October 2007 Archives

Has the TML library become a social club for dental students? Every time I have been here during this semester (at least 2 times per week), the dental students seem to be taking over the entire first floor, and they are extremely loud. I understand that the first floor is more relaxed about conversations, but what ever happened to whispering and why is the library now a place to come for social interactions? Can't the dental school build a computer lab or give them more study space or something? Help!!
From: anonymous staff

Cate Canevari, Associate Director, Research and Education, replies…..
Thank you for contacting us and sharing your comments. The Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences strives to be a welcoming space and supportive resource for all library users, and your input is appreciated. As you mentioned, the first floor area is a different environment from other locations within the library, and is generally louder than other places especially during peak hours. Students visit the library in between classes to study in groups, get coffee and use the computers. As a result, the first floor area tends to get crowded during these times. The group study rooms, the 2nd Floor Quiet Study Room, 2nd Floor study carrels and tables, and stack carrels in the basement are available throughout the day and generally are quiet areas for study.

We encourage library users to report disruptions in the library to our staff as they arise. We have found that library users react well to a gentle reminder. We encourage library users to report the mis-use of our quiet study areas; please inform staff at the Service Desk.

We welcome further suggestions as to how we can strive to improve the library environment, and appreciate your willingness to share your concerns.

Hi there, you used to have a RefWorks link on your main libraries site, now it takes two screens to get to the link... Would you consider putting it back where it was? That was really helpful!
From: a faculty member

Cate Canevari, Associate Director, Research and Education Tompkins-McCaw Library, responds...
Thank you for contacting the VCU Libraries regarding access and links to RefWorks. We appreciate you taking the time to send us your question and feedback, and will forward this to the Web Development team. RefWorks is indeed a very popular resource, and as a result there is a link to the RefWorks guide from our QuickLinks menu located on the library homepage. The guide has a direct link to "Connect to RefWorks", which gives you access to the resource with two clicks.

Because RefWorks is relatively new to our users, we currently link to the Resource Guide that explains access to RefWorks since remote access for RefWorks is handled slightly different from our other resources. It is possible that in the future we will link directly to the resource as more VCU users become familiar with RefWorks. In the meantime please know that your feedback is being considered.

How come I can't find the suggestion blog on your web site any more? Are you tired of our suggestions? Or just tired of answering them?

Jimmy Ghaphery, head of Library Information Systems, replies...
Thank you for the suggestion, we are always looking at ways to improve the site. Currently the quickest method to find the Suggestion Blog is along with all of our other blogs. Click on the Podcasts & Blogs link in the Library News section of the homepage. To submit suggestions, click on the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page. Based on your suggestion we are also planning to add a direct link to the Suggestion Blog from the Contact Us page.

As of today, 240 VCU students, staff, and faculty have joined the Facebook group called "People who get assaulted by the doors at the Cabell Library" where you can read account after account of people's difficulties with the library's front doors. Is 240 complaints enough to bring about action? How many people use these doors each day? One library staffer quoted the figure of 10,000 visits in one recent day through the Cabell turnstiles. Is that accurate? I suggest a heat curtain like department stores use to replace the inner doors--or at least automatic opening doors like Tuckahoe Library in Henrico that require no physical strength to open. The library doors at the most used at VCU so make them the BEST doors at VCU! Don't embarrass the weak armed among us with these doors any longer.
From: an undergraduate student

Pat Flanagan, Associate University Librarian for Public Services, responds....
Thank you for the comments about the Cabell Library entry doors. We are also concerned that this is an issue for VCU library patrons.

The Cabell doors are 30+ years old and this does create challenges to keeping them maintained and operating at optimal levels. However, there is additionally a forced air issue related to the overall design of the vestibule. It creates air vacuums at times which tend to pull the doors shut harder than they would normally close.

We can offer these actions that we have learned are underway by VCU's Facilities Management department: A new operator arm was installed on the handicapped entrance facing Hibbs the first week of October. It should now be operating correctly. The handicapped door facing the Student Commons is slated for replacement with a better model in three to six weeks. In addition, Facilities Management is aware of the issues with the other entry doors and is performing an assessment of them. They will be investigating what solutions might be possible to remedy the problems.

I hope this information helps. This concern was also addressed on October 3, 2007.

Provide better instructions for staff to access the Safari online books from the catalog. I can't find any way to access the full versions of the books, but according to the catalog, I, as a staff member, can get them online. Very frustrating.
From: a staff member

Lynne U. Turman, Head, Tompkins-McCaw Library Collections, replies...
Thank you for your interest in using Safari Books. This is a new collection of electronic books on all aspects of computers, programming and the web. You can find the titles listed in the VCU Libraries Catalog or go to the list of Databases A to Z and look for Safari Online Books.

Search tip: try using the Catalog tab marked eResources and type your topic into the search box along with the word "safari." For instance, "java and safari" will retrieve a list of over 50 titles! Choose your title and click on the link for Internet access. From off-campus you will be prompted for your VCU eID information, then you will be instantly taken to the opening page of the book. The table of contents will appear on the left and you can jump to a specific section or chapter. Alternatively, you can click on the button marked Start Reading Online to view the full content from the beginning. On each page you will see other options for navigating, such as Text Zoom and Previous/Next Page. You can also turn the pages virtually by clicking along the borders of each page.

Thanks for contacting us with your question. We hope you will enjoy using this new collection of ebooks!

I have a concern regarding the Cabell library entrance doors. I have a problem opening the doors, either pushing or pulling, because they offer severe resistance. In fact, I either have to slam my body against them or use two hands to attempt to start opening. And it's not just opening that's the problem, but when they close they swing back so quickly that if I'm wearing a bookbag, it literally slaps me from behind as I'm trying to walk through. I'm not sure if the doors are just heavy, if the magnets are unrelenting or that I'm unnecessarily weak but I know others are having problems with the doors too. It's quite aggravating really. Thank you for your time.
From: undergraduate student

Walter Sampson, Assistant Librarian for Policy Development, responds....
I am sorry that you are having problems opening Cabell Library entrance doors. The doors are 30-35 years old and may not work as smoothly as they once had in the past. Inquiries will be made to the University's Facilities Management department to see if they can make adjustments accordingly.

Again, we apologize for the inconvenience these doors caused you and other library users.