Maroon Opinions

A Note of Appreciation

Dear U of C Library,

I just wanted to drop a note about the wonderful experience I just had at the Regenstein return/check-out desk.

I returned some CD's, one of which actually belonged to me, though I didn't notice it in the pile. As I crossed the street in front of Regenstein, one of the employee's rushed outside in the hot afternoon sun, and caught up with me, just to give back my CD I had mistakenly given to the library! What a great guy! One of my favorite CD's.

So, extra special thanks go to the person working at Regenstein returns on the afternoon of Thursday, July 16th!

Thank you! We will pass along to our Circulation staff.

Job openings?

is there a job opening for the admin?

At this time we have no full-time job openings for any position. However, the Suggestions Office is always looking for volunteers!

Library Reductions

Please don't reduce the hours that the libraries are open--cut anything but the hours, please. Especially for D'Angelo--we law students need to be there as often as possible!

You probably don't have to subscribe to quite so many magazines in the reading room--maybe cut out a few of the super girly subscriptions. Also, please keep the computer lab on the 3rd floor of D'angelo open as long as you can.

Thank you for the comments. Like every other department on campus, the Library has been asked to reduce its budget, and we're currently exploring what to cut. We'd prefer to make cuts that are largely out-of-sight to our users, but nothing is completely off the table at present.

The "light reading" of the Fulton Room and elsewhere on campus is usually purchased with endowments that were donated specifically for that purpose. For example, the senior class gift of the class of 2000 was to establish a book fund for popular literature.

Morris Fishbein

I suggest you remove the name of Morris Fishbein from any place of honor. This is from a former Army Intelligence Officer and Psychologist.

As we noted in an earlier post, the Fishbein Center is separate from the Library.  Please feel free to contact them directly. The Library does hold Fishbein's papers and coorespondence in the Archives, but this doesn't imply we "honor" him.

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!

Which Book Would You Want on a Desert Island?

Odd...If I was on a deserted island...the one book that I would want would be the Boy Scout Handbook, Everything you need to know how to survive can be found in its pages. I'll read Shakespeare when I get rescued.

"Marooned on a Desert Island", a product of the Class Librarians and others for our Library Luau last year, asked several faculty and librarians which book they would most want if shipwrecked on a desert island.

Around the Suggestions Office (which includes an Eagle Scout among its staff), the Handbook would definitely be on the short list of books. We recall it focusing on survival in forest or mountain areas, but many of its suggestions would be applicable in any environment.

10th Church of Christ, Scientist

I would enjoy some commentary by someone on the 10th Church of Christ Scientist Building on 5300 N. Blackstone. It was once called St. Stephen's Church. Does the archives have an extensive collection of materials about it? Do you have pictures of it? Was it related to the university at some point. I just saw it getting off metra on 55-56-57 just now. Ray used to study church history; does ray know this church well.

To our knowledge the church, just north of Salonica on Blackstone, was never associated with the University. Ray in Microforms told us that by the time he came to Hyde Park, St. Stephens Church had already taken over the space, but ultimately this congregation was too small for such a large building. The property now is in private hands.

There are some pictures of the inside available at the "Hyde Park Progress" blog: http://hydeparkprogress.blogspot.com/2008/01/inside-st-stephens.html

We haven't looked in a while, but we believe there continues to be a Christian Science reading room on 57th, near Salonica. You could inquire there for more information, or try the national Christian Science website. St. Stephens was a Church of God in Christ (C.O.G.I.C.) congregation and perhaps the national COGIC website might be of use as well.

LibQUAL+ results

Readers may remember that, last spring, the Library invited everyone to "speak out" by taking the LibQUAL+ survey. We're happy to announce the LibQUAL+ results are public.

Having completed analysis, we're now moving on to further focus groups. ("Okay, we understand you can't find the books you need -- but why?") If you'd like to be part of the process, let us know.

China Pictures

If you've been in the Reg recently, you may have noticed the photographs of China and Chinese art on the first floor. This is the "China Friendship Art Exhibit," courtesy of the Center for East Asian Studies and the US-China Peoples Friendship Association, Chicago Chapter.

The exhibit contains  posters of contemporary art by professors at the China Academy of Art; photos of legendary sites in China by Beijing photographer Mr. Chi Yujie; photos of ancient Chinese manuscripts; and photos from the Hubei Province Archeological Institute. The pictures will be displayed through March 21.

Some Office Difficulties

I heard that the Maroon Opinions' laptop recently exploded! I vote that the Library immediately procure the Maroon Opinionmeister a newer, and better laptop!

Sadly, the rumors are true: the trusty Powerbook recently caught fire, thus preventing the Suggestions Office staff from decamping to the nearest café and "working." An autopsy revealed an electrical short caused by a loose screw. The screw worked free because (ahem) we dropped the laptop. Multiple times.

Readers are encouraged to back up their hard drives often and frequently.