The Sequoya Branch Library Opens Thursday
The much-anticipated new Sequoya Branch of Madison Public Library will officially open to the public at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
“We appreciate the enthusiasm of the many library customers who are excited for us to open, as well as the generosity and efforts of the many donors and staff who helped make this Sequoya Branch Library renaissance possible,” said Jane Roughen, Community Services Manager for Branch Libraries. “It’s a significantly larger library, zoned and equipped to support quiet individual pursuits and livelier group activities.”
The library, expanded to 20,000 square feet from 12,000 square feet, features a special children’s area with sections devoted to early literacy and family reading, an area especially for teens, and a hearth room for quiet reading. There is a large community room for neighborhood meetings and programs, and smaller conference rooms for study groups, small meetings and tutoring. The new Sequoya will offer expanded Internet access computer stations with centralized printing, as well as full WI-FI availability for laptop users, the option of self-service checkout and nearly 120,000 assorted books and media as well as access to valuable subscription-based informational and educational databases through the LINK system. Sequoya is the busiest Madison Public Library branch, with 279,000 visits and 690,000 items checked out this year.
The new library is a departure from the decor of more recently remodeled Madison libraries in that it has a more structural feel, with some exposed elements and bright accent colors. Sequoya construction incorporated many “green” elements such as natural/renewable materials and finishes, and kind-to-the-environment features like a greywater system that collects rainwater from the roof for toilet flushing. The new Sequoya Branch will earn LEED certification as green building, and the building itself will serve as a demonstration project — educating library users about sustainable buildings through a self-guided tour featuring the many environmentally sound decisions and practices that went into the library’s design.
The library’s new address is 4340 Tokay Boulevard, and the phone number will remain 266-6385. The library is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Children’s programming will resume the week of December 1. Library customers can once again reserve materials to be picked up at the Sequoya Branch through the LINKcat library catalog at www.madisonpubliclibrary.org.
Beginning Sunday, January 11, 2009, the library will also be open Sunday afternoons from 1 - 5 p.m. through April 26, 2009. These Sunday hours were funded by the Madison Public Library Foundation.
Save the date to attend the Grand Opening Celebration on Monday, December 8 from 4:30 – 6 p.m. This is a free, community event that will include tours, entertainment, and an appearance by Mayor Cieslewicz.
See updates and photos of the new library, or contact Jane Roughen, Community Services Manager of Branch Libraries, at jroughen @ cityofmadison.com or 266-8685 for more information.
Entry Filed under: Community Issues, Events, Sequoya Updates
21 Comments Add your own
1. Jack | November 19th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
I just want to thank the many donors and the many prople who worked so hard to make this library possible. I walked by last night and it looks awsome! I can’t wait to see the inside!
2. andrea | November 19th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
YAY!!!
3. Marcy | November 20th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Hurrah!!! Thank you to all the staff for all your hard work in the move–looking forward to the beautiful new space!
4. Gregory Reed | December 9th, 2008 at 10:49 am
I wanted to say how much I love the new hold wall. It’s one less step that I’m glad to do myself since I’m already asking you to put it on hold for me in the first place. It makes me feel part of the system, and I think it’s fun. Also, nice use of rainwater and the new flush handles in the bathrooms! Very modern.
5. Katie | December 17th, 2008 at 10:25 am
I thought that the new library was very cold. It didn’t have that warm feeling that a library should have. Also, I was disappointed in the collection. There were hardly any books to check out and when I went to check out a DVD for my son there were only three children’s DVDs! Other branches have shelves of DVDs. I hope that there is a plan for more collection development so I can continue to go to Sequoya. Otherwise it isn’t worth my time and I need to go to other branches.
6. Tana | December 20th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Katie, many boxes of material are still being returned to Sequoya after being in storage during the move. Unfortunately, this temporary shortage is very evident in children’s DVDs. Because of the volume of traffic, storage boxes are being delivered to Sequoya in small batches, so you’ll see that over the next month, the collection will gradually grow to its pre-move size.
7. Mary Murphy | December 20th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
What a beautiful space - and a fun children’s area! We’re looking forward to coming more frequently!
Congratulations!
Mary
8. Sheilah | January 2nd, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Horrible! Horrible parking. Horrible signage. Horrible division of collections so that similar formats are separated into totally different areas of the the libraray and can’t be found. The self check out machines never, never, never, never work smoothly. And, where is the organization for the self check-in machines, for the library as a whole. Horrible! Horrible! Give me back the old library witht he leaking roof. At least the security worked. The check out worked. I go to my neighborhood library now, and I just have the worst experiences. I will no longer donate money or books to the library after years and years of giving to the library. It is a catastrophe. I would be willing to give up your Sunday hours, or a little work and attention given to all the things I mention above.
9. Dee | January 4th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
I’m happy to use self-checkout, but it’s not labelled/signed, so I had to ask a person (!) where to find it. Then, it took 5 tries with the same PIN for it to allow me to check out my books. Not very user-friendly.
10. Ling | January 5th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I don’t know what that poster #8 (Sheila) is talking about. I love the newly added self-checkout machines. We used to have to wait in line for quite a while to check out anything during busy times. I admit it took me a little extra time to find out where the self-checkout machines are located and to get used to using one of them correctly. But once I got the hang of it, it worked like a charm and took no time at all. And I love the fact that I can just walk up to the hold wall and find my holds on my own. It saves a lot of staff time and effort and it really is a lot of fun learning to get around the new place. Besides, the staff there were very friendly and helpful, which made my initially experience pretty much painless.
