A little before me, the library computers were so slow, on one could spend wasted hours trying to get on and do any work. Thus attendance using them was slow too.
I have long preached that the internet is the future, telling young or anyone to go to a library and get on.
One of the local staff, told me that the slow had gone on for months, the city refusing to hook up fiber optic cables it had installed. Another complained when I complained, "What do you want for free?"*
Taxpayers pay for this library, it aint free.
Such insolence , typical, I have found of librarians.
WHY DIDNT THEY GET IT FIXED?
BECAUSE BEFORE LIBRARY COMPUTER USE< THEY COULD GOOF OFF. THE INTERNET HAS BROUGHT FOLKS BACK INTO LIBRARIES.
MY, yes I said, My written protest handed out to the community, had the city come in and hook up its responsibility.
OUT FRONT ON THE STEPS, ARE CIGARETTE BUTTS, BECAUSE THERE IS NO ASH CAN. TEN DAYS< THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LIBRARY STEPS, ONE OUTRAGIOUSLY ON A LEDGE BY THE FRONT DOOR. THIS IS HOW MUCH THESE LIBRARIANS CARE.
Recently, I found two heavy expensive books in excellent condition, one a Colin Powell biography, which I brought to their front desk, they merely scoffed at them. I suggested they be sold to buy more books, but apparently they have no friends of the library for such function.
I CERTAINLY CAN UNDERSTAND WHY.
THEY JUST DONT CARE EXCEPT FOR BEING PAID.
As a retired gardener, I talked to the director about their shabby front landscape*. He said he wanted to plant calendulas, I alerted him that those require considerable sun to bloom.
Then I gave him a copy of one of my pages, dealing with plants to be grown in excessive heat.
For all of this, I have received no thank you, it apparently non existent in their vocabulary.
I thanked the city by email, for fixing the computers.
ONE DAY, on the day, my disabled pay came into my bank account, I asked three of the staff for 50 cents for bus fare to go to the bank, saying I would repay it, later. THEY ALL IN UNISON REFUSED>I had to walk all the way on my disabled knee.
They have no cassettes of music, especially classical, all they have are many with poetry. I AM A POET, WITH AN AWARD WINNING WEBSITE.
TODAY, 1,21,02: I DONATED AN ENGLISH-SPANISH TRANSLATOR COMPUTER, ALMOST NEW. Later, when I requested 2o copies of a website page, I was given four, one of which went to one of them(THEIR COPY MACHINE ALWAYS OUT OF ORDER) PERHAPS, THEY WOULD PREFER A LAWSUIT.
FRANKLY, I THINK THE WORKER NAMED BENSON SHOULD BE THE DIRECTOR, HE'S THE ONLY ONE FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL. AND UNLIKE THE DIRECTOR, HE'S NOT ON A COMPUTER ALL DAY LONG, DOING WHAT?
*The El Centro library is housed in a lovely older structure. The front flowerbed on the right, has a speciman Oriental bamboo that is worth hundreds of dollars. My solution for this beds color by flower would be a combination of ruellas and onerthera, lavender and pink blooming plants, that need no special soil, have no insect problems, bloom continually, can stand being stepped into without much harm to them, and grow fast. The ruella grows about two feet tall, and the other, commonly called, Mexican primrose, about 18 inches in mature ht. Both spread by underground roots, well watered, they spread quickly.
At the left of the front, under the bouganvillea bed would be the same, accenting the bright reds of the bouganvillea. This bed needs a strong line of brick bordering in a half S curve to best accent the total effect.I could draw a plan, figure costs the cheapest, supervisor workers.
BUT NOT FOR FREE, NOT THE WAY, I HAVE BEEN TREATED.
(On side of this page link to my gardening pages.)
J.B. Poet-Gardener: http://www.geocities.com/poet92363
Today is four days later, AND CIGARETTE BUTTS STILL ON LIBRARY STEPSD AND TODAY; THREE PERSONS WERE ALLOWED BY STAFF TO CRASH ONE OF TWO COMPUTERS THEY WERE USING...ONE OF WHICH I GOT INFO OFF SENDING IT TO THE WEBMASTERS OF THE CA. JUSTICE DEPT. AND THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPT., THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY HACKING, WHICH IS HIGHLY ILLEGAL. STAFF WERE COMPLETELY INCONCERNED, AS ONE DAY, THEY ALLOWED SOMEONE TO PRINT DOZENS OF PAGES FROM A PLAY GAME, I HAVE TO PAY FOR MINE. OH YES, COPY MACHINE STILL OUIT OF ORDER. And one particular staff member, female, likes to delay my getting onto computer)(*same person). J.B.
