Personal Control This dimension of the survey asked questions about the tools and facilities we provide to assist users find information on their own. In general, students reported higher demands in this area than faculty members (who expressed higher expectations in the area of personal service and attention). Both students and faculty users rated the Bates Library very highly, but their responses provide a window on the varied demands on a college library. Bates students rated our Web site (the one you are using now) very highly; faculty members found it average. Faculty members found that the equipment we provide is very close to their highest expectations; students rated it only average. Faculty members ranked us the highest of the libraries we participated with in regard to access to electronic information in offices and homes; students rated us only average. Surprisingly to us in the Library staff, both groups ranked our efforts to inform users of new services very highly (this is an area where we often feel like we don’t do enough!). Respondents’ comments "There aren't enough machines to work..." "WIRELESS NETWORK PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!" "Also, more computer on each floor. The main computers are always full, and the Kiosk computers don't print anywhere, and when they do it takes forever." "There should be more Macs and more computers in the first floor computer cluster." "Additionally, i wish i had a way to access those things from off-campus (i have a cable modem)." "What would be nice is if I could sign out an ethernet cable in just the same way that I sign out a reserve. I think a lot of people would use this service." Library's Response More computers/Wireless There are no plans to increase the number of public workstations at this time, but we expect to see more and more students carry their laptop computers on campus. Over 98% of students bring computers to campus; each year, more and more of these computers are laptops. With this in mind, we are creating more spaces where portable computing can be used by expanding the availability of open Ethernet jacks in the Library and other locations across campus. Our Library renovation will add more than 125 additional Ethernet ports on tables and carrels. To make it easier to use all the new laptop connections, we now have Ethernet cables that you can check out at the Circulation Desk for use in the building. We continue to investigate wireless access, both in the Library and elsewhere on campus. With the recent network upgrade, most users will find wireless considerably slower than the speed they have become accustomed to in dorms and computer labs. As we investigate and experiment with wireless, we will continue to expand the number of open Ethernet jacks so that laptop users can find places to work. ILS also provides ‘kiosk’ computers for quick email and public internet browsing from various locations around the campus. Support for Macs We are committed to supporting multiple platforms for student, faculty, and staff use, including Windows, Macs, and Linux. We have deployed fewer Macs in public labs as our data suggest that the Macs are used less often than PCs. In addition, the majority of speciality applications requested by faculty are available only for the PC. Off-campus issues Whether living off-campus in Lewiston or studying abroad, Bates students and faculty have access to the same online resources as they would seated at a workstation in Ladd Library through the proxy server. For help in configuring the proxy server, please contact the Help Desk Services.

	Page author: Laura Juraska Date: 10/7/03		Feedback and Suggestions © Bates College. All rights reserved.
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