Latest Comments

• February 7, 2012: Movie suggestions (library suggestion box)

  Requests to purchase the following movies:

  1.  Bring it on. (three suggestions)

  Thank you for your suggestion.  In the past, we have had a budget for purchasing popular materials.  However, those funds have been used up and we are not in a position to purchase this title.  We recommend contacting the public library, as this would be very appropriate for their collection.
  
  2.  love the DVD section. Please don't forget to keep adding to it.

  We're so glad that you are enjoying the DVD collection.  We are continuously purchasing new items for the collection, however recent purchasing efforts have been focused on films that are usable in an academic as well as an entertainment setting in order to maximize our DVD budget.  We will continue to build a collection of high quality DVDs and we welcome any suggestions you may have.
  
  Jennifer Nardine,
  Film Bibliographer
  Research & Instructional Services

• February 6, 2012: Digital signature policy (online comment box)

  My name is [redacted], and I am a grad student at the University of Mary Washington (UMW); I am currently working an externship with an assigned task to find Digital Signature policies that UMW can pattern its Digital Signature policy after.  Would I be able to view a copy of your digital signature policy?  I am trying to get security policies from neighboring universities to present in my externship presentation.
  
  Please let me know as I only have sixteen weeks to complete this task.

  To the best of my knowledge, the university does not have a digital signature policy beyond that established in federal law. All our policies can be found at (http://www.policies.vt.edu/index.php), and the one listed there specifically about signature is just who responsible for signing what. There is a pilot project to allow digital signatures in the leave report process, though the library is not participating.

  Please note: In the future, when requesting this kind of information, if you want a response, you should provide your email address.

  Robert Sebek
  Webmaster, Virginia Tech Libraries

• February 3, 2012: Dissapointing service (online comment box)

  Recently, I stopped at the circulation desk to ask about the new printing procedures. The person I spoke to was EXTREMELY rude. Though there were instructions posted, I wanted to make a further clarification, but he refused to even listen to my question, and instead simply told me to check the board even though I tried to make it clear that the answer to my question was not available on the board. I understand that those who work at the circulation desk probably fielded a LOT of questions about the new procedures, and could be frustrated by the repetitiveness of the inquiries,  but I found his tone and attitude entirely disrespectful and inappropriate. This is not the first time I have been offended by an interaction with a member of your staff, but certainly the most potent. I don't know the employee's name and I don't wish to punish him personally; I just want to express my desire for your employees as a whole to adopt a more congenial attitude towards students, which would improve the overall environment of the library and make it a more welcoming place for everyone to employ.

  Thank you for bringing this to our attention, I have taken care of this.  
  Brenda Pratt
  Head of Circulation Services

• January 24, 2012: Accessing S&P Reports (online comment box)

  I am looking for the 2005 Standard & Poors industry surveys.  Where can I find that online? Please advise.

  We have the electronic Standard & Poors Industry Surveys: netAdvantage, which has older industry surveys archived back to 1999.  If you go to this page, you will see a link to connect to the database under the Connect to section.  Once you click and enter the database, select Industries in the blue bar at top.  Then you can choose the name of your industry.  Once you do that, you are offered a pull-down menu under Archived Surveys to select the date that you wish to view.
  
  Please email me if I can help further.
  Ellen Krupar
  College Librarian for Business

  ---

  Like all of our online databases, you can find the link to Standard and Poor's through the Databases tab on the home page. Simply search "standard and poor's" 

  You'll see we have all of these publication online back to 1999 (once you reach the S&P home page, look for the "Select year and issue" pop up menu on the right side).

  Be sure to use Off Campus Sign In when not on the campus network before accessing this restricted resource.
  --
  Robert Sebek
  Webmaster, Virginia Tech Libraries

• January 18, 2012: Printing without a Hokie Passort (online comment box)

  I noticed the new printers today, and was excited until I discovered that I cannot print at the library under the new configuration. I'm not enrolled at Tech for the current semester, and as a result, my Hokie Passport is inactive.
  
  Is there a timeframe for implementation of a patron card? In the interim, is there any way to setup a single computer for public printing use? Any information would be appreciated.

  We expect the new patron copy cards to be at the library and available for purchase by the end of Monday (Jan.23).

  Thanks,
  Brenda Pratt
  Head of Circulation

  -------------------------------------------------------
  
  If you still have a Hokie Passport, you should be able to add funds to it using the cash to card machine on the 2nd floor in front of the circulation desk, even if you are not a current student.  (If that doesn't work, please write back to me and I'll investigate that aspect further).

  We are supposed to be getting generic cards from the Hokie Passport office for use by non-VT patrons, but they have not yet been delivered, and I'm not sure what the time frame for that is (but we're supposed to hear very soon.)

  --
  Robert Sebek
  Webmaster, Virginia Tech Libraries