(Mar 28/24) We need a system to report conversations/noise in the silent study area like mills does.

(Mar 15/24) You should add the floor plan of the Health Sciences Library back onto your website. It is only present in-person now. It was very helpful when booking study rooms.

(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?

(May 4/19) I was very disappointed to see today that the Health Science Library will be closed every weekend (along with every other library on campus) over the summer. I find this to fall embarrassingly far below the standard of services expected at a world- leading medical school. It is well known that medical students and residents do not follow the traditional University calendar and often have many exams (ALL Royal College exams, MCCQE etc) taking place during the summer months. As such, the Health Science Libray plays a vital role to medical learners at McMaster, as residents and medical students continue to study, learn, teach, and work. I would also underscore this fact by highlighting that there are NO other dedicated study spaces at any of the other major teaching hospitals across the city. As such, the library has remained the only place for medical students and residents to study, collaborate, and advance their clinical knowledge. A quick online review demonstrates that this thrifty approach is unique to McMaster. In fact, there is no other medical school in CANADA that closes its health sciences library on weekends (this includes a review of all 14 English language medical schools health science libraries). This is for good reason - the medical community including medical students, residents, and faculty depend on the library as a space to work year round. In an era where our medical school has received some of the largest philanthropic donations in Canadian history, I find it puzzling that the very heart of any univerisy, its libraries, would be a place the University would try to pinch a few pennies. I wonder if the medical school/students, PARO resident representatives, or Post Graduate Medical Education, were consulted when this decision was made?

(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.

(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.

(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)

(Nov 18/18) Hi! I have noticed that all other libraries have somewhere to report loud noise in quiet spaces. The health science library does not have this option. I find that the group study rooms near the silent study space do not have very good noise cancelling abilities and groups are often very very loud while they are using them. I was wondering why the health science library does not have a noise reporting system like the other libraries do.

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

(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.

(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.

(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 9/17) KEEP BRINGING OUT THE PUZZLES. LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM. everyone is talkings abut it!

(Oct 26/17) The Health Science Library is great, and people love studying here, but recently (particularly during midterms) it has gotten to be very full all the time. The problem is, many students are coming early, and then taking very long breaks while leaving their books/notes on a desk for hours at a time, while there are students working on the floor because they cant find a desk. It might be useful for staff to go around at random times to check and make sure that people arent saving their spots for extended periods of time.

(Sep 25/17) Hello just curious on when the maintenance on the HSL HVAC system and downstairs washrooms will finish. (Logically it must be maintenance, right? Its just Mills that has the 1940s type system that cant quite handle September or April and it doesnt make sense that anybody would have increased the thermostat.) Are these generally one week jobs, or do facility services or the contractor often take longer? Thank you. <3 Mac libraries

(Sep 18/17) The water bottle fill station/ drinking fountain on the lower level of HSL has very poor pressure. It took me 3 minutes to fill my water bottle. A possible reason for this could be that the filter is clogged/needs to be replaced.

(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.

(Jul 24/17) to all libraries: mills, thode, innis, and HSL. it is much preferred when students are at the desk. they tend to be able to realate more to students and are more knowledgable about research and mcmaster online tools. it is also more comfortable for students to approach students. they should be on the desk longer throughout the day. thanx a bunch

(Jun 1/17) Hello, Within the last three weeks, I have booked HSL 1B15 (the group study room with the Mondopad) several times. The Mondopad is an excellent resource that my group and I value. However, the USB receiver component of the keyboard and mouse is missing, effectively making the keyboard and mouse unusable. We made it clear to the library staff the first time we noticed and they made it clear that they understood the issue and said that they would fix it. A couple weeks later, we asked the desk to sign out the keyboard and mouse while asking them if it was fixed. They said it was, but unfortunately, it wasnt. If this resource is not repaired, why is it still available to be signed out? Please, I ask that this issue be remedied. Perhaps with a replacement, but this time, perhaps it would be appropriate to make it policy that the USB receiver stay plugged into the Mondopad all the time (even tape it so nobody removes it).

Follow-up Comments:

I am happy to report the problem is resolved. (2017-06-08)

(May 6/17) students at main desk in health sci are very polite and always welcoming. mills desk students are never a acknowledging me or being friendly. poor experience at mills.

(Apr 20/17) Emphasize the the Reading Pavilion is a group study space (as listed on the map on the website) rather than silent study. Most people are not aware of this and get upset at people using the space for group work as they are talking.

(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 8/16) up the temperature, PLEASE. how long does it take until seasonal changes come into effect ? perhaps in March?

(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.

(Nov 28/16) Could the heating be turned on (up??) in the library please? Its unreasonable to expect one to wear coats and hats! The Media room is comfortable - the other areas arent. thanks.

(Nov 17/16) Can students please be reminded that the library is for studying and that talk should be kept to a minimum !! There are certain groups of students who are under the impression that the library is a meeting / social space and do everything but study there. These students are distracting to all of those around them and make it very hard for serious students to actually study. If students are participating in group projects study rooms are available, if HSL is busy other libraries also have these study rooms :)

(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

(Mar 31/16) I am consistently surprised by how dirty HSL is, regardless of the time of day. I find garbage on the floor, hair in the cubicles, spilt drinks, used toilet paper on the bathroom floor. Its just disgusting. Students are of course part of the problem. Maybe posters in the cubicles reminding people to pick up after themselves would be helpful. But I am very doubtful that HSL is being cleaned regularly, especially the cubicles and washrooms.

(Mar 16/16) I love the new arrangement of bookshelves in the Reserve Room (2nd floor behind main desk)! I think moving some of the couches/armchairs from the Reading Pav to the new space, or some desks/tables would be an excellent use of the space. Thanks!

(Feb 24/16) I really love the new online room booking and was wondering if it will be permanent? It makes room booking and staying organized so much easier. Please keep it!

(Feb 13/16) I would like to thank the maintenance staff, administration and contractors responsible for getting the water pressure for the bottle refill station on the lower floor study area back up to normal. This is tremendously convenient and deeply appreciated.

(Jan 12/16) Hello, I would like to suggest that the reference manager, Mendeley, be installed on the computers and/or laptops of the HSL library. The software is very useful as it allows for the addition of citations and references quickly to Word, as well as their storage online so that they can be retrieved from any computer with the software. Its a great alternative to RefWorks, which has now be phased out. Thank You!

(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.

(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.