Some recent suggestions/comments from the library suggestion box:

Hi Librarians, Please post signs telling students not to come in to work (or hang out) in the library if they are sick.  It is difficult for the rest of us to concentrate when others are constantly sniffing or sneezing or coughing all over the place.  Today (10/14) there must be at least a dozen people in here who should be working at home, or resting up to get better! I like working at the library, but I don’t want to get sick.  I figure a few prominently placed signs with little sick people logos and the message “If you have a cough or a cold, please go home, or work someplace else” would maybe do the trick. Thank you.

We know that all that noise is distracting, but even during the flu season, sniffing, sneezing and coughing is not against our Library Use and Conduct Code.  We do try to do our part by having lots of antibacterial gel around and encouraging its use.  And it’s not just library facilities that sick students should be discouraged from visiting, but other campus locations as well.  Perhaps this is something that would be more appropriate to bring up with the Health Education Staff (studenthealth@ucsd.edu) at Student Health Services to see what a possible strategy might be.

More school spirit in the basement (computer lab) maybe wall decoration. Thanks.

Thanks for the suggestion – it’s something we will consider.

Students need to PRINT.  If 2-5 computers were specifically designated for printing (with a 10 minutes maximum), it would be really beneficial to the students.  The printers in the library would, subsequently, need more maintenance, but the accessibility for students would be a tremendous help.

We recognize that students do need to Print and because of that, we have printers available in every library, with four in Geisel alone.  Generally the busiest one is the one near the Info Desk near Geisel’s entrance.  If there is a line there, remember you can print using any of the print stations found elsewhere – ask at the Info Desk where the others are located.  There is usually no waiting at the one in the S&E Library.

Scratch paper box by the printers in the ACS computer lab instead of the recycle bin, and allow students to take from the scratch paper box.  (probably good to have a “take as needed” sign by the box)

Thanks for the idea. We will forward your suggestion to ACMS.

I noticed on the board someone suggested vending machines outside.  I say have vending machines INSIDE!! At least the drink one with bottled water. PLEASE it would be very much appreciated.

This is something we’re looking into, but we’ll send your additional suggestion (vending machines inside)
to our director of administrative services.

Fix the computers in the computer lab! Almost half of them are not working for almost a month!

Sorry about that.  It’s never good to have so many computers down at one time.  We’ll send your “suggestion” to ACMS.

The walls in the group study rooms on the upper floors are remarkably porous.  So on a quiet floor, conversations in the study rooms are heard easily.  How about a sign in the room: “Walls are not soundproof.  Please keep your conversations as quiet as you can.”

We know that sound bleeds out of these rooms and we actually did have signs in the rooms which more or less said what you’re saying.  We will check the rooms and repost the signs.

Elevator music.

Sorry, there’s enough noise in the building already, even in the elevators.  So, we’re not going there.  And who wants to listen to bad renditions of Beach Boys songs anyway?

Submit your comments & suggestions

You can submit comments in the Suggestion Box in the Geisel Library building (between the Information and Reference Desks) or online at http://libraries.ucsd.edu/suggestions.html

You can also recommend a title for our collection online at http://libraries.ucsd.edu/collections/help-build-our-collections/recommend-a-purchase.html

Some recent suggestions/comments from the library suggestion box:

Bring back the campus delivery between libraries of books! At least for grad students & professors who use and rely on Roger for this important service.

The Libraries’ decision to discontinue this service was precipitated by cuts to the Libraries’ budget. Before we made the decision, we consulted with several campus groups, including the Academic Senate Representative  Assembly, the Academic Senate Committee on the Library, and the Campus Budget Committee. While each group recognized that elimination of a service like this would create hardships for the campus community, they also recognized that the Libraries’ budget situation has forced us to make service cuts that we would otherwise not make. Our reduced budget and staffing levels require that we reduce or eliminate some services in order to retain others.  For more, please see:  http://libraries.ucsd.edu/budgetcutsFAQ/index.html

Please stay open later! ♥ ♥ Some of us are night owls.

We would love to stay open later, but at this time we don’t have the funding to allow us to do so.  Please note that CLICS does stay open until 1am most nights.

