We've had a fantastic response since we launched our online suggestion box in January 2008. We know we haven't always been as quick as we could have been in responding to your suggestions, but we're currently implementing strategies to improve our response time. Please keep your comments coming -- you help make us better!
10 Recent Suggestions
(Apr 22/19) This library has wonderful study space, but its absolutely disgusting. Ive arrived, first thing in the morning (8:00, when it opens) and I had to visit the ladies washroom in the lower level. I havent been here in two or three days, but the washroom looks exactly the same as it did when I was last here - disgusting. Theres toilet paper in only one stall, but its all over the floor in every other stall (covered in feces). There is absolutely no paper towel to be found and the tiniest amount of soap in only one dispenser. Theres also barely any light, and this feels like it might be to cover up how disgusting the facilities are. If I didnt have to go so badly, I would have trekked over to the IAHS building to use their washrooms. The cleanliness isnt only in the washrooms, but obviously this is the most concerning. In the silent study area, there is garbage and dirt all over the desks. I understand that its exam time and the library is used more often, but wouldnt that warrant more cleaning? As I said - its 8:00 am on a Monday, which means that nobody has been here to make the mess since Saturday.
Good morning. I've just taken a peek myself and I agree, something needs to be done. Over the past several weeks, the Library has been working closely with housekeeping services to find solutions to our cleaning issues. The Library is a large, busy space, making it difficult to keep it clean. It seems that over the long weekend our space may have been overlooked altogether. I have contacted the managers responsible for cleaning and asked them to address the issue immediately. Thank you for taking the time share your concerns.
(Apr 22/19)Answered by: Jennifer McKinnell (Director, Health Sciences Library)
(Apr 6/19) It is quite inconvenient that the library closes at 5:45 on the weekend. Shall we just stop studying at 5:45? Considering how few decent places with natural light there are on campus, this is just one more disappointment at McMaster. I dont understand why the library study areas cant be open 24 hours, as they should be at a major research university with 30 thousand students.
Thanks for taking the time to share your concerns. Unfortunately, for patient safety reasons, the HSL will never be able to provide 24 hour access without major renovations. I'm happy to share the details of the issue if contact me directly. In terms of evening hours, we have been working with student leadership to determine whether or not there is a demand for extended Saturday hours. Because we are working with a limited budget, any additional hours we add on Saturday evenings will have to be taken from somewhere else in the week. We are investigating opening later on Sundays in order to come up with the necessary funds. I hope this will help with your studies next Fall.
(Apr 8/19)Answered by: Jennifer McKinnell (Director, Health Sciences Library)
(Mar 24/19) This year I have noticed an increase in 2 issues that have made Thode more and more unfriendly to study in. Number 1 There has been a huge increase in the lack of respect for the quiet study areas and staff are less and less responsive to complaints. Number 2 There has been an explosion in the number of people vaping inside the library. It was bad enough when people were doing it outside despite McMasters status as a non-smoking campus but for it to now have spread to inside a university building makes it look like the new rule only made things worst
Thank you for submitting these comments.
The Library just ran its Respect Campaign to try to encourage students to be more respectful of those around them in many ways, including respecting what type of space they are choosing to study in. We will try to be more digiligent in responding to noise complaints, but can only do this during the regular hours of opening. If this is happening in the late night study period, please let the security guards know there is a problem and they will talk with the offending groups.
With respect to your comment about vaping, this is not condoned by anyone. Please report these issues to the staff at the main floor service desk as soon as this happens and they will deal with it. We have been told to notify Security immediately when these incidents happen and they will come talk to the offenders. If you are unable to come to the desk you could report this kind of a situation using the noise@mcmaster.ca email address as well. Please make sure you clearly identify where the vaping is taking place and we will send someone to deal with it.
Thanks again for bringing these issues to our attention.
Anne Pottier, Associate University Librarian
(Mar 26/19)Answered by: Anne Pottier (Associate University Librarian, Library Services)
(Mar 19/19) It would be helpful if the upcoming events were more visible on the library website.
