you to everyone who helped organize, set up and stayed after hours to supervise. The bubbles, lights, and glow sticks added to the fun. I can’t wait for the next dance!

We are so glad you had a good time! The staff who participated enjoyed this event as well.

1,177. A jigsaw puzzle had the library barcode affixed to the box on one of the ends. Barcodes should be placed on the front or the back cover allowing the self-checkout to be used. I had to go to the checkout desk on the 1st floor to obtain my puzzle. Thank you for your attention to this comment.
This feedback has been shared with staff responsible for library barcode placement.

1,178. I like to print canvas enlargements of photos I’ve taken. If the makerspace had a canvas option for its large format printer, I would use it all the time.

Thank you for the suggestion. We will investigate it.

1,179. I compliment the library as a great resource for computer work and printing. _____ was helpful showing me the ropes and once I understood the process it was seamless and very affordable. Much better than FedEx/Kinkos. The color quality was exceptional. Thanks for being an amazing resource for our community!

Thank you for the lovely compliments!

1,180. I noticed a woman with a stroller struggling to get out of the women’s restroom. I think the shelf is great-but if it could be moved further in – then it would give more clearance for people with strollers and wheelchairs. Just a thought! Thanks.
We will take a look.

1,181. The renting of the makerspace for groups would be amazing! Birthday parties, scouting troops, etc.

Perhaps, once we are able to provide more regular hours of operation for the public. Thank you for the suggestion.

1,172. Eloise is so cool! Good job.

Glad you like Eloise!

1,173. ______ is fantastic! And _______ upstairs is also fantastic!

Thank you for the great compliments! We will be sure to share with the staff members and their supervisors.

1,174. Thank you for increasing the number and range of Polish language books. For a long time, I’ve felt that the rich literary history and talent have been overlooked. As a Pole there is nothing more comforting than being able to reconnect with your mother tongue. Again, thank you so much.

We are so happy to provide items in Polish and other languages in our new World Language collection. We are very happy to know you are enjoying these new additions to our collection. If you have certain titles you are interested in, please let us know.

1,169. This is a library! Not a cafeteria! Upstairs staff and patrons should use a library voice!! Very distracting.

If you are visiting and you find the noise level to be too high, we suggest you try a study carrel on the north side of the non-fiction collection. The unit farthest to the east by the fire exit is the quietest space.

1,170. Every time I come into this building there are near employees. Do you have a problem with staff retention? Of course you do! Maybe it is time for a full change in management. Starting at the top.
Be sure this makes it to the board packet!

Depending upon the day and/or time you visit you may see different staff working at our public service desks. We employ a total of 73 people, the majority of which work part-time schedules, and each person has different shifts. That said, we have had several staff leave GEPL, and others that are advancing within GEPL, allowing us the opportunity to hire new members for our team.

1,171. I think it is great that the GEPL has many activities, but unfortunately it lacks the one function most residents think it should contain, a guaranteed quiet place to read, work, or study. Librarians at the GEPL are quite specific that there are no “quiet study tables” on the second floor. The small conference rooms can be even worse as they do not isolate sound, especially when your neighbor in the adjoining room is on a loud conference call or tutoring session. Conversations at the reference desk (in the middle of the floor) can be heard out to every corner. The GEPL needs a quiet reading room similar to the Wheaton Public Library.

Thank you for your feedback. If you are visiting and you find the noise level to be too high, we suggest you try a study carrel on the north side of the non-fiction collection. The unit farthest to the east by the fire exit is the quietest space. We are also currently investigating the cost of one or two freestanding soundproof booths that perhaps we can place on the 2nd floor.

1,167. You should consider monthly subscriptions to your cafe. I pay a fixed rate and get as many yummy treats as I want.

Thank you for that very interesting idea!

1,168. Storytime is always a highlight of oue week but it is especially memorable when ____ runs it. Their patience comes naturally and seems endless. They create a welcoming safe space that is engaging and entertaining. They radiate a joyfulness. You can tell they really enjoy what they do. We attend a lot of story times (Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, West Chicago). Each program has something unique to offer, but _____ does such an exceptional job with storytimes, they are by far our favorite. Glen Ellyn is so lucky to have this person!

