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(Jan 14/09) I would like make a comment regarding students who continually place reservations on group study rooms in the health sciences library but fail to show up. Given the volume of students who rely on these rooms for group projects or quiet study, they are often unused. I understand at times students may require a break and will go out for lunch/dinner/snack, but in some cases, the rooms are completely empty with the lights turned off and have no personal belongings inside. This suggests the inconsiderate students who reserved these rooms in advance did not even pick up the key! Im especially saddened and frustrated by this since a valuable asset is being wasted in such a beautifully renovated library. I recommend the library to impose a penalty for those who place advance reservations but do not show up. This is what the public libraries have been doing for years!

Library response: I have just checked on the policy regarding folks who book a group room but don't show up. In fact, we have a 15 minute grace period after which time the booking is forfeited and then the room is available on a first come first served basis. We don't have the staff to patrol the rooms to see if they are booked but not being used, but if you see an empty room as you describe please come and inquire at the circulation desk. I'm not sure if our system would allow us to impose penalties if a room key isn't signed out since at that point we have no patron information but that is an interesting idea.By the way, the purpose of the rooms is for group work NOT quiet study and we will be discussing policies and procedures to ensure appropriate use of the group work rooms in future. (Jan 14/09)
Answered by: Liz Bayley (Director, Health Sciences Library)

Categories: Study Space, Health Sciences | Permalink

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