Gowanus Lounge: Serving Brooklyn

Park Slope Library Issues, Continued: Strollergate?

April 28th, 2008 · 11 Comments

park-slope-library-two.jpgOn Saturday, we had another item about the Park Slope Branch Library and some dissatisfaction with the staff and its attitude. A follow up came our way via the Park Slope Parents group having to do with anti-stroller allegations, which is the Park Slope equivalent of tossing a hand grenade. Here it is:

I must admit that I haven’t had trouble with the staff, BUT . . . It is frustrating that, in a library where a significant portion of their user base has small children, most of us are forced to drag our strollers up a steep flight of steps just to gain entrance. The only ramp I know of is in the back, and access is usually blocked by parked cars. Even when you are able to get past the cars, the back door to the library is locked, forcing you to ring the bell for entrance — and it’s rare that anyone answers. Anyone have any suggestions to make the library more stroller-friendly? It seems to me, besides being difficult for stroller-using patrons, it must be extremely challenging for anyone using a wheelchair. (and probably not ADA compliant). I’m happy to say that I’ve never had trouble about the ramp in the back–I always use it, and if it isn’t open, someone comes pretty quickly. The desk also seems generally helpful. So hopefully it was just a bad day. Keep trying–and maybe someday there will be funds to add a ramp.

Another email says of the attitude toward children in general: “I am amazed at certain staff members (who sometimes work in the kids section!) who make it clear they dislike having the small
people in there…At least the kids don’t notice.” First, Union Hall and now this.

Tags: Park Slope

11 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Red Hook // Apr 28, 2008 at 6:09 pm

    OK. Let’s call a spade a spade.

    1) The library should be polite and respectful to all visitors and provide access for parents with strollers.

    2) VISITORS should also take their own advice. The library is not a day care center. The staff are there to assist patrons and do their jobs – not babysit children. Make sure your child is behaving. If you have a stroller, be conscious of other patrons also trying to get by you and access the library.

    That’s it. I’m sure the library staff is completely burnt out and there are some that have attitudes. On the other hand, the Slope is PARTICULARLY bad for mothers who are oblivious to their children’s behavior and then have a tizzy when someone is forced to ask them to mind their kids.

  • 2 jon // Apr 28, 2008 at 7:18 pm

    Thank god I am closer to the PH branch. Imagine having to read with kids crying all round you…..

  • 3 lalaland // Apr 28, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    I think it’s possible- possible – that if some of the slopers got together and scraped the bottom of the piggy bank, they could pool the funds necessary to build a ramp for themselves. Then if they could only find some moms or dads with less-than-overwhelming employment or possibly some people with a free weekend, they could get together and build it (ramps not being the most complex things in the world). They could offer to install it free to the library. Instead of perpetually asking “why won’t someone else do something about what I want changed” maybe they could change it themselves! If only they had the resources….

  • 4 bjane // Apr 29, 2008 at 10:51 am

    This rankles. I try and keep an open mind about moms in a tizzy, but trash-talking the librarians is petty. If you have an issue with a librarian, take it up with their supervisor, don’t impugn the reputations of the whole staff. I would LOVE to see some of the complaining patrons try that job for a day.

  • 5 Jim // Apr 29, 2008 at 2:46 pm

    What are you trying to say? Kids don’t belong in libraries either?

  • 6 gladileftparkslope // Apr 29, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    Oh those poor park slope parents! Soooo oppressed by the terrible librarians and staircases and other pedestrians they force off the sidewalk and the managers and other customers of shops and restaurants who don’t feel the need to indulge them in all things.

    For God’s sake, learn to co-exist will you?

  • 7 Colin Principe // Apr 30, 2008 at 7:10 am

    Don’t take your SUV stroller to the library and you won’t have those problems. I don’t know if there are ADA issues, but I imagine if someone in a wheelchair is at the back door they get let in immediately – as they actually NEED to use the ramp.

  • 8 BR4L // May 1, 2008 at 8:19 pm

    There is no law that states that you have the right to use a handicap accessible ramp. I bet you are the kind of PSP that uses the handicap stall in the rest room too. I am so tired of hearing the overly privileged gripe about what else they want for free. I bet your librarian is sick of dealing with all of you parents all day long. Newsflash, the world is not revolving around you and your child. By the way, didn’t I see you chasing a jaywalker down 7th avenue complaining that they are setting a bad example for your child. Go back to Kansas honey, we’re fed up with you here.

  • 9 For The Record... // May 2, 2008 at 12:10 pm

    I happen to LOVE going to the Park Slope Library. I appreciate that it isn’t overcrowded, that they actually have books on their shelves, and they have a very respectable variety of services available for a local library branch. If you think you are experiencing attitude issues, try being nice and respectful to the staff and see how they respond. I have never had a problem with the staff, and they actually appreciate my patronage. I agree with some of the other comments up here, learn to co-exist, don’t expect everyone to kowtow to you and your demands, and try to be a little more appreciative of what you have available to you.

    Welcome to city life!

  • 10 deb // May 2, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    Everybody with a kid is not a spoiled, rude and over privileged. We work and take care of our kid and we are VERY polite and co-exist well with the rest of the non-kid world. Where are everybody else’s manners? Why would anybody deny a mom or dad with a stroller access to a ramp? Or use of a larger bathroom stall if its unused? Or help up the stairs? Or hold a door open for somebody whether they have a kid or not? Get over yourselves. Welcome to city life!

  • 11 You must be kidding... // May 4, 2008 at 12:35 am

    It’s really simple: don’t bring the stroller. Let your child walk or carry him. If he’s too cranky or unruly to handle that, he probably doesn’t belong in the library anyway. The stroller is a completely optional accessory, and the library is under no obligation to accommodate it. With all of the budget cuts the NYPL is facing, they don’t actually expect the library to spend precious money–that could be used buying books or longer library hours–on welcoming their strollers?!

    I think this sort of attitude is one of the reasons people resent the “Park Slope parents.” They expect the library, a public service, to bend to accommodate their personal choices, rather than understanding that it’s not all about them and their kids.

    If it bothers you that much that you can’t bring a stroller into the library, get together with other parents and form your own little collective community reading room with full stroller access.