Responses to Suggestions - November 2007
Please refer also to Frequently Asked Questions or Responses to Suggestions
COMMENT RECEIVED 11-07-2007:
I have heard that you recently added to your already provided study rooms. This is a great asset to the library, however I have one concern. They are all 'group' study rooms.
I understand the importance for groups to have privacy and an area to concentrate in, as I am involved in several study groups. However, as an individual, I require a dry erase board or chalkboard for my studies, as well as a place where I can listen to necessary voice recordings and read aloud without bothering others. To add to this, concentrating with large amounts of noise in the public areas is a very inhibiting challenge.
Since there are presentation/study rooms which are available for reservation, and the other study rooms already operate on a first come, first serve basis, would you consider making all or some of these rooms non-group mandatory?
I would like to point out that there are many feasible group study areas available, where groups may also efficiently work.
I know that I am not alone in my need for an individual study room or in my constant fending off of understandably irritated groups who are given priority for all study rooms.
As a student with very limited funds, these library services are essential (as well as appreciated!), and I strive to fulfill my academic needs without infringing on the rights of others. Thank you for your consideration and time.
RESPONSE:
Thank you for your suggestion regarding having additional single user study rooms. The Morgan Library has a shortage of study rooms. The only single user study room is on the third floor west wing, 303B. It does have a chalk board in it. The large group study rooms and presentation rooms are intended for students working on team based assignments and presentations. The group rooms provide more than just privacy for groups. The rooms are also one of our mechanisms for controlling the noise within the building.
Unfortunately, with the completion of the recent construction project we have been unable to find appropriate space to build additional private study spaces. When we plan for Phase II and Phase III redesign of the Morgan Library we will submit your suggestion to the architects.
Tom Moothart
Coordinator of Onsite Services
Colorado State University Libraries
970-491-1875
COMMENT RECEIVED 11-06-2007:
Hi. Recently I was annoyed (sorry that I used this word) by how people ignoring others and talk so loud in the library. I understand that people need to talk to each other in group study. I'm OK with that. But most of time these conversations evolved into endless charting and joking, and they laugh so loud, eat Pandas as if nobody is around.
I'm an international student, usually we have more people in the library than in here, yet people can still keep quiet.
So please send some librarians to walk around to remind people keep voice low. I don't mean to police the people in the library, but just let them know this is a public place for reading and studying, not a bar......
RESPONSE:
We understand that noise can be a problem in Morgan Library, but we do not have the staffing required to monitor noise levels in this very large building. The quietest study area in the Library is the quiet study room on the southeast second floor. The basement is designated as a quiet study area, and tends to be one of the quieter open areas to study.
We have constructed additional group study rooms that will allow groups to work in an enclosed space, but with the end of the semester approaching we do not have enough group study rooms to meet the demand.
Tom Moothart
Colorado State University Libraries
Coordinator of Onsite Services
COMMENT RECEIVED 11-05-2007:
On a daily basis, I observe library patrons exiting the library and causing the security alarm to sound, presumably because they have items that were not checked out. Someone on the library staff will then offer up a perfunctory "Please come back to the desk". More often than not, this request is totally ignored. Usually, the person will continue to exit the library with total impunity, well within the vision of all others in the area. I know there is a security camera in the area, but apparently little or no follow up occurs.
The cost of this practice to the library and the university must be tremendous. Moreover, it is unfortunate for the function of the library itself, as these books, being lost now forever, are unavailable for checkout by "law abiding" library patrons. In fact, this has happened to me on more than one occasion.
Is the library administration aware of this situation? If so, is anything being done to address the issue?
I appreciate your attention to this. I look forward to hearing from you. If it would be more appropriate for me to contact someone else in the CSU library administration, please inform me of that.
Thank you.
RESPONSE:
Thank you for your inquiry about the book security system. The system used by the Morgan Library is prone to false alarms. We have found that books checked out from other libraries, interlibrary loan books, security strips from textbooks, and spiral notebooks will set the alarm. If you are a frequent Morgan Library user you may have noticed that the alarm will sound when someone enters the building.
For safety reasons the staff are instructed not to chase after patrons that have set-off the alarm.
Tom Moothart
Coordinator of Onsite Services
Colorado State University Libraries
All responses by Tom Moothart, Coordinator, Onsite Services, unless otherwise noted.