Help us improve!
If you have concerns or suggestions that aren't answered below, please let us know with UCOmment.
Response
This is, by far, the question we hear most often. The main problem, of course, is finding money to provide staff and security.
Response
There are parking lots to the south and southwest of the library that offer some more parking, and some on-street parking, but
parking will always be a challenge on the west side of campus.
Why can't I see what I have checked out in the past? Our response
Response
We don't keep a record of what you have checked back in, if there's no fine on it. We're protecting your privacy and your right to free access to information. For more information: read the ALA response to the Patriot Act.
Why does it always seem too hot or cold in the library? Our response
Response
Our campus facilities management team tries to keep the library at an even temperature, but it is a challenge to respond to the changing Oklahoma weather in a building that is two buildings in one, built decades apart, and having great differences in hvac capacities, ceiling heights, and other considerations. If you have a comment about the temperature, please tell a floor manager or contact the Physical Plant at 974-2247.
Response
Our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) system is different from the system that authenticates you as a UCO user. If you are off campus and login to use one of our
databases, you may find an article you need to borrow through ILL. You would still need to login to the ILL system. Maybe someday our ILL software
will be able to detect you as a user who has already logged in, but not yet.
Why do so many things I need require Interlibrary Loan? Our response
Response
We're glad you're using our Interlibrary Loan service, but we're sorry you have to use it so often. Sometimes ILL can get an article from another library in 24 hours, but most often, it takes up to seven days. Our databases search for articles in hundreds of thousands of sources, and although we subscribe to almost 40,000 journals in print and online, we can't subscribe to them all. When you're under a deadline and don't have time for ILL, limit your search to full text journals or ask a librarian for advice.
Why don't you have a copy of all the textbooks? Our response
Response
We have asked the deans of our five colleges (Liberal Arts, Business, Education, Media/Design, Math & Science) to provide a copy of textbooks so that we could put them on Reserve for you. Ask your professors if they can put a copy on Reserve in the library for your class. You can find out if we have your textbook by clicking on our catalog and looking up the title.
Response
We have plans for more group study rooms but we need budgeting to build them. In the meantime, you're welcome to study together on the first floor with lots of comfortable seating.
Why isn't our copying costs built into our tuition or fees? Our response
Response
Some other universities have a campus-wide system of debit cards for various goods and services that are issued to students. Our university doesn't have a system like that, but you're right, that would be a great convenience to our students.
Could you buy more of the comfortable seating, please? Our response
Response
We've added more comfortable seating in the upper floors like we have by the New Books area on first floor. We won't buy a lot of couches because they get used for snoozing instead of studying.
Please replace cassettes with the CD version and VHS with the DVD or Blu-Ray version. Our response
Response
Moving from an older format to a new format is a constant challenge for libraries. We have to budget carefully when buying new materials, and buying replacements in a new format for materials we already have takes money away from new materials. We assess whether or not to buy multimedia items on the basis of usefulness, circulation (how often it's been used), condition, whether or not it supports current curriculum needs, and other criteria. If you have specific titles that you would like us to buy in DVD, please let us know through our suggestion form under "Services." Go there.
Why isn't the use of phones prohibited in quiet areas? Our response
Response
We encourage cell phone courtesy, but if you are bothered by someone talking on the phone, please tell a staffer. There are quieter areas in the library for studying, but first floor is a noisy place. If you are studying on 3rd or 4th floor and someone is disturbing your concentration, please let a staff person know. We also have group study rooms available on 3rd floor for groups up to 6 people. Find out more about group study rooms
Response
Yes, we can retrieve an item for you and hold it until you are able to come check it out. Call the Circulation Desk at 974-3361 for details.
How many things may I check out, and for how long?
Our response
Response
Undergraduates may have 25 items checked out at a time. Graduate students and staff may have 35, and faculty may have 75 items checked out at any one time.
Most items check out for 30 days for undergraduate students, 45 days for graduate students, and 90 days for faculty. Videos check out for one week, and reserves have various checkout periods.
Response
You may use this form or call 974-5159, or reserve in person on 3rd floor. Group study rooms are very popular, so reserve early.
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