Feedback

A recently received comment from a student:

It is almost impossible to find a quiet place to study. The noise from music or talking is everywhere. Does any one else ever complain?

Well, first of all you are not alone in your quest for quiet. Others have complained. I must also tell you that we have received even more complaints that we don’t offer enough group study space or places where students can talk and work together.

So, in an effort to provide space for both needs we designated the 3rd and 4th floors as “non-quiet” floors. The cafe on the 3rd floor, along with the MultiMedia Center and the Microforms area are places where both music and conversation are going to be abundant. Patron traffic on the 4th floor is also heavy as the Tech Support Desk and the Instruction Room are both located on this floor.

Floors 5 and 6 have been designated QUIET FLOORS. Signs are posted at all entrances asking that cell phones, conversation, and all other noise be kept to a minimum.

Groups are encouraged to meet in the lobby area of each floor. We do want to provide as much study space as possible, but it is difficult to keep the distractions away at all times.

Try studying on Floors 5 or 6 and see if that offers you a more favorable environment.

Thank you for your input and please don’t give up on studying in the library!

Jan

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A question we recently received from a patron:

“I don’t understand how the study booths are assigned. I don’t see anyone hardly ever using them and yet i am told there are non available.”

This question is one that we receive quite often. The “study booths” you are referring to (known in the library world as “carrels”) are a popular commodity. We wish we had at least 50 more to offer!

Since we don’t have enough for everyone, the carrels are reserved for a semester at a time on a “first come, first serve” basis.

There are times during the semester when a number of the carrels appear to be unused but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are available. Researchers with reserved carrels use them at various intervals depending on their needs.

All of the details regarding who gets a study carrel and/or how you go about reserving one are clearly explained on the following page:

http://www.maag.ysu.edu/about/carrels_policy.html

The Library’s Operations Manager will be glad to assist you with any further questions you might have (330-941-1717)

Hope this helps. Thanks for your question. Jan

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Please share with us your comments and/or suggestions concerning your experience(s) with Maag Library.

For example:

• do you find certain databases particularly helpful or dreadfully confusing?
• is it easy to find books or articles on an assigned topic?
• is the staff friendly and helpful vs. nasty and grumpy?
• have you ever wondered why we don’t offer _______(you fill in the blank) or could we purchase a book about________(your choice)?

This is just a sampling of the variety of feedback we are seeking from those of you who use Maag Library. If you don’t let us know what you’re thinking, we can’t improve or at least explain why something is done a certain way.

If you would like a personal response to your inquiry, please provide an email address or a phone number. Feedback we receive, along with our responses, will be posted on the blog, but no names or other identifying data will be shown.

Please, let us hear from you.

Jan Schnall
Associate Director for Information Services

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