Feedback to the Library, July 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

Sat Jun 30 06:49:54 2007 Campus

It's 6:45am on Saturday June 30 and I just dropped off two DVDs in the Main Library's dropbox (the two DVDs are Gone with the Wind and The Motorcycle Diaries). I know you're not supposed to put DVDs in the dropbox but I'm heading out of town for the weekend and the DVDs are due TODAY. You can't renew DVDs so I put them in the dropbox rather than have them be late. I apologize for violating the dropbox protocol. Faithful library user.
Library response: Thank you for the message. While we do discourage returning media items to the outside book drop as it is not checked as frequently, we did receive both of these items and they have been cleared from your account. There are not any late fees associated with either of these items. Travis S Teetor Library Operations Supervisor Materials Access Team

Tue Jul 3 14:49:41 2007 Campus

WHY WHY WHY are the icons still so small? I can't read the icons on the screen I have to guess at BEFORE I CAN ENLARGE THE SCREEN!!! Are there any adults around here who could explaint this to you kids? Perhaps at a University there might be some college educated people who could fix this problem in under a year??????? For $130.00 a term, you'd think the computers would at least be ACCESSIBLE to everyone who's getting bilked for the library fees. Maybe a really big lawsuit will get your attention. I'm emailing Michael Moore right now. Has anyone on your staff ever been in the movies?
Library response: The library has tried to design our web pages and set the default font on computers to accommodate the majority of our users. However, you can change this. If you are using a computer in the Information Commons you may be getting a font size that was reset by a previous user. If someone has changed the default font size you can restore defaults by rebooting the machine. You can change the text size in web browsers.
Firefox: Hold the control key and press the plus key Internet Explorer: From the browser's menu, select View | Text size and choose larger or largest as you prefer. Gene Spesard, Digital Library Information & Systems Team

Thu Jul 5 14:31:53 2007 Campus

Dear the main library, Mr. Yan Han on the fifth floor is a person who has a strong sense of responsibility, and takes care of customers even after his office hours. He is a nice and kind person. Thank you very much.
Library response: Thank you for taking the time to write this comment, it was shared with Mr. Han and the library staff.

Fri Jul 6 09:41:39 2007 Off-campus

When I click on the link to enter my library account a certification error is displayed stating: "The security certificate presented by this website was issued for a different website's address. Security certificate problems may indicate an attempt to fool you or intercept any data you send to the server. We recommend that you close this webpage and do not continue to this website." Could the library's security be compromised?
Library response: This problem was sent to our computer systems staff and the explanation that they sent back was way too technical for me. But I believe this problem has something to do with the proxy server and they are trying to figure some work around for the problem. It is not any kind of security problem. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team

Sun Jul 8 12:43:14 2007 Campus

I would just like you all to know how very grateful I am for this library. I am retired and living on a fixed income and if it weren't for the freedom of this library, my world would be a lot smaller. I come her to research political issues, to contact my elected officials and to listen to streaming audio (I don't see as well as I used to) such as programs on Access Tucson, Democracy Now, the White Rose Society archived shows, Air America and other independent radio feeds. I could NEVER afford a computer on my fixed income (I choose between food and medication as it is) and I just want you to know how important this library is to the quality of my life and my ability to know what is happening in the world and to interact with it. Your library connects me to other like minded people and makes me feel useful. It really gives me a reason to get up in the morning. I just want you to know that because of your wonderful policies towards the public, I have just completed a book composed of my take on social issues and my take on the politics that I have seen in my 98 years. I was born in 1909. I couldn't have done it without the resources that this library makes accessible to me, so THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Please don't ever change your policies. I hear a lot of ignorant young men making nasty comments about the older people who use the library and the children and the poor people it really saddens me. They could learn so much from our wisdom and our life experience. These attitudes towards people who can't affort tuition are elitist and disturbing to me. They could really use an education. I believe that part of a well rounded University experience should include tolerance towards those who don't have your economic advantages. The reason why I mention this is that I've been hearing rumors that you are going to cave in to pressures from narrow minded students and close this library the way so many other libraries have shut off the poor from access to information. Please don't do this. The internet is my main source of ALTERNATIVE information about the world I live in. If you cut me off from this or limit me to half an hour a day, I won't have anything to live for. You will be cutting me off from the world and completely destroying my only real outlet to free speech. Please think about what you will really be doing before you take action. And thank you again for the access to the world of resources that I have had in the past.
Library response: Thank you for you message about the value of our library in your life and congratulations on your book. I don't know where you heard rumors about closing our library to non-UA affiliated community people. This is not something we have ever talked about and it is not something we would do. The building and the collections will stay open to the public. One thing that has been discussed, but never very seriously, is about limiting open access to all the computers and software in the Information Commons. If that were to ever change, it would be because we would require students to use special UA logins on most of the computers. But, if we were ever to do this, which I don't think we will in the near future, we would always keep some computers that would require no UA login and would be available for community users. Our Library Dean is very committed to open access to our library for everyone. I hope this puts your mind to rest. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team

