Pods in the PS Social Learning Space

The presentation pods in the Social Learning Space should be bookable...


When we opened the Social Learning Space resource (Dec 2007) we did consider making the pods bookable from the beginning. It was felt that to encourage use and to make the Social Learning Space generally as non interventionist as possible we should make it an open resource. Use of the pods has been on a drop in, first come first served basis.
I am more than prepared to review this but need to look at the booking procedures to make it as fluid as possible. If after negotiation with my colleagues in the rest LR, I can source a robust booking product I would be happy to trial designating one of the pods as a bookable resource to see what the take up is and if booking works.
Sorry I cannot give you a more immediate response but I will definitely follow this up.

Lap tops trailing wires

.... not being allowed to use my laptop in an area I need due to posing a "Health and Safety" hazard.....


There is a general instruction not to plug laptops (or any electrical gadgets) into floor plates as they create a trip hazard. There are designated "plug in points" all round the LRC.
As you mention that you are a law student am I correct to assume that you were plugged into one of the floor plates on level 2?
If that was the case floor plates are a hazard and there is a general embargo (except for the Social Learning Space) on customers using them in the LRC (this is re-inforced with messages stuck to the floor plates and with posters), you need to find a wall plug that doesn't result in dangerous trailing wires to safely plug in your laptop.

Thanks

LRC Silent areas

It's a shame that the university library "silent area" isn't silent at all...


Thank you for your comments about the silent area at Park Square LRC.
The designated silent areas in: Park Street and on levels 2 & 3, are maintained by customer consent and by security patrols. There are - inevitably - individuals who abuse the study environment. If this happens in your experience you need to report it to security level 0 LRC barriers directly or, to the LRC staff on duty at the counter on level 1. There are penalties in place for breech of the code of conduct.
I understand your frustration especially when the University provides a very comfortable and attractive social learning space where conversation is positively encouraged.
Please persevere and report unacceptable noise levels so that they can be addressed.

Lost files

I am surprised to find out that the University as a big organisation with important student information does not have a backup. My files went missing from my u-drive and then when I asked for help I was told that there is no back to retireve my files.
Please find a way that can be helpful to students.
The company running the IT facilities for this Uni must have a data back up system


Thank you for your comments. Looking at your circumstances I have to tell you that the files you "lost" were never saved in the first place. Your network space was full when to you tried to save the files and therefore the items are lost and irretrievable. Data back up would not help you in these circumstances.
Every student has a 100 mgb allowance on the University's network. As your network space was full you should have deleted some files/folders or archived some older material on a USB at the time. As a Computer Networking student I am sure you are aware that although you may have created space after you tried to save the files they do not get stored in a strange "cache" in case of this eventuality.
Please may I encourage you to carry out regular house keeping on your network space to avoid this happening again.

Polhill: Word problems

why is it whenever we open a word document we get all these smart board messeges that disallow us from entering the word documents.

Thank you for your comments regarding Word. I am sorry that you have been experiencing difficulties. I have spoken to the IT support team at Polhill library and this is their reply:

This has been flagged up to ISD and the problem is three fold.

1) Word is saying the digital signature is not correct
2) a different program's template requires Word macro's to be run
3) the latest Smartboard software was requested and installed quickly without, unfortunately properly testing how it would effect other programs.

At a recent meeting with ISD staff the problem has been raised again and although there isn't a clear time scale to when these problems would be fixed across the University Polhill staff will look at the problem to check if anything can be done locally to improve things.
Thank you for your patience

Print Credit Machines

The machines used to credit our accounts for prints in the LRC have been out of use for months now.
I have on many occasions found this very inconvenient I would like to see them working again. What are University's plans for this.

Thank you for your comments. I am sorry about the inconvenience caused by the lack of self service print credit machines. This is a problem we have been monitoring for a while. The University is about to change the print credit software/hardware provider. Before we change over we have a robust system of testing and checking to go through. This is so that we don't replace a poor product with another poor product. Unfortunately while this process is going on we have to put up with the old product.

I have no date for implementation at this stage but it will be this year. Please ask at the Customer Service desk for assistance with crediting your print account.

Putteridge Bury LRC

1) I think there should be more computers so that there would be enough room for students who'd like to do assignments and projects during lecture hours
2) We need more books for students studying marketing communication
3) There should be enough reading tables and chairs to accommodate students
Apart from that everything's fine

Thank you for your comments Violet. They underline the remarks made at a recent open international student meeting at Putteridge Bury. The University is delighted with the take up of courses by international students this year and it is doing everything possible to accommodate the needs of this group.
1) The computer issue was problematic when we discovered that we couldn't support laptop loans at Putteridge Bury. 20 pcs are being installed in the studio and silent study room at Putteridge Bury LRC to address the current paucity of the ratio of pcs to students.
2) All students cry out for more books but this coupled with a rapid increase in student numbers will have an impact. This issue is being addressed. In the meantime please take advantage of the inter-site reservation service by requesting Park Square and Polhill items to be delivered to you (please make sure the catalogue states that an item is "available" or you could have a long wait) and/or please use the Putt bus to come into Luton and visit the Park Square campus (don't forget your ID).
3) Regarding furniture provision we have the same problem in that a large increase in usual student numbers makes current provision seem lower than usual. This is exacerbated by the fact that we have to find somewhere for the extra pcs. Sorry this may take a while to sort out as we have to get the other changes in place before we can do anything about furniture, please bear with us. Your comments have been heard and we are trying to address them.
Thanks for your patience
s