Subject: Security
Suggestion: I've seen
the signs about books being
stolen, and I've read the
suggestion someone else wrote
about having more of them.
Here's my suggestion: Set
up a sting. Leave a few school-type
books around the library with
one of your bar codes in it
(say page 32). Then catch
the theives as they leave
with the book. It will give
more action to the guy or
girl who waits by the alarm
gate. Plus, it would be fun.
Even if you don't have the
authority to arrest someone
for something like that, they
probably won't try to steal
again, and once it is known,
less people will steal. Is
this really a big problem
in the library anyway?
Response: Your suggestion
was forwarded to the Clemson
University Police Department.
Thanks!
- Teri
Alexander, Circulation
& Facilities Manager,
656-5172
Subject: MUSIC!
Suggestion: I just happened
to be in the library one day
this semester when I heard people
start singing. Ever since then
I've made a point to be here
at 12:30 on Wednesdays to hear
the MidWeek Music program. Thanks
so much for offering this to
us. I had no idea so many talented
and diverse musical groups were
in the area! I don't think there
is ever such an opportunity
for most of us to hear things
such as different ensembles,
a barbershop quarter, a recorder
society, and a bluegrass band!
Gone are the days when you hear
librarians "ssshh-ing"
everyone, and they aren't missed!
P.S. - The quiet floor/ non-quiet
floor system is excellent -
if you want silence to study,
you know where to go... and
for the rest of us, we know
where it's okay to engage in
discussion and other enriching
opportunities such as the Mid-Week
Music Program.
Response: Thanks!
- Teri
Alexander, Circulation &
Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Magazine Labels
Suggestion: Suggestion:
Please, please, please put the
names of the magazines with the
call numbers in the periodicals
area. It's confusing to just see
the call number, especially when
there are no magazines in that
slot.
Response: We are working
real hard on reorganizing the
current periodical shelves to
make them more user friendly.
Your wonderful suggestion of putting
the title and call number on the
shelf labels is a great way of
providing easier access. When
you return from your much needed
Summer Break and when the HVAC
work in the Library is complete
I hope you will find it easier
to find and recognize your favorite
journal titles.
- Teresa
McCoy, Library Manager 1,
Receiving, 656-3596
Subject: Java City
Suggestion: Wish coffee were
still available. Love Java City!
Response: Thanks - we'll pass
your suggestion along to the JC Employees.
- Teri
Alexander, Circulation & Facilities
Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Hours
Suggestion: During the week,
the library needs to be open 24 hours
a day.
Response: Hours will be extended
during the last month of class as
the 2nd part of a trial to study usage.
The libray will be open continuously
from Sunday morning at 10:00am until
Friday night at midnight. Usage statistics
& patron counts will be tabulated
and used to make decisions regarding
the future hours. Thanks for the suggestions.
- Teri
Alexander, Circulation & Facilities
Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Scantrons
Suggestion: Why can the library
not keep enough scantrons for the
students? Every semester's end, you
run out. My friend and I waited as
long as possible - had an exam! This
time of year, the vending machine
runs out frequently. What can you
do?
Response: Scantrons are now
also stocked at the Circulation Desk
on the main floor (4th level). If
the vending machine is out, you can
purchase them at the desk. Thanks
for the suggestion.
- Jens
Holley, Head of Resource Sharing
& Copier Services, 656-5177
Subject: Study Room Fine
Suggestion: Please put the fine
for an overdue study room key on the
key tag. We are not always told how
much the fine is or how long the key
is good for or if it can be renewed.
You post signs for fines of recalls,
books, lockers, journals, and laptops.
Surely it could say that a study room
key is (amount)____ per ___(time)___
overdue.
Response: Thanks for the good
suggestion. As of today, signs with
more information are posted.
- Teri
Alexander, Circulation & Facilities
Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Smokers
Suggestion: 1) The area outside
the entrance really should be smoke-free.
One must run a smoky gauntlet to enter.
2) Is there any way to move the smokers
from in front of the building. I had to
walk through at least 10 of them to enter
the library. This can not go on. It really
looks terrible to visitors to see a line
of smokers gracing the front of our beautiful
library building as they enter. Plus,
to have to walk through the smoke, smell
it, breathe and wear it, is extremely
frustrating. I've tolerated this for years
now, but it hit me like a brick wall today
when it was almost a dozen smokers I had
to work my way past. Please do something
about this set up. Thank you.
Response: The ash urns will be
moved ASAP away from the entrance/exit
doors. We hope this step will ease the
problem. Thanks for the suggestions.