Tue Jul 10 14:59:32 2007 Off-campus

A few minutes ago, I tried to access your online catalogue to see if you had a fairly uncommon book in my collection -- on the geology of northern Mexico -- if I didn't find it, I was going to mail it to you as an unrestricted gift. Instead I found myself being asked to sign in. I use multiple online catalogues and this is the first time I couldn't get immediate access. How is it that the UA main library feels the need to limit access to its book catalogue, when no one else does? Aren't we dealing with public information, paid for by the public? This was the first time in a long time that I've tried to donate a book to the UA main library in a long time (albeit I often send things to ASM, after checking LARC). I can't say I feel encouraged to continued trying. Somewhat grumpily,
Library response: It's certainly not our policy to require anyone to sign in to use our catalog. We do normally proxy off-campus users (without requiring authentication) to set up access via links to subscribed resources (which will require signing in). Did you start at our home page (http://www.library.arizona.edu/) and use the "Search the library catalog" link? If not, do you know the URL of the link you were using? I'd like to find out what went wrong, so if you can provide any information that might help it would be appreciated. Gene Spesard, Digital Library and Information Systems Team.

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Wed Jul 11 04:51:57 2007 Off-campus

In preparing for teaching my research methods class today, I accessed the web for available tutorials on the subject of plagiarism. Imagine my surprise when I found tutorials from U of Arizona and Indiana University that used identical wording without citing each other. To see what I mean, access www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml Can you explain this?
Library response: I knew we had used some other university as a model and if you look at our page, directly under the Title "Avoiding Plagiarism" you will see this: Adapted from: Plagiarism; What It is and How to Recognize and Avoid It, by The Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University, Bloomington IN, with their gracious permission. Plagiarism and Appropriate Use (PDF pamphlet). So we do prominently give credit to Indiana University on our site. In my experience libraries borrow very freely from each other -- we have had numerous other libraries ask to use or copy guides or tutorials we have created and we always say yes -- just give us credit for the original idea. We asked Indiana, they said yes and we gave them credit. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Librarian
[Because she didn't see our attribution statement -- it has been moved to a more prominent location on the page.]

Thu Jul 12 08:10:31 2007 Campus

I am having trouble with the ASM Materials Information online material (http://www.asminternational.org/asmenterprise/apd/) It asks for a username and password in order to view the phase diagrams. I can still search/browse the diagrams but when I click to enlarge them, I am redirected to a sign-in page. Is there a university username that I should use? Thank you
Library response: I'm sorry that you are encountering problems accessing information that you need. I've explored the ASM Materials Information site and believe that the problem may be that the library only subscribes to the ASM Handbooks section, not the other two sections. Unfortunately the record set up in the catalog is for the whole Materials Information site rather than just going directly to the Handbooks. I will consult with our technical services staff to try to get that changed. From the library's workstations I am able to access all parts of the ASM Handbooks including the phase diagrams. Were you trying to get into the ASM Handbooks? If so, you should have been able to get in directly from any campus computer. If you were trying to get in from off campus you would be asked for your name and CatCard number to authenticate that you are an authorized UA users. Were you trying to get into the Alloy Center or the Failure Analysis Center? If so, you would be asked for a password because the library does not subscribe to those sections. Please let me know if you have more questions or encounter problems viewing phase diagrams in the Handbooks. Chestalene Pintozzi, Science-Engineering Librarian

Sun Jul 15 12:03:45 2007 Library

As I come into the library on Sunday (07/15/07) to do work for my summer class I see a student eating pizza and drinking a coke in the elevator lobby. Then, as I sit at the Government Information computers on the 2nd floor another student is at a computer next to me eating some fast food sandwhich, along with (greasy) potato chips. Isn't there something wrong with that? There were two people on duty at the exit desk at the time. Couldn't or shouldn't they have said something to that first student? Are you now allowing students to have food in the library? (That is not right. I don't care if it is the weekend.)
Library response: Thank you for your feedback. Bringing food and drinks into the Library is not prohibited. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team

Wed Jul 18 16:44:25 2007 Campus

Why are the CCP Library hours so awful during the summer? Mon, Tues, & Fri the CCP Library is open 12-4pm & Wed-Thu 10-2? This is not conducive to helping us that take summer classes. It's quite inconvenient and should be revised for the future. I walked over from Old Main at 4pm on the brink of a monsoon storm when it was 108 degrees and 48% humidity, this translates to an astronomical heat index reading! To have to walk back for nothing was extremely frustrating. Please cosider having more consistent & later hours! Not everybody has the luxury of working or being on library employee's work schedule. I feel that the priority of the library should be helping us students & not posting hours that just suit it's employees desire not to work 9-5 (like 95% of the country does.) Thanks for taking the time to listen to my feedback. Have a great rest of the summer. :)
Library response: Thank you for your comment regarding CCP Library hours. Unfortunately our library as well as the entire campus has experienced budget cuts over the past several years. Back in the Spring of 2004 we were faced with closing down our branch library in the Architecture building and reducing our CCP Library hours. We had to consolidate resources and service the Fine Arts community through the Fine Arts Library which is located in the Music Building. Since January 2004 we are only able to keep the CCP Library open 20hrs a week. We have worked with the faculty to divide those 20hrs up so that the library is open some days in the morning and some days in the afternoon. We do however offer a paging service for the hours that the CCP Library is closed. The form to request items to be pulled from the CCP Library is available at http://www.library.arizona.edu/about/libraries/ccplibrpaginginfo.html. We had a sign that was posted on the CCP Library door which directed users to our paging service and over to the Fine Arts Library. I have checked and realize that the sign is no longer there. We apologize for this. We have posted a new sign as of today. Robyn Huff-Eibl