Thank you for submitting this suggestion. It as been forwarded on to the group responsible for the rework of the library's website. They are looking at all the feedback which has been received to make tweaks to the website moving forward.
(Mar 21/19)Answered by: Anne Pottier (Associate University Librarian, Library Services)
(Mar 19/19) There is an awful buzzing noise in Mills Commons which makes it quite distracting/annoying when Im trying to get work done there. The buzzings been going on for a couple of weeks and gives me a headache Im there for long - could you kindly look into remedying the situation?
Thanks for submitting this suggestion. You are correct, there is a terrible buzzing coming from the lights in this area. We suspect the ballast for each light will need to be replaced, but this is not work we can do until after the end of term.
We appreciate your patience while we work to get this problem resolved.
(Mar 21/19)Answered by: Anne Pottier (Associate University Librarian, Library Services)
(Feb 11/19) just posting this to recognize our awesome cleaners at Thode. First rate service.
Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful compliment with us. We will forward this along to the custodians and their manager!
(Feb 11/19)Answered by: Anne Pottier (Associate University Librarian, Library Services)
(Feb 4/19) Hi, I have noticed that multiple people continue to vape (smoke) in the middle of the library, especially all over second floor. It smells gross and I really would rather not breath that in. Please put signs or something saying no vaping or actually enforce the rules. thanks
Thank you for your comment. We were not aware this was happening.
We will not post signs since we are at a Smoke Free Campus, so there should be no need for the signage, but we will start monitoring the area on a regular basis and will call Security Services to deal with any offenders who are contravening this policy.
Please do let us know if this continues to happen.
Anne Pottier, Associate University Librarian
(Feb 5/19)Answered by: Anne Pottier (Associate University Librarian, Library Services)
(Jan 29/19) Thode and HSL are probably the best two libraries on campus. Thode because it services science and engineering students, who make up the majority of the population, and HSL because of its natural light and great study atmosphere. However, to a lot of students (mostly those who live on the side of campus near the football field) these libraries are very inaccessible/ inconvenient. It can take almost half an hour to get to these locations from Les Prince Hall and even longer in the winter. In the cold weather, it is especially brutal. There and back, its almost an hour of walking! Has the library considered running shuttle buses or golf carts from this area to the various libraries so students do not need to waste so much time and can make the most of what the library has to offer? It would be nice for students not be discouraged by a long trek in the freezing cold?
Thank you for your suggestion. Transportation to/from and within campus is a very complicated topic, one which is discussed at many different tables and in many contexts.
I cannot see us being in a position to provide the kind of shuttle service between libraries (basically to and from other parts of the campus) which you are requesting at this moment in time, but it may be that this becomes part of a larger conversation related to the LRT, city bus schedules/routes, opening of the new Peter George Centre for Living & Learning, and the proposed reconstruction of the School of Business. We will continue to raise these types of concerns at meetings where we are involved in these larger conversations.
In the meantime Mills Library is much closer than HSL and Thode, and there are some parts of the building which students do enjoy studying in very much. Why not give us a try?
Anne Pottier, Associate University Librarian, Services/Facilities
(Jan 30/19)Answered by: Anne Pottier (Associate University Librarian, Library Services)
(Nov 28/18) Fire alarm at 12:07 today: 55 LOUD bells & no announcement (as of 12:14) why ! ?? !! whos in charge ? and: has no one ever heard of / considered damage to hearing ? This is a hospital, correct ? ----
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)
Follow-up Comments:
Thank you for your comment. Yesterday we had many complaints about the library being too warm AND too cold. We are not clear where the issues are. When you have a moment, please contact me directly to let me know the location in the library where the temperature was too cold so that we can investigate more thoroughly? Thank you. mckinn (2019-04-04)
(Nov 22/18) Hi! I was wondering if the libraries at MAC are providing any pen scanner? By pen scanner, I mean the scanners that you can run through specific lines on a paperback and the pen will automatically transcribe the lines to your laptop document. I think this will be a great addition to a lot of students, including students with disabilities, undergrad, or grad students! Regards J
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)