Feedback to the Library, January 2007
NOTE: Comments are edited to remove names of specific employees or users. Comments with names go to "Askref" for response or are forwarded to the appropriate person for a reply.
The location is only identified as "Library", "Campus" or "Off-Campus" to protect the anonymity of users. Comments received on paper forms may be entered several days after they were submitted.
Date/time Location
Tue Jan 2 09:04:39 2007 Off-campus
Thanks for sending an email alerting me in advance that my books would be due in 11 days. This was very helpful. I was able to renew the books I needed very easily on your web site. This is so much better than simply sending an email informing me that my books are overdue.
Library response: The Library has been sending out courtesy notices for long term circulation items (things checked out for 3 weeks or more) for some time now. We used to send them 7 days in advance, but we now send them 11 days in advance. It is good to hear that this service is appreciated.
All the email messages about circulation used to have the same generic subject line, but now the subjects line are more specific:
RECALLED Library Materials (for items that have been recalled)
Hold Available (for notification that a hold is available)
Hold Cancelled (for notification that a hold has been cancelled)
OVERDUE Library Materials (for items that are overdue including overdue recalled items)
Replacement Charges (for items that have been billed for replacement)
Statement of Checked-Out Items (for a list of items checked out to customer)
Library Item(s) Due In 11 Days (for notification that items are coming due – courtesy notice)
Library Fees for Late Returned Material(s) (for fines assessed on materials returned late)
These new subject lines will make it easier to see that items have a due date that is coming up. We got the request to make more specific subject lines from our customers, so it does pay to make suggestions for improvements. Mona Ammon, Materials Access Team
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Fri Jan 5 09:21:29 2007 Off-campus
I was delighted to see the Document Delivery service available, and now am so disappointed to see the announcement :-( I am on sabbatical working on a book, and this service is invaluable.
Library response:
All of our online services were impacted by the computer hacker who attacked several of the University's computer servers, including the Library's. This happened right at the beginning of the semester, so we know it was an inconvenient time. Document Delivery services were down for the shortest possible time and are back to normal now. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Librarian
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Fri Jan 5 15:35:49 2007 Off-campus
I just wanted to let you know that I am continually impressed with the video collection the library keeps. While a grad student, the library always had the resource I was looking for in the area of social justice and race. Now that I have moved on and work as the Director of Racial Justice at the YWCA of Tucson, I always check to see if the library has the resource I want to preview. Without fail, the library always has it. Please give thanks to those people who are ordering these cutting edge videos on race and social justice. Though I can no longer check them out--I make my friends do it and we watch them together. Thank you for continuing to be a resource for the community.
Library response:
Thank you for taking the time to tell us something good about the library. Your comment has been shared with the librarians who select these videos. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team
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Sun Jan 7 12:03:13 2007 Off-campus
I am concerned with the apparent reduction in library online services. I see document delivery and interlibrary loan are unavailable until further notice. I am having trouble accessing the catalog online, and the full text services are not working properly. What's going on? I depend on these services for my work.
Thanks.
Library response:
All the library's online services were impacted by the computer hacker who attacked several of the University's computer servers, including the Library's. This was a major breach of computer security and it took several weeks of heroic work by the Library's computer systems staff to get things back to normal for our customers. We know this came at a very bad time right at the beginning of the semester -- it certainly was not anything that we planned!
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Sun Jan 7 13:21:36 2007 Off-campus
Oddly, I was able to access my class materials around midnight on Saturday night. Now, I can't. I can't imagine a worse time for the electronic reserves to be unavailable for the winter session as my students have readings due for the quiz on Monday and the final on Tuesday.
Library response:
See the answer above about the computer problems the Library faced at the beginning of the semester.
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Thu Jan 11 00:43:48 2007 Campus
Every time I copy even a few words from an e-mail account and try to paste it into a Word doc - it crashes the entire system everything freezes and I can never copy even ONE WORD into Word. It is very inconvenient, not to mention unnecessarily expensive, to have to print out my emails and type them into a word doc. I reported this problem several times during finals week, last term and it still hasn't been corrected. Do you plan on EVER doing ANYTHING about this or are you just going to train your employees to say they're so sorry like the actually mean it????
Library response: I'm not sure why this problem is happening and from this message I can't tell if you are talking about university email or some other email and I can't tell if it is a Word or an email problem. I am sorry that you felt that desk staff were not sincere in their attempt to figure out this problem and that they couldn't figure it out. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team
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Thu Jan 11 21:17:36 2007 Off-campus
I need the course reserves to acess information for my classes.. When will it be up and running..
Library response: See the answer about the computer problems the Library faced at the beginning of the semester.