Team Leader, Materials Access Team

Fri Jul 27 14:08:27 2007 Library

Compact shelving is not very useful it's frustrating.
Library response: It can be frustrating when you can't get into the aisle you need to get a book. However, we are running out of shelf space in the library and compact shelving allows us to get a lot more books in the same amount of space. So there are trade offs with it, like many things in life. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team

another response:

The compact shelving was installed because the Library was running out of space to store collections. Compact shelving increases our shelving density by 1/3 to 1/2. The sacrifice was the number of folks that could be in multiple aisles at one time which may cause customers to wait for access to a particular aisle. The trade off to use of compact shelving would be the removal of materials from the collections or less acquisitions.

If your comment relates to the functioning or problems with operation, the staff from the information desk on the second floor can help with access 98% of the time. The units are under warranty and we have an annual service agreement for emergency repairs. When specific recurring problems are identified we call for service immediately. In the future please indicate the area of compact shelving you are referring to so we can check the shelving or call for service. Jim Fromm, Building Manager

Sat Jul 28 23:06:37 2007 Off-campus

Hi there, when I typed library.arizona.edu in my Safari, the browser directed me to this website: https://email.library.arizona.edu/exchweb/bin/auth/owalogon.asp?url=https://email.library.arizona.edu/exchange/&reason=0 Is this phishing? I had to type www.library.arizona.edu to go to the proper library website.
Library response: I don't believe this is phishing -- but your comment was sent to our library systems staff for them to look into this. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team

Sun Jul 29 11:05:40 2007 Library

Here is my complaint. I had to come to the library on Sunday because your employee wouldn't me and all the other people affected file a complaint last night. Last night, Saturday July 28th 2007, at exactly 5:55 pm, your employee shut off all the power WITHOUT ANY WARNING- I lost everything I had been working on for the past 6 hours. This is inexcusible. I suggest you hire employees who can tell time and do not have a hot date to get to on Saturday night. The library hours were clearly posted and it clearly stated that the library closed at 6:00 pm NOT 5:55 pm. If your employees are incapable of following the rules, how can you expect the patrons to follow them? CHECK YOUR HYPOCRYSY! The patrons are tired of being treated like children, criminals and an interruption to the homework and surfing of your employees.
Library response: These three complaints were sent by the same person, we think, and the email address that was included did not work -- the email messages just bounced back. We tried to follow up to find out more information this situation -- for example, we believe this happened in the Science-Engineering Library (SEL), but we couldn't check this out with the person who complained. The circuit breakers at SEL were checked and it was found that some were improperly labeled and could have resulted in computers accidentally being shut off, when the lights were flashed before closing time. The switches have since been relabeled, so that this wouldn't happen again. The closing procedures were also reviewed with students so that they would be more mindful about not asking customers to leave prior to closing. We think this was a one time event and we have heard no further complaints since this one time. We apologize for the inconvenience that this caused. Vicki Mills, Undergraduate Services Team and Travis Teetor, Materials Access Team

Sun Jul 29 18:33:43 2007 Library

Last night, Saturday 7/28 the guy at the desk shut down all the computers a couple of minutes before 6:00 pm when you were supposed to close. I was in the middle of sending my work to my email address. I lost everything and I had to come in and redo all my work. I don't think this is a very fair or respectful thing to do to your patrons. he didn't give us any warning and it was way before 6 o clock. I could have sent my stuff in around 15 seconds. You should fire this guy
Library response: see reply above

Mon Jul 30 09:57:13 2007 Library

i was here last Saturday night and the guy at the desk shut off all the power way before the time the library closed this is very rude i was about to send my project to my university email account when he just turned off all the power it wasn't even time for the library to close he was very rude and told me i'd have to come in on sunday to file a complaint because he didn't have time for me it's hard for me to get a ride on sunday so i had to wait until today to complain i feel i was treated rudely and badly and that this employee was in the wrong it says the library closes at six pm and i was outside of the library at five minutes to six - i have to redo my entire project and i'll probably recieve a lower grade than i would have if your employee hadn't been in such a hurry to leave. i know a lot of people who would do a better job and not treat people so horribly.
Library response: see reply above