Student survey: you commented, we answered

Facilities

We are planning a major renovation in 2018. We will renovate all three floors of the library. Our focus is on improving student study space, technology, possibility of natural lighting, and other areas that will serve student needs. We plan on creating a 24/7 space available for all students. We will involve students in planning for a new, redesigned library. Because of building and funding limitations, we cannot make significant changes until 2018.

We’d like more study rooms with comfortable furniture, more white boards, better lighting throughout the library, updated and additional restrooms, and better temperature control.

• We have made minor improvements, such as the purchase of new furniture (e.g. the Brodys, a semi-private study pods available on the 7^th floor) and more rolling white boards. Library staff will continue testing new furniture with student feedback and purchasing based on this feedback and when funds are available.

Study rooms are often not available when I want. The windows also make it feel like I’m in a fishbowl.

• The library staff implemented a reservation system for study rooms. Restrictions are in place so that reservations are more fair than first-come-first-served. See http://unmc.evanced.info/dibs to reserve a room. The window glass was frosted to give more privacy.

We need more quiet study space.

• The entire 7^th floor is now a quiet zone. We will place table placards in study rooms reminding users of noise issues. We are reminding staff, including Facilities personnel, to lower voices.

What’s with the empty shelves? Remove them and create study space.

• A few years ago, we consolidated our collection to the 7^th We cannot remove the empty shelves because it triggers violations of the occupancy code. We are adding graphics and displays that concern both the library and UNMC.

The study rooms smell and we need more recycling bins throughout the library.

• Improvements are underway by adding a second cleaning of carpet and furniture to the schedule, placing more trash cans outside the study rooms with reminders for students not to leave food waste in the rooms, and redistributing recycling bins for 6th and 7th floors. Also, library staff are attempting to keep the rooms open when not in use to help circulate air flow.

Can we have power strips placed in the study rooms?

• We purchased some freestanding AC power/USB port charging stations, and we are securing additional chargers for each study room. Depending on feedback, the library staff will order more.

The lounge needs updating. Maybe a coffee shop?

• The major renovation will consider vending options in a 24/7 space. Until then, we offer free coffee in the lounge, or students can use a Keurig machine. K-cups are not provided.

Hours

Can you expand your hours?

• Until the renovation, we cannot extend hours due to staffing and limitations with the library space. The renovation in 2018 will include a 24/7 space.

Tutorials and Learning How to Find Information

Library tutorials are too long and present too much information.

• We are reviewing and revising our tutorials. We plan on gathering student feedback on future tutorials for a better educational experience.

I’d like a librarian to teach us about databases and search techniques in my class.

• Your library liaison is available for individual or group/classroom instruction or consultation. https://www.unmc.edu/library/contact/liaisons/index.html

I’ve asked for help in finding information and was told to do it myself.

• Help is always available in locating appropriate resources and information at the library’s AskUs desk. If you encounter any problems, please contact Roxanne Cox at rcox@unmc.edu

Interlibrary Loan

Students need more than 50 free interlibrary loans.

• Good news! In January 2015, we removed the limit. Interlibrary loan is now free.

Collections

We need more journals!

• In partnership with the other NU libraries, we have increased access to some collections, such as Taylor & Francis, IEEE, and coming soon are more Wiley journals. To submit journal requests, please contact Alison Bobal abobal@unmc.edu

We want Clinical Key back!

• Clinical Key is an expensive product with high inflation rate. To reinstate Clinical Key, we would have to free up money from other parts of our collections budget. We reviewed all our subscriptions, ebooks, and databases to see what we could cancel to reinstate Clinical Key. We would have to cancel hundreds of ejournals. Relying on interlibrary loan for those journal articles would frustrate you. We are approaching the loss of Clinical Key content by purchasing individual ebook titles. We are working with different departments in setting priorities for what we should purchase. Please contact Alison Bobal for submitting requests for content you need abobal@unmc.edu

We need more question banks for USMLE. ExamMaster is less than satisfactory.

• We realize that students want other question banks. Our Collection Development Committee has decided not to renew our subscription to ExamMaster and is evaluating alternative resources within our budget.

How do you make your decisions regarding resources?

• Our Collection Development Committee reviews our resources based on usage, cost, quality of the platform, and how it meets the needs of UNMC’s education, research, and clinical missions. For some of our resources, we have to buy content in a bundle, like how you purchase cable television. We spend all library student fees on ejournals, ebooks, and databases.

We need more anatomical models.

• Library staff weeded out models that were falling apart or had inaccurate labels. Now we are tracking requests for different models.

Technology

Where can I learn more about 3D printing?

• The 3D printer is available for use by current students, faculty, and staff of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine. We limit 3D print requests to academic, clinical and research objects. Learn more at http://unmc.libguides.com/3DPrinting or contact Emily Glenn at emily.glenn@unmc.edu

Can we have wireless printing?

• Yes! In October, ITS implemented wireless printing.

The printers are not adequate and in inconvenient locations.

• We have passed along your concerns to ITS since they provide the student printers.

It’s hard to find things on the library’s website

• We will be conducting a usability study on our website in February 2017 to improve the user experience. If you want to participate, please contact Heather Brown at hlbrown@unmc.edu