JPL Staff News: Regency Square Branch's Customer Appreciation Board Is A Big Hit With Customers

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Regency Square Branch's Customer Appreciation Board Is A Big Hit With Customers

Virginia Martin, pictured at the Appreciation Board, is a librarian at the Regency Square Branch Library. She has developed a way to give customers an opportunity to express their positive thoughts about the library. This is Ms. Martin's story about how Regency Square's Appreciation Board came to be:

I got the idea for the Customer Appreciation Board after reading Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World. The book is by the director of the Spencer, Iowa library who finds a kitten in the library drop box and decides to let the cat become part of the library. The cat befriends customers and media alike and generates a renewed interest in the library.

I dreamed one night after reading this book that I went to Spencer, Iowa and visited the library. Customers were leaving notes to each other and the library staff about how much they loved the library, similar to our Staff Appreciation Board in the staff lounge. I told my supervisor, Marshelle Berry, about my dream, and she suggested that we make a board saying, "I Love My Public Library Because…” and leave sticky notes for them to fill out. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. We’ve had 44 notes from customers in the past week, only two of which needed to be taken down because they weren’t sincere. Some of my favorite quotes include, “Because the books on CD make my drive to and from work more enjoyable! And I get old, old movies for free!” “I love the public library because you can learn the things you need to learn just by books” “I get free pencils…like the one I’m writing with and I can study here!” Thank you, Marshelle, for letting me carry out my idea!

Marshelle Berry added some of her favorite quotes that are also on the board:

"I love the public library because it contains a wealth of public information."
"I love the fact that it’s the only place where you can check out “rent” a movie for five days—FREE."
"I love the diversity in music CD’s it offers."
"Very educational."
"It’s always clean."
"They have good security and everyone is friendly."
"Because I can get books."
"Because the people are nice and helpful."
"It’s a nice place to go when I don’t feel like going home directly after school."
"I love to read!"
"Because the books help edamacate me."
"I like the books because I get educated and I learn how to read."
"Because it has nice people there."

4 comments:

Anonymous said...: Outstanding idea! Way to go, Virginia, Marshelle, and AR.; 1:05 PM
Anonymous said...: What a simple way to express appreciation for the library. Everyone benefits and feels good about the positive energy created by giving thanks.; 11:58 AM
Anonymous said...: Not only a wonderful idea, but wonderful follow through! You made it happen -- Hurray! Regency rocks!; 1:26 PM
Anonymous said...: what a great idea! and using post-its helps you manage content. i hope i get to visit your library someday.; 5:25 AM

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I am a breast cancer survivor as a result of God’s Grace and an early detection of the cancer. May I suggest that each of you, if you have not already done so, take time to schedule health screenings of any kind knowing that these can be lifesaving methods for you.

To God be the glory for the things he has done. I am now free of cancer and want to say again that I appreciate what you did for me. Not knowing who my time donors were, I am not able to give individual hugs; collectively to the JPL Family I say THANK YOU a million times over.

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