[OPLINLIST] Providing coffee service?

[Barbara Pickell]

Not at this library, but at the last place I worked, we had soda, coffee and snack 
machines.  They were in the Friends room, around the corner from the circ desk, 
but not in direct sight.  This became the YA room of choice, which led to a few 
problems, like M&M fights.  Many of our Friends, retired school teachers in 
particular, were more concerned about the occasional problems than I was.  Most 
times, we had people studying or reading.  We could also send people who were 
trying to eat or drink in other parts of the library out there.  I even thought 
about creating an Internet cafe atmosphere by providing computers in that space, 
but hadn't gotten around to it before I left.  

We went with machines because of the expense of meeting health department 
requirements for a staffed space (two sinks required).  I know of another library 
that had expanded and included a cafe space, but had a terrible time keeping a 
vendor because the profits weren't high enough.  We started out with soda, coffee 
and cocoa, but added water almost immediately because of demand, and charged more 
for it than we did for other beverages.  We didn't require lids, and actually had 
very little damage to the room or the material.  

Barbara J. Pickell
Library Director
Fairfield County District Library
219 N. Broad St.
Lancaster, OH 43130
740-653-2745 x 177
bpickell@fcdlibrary.org

On Thu, 04 Mar 2004 16:40 , Don Boozer <boozerdo@oplin.org> sent:

>Dear fellow OPLINers:
>
>Our library is embarking on providing a coffee service for our patrons and 
>would appreciate any thoughts, hints, or helpful information from libraries 
>that have had experience with this type of endeavor. We are planning on 
>providing this service in a lobby area with seating and tables. In addition 
>to the drinks, we are contemplating providing a snack food machine. Things 
>are still very much in the planning stages, but that is why we're turning 
>to all of you. We are particularly interested in the following aspects:
>1) Have you used vendors, automatic machines, a staffed coffee bar, or some 
>other form of providing the actual drinks? We'd like to hear both pro and 
>con/good and bad experiences with these various dispensing methods.
>2) What drinks have you provided? Just coffee, or a combination of coffee, 
>tea, cocoa, soda, juice, etc.?
>3) Do you have any problems with spillage or damage to library materials? 
>Do you mandate cups with lids?
>4) Did you encounter any unexpected problems or difficulties?
>5) Any other information that any of you think would be helpful.
>Feel free to respond directly to me or post on OPLIN. Other libraries may 
>benefit from our search for information. Thank you.
>_____________________________
>Donald Boozer, Reference Librarian
>Barberton Public Library
>602 West Park Avenue, Barberton, OH 44203
>330-745-1194
>www.barberton.lib.oh.us
>
>
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