During a St. Valentine’s Day campaign this year, colleagues reached out to our customers to ask them what they love, or don’t love, about our libraries. They were encouraged to submit comments with attractive displays and the chance to win a £10 voucher.

194 feedback slips were submitted across 9 of our libraries, and although this wasn’t a large enough sample to be representative of all customers, it does highlight some areas where we are doing well, and other areas where there are opportunities for improvement.

The majority of comments were positive, with 61% stating that they love our libraries, 21% wanting to break up with our libraries, and 18% having mixed feelings!

The most prominent message, 29% of all comments, was an appreciation for the work of staff, emphasising how important these interactions are to the experience of using our services and facilities. Comments included the following:

• Love the library staff. They go out of their way to help. <3 Thank you
• All the lovely staff members! The library has given me a friend and really helped me so much this year! Thank you!
• I like the kind staff who smile at me in the mornings.

The most common topics by number of comments were:

A summary report for the St. Valentines feedback campaign  is available. This report was revised on 01/07/2022.

Thank you again to everybody who took part in this campaign! We will be planning new feedback campaigns for 2022/23.

The LaSS Library Feedback Display

Volume of feedback by “Love”/”Break up” or “Both”: 119 Love, 40 Break up, 35 Both.

Post written by Jonathan Fowles. (Post updated on 04/07/22)

Using Twitter to connect with library users

The Library’s Social Media Task and Finish Group would like to invite you to an online training workshop on Using Twitter to connect with library users, 14:00 – 15:00, Thursday 7 July.

The session will start from the basics and provide a solid overview of the platform. After this session you will know how to:

• Set up or update your account,
• Create and curate content to connect with your audiences,
• Deal with negative responses.

It is open to everyone in Library Services, particularly people responsible for library social media accounts. You do not need any previous knowledge or experience.

The session will be led by Simon Bralee with support from members of the Social Media Task and Finish Group.

 Book now. 

We plan to offer further training sessions on Instagram and Sway later this summer.

Facilities & Projects Team Blog – SSEES Library lighting upgrade

Our team information can be found at the following link Facilities & Project Team

On Monday the 27th June, Estates, in collaboration with Sustainability, are continuing the upgrade of the lighting in the SSEES library.

The project involves the installation of LED lights and censors, which will help in being more sustainable within the Library space, in the lower level. The project will take 3 weeks to complete and will involve the closure of the entire lower level for the first week, between Monday 27th June and Sunday the 4th July, with a fetching service in place.

The lower level will reopen on Monday the 5th July, with works continuing in sections, barriered off and all safety measures in place, for the following two weeks.

We will continue to send out communications in the coming weeks with updates and progression of the project.

Science Library Signage and Wayfinding

Our team information can be found at the following link Facilities & Projects Team

We have just received confirmation from the contractor with regards to work taking place next week.

Tuesday 21^st June 2022 from 8.00am contractors will be attending the Science Library to replace some damaged map signage and make good any repairs that are required, this will not cause any disruption to staff or students but there will be a presence in the corridor areas with ladders.

If you have any issues or queries regarding this please contact the Library Facilities & Projects Team at lib-facilities@ucl.ac.uk

Science Library 1^st floor ceiling repairs

Our team information can be found at the following link Facilities & Projects Team

We have just received confirmation from the contractor with regards to work taking place.

Essential ceiling repair works will be taking place on Friday 10^th, Saturday 11^th and Sunday 12^th of June, on the 1st floor corridors in the Science Library, around the toilets and meeting room,106. The works involve the removal of the ceiling tiles, and the containment of the cabling in the voids above. This is an Estates initiative that has materialised from the new fire alarm installation project.

The works will also include a tower install and barriers will be in place to ensure safety.

Staff and Students will be required to access the stairs and lifts via the reading room while these works take place.

If you have any issues or queries regarding this please contact your building manager or the Library Facilities & Projects Team at lib-facilities@ucl.ac.uk

DMS Watson Fire Alarm Upgrade – Final Commissioning

Our team information can be found at the following link Facilities & Projects Team

We have just received confirmation from the contractor with regards to final commissioning of the fire alarm system taking place next week.

On Monday 13^th June and Tuesday 14^th June between 8AM – 4PM Portsmouth electrical contractors will commence the audibility testing of the fire alarm system, so final commissioning can take place.

This will be completed on a floor-by-floor basis to mitigate the impact on Library users and Library colleagues, as well as our neighbouring buildings. The alarms will be activated sporadically throughout the day and will not be continuous, they will however be activated multiple times, unfortunately due to the nature of the works, we cannot be entirely specific on when the alarms will sound.

We believe that levels basement, ground, first and second are the worst affected areas with the sound levels and synchronisation, therefore hopefully the upper levels will be much easier and quicker to complete.

Friday 17^th June the contractors should have reached the acceptable sound and synchronisation levels. At this point the contractors will return with the UCL Fire Safety Team to witness the synchronisation. Again, this will be level by level and the alarms will sound sporadically.

If you have any issues or queries regarding this please contact the Library Facilities & Projects Team at lib-facilities@ucl.ac.uk

Dutch Reading Room Refurbishment

Our team information can be found at the following link Facilities & Projects Team

We have just received confirmation from the contractor with regards to work taking place next week.

Thursday 16^th June 2022 The Dutch Reading room will be having its furniture replaced so this room will be closed on this day.

If you have any issues or queries regarding this please contact the Library Facilities & Projects Team at lib-facilities@ucl.ac.uk

Room 302 Senate House Hub

Our team information can be found at the following link Facilities & Project Team

UOL have informed us today that essential works are to take place in room 302 in the Senate House Hub.

The works will take place on Thursday 9^th June, between the hours of 09.00-12.00, and involve cabling works within the riser, some drilling will take place but this will be very short bursts.

During this time the room will not be accessible, so please seek alternative study space, all other areas of the Hub will not be affected and normal services will be available.

If you have any issues or queries regarding this please contact the Library Facilities & Projects Team at lib-facilities@ucl.ac.uk

DMS Watson Closure due to Water shut down – Our team information can be found at the following link Facilities & Project Team

We have just received confirmation from the contractor with regards to work taking place this weekend.

The Science Library will be closed on the 12^th June 2022 due to our contractor, Arctic, being instructed by Estates, to carry out essential work, which involves replacing two valves in the plant room of the Science Library.

In order to do this, Artic will need to isolate the water supply to the whole building, for the entirety of the day, which has resulted in the decision to close the library for the duration of the works, and to re-open, as usual, on Monday 13^th June, at 08:45.

Staff will be relocated to the Main Library while this work is carried out, please speak with your line manage if you require further information on this.

If you have any issues or queries regarding this please contact your building manager or the Library Facilities & Projects Team at lib-facilities@ucl.ac.uk

Window Cleaning at the Wilkins Building

Our team information can be found at the following link Facilities & Project Team

We have now received confirmation from UCL Estates with regards to window cleaning taking place internally and externally in the Wilkins Building. We have only been give the start date for this work, sorry no timetable has been provided.

Monday 6^th June 2022 – internal and external window cleaning at Wilkins Building is due to commence on next week. If possible, could you please move items away from the window sills, and let the Facilities & Projects team know if there are any locations where additional/alternative arrangements for access will need to be made.

If you have any issues or queries regarding this, please contact the Library Facilities & Projects Team at lib-facilities@ucl.ac.uk