Thursday, December 5, 2013

Suggestion:
Please monitor the 3rd floor for those not observing the noise ordinance. I have had several instances within the last week where the sound level was so high on the third floor (the SILENT floor) in both the computer lab area and adjacent study rooms in which I was working that I just had to leave the library in order to find solace. Please regulate this by sending someone around on a regular basis to make sure rules are adhered. This is especially important to those of us trying to find a quiet place to study and prepare for finals. Thank you.

Response:
Thank you for bringing the noise problem to my attention. While we do not have area in Blagg Huey that is completely silent, we are committed to creating an environment that is conducive to study. Our expectation is students will be quiet and considerate of their peers on the 3rd floor study space. In the evenings a security guard walks the building and reminds students to be quiet; however, at any time you feel the noise is excessive please speak to a library employee. Library staff are empowered to approach groups and individuals who are disruptive. They will enforce our expectation that students will silence their cell phones, refrain from loud or disruptive conversations, and engage in quiet conversation in areas that are not designated as quiet spaces.

Sincerely,

Sherilyn Bird
Dean of Libraries
Texas Woman's University

940/898-3748
Sbird1@mail.twu.edu

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Suggestion: Why don't we have 24 hour access to the library? If it's budget costs, then I think we could at least have earlier opening hours on a regular basis. I think 7:30 am is an inconvenience.

Response: Thank you for your question. The Libraries assess hours of operation every year and a few years ago in response to student use we extended hours on Friday nights. More recently we began extending hours during finals. Based on building use, availability of staff, student workers and security personnel and advice from our Student Advisory Committee Blagg Huey Library is open from 7:00 am until 2:00 am during finals. The Libraries and Dining Services work together to provide coffee breaks and healthy snacks during finals.

Sherilyn Bird
Dean of Libraries

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Suggestion:
Hi-
Accessing journals is three clicks after some hunting. Any chance of the journal list appearing on the home page?

Response:
Thank you for your comment regarding access to journals. With the new discovery system we are working through changes, and how to best provide access to the resources we provide. I would suggest that you try using the “Catalog Search” and type in the journal you are looking for. That scopes it to content that we have and is the most current.

When the facets come up on the left you can select Journal if you want to be even more specific.

The previous A-Z listing was only for electronic journals but doesn’t represent our print holdings. This option is still available in the catalog search, or by selecting Advanced search.

I hope that helps and am always looking for ways to improve discovery.

David Schuster
Texas Woman's University
Director of Library Information Technology & Technical Support
PO Box 425528
Denton TX 76204-5528

Phone: 940-898-3909
Fax: 940-898-3764

Friday, October 25, 2013

Suggestion or Comment: I had a friend who graduated top of her class at this school in 2010. She returned to her native country. I have almost 3 boxes of her books in Family Therapy she left behind and don't need anymore. I would like to donate them to the school for someone who can use these books, they are a veriaty of topics all to do with Family Therapy. Please let me know what is my best option to release me of these books, some are still in good condition some have notes in them but all are still good as used books. Thank you in helping me release these books into good hands.

Response:
I received your message about donating your friend’s family therapy books to the library. We do not collect textbooks so I cannot add them to our collection. You might try the Bookstore to see if they might buy them back. Since they are from 2010 or earlier, it is likely that they may not still be currently used. If that fails, my suggestion is to take them to a resale book store such as Half Price Books or Recycled Books here in Denton.

Sorry that we cannot accommodate your request but I appreciate your consideration.

Sincerely,

Kris Reed
Assistant Dean of Libraries
Texas Woman’s University
940.898.3767
kreed2@twu.edu
Suggestion or Comment: - I am suggesting a "NO CHILDREN ALLOWED" SIGN for the library. There was a woman with a child who was having a temper tantrum and crying loud on the first floor, while I am trying to take an online quiz. This is the second time this has occured in this library in a month. This is not how Texas Woman's University should be represented. We are a University and our reputation is important. This should not be a University to have woman coming up here and bringing their kids to the library and including to classes. No excuses. We have young ladies here and we don't want that kind of activity around them. Please make a rule to have "NO CHILDREN ALLOWED" this is not fair!!!!

