Technology Sandbox

Have you visited the Technology Sandbox yet? (https://library.concordia.ca/technology/sandbox/)

Opened in 2017 as part of the Webster Library Transformation, the Technology Sandbox is a community space where everyone can learn by doing, by making, by playing, and by sharing knowledge with each other – conveniently located on the second floor of the Webster Library building (LB 211) .

Some of the technologies in the space include 3d printers, sowing machines, virtual reality modules, Arduino computers and music synthesizers.

The Sandbox also offers a variety of technology workshops and provides audiovisual equipment that can be borrowed at the Loans & Returns Desk.

Mask requirements in the library

Since the library opened its spaces in August, a few users have expressed concerns over other users not following the mask requirements adequately.

Concordia has taken extensive safety measures to ensure that public health guidelines are followed on campus spaces, in order to protect the health, safety, and physical well-being of the Concordia community, and to keep transmissions at a minimum during in-person activities.

It is of the utmost importance that students wear their procedural masks at all times when in the Library. To ensure that students comply with the mask directive, security has been stepped up at both libraries and there is a dedicated agent patrolling the library from 08:00 to 24:00, 7 days a week to ensure that public health measures are being respected.

Should you see a student violating the masking guidelines and feel unsafe, please notify staff at a service point or campus security, report the mask violation, and a security agent will arrive to ensure that health guidelines are followed. A quick and convenient way to do this is through Concordia’s new  Rave Guardian app – once you have downloaded the app on your phone, you can send a text to security to inform them of the incident. They will be able to access your location through your phone’s GPS and rectify the situation in a firm and timely manner.

Stay safe everyone!

Study Carrels at Webster Library

We have heard from many of you about the lack of study carrels in the renovated spaces in Webster Library.

We have good news!

When the 4th floor of Webster Library closed for renovations in December 2016, the last of the old study carrels were removed.

Webster Library is planning on acquiring 88 carrels with 18-inch frosted glass partitions on 3 sides for reading rooms on the second floor and 4th floor of the library (in groups of 22).

They will be placed on the Bishop Street side near the back of the reading rooms. We are hoping to have 44 carrels installed by the end of May 2017 and the rest of the carrels will be in place by the end of Phase 4 (late 2017).

Students can still find carrels in the Vanier Library on the second floor.

For more on study carrels, please see the Webster Library Transformation blog: https://library.concordia.ca/webster-transformation/2017/03/14/study-carrels-a-must-for-concordia-students/

 

Webster Library – Main staircase entrance open

Webster Library’s main staircase has reopened.

With this reopening, entrance to the Webster Library will return to its permanent state. Students will enter the library from the main staircase on the first floor of LB to the second floor of LB, where the permanent entrance is located.

Once inside the Webster Library on the second floor of LB, students can take internal Library stairs or elevators to the third and fifth floors.

This will reduce the crowding of the elevator  and the fire escape stairways will no longer be needed.

Webster Library’s 4th floor and the west side of the third floor are currently closed in order to complete renovations. The Webster Library Transformation will be complete at the end of 2017.

When visitors enter Webster Library from the main staircase, they will be greeted immediately by the new service area for Questions? Ask Us! / Reference desk on the second floor of LB.

The Loans & Returns desk, self-checkout machines and the Course Reserves room are all also located on the second floor of Webster Library.

A brand new service will be launched on February 22: the Technology Sandbox on the second floor of Webster Library. It’s a place for the Concordia community to try out emerging technologies and cutting-edge equipment.   Register today for a workshop.

For more information about the new spaces at Webster Library, please see our website: http://library.concordia.ca/about/news/#guid=http://library.concordia.ca/about/news/#i15_Feb_2017_14:20:43_EDT

Switzerland room – temperature & repairs

You wrote:

Feedback on new second floor,  Room Switzerland is very cold (ventilation loud) + door
on the right makes noise.

Thank you for your comments.

The doors on the Switzerland room were repaired and no longer squeak. The ventilation noise is being verified and should be repaired today.  A piece has been ordered to adjust the temperature in Switzerland the room and we are waiting for it to arrive.  Unfortunately, the room temperature will remain lower until the piece arrives. We are also following up with the contractor.

 

Lack of space at Concordia Library

You wrote:

It took me 3 hours to find a study spot this weekend.  3. Hours. Because any and all students from other universities are allowed here. I have never felt like concordia has failed me to this degree before. I pay my tuition. I want to pass my classes. I pay for the resources to pass these classes. My friend that was searching with me, another paying concordia student, had a severe anxiety attack because of it. We went to BOTH campuses and not one spot to be had. I can’t believe there is such a blatant disregard for Concordia’s own students. I have a final Tomorrow and wasted my day trying to study.

Thank you for your message.  We are sorry that it took you so long to find a place to study this weekend.  This week was record-breaking for us in terms of library attendance.  Unfortunately, over the years, the Library size has not increased proportionately to the increase in student enrollment.  We hope that when the Webster Library Transformation is completed, this will be less of an occurrence.

