September 2006 Archives

A more extensive collection of books on CD/Audio. I go home every weekend and I'd really like to enjoy a book on the way there and back, and I definitly do NOT want to listen to Shakespeare on Route 95!!
From: Jennifer, undergraduate student

VCU Libraries Humanities Librarian Kevin Farley replies . . . .
VCU Libraries strives to provide the maximum support possible for the University's academic programs, which represent a multi-disciplinary and diverse curriculum. Collection decisions will always be curriculum-defined, with collecting emphases evolving as academic programs change and develop. This includes supporting the needs of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, and supporting the academic community in carrying out teaching and research activities. Unfortunately, current budget constraints preclude the collection of audio books other than those that are directly supporting a curriculum. It is also not uncommon for academic libraries to have few audio books. Public libraries, however, often emphasize the collection of audio books as one of their most popular formats for borrowing. While VCU Libraries has very few unabridged books on tape, we do have approximately 800 spoken word recordings on cassette, most of which are short works that would be highly suitable for commuting, such as poetry, plays, lectures, and conference proceedings.

An additional comment was supplied by Beth Burton, Manager, Circulation and Information Services ....
I wanted to make you aware of a great service offered by VCU Libraries that still might meet your needs for information and entertainment on your trips home—for free!

While VCU Libraries does not have a great collection of audio books, there are ways to take advantage of other libraries' collections, at no cost to you, and with very little inconvenience. The service is called Interlibrary Loan (also referred to as ILLiad). Stop by, call, or email the Circulation and Information Services Desk or the Research and Reference Desk at Cabell Library, and we’ll show you the simple process that can get you the audio books you’re looking for by using ILLiad.

The Library will need more computers on the First, Second and Fourth Floors, so that students and guests will not have to stand and wait for access.There are many places in the State of Virginia and the Federal Government that throw away computers annually.
From: A Friend of the Library

John Duke, Senior Associate University Librarian, replies...
You are right -- Cabell Library is indeed busy and crowded! In addition to competition for computers, other resources are at a premium, including study space and shelves for books. The library was built for a much smaller student body and a much smaller collection, and we simply have grown beyond our ability to satisfy the demand. Working within the limits of our existing space is a daily and serious challenge for us.

Using surplus computers is an interesting idea, but one that we have chosen not to pursue. The initial cost of the hardware is not our primary barrier, although that of course is always an issue. Electrical expansion is a major blocker, as the building is now operating close to capacity. Bringing in another power line to upgrade our electrical infrastructure would be very costly and beyond our current budget.

We are also facing overall space constraints. Thanks to Student Technology Fees, last year we added more network ports in the second floor group study area and in the third floor group study rooms, as well as additional computers on the first and second floors. We also hope to see improved wireless coverage this Fall as part of work that VCUnet has committed to. However, trying to squeeze more computers into our current space, in addition to providing the electrical and network connections that would be needed, is becoming harder and harder to do. If funds become available in the future and the electrical grid will support it, we will look at modestly expanding the number of computers if we can do it without disrupting other important operations.

In addition to the logistical problem of adding more machines, it would not be wise for us to use surplus machines from other agencies as you suggest. Those agencies are surplussing their computers for a very good reason -- they are no longer able to keep up with the increasing demands of graphical and database intensive network computing. We find that our oldest computers -- those more than three years old -- give users the most problems and require the most effort on our part to keep operating. Our first priority this year will be to replace as many of these as we can with our equipment allocation. After that project is complete, we will look at expanding laptop ports and computers.

Eventually, we will have expanded library space on the Monroe Park Campus, and filling that space with appropriate, advanced technologies will be among our highest priorities. We all hope that day comes soon!

Access to electronic journals/resources should be available to state agency employees who are working in research and policy evaluation. If the employee provides the proper credentials, he or she should be allowed access to the library's resources. This access would facilitate the adoption of innovative and effective policy solutions by providing efficient access to the latest research in public policy.
From: Elizabeth, Department of Social Services

Pat Flanagan, Associate University Librarian for Public Services, replies....
Thank you for your question regarding state agency employee access to electronic journals and resources. As you suggest, our licensed resources might indeed be quite valuable to your research needs. Though our computing resources are primarily for the research needs of VCU students, faculty, administrators, and staff, other individuals may gain access if they are visiting VCU Libraries. Guests may use our computers for research purposes, with some limitations that give VCU affiliated persons priority access when all workstations are in use.

If you will be visiting VCU Libraries to use these resources, please ask for help at the Reference Desk. Staff working there will be glad to assist you with logging on to a machine. The VCU Computer and Network Resources Use Policy governs specific uses of Libraries computers.

Unfortunately, off-campus access to databases is not available to those who are not students, faculty, staff, or administrators. The licenses governing use of these resources limit use to affiliated constituencies and to walk-in guests.

I hope this information helps. We appreciate learning about your interest in using VCU Libraries.

I have been needing to gain access to many Nature Reviews Neuroscience articles. I don't understand why we don't have access to all Nature Reviews journals. Could you please look into this so that I do not have to request these items via ILliad? Electronic access to the Journal of Neuroscience is also limited. Thank you.
From: staff

Lynne U. Turman, Head, Tompkins-McCaw Library Collections, responds....
Thank you for contacting us with your comments. I am pleased to tell you that VCU Libraries has access to both of these journal titles. Through our participation in VIVA, the Virtual Library of Virginia, we have access to all 7 of the Nature Reviews series, including Neuroscience, back to their inception. We also subscribe to the electronic version of Journal of Neuroscience back to volume 1, 1981.

You can connect to either of these journals through the Library Catalog or the E-Journals link on the Libraries homepage. If you experience any difficulty with accessing the titles, please contact the Service Desk at Tompkins-McCaw Library at 804-828-0636. Thank you again for taking the time to send us your comments.