Feedback to the Library, November 2006
NOTE: Comments are edited to remove names of specific employees or users. Comments with names go to "Askref" for response or are forwarded to the appropriate person for a reply.
The location is only identified as "Library", "Campus" or "Off-Campus" to protect the anonymity of users. Comments received on paper forms may be entered several days after they were submitted.
Date/time Location
Fri Nov 3 09:19:11 2006 Library
I am looking for the book "Wild Desire" by Karen Brennan. I went on to the UA library website and under status says "lost and paid", and the Tucson Public Library does not have it. What is the best way to get a hold of this book? I need to write an essay based on this book which is due in 2 weeks.
Thank you.
Library response: Unfortunately the person who sent this comment did not include name and contact information, so I can't get the reply to them in a timely way. But for anyone in this situation, there are two courses of action. First, I would always check to see if the book is in another local library. The person who wrote this did check to see if the book was at the public library, which it isn't, but they didn't check to see if it was at Pima Community College library, which it is. UA students can get a Pima borrowing card for free and check out books from them. That is the first option. The second one is to request the book through Interlibrary Loan. They cannot always guarantee that they can get the book in the needed time frame, but it is worth a try. This book may be at another Arizona library and in that case it could be delivered in a couple of days. I have sent this comment to the librarian who purchases American Literature, so that she might consider ordering another copy of this book. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team
Fri Nov 3 16:20:38 2006 Off-campus
I would like to get a copy of my Dissertation:
Ali, M. M. 1987, Title: A Probabilistic Analysis of the Distribution of Collapsing Soil in Tucson using krigging Method.--Department of Civil Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson.
A hard copy of my Dissertation was submitted to the library and I would like to get a copy now. Please advise.
Library response:
You will have to pay for a paper copy of this dissertation. The following website lists your options for getting a copy:
http://www.library.arizona.edu/help/tutorials/dissertations/uadissborrow.html. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team
Mon Nov 6 09:28:17 2006 Campus
I recently checked out a book from the science library and was asked to return it within a week. Following is the information for that transaction.
AUTHOR: Saad, Y.
Iterative methods for sparse linear
CALL NO: QA188 .S17 2003
BARCODE: 39001045037796
Science-Engineering L DUE: 11-03-06
DATE CHECKED OUT: 10-27-06 08:11AM
Note that I was given one week before I needed to return it. Normally, I would've been able to check out this book for a longer period. However, someone placed a hold on the book, and evidently it was placed on the book the day I checked it out. The material in this book is quite dense and requires longer than one week to digest. In any case, I find it odd that I had to return it so soon after checking it out. You'd think that I would at least get to use the book for two weeks at a minimum.
Library response:
Thank you for your note. I am sorry, but seven days is indeed the correct circulation period for an item with a hold on it. Unfortunately, when another user has requested an item to be held, that changes the regular circulation period to seven days. To allow equal access to material for all of our customers, who may also require this item for their papers/research, any item checked out from the UA Library can be recalled at any time which will alter the due date. Once this item is returned, you can then place a hold on it so that you will have it returned to you after the other customer(s) have had a chance to view it. Be aware that it can take as long as 14 days for each person who has a hold on any item. This is due to the fact that we allow customers up to 7 days to pick up any item which is on hold for them, then we give them a reduced 7 day check out for any item which has additional holds on it. It is possible that the item could be returned sooner; this is just to give you an idea of what could happen. Please understand that we are trying to make this policy considerate of customers waiting for recalled items and for customers who have to return items once recalled and is based on feedback we have received over many years. You can always check Pima Community College Library or Tucson-Pima Public Library to see if they have the item(s) that were recalled to use while others are viewing our copy. Please let me know if you require further assistance. Laura Lee Earles,
Materials Access Team
Tue Nov 7 09:10:46 2006 Campus
It's kinda frustrating to come back to my desk & find that the book(s) I'm using have been cleared away -- even when it's obvious I'm still there working (notebook open, papers spread out, etc...) It's especially irritating when the library aides clear away things that aren't even Uni property -- last night they "bussed my table" and took away books that I had brought from home, second time that has happened. Gripe, gripe, gripe...
Library response:
I do not know where this happened in the library or how long the person's books, etc. were left unattended. In the Information Commons, when computers are very much in demand, if we observe a computer not be occupied for 15 minutes, we will move materials away from the computer and give the computer to another person. We don't remove the books and personal belonging from the area, we just move them over and leave a note. But I think this comment is not coming from the Information Commons. I think it is from one of the study floors in the library. I don't believe we regularly "buss" tables, so I'm wondering if these things were left alone for a long period of time. We have also heard of people leaving things -- including purses, backpacks or laptops unattended in the library and those things are stolen. So it is a good idea to not leave your things unattended in the library. If you need to leave for a short time, take your valuables with you and if you need to leave for a long time, take all your belongings with you. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team
Wed Nov 8 11:15:20 2006 Campus
The computer number icscn601 keyboARD IS a little screwed up, every time you hit the letter A IT also ADJUSTS TO Caps lock AS YOU Can plAINLY SEE RIGHT HERE.