11. Eileen | January 11th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I was excited to visit the new library. But, I was disappointed
with the experience. The parking was terrible, I could not find
a spot in the lot and had to park in the street. Once inside, I did not like the layout and it was hard to tell what was what. I also felt
the selection of books not good at all. I had trouble finding
rentals and new books as well. It lacked warmth and was
dark. I think I will go to Ashman instead.
12. mberman | January 14th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
I loved the old Sequoya library, and I am mostly happy with the new one. I think that the old collection looks awfully sparse now, because it is in a bigger room. But we will get used to that and hope that the collection will gradually grow to fit the extra space. The staff have been very helpful and patient in helping the public find things and use the self-check. My only dislike is the parking lot, which doesn’t seem to have good lines of sight for drivers to enter spaces or back out safely. Luckily, I can bus or walk there most of the time!
13. Carrie | January 15th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
What a beautiful library!! Great to have our tax money spent on a resource that gives back so much to individuals and our community! It makes me sad and mad that people are never happy…..parking….come on!!!! We are fortunate to live in a community and country that appreciates, funds, and prioritizes the love of reading and knowledge. Come on you shortsighted people be grateful for what you have been given!! Carrie
14. peggy | January 21st, 2009 at 11:16 am
I’m thankful for a new space and look forward to more books to choose from.But since you asked I admit I prefer a dark woodsy warm interior and I’m trying to find enjoyment in the contempary look. It would be more inviting if you could add some comfy chairs to relax in the adult section. Please try to be nice when you check people out who need to pay a fine unless you want to put in a self checkout that includes a money changer. I find staff annoyed that they have to interrupt what their doing when I need to pay fines.
15. Christopher Nanstad | January 28th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Bummer! We are missing out on all the fun by moving to St.Louis!
Hope to come visit the new digs soon!
Christopher,Lisa, Benjamin and Henry
16. Helen | February 6th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I admit the first time I visited the new library, in late December I had the feeling of anxiety….I found it too “open” , ceilings too high and entire area extrememly spacious. I found that with the high ceilings, also it was too noisy. Since that first visit and with more investigating, I find that the “quiet areas” by the fireplace are ALWAYS occupied and there is not much space to just sit and glance through books as in the former library. (except in the children’s area….far away from the adult books. )
I like the self checkouts. I like the fact that it leaves librarians more accessable to assist patrons as needed. As others have mentioned, parking is limited.
17. Kathy | February 10th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
I know it sounds like a lot of whining. I was so excited when I moved to Madison to use its wonderful library system and have had good, friendly experiences at several of the branches. I was super excited to watch the progress on the new Sequoya branch every day when I went by on my way to and from work. This was going to be so cool and convenient.
The first time we stopped was after work and shortly after it was open. I understood that things were still being put away. The interior was beautiful. I even understood that there were very few signs because those that know the plan believe that everyone knows the plan and assumed that the parking situation would work itself out.
The self-checkouts must not have been working yet. I stood in line (no aversion to that) to listen to the counter person and another worker complain to another customer about how they didn’t have any say in how things were done.
All good. Things will be better next time. We stopped to drop off some magazines that had been checked out. The parking lot was covered with ice. Not necessarily the library’s fault. People were stopped behind cars waiting to pull out. Still not the library’s fault. Dropped off the magazines. All is well.
A couple of week’s later we stopped again on our way home from work. I was looking for a particular book, but it didn’t appear as though that area had been unpacked yet. Picked up a couple of magazines and a couple of books and a movie. Still not much in the way of informational signs. Still, no problem. We made our way to the check-out. I’m sorry, to what I assumed was the check-out. Stood quietly back waiting for the first person behind the counter to finish what they were doing. One person looked up at me several times and finally with a very heartfelt sigh asked if I needed something. When I said that I was hoping to check out, she very emphatically asked if there was a problem with the self check-out. I told her probably not, but that I wasn’t aware of where the self check-out that we were supposed to use was located or that we were only supposed to use the self check-out as there were no signs. She was able to point me to the nearest self check-out.
You see, the self check-out wasn’t the problem. I’ve used it before and will use it again. Not at the Sequoya branch. It is sad that while it is the most convenient for us, we will drive to the west side or downtown. It isn’t the parking, or the furniture, or the time it takes to put away what was packed away or even the self check-out. It is the actions of a few (I would not blame them all) that can make all the difference in how you feel about a place.
18. Ann | February 17th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I agree with Kathy. There are people working at this library who are very belittleing. I go quite often. I was a librarian, before I had two children. I do not need to be talked down to. When something I know I returned was still on my online record, I was told I lost it. It is still on my record as something I lost. I can not return something again, I already put it in the return slot.
19. Pete Schmitt | February 23rd, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Crowded; intercom is too loud. Good 1950s TV DVDs. Needs more John Kovalic books.
20. Gretel | February 25th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Ann:
I wanted to address your comment as it pertains to our policies rather than our building. Staff do as a general rule encourage patrons to take a second look for items that they believe they have returned. Roughly half of these items do turn up under the couch or car seat. For the other half, we do a search of all the libraries where the item might be found. Next time you are at any area library, stop at the desk and ask for a search. This is a common procedure and should be greeted cheerfully by any library staff.
21. Barney | March 2nd, 2009 at 7:03 pm
I would be nice that the construction on the other side of the library gets cancelled. Make that space a little green zone, like a garden or a park instead of putting more buildings there. At any rate, what can little people do in this world? The fat cats who have the money call the shots of course.
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed