May 2005 Archives

Need more audio books, books on CD.
From: Brett

VCU Libraries Collection Management Head Karen Cary replies...

The goal of collection development in the VCU Libraries is to support the University's multi-disciplinary and diverse curriculum and related research enterprise. The majority of our collection will always be curriculum-defined with collecting emphases evolving as our programs change. The Libraries strives to provide the maximum support possible for the University's academic programs. This includes supporting the needs of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, and supporting the academic community in carrying out teaching and research activities. Unfortunately, at this time, budget constraints preclude the collection of audio books other than those that are directly supporting a curriculum. It is not uncommon for academic libraries to have few audio books. Audio books, however, are one of the most popular formats in public libraries. While we have very few unabridged books on tape, the Libraries does have approximately 800 spoken word recordings on cassette, most of which are short works: poetry, plays, lectures, and conference proceedings.

Is there any way to prevent the annoying "Red Bull"-hawking folks
from entering Cabell Library? Surely there are no-solicitation policies that would preclude such whorish behavior. Their overeager, chirpy, vacant personalities annoy me and I would rather not be disturbed during exam week.

Interim Associate University Librarian for Public Services Barbara Anderson replies...

Whatever you may think of the folks hawking "Red Bull" in Cabell Library, you've got to admit that their instincts were dead on: this place has certainly been action central for sleep-deprived, caffeine-needy students during the last few days of exam week! In addition to being "overeager" and "chirpy," I guess you can also add "stealthy" to your list of adjectives, because they absolutely should not have been selling their product in the library, and apparently they managed to evade all library staff while they were here.

The VCU Libraries' "Use of Library Buildings" regulations expressly forbid "selling, and/or soliciting for money, items, or services." In addition, there is a VCU Solicitation policy that also prohibits unauthorized vendors from selling their products on campus and suggests that sanctions could include "removal from campus or trespassing charges." That would make those "Red Bull" folks wake up and smell the coffee, wouldn't it?

At this point, exams are over for the semester and I hope that yours went well in spite of this unfortunate library experience. In the future, if you should happen to notice this sort of vendor solicitation in the VCU Libraries please do bring it to the attention of library staff as soon as possible so we can take the bull by the horns, as it were, and remove the distraction.

Many students enjoy studying in the quiet of the basement of Tompkins-McCaw Library, but unfortunately many of the lights above the cubicles against the wall are out...some have been out for months, making certain cubicles a lot less desirable. Any chance on replacing the bulbs?

Jodi Koste, Head of Resources and Operations at Tompkins-McCaw Library replies...

Thank you for pointing out the problem with the lighting in the journal stacks at Tompkins-McCaw Library. We encourage you to report problems with our library buildings through the Library Service Blog or by stopping by one of our service desks. Your information helps us to maintain a good environment for research and study. Lights are replaced in the libraries on a regular basis by members of the Physical Plant Department. Library staff regularly report problems such as burned out lights. Unfortunately, many of our lighting fixtures are old and can not be made to work again simply by replacing a bulb. As funding allows, Physical Plant will replace the fixtures or renovate them to make them operational.

Please powerwash the bathrooms on the first floor! They were in
appalling condition last night. I know there is extra demand during
finals, but there should be more cleaning so that people don't have to
drive home to use the restroom.

Assistant University Librarian for Policy Development Walter Sampson replies..

Thank you for your concern for cleaner restrooms. The housekeeping contract administered by VCU Contract Administration calls for 5 days of full service, 2 days modified service, and 7 days of policing of restrooms. The full service cleaning takes place first in the morning with policing occurring different times during the day. VCU Libraries shares your concern regarding conditions of the restrooms, especially at night. In December 2004, the Libraries amended the housekeeping contract to cover night cleaning including restroom service. This is an additional cost to Cabell Library for cleaning at night for two full time cleaners 8 hours a night is $2,816.00 a month ($33,792 a year). This unexpected cost is charged to the Libraries' budget, which means less money for purchasing library materials. We are asking VCU Contracts Administration to negotiate this requirement within the University housekeeping contract. If the night cleaning is not added to the contract we could see a further deterioration of clean restrooms. In the meantime we ask all users of the restrooms to become stakeholders for the messy conditions by diligently placing paper towels in the trash respectables, report clogged sinks and toilets, and remind those they see abusing these things that their efforts are needed to have cleaner restrooms.

