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Spring Semester 2007 Questions & Answers

2007-04-02: Request for comfy chairs and natural lighting

Dear Marriott Library Staff / Building Manager,

I am frustrated because there are no longer large, comfortable armchairs in front of the windows. Before construction began my favorite place to study was the 2nd level, where there were big, cushy, green armchairs facing the windows in the area that is now the reference library. While there are armchairs in the reference library, these are hard and narrow. Also, the big square coffee tables are gone so there is no place to put books at a comfortable level for sitting in the chairs. Besides, there are very few of those chairs and they are all far away from the windows. Further, the reference library is a high traffic area with all of its computers, making it a less attractive place to study. all of the old comfy green armchairs are now condemned to the dim hallways where students run a high risk of falling asleep or gradually going blind from the lack of light.

I feel frustrated that only tables and walled desks with hard plastic chairs can be found in front of the windows now. Just think, if a student has to read 80 pages (2 chapters) for a typical weekly reading assignment in a course and the student reads at a rate of about 10 pages per hour, that will be 8 hours a week that the student needs to spend reading. The hard plastic chairs for the desk are too uncomfortable to bear fore than 2 hours sitting in them to read. I feel that the placement of the furniture shows a bias against Social Science and Humanities majors who must devote substantial amounts of time to reading. Walled desks and tables are better suited for Science and Engineering majors who need to spend most of their time solving equations from their textbooks -- not reading.

For the past 1 1/2 years, I have been doing most of my studying in the cafeteria area of the Union because there are large windows with comfortable, cushioned benches beneath. However, the Union has become an uncomfortable place to study as it has become a popular hangout for area homeless people as of this semester. One of these homeless men does not bathe, shakes while sleeping at a table, and then suddenly startles everyone in the area by screaming out. I have spoken to the people at the Union about addressing the problem of homeless people using the Union as a shelter, suggesting the possibility of offering medical attention or social services for such individuals. However, the person I spoke to last week said that the Union Building managers were not able at this point to find an effective solution.

It would be very helpful to make one area in the library a pleasant place for quiet reading next to the windows. Perhaps the area on Level 2 with call numbers DL-F would be a good place to move some of the big green armchairs and square tables. Right now there are just walled desks in this area next to the windows which is silly because the walls on the desks block out much of the natural light that makes this area an attractive place to study.

I have tried sty dying at the booths outside of the Pointe Cafeteria at the Business School, but these usually are in high demand, as business students like to meet in this area to work on projects. It is hard to find an empty booth there.

I would really appreciate having more places on campus to study and read comfortably. I have about +200 pages of reading to do this month for my History class and another +200 pages to do for Political Science. That is too much reading to do in a regular desk chair without getting a sore bottom or bad eye strain in the dim hallways. If you can do something about this matter, I would greatly appreciate it.

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Comment: Oh here is the suggestion spot. I just sent email to "Ask us" address. This one is not clear. The others are "Ask Us" and "Call Us", then why is it "TELLUS" and not "Tell Us"? I am suppose to know that "TELLUS" is for comments and not some acronym for who knows whatever.

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Comment: Does the library have a subscription to Nature Nanotechnology

Answer: I'm sorry to let you know that the Marriott Library does not have a subscription to the journal "Nature Nanotechnology." A quick search on Google let me know that an institutional subscription is $1,500 for one year, which is relatively expensive.

As the selector for Physics, I will keep your request on a list of requested journals for next fall's (2007) new subscription process.

However, I must warn you, that the Serials Collection Working Group is getting ready for a new round of journal subscription cuts this spring. We anticipate that the Marriott Library will need more dramatic cuts into our journal subscriptions, because not only have subscription prices risen, but our materials budget has remained flat for many years.

We have done our best to subscribe to new journal titles as best we could. Now the budget cannot continue to pay for the subscriptions we have as they are getting to be increasingly more expensive be they electronic or print. This phenomenon isn't happening just to our library, it is happening internationally.

You probably didn't expect such a long answer.

Thank you for your question.

Sincerely,

April Love

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Comment: I have a book "Across the Continent " by Bowles, published in 1865. A journal about his travels with the Hon, Colflax who at that time was speaker of the house of Representatives. Question? Are there many such volumes still out there or is this a rare book. Like to know Thank You

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Comment: I am dismayed that there are no paper recycling bins next to the 3 printers in the Multimedia Center. Trash cans there simply fill up with paper. Also, I don't mind paying to print, as I realize that it uses a lot of resources, but perhaps the cost (and waste) could be reduced if the default setting on the computers was to print on both sides of the paper. This would reduce paper costs by nearly half. Please let me know who would be the appropriate people or what would be the process for discussing these two issues with someone.