Sat Jan 13 11:36:34 2007 Off-campus
It looks like your "Hours" webpage is not functioning. I have tried clicking to it from various locations on your site, but nothing displays. All I get is a blank webpage. Can someone check to see if it is working? Thank you.
Library response: We are having lots of computer problems due to University servers, including the Library's, being hacked. I don't know if that is the cause of the hours page being down or not. It will be reported and fixed as quickly as possible. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team
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Fri Jan 19 11:47:42 2007 Off-campus
I would really appreciate it if the cataloging of the collection could include key aspects of the table of contents of books. Often, when I look up a book in the Arizona library catalog, it provides only bare bones information (just the title, the author, and publishing info). When I am looking for a specific title in a play collection, the catalog does not include any specifics, so I waste time by having to come to the library to see the contents of the volume. Frankly, I often go to my former university's online catalog, look up the same book and get the info I need.
Library response:
In the past we did not do an adequate job in providing table of contents information in the bibliographic records in the catalog. However for the past ten years, we have been purchasing records from our primary English language vendor with enhanced tables of content. In addition, last September we initiated a service that updates the existing bibliographic records in our catalog with contents notes. Since September 15,000 records have been updated. Both of these programs are ongoing and over time the catalog will improve. Thomas Marshall, Technical Services & Archival Processing Team
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Mon Jan 22 12:47:19 2007 Off-campus
Hello,
I'm a public librarian and will be teaching a class on Searching the Internet. Would it be all right to copy and hand out your excellent page on "Evaluating Information on the Web" to the class? I would, of course, include the credit line at the bottom or anything else you might suggest.
Library response:
Yes, we are always very happy to share materials and sites that we have created at our library with other libraries. It is really a compliment to us that you want to use it. Thank you for asking and just a note saying it is from University of Arizona Library is sufficient. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team
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Mon Jan 22 17:33:36 2007 Off-campus
Hi!
I am a former student of the U of Arizona (class 2000: Student id. ...804082). I am currently doing my M.A. theses on the kidnapping of american consul in Puebla, William Jenkins in 1919, during the Mexican Revolution. I will be in Tucson this week and I was wondering if I could explore the New York Times Microfilm you have in the library for that time period. Thanks for any information you can supply.
Library response:
You can use our microfilm and we also have the New York Times online now back into the 1800's. If you would like to use that, just come to the Information Commons help desk and we can get you started. The Library looks different now that it did when you were here, so you can ask at the front lobby desk for them to point you to the Information Commons. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team
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Tue Jan 23 10:41:50 2007 Campus
Hi,
I have Eres websites for my two courses in the history department. I have things uploaded, and my students have been able to use them over over the past week.
Now however, it seems that it is not longer possible to search under my name, the course title or course number-- it says it can't find the my class sites. Yet I just logged into them to upload some materials and they seem to be working fine from my end. Could you please check on this and get back to me?
Thank you.
Library response:
See the answer above about the computerproblems the Library faced at the beginning of the semester.
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Thur Jan 25 Campus
The library is a center of knowledge on campus, but it's treated like a secondary priority. The study rooms and the main library on the second and third floor are not well maintained. There is trash on the floor, holes in the walls, and in general the facilities are not in good condition. This lack of attention to keeping the library well maintained reflects on the University's focus on scholarship.
Library response: Thank you very much for bringing this problem to our attention. I have looked at all of our study rooms you have mentioned in your email and put in a work order to the University Facilities Department. I have also contacted the custodial service to clean up the area. Unfortunately, we do not do our own maintenance and we have to rely on the University's resources. We are not always at the top of their priority list and they get to the Library as soon as they can. However, I will follow through to make sure that all of these are taken care of as soon as possible. We have also asked the custodial service to make sure there is a daytime cleaning crew to take care of the library and they have agreed to it. We hope to have a cleaner library for everyone's use. Hayri Yildirim, Facilities Management
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Sun Jan 28 12:29 PM Off Campus
I am requesting that you acquire the new publication (2006), 'Irish Moves', An Illustrated History of Dance and Physical Theatre in Ireland. by Dr. Deirdre Mulrooney was launched at 'The Abbey Theatre' and published by The Liffey Press,(theliffeypress.com). This meticulously researched volume showcases- and in some cases salvages- the stories of Ireland's unsung movers: actors, dancers, choreographers, playwrights and directors. This map of Dance and Physical Theatre in Ireland, is also a meditation on the Irish
nation's complicated attitude to the body. I look forward to seeing it in the Library. Thank You
ISBN 1-904148-92-1
Library response: Thank you for your suggestion for our collection. Your comment has been sent to the subject specialist who purchases books for dance and theater. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Service Team