10 Recent Suggestions

Library response:

Thank you for your comment. The library has no control over the announcements made in the building. We have forwarded your comment to hospital administration.

(Nov 28/18)
Answered by: Jennifer McKinnell (Director, Health Sciences Library)

Library response:

Thanks for this suggestion. I don't believe we have any pen scanners, but will pass this along to our Library Accessibility Services group to consider. 

The new Adaptive Technology Centre for use by students with disabilities is located on the 2nd floor of Mills Library. They do have many kinds of assistive technology in this space, but I am not sure this device is part of that.

We will definitely look into it. I found some information about this device  which we will look at.

Thanks again

Anne

 

(Dec 17/18)
Answered by: Anne Pottier (Associate University Librarian, Library Services)

Library response:

Thanks for your feedback. The library serves multiple purposes and sometimes they are at odds with each other. Though it is not ideal to have group study rooms in close proximity to the silent study space, this was necessary due to the limited space. Sometimes groups in the study rooms are not aware that their voices carry outside.  The walls tend to give a false impression that they are good sound barriers which, as you have noted, they are not.  Signs are posted inside the Group Study rooms reminding students to keep the noise level down and staff regularly walk around the library monitoring the space.  I will ask staff to increase their vigilance to help educate those not observing the use of space, especially leading up to exam time.  Please inform staff at the Service Desk when noise levels become an issue so it can be addressed in the moment.  If you are comfortable doing so, you may wish to speak to the groups in the rooms.  Unfortunately, we do not have sufficient resources to implement an online noise reporting system similar to the other campus libraries, though we appreciate the suggestion.

(Nov 19/18)
Answered by: Neera Bhatnagar (Head of Systems & Public Services, Health Sciences Library)

Library response:

Thank you for your comment and suggestion regarding our group study room booking system.  We do have a policy for group's who do not show up for their selected booking time.  They have 15 minutes from the time of the booking to show up at their selected group study room.  After the 15 minutes, if the room is still unoccupied their booking will be cancelled and another group can use the room.  https://library.mcmaster.ca/mrbs/  If you see an unoccupied room please do not hesitate to ask a full time staff member at the Services desk for assistance.

Thank you again for your comment and suggestion.

(Oct 18/18)
Answered by: Ann Pearce (Supervisor, Information Services, Innis Library)

Library response:

That's a good idea, thanks. I have passed this along to the group who is adding new content to the new website.

 

(Sep 10/18)
Answered by: Anne Pottier (Associate University Librarian, Library Services)

Library response:

Thanks for your suggestion. We do have staff walk through all of our spaces on a fairly regular basis, but can't be everywhere at all times.

In the future, may I suggest you first ask the loud parties to quiet down, and if this doesn't work please send an email to quiet@mcmaster.ca or complete the form which can be found at https://library.mcmaster.ca/forms/report-noise-quiet-area

These get sent directly to staff who will come speak to the chatty groups. Please make sure to give us some indication of where the problem is so we don't waste time trying to figure out where they are.

Hope this helps!

Anne

 

(Sep 10/18)
Answered by: Anne Pottier (Associate University Librarian, Library Services)

Library response:

Thank you for your feedback. We have had most of our chairs for over 10 years and this is our first complaint. I am wondering if you can provide us with more detail about where you were sitting when you were in the library. I am concerned that some of our chairs may be breaking down which is why there is no longer any back support. We are working to get some chairs replaced and your feedback will be useful in helping us decide where in the library we need to start. Please contact me directly so we can discuss. Thank you.

(Jul 17/18)
Answered by: Jennifer McKinnell (Director, Health Sciences Library)

Library response:

Good morning Dustin - I believe I have addressed this issue via email with you directly, but am happy to post the response here as well. Anne

We understand that the books in the religion call number ranges are well used compared to many othother areas of the library, and we're glad that this collection is active. Currently, we're not able to relocate the religion call number ranges without disrupting the flow of the stacks floors, which would make them even more difficult for users to navigate. We are working internally to develop ways to make our print collections more welcoming and engaging for users. We may also have some opportunity to re-arrange the stacks in the future, but the collections spaces are just too tight to permit this at the present time

I do want to make sure you are aware of our new virtual shelf browse feature which is available via the catalogue: Search/browse by call number. Here you can browse the books in a call number range, then if you wish to use one of them click the Request button and our staff will retrieve the items and bring them to the main floor service desk area for you. If you need only a single chapter, you can also request this via the catalogue, and Library Services staff will scan and send it to you electronically.

We appreciate your patience as we work through various collections related issues in the library.

(Jul 6/18)
Answered by: Anne Pottier (Associate University Librarian, Library Services)

Library response:

Thank you for the feedback. We are happy that you like the space and hope you will continue to love HSL.  We will remind our service desk staff to be mindful of their volume level when assisting patrons or speaking to colleagues.  Also note that there are designed silent study spaces in the library which you may wish to consider.  They are the individual study carrels on the lower level. Please contact me should you continue to have concerns.

(May 7/18)
Answered by: Neera Bhatnagar (Head of Systems & Public Services, Health Sciences Library)

Library response:

Unfortunately the campus ha not yet switched over from steam to chilled water. That will happen shortly.

(May 2/18)
Answered by: Anne Pottier (Associate University Librarian, Library Services)