2005/06 - SFU Library - Simon Fraser University

2005/2006 ANNUAL REPORTJournals and Microform Assistance Desk“Had I asked for help from youearlier, I could have saved daysof research… But I know whoto look for next time when Ineed help :-) Thanks a lot!!”(Undergraduate student)Although it is located by the print journals and microformats, many of thequestions at the JAMA Desk are about e-journals. Researchers who areinexperienced at retrieving online articles sometimes arrive at the sixth floorexpecting to find the print version of a journal, then ask for help when theyfind that we no longer have their title in print, or they ask for help navigatinge-journal publisher sites. There is always a need for ongoing training on thequirks of newer e-journal publisher sites and aggregator databases.Thesis SupportThe Thesis office has increased its support for students over the past few years, with classes available early in theprocess; online documentation; and increased contact with students. In addition, an online thesis informationsubmission form was developed. The result has been a significant reduction in late submissions from nine percent to below one per cent.As well the turnaround time for processing items has been greatlyreduced. In previous years it was not until late in the followingsemester that the final approval was given to the majority ofsubmissions. This has now been cut in half and most of thesubmissions are approved by the middle of the next semester. Thisreduction means that the items are then digitized and madeavailable in a much shorter period of time.Loans Services“I just completed my dissertation and oraldefence and want to thank the Telebook staffof for the excellent service provided to methroughout the past three years. My "textbased"thesis meant that I ordered a largenumber of books. Requested books alwaysarrived promptly. These servicesprovided to me in interior BC by Telebookwere critical to my course work anddissertation. “ (Graduate student)Our popular laptop/notebook service continues to thrive with 19,543 laptop circulations. Headphones circulated4,445 times. The number of laptops will be doubled to fifty for the Fall 2006 semester and the loan periodextended from two to four hours. The SFU Surrey library also loans laptops and a variety of other equipment tosupport its unique programmes. In addition, thanks to staff and others’ donations during the 2006 CampusCampaign, presentation equipment for use in the group study rooms will soon be available for checkout at theWAC Bennett Library.The “Food for Fines” drives in Summer and Fall 2005 were once again very successful. The Library received2,350 food items from 514 patrons and waived $4,676 in fines.Thirty pedometers were offered for lending in support of HCC’s ‘Walk this Way’ program from September 19thto October 20th.6