Thank you for the lovely compliment! It will be shared with the staff member and their supervisor.

1,162. I am long overdue in writing to tell you that the new carpeting on the first floor is really nice. It widens up the space and is a welcome addition to the entrance of our public library. Kudos to this board for choosing so well and making the first floor so welcoming.

So happy to know that you like the new 1st floor lobby carpet!

1,163–1,165. These three comments were all concerning the 1st floor lobby holiday tree and the lack of color and ornamentation used to decorate it.

Thank you for your interest in these decorations. They were provided by the Glen Ellyn Environmental Commission. These decorations were plant based, sustainable ornamentation, and the concept was to provide residents with ideas for alternative ways to celebrate the holiday.

1,166. This form contains four messages sharing their gratitude and appreciation for the Social Hour for Adults 50+ and singing the praises of the current moderator.

We are so happy you enjoy the Social Hour for Adults 50+. Your lovely compliments will be shared with the moderator and their supervisor.

1,160. Today a reference librarian was kind enough to print out for my 76-year-old brain how to copy AI into Word. Many have helped me try to learn this. She was very patient and as I stated, I was frustrated. I want you to thank her. I came back rested later that day and used the two-page cheat sheet which enabled me to complete the task.

We are happy to hear that you were able to complete your task successfully!

1,161. I love the new carpet in the lobby. I think you should have a bigger kids’ area because your kids’ area is outdated.

Glad you like the new carpet. We are in the process of making improvements in the Youth Department.

1,152. For your welcome wall may I suggest including welcome in Hebrew.

Thank you for the suggestion. The Welcome display does not represent all languages spoken in the community, but it includes many used in community schools at the time it was created and one spoken by the peoples who were here long before the village was formed. Its goal is to express enduring welcoming sentiment to all. 

1,153. Please do not discuss book/movies/shows so detailed and loudly. The librarian spoiled a book/movie when recommending it to the other patron while it wasn’t the end; it spoiled what happened halfway through. I was also across the library reading (side note there really should be a quiet reading area in the library).

Always feel free to ask a staff member to find a quiet spot for you. We have study rooms and the area north of the nonfiction collection is a quiet place to read or study.

1,154. _____ is wonderful! Super helpful and goes above and beyond!

Thank you! Your compliment will be shared with the staff member and their supervisor.

1,155. As an early childhood educator in Dupage area who does visit other local libraries, I find the lack of materials for the children to play with just pitiful at your library! For the tax base you have, I think you can spend more $ on more Legos, train cars, tracks, puzzles, games, etc. If children are trying to connect with others and they only have a few train cars, it is not developmentally appropriate. Please consider investing in more materials for your play area.

We agree. That is one of the reasons we are refreshing the play area! You will see things changing in that area very soon. First, a new play structure will be installed and then we will work to change the end panel activities and spruce up and add additional playthings. That area is highly used and has served us well for over 10 years. Now we are updating it.

1,156. I would love to see an event similar to Coffee with the Cops for the library. A session where library users can ask questions. I have many questions. I would ask the librarians if given a chance! How about Bagels and Books – Q and A with GEPL library staff. Perhaps on Saturday morning. Thank you for listening!

Please know you can always ask questions at any of our service desks. If staff do not know the answers, they will determine which other staff person can best answer your questions. We have held Saturday sessions like this in the past, and no one has attended. We have found the one-on-one approach works best!

1,157. It amazes me how sweet Glen Ellyn moms and dads don’t know about getting a quick, easy meal with kids at the library. How can we help them have a less stressful, less expensive meal with thier small kids? The Cafe staff provide a less expensive outing than Panera.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts about our cafe!

1,158. I think the construction is a little crazy right now, but I cannot wait to see what it looks like when it is finished. Otherwise, it is fine.

We cannot wait until it is finished!

1,159. Thank you for replacing the carpet. It looked worn-out from the time it was installed. I felt sorry for the library employees that had to look at it.
We are happy you like the new carpet.