Piping Up

Q: I need the following article “A genealogy of the chemical weapons taboo” by Richard Price published in International Organization (1995), 49 : 73-103 Cambridge University Press

A: Hello,
My apologies for the delay in responding to you, as I was away from the Library on Friday.

Best regards,
Don Taylor
—
Donald Taylor
Assistant Head, Access Services

I recently noticed a that when renew my library books online, and leave my current browsing tab open, my books mysteriously renew themselves up to the allowed limit. I figured it had something to do the page auto refreshing. After being told by a clerk that “websites like this don’t work like that”, I did some investigation, and I’m indeed right.

As the product of a bug in the Javascript code (common.js), and the fact that renewal page takes incoming data via a GET request, a tab/page, when left open after renewing a book, will auto renew after 20-minutes. This bug has cost me $20+ in library fees, so I’d like to see it fixed.

I can provide additional details if needed, but it shouldn’t be too hard to trace and fix.

A. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We will contact the vendor and have them check into this and if need be fix it.

Scott Mackenzie
Library Loans

Can I have a friend return my books and pay for my fines for me? Does it have to be me in person?

A: Hi,

thanks, Sherrie
Library Loans

Hello,

I have noticed a lot of people leaving the computer work station they are sitting at unattended for long periods of time. On many occasions I have been patiently waiting in line for a computer in the library while there are at least 2 or 3 computers at any given time left empty for 15-30 minutes plus. This is absolutely unfair to those who need to use a computer for school work while the ‘user’ is out getting lunch or what not.

Some schools have an automatic log out system installed on their computers so if a computer is idle for more than 10 minutes it logs off automatically. I feel this is the appropriate solution so students waiting in line can move those persons belongs and actually use the computer the other person selfishly clogged up. Of course a notice should probably be put near the computer stations so people know this will happen and will not get upset with those who are now using the computer.

These computers are vital resources for students and are at a prime so students should not be able to horde computers. We pay our tuition to be able to have equal access to resources …hording work stations is excessive and unfair to others. Likewise students should not be able to ‘hold’ computers for others while there is a lineup of students present that need to use the computer. This is rude and inconsiderate and makes one dread coming to the library computer lab knowing that you’ll have to wait 15 minutes plus while computers sit empty!

Hi,

Todd
Associate University Librarian

Author: by Guffey, Mary Ellen (Author)
Title: Business Communication: Process and Product
Publisher & where & when published: South-Western College Pub; 6 edition (December 20, 2007)
Where you saw this item mentioned: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0324542909?ie=UTF8&tag=movide-20&linkCode=as2&camp=15121 creative=390961&creativeASIN=0324542909
Acquire for which library?: Bennett (Burnaby Mountain)
Your affiliation: SFU Undergraduate Student

A: Hi,

Regards,
Mark
—
Mark Bodnar
Business Librarian

Author: Robert Woodbury
Title: Elements of Parametric Design
Publisher & where & when published: Routledge June 2010
Where you saw this item mentioned: http://www.routledgearchitecture.com/books/Elements-of-Parametric-Design-isbn9780415779869
Acquire for which library?: Surrey (SFU Surrey)
Your affiliation: SFU Faculty

A: We have pre-ordered two copies of the title Elements of Parametric Design for the Surrey Library.

Kind regards,
Nicole
—
Nicole Gjertsen
Liaison Librarian, Interactive Arts & Technology, TechOne
SFU Surrey Library, Simon Fraser University

Author: by Dale, Nell B. (Author)
Title: A Laboratory Course for Programming with Java (Paperback)
Publisher & where & when published: Jones & Bartlett Publishing Co; 2 edition (Mar 3 2008)
Where you saw this item mentioned: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0763758272?ie=UTF8&tag=movide-20&linkCode=as2&camp=15121&creative=390961&creativeASIN=0763758272
Acquire for which library?: Surrey (SFU Surrey)
Your affiliation: SFU Undergraduate Student

A: Hi,

Thanks again,
Shane
. . .
Shane Plante
Liaison Librarian for Business, Computing Science, Engineering, & Science (Surrey campus)
SFU Surrey Library, Simon Fraser University

Q: Hi there,
it’s really nice that we have new floor installed in 6th floor.

One feedback I would like to give is: could we get the study carrels cleaned up regularly? Not always, but often enough, I find eraser dust and garbage piled up and also chewed gums, which is totally disgusting.

thank you,

A: Hi,

Todd M. Mundle
Associate University Librarian

Author: Paul Humphreys
Title: Extending ourselves : computational science, empiricism, and scientific method
Publisher & where & when published: New York : Oxford University Press, c2004
Where you saw this item mentioned: UBC library catalogue
Acquire for which library?: Bennett (Burnaby Mountain)
Your affiliation: SFU Undergraduate Student

A: Hi,

Best wishes,
Yolanda
—
Yolanda Koscielski, MLIS
Liaison Librarian for Criminology, Engineering, and Computing Science

Q: Hi, I was wondering if the Bennett Library accepts DVD donations for their collection? I have quite a few DVDs in good shape that I am no longer using and some of which are not in SFU’s catalog (for example: Mad Men season one, Gosford Park, and some old 1960s films). If the library would like the DVDs, where should I drop them off? Thanks!

A: Hi

Again, thank you very much for your generosity.
Best regards,
Don Taylor
———————————————————
Donald Taylor
Assistant Head, Access Services