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Cultural Change in the Davis Library

Cultural Change in the Davis Library:  Action Plan

The recommendations of the Task Group to Plan for a Cultural Change in the Davis Library were accepted by Library Managers with some modifications as described below. Actions to be taken for each recommendation and who has assumed responsibility such action are also described below.

Recommendation 1:No Hot Food in the Library.

Under Rationale, an additional argument in favour of no hot food is that hot food tends to create more mess.

Action: Action on this and other recommendations will involve the creation of promotional material that presents the content of this recommendation in the larger context of the renovated Davis Centre Library. (This will include something that is posted near the Library attendant at the entrance of the Library.) Mary Stanley will assume responsibility for this.

See also Recommendation 6.

Recommendation 2: Clear vacant carrels after 30 minutes during high-occupancy times of the term; this policy should be announced right from the re-opening of the Davis Centre Library.

Action: Action on this recommendation will involve the creation of promotional material that presents the content of this recommendation. Mary Stanley will assume responsibility for this.

See also Recommendation 6.

Recommendation 3: Publicize the existence of study space in the Porter Library, Tatham Centre, SLC, etc.

Action: Action on this recommendation will involve the creation of promotional materials that presents the content of this recommendation. Mary Stanley will assume responsibility for this.

Recommendation 4: Institute and enforce different noise zones in the Library.

Action : See Recommendations 4a, 4b and 4c.

Recommendation 4a: Designate the Library as a quiet work area in general.

Change the Recommendation to read:

Recommendation 4a: Designate the Library as a research and study area in general.

Under Rationale and in the promotional material, include the idea that the Library is not primarily a place for socializing. Promotional material should also note that headphones should be set so that they do not make noise which disturbs others.

Action : Action on this recommendation will involve the creation of promotional material that presents the content of this recommendation. Mary Stanley will assume responsibility for this.

See also Recommendation 6.

Recommendation 4b: Designate silent study zones in (1) carrel areas away from tables, and (2) the current periodicals area.

Action: Action on this recommendation will involve the creation of promotional materials that presents the content of this recommendation. Mary Stanley will assume responsibility for this. Signs will also to be made for area (1); sign holders will be available in that area to accept paper inserts. Signage will also be needed for area (2); this can be dealt with later.

See also Recommendation 6.

Recommendation 4c: Continue to provide group work rooms, but stipulate that noise not be heard outside the room.

Action: Action on this recommendation will involve the creation of promotional material that presents the content of this recommendation. Mary Stanley will assume responsibility for this. Signs will also to be made for the group study rooms.

See also Recommendation 6.

Recommendation 4d: No cell phone use in the Library.

Change the Recommendation to read:

Recommendation 4d: Limit cell phone use to the Lounge area of the Library or the Great Hall outside the Library; cell phone ringers should be set to silent mode.

Action: Action on this recommendation will involve the creation of promotional materialthat presents the content of this recommendation. Mary Stanley will assume responsibility for this. This promotional material will explain that cell phone ringers should be silenced in the Library, and that calls should be initiated and received only in the Lounge or the Great Hall outside the Library.

See also Recommendation 6.

Recommendation 5: The new policies need to be publicized at the start of term; this will require the creation of news releases, signage and a brochure.

Information about these changes should be included in a brochure which focuses on welcoming users to the newly renovated Davis Library. The brochure would mention some of the benefits of the renovations as well as the content of the recommendations in this document.

Action: Mary Stanley will assume responsibility for the creation of promotional material.

Action: Closer to the opening date someone will need to find people to act as greeters for the first week or so, handing out the brochures and answering questions.

Recommendation 6: Regular monitoring should be undertaken to ensure compliance; responsibility for this programme should be assigned to a full-time staff member.

Change the Recommendation to read:

Recommendation 6: Regular monitoring should be undertaken to ensure compliance; responsibility for this programme should be assigned to one or more full-time staff members.

Action: A group consisting of Sharon Lamont , Sharon Bissonnette and Jo Heimpel will develop a plan to implement the Recommendations. Sharon Bissonnette and Jo Heimpel may also be involved in the actual implementation and have access to some part-time staff for this purpose.

Recommendation 7: Staff need to have the authority to impose sanctions on users in order to enforce the policies; these options need to be made clear to staff.

Action : Melanie Watkins will communicate this to User Services staff; Jim Parrott will do so for ISR staff.

Recommendation 8: The University should be strongly encouraged to add to students' study and socialization space in the Davis Centre.

Action: Mark Haslett will meet with Bruce Mitchell and discuss concerns about lighting in the Great Hall and Bon Appetit areas at night time, and also seating in the Great Hall

Cultural Change in the Davis Library
, Chair
January 13, 2006