Response: The TWU Libraries are committed to providing an environment that is conducive to study as well as welcoming to all users. Because the TWU Libraries are also used as a teaching space where librarians and staff converse with users to assist them in addition to carrying on library business transactions, noise is inevitable. Technology within the Libraries (computers, printers, copiers, etc.) also produces noise. Children are welcomed in the libraries but must be accompanied by parents or caregivers. If your work is being disrupted by a noisy child you may ask for assistance at the Information desk. We try to find a balance among the variety of users.
TWU Libraries Noise Policy
Children in TWU Libraries
Level 1 of the library is usually busy with students coming and going, group work, library instruction, etc. and is often the noisiest level of the library. A better place for quiet study and test taking would be Level 3, which has been designated at a Quiet Study area where no talking is permitted. We recently added 9 computers in this area to accommodate test taking and other needs for quiet computer work. There are 18 individual study rooms on Level 3 and laptops can be checked out at the Circulation desk. The great thing is that the study rooms can be reserved in advance.

o Reserve study rooms at TWU Libraries/Study Rooms or at the Circulation Desk located on the first floor of the TWU Library in Denton.
o Study rooms may be reserved up to two weeks in advance. Reservations are accepted on a first come/first served basis.
o All study rooms are available by reservation.
o Study carrels cannot be reserved.
o Group study rooms may be reserved for use by an individual student.
o If you are over 15 minutes late for your reservation, you automatically forfeit the room.


Please let us know if you need further assistance.

Connie Maxwell Assistant Dean of Libraries

Monday, October 7, 2013

Suggestion: Is there any possibility of the university becoming a subscriber of JStor's art-specific database ArtStor?

Response: Your question from the Library’s Suggestion Box was forwarded to me. I appreciate your interest in ArtStor for TWU. We have looked at this product in the past and although it is a valuable database, it is also an expensive one. If the Visual Arts Department is interested in pursuing this database, they will need to make this request through their Library Liaison.

Thank you for your question.
Kris Reed
Assistant Dean of Libraries
Texas Woman’s University
940.898.3767
kreed2@twu.edu

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Suggestion:
I read a book for my graduate class (The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien). This book was catalogued in the Children's Collection, but due to the graphic nature of many of the stories in the book (it is about soldiers in the Vietnam War) I didn't know if this was an appropriate place for the book. I just wanted to make you aware.

Response:
Thank you for your email in our Library Suggestion Box. Your question concerned the graphic nature of Tim O’Brien’s book “The Things They Carried”. This book was actually written for the teenage audience, which is why we placed it in our Children’s Collection. Our Collection ranges from young children through teens as far as coverage. Although graphic, it is located appropriately. Keep in mind that our Children’s Collection is not a Children’s Library in that it is designed to be a teaching collection for TWU students to use in their studies – be it reading, library science, art, education, etc. Children do not have library privileges at TWU so the likelihood of it being checked out by a younger reader is slim.

I appreciate your interest in the TWU Libraries and thank you for your thoughts.

Kris Reed
Assistant Dean of Libraries
Texas Woman’s University



Monday, May 20, 2013

Suggestion:
Thank you for taking my suggestions which are: (1) have a drop box for the return of items after hours at the Inwood location. Many students use this facility and it would be of good service to provide a measure for return of borrowed materials after hours instead of driving to Denton. Rationale for this suggestion is that most students who utilize the Inwood location are Distance Learning Students. To have to drive to Denton to return a book is very costly especially when students have limited resources. (2) have Sunday hours. Currently, myself and others have to use the UTSW Library on Sundays because the Inwood location is not available. If there are a lot of students at UTSW, then we are not able to use the facility. If you will not consider Sunday hours, consider a consortium with UTSW for TWU students to use their facilities. Without access to a library, quiet areas to study and work on dissertations, student success can not be accomplished. Most students set aside times to study on the weekend and I am certain these students would treasure a place on Sunday to go and study that is closer than drivign to Denton. (3) stay open later on Saturdays. Graduate students working on their dissertations use the Inwood location on the weekends but have to pack up and go find a second location when the library closes early on Saturday. Yes, the lab is open but the quality of study locations in the lab area is not the same. Most students on Saturday utilizing the lab are on Facebook pages, checking Twitter accounts, holding conversations inside the lab with their outside voices. This is a major distraction. Please consider having a dialogue regarding these suggestions and again, thank you for any consideration provided.

Response:
Thank you for taking the time to share your suggestions. Excellent student support is one of the library’s top priorities. Our Dallas librarians are exploring book drop options with TWU’s Assistant Director of Design Services.