Today on May 9th, at 10:46 I was currently studying for all exams that i
have coming up. And i was stopped by a security guard telling me i was
not allowed to bring food in the building to eat while i am studying.
Earlier today I was able to bring pizza and so were many other students
into the library while they studied. If the food does not have a smell
or is not disruptive to the other students while studying why should we
not be able to have it. A lot of students are currently camping out in
the library for finals and FOOD is a necessity how are you going to deny
us the right to eat in the lib as long as it is not a disturbance? If i
have to Email President of the University about this i will. I will have
my parents and the parents of everyone i know complain bc im sure they
would like to know that while studying i'm not able to nourish my body
with a apple or any other kinds of food. They pay a lot of money for me
to attend this school and pay for the small amount of resources the
students currently have available for them and i'm sure they would like
to know that we aren't allowed to bring food with us while studying. I'm
also sure they wouldn't like the fact that Members who work here are
seen eating and have brought food upstairs after me, "after being told
is not allowed by anyone" and i was unable to do so. I suggest this
issue be addressed or i will continue to go up the chains and get
parents involved if need be. Thanks and have a good day
From: Ashley

Interim Associate University Librarian for Public Services Barbara Anderson replies...

Dear Ashley,

I can understand your frustration on being prevented from bringing food into the library, but I can assure you that the security guard was only trying to help us enforce our food and drink regulations. I realize that most students are not aware that these regulations even exist, and we are working on plans to publicize them more broadly in the near future so you and others will have a better understanding of the Libraries' expectations in this regard.

I appreciate your awareness that some types of food are distracting to others. This type of courtesy is especially important in a setting as crowded as Cabell Library has become, and I know that your parents would be proud of the manner in which you have demonstrated your respect for the needs of others! Our food and drink regulations reflect that same wish to provide a comfortable and quiet place to study by prohibiting "noisy and strong-smelling foods that disturb others."

But it�s not just noise and food odors that concern us - it's also the damage that food and beverages can cause to our library collections, both through direct contact (e.g., stains, grease, mold) and through infestations of pests that are attracted to the building by crumbs, spills, and food wrappers and stay to munch on book glue and paper!

For these reasons, and the fact that library staff are not employed to bus tables, we ask that library users observe our simple regulations, including:
- Beverages in re-closable, spill-proof containers are permitted (except in specific designated areas such as computer labs, library instruction classrooms and Special Collections and Archives)
- Food is limited to snack or wrapped items which are consumed individually and that are not damaging to collections.
- Noisy and strong-smelling snack foods that disturb others are prohibited.
- Group foods, fast food, or open plates of food - pizzas, burgers, fries, salads, complete meals, etc. - are prohibited.
- Outside delivery of food is prohibited.
- Library users must dispose of their food and drink related trash in waste receptacles.

Ashley, we do recognize that studying and eating go hand in hand, and we hope that you will find appropriate snack foods that you can munch while working in the library. But, please try to understand our position that libraries are not appropriate places for eating meals. Campus dining facilities are just a few steps away and provide the best environment for pizzas, burgers, and the like. By complying with our regulations, you can help us to "maintain an inviting, comfortable and clean environment for research and quiet study, ensure pest-free buildings, and preserve collections for the future."

I wish the Cabell library had more comfortable chairs. I love the
extended hours during exams but not at the expense of my back. I
realized that VCU just got new furniture in the library and that it is
expensive but more cushions might help imporve my ability to concentrate
on my studying over the next few years.

Interim Associate University Librarian for Public Services Barbara Anderson replies...

