Present: Laura Briggs, Cristina McLaren, Jonathan Morgan (recorder), Doug Morton, Sasa Mrsa, Connie Pantic, Jim Parrot (facilitator), Dan Sich, Carol Stephenson
Cool1 & information Technology PDA
Jim gave a 15 minute NetLibrary Demo to Davis and Porter ISR departments demonstrating Cool1 & Information Technology PDA
Approval of the minutes of March 11th 2005
Approved.
Business arising.
None.
Additional Agenda
None.
Davis Renovation Update (Carol Stephenson)
A comment card will be handed out to students during the last week of exams; completed cards would be handed into the library attendant. The question(s) put to students would be: “What do you think about the study space in the quiet study area?” “For example, lighting, carpets, sound, barriers.” “If you could, what would you change?”
It was suggested that the library lock the bulbs in place because students have been stealing them.
Optimistically, the quiet study area will receive the new furniture by September, realistically by the end of the year.
Circulating WLU and Guelph Annex materials (Jim)
There is a proposal on the table for circulating more of the Annex materials, i.e. reference books and periodicals from WLU and Guelph will now circulate.
“Everything you wanted to know about Analytical Chemistry, but we are afraid to ask.” Chemistry Tool: Demo (Laura)
Laura showed the new set of Meyers, “Encyclopaedia of Analytical Chemistry” now shelved in Reference. The encyclopaedias are a good analytical tool for asking the question, “What is it”? These encyclopaedias are an excellent tool when students need to know what a compound is or the experimental techniques and instrumentation for breaking compounds down.
E-mails have been sent to the lab coordinators informing them of this
resource.
The encyclopaedias will be mentioned in “Research Starting Points” when
Laura gets her web page back again.
(General round the table discussion about how the desk has been functioning)
When asked the question: “ How has the desk been functioning?” general comments were made such as, “uninteresting”, “quiet at times”, “busy on Easter Sunday”, “last weekend there were line-ups”, “the loss of the Library’s Biological Abstracts is a problem” “Core science tools are really weak in the library”.
A suggestion was made to have reference staff closer to the Info Commons area because many of the potential questions the reference staff could get would be directly related to work done by students in the commons area. Presently, students may not be so inclined to come over to the Information Desk from the commons area because of the distance and lack of visibility.
A co-op student from systems, sitting at a desk adjacent to the Info Commons could also be helping with technical questions.
Another possibility would be to employ a co-op student working for Esther; while working on “Web work” he or she could also be available for questions in the Info Commons area. The co-op student could work 1 to 4 in the Commons area. Currently Information Desk staff are sending computer related questions from people over to CHIP for help.
A comment was made regarding the unbelievably high noise level in the
library. Noise is produced by general talking and the use of cell phones.
Some staff are constantly getting up from the Information desk to ask patrons
to use their cell phones in the lounge area.
It was mentioned that the reduction of noise is most critical in the silent
study area.
Another problem in the library regards cords running along the silent study
area.
The library still doesn’t have signs on the outside doors, stating the library’s policy for food and noise. Because there are problems putting signs on the doors, it was suggested putting a white Decal on the door or door handle (similar to “smoking symbol”) that visually says “no food” and “no noise”?
One suggestion for signage would be to use the wall in the lounge area notifying patrons about noise and food policies
It’s been suggested having a sandwich board for signage, visible at the entrance to the library. Also suggested was a round bulletin board similar to what was used at the Davis entrance (before the renovation); although the round bulletin board was removed for aesthetic reasons.
Jim suggested looking at some catalogues to see what might be available; then make a recommendation to the building committee.
There is a problem with the attendant inconsistently stopping patrons with hot food. Jim will talk to Derek about this.
Discussing the general noise level in the library, it’s been noticed that it’s relatively quiet downstairs. Carol asked the question, “Can something be done about converting the current periodical area downstairs into a quiet study area?”
Making the current periodical section into a quiet study area was considered last year. Jim suggested that Carol make the recommendation.
A problem arising in the Information Commons Area occurred when a student came to the Information Desk complaining that another student left their belongings at one of the computers in the Information Commons area. This was an annoyance to the student because lack of available computer terminals. There is no current policy for Reference staff to remove personal belongings from computer stations after ½ hour.
Also, there is no longer a circulation services staff member who patrols the Davis Library, monitoring food and noise.
It’s been asked if the library could get some sort of machine to put money on Watcards because students have no way of putting monies on their WATCARD after Graphics closes.
One reference staffs has a PET PEEVE that the new printer for the Davis Library has been sitting over at Porter for a month.
Students are stealing paper from the public printer. A suggestion to fix this would be a $2.00 lock for the paper draw.
The attendant used to fix photo-copier jams in the evenings. There was a set of keys for opening photocopiers at the attendant’s kiosk. For some reason the policy has changed.
Around the Table:
Dan mentioned that he and Connie would be getting together to look at the reference desk statistics.
Meeting adjourned