Library hours in Dallas are restricted to building hours. On Saturdays when the library closes at 2:00 pm you have an option to move to the unmanned portion of library that remains open for quiet study until the building closes at 7:00 pm. TWU students who show their university ids may use the UTSW library on Sundays between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm. I understand UTSW may be reviewing their access policies; however, I would not expect you to encounter a limit on the number of students as long as you show your TWU identification. We will continue to assess service issues and the need for longer hours in Dallas.

Sincerely,
Sherilyn Bird
Dean of Libraries

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Suggestions:
More electrical plugs to charge computers. More copiers and scanners available. Have at least 3-5 on each floor.

Suggestions:
Adding a Printer on the third floor of the library is necessary, because students do not want to leave all their things unattended and it is too much of a hassle to take everything and bring it back.

Response:
Thank you for your recent suggestions.

We do our best to listen to our students and he1p them with their needs.

We will install more electrical outlets thru out the building. We will do our best to get this done over the summer.

We will are going to add scanners to the 2nd and 3rd floor. As far as printers, at this time we are not able to provide additional printers due to budgetary restraints.

Mickey Dudley Russell
Library Administration
940-898-3746
Suggestions:
1. add printer to 3rd floor
2. have more big tables
3. 24 hr. access as student
4. line interior walls with more tables

Response:

Thank you for your suggestions.

You requested another Printer for the 3rd floor. I am sorry to say at this time due to budgetary restraints we will not be able to install a printer to the 3rd floor.

Your second request was to add more big tables to the 3rd floor. We are looking at the 3rd floor to add new furniture. We will keep everyone posted as this process continues.

Your fourth request was to add tables to the interior walls. This we have done in the past and these tables seem to move to other areas magically by themselves into study rooms. This tells us study groups need the tables in the study rooms. Also, the 3rd floor is a "Quiet Study Floor". Tables out in the open areas seem to invite the noise level to rise. We do have large tables located on the 1st and 2nd floors. Hopefully this will be of help to you.

Mickey Dudley Russell
Library Administration
940-898-3746

Monday, May 6, 2013

Suggestion:
- I think the library can get more students to study more in there if they change the lighting. TWU's library has a tint of yellow which makes the place look dim and sleepy. Comparing to UNT's library, they have brighter lights which help us stay awake while studying. After 4 hours of studying at TWU's library it makes me sleepy, but i am able to stay at the Willis Library longer without getting sleepy. Just a suggestion. Thank you!

Response:
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. If you will notice the next time you are in the building you will see that we are in the process of changing our lighting. The yellow tints that you see are the bulbs that are of the older type. If you look around you will see brighter lighting is being installed. The problem is we are replacing the old bulbs as they go out due to the astronomical cost of replacing them all at once. The can lighting has already been changed and this has helped tremendously.
We have thousands of lights in our building and I expect it will take us at least a year to replace all the old florescent lighting with the new “Daylight” lighting.

Please be patient with us and again thank you for taking the time to let us talk with you.

Mickey Dudley Russell
Library Administration





Friday, April 26, 2013

Suggestion:
Please do not have any more pianists play in the middle of the library lobby. The sound echoes loudly onto the 3rd floor quiet zone, which no longer is quiet. The library should be a place of silent study, not a concert hall. As a commuting student, this is my one silent solace refuge on campus.

Response:
This is a special concert. It is one of the Van Cleburne finalist and the Library was chosen to be the host of the concert. We are so sorry for the inconvenience it has caused you. The concert should last no longer than an hour and then it should be much quieter.

I will pass your message on to the Administration of campus.

Again, we are sorry for the inconvenience.


Mickey Dudley Russell
Library

Monday, April 22, 2013

Comment/Suggestion
I just wanted to say that I think it is great that you not only listened to student feedback about library hours during finals, but that you actually granted the request. The are many on this campus that would do well to listen to their students'. Thank you.

Response:
On behalf of library staff who agreed to work during the extended hours to make the service possible, I am grateful you took the time to show your appreciation. Your note tells us we are on the right track. Thank you for the valuable input.

Best,
Sherilyn Bird
Dean of Libraries

Suggestion:
I was wondering if we can have anybody help us with APA style and grammar face to face like in TWU Denton. It would help a lot of students especially from outside the country. Thank you

Response:
I am forwarding your email to Dr. Jennifer Phillips-Denny, coordinator of the Write Site at TWU. Online writing assistance for distance learners is available through the OWL (Online Writing Lab). You might also find the libraries’ Writing and Citing guide helpful.

