© 2013 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Suggestion 1 -- Could you guys get some more books on tape? I drive a bunch and would enjoy this service.
Suggestion 2 -- Books on tape are coming back, we might want to consider getting some.
The local public library system has always been a good resource for those interested in audiobooks. In fact they now offer a service called OverDrive that allows download of audiobooks for listening to on a computer, burning to a CD, or for use on a portable music device. More details can be found at their audiobook webpage.
See also our local page on finding audio books.
Ed Lener, College Librarian
Thank you very much for increasing the resolution on the Library computers. It is far easier now to get my work done. I really appreciate it.
Thank you for your response. Glad you like the changes made to the public workstations.
Buddy Litchfield
1) Please stay open later, especially on the weekends. The Library is sometimes the only quiet place to study when one lives in the dorms.
2) Open 24/7
We receive this request multiple times, but there is very little we can do at this time to be open longer. We are open 102 hours a week with extended hours during exams. Many of our resources are available online 24/7. Given our finite budget we must balance expenditures for services, collections, and physical facilities. Our hours are comparable to many other research libraries our size. Additionally, the extended hours we stay open during exams seems to be adequate, given the number of students still in the Library at closing time.
Don Kenney, Associate Dean for the University Libraries
I've discovered that a book I'm using is miscatalogued. It's entered in Addison as call #: E117.L53131997 but on the book it's labeled as call #: E117.L5513 1997. Thank you.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I will notify our Tech Services group, and have the record in Addison fixed.
Buddy Litchfield
Virginia Tech Libraries
I notice that you have links to some materials on LibraryThing. The VT library is not listed on their site in the available libraries when you add books to your collection. I see a number of other VA university libraries there. Any chance you can get yourself added?
LibraryThing just gave us a tool to make our holding public on Friday. I turned on the option, but it may take a while for our data to get indexed. Let me know if you do not see us soon.
Robert Sebek, Webmaster
University Libraries, Virginia Tech
Many institutions limit access to their online information. Making this information available will be an asset to all.
I am sorry that you are unable to access our online resources. Because of restrictions placed in our contracts with the information providers, we are limited to providing access only to people affiliated with our university, i,e, current students, faculty, and staff. Most other universities have the same restrictions.
Buddy Litchfield
Virginia Tech Libraries
I was looking in Addison for Transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, 1938, 713-723.
Vol. 57, 1938 pp 713-723 and could find no listing for these transactions or this organization! What was i doing wrong? Anyhow, after i asked ILLIAD for this they gave me the call number.
Generally a "title search" in Addison will work (in this case select the date range that includes 1938), but if you are not able to find the IEE transaction you are looking for, you can contact the College Librarian for Engineering, Larry Thompson (larryt@vt.edu or 540-231-8693) and he can help you out.
Thanks,
Kyrille Goldbeck
College Librarian for Natural Resources
1) I wish the library had recycling boxes for plastic bottles and aluminum cans. I have seen recycling containers elsewhere on campus, and have seen paper recycling boxes in the library. Is there some reason that this isn't possible?
2) Why isn't there a recycle bin for bottles and cans in the Library? There should be.
We do not currently have drink container recycling bins in the library because we are concerned that people would not empty their containers before disposing of them. Having containers of sugary drinks would attract insects and would grow mold, both of which would be very detrimental to our collections.
We are looking into placing these recycling bins in the new Study Cafe once it is completed. (We have one bin in the staff break room.) While we collect our paper recycling ourselves, custodial staff would be responsible for the plastic/aluminum recycling, so we need to coordinate with the facilities department to make this happen. Once we see how often they can be emptied, then we can take a look at adding bins to other floors.
Robert Sebek
University Libraries recycling coordinator
The learning commons area is great! Distinguished professors say so. Good job Dean.
Thank you so much for your comment. It is good to know that our Commons Area is appreciated.
Buddy Litchfield
Virginia Tech Libraries
VT needs to better handle the paper recycling on campus. When can we have recycling of paper in the study areas of the Library?
Thank you for your suggestion. It just so happens that the Library already has a very robust staff run paper recycling operation, with many receptacles scattered throughout the Library. If you are having trouble finding a place in the Library to recycle paper, ask for assistance from one of our help desks.
