You Ask, We Answer

Here's a question we get asked a lot... what is your cell phone policy?

We have them in our bags, pockets, and backpacks. It's handy to stay in touch so the kids can call for a ride home, you can finally arrange that doctor's appointment, or to hear from a friend you haven't talked to in months. But sometimes they can ring at inopportune moments (like the movie theater - yikes!).

What is the etiquette of cell phone use at the library? There are a lot of people in our library for a lot of different reasons. Some are browsing for a fun book to read, others are waiting for a computer in Web Alley, and many are studying or researching an important project. What doesn't disturb one person, may disturb the next. Even if a spot seems deserted and safe for a quick chat, you may be unaware of someone the next aisle over or tucked into a study carrel who doesn't want to hear all the details of Uncle Jim's birthday party.

To provide the best atmosphere for all our patrons, we request all cell phone conversations take place in our lobby areas. We appreciate everyone's efforts to work together and make the library a wonderful spot for all our community needs.

Do you have a question about the library? Reply to this post, or fill out a yellow comment slip the next time you're in the building.

You Ask, We Answer

Answers to questions you asked about the library...

There's no short way of getting from here to there in Montana. But there's no reason for the trip to be dull. Try an audiobook! They're a great way to pass the time whether you're driving, working in the yard, sewing, or just relaxing your eyes. The library has a lot of audiobooks ready for your listening pleasure. So listen up, here's the scoop:

Missoula Public Library has a great collection of audiobooks on CD for adults, teens, and children. You can find them all in Entertainment Central, in the middle of our upper level. Some of you have asked why we don't label them with genre stickers - mystery, western, Montana - like we do our fiction books. Basically, it comes to space. Audiobook cases are a lot smaller than the average book spine, so there's not much room to fit yet another sticker without covering up the title - which would make browsing pretty much impossible. If you have a particular genre in mind, our staff is happy to help you search it out. Or, if you browse, you might find something unexpected in a new genre!

You've also asked why some titles aren't on cassette. Most publisher no longer offer titles on cassette, or if they do it's cost-prohibitive. We still have many audiocassettes for you to check out, but when one breaks we can't replace it with a cassette any longer.

For those of you interested in trying out some new audio technology - we have downloadable audiobooks that you can transfer to an MP3 player or iPod from any Internet connection. If you don't own a player, we can check one out to you. And new to our collection, we now have Playaway books. These are preloaded players ready for you to plug in a set of headphones and enjoy. Find Playaway titles on our Grab 'n Go shelves the next time you're in the library.

Do you have a question about the library? Comment here or fill out a yellow comment slip the next time you're in the building.

You Ask, We Answer

Answers to your questions...

Some of you have asked us about the smoking regulations at our building. Missoula County ordinance regulates that smoking must be 25 feet away from the outermost point of any county building. To help our library users who happen to be smokers, we've created a smoking area by the picnic table in the corner of our parking lot. We added identifying signs at the smoking area, as well as near our entrances, directing smokers to the appropriate location. And now if you're stepping outside for a cigarette you have somewhere to sit, too.

Why are we such sticklers about it? When someone smokes under the overhang in the back of the building, or along the sides of the building, our air intake vents take that smoke and spirit it straight into our interior air - which means everyone in the building can smell smoke. For those with allergies and other sensitivities, even this small amount of exposure can be difficult. We appreciate everyone's cooperation in making the library a wonderful place for all!

Do you have a question about the library? Ask us! Fill out a comment form the next time you're in the building, or leave a comment here.

You Ask, We Answer

What would you like to know about the library? Comment here or fill out a yellow slip the next time you're in the building. Here's another topic library users have on their minds...

The library isn't just about books. Sure, we have an amazing selection of titles to read, but you can find so much more here including music CDs, DVDs, and audio books. These non-paper materials take a different approach to maintenance, and you asked us how we care for our discs.


