MS Word in the Library?

By dgree1 | Published: November 3, 2009

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 in Software | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

We need a color printer

By dgree1 | Published: September 15, 2009

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 in Equipment | 1 Comment

We need food & drink vending machines in the library!

By dgree1 | Published: September 15, 2009

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 in Building/Facilities | 3 Comments

I am soooo excited Sunday hours are extended!

By dgree1 | Published: August 31, 2009

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 in Hours | Tagged , | 2 Comments

3rd floor staff are helpful

By dgree1 | Published: February 23, 2009

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 in Staff | Tagged | 3 Comments

Freshman students need library orientations!

By dgree1 | Published: February 14, 2009

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 in Instruction | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Air ducts on 3rd floor are noisy.

By dgree1 | Published: January 19, 2009

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 in Building/Facilities, Noise | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Textbooks through the Library — Thanks!

By dgree1 | Published: December 16, 2008

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 in Services | Tagged | Leave a comment

Need library assistance on the other floors

By dgree1 | Published: December 15, 2008

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 in Staff | Leave a comment

The Library’s lower level needs to be quieter.

By dgree1 | Published: December 2, 2008

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 in Noise | 4 Comments

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