Take that!
September 2, 2010
Ms. [Branch Supervisor]
[Local Branch], [Town] Public Library
Dear Ms. [Branch Supervisor]:
Re: Summer Reading Club at [Local] Branch of the [Town] Public Library
I am writing to express my extreme displeasure at the outcome of the Summer Reading Club at [Local Branch] of the [Town] Public Library. My child, along with several others, was turned away from the Summer Reading Club Celebration this morning. My son has attended the Reading Club all summer, and has been very much looking forward to attending the end-of-summer celebration. When I, along with my very excited three-year-old, arrived at [Local Branch] this morning, he presented his ticket, but was rebuffed by library staff, who denied him entrance.
Staff curtly informed me that I had not RSVP’d, and my child would not be admitted to the celebration. They stated that there was not enough pizza for everyone. Granted, the ticket did say that we must RSVP to attend, but it was not clear that we had to RSVP twice, once with the library staff at the time we picked up the ticket, and then again at a later date.
I had been presented with the ticket at one of the many sessions which I had attended with my son throughout the summer, and I had very clearly confirmed at that time that we would be pleased to attend. If a second RSVP was required, then this redundant step in the process should have been made clear at that time.
Obviously, the process was not clear, as evidenced by the fact that there were several other children, tickets in hand, being turned away for the same reason. Many parents of the rejected children were quite irate, but I chose to calmly present my case, hoping to salvage the situation for my very disappointed child.
I stated that my son would not mind missing out on the pizza, and requested that he at least be allowed to attend the rest of the party, which he had been looking forward to throughout the summer. This attempt at compromise was vetoed by staff, who would not allow us even to remain for the show. When I asked to speak with a manager, I was informed that the manager would be on vacation all week. No concession was forthcoming, and I left with my disappointed and unwelcome child in tow.
The Summer Reading Club is a truly exceptional educational program. It provides a wonderful opportunity, not only to get kids reading, but also to develop their ability to comprehend, summarize and communicate the details of a story. My son and I thoroughly enjoyed the program -- until today’s unfortunate debacle. It is shameful that the final celebration was so poorly implemented at [Local Branch], and that parents and children of our community have been left with such a negative impression about an otherwise excellent program.
Sincerely,
[Me]
cc:
Ms. [Program Manager], Summer Reading Club
Ottawa
Ms. [Project Coordinator], Summer Reading Club
Toronto
Ms. [Branch Supervisor's Boss at Main Branch]
[My Town]
Okay, okay, so it's a little long, a little over-the-top, but I was M-A-D!
The outcome? This message left on my voicemail yesterday:
Hello, it's [Branch Supervisor] calling from [Local Branch] of the Public Library. I'm calling in regard to the Summer Reading Club Party we held at the end of the summer. It came to our attention that many of the children were unable to attend this party, and there were some problems with the RSVP. So we reviewed our procedures. We will be changing things for next year. But in the meantime, we do regret any hurt feelings there may have been betweeen the families and the branch, and we'd like to make it up to the children. So for those children who were unable to attend the party, we are going to be having another Summer Reading Club party. This party will be held on Sunday, [Date] at [Time]. We're opening up the branch special, just for this party. [Entertainment] will be coming back, there will be a pizza party as well, and we certainly hope that [Big Bear] will be able to make it. If you could call me back at [Number], and let me know if you will be attending the party, I would certainly appreciate it. Thank you very much. Bye bye.
Ms. [Branch Supervisor]
[Local Branch], [Town] Public Library
Dear Ms. [Branch Supervisor]:
Re: Summer Reading Club at [Local] Branch of the [Town] Public Library
I am writing to express my extreme displeasure at the outcome of the Summer Reading Club at [Local Branch] of the [Town] Public Library. My child, along with several others, was turned away from the Summer Reading Club Celebration this morning. My son has attended the Reading Club all summer, and has been very much looking forward to attending the end-of-summer celebration. When I, along with my very excited three-year-old, arrived at [Local Branch] this morning, he presented his ticket, but was rebuffed by library staff, who denied him entrance.
Staff curtly informed me that I had not RSVP’d, and my child would not be admitted to the celebration. They stated that there was not enough pizza for everyone. Granted, the ticket did say that we must RSVP to attend, but it was not clear that we had to RSVP twice, once with the library staff at the time we picked up the ticket, and then again at a later date.
I had been presented with the ticket at one of the many sessions which I had attended with my son throughout the summer, and I had very clearly confirmed at that time that we would be pleased to attend. If a second RSVP was required, then this redundant step in the process should have been made clear at that time.
Obviously, the process was not clear, as evidenced by the fact that there were several other children, tickets in hand, being turned away for the same reason. Many parents of the rejected children were quite irate, but I chose to calmly present my case, hoping to salvage the situation for my very disappointed child.
I stated that my son would not mind missing out on the pizza, and requested that he at least be allowed to attend the rest of the party, which he had been looking forward to throughout the summer. This attempt at compromise was vetoed by staff, who would not allow us even to remain for the show. When I asked to speak with a manager, I was informed that the manager would be on vacation all week. No concession was forthcoming, and I left with my disappointed and unwelcome child in tow.
The Summer Reading Club is a truly exceptional educational program. It provides a wonderful opportunity, not only to get kids reading, but also to develop their ability to comprehend, summarize and communicate the details of a story. My son and I thoroughly enjoyed the program -- until today’s unfortunate debacle. It is shameful that the final celebration was so poorly implemented at [Local Branch], and that parents and children of our community have been left with such a negative impression about an otherwise excellent program.
Sincerely,
[Me]
cc:
Ms. [Program Manager], Summer Reading Club
Ottawa
Ms. [Project Coordinator], Summer Reading Club
Toronto
Ms. [Branch Supervisor's Boss at Main Branch]
[My Town]
Okay, okay, so it's a little long, a little over-the-top, but I was M-A-D!
The outcome? This message left on my voicemail yesterday:
Hello, it's [Branch Supervisor] calling from [Local Branch] of the Public Library. I'm calling in regard to the Summer Reading Club Party we held at the end of the summer. It came to our attention that many of the children were unable to attend this party, and there were some problems with the RSVP. So we reviewed our procedures. We will be changing things for next year. But in the meantime, we do regret any hurt feelings there may have been betweeen the families and the branch, and we'd like to make it up to the children. So for those children who were unable to attend the party, we are going to be having another Summer Reading Club party. This party will be held on Sunday, [Date] at [Time]. We're opening up the branch special, just for this party. [Entertainment] will be coming back, there will be a pizza party as well, and we certainly hope that [Big Bear] will be able to make it. If you could call me back at [Number], and let me know if you will be attending the party, I would certainly appreciate it. Thank you very much. Bye bye.