On 2,1,03: I discovered this library has obtained a new copy machine, hidden somewhat, so this protest continues to evolve improvement.
3/5/03: The original trash on the front sidewalk and steps is still there!
Sometime ago, I found in the library dumpster, several books discarded, including an older medical double set. IT WOULD BE WISE IF LIBRARIES 1. OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC THESE BOOKS! FREE AT FRONT COUNTER OR DISPLAY. 2. MADE SURE VIA THE INTERNET< THE BOOKS WERENT VALUEABLE AS COLLECTOR ITEMS OR RARE BOOKS. UNCONSCIONABLE, THE RARE BOOKS THAT MAY HAVE GONE TO THE LANDFILL< BY I ASSURE, YOU, ALL LIBRARIES DOING THIS!
THE BELOW EMAILS SAYS IT ALL ABOUT THE EL CENTRO LIBRARY:
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From :
"Jerry Barta" <[email protected]>
To :
[email protected], [email protected]
CC :
[email protected], [email protected]
Subject :
EL CENTRO LIBRARY DIRECTOR SUBVERTS LAW:
Date :
Mon, 03 Mar 2003 11:01:41 -0800
Reply Reply All Forward Delete Put in Folder...InboxSent MessagesDraftsTrash Can Printer Friendly Version
Today, at aprox. 10:00 am, a mentally ill male, sits at a round table talking loudly in free verse rambling, this went on and on for at least 20 minutes. Finally, I request the front desk attendant to call 911, she refuses twice.
THEN, I ask the director and he refuses.
Finally, I request it again when he comes to the front desk, saying he knows the man, AND SAYS: "THERES NO PROBLEM."
I step out and call 911 asking that the police come for a serious disturbing of the peace.
I go back inside, but am so shaken, I leave the library to wait for the police, at that moment, the man named "Bob" leaves, and the police arriving, letting him proceed. I feel sure the librarians warned Bob to leave the scene of his crime.
THEN OUT OF THE LIBRARY, Comes a Black lady attendant, THEN THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR, who walk down the ramp to confront the officer.
Finally, the director points to me, and I go to the Officer, and the director, says, he "doesnt consider Bob a problem"!
I explain to Officer S. Hart, #359, El Centro, Ca., Policeofficer,
That I do not want to press charges, but the real issue is the library
acting absolutely inappropiately.
He requests my ID, but I remark, he didnt the director.
I come back into the library, followed a moment later by the police, who I assume to confer with director.
An attorney will be notified. Jerry E. Barta, (P.O. 2781)
Poet-Gardener,
Rm 6, Roberta Hotel,
465 State St. El Centro, Ca.
(Where Bob also resides)
From: "Jerry Barta" <[email protected]>
To: [email protected], [email protected]
CC: [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: EL CENTRO LIBRARY ENDANGERING!
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 12:22:08 -0800
YESTERDAY, I CALLED 911 TO REPORT WHILE USING THE EL CENTRO COMPUTERS, I BECAME GROGGY!, DIZZY!, AND DEVELOPED A QUEASY STOMACH, I SURE IT MALFUNCTIONING HEATER SYSTEM. AM TOLD FIRE DEPT. RESPONDED. TODAY< SAME CONDITIONS! GET YOUR GODDAMH HEATER FIXED OR I WILL TAKE YOU INTO COURT FOR ENDANGERING PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN AND ELDERLY! J.B.
TRANSIT ISSUE!:
MEANWHILE THE IMPERIAL TERRORIST ISSUE CONTINUES WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT. RECENTLY, I EMAILED THE FBI, THAT THE TRANSIT AT NIGHT, COMING IN FROM THE MEXICO AREA, HAS NO LIGHTS ON INSIDE THE BUS, HIDING SMUGGLERS OR ILLEGALS.
ON ONE RECENT SATURDAY, I DISCOVERED, the route that ordinarily has a bus coming from Niland to El Centro, at 3:00, doesnt on Saturday and has a three hour wait until another does. WHERE IS THAT BUS FOR THREE HOURS THAT GOES THAT DIRECTION?
