October 2005 Archives

The lack of wireless capabilities in the library is getting
frustrating. First it will work and then it won't. I've been told for several
times that you're working on it but its still the same.
From: bob

Jimmy Ghaphery, head of Library Information Systems replies...

Bob,
I share your frustrations, the wireless access in Cabell Library has been inconsistent this semester. We have been working with the VCU Technology Services to improve this since September and have recently seen some improvements. The wireless network is managed by the VCU Technology Services. For assistance with wireless connectivity contact the VCU Technology Services Help Desk at 828-2227 or e-mail to help@vcu.edu.

Jimmy

There's a need for an evening reference librarian at the medical library. The evening staff seems to be lacking in reference skills.
From: Gaya

Cate Canevari, Head of Education and User Services at Tompkins-McCaw Library replies...

Thank you for submitting your comments regarding reference services offered by the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences (TML). We value feedback from library users and your comments are appreciated.

As you noted, reference services are not supported during all of TML's open hours. They are offered during our peak service hours, 10:00am-4:00pm Monday through Friday. During these hours, reference is available by asking at the Service Desk or by appointment. This service is supplemented by consultations via phone, email and chat.
In addition to reference services, TML offers a Library Liaison Program. Library Liaisons welcome personal consultations and are able to provide research assistance on a variety of projects.

If would like to find about more about TML's reference services or need any additional assistance with your research needs, please contact Barbara Wright, TML Reference Services Librarian.

As a student new to the VCU campus, I am concerned about the lack of
security at the Cabell Library. Often the guards assigned seem not to be
paying any attention to who comes into the library and, as a result,
there are often a number of people who clearly have no connection
whatsoever with the university, but are simply using the building as a
place to hang out. Homelessness is a big problem and one the university
cannot solve, but I think it is a mistake to permit many unauthorized
people to use the library for non-library purposes. Can you tell me: is
the rule that anyone who enters the library needs a university ID? If
not, can anyone enter the library? If so, why do we have security guards
at all? Thanks for your attention. This is a potentially important
issue, I believe.

Assistant University Librarian for Policy Development Walter sampson replies..

Thank you for telling us about your concern to security in VCU Libraries. In preparing our response to you, we realized the Libraries' hours requiring University ID to access library buildings had been inadvertently omitted on its website "hours" section . I have requested the appropriate staff to add this information @ http://www.library.vcu.edu/jbc/hours/.

You will see below that only members of the "University community" with proper University ID are admitted to the library buildings hours between the hours 10:00 pm to 2:00 am. At other times when the libraries are open, members of the general public may enter the building to use the collections and services of VCU Libraries.

Security is important to VCU Libraries. Security Officers' duties and responsibilities are written jointly by VCU Libraries and VCU Police Security Division. Security coverage at Cabell Library is Sunday through Saturday. Two security personnel cover each shift. Sunday to Thursday shift runs from 4:00 pm to 2:30 am; Friday & Saturday security staff are on duty from 4:00 pm to 9:30 pm. When the Library is open 24 hours at the end of the semester 2-3 security officers are on duty 4:00 pm to 7:00 am. Security personnel are supervised by VCU Police under police performance guidelines. General performance issues can be address by library managers in Circulation Services. Major performance issues are reported in writing to the Security Commander.

The incidents you mentioned clearly are covered under the post description and should have been addressed by the security officer on duty. You said "...guards assigned seem not to be paying any attention to who comes in the library." Under COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES "The security officer will be alert to members of the general public whose activity in the building appears to be suspicious or with criminal intent." You also stated "...a number of people who clearly have no connection whatsoever with the university ...simply using the building as a place to hang out." Again, one of the officers' duties does "not to permit individuals to loiter at the security station area." To your concern about library users, please see the Libraries' regulation, Use of Libraries Building. This regulation shows that faculty, staff, & students have first priority to access and use library property, resources, and services. The security officer under his/her discretion will notify persons entering or already in the building, especially if someone becomes disruptive about University & Library policies and procedures. The Libraries direct users in Cabell Library to present their University ID to access the building between the hours 10:00 pm to 2:00 am. Patrons without VCU ID card are not granted access to the Building. Users already in the Library before 10:00 pm without VCU ID may stay in the Library. However, if they leave they are not permitted to return to the building without VCU ID. The security staff are responsible for enforcing this policy.

Security personnel are asked to use tact, diplomacy, and good judgment in carrying out their duties. They are also instructed not to confront or apprehend anyone who might be trespassing or engaged criminal activity. In these cases they will notify VCU Police Dispatcher of the event, location and description of the activity.

I hope this explanation provides enough information about security in VCU Libraries. If you need additional information, clarification, or wish to submit suggestions for improving security operations, please contact me at 828-1116, or stop by my office in Cabell Library, room 201.

Sincerely,

Walter Sampson
Assistant Librarian for Policy Development

Why must I give you my address, phone number, etc. to merely get a book
delivered/placed on hold? This is outrageous to me! All you need to do
your job is my school ID number. Any other requirements puts my personal
information at risk and wastes my time.
From: Gabriel

Beth Burton of Circulation & Information Services replies...

Thank you for writing with your concerns, Gabriel. I appreciate the efforts you are taking to protect your identity and those of your fellow VCU students, faculty and staff members. We actually have made this change to ask for your address and phone number in order to forgo asking for your social security number.

Last year, VCU Libraries conducted a libraries-wide examination of all our forms. We made sure they all replaced the social security number with a new form of identification. The item request form was assessed at that time, as well. We knew we had to have more than a student's name, because there are several students in our database who have identical names. We hoped to use the new 8-digit school ID number, too, but we discovered that there are many students who have not yet found a convenient way to access their new ID numbers, and have been too busy to commit that number to memory. We also considered asking for the 16-digit VCU Card number, but found that there is sometimes a significant delay in the update of new VCU Card information when a student loses an old card. In addition, some students have other, risky information tied to that card number too, such as Rambucks and Dining Dollars. We decided at that time that the safest information we could ask for would be name, address, and phone number, because these forms of information are the most publicly available. They are also easier to search for in our library database.

Now, I hope you won't give up hope, because as our head of Research and Reference Services, Mary Ellen Spencer, mentioned in the Suggestion Blog on September 9, 2005, library staff members are currently working on a project that will make it possible to place holds directly from our catalog by using your My Library Record account. This step will remove the necessity of typing in your name, address and telephone number. This project is currently in the testing phase, but we will let you know via the "What's New"column on our website as soon as the transition takes place.

Again, thanks for your care and concern for the VCU community.

I enjoyed having the yellow bags with the library logo. I could get a
large amount of books and not worry about over-stuffing my book bag. And
as an added bonus they were quite stylish.
From: Tavarris

Beth Burton of Circulation & Information services replies...

Dear Tavarris,

Bags are back! I apologize for the delay. I think we are the only people in Richmond who didn't mind that it hasn't rained these last few weeks-and we're hoping now that our bags have come in, the drought will end soon.

One of the reasons for the delay in our bag supply is that we order them by the thousands, and it takes some time for our order to be processed. At the same time, I apologize that I failed to take that time delay into account when we ordered!

The new bags have the same design as the last batch-but are also a bit wider and deeper, so they should also be more useful. (We're delighted that you consider them stylish, as well!)

Thanks, too, for your care and concern for the "health" of our collection. Your conscientious question shows your commitment to the VCU community and is greatly appreciated!