Regarding your comment about non-Concordia students using the library, in the past, when we checked ID cards at the door, we found that the vast majority of library users were in fact our own students.  Furthermore, when we start checking ids, our sister institutions also start checking for ids, thus, restricting access to their libraries. We also posted a blog about this issue back in October: https://libsuggestions.wordpress.com/2016/10/17/webster-library-as-a-public-space/ 

On this webpage, http://library.concordia.ca/locations/study-spaces.php , there are links to listings of study spaces outside the library.  Also, depending on where you live, you may want to consider visiting a public library.  You can browse for public libraries near your home at this website:  http://cbq.banq.qc.ca/cbq

Once again, we are sorry that you had a frustrating experience finding a place to study this weekend.  We hope your exam went well.

 

Webster Library as a public space

We’ve heard from a few of our students about limiting access to the Webster Library to those with valid ID cards only.

We do limit access to Webster and Vanier Libraries to people with Concordia IDs between the hours of 23:00 and 7:00.

As we are publicly funded however, we are committed to being open to the public during regular hours.

We often get this comment and were curious to see just how many people were actually non-card carrying students.  It turns out that fewer than 10% of the people in the Library at any given time are non-Concordians.

The current renovations which will be completed within the next year, will double the seating space at the Webster Library which should more than meet current demand.

There is additional quiet student space downtown at the Grey Nuns Reading Room, which is restricted to people with valid Concordia IDs only.

Please see our website for location and opening hours of the Grey Nuns Reading Room: http://library.concordia.ca/locations/grey-nuns.php

There is also additional study space at the Vanier Library on the Loyola campus, which is open 24/7 for the academic year and for those with valid Concondia IDs between the hours of 23:00 and 7:00.

Concordia has also assembled some lists of great study spaces on both campuses, please see the links below:

• Group study spaces
  outside of Webster Library
• Group study spaces
  outside of Vanier Library
• Other study spots at Concordia
• Secret study spaces around Concordia

 

 

More on “reserved” seating

You wrote:

hi. its exam time and the library is not able to accommodate the need for study space.  yet today i see 2 individual study spaces that are prime grade A spots, quiet, great view, etcetera,  these 2 spots have had student books on them for at
least 4 hours with no one actually being at the desk.  one student did come back for about half an hour and then left again leaving books/folders there that were
probably of little significance. 
in as much as study space is sparse this time of year i suggest that security go around and when they find a spot that has been “reserved” without a student at the desk for more than 30 mins that a sign be placed on the the desk informing the student that if the space is not cleared in 10 mins that that the books will be removed and sent down to security where they may pick up their belongings. this particular event was at webster 4th floor on “Bishop” side where the burgundy booths are, its a great spot and ya i wanted it..

Thank you for your suggestion.  We already have something similar in place for workstations .  I have forwarded your email to the Libraries’ Administration.

Study space = prime real estate

You wrote:

I have some ideas on the topic of reserving study spaces (particularly the study carrels. I’ve noticed that people will often leave for one, two, and sometimes three hours, but leave their books behind to hold their place.

In my opinion, if you plan on leaving for more than 20 minutes or so, you automatically forfeit your place.  The carrels on the 3rd and 4th floors are prime real estate, especially at this time of the year. It is both inconsiderate and rude for people to leave their  belonging behind to reserve “their” carrel. The carrels belong to the library and cannot be reserved while you go out for Tim Horton’s break…

I’m not really sure how the library would go about enforcing this, since moving personal belongings is a very touchy subject. A publicity campaign is a good start.

Thank you for writing in.  You’re right, in both libraries, study space is at a premium these days, but the issue of moving personal belongings is indeed a very touchy subject.  In fact it has come up before in the Suggestion Box.  The Libraries now have a policy regarding belongings left unattended at computer workstations.  I do not think that we have the human resources necessary to implement a similar policy for study carrels.

That said, I appreciate you taking the time to write to us and I encourage others to let us know what they think of the situation.

Library classrooms

You wrote:

I have spent the past hour running around the library, trying to find an available computer (downtown library) to do work with little luck, aside from the 10minute computers. I just passed by the little lab (first floor) in the hopes that it’s available but it’s been booked all day.

While I understand you have library skills workshops, is it really necessary for people to actually be on the computers? Just glancing in the window, I think about 5 people out of the entire class were actually on the library page. I do acknowledge the oft-repeated explanation that the lab was created specifically for these workshops, but given the reality that a)people REALLY need computers to do serious research and school work (especially around this time of year), b) are spending a lot of frustratingly wasted time trying to find a computer, and c) people in the workshops are not even using the computers, could this somehow Please be taken into consideration?

thank you

As you say, this issue has been raised before.  Unfortunately, at the downtown library, these are the only classrooms we have.  Every square inch of the library is in high-demand.  If we use the classrooms to give our workshops, we get complaints like yours.  If we book a group study room, we will need to take several laptops out of circulation, so less equipment is available. Furthermore, we get more noise complaints because another group of students will be talking too loudly in the main parts of the library, for lack of a group study room.  

It is a very difficult situation.  All I can suggest for now, is to check out the libraries’ classrooms’ schedules and plan your work around that.  Also, please consider going to the Vanier Library at Loyola or visiting the IITS labs.

Thank you for writing.