Subject:
Noise at Library Workstations
Comment:
There are a noisy bunch of teenagers disturbing the peace.
Response:
Thanks for the report. We are working on the problem. Please
feel free to report such directly to the security personnel on duty at the
Level 4 security desk and it will be handled on the spot. Again, thanks.
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Printing
Suggestion: 5th lvl cooper West and East printers are really nice. However,
there are students who abuse this and leave papers all over the printer and
the floor around it need to be punished. The people working at the help
desk there, were not hired to pick up papers and clean up that area, but
they do anyway, along with the janitors. It gets so bad sometimes that they
can't even keep up. If people can't have the decency to pick up after
themselves, maybe this free printing policy isn't worth it. My suggestion
involves a simple implementation of a filter to the print queue where DCIT
staff or Library help desk staff can freeze people's printing privileges by
username. Creating a cleaner environment for the library can only benefit us.
Response: I will certainly pass this suggestion on to the computer
center. I know they once considered using monitoring software to allow a
certain number of prints before charging but decided against it. I never
knew why. To be sure the abusers should not be allowed to remove the
benefit of free printing for everyone else. I hope that before that
happens the computer center will consider other measures and your
suggestion is certainly one.
- Beth Helsel, Systems Librarian, 656-3039
Subject: Interlibrary Loan
Suggestion: The ILL is terrible, if I wanted to wait 4 months for a book I
would just buy it.
Response: We're sorry you had such a difficult time with ILL, but without
further specifics, we can't really tell what the problem was. If it was
something that took that long to receive, you can always call the RSCS
Office and find out what is taking so long. If it is only held by a few
libraries, it may be that it took us that long to talk them into lending it
to us. If it is a new book, most libraries will not lend new books on
ILL. Furthermore, it takes a while for new books to get into OCLC, the
national database, so that we can ask libraries for it. Lastly, books
sometimes get cataloged before they are actually published, and we have to
wait until the book is published before we can ask for it. Another tactic
for a new book, rather than using ILL, might be to ask the subject liaison
in your area to purchase it for the library. Thanks.
- Jens Holley, Head of Resource Sharing
Subject: Purchase
Comment: Buy some binoculars please!! The library should own some binoculars for checking out, I want to do some bird-watching!!!
Response: We tend to devote our funding on materials, services, etc. However, if a set were donated, we’d be happy to consider it.
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Shredder
Suggestion: How about providing a shredder for students to use?
Response: Good idea – we’ll consider it for the next fiscal year (July 1).
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Electrical
Suggestion: I would really like to see power receptacles placed near the study cubicles on the lower floors. Many students, like myself, utilize a laptop when studying, and lack of a nearby power source limits our time. Thank you for your continued effort to further improve library services and facilities.
Response: We have requested a quote from Facilities & are considering improvements.
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Stapler
Suggestion: Have a automatic stapler right before the security guard, so we can staple our homework right as we leave to go to class.
Response: A stapler and other supplies are provided around the corner at the Circulation Desk on the main level (4).
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Book Sale
Suggestion: While at the book sale today, there was a guy up against the library that had two huge boxes of engineering books. I would guess he took the whole table of books because the table was completely empty. I observed this around 10:40 today, and there is no way he could have looked at all the books that he had in there. Although I guess he has a right to do this, but it was very selfish and very frustrating for everyone else. For the next book sale could there be a time limit or a book limit per visit, so others can have an equal opportunity to purchase useful reading materials.
Response: This happens every year. Our engineering books are always the most popular and usually sell out by 10:00. We do clear out any "hoarded" books before we go to half price, usually at 1:00 or 1:30. A time limit would only encourage book hoarding. A book limit would discourage our best customers, who drive from as far away as western Tennessee and central Virginia. These people drive all night to get here at 5 AM and they spend thousands of dollars at our sale.
I know it is frustrating. Next year try and be there at 9:00 sharp.
- Steve Johnson, Gift Librarian
Subject: Furniture
Suggestion: Add some of the umbrella patio tables by the Reflection Pond.
Response: The patio tables were purchased with funds from the Student Alumni Association. As the balcony area fills up, we’ll continue on to the Fountain Plaza. Good idea.
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Furniture
Suggestion: More tables on the 6th Floor!!!”
