Comments on: Mammoth Molars, Other Realia at the AADL

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:28:32 +0000

Perfectly expressed, Ruth! I don’t actually hang out in the West Side branch but “love” it for all those reasons. For those who want to use a library facility in place, one of the newer branches may be better – though I think at that point I might just go downtown. I can take the bus.

By: Ruth Kraut

Ruth Kraut — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:48:19 +0000

I don’t know that I would say that I “love” the West Side branch in that it does have all the faults people have mentioned above, but I can say that I do LOVE its location and convenience. I love that I can quickly find parking if I’m driving, or easily ride my bike if I prefer. I love that in addition to visiting the library I can pick up bagels at Barry’s; a present for someone at Learning Express, TJ Maxx, Sun & Snow, or Nicola’s; get a cartridge for my printer at Staples; and pick up shampoo at Rite Aid–all in one trip! And if I’m getting off the highway, it’s right there too!

By: TJ

TJ — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:19:59 +0000

I’m also a west sider. I don’t like the West Branch – too cramped, not much natural light, the picture books are not truly alphabetized so hard to find what you want (at least that was true when I tried using it). Pittsfield is a bit farther, but light years ahead in terms of usability. The main drawback is that it’s half a mile from a bus stop instead of .2 (crossing the Westgate parking lot from the #9 bus stop on Jackson).

By: anna ercoli schnitzer

anna ercoli schnitzer — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:59:37 +0000

I love the small West Branch, too. It is convenient, comfortable, and cozy. It’s so nice to have choices among locations and to still have a library branch that may be small and that may not be lodged in the latest in high-tech architecture but still can provide the wonderful library services that the Ann Arbor District Library is so well known for.

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:26:16 +0000

I think it goes without saying that I don’t speak for all westsiders. But it is a property that has the attributes Dave laid out.

I like Pittsfield pretty well. Sitting by the fire and looking out over the wetland at Pittsfield is lovely. I could do without the constant “bloomph” sound of the ball-shooting-up thing. But the real stinker is Traverwood, with its lack of central space and its horrible aluminum furniture.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:04:24 +0000

I love my West Branch. Lots of people love our West Branch. It is located in the Westgate Shopping Center and is convenient to shoppers and accessible via bus and even pedestrian access if you are walking in that area. Putting it out where the old Michigan Inn is would be following an obsolete car-centered model. “We westsiders” would not vote for that.

The Pittsfield Branch is very difficult to get to from my side of town, besides being ugly and gloomy. I never visit it.

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:51:04 +0000

Dave: We westsiders were hoping that the site of the now torn-down motel on Jackson might work.

By: Steve Bean

Steve Bean — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:31:26 +0000

@4: Dude, if you’ve got it, flaunt it!

By: Dave Cahill

Dave Cahill — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:56:15 +0000

I think the terms of use policy is pretty good, considering that it was written partly by lawyers. I could do without the stuff on indemnification, but generally the policy is user-friendly.

With regard to the West branch, I was on the Library Board from 2000-2008. We tried hard for years to find land to build a new branch. We hired a real estate broker. We wanted a site on or near a major public road with adequate parking.

Nothing was available.

So the lack of a new West branch wasn’t for lack of trying.

By: eli

eli — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:33:24 +0000

DANG! I need a haircut.