Thank you for your suggestions. Believe me, I feel your pain! I've been
working in Cabell Library for more than 20 years and a lot of the chairs
on our 2nd - 4th floors have been here even longer than that! They were
in style when those floors were furnished in the 1970's. When I got here
they had already gone out of style, and now they're practically "retro,"
if not antique. But one thing they've probably never been is comfortable.

We are anticipating some physical changes and improvements in Cabell
Library within the next several years, and we have had some serious
discussions recently about beginning the process of replacing the tables,
chairs and study carrels on the 2nd - 4th floors with furniture that is in
a style comparable to the newer seating on the 1st floor. When and how
much of this we can do in the short term will depend on the state of the
Libraries' funding. We are just now beginning to prioritize our spending
plans for next year based on preliminary information about the 2005/06
budget.

In the meantime, please be aware that we understand your discomfort. We
want Cabell Library to welcome students with study spaces that are
inviting, aesthetically pleasing and ergonomic, and we will do what we can
to accomplish this as funding allows.

P.S. I hope you're giving yourself plenty of study breaks and reminding
yourself to get up and stretch or move around. It won't make our chairs
any more comfortable, but it might help your aching back.

Not so much a suggestion as much as a compliment and thanks to the Cabell library custodial staff. Despite the longer library hours and the increased student use of cabell, the custodial staff, OB (sp?), Herman Jones, and the rest of the crew have done a fantastic job keeping the bathrooms and study areas clean. (If only the undergraduates would learn to flush and throw away their trash.)
From: grad student

I love the new iMacs, but they aren't able to play DVDs. Some are being
used as catalog search computers (for example) on the third floor, when
they would be much more well suited for multimedia applications like
playing movies. Please enable the new iMacs to play DVDs and put at
least one as a DVD station in media reserves, please!

Nell Chenault, Access Librarian & Head, Media & Reserve Services, replies...

DVD viewing is available in the Media and Reserve Services on the 3rd floor of Cabell Library. This Spring, our Group Viewing Room was updated with surround sound, multi-region DVD and video equipment, and a 36" high-resolution monitor. The MRS has DVD stations with 27 inch high-resolution monitors and high fidelity stereo headphones. Several of the DVD players are multi-region. If you want to use interactive special features on your DVD, we have eMACs and PC's with DVD drives (region 1 only). Come by with a friend to view your personal DVD or borrow one of growing DVD collection.

It would be help full if the computers on the first floor as well as the
other floors had Microsoft Word, Exel and Power Piont. The lad on the
ground floor fills up so fast. Sometimes I just want to drink my coffe
and type my paper and I can't do that....the word pad thing just does
cut it. Also I love the 24 hour thing but the closing at 9 on saturdays
is kind of rough. for me the weeknights are my major work nights.
From: Juanita

Jimmy Ghaphery of Library Information Systems replies....

Microsoft Office is available on all computers at Tompkins-McCaw Library and at selected computers in the James Branch Cabell Library. Cabell Library also has OpenOffice installed on its public computers. OpenOffice is a free and highly regarded alternative to Microsoft Office. Among other things, it will open, edit, and create Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.

Instead of Wordpad, give OpenOffice a try. Start-->Programs-->OpenOffice or by clicking on the icon with the seagulls in the system tray, bottom right hand corner.

More on OpenOffice is available at http://www.openoffice.org/

Please reinforce the fact that the group study rooms are for groups
and not for just one person. Every time my friends and I come to the library,
we can never get into a study room and they are always occupied by a single
individual. A policy reinforcing it would be very helpful and effective.
From: Artemis

Interim Associate University Librarian for Public Services Barbara Anderson replies...
Configuring a library with serious space limitations to accommodate the different study needs of individuals and groups is a real challenge (for more on this you can see my April 22 blog response about the 3rd floor noise policy), As you know, Cabell Library has several rooms that will accommodate groups along the south (Commons) side of the 1st floor, in the central part of the 3rd floor and in a very large open area in the southwest corner of the 2nd floor. In fact, we do have printed regulations that govern the use of these rooms. They are available online at: http://www.library.vcu.edu/services/studyroom.html and they are posted on the walls outside the 1st floor study rooms, as well. Additional signage is on order for posting near the 3rd floor study rooms.