Library response:
Thank you for notifying us about this problem. It has been fixed. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team
Thu Nov 9 09:03:06 2006 Campus
I phoned the number at the bottom of the library page (621-2101) and got a message giving me several Other numbers to call for several Other services and then it was over... it did not transfer me to a person... since I did not find library parking info on your site I was calling to ask... the site is not very helpful... I know there are real people over there but we can't get to them...
Library response: Thank you for bringing this problem to our attention. We are discussing putting a different number, one that is answered by live people, as the main number on the website. We apologize for the frustration this caused. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team
Fri Nov 10 11:14:11 2006 Off-campus
I am an Anthropology graduate student, and would simply like to request that the library subscribe to the "Journal of Ecological Anthropology", http://www.fiu.edu/~jea/
It is a relatively new journal, trying to generate steam, and has published some very useful articles thus far.
Thanks.
Library response:
This request has been forwarded to our anthropology specialist. We have very tight information resources budgets, but I'm sure that the request will be considered, in light of the budget. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team
Wed Nov 15 13:18:49 2006 Campus
It's one o'clock. There are people waiting for a computer. And there is this guy playing bowling in the computer. What can I do?
Library response:
Whenever you need immediate help in the Information Commons, go to the Info Commons Help Desk in the Main Library or the Science Help desk in the Science Library. Those desks are staffed all the hours the buildings are open and we can help you. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Librarian
---
Thanks for replying. My question was perhaps badly formulated. I did not need help myself because I was working at my own computer. But... what is the policy? Should people be allowed to play while there is so much need of a computer perhaps to do something more important? Should I ignore it?
And... if
it were me who was waiting... can I just go up to the help desk and expect the person playing to be removed?
Thanks again.
Library response: We do in-person, phone and chat reference from that help desk, so we don't have the opportunity to roam the room a lot -- but if someone came up to us and said they needed a computer and someone was playing a game, we would go ask the person to get off. Our policy is that if computers are tight and people are waiting then there is no game playing and we will boot people off the computer. You can come report it for you or for others. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team
Fri Nov 17 14:39:45 2006 Off-campus
Why has the Main Library not been getting new editions of the Copper Era (Greenlee County newspaper)? I am from Duncan, AZ, and I sometimes go to the library only to see what is new with my hometown. Please continue subscribing to this periodical.
Library response:
We do have a current subscription to this title. The latest issue I could find was Oct.11. I'm not sure how long it usually takes us to get the current issues by 2nd class mail, but probably not 6 weeks! We do seem to have a lot of problems continuing to receive paper copies of newspapers in general, even when we have paid an entire year's subscription. And we don't have the staff to always keep up with the thousands of newspaper and journal titles we subscribe to when they don't arrive on time.
I will ask our serials staff to check into why we seem to be behind in getting this newspaper. In the meantime, you may be able to get some news online from:
Eastern Arizona Courier.
Also contains news from the print edition of The Copper Era, serving Graham and Greenlee counties in Arizona.
www.eacourier.com Laurie Eagleson,
Undergraduate Services Team
Sat Nov 18 07:25:49 2006 Off-campus
The quick search on the front page takes you to a log in for article and database searching. Extremely user-unfriendly...it's a book and article search which brings up nothing.
Library response:
I assume that was stopped by our proxy server since they were coming from off campus. All they had to do was input their last name and catcard number to get access. Central Search requires catcard verification from off campus just like all of our databases. Thomas Marshall,
Technical Services and Archival Processing Team
Sun Nov 19 18:45:43 2006 Off-campus
You don't have a link to the hours of the ILC on the web site. I came at nine this morning and it was closed. I was very upset.
Library response:
Actually we do include the hours for the Information Commons on our website under Hours. The Info Commons hours are the first thing that comes up. I think the problem is in terminology. The Information Commons, the big room with all the computers, is a part of the Integrated Learning Center (ILC) and a part of the Library. The Info Commons is not the ILC, it is only a part of it. We try to be very consistent in calling the Info Commons the Info Commons or IC, so that students understand this. The Main Library and the Info Commons, which is a part of the Main Library, are open 142 hours out of a total of 168 hours per week. But we do close Friday night 9 pm to Saturday morning 9 am and then we close again Saturday night 9 pm to Sunday at 11 am. These hours are listed on the Library's website. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team
Sun Nov 19 20:13:12 2006 Off-campus
I was in the ILC today working on a really important paper for my political science class and unfortunately I didn't save my paper correctly (and I wound up losing 2 and half hours of work... 3 pages blah blah) When I asked for help I literally got the nicest people ever!! The girl I asked to help me got one of the OSCR guys and he did everything he could (I wish I knew his name so I could thank him properly) anyway, when he couldn't get my file he went and got another guy for me (I think his name is Andrew) and he was so great! The guys were so good to me and I really wanted to thank them (even though I couldn't retreive my work, I wanted them to know I was really appreciative of them). Unfortunately I couldn't really tell them myself at the time because I started crying hysterically (yea... I'm a girl!!) and couldn't get the words "thank you" out of my mouth. But, just wanted to say thanks to all three of the people who helped me out today!!! You guys are awesome!! :)
Library response:
Thank you for sharing your story and taking time to appreciate the IC and OSCR staff who tried to help you. You are not the first student to lose a paper, so everyone who works in the Information Commons knows how upsetting that can be and we are sorry each time it happens to a student. But your story can maybe help other students. On Info Commons computers, the only safe place to save a document is My Documents under the temp file on the T drive. This is the default, but you should always check to make sure that is where you are saving documents. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team
Sun Nov 19 20:30:46 2006 Library
I love the library but I am always freezing and now that winter is right around the corner I am scared to come any more because I don't want to get sick before finals.
