Responses to your suggestions

Some of you have recently made some suggestions via our suggestion box in AS and we would like to thank you, although some of your ideas might be a little bit... extreme! So if you really feel irritated by anything going on in the library while you are trying to study - such as students talking on the phone, people talking too loudly - please, do come to us to let us know and we will for sure address the issue.

With regard to our opening hours we received queries to open the library longer, and we do understand your needs to study before 9am or after 10pm, especially during exam time, but as the library itself cannot be open at these times you are very welcome to use one of the empty classrooms available in each DBS building.
May we also take this opportunity to highlight that DBS library is one of the academic libraries in the country that offers the longest opening hours (72 hours per week during term time, open sunday and bank holiday during exam time, no closing during the summer...) and that we always try to accomodate students' query when possible: for example we will be open on Sunday 29th May and Sunday 5th June to allow ACCA revise for their June exams.

So if you have suggestions to make and/or would like to get more details on the above, just contact us at library@dbs.ie or feel free to talk to us at the desk.

Annual survey winner and feedback

Congratualtions to Conor Doherty who won the annual survey draw for a €100 HMV voucher - enjoy!.

Many thanks to everyone who filled in the survey and offered your input, praise, suggestions and constructive criticism.

Here are a few responses to some points raised in the survey.

• Library PC's/IT equipment: A few of you mentioned the need to upgrade library PC's. The old PCs which admittedly had seen better days were replaced late last year. Software upgrades are done every summer. WiFi connection no longer requires log in via a proxy so those of you using your laptops in the library can now logon to the DBS wireless network automatically.
  

• PC booking: Many of you were concerned about library internet PCs being monopolised for non essential internet use (ie webtexting and social networking). In reponse to your concerns all library PC's should now be booked at the issue desk. This should mean more access to a PC when you really need it to complete assignments. We hope to have an online booking system for PCs and study rooms installed on the library website by Summer.

• Opening hours: We had some positive feedback on our opening hours (51% of respondents were very satisfied with opening hours) and many of you were very appreciative of Sunday opening prior to exams. A few of you felt that Sunday opening should be available all year. At the moment this is not feasible when weighing the actual demand against the costs associated with year round Sunday opening. If you do need a place to study on a Sunday even when the library is closed, the building is open so you can still come in and use an available classroom space. Also remember that the library's electronic databases, resources and ebooks are accessible anytime, anywhere.
  

• Noise & food in the library: We introduced a zero tolerance policy on noise and food consumption in the library last year in reponse to your requests. Failure to reduce noise levels following a warning by staff can result in a €5 fine. In order to create an atmosphere conducive to study library staff need your help in enforcing noise control. Its your library, so if you feel other students' behaviour is hindering your ability to study, please inform a member of staff. Equally, if you are asked by a staff member to reduce noise or remove food or drink from the library, please do so in a respectful manner.

• More seats more books, more, more, more..: It was good to note how many of you requested we create more space for study, get more books, more resources and generally more of everything. It shows us that you are using what we've got and are hungry for more. We will be examining any changes we can make to the library's physical layout over the summer and hope to open up more study space. Keep any suggestions for book titles you'd like to see in the library coming in through the 'suggest new titles' section on the website. We continue to review and add new databases and resources all the time in response to requests from staff and students. Let us know what you think of current resources and whether there are areas you feel could be enhanced. Believe it or not, we like getting new resources for you to use so dont be shy, if there are library resources you'd like us to get, let us know. Not every suggestion will be feasible but we will certainly give them all consideration.

Finally, many thanks for all your kind words of appreciation for the Library staff. 63.5% of you stated you were 'very satisfied' with the helpfulness of library staff and many of you singled out the helpfulness of staff as a positive feature of the library.