- Teri
Alexander, Circulation & Facilities
Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Moldy books
Suggestion: There's a shelf of
moldy books in the PQ Section.
Response: We know! We know! The
library's HVAC problems continue to affect
the collections, particularly on the lower
floors. We're waiting for a renovation
project to correct the entire system.
We may decide to clean the books prior
to the renovation but we've held off knowing
that the mold will reoccur. We'll do what
we can!
- Teri
Alexander, Circulation & Facilities
Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Printed List of Periodicals
Suggestion: I think a complete list
of available periodicals should be available.
It would help me when requesting ILL.
Response: An older copy of the list
of periodicals is available at the Reference
Desk upon request. It is time consuming to
format and maintain the list; however, please
do check the on-line catalog first. That's
the most current tool available. Thanks for
the suggestion.
- Gordon
Cochrane, Electronic Services Librarian,
656-1535
Subject:
Catalog
Suggestion:
I
didn't
know
how
to
use
the
computer
catalogs.
I
couldn't
find
anything
I
was
looking
for.
Response:
If
you
are
having
a
problem
using
the
library,
contact
Peggy
Cover
(Pcover@clemson.edu
or
656-5173)
and
she
will
set
up
a
training
session
for
you.
Also
anyone
at
the
reference
desk
can
assist
you
with
your
research.
We
recommend
that
you
begin
your
research
as
soon
as
you
have
an
assignment.
-
Peggy
Cover,
Head
of
Reference,
656-5173
Subject:
Cell
Phone
Suggestion:
Designate
a
specific
area
where
people
can
use
cell
phones.
Preferably
far
away
from
people
trying
to
read/study!
Main
Lobby?
Prohibit?
Outside?
Small
Dark
Hole?
Response:
It's
near
impossible
to
limit
(or
better
yet
enforce!)
such
a
policy.
My
best
advice
to
you
is
to
either
politely
ask
the
person
to
move
or
report
it
to
the
nearest
service
desk.
Cell
phones
are
here
to
stay
-
for
better
or
worse.
In
many
cases,
usage
is
limited
to
levels
four,
five
or
six
because
of
reception
problems.
It
also
happens
that
these
floors
are
not
"quiet
areas".
-
Teri
Alexander,
Circulation
&
Facilities
Manager,
656-5172
Subject:
Signs
Suggestion:
Signs
need
to
be
posted
in
more
places
about
students
leaving
their
bookbags,
etc.
unattended.
Response:
Thanks
and
we
will.
-
Teri
Alexander,
Circulation
&
Facilities
Manager,
656-5172
Subject:
Late
Hour
Card
Catalog
Access
Suggestion:
The
card
catalog
is
not
available
making
it
extremely
difficult
to
find
books.
Response:
We're
working
on
this
question
now.
There
is
a
way
&
we'll
publicize
it
ASAP.
-
Teri
Alexander,
Circulation
&
Facilities
Manager,
656-5172
Subject:
Noise
Suggestion:
The
employees
on
that
floor
are
the
main
abusers
of
policy.
Many
do
not
even
attempt
to
lower
their
voices.
It's
very
disturbing.
Response:
Please
report
this
to
the
nearest
service
desk
when
it
occurs.
We
need
to
know
exactly
where
the
noise
problems
are
occuring
since
there
are
several
office
areas
and
a
classroom.
-
Teri
Alexander,
Circulation
&
Facilities
Manager,
656-5172
Subject:
Miscommunication
Suggestion:
I
have
had
more
trouble
with
miscommunication
in
this
library
than
anywhere
else
on
campus.
The
staff
today
was
nice
and
helpful
but
they
were
helping
me
fix
problems
caused
by
the
last
people
I
spoke
with.
Response:
Please
-
anytime
this
occurs,
ask
to
speak
with
a
supervisor.
Many
times
the
problem
can
be
resolved
quickly.
You
can
certainly
ask
for
me
personally!
-
Teri
Alexander,
Circulation
&
Facilities
Manager,
656-5172
Subject:
Outdoor
Furnishings
Suggestion:
This
is
certainly
a
frequently
asked
question.
Response:
Currently
the
library
does
not
have
extra
funding
for
furnishings.
The
Student
Senate
is
considering
purchasing
furniture
for
the
patio/balcony
area
on
level
four.
We'll
publicize
the
event
when/if
it
happens.
-
Teri
Alexander,
Circulation
&
Facilities
Manager,
656-5172
Subject:
Public
Parking
Suggestion:
Please
provide
some
kind
of
public
parking.