ON APROX. APRIL 17, A TRANSIT DRIVER PASSED MY STOP, BY VEERING TO THE LEFT LANE, INSTEAD OF STAYING IN THE RIGHT LANE TO THE STOP. WHEN I REMARKED ABOUT THIS, HE SHOUTED AT ME TO GET OFF THE BUS OR HE WOULD CALL THE POLICE. TWICE HE SHOUTED THIS, AND I VACATED TO WALK BACKWARDS TO MY DESTINATION. AT BURGER KING< I CALLED THEIR 1 800 804 3050 number speaking to JORGE MANRIGUEZ, Manager, WHO IN ALL THESE MONTHS< NEVER RESPONDED IN ANY WAY TO THE TRANSIT ISSUES! HE STATED THAT "HIS CLIENTS WERE HELD IN HIS HIGHEST ESTEEM" I ASKED THAT THE DRIVER BE TESTED FOR DRUGS, AND TOLD HIM THAT IN COURT, HE MIGHT BE ASKED PROVE THE TEST HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT BY THE COURT. THIS WAS OUTRAGIOUS BEHAVIOR BY A DRIVER! ELDER ABUSE! THE BUS NUMBER I THINK WAS 19117, the stop he missed was across from the DMV office on Imperial St., in El Centro.
THEN ON ABOUT THE 19th, I GOT ON THE BUS SEEING THE VERY FIRST CAUCASION MALE EVER SEEN DRIVING SINCE Oct. 2002...HE SAID HE AND A BLACK EMPLOYEE WORKED AS DISPATCHERS< SELDOM DRIVING A BUS, EXCEPT IN EMERGENCY! THAT IS NOT FOLLOWING FEDERAL GUIDELINES!
IT SUGGESTS FAVORTISM, BUT WHEN YOU REALIZE THE DRIVERS SPEAK LITTLE ENGLISH< IT MAKES SENSE, THEY COULD NOT PERFORM A DISPATCHERS JOB!
HIS NAME IS GENE.
BELOW IS A COPIED AND PASTED STATEMENT THAT APPEARS ON ANY COMPUTER ONE USES AT THE EL CENTRO LIBRARY, WHAT IS CURIOUS,THE PERSONS NAME AT THE VERY BOTTOM IS ITS NAMED DIRECTOR.
IN A RECENT ISSUE, THIS BEING 4/8/03, On the 31th 0f April, I presented to the director of the El Centro, Ca., library about 50 Mexican Perennial root cutting slips, I had collected locally for the library flower bed, prearranging with him before, my doing this. A week later, he said he was going to give them to his brother!, a gardener. I CHECK DAILY, HE DIDNT PLANT THEM, SO I AM CONSIDERING A SMALL CLAIMS LAWSUIT FOR HIS OBVIOUS ILL CONSIDERATION OF MY MANY YEARS AS A GARDENER. (Consider too my other donations, did he give them away too?
El Centro Public Library
New Children’s Librarian II hired February 2002.
Mr. Roland Banks, a credentialed full MLS librarian was hired full-time after a lengthy search.
The library received a $5,000 PacBell Community Enrichment Grant for the purchase and installation of public-access computers for children. In March 2002, the Library received 5 computers. Educational software was ordered, and additional software appropriate to children was purchased locally. In late-April 2002 the 5 Computers were made available to children in the community. The Public Library now has a total of 15 public-access computers in the main library.
Manuel Oncina Architects, Inc. was hired to design the renovation project of the Children’s section of the public library. Final contract was signed June 2002 and the Notice to Proceed was issued October 1, 2002.
Mayor Larry Grogan successfully secured a matching grant for the Children’s room renovation in September 2001. ($70,000 matching donation)
Summer Reading Program successes:
Designed to encourage children to visit the library and read during the summer.
We had 200 children register to participate in our program. We had 5 weekly events to promote reading, and we had an overall attendance of 612 persons.
Parking lot at the Public Library was redone with new striping and signage, with a very noticeable improvement in appearance.
Negotiated a contract with Proquest to provide their services to the El Centro, Calexico, Brawley and County libraries at a competitive price. Proquest provides full-text databases of magazine and newspapers to public libraries.
Expenditures for new library materials increased primarily for children and young adult materials. ($70,000 spent last fiscal year 7/1/01 to 6/30/02 for library materials) For the fiscal year that translated into about 3,000 new books added to the collection with about 400 new Spanish-language titles.
The El Centro Public Library’s new homepage was rolled out. Designed and maintained through the expertise of Raymundo Ojeda of the El Centro Police Department. http://www.cityofelcentro.org/library/
OTHER LIBRARY HIGHLIGHTS:
Total Circulation at the El Centro Public Library:
1-01-02 to 12-31-02: 128,000
New Titles Added: 4500
New Library Cards Issued in 2002: 3100
Total Programs: 102
Total Service Hours last Fiscal Year: 2,562
Victor Zazueta
Librarian
(760) 337-4565
APRIL, 03: DURING THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I HAVE GIVEN THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR PLANTS FOR HIM TO PLANT IN THE LIBRARY LIBRARY, INCLUDING TWO SPECIMANS I PURCHASED. APPARENTLY, HE SETS THEM ASIDE, DOESNT PLANT THEM, AND THEY DIE.
