Thursday Thirteen #110
This week, by request of Jehara, I bring you information about her local library: The Burton Barr Central Library branch of the Phoenix Public Library. It’s fun to see what different libraries offer.
13 Cool Things At the Phoenix Public Library:
1. They offer booklists on their website, like this parenting one.
2. Burton Barr Central Library has a teen program called Wii Wednesday and offers a resume workshop for job seekers..
3. PPL offers reading level screenings for kids in grades 1-3.
4.The Burton Barr Central Library has 280,000 square feet of space on five levels and contains 705,700 items in its collection.
5. The Burton Barr Central Library is also the home to the Accessibility Center. Need Talking Books, or books in Braille or Large Type? Those are only a couple of the services that they offer.
6. Have a yen to see a page from a Gutenberg Bible or a Shakespeare folio? Check out the Rare Book Room.
7. Need to take a look at an Arizona City Directory from 1892 or some correspondence from Rough Rider James H. McClintock? The Arizona Room is the place for you.
8. The Law Collection is where you can research a law that interests you.
9. The Burton Barr Central Library carries materials in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
10.The Phoenix Public Library offers free wireless internet hotspots as well as on site computers. The Burton Barr Central Library has 151 internet PCs.
11. Need an article for your research project? Try the article databases on the Phoenix Public Library website.
12. Can’t make it into the library today? Check out the Phoenix Public Library’s digital media collection. They offer ebooks, downloadable audiobooks, and downloadable video files.
13. Who doesn’t love a good story? Check out the Storyline (English): (602) 262-4868 & Storyline (Spanish): (602) 262-4039
fremontlibraries.wordpress.com 
Thanks!!! I really learned a lot!
I’ve seen The Rare Room as it’s on the same floor as the teen center, but I didn’t know what it was! I am going to have to check it out now to get a glimpse of Shakespeare’s folios!
I checked out the book staff lists and they have one all about Ireland, which is great because a. I love books about Ireland and b. since I love books on Ireland I signed up for the Ireland challenge and am needing some new titles.
Thanks again! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Glad it helped, Jehara. 🙂 Does the library still have that wee bookstore?
#4….all I can say on that one is……….WOW!!! It’s a bit of book heaven with all that to be sure.
My 13 is a bit of conversations of wit.
Hope to see you visit with me.
I’ve only been to that library once, but it certainly was that.
No. 2 is really useful.
No. 3 I wish libraries in my country had that kind of benefit for kids.
I’m so attracted to that Rare Book Room!
So am I, Hazel. I know where I’m stopping the next time I’m in Phoenix.
With all they have to offer I’m amazed by how many people never go to their local public library.
Have a great weekend!
Hopefuly those folks stumble across posts like this, and stop by their local library. 🙂
You have a very active library. Good for you!
The post about my library was last week. This one is for jehara. Though…mine is active too.
Libraries have gotten to be such wonderful resources. I live in a very small town, but our new library is completely up to date and has most of the things mentioned in your list…I wonder if it’s an Arizona thing. Great list!
Yay for your local library!
I love seeing #12 on the list. It is great news for authors.
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter, Adelle. I’m sure that trend will only increase.
Sounds wonderful! Happy TT!
It is a very cool library.
Sounds like a wonderful library.
Have a great Thursday!
http://harrietandfriends.com/2010/03/nuts-nuts/
Thanks, Harriet.
I wish my library offered e-books… *sniff* I was so excited when I got my e-reader. But… I was shut out in the cold.
It’s very sad.
The sadness. 😦
What is your local library, Susan?
A far cry from the small library in the rural area where I grew up. Although I loved to visit it and can still recall the sights, sounds and smells of the old building in which it was housed.
Libraries certainly have been impacted by technology. My 7 year old granddaughter already goes on line to reserve the books that she wants and have them delivered to our local library.
Thought you might enjoy checking out our Memphis library system.
My TT: For Better Or Worse
Thanks for the link, Grandma! 😀
151 internet pcs? Can you imagine having to turn all of those off each night? Or turning them all back on?
egad. Yeah. I’d make the I.T. department do it. 😉
Very nice!
Thank you for such a glowing review. I shared it with one of our administrators and they just glowed with happiness.
Although I do not speak for the Phoenix Public Library, I do work at the Burton Barr Central Library. In fact, I am typing this from our very own beloved Arizona Room! It’s a pleasure and sort of an honor to work here!
I have so much to say because this is such a cool place to work. In fact, I think I’ll break this down to a few posts.
One correction on the number of internet PCs. At Burton Barr we only have 62, although we will have more soon after we finish remodeling the second floor. I’m pretty sure the number of internet PCs you have is actually the entire count of the library system.
How do they turn off at night? At 5 before the hour of closing, they start shutting themselves off!
We have 8 computers on the first floor (will soon move to second) that are “express computers.” They automatically time out after the allotted time. Customers are very good at looking around to see if someone is waiting and rotating. Very surprising. You can rotate through these all day – and many of our customers do!