Here are some excerpts from those regulations:
- Priority use of group study rooms is given to groups of two or more people and to individuals with a demonstrated study or research-related need for a private room (e.g., using a tape record to tape notes or practice a speech)
- Groups have priority over individuals in the event all study rooms are in use. Individuals seeking a quiet place to study are encouraged to go to the designated quiet floor (fourth floor)
- A section of the second floor has been designated the Group Study Area. Please use this area if all study rooms are occupied.
- Please limit your use of a room to two hours. Time may be extended if no other group or individual is waiting.
- As a courtesy to other library patrons, please keep noise to a minimum.
- Rules regulating study rooms are the same as applied to Cabell Library as a whole.

So, while it's not exactly true that group study rooms are "not for just one person," if all other group study rooms/areas are full, you and your study partners are within your rights to ask (politely, of course) a single individual occupying one of these rooms to move to another area of the library. If you feel that you need assistance in negotiating group study space, please consult with library staff at one of our service points (reference desk or circulation desk on the first floor, or Media and Reserves desk on the third floor) or with security staff posted near the library entrance.

I just noticed that when I type in the last 10 digits from my VCU ID card, the numbers appear on screen. I had to hold my card to the screen, tilted down so as not to show what's supposed to be private - to anyone with a picture-taking cel phone. Please stop this. I know you mean well. You want us to be able to see if we have typed what we intended. Even with asterisks appearing instead of our digits, we will still be slowed to a crawl, focused on our typing, and less able to notice if someone else is also typing or writing our numbers. That's at least less likely. I suppose the only completely adequate solution is to retrofit card-reading keyboards, when and if they are donated by businesses.
From: William

Jimmy Ghaphery of Library Infdormation Systems, replies...
Thanks for the comments. One of our current projects is to look at how we might make logging in easier and more secure than with the last 10 digits.

With the current login, we are not able to shield the VCUCARD number username, only the password is shielded.

Prior to implementing the login, students had to compete with those from outside VCU who were using our computers to surf the Internet, chat, play games, etc. The Internet login is directly related to our desire to give our students priority access to library computers. Without such a login, it would be even more difficult to find an available computer, especially in Cabell Library, because of increased use by the public.

Too many times I have been notified that books already returned have allegedly not been returned. I'll come in and find them on the shelf or waiting on carts to be reshelved. I have no faith in your return process.

Beth Burton, Manager of Circulation and Information Services, replies...
Thank you for voicing your concern! I appreciate the opportunity to let you know what we're doing to improve our return process:

- In the very near future we will be able to provide automatic "e-receipts" in your university email account for every item that is returned to any VCU Libraries' service desk or return bin. We encourage you to compare these e-receipts to your own records, and if you notice that you haven't received a receipt of return for an item, e-mail us at circnotices@vcu.edu or call me or Jeanne Scott at Circulation and Information Services: 828-1111. We will begin an immediate investigation.

- Courtesy notices are emailed to your VCU email account three days before your items are due. After the due date, two overdue notices are also sent to your VCU email account. If you know you have returned an item and get any of these email messages, simply hit "reply" and give us as much information as you remember about when and where you returned those items, and we will conduct an investigation immediately.

- Any time you encounter a discrepancy between what you know you've returned and what we have recorded on your library account, you may ask for an investigation. We will override the block on your account and you will be able to check out items during the investigation. Soon, you will be able to go to online to the "forms" page on our website and let us know about the discrepancy from your home or office. Meanwhile, ask for the form at the Circulation and Information Services desk on the first floor near the entrance, or print the PDF at http://www.library.vcu.edu/forms/pdf/investigation.pdf and mail it to us or drop it by the CIS desk.