How about vending machines outside? Or a “snack bar” with bottled drinks?

Thanks for the suggestion.  This has been forwarded to the head of our administrative services for consideration.

Guest have to pay too much for printing.

Others have had the same reaction to our price model, but in all fairness, the Libraries budget has been cut significantly over the past few years.  To maintain the current printing system and to prevent our costs from rising, last year we made the decision to charge guests of UCSD more so that we could keep the costs to UCSD community members at the same rate.

There are students who had exams on 4 sept yet the library was closed. How is this putting students interests 1st?? Why wasn’t it kept open even with a skeleton staff?? During exams the library is very important for studying and research even at the last moment!!

Sorry about that.  We will monitor the summer session Finals schedule more closely next time.

You can submit comments in the Suggestion Box in the Geisel Library building (between the Information and Reference Desks) or online at http://libraries.ucsd.edu/suggestions.html

You can also recommend a title for our collection online at http://libraries.ucsd.edu/collections/help-build-our-collections/recommend-a-purchase.html

Some recent suggestions/comments from the library suggestion box:

There are ants at the comptuer terminals periodical and soc sci. 1) change the food policy- create a food only area. Or 2) strictly enforce current policy
Have you noticed ants in the basement? There are attracted to food. Food should be eliminated at the library as it was enforced a few years ago.
Please report any ant sightings to the nearest service desk and we will report these to our Facilities staff. At this time, we are not going to change our food & drink policy nor increase enforcement.

Have you thought about a webcam for the raven nest? If so that would be interesting.
Yes, we have considered this – wouldn’t it be fun to have our own Molly and McGee – but in this current budget climate and with our reduced staffing, we are not exploring this at this time.

Provide a shredder please!
We will consider this.

The copy system here sucks. SDSU doesn’t charge non-Aztec users extra. But here, if you aren’t a triton you pay!!
Lots of people have had the same reaction to our price model, but in all fairness, the Libraries budget has been cut significantly over the past few years. To maintain the current printing system and to prevent our costs from rising, last year we made the unpleasant decision to charge guests of UCSD more so that we could keep the costs to UCSD community members at the same rate.

Change the policy that allows playing games on the computers for hours during finals, especially if the person is NOT A STUDENT!
Our policy is “Priority is given to those doing library research.” If all the workstations are in use, game playing is not allowed even if the person is a student. Let a staff member know and we will let the person know our policy.

Staplers and holepunchers downstairs in the ACS Lab!!!
We will forward your suggestion to ACMS, who maintain the labs.

The library proudly displayed posters against “hate” not so long ago. This past week getting to the library via “Library walk” I felt intense hate towards as a Jew. I hope the library will do its part to prevent a wall of hate & lies in the future.
We’re sorry you had that experience. Despite its name, space and events on Library Walk are administered by the campus. According to UCSD’s Policy on Speech and Advocacy, the University is committed to assuring that all persons may exercise the constitutionally protected rights of free expression, speech, assembly, and worship. The Center for Student Involvement has some suggestions for how to express your message if you disagree with the content of a student-sponsored event or program — http://bit.ly/9V13sh. The Libraries are strongly committed to providing and maintaining safe and welcoming spaces for all students and other library patrons. If you or anyone you know witnesses or experiences a hostile act in any of the Libraries, please notify Library staff immediately.

You can submit comments in the Suggestion Box in the Geisel Library building (between the Information and Reference Desks) or online at http://libraries.ucsd.edu/suggestions.html

Some recent suggestions/comments from the library suggestion box:

Increase water pressure please. Water fountains.
We called in the campus Facilities Management plumbers and had the pressure increased. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

I notice that you carry the SF Chronicle and wonder why you don’t also have the Contra Costa Times?
With the worsening of the California state budget, we anticipate that we will be compelled to cancel many of our subscriptions to print newspapers within the next year. Use the computer terminals throughout the library to read the web edition of your favorite newspaper online. Ask for assistance at any service desk.

Shelve the music section promptly! It is a mess!
The Arts Library has seen a surge in use of our print collections which is good news, but it has made it more difficult for us to keep the stacks in good order. We recently hired additional student assistants to focus on maintaining and reshelving materials in both the music and art book collections. We also are planning for a complete shelf reading (to make sure books are in the correct order) and cleaning of the collections this summer.

