Reservations may be made up to 14 days in advance. Each student can make two, one hour reservations per day, up to 3 times per week for their group of 3 or more people. If your plans change, please cancel your reservation before your reservation is scheduled to begin to allow another group to make a reservation. Just click the link provided in the confirmation email to cancel your room.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding Collaborative Study Rooms, our policies or the online reservation system, please contact the Circulation Desk at circle@cofc.edu or 953-8001.

The library is looking at redesigning some of its space to better support student learning, collaboration and information usage. The “how can we improve the library for you?” campaign was designed to solicit feedback from college community members so that we could think about designing these spaces around community needs instead of the “build it and they will come” approach. We also thought we could gain some useful feedback regarding services in the process. I will attempt to provide some feedback regarding some of the comments we received.

Fix the wireless
We met with IT’s network engineering team several times over the past 3 weeks and will meet with them regularly on Wednesdays until improvements are made. Unfortunately I must report that the wireless issues are not restricted to the library as the whole campus is experiencing some lapses in service. As this appears to be a more global issue, a fix may take a little more time to develop. Please help us by letting the information desk know when you experience a wireless problem. This will help us locate problem areas, troubleshoot and develop a solution. Please contact me directly if you want more detailed information regarding the measures IT has taken so far to try and fix the situation.
Open 24/7
The library has submitted a proposal to open 24/5 however this will require funding that is not available at this time. Upgrading facilities and technology across the entire campus justifiably takes priority over keeping the building open longer. We have the same issue with extending the hours to open earlier and close later.
More computers
The library is investigating the possibility of creating smaller computing areas and possibly a “bring your own device” lab on the 2nd and 3rd floors in addition to the 1st floor lab. We will have to ensure that the quiet study areas on those floor are preserved. There is currently a bring your own device lab set up on the first floor with monitors for you to connect your laptop to. I encourage you to try it and let us know what you think. It’s located in the back corner of the the computer lab.
More outlets
On October 4th the library administration met with the College architect and physical plant electricians to explore the feasibility of adding more power and data to the library. This will not be an easy nor an inexpensive endeavor however we’re also asking them for advice on smaller measures we can take to improve the situation in the meantime.
Too hot, too cold
Unfortunately when the seasons change as we are experiencing now, it takes a while for a building this size to acclimate. The temperature must be adjusted a little at a time. We’re sorry that its not quite optimal at this time but we are working to make it comfortable and hope to have it better regulated soon.
How can we help!
I believe one of the best ways we can help improve the library is to point out that this library belongs to all of us and we should respect both the facility and everyone who uses it. This will be an inclusive environment! While some of the comments posted were humorous and in fun, many of the comments were controversial if not lewd. We ended this project when someone posted a racial comment and this is unfortunate. I really expected better of students of my Alma mater. Please from this point on whether you’re writing a college paper, essay, club correspondence, email on your job or telling a joke, consider carefully what you say and how you say it as you may easily hurt or offend others. We as cougars are better than that and we both deserve and demand better.

Please contact me either through this blog or via email williamsj@cofc.edu at any time if you have comments or concerns regarding the library so that you can receive a response. You may also use the library’s suggestion box http://www.cofc.edu/library/suggestions/index.php located on the library homepage. In the coming weeks I will post more of the comments and responses from the library.

Thank you.

Most library research is now initiated via computer and information is printed via a printer.  The clicking keyboards and motorized printers certainly add to the noise in a library.  Books and journals are now in eFormat and are accessed via the Internet using a myriad of devices.  Nearly everyone on the planet has an Android, Blackberry, iPhone or cell phone and they’re not afraid to use them.  Apple users please don’t be offended as I placed them in alphabetical order.  I exaggerate here but you get my point.  Use of these devices certainly adds to the noise level in the library.  Also either the work, the students or both are more collaborative than in past years.  Maybe its social networking but students tend to be in groups more often.

