Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Suggestion:

The Classic Catalog on the library website was significantly more user friendly. TWUniversal is far more difficult to use.

Response:

I appreciate your letting library staff know that you found the Classic Catalog easier to use. Although many students report they like TWUniversal’s one search solution because it enables them retrieve books, journal articles and digital objects with one query, there are other types of library research for which TWUniversal works best when researchers use the advanced features. TWU Libraries offer one-on-one instruction with a librarian who can help you personalize queries and refine your search results. I would be pleased to arrange an instruction session for you. You may contact me at the email address below or contact a librarian on your campus for personalized instruction using TWUniversal.

Sincerely,

Sherilyn Bird

Dean of Libraries
Texas Woman’s University
P.O. Box 425528
Denton, TX 76204-5528

940-898-3748
940-898-3764 Fax
Sbird1@twu.edu


Monday, December 10, 2012

Suggestion:
- Is there any way the library would consider extending their hours during finals week? I mostly am concerned about the Saturday and Sunday prior to finals week, as the library closes early on Saturday (6 pm) and opens late on Sunday (2 pm). I am not suggesting having it open 24 hours, but maybe if it could be more available on those two days? (i.e. Close at 10 pm/midnight Saturday, and open at 9 am on Sunday.) It's difficult for students to utilize the last weekend before early finals with the limited hours and other obligations.

Response:
Excellent student support is one of the library’s top priorities. A library survey conducted during Fall 2012 identified the need for longer hours to support students studying for finals. Blagg Huey library administration is considering safety and service issues and will work with student library advisors to determine which hours of extended service will be most helpful. I appreciate your suggestion that we extend hours on Saturday and Sunday before finals.



Sherilyn Bird
Dean of Libraries

Friday, December 7, 2012

Suggestion:
I have been in the library for a few hours today trying to get extensive research finished before the end of the semester. The environment was quiet and acceptable until a second library attendant arrived has carried out a 45 min conversation loudly with her co-worker. Seriously library employees should not be talking and distracting. I am extremely aggravated and not sure how to nicely suggest she helps to provide a quiet environment.

Response:
Thank you for sharing your concerns with us. I am sorry you were disturbed while doing research in the TWU library. I will discuss your complaint with library staff and remind them to lower their voices in public areas. If I can be of further assistance please contact me.


Connie Maxwell
Assistant Dean of Libraries
Texas Woman's University
940-898-3707
cmaxwell@twu.edu

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Suggestion:
The "Maxims of Madame de Sable" link on your Quotations page is broken. I would like to suggest a new URL to be listed on your page. You can find a lot of categorised quotes at http://www.citatum.org/ . I hope you find it useful.

Response:
Thank you for the information about the link on the quotations page. We will correct it ASAP. I will share your request to have the link http://www.citatum.org/ added to our pages with our reference staff.

Let me know if you need additional assistance.

Connie Maxwell

Assistant Dean
TWU Libraries


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Suggestion:
Today I went to the library to ask for help with citing something, and your librarian flat out told me she couldn't help me before i even told her what it is i needed help with. I have also experienced another young lady who didn't help me when I was trying to find a book. all she did was say what floor it was on and i had been on that floor for 20 mins searching. I am not the one to complain but the library staff ( esp. the younger people) are incompetent and unwilling to help.



Response:
I am sorry you were disappointed with the assistance you received this afternoon at the TWU library.
Because citing sources often includes interpretations of citation rules, the librarians do not counsel students on citation styles, but should always refer you back to your faculty or to the TWU Write Site staff. In addition, you should have been guided to our Writing and Citing pages which include information about citation styles, links to RefWorks a citation tool, and other helpful resources.
I apologize that you were not assisted in finding the library materials you needed. I shared your email with my staff and this is not the level of customer service we want our students to expect from us.
Please let me know if I can be of further assistance to you.

Connie Maxwell
Assistant Dean of Libraries
Texas Woman's University

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Suggestion:
Anything we can do about the bee situation? Today is the second time I spotted a bee on the third floor while studying....it severely limits my ability to concentrate while studying.....

Response:
We are trying to find the time to exterminate the building. Most likely it will happen on a Saturday night starting at 6 pm and the building cannot re-open until Sunday at 2 pm in order for the spraying to be effective.


