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
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(Sep 10/18) It would be helpful to list the locations of prayer spaces within the libraries on the new website. 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) Categories: Other | Permalink |
(Sep 5/18) The sixth floor in Mills is suppose to be a silent study area, yet every time i come here there is always 1 group that is not mindful of others. It may be a good idea to have a worker regularly monitor the floor throughout the day to make sure that people are respectful of others and follow the rules. 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) Categories: Other, Mills | Permalink |
(Jul 16/18) Chairs at HSL are not comfortable, there is no back support. The chairs are not ergonomically correct. Very uncomfortable. 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) Categories: Other, Health Sciences | Permalink |
(Jul 6/18) My name is Dustin Burlet and I am a PhD student at McMaster Divinity College (Old Testament). I have received your email via your business card that was given to me by Kim at the McMaster Mills Library here at McMaster University. I expressed to Kim my concern about the BS section of the library on the fifth floor, in particular, the moveable stacks and the high degree of usage that that section receives. I voiced a desire to see if it might be possible to put these items in a non-moveable stack section of the library and Kim informed me that you, Anne, were the person to speak to with respect to this matter, hence this email. I wonder Anne, what might possibly be able to be done to help to facilitate a change in this area. I do not wish to petition the library, nor do I wish to start a campaign or a flood of emails and such. I only wish to know what possibly might be able to be done to begin (and expedite) the process of transferring the BS items on the fifth floor to a non-moveable stack section. Thank you very much for reading this email Anne and for any consideration that you might give to this request. Have a great day, Sincerely and with respect, Dustin Burlet 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) Categories: Books/Journals/Databases, Mills | Permalink |
(May 6/18) Can the female student working at the desk on the weekends please try to keep her volume down? She can be heard by everyone on the second floor and when approached about this issue, she is very apologetic and remorseful but still continues to do it after 30 minutes or so have passed. Please, I love HSL and this employee is making it hard for me to focus. 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) Categories: Customer Service, Health Sciences | Permalink |
(May 2/18) Is it just me or has the 5th floor been super stuffy? I think MacPherson is an oven at this time of the year 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) Categories: Temperature, Mills | Permalink |
(Apr 26/18) Thank you so much for providing a small and comfortable working space to focus on studies and learning. All the attention provided by the librarians towards the students is truly appreciated. McMaster is a better place with Innis library. Library response: Thanks so much for taking the time to share these kind words with us. I will make sure this is passed along for the Innis staff to see. Hope the exams went well. (Apr 26/18)Answered by: Anne Pottier (Associate University Librarian, Library Services) Categories: Study Space, Innis | Permalink |
(Mar 28/18) Can Innis please be open on Saturday during exam season? Although its small, Innis is by far the cleanest and friendliest library and the defacto best place to study on campus!(<- a fact, not an opinion) Wed all really appreciate more of this librarys hours. Library response: Thank you for your kind comments about Innis Library, I'll pass them along to the Innis staff. I'll also pass along your comments to our hard working cleaning staff. I'm sure she'll be happy to hear one of our users notices the work she does each day to keep Innis clean. I have great news! Innis Library does extend its hours during exam time to include Friday night and during the day on Saturday. Innis will also be open late night hours from 8:30am - 1:45am Monday to Thursdays starting Monday, April 9th. You can access our Library hours here: library.mcmaster.ca/hours-info/week-innis/2018-W15 Thank you again for your comments and good luck on your exams! (Mar 29/18) Answered by: Ann Pearce (Supervisor, Information Services, Innis Library) Categories: Hours, Innis | Permalink |
(Mar 23/18) I came into Health Sciences library with my broken laptop about two weeks ago and asked if I could borrow a mouse from either the library or take one from the computers. However, [one of the student library assistants] told me I could do neither. I was pretty upset, not at the library just at my self but then he proceeded to give me his personal mouse just to use, which I thought was AMAZING and I was able to work on my major thesis project rather than go home. I forgot to thank him but please let him know I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart and he really saved my day. It is the little things that count. Library response:
Thank you for the kind words. We will let our student library assistant know that you appreciate his help. We have a few extra computer mouses stored in the back of the library. I'm going to make sure the student workers have a few on hand just in case another person has a similar request in the future. (Mar 26/18)Answered by: Jennifer McKinnell (Director, Health Sciences Library) Categories: Customer Service, Health Sciences | Permalink |
(Mar 20/18) I must say, the lower level womens bathroom (not too sure about the mens?) is probably the most unhygienic, grimiest bathroom on campus. Of course, this is as just as much the fault of those who use it, but is there anyway it could be cleaned more frequently throughout the day? I dont think there has been a time Ive been in there and the garbage wasnt overfilling, or the floor was flooded with water. Thanks! Library response: Thank you for taking the time to write and tell us about your concerns. I have reported your observations to Facilities Services and they will be investigating shortly to make sure the washrooms are well maintained throughout the day. In the meantime, we have asked that housekeeping do a quick clean up as soon as possible. Please contact me directly if you wish to discuss this in more detail. (Mar 20/18)Answered by: Jennifer McKinnell (Director, Health Sciences Library) Categories: Other, Health Sciences | Permalink |