You can submit comments in the Suggestion Box in the Geisel Library building (between the Information and Reference Desks) or online at http://libraries.ucsd.edu/suggestions.html

In addition to the following comments:

• Why is it so COLD in here?
• It’s always SO COLD! Why can’t they turn up the AC or turn ON the heater?
• I am an extension student. I love reading books and library. But this library is too cold. Please could you reduce the air conditioner for us? I can’t concentrate on reading because of severe cold.
• Restroom A/C should not be that cold. Too much energy

A shout-out to the user who submitted a suggestion in haiku form!

It’s hella cold
Why is Geisel so damn cold?
Turn down the AC

The Libraries are kept cooler (about 70 degrees) than other buildings since heat is especially damaging to books and other library materials. Also it is the temperature at which mold is less likely to be a problem. In fact there have been outbreaks of mold in both the SIO Library and the former Undergraduate Library (now CLICS) that cost thousands of dollars to clean and left parts of the collections inaccessible. Experience has taught us that studying near a window tends to be warmer. If though you notice a particular zone of the Library that is either extremely cold or hot, please report it to a Circulation Supervisor so they can let Library Facilities know and some adjustments may be made. In addition, recently due to the renovation downstairs, the construction crew going in and out of the building caused negative pressure with the doors from the mechanical spaces. The mechanical spaces are our air plenum, so it sucks air all over the place. The may be the reason for the draft you felt. The renovation should be complete by the beginning of Fall Quarter.

What happened to the no smoking sign you promised?

We placed new no smoking decals on the bridge railings next to each bench as promised, and a new sign on the windows at the end of the wings. FYI, smoking is allowed near the Silent Tree.  If you have other suggestions for sign locations, please submit them.

Hey, yo—Why not give Osher-Lifelong UCSD seniors a computer ID?  There aren’t that many of us and it would nice to use any computer available. . .?

The Libraries don’t control network access on the UCSD campus (and for that we are grateful) and therefore don’t have the ability to give Osher members a computer ID even if we wanted to.  If you would like to make a case for your group receiving network accounts, you might want to talk to the UCSD Extension administrators and see if they could talk to the appropriate group on campus about this.

More “senior abuse” of you folks!   How about more computer stations where monitor is not put on top of box?  For us old farts with spine/neck & trifocal happenstances. . .  A sign giving preferences to seniors/ handicapped would also be nice.

I don’t think we can go for the latter, but we’ll look into the former.  Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

I think it’s very vital that our university, a place of higher learning, keep places that facilitate that learning (i.e: the library) open on the weekend and late at night.  I understand there is a financial crisis, but cuts should be made elsewhere.  Not the library.

As you said, we are in a bad budgetary situation.  The situation is forcing the Libraries as well as the rest of the campus to make some unpleasant decisions.  So far we have tried to keep hours reductions to a minimum, but we have had to make cuts nonetheless.  We continue to offer weekend hours in most of our facilities and, although Geisel now closes at midnight, CLICS is still open until 1am.  We know that students are not happy about the changes we have had to make to our hours and we share your dismay.  For more about the impact of budget cuts on the Libraries, please see http://libraries.ucsd.edu/budgetcutsFAQ/.

“No aromatic food” does no good.  People either have no common sense or completely disregard that sign.  Some of them even think crispy chicken from Tapioca Express is okay.  Please come up with a list of forbidden items (I know the restaurants aren’t going to be happy about this) or ban all food from the food court.

It would be great if all library users followed our directives regarding food in the Libraries, especially in Geisel.  But we know that will never be true – some people just don’t think they are part of the problem or they just don’t think the policies apply to them.  Since we are not willing to ban all food from being brought into the Libraries (that would cause a revolt by students), nor are we able to afford to have staff specifically tasked to go around and police this policy, we are next going to try to help the situation by trying a new signage campaign which will include some of what you have suggested.  We hope to make in clearer with these new signs what is okay and what isn’t, especially with regards to the problem of “aromatic food.”