Response: The 6th floor is full – there’s no room to safely add tables. We are; however, talking with the Hendrix Student Center in an effort to provide more space elsewhere. Look for news about this in the fall of 2006.
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Orange Shelves
Comments: “Not enough orange shelves.”
Response: Where do you see a need for more orange shelves? We’ll look around this summer and check for some likely areas. Thanks.
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Userid
Suggestion: Please make the log-in the same as our university userids and passwords. This is a pain to try to go find our IDs and remember the "number below the barcode." Students probably have their ID numbers memorized - faculty do not.
Response: We also think it would be a good idea to unify access to all campus systems so we are working with the campus authentication server and the library system right now to get them to pass information back and forth. We expect you to be able to get to your library system using your Clemson assigned username and password in the Fall 2006 semester.
-
Beth Helsel, Systems Librarian, 656-3039
Subject: Copiers
Suggestion: You HAVE to add more time to the copiers!!!!! Constantly waste money trying to copy from books and in the time it takes to re orient the book & hit copy the time is up & a piece of paper gets jammed in the copier & my copy is messed up & money wasted! Very, very FRUSTRATING!
Response: We’re working on this problem now <summer 2006>.
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Database Access
Suggestion: I have been having difficulties connecting to the database website. I am in graduate school and have numerous papers to complete. I constantly have issues with the website. I feel as though this is a service that I pay for through tuition and that the website should always be accessible. I am finding it extremely difficult to complete my assignments due to the issues of your website timing out and not being able to be found. I would appreciate it if this problem would be looked into.
Response: I am not aware of anyone else having a problem with the webpage timing out. We do have databases that time out if not used for 15 minutes. I will check with others to see if any are aware of problems with the webpage.
- Peggy Cover, Head of Reference
Subject: Reserving Study Tables
Suggestion: I don't think it's fair that someone gets to reserve a study table! The best one on the 5th floor has been taken over by whoever owns the Theta laptop! They leave for long amounts of time, but all their stuff is there and no one else can use the table! It's been there since Monday! NOT cool!
Response: You’re right and it isn’t. We’re monitoring the situation and will take care of it.
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Cell phone Noise
Suggestion: There is a rampant cell phone epidemic on the 3rd floor of our library. People have absolutely no consideration for others around them. They have the 3 floors above where anything goes. Can they not leave us one nice quiet floor? The 3rd floor is the only nice quiet floor in the building, with the other 2 in terrible shape. Is it too much to ask for them to go into the stairwell to make their calls? If people are studying in the quiet areas and need to talk about their subjects of interest, that is acceptable. Somehow I doubt that cell phone conversations have much to do with studying. I realize that there is little you guys can do on the enforcement side. But how about posting fliers in every single nook of the library, and sending out mass emails. If it prevents just one or two conversations while I am studying it is worth it.
Response: We have immediately stepped up enforcement on level 3 for the remainder of the semester. We’ll also work on signage, etc. to make further improvements.
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Email notifications
Suggestion: Why has the library changed its position on 'books due' reminders? It was so convenient earlier for us students to see the library reminder email and then head to the library to renew/ return the books. All this has changed. And I do not remember seeing any email from the library warning the students about this change.
Response: Thanks for your comments. Early in April, we experienced system problems. You may not have noticed that warning message that was placed on the front page of "My Library Account". Normal notifications sent to patrons via email were not working. Those problems have now been resolved and you should receive notifications as you normally would. If this is not the case, please let me know and I'll check your account. I apologize for the inconvenience.
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Electrical
Suggestion: Install electrical outlets on the 6th floor in places where the row of tables not against the wall can reach them. If someone has to use a computer and study for more then 2 or 3 hours, the outer row of tables is useless since their computer won't last that long.
Response: We are quickly running out of available electrical in our 40 year old building & have added many many outlets to level six. We’ll take a look again over the summer.
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Heating & Cooling System (HVAC)
Suggestion: The cooling system seems to be non-functional. Please address immediately.
Response: Done!
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Noise during Exam Week
Suggestion: (2) Who ever scheduled construction work in the library during finals week need to be fired. The library should be QUIET!” Also construction in the library during exam week isn’t such a great idea either!
Response: That was a terrible idea & as soon as possible, the construction was halted. Thanks and sorry for the inconvenience.
