October 2009 Archives

Hi, as a new student to VCU am very happy to what the school has to over to its students, it's just one major issue issue i have; which is the library hours on the weekend. As Allied Health students, we are in very intensive programs that requires longer hours of study in the weekdays or the weekend. Since I arrived to VCU this past August I been studying outside the school facilities to keep up with my classes demands, but lately its getting colder at night and that is making very suitable to catch a cold. I was told the school is having a budget issue this year and that why they cut the library hours to 6pm on Friday and Saturday. My suggestion is to have a building that is smaller than the library, but has a quiet areas, and some limited PCs for students to use, and should be in the school or very close to school for the fact this way our Females students can feel some security too. Am really hoping the hours get extend to at least 10 P.M. to allow us to be on the top of our school requirements. Thanks.

From: an undergraduate student

Librarians from the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences and the James Branch Cabell Library reply...

Thank you for taking the time to contact us about your concern. We believe your comment is regarding James Branch Cabell Library hours, though your field is Allied Health. However, changes to library hours have occurred at both libraries, so we will address the two.

You are correct that library hours have changed and that Friday and Saturday evenings neither library is open. In developing a strategy for service changes to meet new budget targets, we factored in building use statistics as well as what students have indicated is of most importance to them - strong library collections and building hours. Based on these factors, building hours were, for the most part, protected, while other services were more heavily impacted. Library collections have also been protected.

The cuts to library hours at each building have been necessary, but limited to approximately one staff shift. At the Tompkins-McCaw Library the journal literature provides a foundation for learning, clinical practice and research. Less than 300 of its journal title subscriptions are available in print only. For the most part, its journals are available electronically. Because of this high penetration of electronic resources, this portion of the library is essentially available anywhere there is a computer with an Internet connection. With that in mind, other spaces on the MCV campus were identified that could provided the needed access when the library is closed.

On that campus, you have access to the Learning Center at Hunton Hall, which is open until 11pm each evening, except Sunday.

At Cabell Library, the cuts were made to Friday and Saturday evenings and with a slightly later opening on Sunday - all lower use hours. The heavily used weekday
hours, extending to 2am Sunday through Thursday, were preserved. Overall, the University is working hard to make the best possible decisions for VCU students to
ensure that the instructional mission of the University is met. As a result, students will continue to see access to the instructors, classes, and other support they need to meet their academic goals. An important factor in making decisions has been University support for the libraries work in acquiring the print and electronic books, journals, data resources, databases, multimedia, and other materials that students and faculty need for their academic work. This isn't the case at many other institutions in Virginia and elsewhere, so VCU students are very fortunate in that regard.

We do know that many students are impacted by the library changes, despite the care taken in planning them. We are taking all feedback into consideration, so your comments are very much appreciated. The administrative staff of the VCU Libraries have prioritized hours and services to be restored should any of our budget reductions be restored. As the university has also noted the need for new library space among its long-term building plans, your suggestions about a smaller separate space for off-hours study is well timed. Some universities have utilized this strategy and it will be among the possibilities considered at VCU, as well. Thank you for noting it as a possible strategy, and for your comments about security. We, too, are concerned about student safety and take it into careful consideration when we plan services and spaces.

Why in the world is it so hot in the Cabell library?? I understand that cold weather is upon us, but today it was about 50 degrees outside and about 85 inside. I shed all the clothes I could without risking a nudity in public citation and I was still sweating. I heard others around me complaining about this as well. Why?

From: an undergraduate student

Jeanne Hammer, Associate University Librarian for Administration and Policy Development replies...

Thank you for taking the time to post your question to the Library Suggestion Blog. The HVAC system in Cabell Library is the original system installed circa 1975, and it is particularly difficult to maintain comfortable temperatures in fall and spring when the outside temperature swings frequently from balmy to chilly and vice versa . The system is designed to provide either heat or cooling and doesn't operate ideally during transition seasons. Last week we had complaints about it being too chilly in Cabell Library, because the outside temperatures had dropped, but the HVAC system had not been switched yet to the heating mode (which is typically done mid-October).

Please know that VCU Physical Plant has been contacted to see what can be done to lower the temperatures. Thanks again for your comments and patience.

Why has the library changed their hours? On the front page you they say that VCU libraries are "one of Virginia's most outstanding and comprehensive academic library systems". The previous hours were much better, 9 o'clock. There are still are students who need the library on the weekend. Although not many students go to the library during the weekend, there are still many that do. I was just shocked to hear that the hours had changed. I know that it might be late in noticing, but I'm so upset. Four students were at the front doors when i arrived there. Then I came along with my two roommates. We all stood there, shocked that the hours of operation were cut down. Then 3 MORE students arrived as we were leaving. I was just shocked, really shocked. I think we should consider extending the hours to what they originally were.

From: an undergraduate student

Mary Ellen Spencer, Head of Research and Instructional Services, replies...

Please know that VCU Libraries understands your concerns about building hours. You are right that the Libraries has had to make some changes; however, we have worked diligently to maintain those services that students tell us are most important, including building hours at Cabell Library. Though we have modestly reduced weekend hours, Cabell Library continues to offer the same weekday hours as we did last year. Additional information regarding changes to library services may be found in a Suggestion Blog post from September 4, 2009.

Please continue to raise issues of concern and to communicate with us. We consider student input invaluable, and we use this information as we make decisions about how best to allocate library resources. Thank you again for taking the time to post to the Blog.

Greetings, I asked the person at the Reference Desk today to enforce the cell phone policy in the computer area (as posted) and he replied that those signs are about to be taken down. Big mistake that could result in physical violence. So not only will we continue to see people eating from pizza boxes and dinner plates complete with forks while seated at computers, we will now have to put up with loud cell phone conversations? My bachelors and masters are from larger universities, so I have a point of reference from which to judge. Next, cigarette ashtrays to each computer station and study desk in the library?

From: a graduate student

Pat Flanagan, Associate University Librarian for Public Services replies...

I am glad you asked for help at the reference desk and were told that our policy regarding cell phones has indeed changed. I'm also sorry that some pre-existing
signs remained in place. They should have been removed when the new signs were posted and we have now taken them down.

I understand your concern about noise levels, and appreciate your sharing them with us. Cabell Library attracts thousands of students each day, sometimes well in excess of 11,000 per day at the height of the semester. This is far more traffic than the building received when it opened in 1975 to support a student population of only 16,000 - half today's number.

The large numbers of students using the library do create noise issues. These issues won't be fully resolved until new library space can be added on the Monroe Park Campus. As a result, students have asked that we create more quiet space. Just this summer we did so, by making both the 3rd and 4th floors quiet study areas. The 4th floor is the "silent" floor, where even texting or use of headphones is not permitted in order to reduce stray noise that might be distracting to those studying. If you are seeking a quiet study environment, these are the floors for you. And, because you are a graduate student, you can also ask the Circulation Desk staff for access to the John Mapp Graduate Study and Reading Room on the 4th floor (just adjacent to the Special Collections and Archives Department). The Mapp Room includes computer access, as well as seating and study tables.

Conversely, for the 1st and 2nd floors we have followed the lead of a number of university libraries that have relaxed their cell phone policies. Cabell's 1st and 2nd
floors are intended for collaborative activity that includes conversation. Our signage indicates, however, that cell phone use that is not disruptive is permissible. If a cell phone conversation exceeds normal conversational tones, please do alert security
or service desk staff who will help resolve the situation. We will also remind 1st floor service desk staff that loud cell phone conversations are not permitted.

Thank you again for bringing your concern to me. Your experience using the library is extremely important to us.