WOW

Ideas brought back from CILIP conference

waysofworking — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:22:05 +0000

Simplify library jargon (ie. acronyms – LRC, OPACS etc) for users

Relocating old stock/print journals frees up space (also mentioned in Extra Group Study with IT)

Investigate different funding sources for building improvements

Continued professional development is important, for example, a teaching qualification can enhance standing with academics

Stop VHS tapes via the self-issue

waysofworking — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:15:18 +0000

Stop lending out VHS tapes via the self-issue machines as 3M cannot guarantee their safety in the system.

Extra group study with shared IT facilities

waysofworking — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:11:07 +0000

Places for group study with PC’s/IT facilities are desired, as well as the Techno Booths, such as circular tables which could seat about 6 people and with clearly defined wi-fi areas with power points. Bournemouth had about 6-7 of these situated immediately as you entered the library and they are apparently very popular.

Docklands constantly notice groups of 4+ students grouping around a PC clearly only intended for one person. It must be very annoying/off-putting for the other individuals trying to do their work nearby and quite often it blocks up aisles. Nevertheless, it clearly demonstrates there is demand for group IT spaces that we are just not catering for at the minute.

Though we are short of space, one solution suggested that in the long term, as we move towards on-line journals, we could store old journals in a container or something and use that space on the second floor to put in some group IT tables, maybe for use with laptops but maybe also something like a PC in the middle that can swivel around 360 degrees, if that’s technically possible?

Self-issue reservations

waysofworking — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:57:18 +0000

Again the idea of self-issue reservations was raised. This is a popular idea and was seen in practice at both Durham and Anglia Ruskin. A pilot scheme is to take place in Stratford. More details about this will be added in a future post.

New Stratford Library

waysofworking — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:52:13 +0000

One of the main things to come out of the Staff Development Day ’09 was a need to be very clear on what we want from the new library at Stratford, to ensure that it is fit for purpose. Some ideas discussed:

Glass partitions seem to be popular to contain noise, but also keep a sense of being a part of a library.

Differentiating use on different floors of library- there was one library that had group work on the top floors, and silent on the bottom. Also suggested that the people wanting to do silent study would be getting disturbed by groups of students trapsing up to the top floors all the time, so would need consideration.

Clarity in use is important- staff and students need to get the right message about what spaces are intended for, so no crossed wires. Clear signage and messages to the students of paramount importance.

Weekend info service

waysofworking — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:43:29 +0000

Concentrate on providing an info service at weekends, staffed by Phd students (6). They could be encouraged to provide detailed reports contributing to analysis of student requirements.

Peer Assisted Learning

waysofworking — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:39:55 +0000

Or a variation thereof.

‘PAL leaders’ trained to assist first years mainly using VLE. Possibly a paid position – step on from our student ambassadors?

JISC funded scheme available? – not much info on website about students’ assessment of its worth but the unit outcomes suggest results are variable.

Further details from Bournemouth Uni - http://pal.bournemouth.ac.uk/session.html

Techno-booths

waysofworking — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:34:46 +0000

Set up techno-booths: Several clusters of seating around a large-screen digital screen between two special acoustic screens. Special software allowing the screen to be used as a whiteboard/ student’s work able to be downloaded to usb.

They would be highly useful at Docklands – maybe in a slightly different format – either on Hub or ground floor. This would require close coop with IT.

Notes about techno booths at Bournemouth
·   8-10 seater tables
·   42” plasma screen /SMART Digital Overlay.
·   Digital Overlay reacts to touch enabling the user to navigate the computer with their finger, it also comes bundled with a untuitive software package (FloatingTools) that turn the screen into an interactive Whiteboard.
·   Useful for mind-mapping and collaborative learning and work can be saved to USB as a JPG file.
·   Also have laptop input which overrides the SMART enabled PC
·   bookable 3 sessions per week max for 2hr +1 extension
·   much more attractive than your average group study room which can lie rotten & stinking behind closed doors
·   no problem with sound carry
·   very popular – nicknamed ‘diners’
·   closed seminar rooms reduced from 8>6 with new layout

New signage idea

waysofworking — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:55:17 +0000

Have signs at Dockland at the top of the stairs pointing to 001 – 302 on the right, 302 – 338.47 on the left, and 228.48 – 999 upstairs.

Increased fines for overdue reserved items

waysofworking — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:52:53 +0000

Increase the fines rates for overdue books that have been reserved. With a top fine of £10 followed by a summons.