NEIU Library Suggestion Box
MS Word in the Library?
Alex comments:
I am a senior student at NEIU, and I come to this library at least twice a week to do research for my education classes. I am happy with everything the library offers to help students with their research, but none of the computers have Microsoft Word installed in them. Not having a word program is a disadvantage for the students at NEIU because we have to go a different building to start writing our papers. It would be helpful to able to research and write our papers at the same time and location.
Dave Green, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Information Services replies:
Hello, Alex. We are working to resolve this situation this year. The library’s goal is to keep the desktop computers on the 1st floor with the current configuration and add MS Office to other workstations. Most likely, the library will purchase a large number of netbooks with MS Office on them for student use in the library. In addition, we are looking at adding MS Office to some of the desktop computers on the 2nd and 3rd floors.
Posted November 3rd, 2009 to Software
We need a color printer
Sarah makes this suggestion:
I feel that NEIU should have an area where students can print documents in color. Considering many classes require pictures and text to be in color. There are many art classes offered and the assignments usually need to be in color. THANKS!
Dave Green, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Information Services replies:
Hi Sarah. Students can make color prints at the Quartet Copy Center in the bookstore. Regular prints are $.29 and tabloid prints (11 X 17) are only $.39 a page. They are open when the bookstore is open. The bookstore’s regular hours are Monday-Thursday 8:30a.m. – 7:00p.m. and Friday 8:30a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Hope this helps.
Posted September 15th, 2009 to Equipment
- genevieve
While this does address the ability to make color prints on campus, it does not address the Library as a resource. The NEIU Art Department has grown 285% over the last roughly 15 years, and the needs of the art students are not being addressed by the school overall, and by the Art Dept, whose budget is less than it was at the time before the huge growth. The Library should be a resource for *all* students, and should provide these resources, and not shuttle students off to other areas on campus. When work is being done at the Library, it should be able to be completed at the Library. Such is the nature of library research. A simple color printing area would not be terribly difficult. If there is a University contract with Beck’s bookstore/Quartet, then perhaps someone at the Library could open up a discussion to place a Beck’s satellite area within the Library to meet student need.
We need food & drink vending machines in the library!
Sunil says:
“The Need: Room w/ Vending Machine & Microwave
The Reason: I was at the library today and I ended up staying for more than 6 hours. I’m sure there are many like me who need to stay at the library for more than 5 hours at a stretch. As you can imagine, we get hungry and I think it would be very convenient if students had the option of heating up some food they brought from home, or quick heat up a cup of noodles from a vending machine. This would save us time when studying (we wouldn’t have to leave the library for food) and we would thereby be able to stay longer hours.
The concerns: There would be the concern that students would take advantage of this and start eating at all locations of library, beyond the room w/ the vending machines and microwave, but this is inevitable and nothing a little gentle yet strict enforcement wouldn’t be able to rectify. For example, if a student is seen eating anywhere besides the said room, his id would be recorded into an excel file that’s shared with all student-facing library employees. If the student’s name is entered twice or thrice, the library could impose a fine (similar to a one-week late fee) on the student. Furthermore, I have seen many students snack all around the library already, with everything from chips to chocolates.
Has it worked elsewhere? Yes. At North Park library, there is a small room on the 1st floor w/ vending machines for snacks, as well a small microwave.
Summary: NEIU RW Library should have a small room for eating that consists of a pair of vending machines, microwave, and a few tables and chairs. Students would be able to devote more time to studying this way, stay at the library for longer hours, and save time they would have otherwise spent on going for food nearby.”
Dave Green, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Information Services replies:
Hi Sunil. We agree that it would be good to have an area for students to eat and drink in the library. It would be a more comfortable place for students. We have been looking into the options for such space and there has been discussion of even putting in a coffee shop with food (besides North Park, visit Dominican University’s library to see a successful model). Whether we put in a coffee shop or just a room with vending machines, the library has to find the construction funds.
Last year we submitted our priorities for fund raising to Institutional Advancement and our main focus was on facility enhancements for the library, including a place for students to eat! So, we will be working with Institutional Advancement to raise funds for such enhancements but the current economic environment may make things a bit slow going.
