Nipissing University / Canadore College Libraries

You wrote:

We need the library to be open later than 10:30pm on weekdays and 6pm on weekends.

If the issue is lack of staff, an idea is to hire students as part time. Many students are still looking for jobs and would gladly work there for a students wage.

Thank you for raising this question with us; you are not the first to do so, and the Library staff is sympathetic to your desire to extend the Library's opening hours. You are right that we do not have enough staff to extend our hours. Our plan to increase staffing for the move to the Harris Learning Library was not accepted by the university, and indeed our staff level was cut in September this year.

The job descriptions of library employees are agreed with Human Resources at the university, and specify certain qualifications and levels of education and experience. In addition, the Collective Agreement between the university and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union representing support staff precludes the use of students to perform the work of union members. Canadore's Collective Agreement has similar provisions. As a result, we have limited scope to hire student employees.

We will of course bring our proposals for increased staffing forward again for the coming budget year and hope that we will be able to extend our hours in the near future.

Brian Nettlefold
Executive Director, Libraries

You wrote:

It would be lovely if we could get a mat or several mats for the entrance way into the library. It owuld help make it less slippery and tidier.

Additionally, it would be really appreciated if you could obtain some recycling bins for bottles and cans, as well as paper. There are several garabge cans around, but it would be helpful if they were more widely available on the second and third floors.

Thank you very much.

We're on it! The mats for the entrance area are on order and should be delivered by the beginning of next week. We have also asked for recycling containers too, although we don't have an indication of when these might arrive. Thanks for letting us know your concerns!

Brian Nettlefold
Executive Director, Libraries

You wrote:

I have a few suggestions for the new Library!

1. That student should be able to rent out the Aboriginal Treaty Room OR that it become the meditation room since the old meditation room beside the old library is small, dingy, and not a place honouring any sort of religious requirement.
2. That microwaves be place in the library so students don't have to go all the way to one of the cafeterias to use one.
Thanks for your time!

Thanks! We always welcome suggestions about the Library.

Unfortunately, I cannot comment on the Treaty Learning Centre, since that is not available for other uses.

On the question of a Meditation / Prayer Room on campus, this is something that you would have to discuss with the Student Services departments at Canadore and Nipissing, since this falls into their area of responsibility, not the Library's. Perhaps some space in the old library would be made available for this purpose?

And on the question of microwaves, that's something we'll be able to consider once the Library gets its promised café in the first floor Lounge.

I hope this information is helpful to you; we do appreciate all suggestions!

Brian Nettlefold
Executive Director, Libraries

You wrote:

Blinds for the rooms that are booked out, too bright otherwise.

Duly noted; you are not the first to make this comment. Unfortunately, this will have to wait until the new fiscal year (May 2012) since the budget for the building has been exhausted.

Enforce that this is a library, as I feel it is too loud and social, it should be a place of quiet for students to study, not for social gatherings.

This is a tricky question, the responses to which we are trying to balance during our first year in the building. For those who want quiet places to study, we have the 3^rd floor Rotary Club of North Bay Silent Study area (L307), with seats for 72 people, and the 2^nd floor Thomson Family / Assante Wealth Management Reading Room (L210), also with seats for 72 people. There are also a few individual study spots on the 2^nd and 3^rd floors that are deliberately located in quiet areas. Over the years, we have had many requests for more group study areas (sometimes referred to as "social learning"), and we have tried to meet those requests on the 1^st and 2^nd floors.

Not enough resources in the catalogue (books and e-books)

Also noted. We are acutely aware of the limited collections that we have and every year we request additional funding to bring us in line with our peers. So far, neither the college nor the university has found the money to beef up our collections. Rest assured that we will continue to press for funds in our budget submissions.

The biggest thing is that it's too loud in here.
Thank you for your time.

Again, I would encourage you to use the Silent Study area or the large Reading Room for the quietest study areas in the building.

Brian Nettlefold
Executive Director, Libraries