Answer: We have a dedicated recycle bin for all paper material just outside the West Exit. It is marked recycling and available for all library staff and patron use. Unfortunately the company that the University of Utah Custodial division uses for paper recycling have not been able to do pick up for us while we are under construction and lacking a loading dock. We feel strongly about recycling and found that currently our only alternative is to welcome staff and patrons to take recycling to the bin provided at the West Exit. It is our intent to reestablish distributed recycling bins throughout the library as soon as service for pick up can be restored.

IG

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I noticed that you have full text for the Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association only since 2004. I am curious whether cost is the reason for not having earlier back issues. If so, I will write a letter to the association complaining about these pricing policies. As an A&WMA member and author of multiple papers in the journal the availability of the papers is a concern to me.

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Comment: Hello library people!

Just out of curiosity, when did the culture of the library change to allow eating and full on talking in the study areas?

Last week, as I was studying at a table in the Fine Art section of the library, a student sat at the table in front of me, pulled out her computer, cell phone which was put to good use without the tones muted, and a big plastic container of food from the Union that she proceeded to loudly stab at the food with a plastic fork and chew loudly. (Bothering me to no end) When I asked her politely to keep it down she became very offended. It seems that she wasn't even aware that eating was not allowed in the library. As I looked around the room that day at the food spread out on EVERY TABLE in that area, I wondered.

I also find myself having to move quite often from supposedly "quiet" study areas where groups of people decide to have a study session that involves discussion, where staff members are helping people with computers but are speaking in normal conversational tones, and where last week a TA decided to have class at the table right behind me.

Should I expect the library to be a quiet place to study? Or should I just expect it to be an extension of the Union?

Where can you recommend I go on campus to find a quiet study area then, if not the library?

Thanks for listening,

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Comment: You have not posted the video for the February 13th Lecture for ME 6520.

Please do so!

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Comment: I suggest that you possibly put in a search engine to look up specific information or on specific topics. This would benefit us(students/professors) by not having to look at every database by subject and type. I think this would be highly used by many students, professors, and would be a great process to show new beginners.

Thank you !

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2007-02-11: Request for better bags

Comment: go back to the Macy's bags, the plastic bags are awful.

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Comment: The librarian in the area of patents was extremely helpful to me today in finding an obscure patent for which we only had a Swedish patent number. He immediately acted upon my request for help and then called me back and walked me through how to find a .pdf copy of the latest american version of the patent through the web. I got my patent and a bonus of education on how to do it. People like him are a real benefit to the community.

Answer: We have a policy not to post personal names on this board, but the person you mentioned by name and his supervisor have both received a copy of your letter. Thanks for taking the time to write!

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Comment: I am a TA in the political science department and with the new course reserve system that you have set up, I cannot access any of the reserves that my students need to look at. Without this tool, I have a hard time helping my students with their work. I don't know why you changed the format for finding course reserves, but as far as I can tell, it only makes everyone's life more difficult. Is there some other way that I can access course reserves for courses I am not registered for?

Answer: Due to copyright restrictions, only students enrolled in a class are allowed to see online copies of course material. Our old system allowed anyone to view materials but that was bending the rules. In fact, that's one reason we had to replace the old electronic reserve system. However, TAs are allowed to get access for courses they are teaching. If the instructor for a class gets in touch with the reserve desk ( 581-6049) and lets them know the TAs name for the course, they can facilitate access by sending the TA the links.

DC

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Comment: WebCT has not performed well with Internet Explorer since I've been using it (may 2006), but within the last few days it has been really bad. It won't let me attach documents to emails, or perform more than 2 or 3 actions, without freezing up my browser. Other applications continue to run, but Explorer has to be shut down constantly. It is extremely frustrating. Can you fix WebCT to run better with Explorer 6 and 7? No, I don't want to use another browser. If this program is to be used at a university, WebCT needs to work WELL with the most popular internet browsers.

Answer: Thank you for your email. I will pass your comments and concerns on to Blackboard.

Many others share your concerns, including us and other institutions around the globe. Blackboard keeps assuring us that the quality of software and support will improve, and while we hope this happens, we are monitoring and investigating alternatives to WebCT. One alternative, OLMS, was developed on campus and is in use today. When other products surpass WebCT in functionality and quality it is possible that we will migrate to a different product, or to a suite of products that best meet our needs. While there are products that have fewer problems than WebCT, none currently offer the same assortment of tools.