Buddy Litchfield
Virginia Tech Libraries
There should be some sort of calisthenics program for the Library employees. They all look lethargic. I feel like they could benefit from a little exercise.
While you are correct that some of our staff may appear to be lethargic, and could probably benefit from some exercise, forcing them to do calisthenics probably will not happen. :-) Many of our staff would argue that they get plenty of exercise just walking around the Library, performing their daily jobs. Thanks for the suggestion, though!!!
Buddy Litchfield
Virginia Tech Libraries
Fix the gate
I am sorry, but we are not aware of any problems with the gates. Can you please be more specific?
Buddy Litchfield
Virginia Tech Libraries
1) You guys should buy the Fight Club DVD.
2) Get Fight Club
3) Add Fight Club DVD
We currently have a copy of Fight Club in our collection, both in DVD and VHS format. However someone has checked the DVD copy out, yet has not returned it. Due to tight budgets, we cannot afford multiple copies of an item, but if the person who has this DVD checked out does not return it, he or she will be billed for a replacement copy (plus processing fees). You can check the VHS version out, and the library does have a VCR to view VHS materials.
Kyrille Goldbeck and Buddy Litchfield
Virginia Tech Librarians
i'm attempting to print pages from this ebook: http://addison.vt.edu/search~S1/middle+school+science+praxis+exam&serchscope=1&SORT=DZ/Xmiddle+school+science+praxis+exam&searchscope=1&SORT=DZ&extended=0&SUBKEY=middleschool science praxisexam/1%2C32000%2C32000%2CB/frameset&FF=Xmiddle+school+science+praxis+exam&searchscope=1&SORT=DZ&1%2C1%2C
why will it only let me look at 10 pages per hour? i would like to get a pdf of the last chapter.
thanks for any help
netLibrary ebooks only allow very limited printing. See (http://www.netlibrary.com/Help/DisplayTopic.aspx?Name=ViewingOnline/PrintingAndCopyingText) for details on printing, but scripts on the page limit rapid page changing or printing multiple pages to limit copyright violations.
Generating a PDF of a whole chapter would be an example of a copyright violation, because it significantly impacts the publisher of this book, who expects you to purchase a copy.
Other ebook providers are not as restrictive, but netLibrary has chosen to implement these limitations.
Robert Sebek
Webmaster
University Libraries, Virginia Tech
The sign in the middle of the floor (in the commons area) is a terrible idea. Someone is going to fall over it, break it, break themselves, and sue.
Thank you for your concern over the new sign holder. We always monitor the situation with our signs, especially the free standing sign holders. The sign we had in that spot previously was obviously temporary. This is our next attempt. We have not had a mishap yet but we will be watching carefully to be sure it is not a safety hazard.
Bruce Obenhaus
Library Signage Committee
1) Allow DVDs to be returned in the book drops.
2) Why can't DVDs be returned in the campus book bins?
Damage usually occurs when DVDs are returned in the book drops . The DVDs are small and cases are not very hard, when they are returned in the same bin as books damage usually occurs. The weight of the books and the angle that the books are put in the bin is more than the DVD cases can handle. There is no plan to buy separate bins for this material.
This is not to say that patrons do not return DVDs in the bins. Patrons are ask to return DVDs to the library and if they choose to go to the bin instead....they will be charged for any damage.
Brenda Pratt, Head of Circulation
Calculate late fees based upon popularity, i.e., DVDs.
I am sorry, but this would be too difficult. How would you suggest we gage popularity, by the number of checkouts, or number of recalls? And, how would we adjust the late fees, charge more if the item has more checkouts? How many checkouts would warrant higher fees? We have fairly stiff fines now, I don't see how raising them will help. It might help if you could give me more information on why you are making this suggestion.
Buddy Litchfield,
Virginia Tech Libraries
Closing the Torg bridge/Library entrance after 5 PM is the worst idea anyone could have. I am very disappointed that the people in charge made such a horrible decision. Please open the door back up, because it's the right thing to do. Thank you.
I am sorry that you are inconvenienced by the closing of the Torgersen bridge/Library entrance after 5 PM. It was strictly a cost saving decision. Not having to staff the security gate at that entrance to the Library saves us over 50 hours of staff time each week. That frees up people that can be put to better use elsewhere in the Library.
Buddy Litchfield
Virginia Tech Libraries
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© 2013 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University