There's nothing more frustrating than getting a CD or DVD home and discovering it doesn't play well because of a scratch. If a CD or DVD looks well-loved and has a scratch or 2, we temporarily take it out of circulation for care. First, we check it out to a "patron" called repair. That way, you don't expect to find it on the shelf. Then, we send it downstairs to our technical services area where it is administered to, using our new polishing machine. The machine, which we purchased last month, works on CDs and DVDs alike.

How do we decide which discs to polish? We rely partly on you to tell us if one isn't working properly. We also plan to start a rotation in the coming months, in which we will check the discs on the shelves and identify those that need a good polishing up. This will not only keep our collection in the best condition it can be, but will ensure you get a quality item when you check something out at the library.

Let us know what's on your mind! Ask a question, we'll answer it.

You Ask, We Answer

Here's another topic on your minds. Do you have a question about the library? Comment here, or fill out a yellow comment form the next time you're in the building!

Flu Season Care

The library is a public place where people can share books, movies, music, information - and germs. We've had some questions from folks about what we do to keep the place healthy.

In public areas: We wipe down all our keyboards and common surfaces on a regular basis. This takes a while, but it's very important in maintaining the health of our community. And, of course, we always have hand soap available in our restrooms. We encourage all our visitors to take the commonly recommended precautions including washing your hands frequently and thoroughly, sneezing into your sleeve, and avoiding touching your face.

In children's activities: We spoke with the Missoula County Heath Department regarding the plush toys we traditionally offered in Tiny Tales events. The flu virus can remain on cloth for six hours, so we decided to not offer the toys in Tiny Tales until the flu season is over.

You can get information on H1N1 and Missoula's flu season from Missoula County Health Services or by calling the flu hotline at 258-4636. Have a happy, healthy winter!

You Ask, We Answer

We get a lot of great suggestions and questions in our comments box here at the library, and it's high time we shared! Every week we'll focus on a topic that you want to know about the library. So, if you're in the building, go ahead and fill out one of our yellow comment cards to get your topic in the spotlight. OR, since you're already reading this blog, make a comment now. We love to hear from you!

Libraries Gone Hi-Tech

Self-checkout machines and a DVD kiosk - the library has gone through some major changes in the past year. Some of you might wonder if technology really does make life better. In the library, the answer is yes.

For years we received requests from our users to allow more privacy in checking out materials. Some folks have personal concerns that they are researching, and don't want to share with the general population. We understand, and we responded to your needs. Our new self-checkout machines allow patrons the privacy they deserve while cutting down on the lines at the Accounts Desk to make checking out a faster and easier process. Before our self-checkout was introduced, it was normal to see lines wrap across the entryway. Now, there is seldom a wait of a more than a minute or two. And no one sees what you're checking out but you.

Which brings me to our second hi-tech tool, the DVD MediaBank. Missoula has a variety of residents, even some who are less honest than others. When our feature films started to go missing we looked for a better means of securing them. The MediaBank allows for full browsing by a variety of interests, and checks out the movie to the user before it hands over the DVD. But security was only part of our reason for using this new technology - folks who want to check out a movie don't have to wait with those checking out other materials so lines are shorter, your privacy is complete with self-service, and you can return the DVD straight to the machine for instant check-in and removal from your account. Some of you may recall our original DVD dispenser. Unfortunately, while the theory was sound, technology hasn't caught up enough to make it a viable, working machine. We got our money refunded as you would with anything you purchased that wasn't working properly, and moved on to a better solution.

With these hi-tech changes, serving you is our priority. Our staff is here to help you find materials, answer questions about your account, and get your suggestions of what's good to read, hear, or watch. Offering self-checkout frees up staff to be in the stacks where you have the most questions. We have "roving librarians" out and about, and we want to be stopped and asked questions - so please do! We are well-staffed and haven't experienced the layoffs other libraries have faced across the nation because we're lucky to have such a supportive community that funds the library and acknowledges us as an important place for lifelong learning and community connection. Thanks Missoula!