To address your specific complaints of the product:

Yes, file attachments is a pain.
I have found that 1.5.0.8 is the best version of the JRE. While 1.5.0.10 is the most recent (of the Java 5 version), .9 and .10 have resulted in a My Computer applet bug. This may sound like Greek to you so I would have you do the following:

1. Go to the control panel on your computer via the start menu. Click on Java. A window should pop up about Java information.
2. Click on the second tab Java.
3. In the second section below, entitled Java Application Runtime Settings, click on view. If you have several versions of Java running you will see several lines. To the right of each line you will see a check box. Deselect the versions that say _09, _10, _11. Click Ok and then Ok again. This should help so your browser works.

There are some bugs with the current Internet Explorer 7. They are working on these problems. Mainly it has to do with the icon notifications on the myWebCT page and the file attaching. I can send you a link for IE 6 so you can run the older version.

The minor software update this past weekend fixed a few things, including verifying Firefox 2.0.

RG

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Comment: When I checked my library account, I saw a block on my account because of an overdue book. However I returned it before its due date to the main library.

Answer: If you receive overdue notices for materials that you believe have been returned, contact the library specified on the notice or the Marriott Library Circulation Department. 801-581-8203.

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Comment: The Library has managed to mess up the one service that was working well. I used to be able to put up my course reserves in both electronic AND paper, but now I have to choose between electronic OR paper and I can't have both.

Answer: Due to copyright restrictions, we are unable to have both paper and electronic formats, since it is not considered fair use to do so. The Library does not have the funds to seek permission or pay royalties at this time, so we have not added this as an option. While we would like to provide the same reserve services we were once able to provide, the law suites that have occurred across the country over copyright have forced us to adhere strictly to fair use principles. It may be of some help to know that we can place a library book or journal on reserve in addition to the electronic copy, but NOT a duplicated copy of the work.

DG

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Comment: I asked at the front desk if Special Collections was open the same hours as the rest of the library and she said yes. I walked up. It wasn't. Communication?

Answer: Your comment has been forwarded to our Circulation Supervisor so she can remind desk attendants that some parts of the library are not open the same hours as the rest of the building.

AB

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Comment: Dust levels in the library are at an unhealthy level even at night,particularly when the wind is blowing .I suggest that the construction areas be sealed off better,not just with drywall for the health and well being of students and staff who have to be in the library on a daily basis .I also suggest that the library bring someone in,either the university or the appropriate health agency to study the levels of dust,and I would definitely involve Oakland Construction.

Answer: Okland Construction has monitored the air in the building periodically during abatement and found no unacceptable levels. Air quality reports related to asbestos are public and available on request. During asbestos monitoring, no additional threats were detected. Additionally, the library invited Environmental Health and Safety to do an air quality assessment in September 2006 to look at particulate levels. This sample was run over a two week period in a area in close proximity to demolition. The study showed no unacceptable levels in the following variables.

The monitor measures the following variables at five minute intervals for the duration of the monitoring period: Temperature (oF); Relative Humidity (%); Carbon Monoxide (ppm), Carbon Dioxide (ppm); and Total Volatile Organic Carbon Compounds (ppb).

These 5 variables act as “gateway” variables when assessing the indoor air quality of a given space or area.

If you experience problems with dust in the building in the future, please do not hesitate to call or email me with the date, time and location you noticed the issue. We will continue to request additional monitoring throughout the remainder of the project to evaluate air quality.

IG

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Comment: The new setup for e-reserves doesn't seem to give me a way to see the materials posted for the class I'm teaching. Am I missing something?

Answer: It sounds like something is wrong because you should be able to see materials for your own class. Please contact the Marriott Library Reserve Desk at 581-6049.

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Comment: I am so upset. I have been waiting to talk to the circulation supervisor since 5:30. She was supposed to be here at 6. It is now 8:30 and no one seems to know where she is. That is really annoying!

Answer: Your suggestion has been sent to our circulation supervisor.

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Comment: You really need to get some good and working copy machines at this library. The majority of the machines are a waste of paper, money and time. They don't even have an autostaple option for making copies of multiple pages.

Answer: Your suggestion has been sent to our Assistant Director for Public Services.

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Comment: Comment: Hello: I've been trying to use your Dard Hunter online books and found the process very difficult.

I remember using them a while back when the interface was much more basic and it was much easier to see a whole page at a time and navigate quickly through a book.