On the second floor, I believe the current count is 38. We will be expanding that number after the 2nd floor remodel.
These computers you can use one time a day for up to one hour a day. We have an automated system that allows the customer to swipe their card and receive a slip that shows their start time, the computer they will be on, and the length of time they have (sometimes we have 20 minute openings because a customer finished early).
Sadly, we do not have enough computers to go around. The wait time for the second floor computers seems to be around 90 minutes but I have seen it as long as 3 hrs.
On the 4th floor we have Teen Central. There are about 10 pcs in there. These follow the same rules as the second floor. Once you have used a computer on either floor, that’s it for the day. The teens must be between 13 and 17
The Childen’s area has about 7 computers. Since the kids won’t have their cards, they manually sign up the kids for a one hour slot. One time per day. And the kids must be 12 or under.
If you decide to visit and do need a computer, we do have one inconvenient work-around. Tell the person on the second floor and they will schedule you one time. Unfortunately, we have to put you in the queue so it could take a while!
We do not have printing from your wireless computer but are praying that happens soon!
Thanks for the info, Anne! I had one of your patrons ask for info, so I mined your website. 🙂
Keep up the good work out there.
Your review was probably written before 4/5/2010. This is when incredible service cuts took place. All the things you listed are still available. All the things you wrote about still exist. Some with limited hours and others you must make an appointment for 24 hrs ahead of time.
Accessibility Center
I worship them as they are full of awesome. We have JAWS to read things to the blind as well as a Kurzweil Machine. Things can be enlarged.
If you need to braille something, we have that also. We used to be able to braille things for businesses but can no longer afford that service.
Unfortunately, the accessibility center as a drop-in service had to be stopped due to staff cuts. Now you must call 24 hrs ahead of time time reserve a time to use the machines. On hrs we do not have reservations, the room is locked.
If you are registered for the service you can have an appointment. Otherwise no. If you know someone who is registered, please call 602-262-4636 to make an appointment.
If you happen by when the room is open, you can certainly ask the staff member inside if they will show you the highlights. Sometimes we have clients that need lots of hands-on help so they may not have time to answer questions.
Yep. End of March. Sorry to hear about the service cuts.
Ahhhh…the Rare Book Room…also full of awesome
I can not stress enough that you must call ahead for an appointment. Call the Rare Book Librarian at (602) 262-6110 for an appointment. She does take her messages seriously.
The time we have for her to take appointments is also very limited now. Make sure you call ahead. Best? A month.
The Shakespeare folio is a touchy subject. We do have a facsimile in the 2nd floor reference area and we prefer you use that instead. Exceptions can be made. Don’t miss the babylonian tablets!
Right now, we have not been able to acquire truly rare in an antique way books. Price has been a problem for years. Instead, we concentrate on magnificent printing and books as art. I recommend the book Sulpher.
Hope this helps if you stop by!
Update: just got off the desk and spoke to our esteemed rare book room librarian. You can, indeed ask to see the 2nd folio! My bad.
We recently acquired the book “Aunt Sally’s Lament.” It’s worth a look. My favorite of the collection is Kashmiri Houseboat. That’s not its exact name, but she’ll know what you mean.
The Washington Press is used for printing broadsides. President Washington has nothing to do with it. It’s just the name of the company.
We used to have a printing group that made broadsides. The one made for an Andre Codrescue poem is fun! Unfortunately, that had to be curtailed due to budget restrictions.
Fun fact about the Washington Press. The press was not weighed before the building was under construction. The floor below it had to be reinforced!
Other tidbits:
Our public restrooms on floors 2 and 5 were named “2nd Most Outrageous Public Restrooms in the Country” by the Travel Channel a few years ago. Ask anyone on a desk and they will show you.
Will Bruder, the architect, has built 4 of our buildings, including Burton Barr. Burton Barr is still considered a marvel of architecture I guess. Architects from all over come to see it. I can spot them at 20 paces.
He also built the
Mesquite Branch (now largely remodeled)
Cholla Branch
and our newest branch, Agave
We do, in fact, celebrate the summer solstice on the 5th floor every year. Burton Barr is the only building in North America that is specially configured to do so. Cool things happen at solar noon. Too much to say here. Archaeoastronomy at its finest. It is the bomb.
Fun fact: In my 22 years of service I have always worked in a building designed by the Burton Barr architect, Will Bruder.
You will soon also see changes to the article searcher product. Much faster and easier to decipher.
Can I say how much I love the Overdrive e-books? Oh my! The customers really dig it, too.
If you have other questions about the library and its services, please feel free to call our on-call staff at 602-262-4636 or email us from the Contact Us link found at the top right-hand side on the blue bar. Due to staffing and volume, it may take a couple days to get back to you but we are pleased to do so.
OOPS! One more important note. We now have a cafe in the building. More like a deli but the food and coffee is decent enough that I eat there most days
Whew! Now I will officially shut up.