Posted September 15th, 2009 to Building/Facilities
- Nicole
I think we do need a microwave in the library. The cafeteria is nearby, but it is not convenient. Why would we have to walk out the library during a cold rainy/snowy day when we can have an eating area inside?
- Robert Kastigar
The cafeteria is well within the area of NEIU and next to the library. I don’t think it’s necessary to make a snack shop out of something that could be used for library purposes.
If you’re in the library for more than 6 hours it might be a good idea to get out and take a break – outside of the library.
- Cindy
Many Universities have coffee shops. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for example, has a coffee shot right outside the main desk at the Undergraduate Library. It is the only library on campus with it, and it works out great. There is no trash throughout the library at all and students are allowed to eat, obviously if it becomes excessive then a library employee will call it to attention. I think it is a matter of trusting the students to clean up their area.
I am soooo excited Sunday hours are extended!
Michelle says:
I am soooooo excited that you have extended Sunday’s hours to 9:00 PM. I will no longer have to pack up all my stuff to head over to Brandel library, which is open until midnight on Sunday thru Thursday. I prefer to study here at NEIU, because I study better in a familiar environment. Whoever thought to extend the library hours is BRILLIANT! Thank you.
Dave Green, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Information Services replies:
Hi Michelle. Thanks for letting us know that this is appreciated! This is the effort of many people pulling together to make it work…
Posted August 31st, 2009 to Hours
- veronica
Yes, I was shocked when I saw the library hrs are extended on Sunday and then ecstatic because I love this library and to leave so early was always a bummer for me. Thank You so Much NEIU.
- Jiss
I will have another reason to study on Sundays. You guys are amazing! All of these great new changes for we the students. Thanks to all of you who will be working Sundays.
3rd floor staff are helpful
Lakei makes this compliment:
I am a returning student and I just wanted to say thanks to all the staff that helped me out this semester and hope they’ll be around to help in the semesters to come. So far the help has been phenominal especially by the staff on the 3rd floor.
Dave Green, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Information Services replies:
Hi Lakei. Thanks! I’ll let the staff in the MLRC know.
Posted February 23rd, 2009 to Staff
- John Goldman
I wish maintenance would fix the refridgeration unit on the water cooler. It hasn’t worked in a year.
- lisa
1st floor librarian was so sweet and helpful. She helped me with my bag since I had surgery and had to go to the 3rd floor. Thanks for hiring nice people, it really makes my day.
- jose
I have been a part time student for quite a long time, slowly getting the credits I need for my degree. I just wanted to take the time to thank those who have been patient with me at the library on numerous occasions. Learning new things is not an easy process for me but those who work at the Refence Desk have been kind, understanding and patient and have showed me how to do research and bent over backwards in doing so. I hope that everyone who works there continues throughout the spring and will also be there for me in the summer as I am taking two more classes this summer. I especially find the desk on the second floor very helpful as looking for journals can be a very confusing process at times. Some of my classmates have the same problem and they find the desk on the second floor very sueful. So I hope the regular hours will continue through during that time and the same people will be up there ready to greet me and help me as best as they have been doing. Thank you.
Freshman students need library orientations!
Salina posts this message:
When I was a freshman they charged me $45.00 for orientation. They showed everything around the campus, where things are located and where to go for help etc. They also showed the library, where to check out books and the reference department… But they actually did not help us learn how to search. I think the library should have workshops for freshmen every semester because there is a lot of stuff going on in library which students do not know about. I didn’t know that I can request books from other libraries. But I got a job and saw books labeled UIC, ITT, etc. I asked one of the staff and she told me about I-share. Two months later, I found out about ILLiad. Now just one month ago I learned that the NEIU Library has newspapers online, and some online books. But I don’t know how I search today’s newspapers online. And what about the articles which my professor put online? How do I get the full text? I always have problems opening articles which are online. And yes! Last summer I found out about REFWORKS but I still do not know how to use it. I read the booklet and the pamphlet but they do not help much. I think watching or seeing someone else doing it in front of you is better than reading the booklet. I still do not know what the MLRC is for. How can I use it? What do I need? Thank you.
