Feedback

Except in electronic situations, feedback is usually a good thing. However, having read some of the really vicious, vitriolic, or just plain redundant anonymous posts on local blogs, like the JT and RacinePost, I'm not so sure the information is always useful. We all know there are folks in the community who really appreciate and value the library. And while it is always nice to hear from them (Man, I loved that "Automatic Flatterer" even though I knew it was faux), adulation doesn't really help us improve. There are others who have an ax to grind. Perhaps they had to pay a fine or claim to have returned a book which never made its way back to us or found the library closed just when they needed us most. I'm not sure we want to give them a platform on which to chastise us. If we could structure our blogs or surveys to elicit helpful opinions--and not have to spend too much time moderating--I could see the usefulness of encouraging these sorts fo feedback. I could also see online comments responding to other people's questions--a sort of open party line for household or consumer questions or for reader guidance inquiries. I'm always open to comments from readers so comment away. Thanks.