Author Archives: Steven Bell

Please Limit Library Computers to Research Only

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Often when I need a terminal at the library to do research, they are all being used by people on non-research websites (AKA Facebook, Myspace, etc). Is there a way to limit the ability of library computers to access non-research websites, so students who need to legitimately use the computers can have access to library resources?

Thanks for sharing your concerns and frustrations about finding a computer in our Libraries. Part of our role as is to provide a good space and the resources for study and research. But the Library is also a meeting space, a social space, a place to find some respite from a hectic schedule, an academic support service, and even sometimes a place to find entertainment – on a computer. To support so many diverse needs we offer a large number of computers with unrestricted access so students and others can check their email, write a paper, update their facebook status, do research on a library database or watch a soccer video.

That’s why we do not impose limits on what students and others can do on our Library computers. Yes, there are students using the computers for chat, to play games or other forms of what you might call “goofing off”. But no one can always tell what a person is doing just from what’s on the screen. The student on facebook may be communicating with classmates about an assignment. The student watching a television program or part of a movie on YouTube may be doing so for legitimate class work. Everyone in our Libraries is entitled to their time on the university equipment.

That said, facilitating research is clearly one of our core missions. If you are in Paley Library and there are no computers available and you see what looks like non-research activity going on, please proceed to the “Ask Here” Desk on the first floor. Those working at the “Ask Here” Desk often ask students if they will kindly give up their computer to someone who needs to conduct research. We find that students are likely to comply with that request.

Finally, please be sure to look for an open computer on the upper levels of Paley where we have added additional equipment or consider borrowing a laptop at the Tuttleman Circulation Desk.

What’s With the Door Handles at Paley Library

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All the doors in Paley– particularly the ones in the stairwell and the elevator lobbies– need to have the handles changed to vertical ones on the side that say “Pull.” The standard is vertical for pull, horizontal for push. That way, you end endless minor embarrassment for people pushing on pull doors. It is a simple and considerate thing to do– not the cheap and lazy set-up you have now. You could use the current handles or invest a little in handles that visually command pulling.

We can’t argue with you on this one. What you point out is a basic design feature of most buildings (are you an architecture student?). In fact some design sites suggest that any door that requires a push should have no handle at all, but simply a plate where the hand is placed for the push. We don’t know what they were thinking when they installed the doors back in the sixties.

Now, what can we do about this? We will pass your observation on to our facilities manager to see what’s involved in a changeover of this sort. Chances are it will not be cheap or simple to do, and in that case we must ask ourselves if it is the best use of students’ tuition dollars. And we have to keep in mind that over the last 40 or so years, with thousands upon thousands of people going in and out of Paley, this particular problem has hardly ever been pointed out to us. 

I will point out that when you come to the first stairwell door opposite the Ask Here Desk – we got that one right!

Paley Library Needs More Electric Outlets

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I often work on the third floor of Paley and it’s really frustrating when I can’t find an outlet to plug in my laptop. Any chance you can add more outlets on the upper levels?

 

We agree that the study areas of Paley are woefully short of electric outlets.  Most library buildings built in the mid-1960s suffer from the same problem.  Back then no could have anticipated students with laptops, cellphones, iPods and loads of other devices needing constant power. Adding a lot of outlets is impossible in the current building since we are now at full electrical capacity and cannot add any more circuits to existing panels. 

 

Nonetheless within the last month we squeezed in a few added outlets at locations in the  2nd and 3rd floor study areas where we recently removed shelving and installed carpet and comfortable tablet arm chairs.  We also added three more outlets on the 3rd floor in an area of large study tables that has attracted laptops users.  Four outlets were also added in the reserved graduate/faculty carrel room, a location where there used to be one outlet for approximately 50 carrels.  Even these few outlets were very expensive given Temple’s labor costs.

 

 

How Come I Can’t Get Support for Endnote From the Library?

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I am thinking of acquiring Endnote as software I can use to manage my citations and create bibliographies. I recall that the Temple University Libraries at one time provided support for Endnote users. That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. What happened?

You are correct that the Libaries did at one time provide support for Endnote. However, in 2005 the Libraries acquired a subscription to RefWorks, a web-based service for managing personal citations and creating bibliographies. Through the Libraries, RefWorks is free to everyone who has a currently valid Temple University network account. As a result of the move to RefWorks the Libraries found they could no longer support Endnote.

If you would like to know more about RefWorks and how it compares to Endnote you can read this older blog post about the two different bibliographic managers. If you want to explore other options you can learn more about Zotero which is an open source bibliographic management software. At this time the Libraries do not support Zotero.

First-Floor Copiers Are Always Out of Paper

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The copiers on the first-floor of Paley always seem to be running out of paper. One of the library staff told me today that an outside company has to come in and refill the paper in the copiers. This seems incredibly inefficient. Why not do it in-house?

 

Thanks for sharing your concerns about the problem you had with our photocopiers. Do keep in mind that we have additional copiers on all the other floors of the library. So there are other options if the first floor copiers are out of paper or otherwise malfunctioning.

 

You did hear correctly that we use Xerox to supply our photocopiers.  Many academic libraries outsource photocopying services.  In our case, Xerox  provides the machines, handles all paper & toner, and keeps the revenue under a contract with Temple University’s Business Services office.   To manage this properly in-house we would need one or two  full-time staff to do nothing but supply paper and count coins — that’s not an efficient use of students’ tuition dollars.   Like any outsourced service it occasionally works less well than we’d like. Because Xerox owns those copiers and the paper they lock the trays so we can’t access them. Therefore we depend on regular visits from a technician who keep the machines stocked and in good working order. When we get to the busiest times of the semester the paper is depleted much faster. We do our best to keep Xerox on their toes but problems will occur.

 

We have already been in touch with Xerox and Temple Business Services about the paper situation.  We can’t guarantee an immediate improvement, but we will work to make sure our photocopiers are up and running on a regular basis.

 

How Can I Renew My Books That Are Almost Due?

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I checked out a book for a class paper. It is due on April 14, but I will need it a week or two longer. Should I bring the book to a librarian, would I be permitted to re-check it out?

Absolutely! Books may be renewed up to three times, unless a book has been requested by another student or faculty member. Renewing a book is easy too. You can do it anywhere you have an Internet connected computer. Just go to “My Library Account” and login using your Temple University network account. You can view all the books you have on loan, identify their due dates, and then renew them online. Do know that if you have existing library fines you won’t be able to renew them online, but you can renew them with a phone call to our circulation desk, 215-204-0744.

Why Can’t We Return Books Outside the Library?

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I’d really like to return my books outside without having to go to the circulation desk. I’ve seen them at other libraries. Why not Paley?

There was a book drop outside Paley Library in the past, but it was removed owing to continual damage to the books in the drop caused by vandals. However, given that we’ve had this request from time to time we are planning to acquire and put a book drop outside the library. We hope to have this in place for the fall 2009 semester. Do keep in mind that you will only be able to use the outdoor book drop when Paley is closed.

During the many hours we are open, you will be able to return your books to the bins near the Bell Tower or the Circulation Desk at the Tutttleman.  With these two options returning a book inside during operating hours does not present a great inconvenience for the majority of the TU community.

UPDATE: Paley Library will be adding a book return unit outside near the Bell Tower Entrance. Look for it in the fall of 2009