Dave Green, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Information Services replies:
Hi Salina. Thanks for all your comments. Having a library orientation for freshman each semester sounds like a good idea. I’ll talk with our instruction librarians about creating such a program.
Posted February 14th, 2009 to Instruction
- steff
I’ve experienced the same thing. I’m a freshman I paid $45 for the orientation last fall ,but I wasn’t taken to the library. The people who were leading my group just showed us where the library is at and that’s it. The website is confusing and it’s even more confusing on the article searching. Also I didn’t know anything about the ishare or anything else about the library.
- salina
when you start Freshman library orientations please also call me. it will help for my reseach projects in the future.
thank you
- jesus
I’m in the same situation as you guys. One of my teachers keeps reserving articles onlin through the library, and many of my classmates and I have no idea how to access them. I also agree with what Paulo said about the “students’ year in school.” I would hate the idea of the library rejecting me because I’m not in my first year at NEIU. There should be no discrimination towards any of the student who would benefit from a library orientation. I wonder what the rest of the faculty members have to say about this issue.
- Mary Jo Chrabasz
I agree. I received my BA from NEIU six years ago, and I don’t recall even an orientation like others are describing (I was lucky in that my mom was an alum who showed me around). I really didn’t use the NEIU library much, sticking to my local public library now. I am a graduate student in library science at Dominican, and I am just learning about some of these wonderful resources I never knew of when I was at NEIU.
So PLEASE create an orientation to the library! Cover the LC Classification system and how to find particular call numbers, where specialized resources are, searching the catalogue, searching specialized databases, and interlibrary loan request procedures.
Also, targeted RefWorks workshops would be wonderful. We had both beginning and advanced RefWorks workshops at Dominican and it really helped. I wish RefWorks had been around when I was at NEIU!
- lakei
I am a returning student and this service is just as needed for me as it is for you. I have been out of school for years and needed to get my bearings back so far the staff have been very nice and friendly and more than willing to help so for that I am very grateful, however like you I would still like to see some type of program in place that shows how to fully utilize the library.
Air ducts on 3rd floor are noisy.
John states:
I spend a lot of time accessing books on the 3rd floor, and many days use the brown desks with the light bulbs in them to do work. My only complaint is that the heating ducts in the ceiling are very noisy, and have been throughout the semester. It’s almost impossible to find a desk on that floor where it is quiet enough to work. I’m sorry if that’s being really picky, but I’m sure other students are noticing it too.
Thank you!
Dave Green, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Information Services replies:
Hi John. I will ask that a work order be sent to our Facilities Department to investigate this problem. Thanks for letting us know. You are probably not the only student that finds this annoying.
Posted January 19th, 2009 to Building/Facilities, Noise
- Dave Green
UPDATE:
The building engineer thinks he has found the problem and it should be fixed today.
Thanks!
Textbooks through the Library — Thanks!
A student comments:
I just wanted to say that I’m very thankful for all the help the librarians provide to the students. So far, I was able to find 3 textbooks that I need for the upcoming semester. Thank you very much. My budget is tight and I’m glad to know that there is always this option available at no cost.
Dave Green, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Information Services replies:
Thanks for your compliment. Sometimes our librarians can help you locate books that are assigned by your instructor. Having said that, I do want to point out to students that there is a difference between books that may be required reading for your class and a “textbook.” “Textbooks” (books that are designed and published specifically for the sole purpose of being used for class instruction) are published by a handful of specific publishers and there is now much controversy surrounding this particular part of the publishing market. In fact, the textbook trade is often referred to as, “a broken market.” A library’s main focus is acquiring “primary” materials. Traditional textbooks fall outside of this scope. Still, we would like to work with others in the university community to help students as they wrestle with overpriced textbooks.
Posted December 16th, 2008 to Services
Need library assistance on the other floors
Liz writes:
The one thing that they definitely need is library staff on floors 2,3 and 4 . I wanted to find some books and a woman from floor 1 had told me they were on floor 4 and yet they really were not and even so there was no staff at all to help/guide where I can find them.
