Over the past few weeks I have noticed that the library (second floor in particular) has been very dirty. I was in the children’s section on Friday afternoon and it was filthy. Spoiled food under chairs, goopy residue on tables, oily/wet/dirty upholstery on chairs, and very smelly. There were also several people sleeping up there, adding to the smell. I thought that maybe the dirtiness was from a busy week and that the issue would be resolved over the weekend. Today I came in to study and found a seat by the window after passing by several seats that were too dirty to sit on because they were covered in hair or dirt (actual dirt, like a plant would grow in). When I sat down I noticed a rotting apple core (actually rotting, it had definitely been there for several days) in the windowsill and debris all around. It just seems “trashy.” It smells and I feel like I have to wipe off the tables before I can set my computer down because it is so dirty and I don’t even have high standards of cleanliness! I try and pick up trash when I see it and I know that the janitorial staff has been cut with the furloughs but the library is becoming a very gross place. Thanks for listening to my concern. I love the library, just not the grime

We are sorry that the Library has not been as clean as any of us would prefer recently. The Library has been in ongoing discussion with the custodial supervisor in Plant Operations over the need for more janitorial help in the Library and will share your concerns with him. Two contributing factors are working against us at this point: 1) the State-mandated staff furlough days which you have already mentioned, and 2) the change in the work schedules of the campus custodial team from a daytime shift to a nighttime shift. Please continue to report issues that you might have in this regard, which will help us make our case for more daytime assistance in maintaining a clean and healthy Library environment.

Wayne Perryman
Library Dean

The Library offers personal help to library users in a number of ways–in-person at our reference service point; and by telephone, email, instant messaging, and individual appointment.  See Ask a Librarian for descriptions of these options.  We are considering renaming the reference service point to something like “Research Assistance” or “Research Help”.  What makes better sense to you? If you have an opinion please repond using the comment option.

2-26-07 I made a suggestion on the 16th of this month, it has been 10 days, and I have not seen my suggestion posted with or without a response. I am very disappointed and wondering why you have even created this site if you are going to ignore suggestions and comments posted from it.

We apologize for the length of time it took to respond - we were still working out the bugs in this new blog.  Please see your response in the next post.