Silk Strike Conference

FROM: Harry rehberg ’67

FEEDBACK:  Will the governor be attending the, Paterson Silk Strike with Conference Exhibition?

RESPONSE:

Dear Mr. Rehberg:  

Thank you for the inquiry about the Silk Strike Conference and Exhibit.  To the best of my knowledge, Governor Christie will not be attending the event. 

Best wishes,

Anne Ciliberti, Dean of Library Services

Geographical abbreviation error

FROM: Dave Smith

 FEEDBACK: I found this page from your library while doing research for a paper at another school: http://www.wpunj.edu/dotAsset/76ddd069-1c68-4096-8060-3e425d8f7148.pdf.

You may want to revise the information on line 1 of page 3. Little Rock is in Arkansas (AR) not Alaska (AK). It’s the little things like this that can bring down the credibility of an institution of higher learning. I wasn’t trying to proofread the paper, but as a resident of Arkansas I tend to notice when someone tries to move me several time zones to the west!

Thank you for posting this kind of information. It was very useful.

RESPONSE: 

 Dear Mr. Smith:  Thank you very much for taking the time to let us know about this error…we will correct it ASAP!  

Thanks again, Anne Ciliberti, Dean of Library Services

Chat services

FROM: Susan

FEEDBACK:  Question: why the live chat is off about 10PM? Who should we talk or tell when someone is making too much noise?

Susan, graduate student

RESPONSE:

Dear Susan:  Thank you for an excellent suggestion!  Our chat service concludes at 10 pm because that’s the end of our reference service. However, we are exploring whether the chat service can be re-directed to another service point after 10 pm for reporting problems such as you suggest.  You made my day with a great idea…we’ll see if it can be implemented.

Good luck on your exams,

Anne Ciliberti, Dean of Library Services

Late noise

FROM: Bryan

FEEDBACK:  Hi,  it is a great idea that the library will be open until 2AM. On the other hand, many students make loud noises including: loud conversations, music with their headphones, and using phones. The noise bothers those students that they need to study. Thanks, Bryan

RESPONSE:

Dear Bryan:   I know how difficult it can be to study when others are making unnecessary noise.  Please feel free to let staff at either the Reference or Lending Service desks know of the problem and they will speak with the offending students.  In the evening, ask to speak to the Evening Supervisor who can often find quiet spaces away from the crowd.  We continue to work on other methods of noise control, but it is an uphill battle.  Perhaps your fellow students will read this and take the message to heart. 

Good luck on your exams,

Anne Ciliberti, Dean of Library Services

FROM: Allen G.

FEEDBACK:  The only concern is that many students have loud conversations (phone or laughs)in the library(2nd floor. There should be some kind of control on this issue. Perhaps announce on the speaker once in a while or library personnel could walk around once in a while the library to enforce not to have loud voices. Also, there should be a section of the library where students can meet and talk about their assignments and another quiet section. Thank you.

RESPONSE:

Dear Allen G.:   Thank you for your feedback about noise on the second floor of the Library.  The entire second floor is designated a Quiet Zone, but the study areas in the front of the building are supposed to be Very Quiet.  This is a particularly difficult time of the semester and the Library is more crowded than usual. If you experience a noisy situation, please feel free to speak to a staff member at either the Reference or Lending Service desks and they will address the issue at that time.  Perhaps your fellow students will read this posting and realize how disruptive talking and laughing can be in a study area. Please note that the Friends Room on the first floor is a place where students may eat and chat. There are also study rooms on the second floor where groups of three or more can meet to work together.  I hope this information is useful to you; good luck with your end-of-semester exams and assignments. 

Anne Ciliberti, Dean of Library Services

Work in Library

FROM: Chelsea

FEEDBACK:  Hi, i was just curious about what the construction on the lower floor of the library is for?

thank you.

RESPONSE:

Dear Chelsea:  I’m so glad you asked!  The construction on the lower floor is the replacement of the Library’s HVAC system!  We’re thrilled that a completely new heating and cooling system is being installed…plans are to have the cooling system online in the next few weeks, before the weather is consistently warm.  Thank you for asking.

Best wishes,

Anne Ciliberti, Dean of Library Services

Broken Outlets: Updated

FROM: Anonymous

FEEDBACK:  My apologies for not clarifying, i meant the electrical outlets along the wall,  near where the bridge is to access the other side of the library. By the table, none of the electrical outlets work, i tried them all and none of them charged my laptop or phone

RESPONSE:

Dear Anonymous:  Thank you for clarifying the location and type of outlet…we’ll check them out and place a work order for the repair.  Thank you also for taking the time to let us know about this problem. 

Best wishes,

Anne Ciliberti, Dean of Library Services

Broken Outlets

FROM: anonymous

FEEDBACK:  None of the outlets along the wall on the second floor work, just thought someone should know about this.

RESPONSE:

Dear Anonymous: 

We’re uncertain exactly which outlets you are referencing on the second floor. Which wall?  Data or electrical outlets?  The data outlets are intentionally inoperative for network security reasons.  All network users must connect through the security software installed on wired workstations or on the wireless network.  I hope this answers your question.  
Regards,
Anne Ciliberti, Dean of Library Services

Emergency Exit?

FROM: Robert

FEEDBACK: 

i have a question why is there an emergency exit sign on the door near the library instruction classroom?

RESPONSE:

Dear Robert:   I believe you are referring to the emergency exit at the foot of the basement stairs?  It has an emergency exit sign because it is alarmed and should not be used as a regular exit. The only exits that should be used are those in the front lobby on the first floor.  I hope this answers your question.  

Best wishes,

Anne Ciliberti, Dean of Library Services

Lost Books

FEEDBACK:  If someone doesn’t return a book, you should fine them, and then use that fine to perhaps buy a new copy of that same book. I read there is also a $15 extra for lost books. I don’t know if this money is used for parties or what, but there are at least 2 books that the library had lost in 2010 they haven’t bothered to replace, and the ILL sure as hell isn’t too keen on letting people borrow books for more than 2 weeks. If this library had the book, I could have it the whole semester (assuming there were no other holds) or if the ILL allowed people to check out a book more than once, it would be peachy, but now I’m paying all this money as part of tuition but I’m not able to actually use books I need.

RESPONSE:

Dear Library User:  Thank you for your feedback on replacing overdue and lost books. This reply may be more than you wished for, but let me explain:

1. We do not immediately replace every lost book with the exact same title, although the librarians do review the lost titles on a regular basis. The reason for this is that there may be a newer edition or a newer title on that topic.  If you need an exact title that was lost, please speak with a Reference librarian about it.  Once we know the title, we can investigate if it is available as electronic book which would make it more accessible to you and to others.  Depending on the title, the book may also be available at another public or academic library where you can borrow it using our reciprocal agreement.  A Reference librarian will help determine if the title is available at another library.

2. The Library and Media Services do charge overdue fines whenever materials are returned late.   Once materials are 90 days overdue, we consider the items lost and bill the patron for replacement and processing.  If you see that a book in our catalog has a status of “Lost” that means that we have billed the person for replacement and that we are in contact with them about this overdue item.  We charge $15 for processing which helps us to defray the costs of ordering, receiving, cataloging, barcoding and processing the books so that they may be circulated using our library system.

I hope this explanation helps…the short answer is to ask for assistance at the Reference Desk and the Librarian there will do everything possible to assist you in obtaining the material you need. 

Thank you for your feedback,

Anne Ciliberti, Dean of Library Services