24 Hour Space

You asked:  The Library should be open 24 hours.

Irma says: Jackson Library has a 24/5 space during the academic year. Because we have two entrances which would require additional staffing and security we aren't able to keep the entire building open.  We understand it's frustrating not to be able to get to the films or the Digital Media Commons!

Book and film suggestions

Irma says:  You all are super about giving us film and book suggestions.  Please keep it up!  We try to fulfill as many as we can.  Remember to check the Libraries catalog (red box on the home page)  to see if your request is here.  And don't forget about the "new films" page on the Irma's World blog.

Cameras

You said, I love this library and its resources and helpful staff.  But please get more cameras.  "UNCG's Library is the best." 

Irma says:  Thank-you so much for the kind words!  We really appreciate you taking the time to tell us.  We will definitely look into purchasing more cameras.

New DVDs

You asked:  Many of you have asked for a separate location or notification for new DVDs. 

Irma says:  One of our wonderful Libraries' staff  is now doing a list every few weeks.  Look for these films at the end of the appropriate section or check the "red box" on the Libraries' home page  for the specific number. (Remember to click on "DVDs" first for better results).
To keep up with this list you can follow the Irma's World blog. You'll get lots of other great info about the Libraries, too. You can also friend Irma Minerva on Facebook! 

Coffee

You asked:  Can the Libraries supply free coffee?

Irma says:  We always have free coffee, tea and hot chocolate in the evenings during exams to help you stay awake for that late night studying.  Look forward to that again in December! 

Reviewing books in the catalog

You asked:  Please add a feature on the catalog where we can comment on books like you can on Amazon.

Irma says:  That feature is already there!  You need to create a free account in WorldCat. After you do a search  go to the upper right hand corner of the screen.  You'll see "WorldCat (Sign in)."  Click there and you can create an account and share reveiws and comments with other members of WorldCat.

Manga

You asked: Please collect Manga comics

Irma says:  Because our primary mission is to collect resources to support UNCG's curriculum we've chosen not to collect Manga.  As mentioned previously in this blog, UNCG students  may check out from the Greensboro Public Library and they have a good Manga collection.  You'll need your UNCG ID to get a public library card.

White boards

You asked:  Please put more white boards in 274 A&B.

Irma says:  We've ordered additional boards so they should be up soon!  We also placed more mobile boards on the group floors.

DVD New Releases

You asked:  Can you put the newest DVD releases together in one place?

Irma says:  When our DVDs come in they're assigned a genre (e.g. comedy, action, etc.) and a number.  They're shelved in the genre in order by those numbers.  So the newest films are at the end of each genre section.  The exception is if it's a sequel or a new season of a TV show and then it's shelved with the other films or seasons. This way we only have to classify them once and they're on the shelf ready for you to check out!

Laptop checkout

You asked:  I'm concerned about the reduction in laptops available for checkout.  I much prefer using a laptop to an iPad.

Irma says:  It's true that we had to retire some of our older laptops and don't plan to replace them at this time.  We still have 20 laptops in Jackson Library and 10 in Schiffman Music Library for checkout. We have doubled our number of iPads (we now have 28 in Jackson) and started lending Apple chargers, too. With UNCG’s virtual computing, iPads are becoming much more functional. We also added about 50 additional PCs in Jackson over the past year. In general, PCs last longer and are more cost-effective for us than laptops.

Recreational ebooks

You asked:  Can the Library please get pleasure-reading ebooks?

Irma says:  The packages for recreational ebooks are rather expensive and since our primary mission is to provide academic resources we'vechosen not to purchase them.  However, any UNCG student may get a library card from the Greensboro Public Library and they have an extensive ebook collection which also includes audio books.  You'll need to go to a branch to get the card and then you may check out ebooks or audio books to your reader from anywhere.  Your hometown public library may have a similar online collection.

Digital Media Commons

This time we asked the question!  We wanted feedback on our new

 Digital Media Commons in the lower level of Jackson Library.
Check out the DMC today for help with all kinds of media projects:
videos, podcasts, Powerpoint, Prezi and web pages! 

DVD checkout

You asked:  May we please check out three DVDs at a time rather than two?

Irma says:  We set the policy at two to provide maximum access for everyone.  Our DVD's have a high circulation rate -- in fact we checked out almost 60,000 last year!  And, as you can imagine, everyone wants the most recent films at the same time.  So this way more people have a crack at popular films.

