Student Discussion: PhD Posters vs. VCU Libraries’ poster service
Guest: John Ulmschneider, University Librarian
A student library fee ($50/year) was recently implemented.
This fee will be used for things relevant to students on both campuses, but will not go towards costs related to collections, research services, and automated services.
At Cabell Library, the student fees are being used to:
support the new Innovative Media Lab, which will include a makerspace with 3D printing, data visualization tools, a gaming room, among other things.
staff and sustain 24-hour service in the expanded library space.
At Tompkins-McCaw Library (TML), the student fees are being used to:
staff our new, extended hours.
conduct a consultancy and design survey for TML.
When Cabell Library’s construction is complete, there will be a dedicated facility on the 4th floor for all VCU graduate students and faculty.
VCU leadership is interested in ensuring student success for graduate and professional students, not just undergraduates.
Open Discussion
Has providing 24-hour service at Cabell been a strain on library finances?
There are nontrivial costs (e.g. security costs) involved in keeping Cabell open around the clock, but heavy library use during the overnight hours makes it worthwhile.
Usage rates during extended TML hours are being closely monitored.
Late night transportation is an issue.
There are different telephone numbers for escort services on each campus.
Escort services on the MCV campus are slow to respond.
Limited bus service during the summertime is inconvenient and unfair since the MCV campus doesn’t go on break during the summer.
Security is key to longer hours at TML.
Access to library resources.
Why are students who are affiliated with the MCV campus being directed to pick up their library books at Cabell? (Steve B. will investigate.)
Interlibrary Loan is fantastic for articles!
For articles and book chapters that are physically available at TML/Cabell, are we scanning and sending them to students electronically, free of charge? (Karen G. will investigate.)
Suggestions for additional services/resources that TML could offer:
24-hour service (including weekends) when final exams are taking place.
Statistics consulting services through graduate assistantships.
Workshops on how to use specialized software for presenting data.
(John U. is currently in discussions on how to support extensive data visualization/modeling capabilities at Cabell and will extend some of those conversations to include TML as well. He also commented that there are many useful services offered within programs/departments that are not widely available to the VCU community; he would like to see this change.)
Online, on-demand recordings of regularly held workshops, like ones for PubMed and RefWorks. Suggestion to use Echo360. (Karen G. will follow up on this.)
VCU Libraries needs to make a stronger effort to educate the VCU community on:
the advantages of publishing in open access journals.
using metrics other than impact factors (e.g. altmetrics) to determine where to publish and/or to measure the impact of a scholarly work.