The chemicals used will completely be dissipated by the time we open Sunday afternoon. Also, the chemicals used are not harmful to humans or animals.

Sorry for any inconveniences and please be sure to know we are working as fast as we can to take care of this problem.

Mickey Dudley Russell

Library Administration

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Suggestion:
- I am exceedingly frustrated with the recall policy here at TWU. I am a PhD student and I recently spent countless hours researching the specific books I needed to study for my comprehensive examinations. I was ecstatic to see that TWU held most of the books I needed, so I checked all 12 or so of them out. THE VERY NEXT DAY I got an email saying that one of the books had been recalled. Then the NEXT day, I got ANOTHER email saying another one of the books had been recalled -- even though there is another edition of the exact same book available in the TWU library. I really do not feel that the recall service is fair at all. Library books should be available on a first come, first served basis. What is the point of a due date if anyone can recall a book at any time for any reason? If someone really needed the book, I know for a fact that it is available at UNT's library -- right down the road from us!! OR the student (or faculty member) who needed the book should have been required to use ILL. I really don't see how the recall service is fair at all. All libraries operate based on a first come, first served basis. If the book is checked out, it is checked out. That person then can use ILL or go to another library themselves to get the book they need. I hope that you will reconsider allowing students and faculty to recall books. There is no need for this! I will now be playing the "recall game" just so I can study for my exams.


Response:
I am sorry that you are frustrated by the recall of two of your titles. Our policy on recalls is readily available on our website:
Recall Request

If an item is checked out, OR if it is needed for a course Reserve, you can request a recall by Circulation Staff. TWU students, faculty, and staff may recall an item online as well. Please fill out the Recall form online are or at the Circulation Desk in the library. A Recall Notice will be sent to the patron who currently has the item, informing them that it has been recalled and that it is necessary for them to return the item within 10 days. If the item is not returned within 10 days as requested, a fine will accrue at the rate of $2.00 per day. Keep in mind that recalls are done to ensure that all patrons have access to library resources. Patrons cannot recall Browsing materials, Reserves, or Laptops

Once an item is recalled, you do have 10 days before it must be returned and fines begin to accrue. In your case you have until August 27, 2012. TWU Libraries does not own a second copy of “Short History of Writing Instruction”; the other title that you see listed has a different subtitle. We also own just one copy of “Rhetoric and Reality”.
There are still options for you within that 10 day window, such as using Library scanners (free of charge) to capture the information that you need before returning it. Or, if the material is available at UNT and in this case both of the titles are, you are free to checkout materials from them. Both titles are also available on Amazon (“Short History” is also available for rent at Amazon). You also have the option of recalling the books back again once they are checked out to the other patron.
It is unfortunate that your materials were recalled so quickly. Normally this is not the case. Most of our patrons are happy to be able to recall items that are checked out to others, especially since our loan periods are very generous.
Again, I am sorry that you are unhappy with our policy, but it is fairly standard in academic libraries.

If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you,
Kris Reed
Assistant Dean of Libraries
Texas Woman’s University Libraries
PO Box 425528
Denton, TX 76204-5528
(940) 898-3767
kreed2@twu.edu



Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Suggestion: Web Page Recommendations for Updating Good morning, Please consider adding Scanners to this page. http://www.twu.edu/library/photocopying.asp

 Response: Scanners are available on the 1st and 3rd floor. Scanning to USB flash drives or e-mail message is free of charge.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Question: Hello. I'm a librarian at Texas A&M, and am cataloging a booklet entitled "Recipes : Texas agricultual products", issued by the Texas Department of Agriculture. The publication seems to match your catalog record. The cataloger-supplied date is {199-?] The booklet I have mentionss Reagan V. Brown as the Commissioner for the Tex. Dept. of Ag., an office he held from 1977-1983. This appears on the cover, underneat the title, and alongside a drawing of a Texas cowgirl. Does your copy also have this information? If so, I would like to enhance the OCLC record; if not, I'll have to create a new one. Thank you very much.

Response: Your question from our Ask-A-Librarian service was forwarded to me. I have looked at the title that you refer to (Recipes – Texas Agricultural products). From your description, this does appear to be the same booklet that you have in hand. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. Kris Reed Assistant Dean of Libraries