Guest pc

There's only one pc for external users....

Whereas I understand your frustration on joining the University of Bedfordshire's LRC you were told that the only pc available to external users was the kiosk "guest" pc, available on a first come first served basis.

The University's own students are its priority as I am sure you understand

We are hoping to introduce a booking system for that pc and possibly another for guests to book 2hourly slots, over the summer.

Noise levels & pc provision

Not many pcs

Introduction of alarms in the silent area

introduction of CCTVs

Thank you for your detailed and well thought out comments.

pcs: the LRC has over 300 pcs available for customer use during the majority of the year. During exam week (wk beg 24th May) when the IT Suite is closed the number of available pcs is more than halved. Inevitably this has an impact on available services but is only for one week. Most of the time we have more than enough pcs to meet customer need. If you wish to be sure of having a pc to work at why not book a pc - ask at the customer service desk. One hour or three hours slots are available to book. Staff will advise you which pcs are available for booking.

Alarms: much as I sympathise with your suggestion for the introduction of alarms to call security when noise levels get too high I am afraid they would be open to abuse. There would be a strong possibility of them becoming the "boy who cried wolf". I would suggest that if you find noise levels in the silent area (level 3) to be unacceptable that you report this to the security desk (on ground level - but there is a lift) and they will patrol and issue written warnings as appropriate.

CCTVs: CCTVs are already in place throughout the LRC. The footage may only be viewed in cases of serious breaches of security. Using it to monitor customer behaviour is not acceptable or desirable. Our customers are adults working in a learning institution after all. As advised above if you find noise levels in the silent area (level 3) to be unacceptable that you report this to the security desk (on ground level - but there is a lift) and they will patrol and issue written warnings as appropriate.

Stationery

... staples are needed when handing in assignments

Thank you for your comments. I am not responsible for assignment handling but will send your comments to the appropriate member of staff. Meanwhile staff in C101 (Park Square) should be able to help you

Thanks

Park Square - overcrowding

More facilities needed, there are less computers and amount of students is way more. Its very crowded...

Many thanks for your comments. At revision and exam time the LRC is heavily used by a large number of students. During the exam week 24th May the IT suite was closed which put additional pressure on the space available after 10pm we are looking into ways to avoid that next year.

Thanks

Park Square - space

There is no quiet space to revise... there needs to be more space..

Many thanks for all your comments on the LRC. Unfortunately the IT Suite was closed during exam week and this put pressure on study spaces available in the Social Learning Space after 10pm.

If you find the study environment too noisy to study in try to find a silent study space (level 3 up to 10pm)

Park Square -usage of power sockets

Usage of power sockets on the 3rd floor should be made possible...

Thank you for your comments. Use of some power sockets is restricted for Health and Safety reasons. Despite your frustrations I am sure you can appreciate that library use is not the same as home use and accidents can easily happen with trailing wires etc.

We are in the process of getting table top power sockets installed to avoid trailing wires which cause trip hazards. Unfortunately this is taking longer than expected.

Learning Environment

I want to comment on the inadequate facilities in the University... lacks a suitable accommodation for comfort and also inadequate state of the art sports leisure amenities for recreation.

Thank you for your comments. The provision of sports leisure amenities is outside my responsibility but I will pass your comments on to the appropriate member of staff.

Within the LRC comfort has been compromised recently due to pressure on space due to the closure for one week for exams and an increase in temperatures (which was fortunately short lived). These things aside I do regard the LRC as a very comfortable space with flexible learning environments which endeavour to accommodate people's styles for learning from the formal to the social. May I encourage you to re-visit the LRC and investigate the various areas available to you.

Thanks

Park Square LRC - Air Conditioning

I have had several complaints (8) regarding the temperatures in the LRC, IT Suite and Social Learning Space 19 - 24 May.

The air circulation systems in place were under extreme pressure with the unseasonably hot weather at that time. That coupled with a large concentration of people inside the building resulted in very uncomfortable temperatures for customers to study in.

I can only apologise for this discomfort. English weather is challenging at the best of times and when the pressure of dissertations and revision are the focus of your time it doesn't help to have any kind of distractions. The systems we have have to cope with large areas which make them slow to respond to changes in temperature. By the time the air circulation responded to initial rise in external temperatures a lot of heat had already built up and been trapped in the building.

Air conditioning may seems like a simple (if an extremely expensive solution) but it would not be in keeping with the University's budget or energy efficiency strategy so is not a possibility at this time.

Thanks

Park Square - Opening Hours

I have had the greatest number of complaints received during one week on - virtually - the same thing for the first time ever. I have received 19 complaints regarding the opening hours during exam week. ie week beg: 24 May 2010. The request is for 24 hour opening.

During exam time the IT Suite is used for exams for one week. During this week the IT Suite is closed. This year that week was week beginning 24 May.

After Easter every year we have a period of extended opening to accommodate revision and dissertation writing. This year Park Square mirrored Polhill by having the extended opening: 19 April to 7 May. Although this was appreciated by many students a lot of students were disadvantaged by the IT Suite being closed for exams with normal LRC opening hours. Next year we will try to have the extended opening for the last weeks of May and to have the IT Suite open after the last exam of the day (but this may not be possible).

The University does not have the financial resources to allow 24 hour opening but having the IT Suite and Social Learning Space open until 2am does offer quite reasonable provision.

Apologies for the inconvenience caused we will try to address this next year.

Thanks