My
daughter
comes
here
to
be
tutored
and
I
would
like
to
be
able
to
sit
with
her
and
her
tutor
during
the
session.
This
is
not
possible.
I
might
be
ticketed
or
towed.
Response:
Visitor
parking
permits
are
available
from
Parking
Services
in
G01
Edgar
Brown
Union.
One-day
visitor
parking
permits
may
also
be
obtained
from
the
Visitors
Center
at
109
Daniel
Drive
and,
after
hours,
from
the
University
Police
Department
at
Memorial
Stadium
on
Centennial
Blvd.
For
additional
parking
information,
visit
the
Parking
Services
Web
site
or
call
864-656-2270
-
Teri
Alexander,
Circulation
&
Facilities
Manager,
656-5172
Subject:
Recalls
Suggestion:
If
Clemson
is
to
enter
the
"top
20"
it
will
need
to
adopt
more
"research-friendly"
practices
such
as
allowing
for
book
recalls
at
this
point
of
the
semester.
Unfortunately
research
can't
always
take
place
during
the
academic
calender.
The
Library
ought
to
reconsider
this
policy.
Response:
During
holidays
or
breaks,
books
are
not
recalled
from
users
because
the
user
is
away
from
campus.
Because
the
user
isn't
available,
we
prefer
to
hold
recalls
until
the
regular
semester
has
begun
when
all
patrons
are
back
on
campus.
If
we
place
recalls
during
the
holidays,
fines
and
overdues
are
generated
during
a
period
when
patrons
aren't
required
to
be
on
campus.
If
you
have
a
critical
need,
you
can
always
ask
to
speak
to
a
supervisor
&
we'll
arrange
access
some
other
way
(such
as
Interlibrary
Loan,
electronic
access,
etc.).
-
Teri
Alexander,
Circulation
&
Facilities
Manager,
656-5172
Subject:
Furniture
Suggestion:
Couches on the
6th and 4th
floor would
be a great reading
bonus.
Response:
It's all about
funding and
the libraries
budget. State
funding has
been reduced
and the University
is facing a
shrinking overall
budget. We'd
love to improve
our furnishings
but overall
we're focusing
on collections
and services.
Of course we'll
consider your
suggestion for
better years.
Thanks.
- Teri
Alexander,
Circulation
& Facilities
Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Hours
Suggestion: I
think that the library
should stay open 24
hours throughout the
semester. It is very
beneficial to students.
Response: Beginning
March 30, 2003, the
library will again conduct
a study of usage by
extending hours. The
Library will open at
10:00am on Sundays and
remain open until Friday
nights at midnight.
The decision to permanently
extend hours will depend
on available funding.
- Teri
Alexander, Circulation
& Facilities Manager,
656-5172
Subject: Postage Rates
Suggestion: Just an observation
re: late fees. A stamp costs
Clemson $.35. There should be
a more efficient way of notifying
someone of a late charge that
is near or below the price of
postage. Budget cuts are everywhere
and money could be used more
cost efficiently. (Envelopes,
ink and paper cost money, too.)
Response: You are exactly
right. Later this semester the
library will switch to "all
email" for most billing
correspondence. Watch for more
news about this - the system
isn't quite ready yet.
- Teri
Alexander, Circulation &
Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Online journals
Suggestion: You're getting rid
of many heavily referenced scientific
journals and going to 'online only'
access ... Though I like online access,
it really makes going to the library
pointless if it doesn't have any books
inside! Library = Books.
Response: It is true that we
have acquired as many online journals
as possible and that these are often
in scientific fields. There are many
factors going into the decision to acquire
online journals. You might be surprised
to find that many online subscriptions
come free with the print subscription.
In this case we receive both versions.
We also have pressing space problems
in Cooper Library, especially on Levels
5 and 6 where scientific journals are
housed, that have led us to select some
of these titles for weeding or storage.
Selection for weeding or storage is
based carefully on an ongoing bound-journal
use study that lets us know which titles
are heavily used and which are not;
faculty input also weighs heavily. If
we move an item into storage and it
is requested frequently, we can easily
move it back to Cooper. Additionally,
we want to make the distinction between
journals and books (monographs). In
recent years, we have been fortunate
that the Libraries' budget has increased
to allow us to add not only many new
journal titles, but also to allow us
to purchase many more monographs than
we have in the past. Our book budget
is higher than ever, and we are adding
books so fast that we have run out of
room to shelve them! I hope that this
addresses some of your concerns.
- Sarah
McCleskey, Chair, User Services
Group
