Lynbrook

This library reminds me of an old school from the outside.  Or maybe more like a museum?  Either way, it’s gorgeous.  I stood outside for a little while and simply looked at the street-side facade.  You can’t enter through this grand entrance, but it’s still beautiful to look at.  Around the corner is the teeny tiny parking lot.  If you want to pay for parking, there are dozens of metered spots, but the free lot is very small and I ended up waiting for a spot.

The inside of this library is large and full of books–I went to the reference librarian, and asked for a book (you guys know the drill).  She immediately took me to the shelf, where she very kindly explained the Dewey Decimal system to me.  She was really friendly and even pointed about a few other books I might be interested in (they were related to my topic).  Before leaving, she told me she remembered another book that just came in.  While I was picking a book off the shelf, she came back with a brand new book exactly on my topic.  I couldn’t thank her enough for being so nice and proactive.  The way she helped me made me feel like she wasn’t just waiting to show me to a shelf, but instead was really thinking about how she could get me exactly what I needed.  It was refreshing to deal with such a great librarian.

I wandered the shelves a bit and found the young adult books.  The section was really confusing and I had a hard time following how the books were arranged.  After looking and not finding any graphic novels, I gave up and started towards the circulation desk, only to happen to look over and see them.  I grabbed one and went to the circ desk.  There was a patron in front of me, already waiting.  The clerk was scanning books on the other side of the desk with her back to us.  While I waited, I noticed the children’s room had tons of clocks on the wall to show the different times from places around the world.  That was a GREAT idea to celebrate the summer reading theme!  I hadn’t seen it before and I really thought it was clever.

Another staff member came to the desk and told the clerk there were people waiting to be helped.  She seemed very annoyed (grumbles, glares and all) to have to stop what she was doing to help us.  When it was my turn to be helped, she ignored everything I said to her, checked my items out as quickly as she could and then walked away without a single word to me (even though I was cheerfully trying to start a conversation with her).  I reached across the desk and took my books, leaving this great library disappointed.

Westbury

This library and its parking lot are really long, but really pretty.  I found a parking spot without trouble and walked through the cool looking entrance.  It would be fabulous if next to the library there could be a large reading garden.  Perhaps with a fountain and statues of famous authors.  This is a place where you feel like spending you day reading.  Okay, now I’m really off topic.

Anyway, there are meeting rooms when you first walk in, as well as some offices.  I also believe there’s a quiet study space, but I didn’t investigate very much because the circulation clerk greeted me as I walked in and I wanted to say hello back.

The entire center of the library is media–it was a really impressive collection.  In any case, before going to the reference desk I browsed the DVDs for a little while, then I went to the young adult section, which is located in a nook to the left of the circulation desk (if you’re facing the wall).  It was a great section, and I picked a graphic novel from the ones I saw on display.  After, I finally made my way to the reference desk (which for some reason, I completely missed when I first walked in).  The librarian helped me right away and showed me a display they had on my topic as well as the books they had on the shelves.  I found an interesting title thanks to her suggestions.

I checked out my materials at the circulation desk, where a really friendly clerk mentioned the earthquake and all the media coverage it’s been getting.  We chatted briefly, then I left, glad to have visited.

Bonus, unrelated, other stuff: The Westbury library’s website is AWESOME.  Things move and it’s so much fun to explore.  You can do a lot through the site, and there’s even this feature where you can figure out just how much your library card is worth.  I don’t have a Westbury card, but I plugged in my estimates for what I get from my own card and nearly fainted.  If you’d like to see how valuable your library card is, click here: How much is your card worth?  This has nothing to do with the battle at all, but I just happened to notice how cool and pretty their site was and I wanted to mention it.

Results

When it comes to outsides, both of these libraries are on top.  They’re both very beautiful.  Westbury has the bigger lot for sure, though it isn’t very much larger.  Both libraries had tons of materials to offer patrons.  Lynbrook’s librarian won me over with her extreme helpfulness, but the combination of Westbury’s kind librarian and friendly circulation clerk left me in a better mood as I walked to my car.  Westbury has a clear, neat young adult section, while I had some trouble navigating through Lynbrook’s books.  Though I’d gladly stand outside and stare at Lynbrook’s breath-taking facade, I’m giving this round to the teamwork at:

Plainedge

Without meaning to, I visited this library very close to closing.  It was both a combination of misunderstanding the closing time and thinking it was earlier in the day than it was.  I was greeted pleasantly by a circulation clerk as I walked in, and when I asked a reference librarian for help, she snapped at me that the library was about to close in a minute.  Surprised, I checked the time, and apologized, ready to leave and come back.  She insisted she could help me after all, and walked me to the shelves while asking why I didn’t just look up my own call number.  She handed me a random book that was lying on top of the others on the shelf and walked away before I could thank her.  I took my book and sprinted to the circulation clerk, who pleasantly asked if I found everything I needed.  I thought I would get whiplash from the drastic difference in moods.  I collected my books, and hurried to the car, stepping around the vacuuming custodian on my way out.

I decided since I had made such a big mistake coming only a dozen minutes before closing, I’d revisit this library.  I made sure I had plenty of time to browse and ask my usual question.  I arrived and walked straight to the reference desk.  No one was around, so I waited for a few minutes before I couldn’t hold myself back anymore.  I hurried to the young adult corner and browsed their graphic novel titles.  After finding one I wanted, I returned to the reference desk, which was still unoccupied.  While I waited, I browsed travel pamphlets and new books.  I found one that looked really good, so I wrote the title down on a piece of paper for later reading.

After waiting for almost twenty minutes, I approached the circulation desk and asked if there was a staff member that could help me locate a book.  She not-so-kindly informed me that she was busy and I would have to wait.  Smiling, I stepped back and waited.  When she finished, she beckoned me forward and I asked for a specific book.  She brought me immediately to the shelves and pointed out the general area I would have to look, informing me that I should browse for my book.  She left me at the shelves, nowhere near my desired book.  Frustrated by staff that seemed completely disinterested in helping me, I took the nearest book to me and checked out.

North Merrick

I was told after visiting that this library was once a school.  Looking back, I suppose it did have that kind of feel on the inside, but I don’t think I would have guessed on my own.  The reference room is very large and bright–I went to the librarian and asked my question (as usual) and she happily looked up the call number while I listened to an older gentleman inform her that the day I was visiting was the best day of the summer because there was no rain.  She walked me to the shelves, realized the books she was bringing me to had been moved and quickly looped around to the right area.  Joking that she had intended the mini-tour, she pulled a few titles for me, and left me to choose one I liked.  I felt guilty she had jogged around the library to find my book, but her positive attitude made me feel like she’d do just about anything to find the right book.  It’s a simple gesture, but it made me feel cared for as a patron.

I stopped by the young adult department, which is located by the non-fiction shelves across from the reference room.  I chatted with the lovely librarian there for a few minutes before browsing their graphic novels and grabbing one.  Checking out was completely wonderful–the clerk processed my materials quickly and wished me a good day.

Results

I’m sure you can guess which library wins this round.  I hoped Plainedge’s original mixed signals (welcoming, friendly circulation staff and disinterested, irritable librarian) were because of my own mistake, but a corrected second visit landed me almost the same disappointing service.  North Merrick’s staff served me with a smile, even when they had to go out of their way to do so.  I don’t have to compare buildings, collections or parking lots for these libraries, because regardless of what faults North Merrick has in those categories, I would visit them any day of the week.  The winner of this round is: