There are various actions you can take to make the environment more appealing for patrons:

• Insure there is ample lighting for the evenings, especially in the parking lot and along the access walkways to the Library entrance.
• Work with your State D.O.T. (Dept of Transportation) to post signs directing visitors to your library along the most likely access routes.
• Clearly post your open hours from the parking lot...so patrons don’t have to exit their cars to know if the Library is open.
• Use signs to explain where to park, if it is free, time limits and any other pertinent information.
• Keep the parking lot and surrounding area clean and free of debris...if it looks clean, it looks safe.
• Don’t allow smoking within 100ft of the entrance (or better yet on Library grounds at all). Too often women with young children have to “run the gauntlet” of cigarette smoke and smokers hovering around the Library entrance.
• Make sure your entrance(s) is/are handicap accessible and the automatic doors are in good working order.

Many of the above can be accomplished at relatively low cost. With a few of these changes, you can make your library even more inviting!