Noise in the Wascana Library

Comments: “There could be a noise policy” and “There should be a noise policy in place.”

Thanks for your comments!

Wascana Library is a busy place and it can be a loud place at certain times of the day. Each program area at Wascana has a diverse set of needs, including the way its students work. This means that the library must encourage students to use our space for collaboration and group work, while also balancing it with opportunities for quiet study.

Wascana Library is as a social hub on campus, and our aim is to provide a space where everyone is comfortable. For that reason, we do provide areas for quiet study. The main areas of the library are often noisy (especially at lunchtime) as students use this space to work on group projects and talk about assignments between classes. However, there are also quiet locations within the library. We offer a quiet study room (room 207.14) where student can work without noise and there are also several bookable private study rooms. Usually students who prefer a quiet place make use of these areas, as well as several of the computer labs on the perimeter of the library.

Robin Canham, Librarian, Wascana Library
Susan Shepley, Librarian, Wascana Library

Stuff on myWidget

Comment: “There should be more stuff on myWidget on Wascana Campus things.”

Thank-you for your suggestion. myWidget is a new communication tool that students, faculty, and staff can access to find out about events taking place at all four SIAST Campuses. Each SIAST Program area is responsible for submitting its own information to the widget. This means if there is information you aren’t seeing, it’s because no one from the program organizing the event has submitted it. At SIAST Libraries, we frequently use the widget to announce the special events and programs that we host. Keep watching the myWidget to see what’s happening at the Wascana Campus Library, or at any other campus.

Susan Shepley, Librarian, Wascana Library

Noise in the Palliser Library

Comment: “Good Day: The sign where I received these pieces of paper indicates that this is my library. OK, in my library I respect others by talking in a quiet voice whether I’m employed there or a student. Throughout the last few centuries I’m quite certain that talking in a much quieter voice was appreciated by those (great scholars) individuals studying. My father fought for our country. And our Charter of Rights and Freedoms has developed. But I’m a strong believer as you can tell that the library is a place of quiet! Thank you.”

Thank you for your comments. I agree that the Palliser Library can be a noisy place. The library at Palliser was originally an auditorium, and as a result, any sound or voice is amplified and can be heard throughout the library. The noise level increases when you add in the noise of the photocopiers and printers, phones ringing and general conversation.

I regret that we aren’t able to provide a quiet study room in the library, however, all library staff will try to keep their voices down to lessen the noise levels. Students who are unusually noisy will be asked to lower the volume. Certain times of each day are quiet in the library so you may find the library a quiet place to study at different times of the day.

Beverley Brooks, Program Head, Palliser Library

Noise in the Kelsey Library

Comment from a Kelsey Student: “People who chose to talk loudly in the library and who chose to talk on cell phones should be asked to leave. These actions go against the purpose of this area of the school and this shows they have no respect for other people using the library. Thank you and I hope to see these people removed in the future and learn to show respect for others.”

Thank you for your comments. Our library strives to be a welcoming place for our patrons with a broad range of needs. Some people prefer to work alone in a quiet place, whereas others prefer a group work environment. That is the reason we provide a variety of work spaces ranging from quiet study rooms, large desks, and computer work stations that can accommodate more than one person. It is our hope that by providing variety of work spaces we are able to satisfy the work/study needs of our patrons.

When we notice (or is brought to our attention) that a patron is being unusually noisy, we approach the patron and ask them to be considerate of others working in the library. Most patrons are very cooperative.

Tej Harrison, Program Head, Kelsey Library

Books in French

Comment: “Put books in French in the Palliser campus library.”

Thank you for your suggestion.

Our material selection decisions are guided by a number of criteria outlined in our “Collection Development Guidelines”. In reference to language, the Guidelines read that “with very few exceptions only English language materials are selected.”

SIAST Libraries cannot purchase everything a public library or a university library might purchase. Our collection aims to address the specific needs of students and staff in relation to their course work, research, and program areas. Courses are taught in English and so most course-related materials are also in English. There are a few exceptions, as mentioned, and you are welcome to make title suggestions.

Though we cannot purchase every title, we provide access to books and other material we don’t own through our interlibrary loan service. Please feel free to put in requests for any titles you like–most items arrive within 10 days. Click “Request Items” on the library’s Website and fill out the form to submit a request.

We also have a very small portion of the budget that can be used to purchase recreational materials, but for most recreational reading needs, we must refer you to the public library.

Again, thank you for your suggestion.

Theressa Slind, Collection Development Librarian, Kelsey Library