While I won’t directly say whether or not libraries “should” be quiet, I will speak to students’ right to a quiet study environment.  We all learn and study in different ways, some of us need quiet to avoid distractions, others of us need additional stimuli like music in order to work more productively.  There are areas of the library where noise is permitted, (the first floor) and areas that are designated as quiet areas (the second and third floors).  The library with the help of Public Safety tries very hard to keep the noise down in the quiet areas of the library and we will continue do this.  But I must say that this is really a patron and more so a student issue.  Students should respect other students’ right to study in a quiet environment.  At almost every academic library I’ve visited and the closest one I can cite is Daniel Library at the Citadel, students will give you “the look” if you talk above a whisper.  In most of the libraries I’ve visited, students have no problem asking you to keep it down, they’re trying to study.  The environment is quiet when you walk in and the quiet is maintained. Students actively participate in preserving and exercising their right to study and learn in a quiet atmosphere.

Unfortunately, our library seems to be different.  Students will often sit at a table in a quiet area and proceed to talk.  When asked to hold their voices down, students feel as if they are being harassed as one response noted on the library survey. Students will take a phone call to the hallway or the restroom but then proceed to talk openly with others in the quiet areas. Well what do we do, what can we do?

First let me say that “we want students to be here!”  This is your library. There is limited seating on the first floor where talking is permitted; however, if the library were twice it’s current size it still wouldn’t be able to seat half of the entire student body at one time.  So, we need to learn how to respect the rights of others as we coexist as well as we learn how to defend our own rights.  Most of our students ask for the library to be a quiet place for scholarly pursuits and they deserve this.

Next, students should feel comfortable “kindly” asking others to refrain from talking in quiet areas of the library.  Again this is your space and these are your fellow students.  If a student doesn’t feel comfortable asking others to refrain from talking, students can report the problem to any of the service desks in the library, email Circulation or the Research Desk, call 843.953.8000 or 843.953.8001 or chat with a librarian using the Ask Us feature.  Please be sure to give an accurate description of the area you are in so that we may correctly address the situation.  I don’t like asking students to refrain from talking as much as they don’t like me asking them to refrain but I have no problem doing so to protect the quiet study environment.  I also suggest asking student organizations to help.  Tell your fraternity, sorority, club, group, SGA, committee members and friends to help preserve the academic atmosphere in the library. This library belongs to all of us, let’s work together so that it helps and benefits all of us.

Thanks.

The Jacob Murray Memorial Book Fund is a $500 book stipend to assist students who have a demonstrated financial need.  The fund was established to honor Jacob Murray, an excellent reference librarian at the College of Charleston.  He served the College in addition to his full time work in the Charleston County Schools, including holding the rank of Assistant Principal at James Island High School for many years.  I encourage any student to apply but please read the application carefully, make sure that you meet all the criteria (GPA, etc.) and write and proofread your application.

Thank you.

Library Survey comments continued:

Faculty carrels.   We are investigating the faculty carrel model. We implemented this in the old library but the carrels were rarely utilized.  In the meantime, I encourage faculty to reserve and use room 136. Please contact the Circulation department for access - circle@cofc.edu or 843.953.8001

More rooms to be able to use for quiet areas that are not group study rooms. Unfortunately there are no more rooms available for group or non-group study at this time.  As we carefully look at creatively using space in the library, we will consider creating more private spaces if we receive the funding to do so.

If the library allowed outside (off campus) access to the programs on the computers, that would be amazing. The library does offer off-campus access to library databases for College of Charleston students, faculty and staff. You should be able to use your MyCharleston credentials to gain access. If there is a specific program on the computer that you need access to, please come by and talk to us.  We’ll see if there are any options.

a more thorough set of online journal subscriptions in my fields. Please let us know what disciplines you’re interested in and we will not only look at our current resources but frequently review other resources for possible acquisition.  Also feel free to use the suggestion box if you have specific journals you would like to recommend.

Computer help for anything like excel etc for any subject projects. It is our hope to be able to provide our peer staff at the Information Desk with more training so that they will be able to provide “basic” support for Microsoft Office applications. This is a new project so it may take a little time to implement.

Better lighting, it’s too dim at night.  We’ve placed additional lamps on some of the tables.  Last Monday, we started replacing lights on the second and third floors but with the size of the building, this is quite a task. Please help us by letting us know the specific areas with low lighting and we will see how to best address the issue in those locations.