Dave Green, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Information Services replies:
Hello Liz. Actually our library, and many other academic libraries, have been cutting back on the number of librarians that are available at information desks beyond the main reference desk. This is due to the budget limitations that academic libraries have been increasingly facing in the past 10 years, as well as the changing nature of how students are seeking assistance.
If you can’t find an item on the shelf, however, return to the reference desk ( not the circulation desk) and ask a reference librarian to go with you to see if they can find the item. Unless the librarian is alone staffing the reference desk, they will be more than happy to accompany you to the other floor to find the item.
Posted December 15th, 2008 to Staff
The Library’s lower level needs to be quieter.
Brad writes:
I have spent many, many hours in the library this semester trying to study for the LSAT. It has been very, very tough to find a quiet place. Study rooms tend to be taken up, and on most floors the students are not quiet. Students in the basement tend to be silent, but I can often not concentrate due to the loud talking of the employees. I think it’s called the Illinois Repository section or something like that . . . the employees are off to the right when you get off the elevator. I have been dealing with this for months but am really frustrated now. There is nowhere to go to find silence. It’s bad enough when it’s the fault of students, but library employees are non-excusable. Could someone please speak with these employees and ask them to stay quiet or at least to keep their communication to a whisper? If I’m in the middle of a 4 hour timed practice test, I can’t get an accurate gauge as to my performance if ! my concentration is constantly broken. This has happened almost EVERY time I have been down there.
Dave Green, Associate University Librarian for Collections and Information Services replies:
Hello Brad. I have notified the supervisor of the IRAD area about this issue. Thanks for the feedback.
Posted December 2nd, 2008 to Noise
- grad student
the library computers are so slow now………..everything: websites, scrolling, links to open sites, etc etc…. last year they were fine! what happened?
- Anonymous
Please consider extending hours, especially during finals week. It is really inconvenient to have the University Library only open until 5pm when folks have research papers to complete, and finals to study for. University of Illinois at Chicago had their Daley library open 24 HOURS during finals week!For the sake of us students, please consider this for next semester’s finals.
- Amanda
The 4th floor is also ridiculously loud. PLEASE have the staff enforce “quiet” guidelines throughout the library. It’s impossible to think. The library has been the loudest, worst place to study all semester. Unacceptable.
Comments
3 Responses to “The Library’s lower level needs to be quieter.”
Tell Us What You Think
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Amanda on
November 23rd, 2009 1:45 pm
The 4th floor is also ridiculously loud. PLEASE have the staff enforce “quiet” guidelines throughout the library. It’s impossible to think. The library has been the loudest, worst place to study all semester. Unacceptable.
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Anonymous on
December 12th, 2009 3:43 pm
Please consider extending hours, especially during finals week. It is really inconvenient to have the University Library only open until 5pm when folks have research papers to complete, and finals to study for. University of Illinois at Chicago had their Daley library open 24 HOURS during finals week!For the sake of us students, please consider this for next semester’s finals.
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grad student on
December 23rd, 2009 1:32 pm
the library computers are so slow now………..everything: websites, scrolling, links to open sites, etc etc…. last year they were fine! what happened?
I agree with Robert. You could install OpenOffice right now for no cost. It is compatible with MS Office and works great.
How do you have a library with no word processors?
Is NEIU expecting us to turn in handwritten papers to our professors or what? I hope when you say “We are working to resolve this situation this year”, you mean this “SEMESTER.” Not all of the computer labs at NEIU are suitable for the students who are trying to concentrate, do research and write papers. Most of the labs are noisy. We also have to wait 20 minutes for another student to leave after they spent an hour checking myspace/facebook. We need to be able to write our papers at the library because it is the most quiet place in the entire university.
This has to be the only University library in the country without Microsoft Word. Really, really ridiculous.
Why not use Open Office instead? It’s free and the money saved could be used for other things. Why spend school money for a commercial product when an equally suitable free product is available?