April 2006 Archives

Would it be possible to subscribe to Stratfor? Stratfor is the private sectors version of the CIA and provide crucial information. I have had to use the information they provide in currently three separate reports and also at work. As a plus they offer huge discounts to education institutions. Thank you for your consideration.
From: George, undergraduate student

Serena Haroian, Collection Librarian for Business and Public Services, responds.....
Thank you for your suggestion. The goal of the library is to carefully build and manage substantive information resource collections that serve the University's varied academic programs. Many factors must be considered in the decision to subscribe to a database including relevance to the curriculum, reputation, accessibility, and cost. Because of budget limitations, we are not able to subscribe to all resources that students and faculty suggest. Still, we strongly encourage suggestions for resources from students, faculty, and researchers. Please see our Libraries Item Purchase Request form.

I would like to see book number ranges added to the sides of the shelving units on the third and fourth floor, like on the first floor. Even if it was just the letters and first numbers, it would make it a lot easier to find the books I'm looking for quicker.
From:a graduate student

Patricia Palmer Selinger, Head, Preservation Department, VCU Libraries, responds....
We shifted both the 3rd and 4th floors this year and the signs came down because they weren't correct. The call number signs will be replaced as soon as possible. Thank you for telling us they are helpful!

The bathrooms in the library on the first floors don't ever have toilet paper and are always dirty. I pay a lot of money for tuition and believe that the facilities should at least have toilet paper.
From: Tracey, undergraduate student

Jodi Koste, Head, Resources and Operations, and Archivist replies...
Thanks for expressing your concern about the condition of the restrooms on the first floor of the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences. Housekeeping services are provided by a private outside contractor. According to the terms of our contract the restrooms are to be cleaned daily and checked mid-day to see if they require spot cleaning or supplies. We are aware that there are periodic lapses in this service and continually work with the proper University authorities to address the situation.

If you find the restrooms in an unsatisfactory condition, please help us by reporting this information to the library staff. We will take immediate steps to resolve the problems.

Comments regarding JBC:
1) The wireless in the library has been out since last semester. As I understand it, those responsible for this have been aware of this problem, still are aware of this problem, and have not yet fixed the problem. What is the problem then??? This has to be the only major university in Virginia, and possible the East Coast, that is not able to offer it's students wireless in the library.

Thanks, Ken
From: Kenneth, undergraduate student

Jimmy Ghaphery, head of Library Information Systems replies to the first part of Ken’s comments...
Thanks for the suggestions. We will investigate the network connections on the first floor of Cabell Library. In addition we have installed 10 new network ports on the 3rd floor in the group study rooms. We do have plans for more expansion of network ports but do face a number of limitations with regard to the physical infrastructure of the building.

Wireless access in Cabell Library has been inconsistent this year. We have been working with VCU Technology Services to improve this since September 2005 and have seen some improvements on other floors, but the 1st floor is currently very bad and I do not expect dramatic improvements this semester. VCU Technology Services has advised that we seek outside expertise on this problem and we have contracted with a national firm to do a thorough site survey of both libraries in order to receive guidance on how to provide a more reliable wireless experience.

The wireless network is and will be managed by 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.

Curtis Lyons, Interim Associate University Librarian for Public Services, replies to the remainder of Ken’s comments...
Library patrons prefer diverse study environments. We have tried to designate each of the 2nd through 4th floors differently to encourage all patrons to find the environment that is best for them.

The 2nd floor is for group study; patrons there can expect a certain amount of noise as groups work together. The 3rd floor is for people studying in very small groups and conversations should be kept fairly quiet. The 4th floor is the quiet floor and conversation of any kind is discouraged as the entire floor is reserved for individual research and study.

Anyone who feels that there is a level of noise above what any one study environment should have should contact a library employee or security guard. Cell phones are prohibited on all floors except in certain designated locations. For more information, visit the James Branch Cabell Library Quiet Building Guidelines.

Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention.

Having a 2 or 3 person minimum in the group study rooms on the first floor. It seems that 80% of the rooms are occupied by only 1 person constantly.
From: Paul, undergraduate student

Mary Ellen Spencer, Interim Deputy Associate University Librarian for Public Services replies....
You're right to observe that the demand for group study rooms in Cabell Library continues to be high. In fact, the Libraries received a suggestion very similar to yours last spring. (For more information, see the May 6, 2005 Suggestion Blog entry on Group Study Rooms.)

The entire library regulation governing use of group study rooms is posted outside the rooms and is also available on the VCU Libraries' Web site at: http://www.library.vcu.edu/services/studyroom.html. In response to the suggestion we received last spring, the Libraries created new signs that are posted inside each room. The text reads: "Group Study Rooms are for groups of two or more users to work together without disturbing others. Please keep noise to a minimum and limit use to two hours."

We do not prohibit an individual from using a study room as long as no group needs it. If your study group cannot find an open room, and if an individual is using a room, you may politely ask the person to move to another area so that your group can use the space. If you prefer to have a member of the library staff ask for you, just stop by the closest service desk. We'll be happy to help you.

How is anyone supposed to get anything done on the first floor with all that noise? I understand that Cabell Library has quiet floors, which are great, but the first floor is a little more convenient if one needs to review for a test or get a little homework done, not to mention the fact that it also serves as a home to Java 911 and the periodicals. I do not mind if people want to carry on a conversation with a friend or study in a group, but the noise level, especially to the far left of the first floor near the group study rooms, is just ridiculous. Groups of students will use the group study rooms to do anything but group studying. It's more like watching movies (loudly) on friend's laptops, testing different cell phone ring tones, gossiping, and talking and laughing with anything but inside voices. I mean for goodness sake, isn't that the purpose for which the commons serves? If students are not going to study, then why go to the library at all? Conversations on the first floor are to be expected, but often it gets way out of hand. The library should have someone stationed in that area, to the left and back, during peak hours because the noise level is simply intolerable for students who really did come to the library to use it correctly.
From: Derick, undergraduate student

Curtis Lyons, Interim Associate University Librarian for Public Services, replies...
We strongly encourage our patrons to report disruptions in any part of the library to library staff or security guards. In many cases, we find that the offending patrons don't even realize how loud they are being and react well to a gentle reminder from a guard.

Similarly, we encourage patrons to report mis-use of our group study rooms. They are in high demand and we do not want them taken up by individuals who could be studying in other areas or by groups who are not studying. You can find our study room policies here: http://www.library.vcu.edu/services/studyroom.html.

I regret that we are simply not funded to the levels necessary to monitor all of the potential noisy areas in the library. Our security guards, present from late afternoon to closing, are instructed to walk the library and help provide a strong study environment for students. We will confirm that this is happening.

We have taken many steps in the last two years to improve the study environment in Cabell Library and welcome suggestions as to how we can continue to do so.

Why don't we have recycling bins such as the ones in the commons?
From: Andi, undergraduate

David Morrison, Facilities Coordinator replies...
We think this is a great suggestion, Andi. To help implement this we will check with VCU Recycling. Hopefully we will have a recycling bin for plastic bottles on the first floor of Cabell and the first floor of Tompkins-McCaw soon. Thanks for the idea.