(Apr 2/23) There is a squeaking noise at the healthsci library and it is making it impossible to concentrate. Every few minutes there is a loud squeak. This happens occasionally when I come here but not always (which adds to the ambiguity of it all). Could this please be stopped? Or at the very least could someone explain what it is?

(Apr 19/22) Heyo! Since theres a sewing machine in the Thode makerspace, I think it could be cool to also have an embroidery machine! :)

(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.

(Mar 19/19) It would be helpful if the upcoming events were more visible on the library website.

(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?

(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 ? ----

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)

(Oct 18/18) Often students book rooms and do not use them. Potentially figure out a way to confirm this so that others may use. i.e. send an email 10 min. before to confirm.

(Sep 10/18) It would be helpful to list the locations of prayer spaces within the libraries on the new website.

(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.

(Jul 16/18) Chairs at HSL are not comfortable, there is no back support. The chairs are not ergonomically correct. Very uncomfortable.

(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!

(Nov 9/17) will u be bringing out more puzzles????

(Nov 1/17) The link attached to the how-to for renewing library books leads to the old library account system. If someone hadnt helped me, I would have been in a pickle. It might help other first- year students if the link is updated. Just a thought...

(Sep 8/17) Of course it was too good to last ! 3 days of warm/hot water in the womens washroom (library entrance) for the first time in 1 year? 2 years? and today its cold again. This is pathetic.

(Aug 29/17) I tried to renew the library books today but I found out that the log-in feature has changed. I am not sure why features that are not broken are being fixed, and now end up being broken. So now, I cannot renew the books online so I either have to pay a fine or bring the books back personally for renewal, which are either way, a waste of time and money.

(Jul 20/17) Hello fellow Marauders, I was wondering whether the university would invest in something like this: https://twitter.com/westsydulibrary/status/823425172711555073 . If McMaster wants to see itself as a top-tier university, it should try to invest in these material things which are both beneficial to the end-user, i.e. students, and positively influence the place. Thanks for reading. Best Regards, Mohamed Mirza

(Jun 16/17) It would be greatly appreciated if the grammarly subscription is reinstated. It was extremely useful and helped me improve my writing. I know there is the free version, but it isnt the same. Thank you.

(Dec 12/16) fire alarm: today at 1:09 - 31 rings, then a screech, 6 rings, 4 more screeches, 11 rings no message (and it is now 1:19) This is a hospital. Are there no audiologists on staff? Is there no concern about damage to hearing from high decibels? from prolonged and repeated noise? Why 31 rings? Why do 10 not suffice? Why the screeches? And - how about a location ???

(Dec 2/16) re. the womens washroom, upper level at the entrance to the library: why is there no hot (or at least, warm) water in the taps? Last week: same problem.

(Apr 5/16) Would it be possible for the study cubicles on the lower level to be wiped down at some point during the day as they do at the Innis library? For example in the early morning, or right before closing the night before. Too many people keep eating and leaving residues of their food on the study surfaces. Thank You

(Feb 1/16) Hello, Several suggestions related to the basement of Thode: There are many broken lights in the basement of Thode, especially in the study rooms. Would it be possible to repair these? The furniture (especially tables) in many of the Thode study rooms is decrepit and not terribly useful/flexible. Would it be possible to either find new tables or redistribute the existing furniture in a better way? The capacities of the Thode study rooms listed on the booking website are incorrect. For example, B106 is listed as 8 but comfortably seats 12. Would it be possible to update these? The appearance of the entire basement of Thode is rather depressing and looks terrible. Really, its the ceiling tiles that are the biggest eyesore.There are currently at least 7 missing and 10 with the skin removed that I can see from where I am sitting. Would it be possible to just remove them wholesale, as was done on the first floor? Instead of throwing good money after bad? I realize that this would be a significant investment, as the walls of the study rooms would have to be extended to the concrete ceiling, and the whole basement would likely have to be painted, but this seems to be the best long-term solution and it would give the library a more modern look (instead of the current 70s throwback). Thank you for your consideration.

(Jan 20/16) Blinds should be added to the windows on the second floor, particularly along the south side. During the day, practically from 11:00 until sundown, the sun shines directly through those windows and the glare makes the desks situated along that side virtually unusable.

(Sep 11/15) Please load Stata software on computers at Innis library

(Mar 30/15) More computers with SPSS would be fantastic. Kinda difficult when only 4 of them have SPSS on them. My stats class has 300 students so. And the labs are always in use for classes.

(Mar 17/15) Most of the couches on the upper floors of Mills are worn through - the leather is cracked and/or broken completely and the filling is often showing. This is unpleasant to look at but also uncomfortable to sit on. Please do something!

