Library Lobby Survey results: book lookup & candy preferences

Two Library Lobby survey questions to report this week:

Last week, we asked: “Where do you start when you look up a library book?” 100 responses indicated starting at the library homepage, while 27 started in the catalog. One wrote in “What’s the difference?”. There really isn’t much difference! One starts on the library homepage, while the other starts within our catalog system, but both get you to library books and resources.

This week, we wanted help planning for future candy restocks. We asked, “I’d answer this survey if I was offered…”.

  • Chocolates: 18
  • Gummy candies & fruit flavors: 99
  • Hard candies & mints: 111
  • Comments: 8

Notice that the total vote for ‘chocolates’ is suspiciously low? As someone wrote in, there was a pebble voting theft: “Someone took pebbles out of chocolate! It was 1/2 full an hour ago (7:30pm ish)!! Chocolate PLEASE”.

Was the theft a comment on the current state of electoral integrity in this country, or does someone really dislike chocolate candies enough to tamper with liblob voting procedures? We remain in a state of wonder.

Library Lobby Surveys happen (almost) every Tuesday. Stop by to cast your vote and get some candy! We love to hear feedback from you all.

Echoes of Harlem

    There’s a time travel portal next to the reference desk.

    1920s and 1930s Harlem NYC was a time when African American arts and culture flourished. Jazz music from Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong could be heard floating from Harlem nightclubs. Painters such as Jacob Lawrence and Archibald Motley chronicled the daily lives of African Americans.

    It was also a politically and racially charged time in US history. If you walked down 5th Avenue you might see a black flag hanging from the NAACP office that proclaimed “A MAN WAS LYNCHED YESTERDAY” in bold white lettering.

    Whether you’re interested in Harlem Renaissance aesthetic, culture, or politics, our book display has something for you. Come discover a good read and learn about the Echoes of Harlem that still reverberate throughout NYC and the USA today.

    All items available for checkout!

    Library Lobby Survey results: “You can borrow laptops & ipads from the library”

    We had laptops and ipads on our minds this week, and wondered about you all borrowing them.

    • Total responses: 188 stones, 30 written responses
    • “What!? I didn’t know”: 57 responses
    • “I know! I borrow those”: 43 responses
    • “I know, but I don’t borrow those [tell us why not]”:88 responses, 30 write in responses

    Of the 30 write in responses to “I know [about borrowing laptops/ipads], but I don’t borrow those”

    • 17 you had your own
    • 5 related to check-out/rental periods and processes
    • 5 you didn’t need them or need filled elsewhere or with other tools
    • 1 related to programs on the laptop
    • 1 request for a microwave
    • 1 “thank you!” (you’re welcome!)

    Laptops and ipads are available for checkout for 24 hour periods from the IMC and from PARC. Give the circulation assistant your Reed id card, and they’ll check it out for you!

    Library Lobby Surveys happen (almost) every Tuesday. Stop by to cast your vote and get some candy! We love to hear feedback from you all.

    ProQuest scheduled maintenance this weekend

    Some library resources will be unavailable during ProQuest scheduled maintenance this Saturday, February 8th, from 7pm-1am. Affected resources include:

    • All databases on the ProQuest platform (search.proquest.com) and Chadwyck-Healey databases including:
      • Proquest Central
      • ABI/INFORM
      • Academic Video Online
      • Ebook Central
      • EEBO: Early English Books Online
      • Index Islamicus
      • LION : Literature Online
      • ProQuest Congressional
      • ProQuest Dissertations and Theses
      • ProQuest Historical Newspapers

    Having trouble accessing library resources? Find ways to get help from library staff.

    Thesis desk lottery

    Random numbers for the Senior thesis desk lottery will be drawn from the official 470 list.  If you are a senior, but are not yet registered for 470, and want to be included in the drawing, please come to the circulation desk and have your name added to the lottery list by Monday, February 10.  Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Studio Art, and Psychology majors are not eligible for thesis desks in the Library. 