Let me know if we can be of further assistance.

Connie Maxwell
Assistant Dean of Libraries


Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Suggestion:
- The third floor was, under my understanding, to be for serious study time. I thought that the third floor was primarily for individuals to study in the most quiet of environments. I find that the third floor is filled with partners and groups that are studying and talking, which is a large distraction to other students. I would like to suggest that someone patrol the third floor hourly to tell these loud groups to keep quiet while others are studying. I see that signs are posted around the third floor, but for some reason students are not understanding the difference between the third floor and the first or second for study time and being quiet.

Response:
Thank you for taking the time to tells us of the noise that is happening on the 3rd floor. We do have a security guard in the building between the hours of 8 PM – 12 Midnight. I have sent him your suggestion and he is going to do his best to patrol the 3rd floor more frequently. If this occurs during the day, please come to room 208 on the 2nd floor or the Information Desk located on the 1st floor and report it to us and we will be happy to take care of the problem.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Mickey Dudley Russell
Library Administration

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Suggestion:
I'd like to suggest the library confine eating to specific tables. I see (and hear) many people eating at computers, which makes a mess as well makes concentrating difficult. People do not clean up after themselves and often leave sticky substances behind. Many people bring finger foods, which means they are sticking their fingers into their mouths, then typing on shared computers, not a pleasant thought, and not sanitary either. thank you

Response:
We will post signs around the computers and encourage users to not eat while using them. Regular cleaning of computer areas will be scheduled. Thank you for the suggestion.




David Schuster
Texas Woman's University
Director of Library Information Technology & Technical Support

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Suggestion:
Why is the library never open the Sunday before classes begin? It would be helpful for students who need to use the computer and print important materials like articles and a syllabus for class preparation.

Response:
Thank you for your suggestion.

Blagg-Huey Library staff continually evaluate usage patterns as well as student requests to determine when to extend service hours. This semester, Blagg-Huey Library is extending hours during finals in response to student requests. Library usage during the extended hours will contribute to decisions about hours going forward.

Sherilyn Bird
Dean of Libraries

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Suggestion:
Is there anyway you can get the game of Thrones collection or the first book by George RR Martin

Response:
Thank you for your suggestion to add the “Game of Thrones” Collection to the Libraries. I have placed an order for all 4 books in the collection and we will notify you when they are ready for checkout. This science-fiction will make a nice addition to our Browsing Collection!


Thank you again!

Kris Reed
Assistant Dean of Libraries
Texas Woman’s University
Kreed2@twu.edu
81-3767

Suggestion:

It is very difficult for me to tell someone to stop talking in the library, however, with that being said, the two girls across from me drove me crazy today, so like most others I just moved instead of speaking up because I do not want to hurt another's feelings, but please post a HUGE sign somewhere saying "whisper", no talking, QUIET please or anything.


Response:
I regret you had the experience of finding it too loud in the library. The 3rd floor of Blagg Huey is designated as a quiet study area. New “Shhhh!” signs were recently installed to remind library users to respect students’ need for quiet study space. We also have private study rooms on the third floor. The study rooms are available by reservation on a first-come first-served basis. Library staff member make periodic walkthroughs to enforce the quiet and will respond promptly to requests for enforcement from users.
If you ever have difficulty again, please ask a staff member to help you.

Sherilyn Bird
Dean of Libraries
Texas Woman’s University

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Suggestion:
Business students would benefit greatly from access to PrivCo! They offer trial periods for universities. I am needing financials for a private company for a project right now and sure wish I could use this database.

Response:

Thank you for contacting us through our Library Suggestion Box. We like to hear from our students.
Your comment was that you would like to have access to PrivCo to help you with your project. The Libraries would need to find out what a site license would cost, since we cannot have single-user or password only access. The fee is usually much higher for this license.

I suggest that you talk with your faculty members about this database. If they feel that the Library needs to acquire it, they can let us know through their Library Liaison and we will move forward from there. If not, I invite you to make an appointment with Stephany Compton, our librarian who specializes in business resources. She may be able to help you find the information that you need in some of our other databases. Her contact information is scompton@twu.edu

Thank you for your suggestion. We appreciate your taking the time to let us know.

Kris Reed
Asst. Dean of Libraries
Texas Woman’s University
940.898.3767