(Jan 21/15) This is mainly an aesthetics problem but Ive noticed the majority of ceiling wallpaper have fell or are in the process of crumbling - thus exposing the ugly ceiling structure giving Thode a ghetto dilapidated look. Its prominent on all floors as well, and eventually, all ceiling wallpaper will rot, crumble, and fall down. I was wondering when this will be fixed - Thode could look better than it does right now!

(Nov 24/14) The elevator doors open and close repeatedly when the elevator remains stationary on the 6th floor of Mills. This is a nuisance on the silent study floor. Please fix this asap.

(Oct 24/14) It would be amazing if there was disinfectant/cleaning wipes available to wipe off a desk before sitting down to study (or even to clean up before you leave for the next person).

(Oct 9/14) Hello, I am curious if anybody has noticed a subtle vibration running through the lower floor of Health Sciences Library. I am trying to determine if there is actually a vibration or if I am suffering from a kinaesthetic hallucination possibly brought on by some kind of environmental factor. Its not quite people in the air conditioning, but neither is it particularly conducive to my studies. Thank you for your assistance.

(Oct 2/14) Id like to thank the McMaster employees or subcontractors responsible for communicating the importance of noise reduction to events in the Mills-MUSC square. This is certainly an improvement! Thanks again.

(Mar 31/14) If a fire is not an imminent danger, then why are we listening to shouted announcements about it? If a fire is an imminent danger, then why not word the announcement more clearly? Isnt there a bit of a logical discontinuity between cryptic and shouted?

(Mar 10/14) Is it possible to get a ban on the use of subwoofers on campus during the month of March? I say this in the context of someone who appreciates the importance of letting off a bit of steam, however since subwoofers penetrate most conventional earplugs as well as windows, and the kind of music that is preferred for running outdoor events is, shall we say, heavily irritating, I feel this is somewhat akin to smoking inside. Clearly one should expect a certain amount of disruption on campus in September. Running a subwoofer on campus in March however is not school spirit - it is sadism. You can pump the bass on welcome week or on 420 - just not when EVERYBODY WHO CARES ABOUT THEIR MARKS IS TRYING TO STUDY.

(Feb 28/14) There is no water fountain in HSL. It is not good for our health

(Jan 26/14) Please fix the rattling intake fan on the ceiling of entrance level of the library. It is on the west side of the floor near the lounge chairs. It is quite annoying. Thanks

Follow-up Comments:

The fan is not near the entrance. It is near the area where the leather lounge chairs are on the same level as the library checkout desk. (2014-01-28)

Thank you for responding. We will investigate. Please contact me directly (mckinn@mcmaster) so that I can gather more precise information about this problem. Regards, Jennifer McKinnell, Director, Health Sciences Library. mckinn (2014-01-28)

(Dec 4/13) There should be available water fountains in HSL or the surrounding area. For students studying in the library for long periods of time this is very inconvenient. The water fountain on the first floor has been out of service for a very long time, and has shown no improvement. Every other library on campus has a water fountain on each floor.

(Dec 2/13) Why were the plants along the curved wall of Thode taken away? Any chance of them coming back?

(Nov 17/13) Please clean the downstairs and upstairs washrooms more often. There is often litter on the floor and an unhygienic scent when you enter.

(Oct 28/13) The construction being done above Innis is ridiculously loud and intrusive. Could this not be done earlier in the day, say, starting at 7? Or maybe on Saturday when Innis is closed? The success of the silent area in Innis is ruined by the constant drilling!

(Oct 24/13) As students stay to study during the extended study hours, there is no access to food in the student centre or in other buildings. The least that should be done is ensuring that the vending machines in Mills Learning Commons are actually functioning. Learning commons is also generally much warmer than room temperature, even reaching up to 86 degrees fahrenheit. As the only available study space on campus during these late hours, it needs to be more accommodating for students as they study, rather than distracting them with these temperatures and inaccessibility to food/drink. Thank you.

(Sep 27/13) Please extend the closing time to 1:00a.m. (I am open to working the extra hours). Prohibit students from coming in with food. The smell can have a distracting effect on other students.

(Jun 27/13) It is mind boggling how McMaster does not invest in internet access to the library. I have read complaint after complaint about the speed of access to library, and yet, nothing seems to be done to fix this problem. I have spent countless hours trying to get work done off campus. The access to library on -line is simply impossible. I have to be on campus to get my work done. This defeats the purpose of working from home. The cost to me is taking a day off work plus travel and parking. I know that this problem can and should be solved so that students can do their work from home. I cannot get access from my work-place nor from home. Magically, I can get access to almost any other website. There is a severe bottleneck in the McMaster sysemt and I would like to know what is being done to fix this serious problem