Piping Up

Author: Jane McGonigal
Title: Reality is Broken
Publisher & where & when published: Penguin, January 25, 2011
Where you saw this item mentioned: Wired Magazine review – http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/01/why-jane-mcgonigal-thinks-reality-is-broken-and-she-wants-to-fix-i
Acquire for which library?: Fraser (SFU Surrey)

A.
Thank you for your suggestion. We have ordered a copy of “Reality is Broken” for the Fraser Library in Surrey.

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

Q. While I was working in the open cubicles on the second floor of the library, I was interrupted by a staff member who told me that my laptop cable–laying across the carpet and plugged into an outlet–is a safety hazard and insisted that I move elsewhere.

I managed to find a spot near a wall during a busy afternoon; however, during midterms, I wouldn’t be so fortunate. Can the library provide access to power for those working at cubicles?

A. Thanks very much for sending me your comments. Yes, the lack of power outlets in the study carrels on the mezzanine has been identified as a top priority for renovations. We’ve received some quotes to add power to the carrels and are working on identifying funds to allow us to complete this project in the next few months. In the meantime I really appreciate your and other students’ efforts to reduce the tripping hazard from laptop cords in this very busy study area.

Best regards,
Karen.
—
Karen Marotz
Head, Belzberg Library

Q. Hi,

I’m having real problems working in the library, since the librarians do not appear to enforce the rules about talking and the whole library appears to be being used by undergraduates as an informal study area with lots of chatting and noise. Is there any chance librarians could politely ask students to shut up when they notice them talking and socializing in areas of the library devoted to quiet study?

The general busyness of the library is becoming a serious problem, as each year there are more students paying higher tuition fees but the library facilities remain suited to a small university circa 1970. It is getting to the point where one must queue just to get a seat and one cannot go to a bookshelf without risking losing one’s workspace. Perhaps it is time to kick out the fast food joints and extend the library into the Maggie Benston Centre.

Q. Thank you for your feedback. We do have some library staff who do as you suggest but it is not necessarily a regular thing. When a library user comes to one of our service points to comment about a problem in a particular area, we will go to the area and speak to the students who are making too much noise. But we this but we are not in the practice of doing it as a matter of course. If you experience this situation again, please feel free to come to one of our service points (Ask Us Desk or Check Out Counter on the 3rd floor) and ask a staff member to look into the situation. You may want to consider the 6th Floor Study Area (west end) which has taken on the air of a more traditional quiet library space or Room 5102 which is Silent Study.

Todd M. Mundle, Associate University Librarian

Q. Hello,

I would like to borrow “Fundamentals of Canadian Nursing.” I am taking a course at Kwantlen College that requires this book. I do not have a SFU library card. Am I still able to borrow this book with my Coquitlam Library card?

A. Hi, If you are a registered student at Kwantlen Polytechnical University then you are eligible for reciprocal borrowing at SFU. Kwantlen will issue you a COPPUL card which confirms that you are a registered student in good standing and you would bring this card along with your Kwantlen student ID to any of the SFU campus libraries and you will be issued a temporary library card.

take care
Scott Mackenzie
Library Loans

Author: Edited by Judy Illes and Barbara J Sahakian
Title: Oxford Handbook of Neuroethics
Publisher & where & when published: Oxford University Press, April 2011, ISBN-10: 0199570701
Where you saw this item mentioned: Literature review for my PhD thesis
Acquire for which library?: Bennett

A.
Thank you for your suggestion. We have ordered a copy of “Oxford Handbook of Neuroethics” edited by Judy Illes and Barbara J. Sahakian for Bennett Library. You will receive an email when it is available. Please note that the publication date for this title is April 2011.

Baharak Yousefi
Liaison Librarian for Education & Political Science
Simon Fraser University Library

Author: Carmine Gallo
Title: The Innovation Secrets of Steve Job
Publisher & where & when published: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (September 20, 2010)
Where you saw this item mentioned:

http://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Secrets-Steve-Jobs-Breakthrough/dp/007174875X

Acquire for which library?: Bennett (Burnaby Mountain)

Thank you for your suggestion I am pleased to let you know this book has already been ordered for our collection. I will ask the library to notify you when it becomes available..

Best regards,
Leslie Rimmer,
Library Collections

Q. We’re all aware of the reasons why SFU has a policy of ‘no drinks’ in computer labs. However, studying until late night and doing projects until the wee hours of the morning are inseparable with coffee/pop/tea drinking. Studying and projects are also inseparable with computers in today’s world.

While I am sure there are no doubt accidents every year that cost the university thousands of dollars, I firmly believe it’s an avoidable cost the school must absorb. More so, a total prohibition isn’t the answer. Yes, there’s no reason a student needs to have his Hamburger, fries, and drink while sitting at the lab, and there’s no reason open liquid containers should be allowed. So how about a more understanding policy of no food and no open containers? Pop bottles, coffees with sippy cups, etc. would be allowed. I’m sure the accidents from these containers represent a very small amount of the total accidents.

A.
Your message was forwarded on to IT services for a response as computer labs are generally the domain of IT Services and they have their own policies. Hopefully you will get a response from them. As for the Library, we do have a food and drink policy that does allow for drinks in covered containers.

Todd M. Mundle
Associate University Librarian
Special Projects, Budget and Personnel
W.A.C. Bennett Library, Simon Fraser University

Q.
I would like to borrow “Fundamentals of Canadian Nursing.” I am taking a course at a Kwantlen that requires this book. I do not have a SFU library card. Am I still able to borrow this book with my public library card?

A.
Hi
If you are a registered student at Kwantlen Polytechnical University then you are eligible for reciprocal borrowing at SFU. Kwantlen will issue you a COPPUL card which confirms that you are a registered student in good standing and you would bring this card along with your Kwantlen student ID to any of the SFU campus libraries and you will be issued a temporary library card.

Scott Mackenzie
Library Loans

Author: marshall t poe
Title: history of communications
Publisher & where & when published: cambridge university press dec 2010
Where you saw this item mentioned: new york review of book, publisher web site
Acquire for which library?: Bennett (Burnaby Mountain)
Your affiliation: SFU Faculty

A. Hi,
Your suggestion was forwarded to me in my capacity as liaison librarian for Communication. Thank you for making the suggestion. I have ordered this title for the Bennett Library.

Best wishes,
Sylvia Roberts
Liaison librarian for Communication

Author: Klaus Krippendorf
Title: The Semantic Turn: A New Foundation for Design
Publisher & where & when published: CRC Press, 2005 (ISBN 0415322200)
Where you saw this item mentioned: Journals
Acquire for which library?: Belzberg (SFU Vancouver)
Your affiliation: SFU Graduate Student

A. Hello,

Regards,
Leslie
—
Leslie Rimmer
Collections Librarian
Liaison Librarian for Biological Sciences