You said, we did: Library improvements you asked for
These are your Libraries. So, when you ask, we listen.
As our recent Customer Service Excellence award recognises, we are truly committed to listening and acting to improve our services. Here are just some of the ways we have delivered what you need over the last year, including free hot drinks, more study spaces, online tools and more!
No more queues with the Sentry app
The Sentry app made getting into the Libraries easier than ever. No more queuing up at day ticket machines whenever you forget your student card. Now, your key to the libraries is on your phone meaning scanning in and out takes seconds.
Easier research with Lean Library
Finding the right material when you need it is difficult and time-consuming. With millions of results to wade through, paywalls and multiple logins, there is no end to the online admin preventing you from getting the research you require.
That’s why we introduced Lean Library, a free browser extension that cuts through all this and gives you fast and simple access to library-subscribed materials and automatically finds open access alternatives if we don’t have what you need.
Upgrading your tech with docking stations
To help you move beyond the limits of laptops, we trialled 16 new docking stations in the Brotherton Library, combining your tech with ours.
This allows you to plug your personal devices into our screens, keyboards and mice, giving you multi-screen views, more comfort and greater productivity – especially in subjects using media editing and data analysis. The feedback from this trial was so positive we’ve also introduced stations in Laidlaw and Health Sciences, and they’ll be coming to the Edward Boyle soon!
Live updates and more study spaces
We know that getting a seat during revision and assessments can become a multi-player strategy game, so we made it just a little easier. We upgraded the Spacefinder web app to include live occupancy data and fed it through to library display screens, so you can check out how busy the Laidlaw and Eddie B are before setting off.
We also turned the teaching rooms in Laidlaw into additional seating during exams, so you have more access to library facilities during “the crunch!”
Hot drinks on us
One of our most popular improvements. Customer Services provided thousands of free teas and coffee during assessment periods. We tried it once, you told us you loved it, so we brought it back!
Saving you money
It’s not cheap being a student in a big city, so we try to help where we can. We reduced or eliminated charges where we could. Previously, we removed late fees, and this year, we made document delivery - that’s borrowing items we don’t have from other libraries – completely free. That resulted in a 142% increase in items supplied through this service.
Better signage
We improved the signage in the Edward Boyle Library Research Hub. Our team there told us that students were getting lost or didn’t know what was on offer in this excellent facility. So, we improved the signage to make the spaces more welcoming, easier to navigate and clearer on how to use it to your advantage.
That’s a lot, but that’s not all. We also provided greater accessibility, stronger study skills and better online support. Keep your eyes peeled for more good news from your Libraries in the coming weeks.