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Party on Balcony during Exam Week
Suggestion: I would suggest not to have parties on the balcony during exam week. People walking in & out is VERY distracting.
Response: The Student Alumni Association schedules an exam dinner on the balcony annually and we are committed to the event. You may not know but the SAA provides funding for the balcony furniture. We will; however, consider routing traffic through other doors to perhaps lessen the noise & distractions. Thanks for the comments.
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Reminders
Suggestion:Why has the library changed its position on 'books due' reminders? It was
so convenient earlier for us students to see the library reminder email
and then head to the library to renew/ return the books. All this has
changed. And I do not remember seeing any email from the library warning
the students about this change.
Response:Thanks for your comments. Early in April, we experienced system problems. You may not have noticed that warning message that was placed on the front page of "My Library Account". Normal notifications sent to patrons via email were not working. Those problems have now been resolved and you should receive notifications as you normally would. If this is not the case, please let me know and I'll check your account.
I apologize for the inconvenience.
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Userid - Log In (1 of 2)
Suggestion: For all online clemson services (Web Registration, SIS,
Blackboard, the campus Novell network, etc) I can use my username/password
combination. However, for checking my library account I have to use my
full name and the 10-digit number on the back of my ID. Is there any
reason why the library account system can't use the same system that I use
for checking my grades, registering for classes, etc.? Admittedly, it would
be a "convenience" feature not having to dig through my wallet to find my
ID card, or find my wallet if I'm at home since I can never remember by 10
digit ID number :-) It just seems more unified, though, to use the same
security/login system for all services (if it is secure enough for my
grades and registration, it should be secure enough for renewing library.
Response: We also think it would be a good idea to unify access to all
campus systems so we are working with the campus authentication server and
the library system right now to get them to pass information back and
forth. We expect you to be able to get to your library system using your
Clemson assigned username and password early in the Spring 2006 semester.
-
Beth Helsel, Systems Librarian, 656-3039
Subject: Theses and Dissertations Locations
Suggestion: I was just sent on a wild goose chase for Harvey Gantt's
bachelor's thesis. When I first found it in the library catalog, it told
me it was in "special collections" (which I had never been to before) and
for "library use only". I started by looking for it in the oversize of the
architecture library, then I went up to cooper and asked one of the guys at
the reference desk, who sent me to Strom Thurmond. The lady at the desk
down there told me that since it was more than 10 years old, it was in
remote storage and I needed to fill out a form to have them ship it here by
tomorrow. Conveniently, this form can be found online; however I had
already walked a mile to find that out. WHY DID THE CATALOG NOT TELL ME
THAT THE THESIS IS IN REMOTE STORAGE?!
Response: Let me sincerely apologize for the confusion. The general policy
of Special Collections has been to transfer bachelors and masters theses
and PhD dissertations that are earlier than 1995 to the Remote Storage
Facility. There are two exceptions those written by Harvey Gantt and our
current President James Barker. This decision was made because of the
intrinsic value in addition to the informational value that any thesis or
dissertation has. That being said, the Gantt thesis is on the hold shelf in
Special Collections for you. If I happen to be available, I'd be happy to
show you other resources in Special Collections related to the history of
integration at Clemson and/or Black History.
-
Mike Kohl, Head of Special Collections, 656-5176
Subject: Cell Phone Policy
Suggestion:I don't like the no cell phone policy. I think it is unfair
and ridiculous to allow people to talk to each other but not use their cell
phones. I don't like it. I thought the library was supposed to be a
relaxed atmosphere.
Response:Thanks for your input. An Industrial Engineering group was
conducting a test for a short period of time in mid-April. The final
results are in & any policy changes will be announced to all patrons by
email or news article, etc. Thanks for your patience and input during the
trial.
- Teri Alexander, Facilities Manager, 656-5172
Subject: Noise
Suggestion: >> Please tell your employees in the reading room not to sing & yell. I'm reading!
Response: Reserve & Media Services is considered an unrestricted public area between 7:30 am and 5:00 pm daily. However, due to the increased amount of students using this room in the evening (with the exception of Staff helping patrons at the service desk and with copier equipment), Reserve & Media Services will be a designated QUIET AREA between the hours of 5:00pm and closing.
- Rosanne Maw, Reserve & Media Manager, 656-0402
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