- You are always welcome to search the shelves yourself for any items you have returned, but it is never a requirement. If you have a few free moments and would like to do your own search, just stop by the CIS desk and we will print out the call number and title of the item for you. If you find the item on the shelf, bring it back to the desk. We will check the "OCR number" - a unique number that corresponds to the item you checked out, and the "return stamp" on the date due slip, that will let us know if the item was checked in correctly upon return. If it was not checked in correctly, we will adjust your account immediately. If the "return stamp" shows a date that corresponds with an overdue return, we will continue our investigation process and contact you with further information.

- Here are some other facts to consider about the return and investigation processes at James Branch Cabell Library:
- Since January 1, 2005, we have processed 37,830 returns and 11,893 renewals.
- We have conducted 139 investigations involving 225 items claimed returned; this is 0.5% of our total returns so far. 99.5% of items checked in have not had claims made against them. This could mean that our check-in record is 99.5%; however, we also realize it could mean that investigations are not being requested. Please let us help you by filing an investigation any time you think we have made an error!
- The average resolution time for an investigation is 5 days. 32 investigations were resolved the same day they were received.
- Of the 15 investigations that were unresolved for more than 30 days, only 4 involved shelving errors- items we found later in the stacks. 7 users found the overdue items and returned them. 4 users were participants in the appeals process, during which time their borrowing privileges were returned to them pending the outcome of the appeal.

I hope our efforts will begin to restore some of your faith in the returns process. We are also always ready to listen to your suggestions and comments. Thank you for taking the time to bring your concerns forward. I welcome your participation in our improvement process!

To whom it may concern:
It has come to my attention that the VCU medical library does not have a subscription to Nature of Medicine, which is one of the top ISI rated journals. It is somewhat embarassing that I have to ask my colleagues at UVA to obtain an article from such an important research journal. AS VCU continues to improve its outward appearance, I feel that it is necessary that such materials be made available so that the research performed at this institution can reach its potential.
Sincerely, Mike, Department of Neurosurgery

Tompkins-McCaw Library Reference Librarian Barbara Wright replies..
I'm very pleased to inform you that VCU Libraries does, indeed, provide access for VCU users to NATURE MEDICINE - both in print at Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences [volume 6 (2000) to present] and online [volume 4 (1998) to present].

You can link to the online NATURE MEDICINE from the both the VCU Libraries Catalog or from our E-Journals search page. We're always happy to assist you in using our resources.

VCU Libraries particularly appreciates faculty suggestions for additions to its collections. Your suggestions help us develop collections to better meet the teaching, research, and clinical information needs of VCU users. On its Faculty Resources page, VCU Libraries provides a Purchase Suggestion form specifically for that purpose.

Thank you for your interest in and support of VCU Libraries. Please let us know if we can assist you further.

Barbara A. Wright, M.L.S., AHIP
Reference Services Librarian
Tompkins-McCaw Library User Services

It would be nice if the Data ports on the first floor tables worked
all the time. I know that on the table 2nd nearest the research
assistance desk only has one working data port. Maybe the exposed
wires under the table need covering? It is an inconvenience when you
have one of the coveted laptop spots and the power and data do not
work. You folks should look into that over the summer.
From: Tavarris

Jimmy Ghaphery of Library Information Systems replies...

Thanks Tavarris for bringing this to our attention.
We will indeed look into this.

I know it might be expensive, but would it be possible to put Microsoft
Office on all the library's first floor computers? It would relieve
crowding in the basement lab and make it easier to print papers before
class. Thanks!
From: Omar

Jimmy Ghaphery of Library Information Systems replies....

Microsoft Office is available on all computers at Tompkins-McCaw Library and at selected computers in the James Branch Cabell Library. Cabell Library also has OpenOffice, a free and highly regarded alternative to Microsoft Office. OpenOffice will open, edit, and create Word files.
More on Open Office is available at http://www.openoffice.org/