More clearly defined recycle bins. We will look at this problem.  At one time there was talk of providing funding for additional bins for the library but that never happened. One problem is that it’s hard finding a recycle bin that fits the décor of the library as the nicer ones are more expensive.

We could also use a set of computers that are specifially for more creative software. We have a few computers with video and music editing software however their use declined as other specialty/creativity labs were created on campus.

Stricter enforcement on keeping quiet on the third floor.  I’ll address this one in detail in a later post.

Better staff.  Personally, I think we have an excellent, hardworking and caring staff here; however, if you experience a problem please let me know.  I’d like to talk about it, get the details and work to resolve the issue.

Wish you had headphones – Working with the College Bookstore we now have headphones in the vending machine at the rear of the computer lab.

Separate section for the audio books – Unfortunately, we don’t have audio books in our collection. The Public library is the closest location for audiobooks and they are five blocks away from us on the same street.

More books on Africa – This request has been forwarded to the person responsible for ordering books in this area.

Double sided printing – The last software update from the vendor we use for print management ( the system that allows 300 free page prints) removed the duplex printing option and we are trying to get the vendor to reinstate it.  The real issue is that printing differs depending on the program you’re trying to print from. MSWord prints differently from Firefox.  There were issues printing from different software programs or applications within our print management software LPTOne, so the vendor removed the option.

Wireless printing – We’re working on testing this now.  Hope to be able to offer wireless printing in the Spring semester.

More journal databases, or the databases explaining which was is good for each major -

We have research guides for each major and minor which help direct you to research by subject/discipline.

Paper next to the computers so you can write down your call numbers. – (Done!)  We’ve started placing small pads of paper and pencils by the standup computers on the second and third floor.  Somehow they keep disappearing.

Color printer – We have a color printer/copier in the computer lab area behind the information desk.  This copier/printer belongs to the copycenter so the 300 page print allocation does not apply to it.  At .35 per page, the cost is still much less than Kinko’s.

Pleasure books – We have a browsing collection located on mobile carts by the Calhoun Street entrance.  If you don’t see what you like, you can make a suggestion for purchase using our suggestion box.

Trainings on how to best conduct a search when seeking information (ie: research paper, etc.) – For assistance with basic searching, you can stop by the information desk at almost any time between 8am and 12am.  For more in depth assistance, you can schedule a research consultation with a Research librarian.

I wish the library made it possible to pay book fees online and improved their wireless internet service, it is almost impossible to get a signal during exams. The library is working with the College’s IT department to implement a system that allows the library database to talk to the Treasurer’s office so that fees paid at either location can be updated in realtime.  Also, the College’s IT department/Network Engineering will work on the wireless network in the library tonight 11/7/11 after closing.  Please help us by reporting any problems you experience with equipment, services or anything else to one of the service desks, the suggestion box or use the Ask Us chat feature.

reference manager for students and faculty (e.g., Refworks) – Unfortunately the library doesn’t have a subscription to Refworks; however, we do have access to Endnote Web  through the Web Of Knowledge database subscription and we have access to Zotero.  The Research librarians can assist you in using either of these tools.

more computers and a map of the study areas! – There are laptops at the Circulation desk that are available for use within the library.  The floor plan of the library is also available on the web.

Kindles – The library started loaning Kindles in February and just ordered two more.

These are just a few of the comments from the survey.  Please return to the blog for more survey updates over the next few weeks.

Thanks,

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

• Challenging Hispanic Stereotypes: Arturo Madrid http://digital.films.com.nuncio.cofc.edu/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=9527&xtid=4961
• Assume Nothing http://digital.films.com.nuncio.cofc.edu/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=9527&xtid=40872

• Ancient India  http://digital.films.com.nuncio.cofc.edu/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=9527&xtid=8689
• Accepting the Challenge: Issues on the Job for People of Color http://digital.films.com.nuncio.cofc.edu/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=9527&xtid=9203
• America’s New Religious Landscape http://digital.films.com.nuncio.cofc.edu/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=9527&xtid=32505
• Interracial Marriage  http://digital.films.com.nuncio.cofc.edu/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=9527&xtid=3200

The library is committed to supporting education. Please contact us with any comments, questions or suggestions that you have and please visit the Addlestone Report for additional information and updates.