Summer hours

You wrote:

I would like to have twenty four hour availability of the library during the  summer as well. As a summer student i need this. I got kicked out of the library
two days ago in the middle of an on-line quiz and that affected my grade. Midnight would be better than 9pm(weekends) and 10pm (weekdays)

I am sorry that you were asked to leave the library in the middle of an online quiz. The Concordia Student Union (CSU) Fund pays for the extended Library hours. Since, generally speaking, there are far less students on campus in the summer and it is a considerable expense to keep the library open for extended hours (security guard and cleaning staff), the Libraries do not remain open 24/7 in the summer.  Even if we were to extend the hours up to midnight, it would be at a significant cost to the CSU Fund.

However, the Webster Library will be open 24 hours a day during the summer exam period: June 18 – June 26. You can see our complete schedule at:

http://library.concordia.ca/services/hours

Thank you for your email.

Wall signs for blue zone

You wrote:

can we have WALL signs for the blue zone on the second floor where the computers are?
people are clever here and they take little orange signs with them and place them where they want to have conversations, like little flags they can plant when they conquer an area

Thank you for your email.  You are right, some students do try to get away with that.  It reminds me of the “old days” when restaurants had smoking and non-smoking sections.  In some places, the ashtray on the table indicated that it was “smoking”, no ashtray meant “non-smoking”….. 

Both libraries have tent signs and wall signs to indicate that the area is blue or orange.  In fact, we recently got beautiful new signs, designed by a Concordia student.

Vanier Library Laptops

You wrote:

Hi I’m in Arts and Science and often borrow the laptops from Vanier library, and I would love to borrow the new laptops, like the Univrsity has at Webster.

Thank you for your email. I believe that the laptops at Webster were changed because they were no longer under warranty. The laptops at the Vanier Library are still under warranty. When this expires, the laptops will gradually be replaced.

7-day laptop loans, lab manuals and Dprint

You wrote:

Please implement the 7-day laptop loan. It is high time. Please also make lab manuals available for more that 3 hours. Our lab sessions are 4 hours long so what is the point of loaning it for 3 hours (if you want to photocopy it, that takes 10 min, of course if the INFAMOUS D-print system happens to be working, if not it might take you 3 hours…). Why did you outsource the printing service? Yes, the system had to be updated but did it have to be outsourced? Did students, for whom this whole library construct is put into place, even have a say in this?

On March 19, the Vanier Library introduced 7-day loans on ten laptops.  For now, the libraries do not have enough laptops to expand this service.

As for extending the loan period for “lab manuals”, it is the first time that anyone has brought up this concern.  I have forwarded your request to Circulation Services.

Regarding Dprint; Dprint is managed by the University. It is not outsourced. Photocopying has always fallen under the jurisdiction of the University. Since modern photocopiers can scan, print and email, the University decided to keep all printing functions under one umbrella.  Most people would agree that having one universal system across the University is preferable to having two concurrent printing systems.

Thank you for your comments.

Seats at the express workstations and staplers

You wrote:

I wish you have bar stools for the l0 min computers. I am OLD and standing for 10 min hurts my legs.

Would you please chain a stabler to the leg of one of t he tables or chairs after the workers have left the library? Last night I had to submit my work to my professor. I found it inconvenient to leave my papers unstable in her mail box. She could mix up my papers.  Don’t expect me to carry a stable and other stationery around because they are too heavy and too expensive for a poor student.

Thank you.

Thank you for your email.  In the Webster Library, there are express workstations that are at a lower level and that have chairs.  If you have trouble standing for a certain period of time, please use them.  They are there for you.  At the Vanier Library, it is true that there are no seats available at the express workstations.  I have passed your suggestion to the Vanier Library Director.

As for the stapler….unfortunately, the stapler at the Webster Library has to be put away at the end of service hours because otherwise the stapler will be stolen or broken beyond repair.  This happens even when it is attached to the furniture. Nevertheless, I have passed your comment on to the Director of the Webster Library.

No PIN required for self-checkout machines

You wrote:

The removal of the passwords on the self-check-out is dangerous.

I have on two occasions found student ID cards. I gave them to security, but what if the policy had been in place, and someone else had found the cards?

Can you really say the student is responsible for stolen books on their card if you do this?

When a credit card is stolen the card company assumes the cost of the theft, is the library willing to do this?

and

I’m shocked to see that password is no longer required to borrow books using the self check-out machines. I would like the library to tell me what the policy will be regarding books checked out on a card that was lost or stolen. I understand that, in any case, students must always report a stolen ID card as soon as they notice the card is missing, but noticing that the card is missing is not instantaneous. I can honestly think of no other instances where a card can be used by a complete stranger like this. A debit card requires a pin, and a credit card holder is not liable for purchases made on a stolen card, even if these purchases were made before the card was reported stolen.

Everyone agrees that security must be improved with these kinds of devices, so what is the reasoning behind this unannounced change? And will students be held responsible for books “borrowed” on a stolen card? Will there be a maximum amount of money one must pay?

Thank you for your comments and questions. On March 19th, the Libraries announced that a PIN would no longer be required when using a library self-check machine. This is one of those tricky situations where the need for simplicity is measured against the need for security.

It is true that the present system of not requiring a PIN at the self-checkout machines is not as secure as it was in the past. However, abuse of the system can only happen at the self-checkout machines. Nowhere else. Therefore, if a student reports that items were checked out on his/her record without his/her knowledge, we can tell what terminal they were checked out from. If the item was loaned out at a self-checkout machine, staff will take this information into account when deciding how to handle lost book charges, etc.

So, since -

• there is a limited number of places where a problem can occur
• similar systems have been in place in other universities for over ten years
• we want to make it easier for students to use the self-checkout service, especially after regular service hours

PINs are no longer required for self-checkout. That said, if students notice that they have lost their id cards, they should report it asap.

Friendly reminder not to leave your belongings unattended

You wrote:

Please start a campaign similar to this:  http://i.imgur.com/fCGaaur.jpg

Particularly during exam period, I dozens of laptops unattended. It also baffles me when students ask complete strangers to watch their stuff. It’s unpleasant to lose a valuable. Maybe this would help.

Thank you very much for this reminder.  The Libraries do have signs that warn students not to leave their belongings unattended.  However it is always a good idea to be safe.  The University’s Security Department has a useful Tips page here.