YOUR campus librarians have always been interested in what our Library users think, and what suggestions they may have. There are lots of ways to let us know what you’re thinking (including this blog) but one venerable tradition at this campus has been the Library Suggestion Book.
The Alexandria campus Library has maintained a Suggestion Book since April 1977. During the month of April 2007, and especially in observance of National Library Week (April 15 – 21) we’d like to celebrate the 30th birthday of the Suggestion book! We decided to take a fond look back at the Suggestion Book and revisit some of the most interesting, quirky, amusing, or controversial suggestions.
Some themes emerge immediately. Certain suggestions have real staying power and have been asked over and over again in the course of 30 years. One of the most persistent is “why is it so LOUD in the Library?” We can see some interesting trends emerge – like the sudden rise in complaints around 1999/2000 about the irritation caused by inconsiderate cell-phone users. We can track technological transitions: from the first arrival of a few computer workstations in the Library, with strictly limited capability, to the installation of our first (and very noisy) dot matrix printers, to the arrival of laser printers and PAY printing, to the installation of a dedicated computing area (Cyberspace), and the expansion of our computer facilities to over 40 full-service computers offering internet access, email, printing, MS Office, floppy and flash drives, as well as Library resources.
Some shifts are more subtle and tell us about ourselves. Even as late as 1998 we still viewed the Library in a very traditional way: as a research facility devoted to (and limited to!) traditional information-seeking tasks. In 2007 we understand the need (driven by our users!) to balance our traditional role as the campus’s research center with other academic support and community development services. The staff in 1977 would have been surprised to know that we now sell Scantrons & bluebooks, run day-long book sale events in the cafeteria, buy and display student and faculty artwork, host (with the cooperation of the writing center) grammar clinics and ESL clinics, provide registration facilities and support, not only allow but encourage the use of email and word processing, teach skills in research not only in the Library but in classrooms and labs all over the campus as well as at the Arlington Center, provide headphones, network cords and wireless internet service, allow food and drink in the Library, provide group study space, popular reading and international newspapers and magazines, keep extended hours during the last week of class and finals week, and even serve snacks at the circulation desk! And of course we still provide research assistance, facilitate information-seeking, and assist our users in competing their academic assignments.
How has the Library changed? How have our users changed? Tune in here every day in April to take a look back.
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