Now the content bar takes up a lot of the screen width and it's cumbersome to view all of the text--you have to view each page separately in its own window, and you can't page through in this full view.

Perhaps there's a way I could fix this in my settings? Or is this the new setup of your digital library?

I love the books--they're just difficult to use.

Thanks very much!

Answer: Your suggestion has been forwarded to our Digital Technologies librarian.

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2006-11-07: Thanks for microform help

Comment: I am a paralegal in Atlanta, and I contacted your library this morning, extremely desperate to obtain a copy of an article published by the Times-Independent newspaper back in January 1999. The on-line IM contact was terrific. But all in all, your microform librarian is my hero!

Thank you for dropping everything (or so it seems) in order to help me in such a timely fashion. This has been (undoubtedly) the best research experience I have ever had with a library.

Thank you for your courtesies and expertise.

Answer: Thank you for the compliment. We have a policy not to put post personal names on the TELLUS board, but the person you mentioned by name and his supervisor have both received a copy of your message.

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2006-12-14: Seeking a wooden card catalog.

Comment: I would like to purchase a wooden card catalog. Do you know of any place that would sell one?

Answer: The Marriott Library does not have any wooden card catalogs for sale. If there are any for sale at the University of Utah they would be for sale at the University Surplus and Salvage Department http://www.utah.edu/surplus/

AB

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2007-01-09: Kudos for patent presentation

Comment: As the Intellectual Property Section Chairman of the Physics of Quantum Electronics conference (PQE-2007), held January 2-6, 2007 at Snowbird, Utah, I wish to inform the library that Dave presented an exceptional contribution, entitled “Patent Searching”, on Friday evening, January 5.

I received feed back from the participants, and the uniform opinion was that Dave's presentation was well delivered, extremely informative, and easily understandable. Everyone reported to me they greatly appreciated and enjoyed Dave's talk; and, in so saying, I noted at the same time a smile on each of their respective faces.

We are keeping him in mind for future PQE conferences.

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Comment: why can't you leave things the way they were, if it ain't broke don't fix it!

Answer: The main reason for the current renovation of the Marriott Library is earthquake safety since certain types of shockwaves could cause the floors of the building to pancake (a truly dreadful possibility). More information about the reconstruction project is here: http://www.lib.utah.edu/libraryinfo/construct/index.html

Since we are making such major changes to the building we are also taking the opportunity to remodel our collections and services, and more information about those plans is here: http://www.lib.utah.edu/libraryinfo/construct/newprogramareas/renderings.html

We do try our best to base these types of decisions on feedback from library users, so please let us know what you need to make using the library a helpful, satisfying experience.

AB

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Comment: In the Ammon Hennacy Collection Photo #9, PO471 #1_01_04 labeled Hennacy and his wife, Joan Thomas is incorrectly labeled. The woman in the photo is Mary Lathrop, to whom Ammon was briefly engaged around 1960. A correction would be in order.

Answer: The caption on P0471n1_01_04 has been changed as per your suggestion. Thanks very much for informing us of this error, we always appreciate it when people take the time to help us make the information on our website as accurate as possible. If you see anything else, please don't hesitate to let us know.

RW

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2006-11-22: Electronic Access to Review of Radical Political Economics

Comment: I used to be able to download articles from a journal , the Review of Radical Political Economics, but no longer can (now I am just taken to the Sage page, and it requires one be an individual subscriber to be able to download from there). I would like to ask you how one does it now, what has changed, but as I said the "ask us" link does not work. Please contact me at my email so I can try to find out how to download an article. Thanks.

Answer: The Marriott Library has online access to full-text articles in the Review of Radical Political Economics from 1999-current issues, and our access is from the Sage publisher page. However, the library pays for this subscription, so in order to make the link work you need to make sure that the computer recognizes you are a University of Utah faculty, staff or student. There are several ways to make that happen:

Access the articles from a computer on campus

OR

From off-campus, use the Campus Portal. Login with your uNID to http://my.utah.edu Then use the Marriott Library catalog to find the title of the journal and click on the link.

OR

From off-campus, use the Web-VPN. https://vpnaccess.utah.edu/webvpn.html Use your own Internet Service Provider, login with your uNID and you can go to any campus pages, including pages at the libraries. Again, use the Marriott Library catalog to find the title and click on the link.

There is a lot of information about off-campus access to library resources here: http://www.lib.utah.edu/research/remote/index.html including a phone number for the help desk in case the problem lies with your computer connection.

I hope this helps.

AB

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