In Autumn 2023 we asked how you feel about Library facilities and resources. You provided us with hundreds of comments, thank you!
Your insights and inputs help to inform improvements. We’ve actioned some of your ideas and have also initiated or progressed many other suggestions.
After collating all your comments, we had 189 requests/suggestions. Some recommendations were actioned immediately (see tables below).
Your inputs on Library facilities
| You told us... | So we... | Status |
|---|---|---|
| You wanted more access to the Library building |
Piloted 24/7 during Autumn exams and we’re using the engagement data to inform extended access in the future with dates aligned to busy study periods |
Ongoing |
| Cleaning could be improved |
Are working with Facilities Management Division to monitor and improve the cleanliness of the Library |
Ongoing |
| The hand dryers on Level 1 at Wollongong were too noisy |
Are working with Facilities Management Division to seek solutions |
Ongoing |
| People were talking too much in Quiet Zones |
Updated our public announcements, refreshed stairwell signage about noise, and have been encouraging our users to respect quiet zones |
Complete |
| Shoalhaven would benefit from plants |
Added plants to refresh the space and promote wellbeing |
Complete |
| You wanted staplers |
Purchased environmentally friendly staplers for trial at Wollongong and Shoalhaven Libraries |
Ongoing |
| Some power points were not working |
Started checking and reporting power points more regularly |
Complete |
| You wanted more board games in The Lounge |
Sourced secondhand games from our staff, now available in The Lounge |
Complete |
| You wanted the ability to dim/brighten desktop screens on all Library PC’s |
Confirmed that you can: How do I adjust the monitor brightness on a Dell All in One (AIO)? |
Complete |
| You wanted more vegan options in the vending machines |
Added vegan cookies and are investigating more vegan options |
Complete |
Your inputs on Library resources
| You told us... | So we... | Status |
|---|---|---|
| You wanted Zoom and Webex on all Library computers |
Confirmed that web versions of Zoom and Webex are available on all Library computers |
Complete |
| You wanted Matlab available on Library computers |
Confirmed that Matlab 2022b is now available on all Library computers |
Complete |
| You wanted access to more Computer Science resources |
Want to let you know that we purchased the 2021-2023 Computer Science Collection this year – an additional 3,500 e-books! |
Complete |
| You wanted access to more ebook subscriptions for textbooks |
Have secured access to an additional ~180,000 ebooks for Business, Humanities, Social Sciences and STEM subjects |
Complete |
| You wanted access to Westlaw Practical Law and more Law databases |
Want to let you know we provide access to Westlaw Practical Law via the Westlaw AU database, and we have added the JIRS database to our collection |
Complete |
| You wanted access to Springer Nature and more Environmental Science Journals |
Want to let you know that we provide access to 22 Springer Nature journal titles, and we’ve added the ProQuest Sustainability Collection and over 8,300 science titles through Cambridge Scholar |
Complete |
| You wanted access to more information resources |
Want to let you know about our Library Guides for specific subject areas, they have lots of links to resources and information |
Complete |
How did we collect your insights?
From April to May 2023, we set up whiteboards at Wollongong and Shoalhaven campus libraries asking What are we doing well? and What could we be doing better? in regard to our facilities (building, furniture, access) and resources (books/ebooks, services).
We also set up an online Padlet and embedded it on the Library homepage for people to anonymously submit comments and vote on other users’ comments.
The whiteboards also featured a QR code with a link to the online Padlet, providing a touch-free, COVID-safe option. Open and anonymous, the whiteboard and Padlet allowed students to see each other’s responses, fostering engagement and a sense of connection.
All contributions were submitted anonymously, and no personal details were recorded, stored or shared.