Noise in the blue zone

Over the exam period, we received a number of suggestions and complaints about noise in the library. Here is one that we received last week:

You wrote:

This comment, like many, also concerns noise in the blue study zone areas.

 This afternoon, I was studying in the blue zone on the 4th floor Webster library. Throughout the afternoon, I was constantly interrupted by people on their cell phones, having conversations, and basically disregarding the “silent study” rule. Often when approached, they were responsive, but many times they were not as well. Not once did I see a library staff or security guard walk around the area quieting people.

 I approached a woman at the counter and asked her for assistance in keeping the area quiet. She simply informed me that it’s not her job, go get security on the 2nd floor if you want it dealt with. Not only have I read that we are encouraged to approach any library staff, there was no security guard to been on the 2nd floor. The circulation desk just told me they’re trying as well, but weren’t really able to help. They explained that often when they try, they get the same attitude from students that I would.

 I don’t agree with the idea that it takes people a while to adapt to these new rules. It’s not a very complex idea, such that you tell someone in elementary school that they cannot talk at all in a certain area, and they understand it.

 Besides the actual need for people to patrol the area, even if not always, but every 15-30 minutes, there needs to be actual deterrents for making noise. In an exam, students fully grasp the idea that they must not have their cell phones on their person because there are severe consequences. In the library, if they’re caught, they’re likely just to be told to “kindly stop”, and it’s not such a big deal to answer this 1 or 2 calls, or have this short little conversation with my friend.

 I highly suggest the library implement, if anything (due to the whole people need to adapt idea), a 3-strike policy. If you’re caught making noise 3 times by a library staff, who will take down your name, you simply lose your privilege to study in the library. Studying there shouldn’t be a right, but instead a privilege for those who respect the rules.

 In terms of attitude towards library staff, a local library in my area has instituted a rule that if you are rude to a library staff member, you lose your right to use the library for a predetermined amount of time. There shouldn’t be any excuse for students making noise in the library. We are all adult, and we don’t need 3+ months to learn how to keep quiet in specific areas.

 I totally understand and appreciate the fact the library has made an effort to control noise. However, a lot more needs to happen for it be effective.

 Thanks.

Thank you for your comments and suggestions. 

 

Unruly Orange

You wrote:

When I’m sitting in the orange zones in the later afternoon I find the noise level intolerable, to the point where my noise reduction earphones do not block out the sound of people talking. It is especially bad on the 4th floor near the elevators. I have often seen members of staff moving around the area and they never say anything. How are we supposed to take the advice of complaining to staff seriously when they do not even take the initiative on their own?

The Library has dedicated staff members who roam the libraries assessing the noise levels. Please do continue to inform staff members when noise levels are excessive. If there are no staff members walking around, please report noise to a service desk.

Quiet Study

You wrote:

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH. You have signs everywhere telling us to be quiet but when librarians are shelving they talk loudly to one another and push the carts into each other without any attempt at being quiet. In fact, a librarian just pushed the cart into the table I was studying at. Least of all it was rude, most of all it was loud.

 All of your signs indicate that librarians will respond to noise complaints yet each time I have complained I get a shrug and “I’ll see what I can do” with absolutely no result. I’m extremely frustrated with this institution’s inability to provide a quiet space! In all the university libraries I’ve studied in, Concordia is the worst. You need to seriously focus on providing a STUDY oriented atmosphere.

We have been working to gradually introduce an improved study environment at Concordia. For the most part, it has been successful, and we are open to your suggestions. Thank you for your comments. We do recommend that you approach someone at a service desk when you encounter noise that is unacceptable. This is the only way we can know what is happening and possibly intervene. Finally, we apologize for the inconvenience of noise made by staff members working. Book carts loaded with books are heavy and not always easy to manouevre. We hope this situation won’t happen again.

Overdues

You wrote:

I am very frustrated at the way your overdue book service works. It is first of all very frustrating that they only send you a reminder after it has been
due.Why not the day before? Another thing that I would like to mention is why you can’t renew online once it is overdue? all of this has caused me lots of frustration since I live far away from montreal and only have class once a week. Thank you for your time.

If you are a student, please keep your email address up to date in MyConcordia. Normally, there is a courtesy notice sent  two days before an item is due. 

To make sure that your email address is up to date in MyConcordia, login and then go to “Academic” and select  ”Change my email address.”

It is your responsibility to return books on time whether or not you have received a reminder notice. The slip with a due date has been given to you when you have borrowed the books. The reminder notice is just a courtesy. 

We do understand, however, that there are situations beyond your control, that may have prevented you from returning books on time. If you find yourself in that situation, please contact a circulation desk.

Help with APA Citations

You wrote:

The availability of the APA Citation Style of documenting sources is an invaluable tool for students and as a mature student (51 yrs. of age), I have become somewhat rusty on knowing how to cite sources, most especially the online sources.

As such, I am sending you a B-I-G THANK-YOU for providing such a user-friendly and printable listing to refer to when writing Bibliographies and Reference pages. Your assistance has been most invaluable and I simply
had to pause and say “thank-you.”

You are most welcome. Thanks for letting us know that you appreciate our citation guides!

 

 

Service

You wrote:

I am a part time student and don’t use the library that often. I used the library today (Sept. 29th) and was sincerely impressed with the help I received. I spoke to three library employees who all gave me excellent service. In particular, the staff member working at the periodicals department on the 3rd floor could not have done more. I even received a book bag in order to carry a heavy book. Thanks again!

You are very welcome, and thank you very much for writing. I am glad that you had such a good experience using the Library.

Ads on our blog

You wrote:

Ads by Google have started poping into this blog and I find it very annoying when I am reading about library issues. Is there any way to ask Google not to publicize in an academic related blog such as this one?

Unfortunately, the advertisements are added by the blogging software, WordPress, but only if you arrive at the blog through a search engine such as Google. Rather than searching for the blog in Google, I suggest that you go to the library homepage, click on the Suggestion Box icon, and then bookmark that page. From then on, you will be able to access the blog, ad free.

Circulation Line-Up

Line-ups have occurred at the Webster Circulation Desk at peak times this week. The library regrets any inconvenience that you may be experiencing. Unfortunate circumstances have placed a number of staff members on sick leave concurrently, but we hope to have staff back up to strength very soon. Thank you all for your patience and cooperation.

Alumni

You wrote:

It would be appreciated if one or two internet access computers could be allocated to alumnis. Thank you for consideration.

Thank you for writing. Concordia alumni are welcome to use library collections both in print and online. Come to the Library with your Alumni ID card and we will open a library account for you. Once you have a library account you can get a daily guest pass to use library computers. Note that the workstations are available at specified time periods during the Fall and Winters semesters. For all the details, see here.  To get an Alumni ID card, see here.

Google Books

You wrote:

I would like to draw your attention to a recent change in Google Book Search limitations. Please check the following link:

http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2009/04/google-book-search-settlement-will.html

It will be extremely useful us if Concordia can obtain an institutional subscription that gives us access to most books that are scanned as part of the Google Book Search project.

I understand the changes apply to the US for now, but I think it is important to keep an eye on the subject and investigate the possibility of having such a great resource available to us students.

Please let me know if there are any efforts or plans regarding this subjects.

Thank you for writing. The Library is very interested in this, and is actively following developments related to the Google Books settlement. Although the settlement only applies to the U.S., we are certainly interested to see where this goes. For more on Google Books as it relates to Concordia , see the recent Concordia Journal article, “Does Digitize Mean Democratize?“.