Library response:
Thank you for giving us feedback about the cold temperature in the library. The A/C system of the university is centrally located and the variance in temperatures happens because the system takes a period of time to readjust to the outside temperatures. However, if you could tell us exactly where you were when you felt really cold we can readjust that area to be warmer. I have discussed this issue with the University Facilities Department and we will have a meeting to see how we can rectify this late temperature adjustment problem. Rest assured that your continued use of our libraries is of utmost concern to us and we will make everything happen to make it a good experience for you.
Hayri T. Yildirim,
Interim Assistant Facilities Director
Wed Nov 22 09:32:10 2006 Off-campus
As a research assisistant and graduate student, I have a good number of books out and I have a number of holds and ILL inquiries. As a result, I rely on my email to help me keep track of what I need to go pick up, what I need to return to the library etc. It makes it difficult to sort through those inquiries when all the subject lines that you send via email look the same.
For instance I've gotten emails
From: UA Library circulation
Subject: UA Library circulation NOTICE
which ask to 1) recall a book 2) tells me they are overdue and bills me 3) informs me that a book I requested has now been put in the hold area and 4) that my hold/recall has been cancelled and I can now go to ILL for the book. Obviously for each of these there is some action required of me - but there is a great deal of difference between a book that has been recalled on penalty of fines and needing to go to ILL and submit the form at some point.
I am quite grateful that I do get emails saying all of this stuff - but it makes it very difficult to keep track of them all when they have no discernable difference in my in box other than the date. Is there any way to vary the subject line depending on the type of email you send? This would help me immensurably to keep track of things.
I appreciate all that you do!
Library response: I have just been informed by our tech staff that your suggestion is not possible at this time; however, we will request our software company to incorporate it in a future update. Please note that this, if it happens, may take months or years. It does not mean your suggestion was not good or helpful! Thank you very much for the idea. Laura Lee Earles, Materials Access Team
Wed Nov 22 17:02:43 2006 Campus
Many people have complained about the smoking, throwing of cigarette butts all over and the spitting on the ground in front of the ground floor doors to the Main Library. This all does not occur all the time, but it is frequent and sometimes really aweful, the smoke often drifting around and into the Bookends Cafeteria seating area.
My suggestion is changing the policy but putting up appropriate signs indicating a "100-foot" smoking area around this special case location of the front doors at the library and indicating some common decency rules as well. I think this review process and action should not take more than a month or so to complete in order to take definitive action to greatly solve these problems, which are a black eye on the university.
Library response:
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We have been aware of this problem and are working with University Facilities to put up signs and ashtrays at least 25 feet from any door as the State Law states. Unfortunately we will not be able to police these areas frequently but we will try to warn people that are violating the law when we see them. I will also ask the University Police to patrol these areas when they have the time.
Hayri T. Yildirim,
Interim Assistant Facilities Director
Sat Nov 25 23:06:56 2006 Off-campus
You have the wrong address on my library records.
I own a home in Tucson yet someone chose my elderly fathers address in Kentucky to use for me. I am alarmed that the library would even have this address to bother or alarm him that something is wrong.
Please correct all library records to indicate that Tucson is my home address for all information.Please instruct your staff that ALL undergraduate students do not rely on their parents. Some only give the information out because University forms are geared to younger students.
Library response:
We load our customer database information from the University information system. We see that some time ago they had the Kentucky address and so it was loaded into our files as well. But we have checked our records and the University records and they all now have the Tucson address for you. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team
Mon Nov 27 09:48:38 2006 Campus
Dear Madam/Sir
I am satisfied by your valuable library and its services. Thansk a lot.
But I have a comment. you know that all of the books have a barcode on it. But I have a problem with it. Most of the barcodes have been attached exactly on the titel of the book and you can not read the title of the book. Is it possible to put the barcodes a bit below the titles of the books!
Library response:
Thanks for your comments. I've sent you comment to the staff who apply the barcode, to see if there is anything they can do differently. But I think that the placement of the barcode on the front cover is necessary for the self-checkout machine to work correctly. I will ask them to verify this and send you a message, so at least you know that there is method in our madness!
Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team