Quiet spaces

You asked:  I was trying to use the computers in the Library but it was so noisy I had to leave.

Irna says:  We're very sorry you had problems with noise.  In general, the first floor is not going to be a quiet area since people are coming and going and staff are helping customers.  We have designated quiet areas on floors 6-9 ( and there are computers there) and in the Trice alcove in the Reference Room on the first floor.

White boards

You asked:  Please put extra white boards in the study rooms/

Irma says:  We're adding more rolling white boards for the groups study floors.  We're very glad these are so useful!

iPad chargers

You asked:  Please have iPad chargers to check out separate from the iPads.

Irma says:  We heard you!  We now have 5 chargers for checkout for 4 hours at a time.

Finding books on the shelves

You asked:  I've had trouble locating books on the shelves. 

I think the signage could be improved.

Irma says:  We have posted new signs.  We hope they make it easier to find call numbers!

Off campus access to electronic resources

You asked:  May high school students gain access to the Libraries' electronic resources from their home or school?

Irma says:  Our license agreements with our online vendors only allow us to provide remote access to UNCG students, faculty and staff. Nearly all of our online resources are available to anyone in the Library.  There are computers in the Reference Department on the first floor that are available to the general public for research.  In addition, all North Carolina citizens can get remote access to NCLIVE resources through their public library.

Check Out for public school teachers

You asked:  May teachers from public school systems other than Guilford County check out from Jackson Library?

Irma says:  Teachers from Guilford County Schools may borrow directly from Jackson Library with proof of employment.  Public school teachers from the Piedmont area may arrange for checkout from Jackson through the Teaching Resources Center in the School of Education Building.  You may contact them for more information.

Game check out

You asked: Students and staff should have games/board games to check out
Irma says: Given our budget crisis over the last few years we've felt we need to focus on resources for the classroom and faculty research. For board games there's always a problem with pieces going missing -- can you imagine playing Scrabble without an "X?" But lest you think we're all work and no play, keep in mind that we do work with students to hold game events in the Library a few times a year (see pic!)

Quiet Study

You asked: I'm concerned about the upcoming changes in the basement of Jackson Library. It's been a great place for quiet study.


Irma says: We are planning to develop a Digital Media Commons in the lower level of Jackson Library. The Commons will provide students with assistance in developing a variety of media projects such as videos, presentation, podcasts and web pages. Surveys indicate that such a service is needed at UNCG. It's also true we're cramped for space for quiet study and we are very aware of this issue. We will continue to work on providing space for quiet study. Just a reminder that floors 6-9 and the Trice Alcove are designated for quiet study.

DVDs

You asked: First, we have many requests for our popular film collection. . Second, many have asked about rearranging the films. Third, you asked if we could have a new titles list or web site.

Irma says: 1. Be sure to check the Library Catalog to see if your title is here. We try to honor as many requests as we can. 2. We're really going to try to re-arrange the films this summer -- check it out in the fall! 3. Right now all the new films are at the end of the shelving -- the highest numbers IOW. When we rearrange the films we hope to have a "new arrivals" shelf.

Star Trek - original series

You asked: Please purchase the original Star Trek series in DVD.

Irma says: It's being processed now so Trekkies may look for them on the shelf very soon!

Spartan Card Machines

You asked: May we have more Spartan Card Machines?

Irma says: Currently there are Spartan Card Machines (fill stations) in several locations around campus. You may also add funds to your SpartanCash or Flex using a Visa or Mastercard.

Library book drops

You asked: Please put a Libraries book drop on the Spring Garden side of campus -- maybe outside the Bryan Building or Education building.

Irma says: We currently have three outdoor book drops. Two are near where you suggest -- one is on Stirling St. outside the Walker Parking Deck (this one is easy to pull your car up to unload books) and one is on Spring Garden St. in front of the Bell Tower.

New books

You asked: May we please have the new books arranged in call number groupings?

Irma says: We do have the new books in rough call number groupings:

A-G

H-L

N-P

Q-Z

and there are labels on the shelves. If this doesn't work well please ask Irma again!

New York Times best sellers

You asked: Can you please list the New York Times best sellers that the Libraries own?

Irma says: We didn't do quite that but we are posting the NYT best seller list in the Current Literature area of the Reading Room on the first floor. Then you can check the Library Catalog to see if we own a title.