Maroon Opinions

Seminars in Oncology

The Seminars in Oncology web site refused the password / user id given on the Library web site.

When we tried it in the Suggestions Office, the normal username and password seemed to work fine. However, if you're still experiencing problems, please tell us whether you are on- or off-campus, using the e-resources reporting form.

Wireless on 5th Floor

The wireless on the 5th floor stacks has been incredibly spotty / laggy for about a week now. Not sure if it's related to the construction or what. When they get a chance, someone from the IT department should head up and inspect. Consistent pattern: It works for about 5-10 minutes, then slows down, then drops the connection, then restarts, then works for 5-10 minutes, then slows down, then drops, then restarts ... etc. If you're in the middle of anything involving entry of data into online forms (e.g. e-mail, online databases, project collab.) you lose everything! Annoying! Thanks

Thanks for the heads-up -- we've asked NSIT (who maintains the wireless network) to investigate.

AD Logons

I changed my CNetID password a few months ago but when I try to logon to the library computers (in Crerar in this case) they continue to use my old password. Do these computers authenticate against ldap.uchicago.edu or against some AD server that doesn't regularly pull updates?

I asked our AD folks about this, and they guessed it was a problem with a particular computer. So a few questions: (1) is the problem still occuring? (2) does it occur at multiple PCs, or just a specific one?

If this behavior is restricted to a particular PC, let us know -- or point it out to one of the Crerar reference librarians -- and we can get it fixed.

Webmail and xMail

Hi,
Can you please add xmail under My Accounts?  Right now the email link only goes to cmail.
Thanks!

We asked those in charge of the website, and they said that both a cMail and xMail link made perfect sense. Look for the change to appear soon.

Grass

The university library is still helpful for things like sending books to book reviewers, studying and reading even though the grass will be missed next door. I still prefer grass over the shelving area. Grass makes oxygen buildings do not make oxygen

Thank you for your suggestion. Unfortunately we are unlikely to see grass until the building is finished, but part of the project includes replanting grass sod where appropriate upon construction completion.

We're #9!

Maroon Opinions has been quiet as of late, because recent suggestions are still being discussed and acted upon. (For interested parties: we are fixing the Webmail link, and investigating the LDAP logon strangeness. More news to follow.)

However, the Suggestions Office staff was happy to see that the University of Chicago is ranked #9 among "Best College Libraries" by the Princeton Review. [Login required to view link.]

Keep those suggestions coming -- next year we want to be #1!

Lights Out in Crerar

I would like to report that the bulbs above the study carrels on the 2nd Floor of Crerar [facing the front side of the building] need to be changed. Since Monday, when a significant number of lights were out, nearly every bulb is out. Please ask facilities management to change the bulbs as soon as possible; many students use these tables to study.

We forwarded over to the folks at Crerar, who report Facilities is on the scene with new bulbs.

Computer Logons

There a many computers I've used before that are still really really slow each time I log on. Those on the third floor seem especially problematic. Is it possible that there are other problems with the log-on system or with the computers in general?

It's certainly possible. If you can note which computers are particularly slow--either via the "hostname" command or providing location information (e.g., "third floor, nearest PC to the printer"), we'll be happy to take a look at the machine(s).

Logons and Firefox

PLEASE FIX YOUR COMPUTERS IN THE REG! THEY WORKED MUCH BETTER BEFORE THEY HAD LOG INS; NOW THEY ARE SLOW AND FRUSTRATING TO WORK ON. IT SHOULD NOT TAKE 5 MINUTES FOR A COMPUTER TO BOOT UP AND ANOTHER 3 FOR THE BROWSER TO LOAD JUST SO I CAN CHECK MY EMAIL. ALSO, PLEASE INSTALL FIREFOX; INTERNET EXPLORER IS AWFUL.

The first time you log on to a patron workstation, the computer will go through a one-time setup process. Subsequent use of that workstation should be--well, not zippy but at least faster. As you use different workstations in the Reg, you should find a higher percentage of them "knowing" you already.

Installing Firefox on patron workstations is still under discussion. However, if you thoroughly despise IE ("It burns us! It freezes! Nasty Microsoft twisted  it. Take it off us!"), the Office suggests carrying around Firefox-on-USB as a portable app.

Problems with My List in Catalog

I have noticed that the lists I create in my library account are often deleted in much less than 365 days. In fact, sometimes, the list disappears only to return a few days later with some books missing. I guess my suggestion is that if this is an inconsistent mechanism, better to get rid of it than end up with people losing information.

The Office staff hasn't experienced this problem, although we rarely use the "My List" feature. However, there were groans (as much as one can groan through email) when we mentioned My List to our colleagues in the Library's ILS department. Apparently this feature and its underlying technology has been a can of worms for some time now.

Good news, however: over the summer we will be testing the My Discoveries module for Lens, which provides for list creation and much more. By autumn quarter we hope to have a better alternative in place for list-makers.