    The list of numbers will be posted Tuesday, February 11 along with a map of thesis desk locations, so that you can have preferences in mind before the actual selection.

    The choosing of desks will begin at noon on Wednesday, February 12 in L17.  You or your proxy must be present when your name is called.  Lottery numbers are not transferable.

    Click here for more information on thesis desks. Any questions contact Brian Kelley

    Library Lobby Survey results: “The office of your personal/subject librarian?”

    The library can be a maze, and that includes the staff offices. This week, we wondered if the offices of personal and subject librarians are commonly known locations.

    • Total responses: 210
    • “I don’t know where their office is”: 88 responses
    • “I know where their office is”: 23 responses
    • “What’s a subject librarian?” 47 responses
    • “What’s a personal librarian?” 52 responses

    What are personal and subject librarians? Each first year and transfer student is matched with a librarian who can help with any questions about the library, finding resources, or research. Find your personal librarian by dorm.

    We also have librarians dedicated to each academic department who can help if you need subject-specific assistance, whether that’s for general questions, for one class, for your quals or thesis, or just to chat. Find your librarian by subject.

    Think of your personal librarian and your subject librarian as your “go-to” people in the library.

    Library Lobby Surveys happen (almost) every Tuesday. Stop by to cast your vote and get some candy! We love to hear feedback from you all.

    Library Lobby Survey results: “I started using the library regularly…”

    Welcome to the Spring semester! With a new year comes new LibLob surveys. The question on our mind this week was when you started using the library regularly. We’re excited to know that you all start right away! The majority of responses indicated that you became regular library users during your first year at Reed.

    • Total responses: 215
    • First year: 141 responses
    • Sophomore year: 42 responses
    • Junior year: 20 responses
    • Senior year: 8
    • I don’t use the library regularly Tell us why not: 4 responses

    Library Lobby Surveys happen (almost) every Tuesday. Stop by to cast your vote and get some candy! We love to hear feedback from you all.

    Save the date: Algorithms of Oppression

    Join us for Black Celebration Month: Algorithms of Oppression

    Thursday February 20, 2020 at 6:30pm Vollum Lecture Hall

    Safiya Umoja Noble is an associate professor at the University of California, Los Angeles in the departments of information studies and African American studies. She is also co-director of the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry. Safiya is the author of a best-selling book on algorithmic discrimination by internet platforms, Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism. 

    Dr. Safiya Umoja Noble

    She is the recipient of a Hellman Fellowship and the UCLA Early Career Award. She is regularly quoted for her expertise about technology bias in society in news outlets including The Guardian, the BBC, CNN International, USA Today, Wired, Time, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, The New York Times, NPR’s Marketplace, CBS Radio, and is the co-editor of The Intersectional Internet: Race, Sex, Culture and Class Online and Emotions, Technology & Design. She holds a PhD and MS from the Information School at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a BA in sociology from California State University, Fresno.

    Noble’s talk will be followed by a reception in the Library.

    Co-sponsored by the library, the Office of Institutional Diversity, the Dean of the Faculty, the department of computer science, and the office of Computing and Information Services. Free and open to the public.

    Library Lobby Survey results: “Do you prefer print books or ebooks? If ebooks, which platform?”

    This week’s library lobby survey asked the question, “Do you prefer print books or ebooks? If ebooks, which platform?” with options of “Proquest”, “EBSCO”, “Taylor & Francis”, and a “Write in Response” option. Results are in!

    • Proquest: 32 votes
    • EBSCO: 15 votes
    • Taylor & Francis: 6 votes
    • Write in Response: 14 votes

    Write in responses skewed towards print books, with 10 total votes, including one print vote stating “Print books 120%.” Other answers were:

    -EPUB

    -PDF

    -Kindle

    -Overdrive

    • Total: 67 votes

    Library Lobby Surveys happen (almost) every Tuesday. Stop by to cast your vote and get some candy! We love to receive feedback from you all.