Law Library Feedback Blog - Library Facilities

Can we reserve library group study rooms online?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:58:00 -0500

Yes! Beginning November 16.

The library is pleased to announce that an online reservation system is now in place for the Group Study Rooms in both the Williams and Wolff libraries. You can reserve rooms online starting the week of November 16th. To use this new service please visit the “Study Room Reservation System”

The new system incorporates library operating hours, so you can book available rooms during all library operating hours. The system integrates email notification, allowing one person to pick a study group location and notify all included group members.

You can also see details about each room, such as number of seats (from 6 to 10), availability of overhead projectors or writing boards. This information is found in Option 4 “View the List of Rooms“ on the Reserve a Room home page.

Students should use their NetID and Georgetown Law password to access the system.

You can now book a room in five easy steps:

Enter the netID
of at least three persons (the minimum to qualify to reserve a room, including yourself). Note on the right side of the page there is a “Georgetown University Directory Search” where you can search for the netID’s of your group.
Pick a date.
A drop down calendar menu is presented when you click on the box. Please note you can make only one room reservation per day, and you can reserve up to 1 week in advance.
Select a start and end time
in 15 minute intervals. The maximum time allowed time is 3 hours.
Select the room
from those available at your chosen date and time.
Review the data and submit the request.

We’ve built the system to incorporate existing policies for group study access, and we hope everybody likes having online access to the system. Of course, for now, you’ll still have to be physically in the library to actually use a group study room. You just don't have to come here to get one at another time. :-)

Can The Library Create a Wi-Fi Free Zone for Increasing Paper-writing Productivity?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:34:00 -0500

With the advent of near-ubiquitous wireless internet access, distractions are hard to avoid. The complete question we received was "Has the library ever considered having an internet-free room? That is, a study area where there is no internet/wireless access but computers are allowed. Just a (crazy archaic) thought for increasing paper-writing productivity.

We haven't yet considered this option, but we think it might not work very well in practice. This is partly for technical reasons, and moreso because we think most students won't want it.

The technical issue is that it's difficult to reliably limit wireless internet access to a specific location. Wireless access points tend to overlap coverage areas, so we don't think it's easy to, say, turn it off for one area while not impacting another part of the library.

From a student perspective, we think people are concerned with more (and more reliable) Internet access, instead of technical restrictions. A few years ago, we had a laptop-free zone in the library, but we found that many people didn't use it. To better assess student preferences for quiet study, our 2007 Law Library Student Survey included the question: "What would your perfect quiet study space consist of?" Almost everybody answering the survey responded to this question. Somewhat to our surprise, the majority of students wanted laptops as well as headphone music, which you can see in this chart.

For students wanting to limit personal distractions, turning off your laptop wireless access might be the best way to avoid online distractions. More advanced users might want to read "The Productivity Guide for a Computer Geek". The tips range from the obvious (e.g. turn off your computer, use a pen and paper) to the more advanced (e.g. altering your Windows host file).

One suggestion in this guide is to use a Firefox add-on called LeechBlock. This is a productivity tool that lets you block selected time-wasting sites you find most distracting. All you need to do is specify which sites to block and when to block them.

We have no plans to selectively disable wireless access, but we welcome ideas for other things we can do to help you be more productive.

Williams Library temperature last spring was too cold. This year the temperature is perfect.

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:24:00 -0500

The student's full comment was:
"Williams Library Temperature Last spring, myself and many other students I know couldn't study in the library because of the constant icy chill. Now, the temperature is perfect, and I can study comfortably for hours on end. Good job, Williams!!"

The library's response:
Thank! With a building as large as Williams it is hard to maintain the perfect temperature throughout the 5 floors. Facilities engineers are constantly monitoring the temperature. We are glad their efforts are paying off. We’ll pass along your comments.

One last note:
The fifth floor tends to be cooler, especially in the winter. The fourth floor tends to be warmer for most of the year. We have noticed that students work on specific floor based upon individual temperature preferences.

Do the Library's Printers have Two-Sided (Duplex) Printing?

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:41:00 -0500

Duplex printing is available for all printers in the library. In order to make this work you must change the settings on the application BEFORE you send you print job out via Pharos.

In Word and Mozilla Firefox
From the "Print" menu select "Properties." Next select "Finishing" and in the "Document Options" check the box labeled "Print on Both Sides" then select OK.
Then follow the standard procedures for sending a print job through Pharos.

In Internet Explorer
From the "Print Preview" menu, click on the "Printer Icon" on the far top left of the menu bar. Next, from the "General tab" select "Preferences" and then select "Finishing" and check the box "Print on Both Sides".
Then follow the standard procedures for sending a print job through Pharos.

When Can We Get New Chairs in the Reading Room? The Old Ones Hurt After Hours of Study.

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:13:00 -0500

They are here! This week we filled the Robert L. Oakley Reading Room in the Williams Building with handsome brand new chairs! Try them out. They are great for your back and we understand they are comfortable for hours at a time.

Can I Bring a Drink into the Library's Computer Labs

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:52:00 -0500

In order to protect the equipment in the computer labs, Georgetown Law asks that you not bring drinks into any of the computer labs.
You are free to bring drinks in closed containers into other parts of the library.

When can we get reading room new chairs?

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:50:00 -0500

Very soon. New chairs are arriving in mid-August, and we should have all new chairs by the time classes start this Fall.

Eventually we're replacing all of the chairs in the Robert L. Oakley Reading Room of the E.B.Williams Law Library. We'll begin by first replacing chairs in the reading room balcony, and gradually we'll replace every chair in the reading room itself. We'd like to thank those students who provided comments to help us select these new chairs. The chairs were selected based on direct student input, together in consultation with eronomics experts from various chair manufacturers.

The existing chairs we're replacing will be integrated with seating options in McDonough.

We hope you enjoy them, and expect that we'll have all of the new chairs in time for the start of the Fall semester.

I want to use reserve materials but don't want to pay to copy them. Why can't I make free copies?

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:44:00 -0500

You can. The library has installed a free self-serve digital scanner in the computer area next to the Williams Reading Room Reserve collection. Georgetown students can use the machine free of charge.

Simply enter your Georgetown Law netid and password and you can scan pages from a book on the flat-bed scanner, or use the page feeder feature on the top of the machine. The scanner will automatically send a pdf copy of your scan to your email address.

This is one of three self-serve digiscanners in the library. One more is on the third floor of Williams and the third is at the Circulation Desk of the Wolff Library.

How can I get computer help if I'm in Wolff or if the Williams Technology Reference Desk is closed?

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:53:00 -0500

The Technology Reference Desk on the 3rd floor of Williams is staffed by members of the IST team of information technology specialists. During the academic year, the office is staffed from 9 am to 6 pm every weekday, excluding University holidays. During the Summer Session the hours are 9 am to 4 pm. Students may also contact them by email at studenthelp@law.georgetown.edu or by phone at: 202-662-9284.

If a technician is not available when you stop by, please leave a note with your contact information and a representative will respond promptly when he or she returns.

Why is there no water fountain in the Wolff library?

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:02:00 -0500

Original plans for the library space in the Hotung Building did not include water fountains. Over time we have explored alterations in plumbing and other options and so far none has been deemed feasible without major alterations either in the building or the current arrangements for our water supply.

We have recently explored more "low-tech" options but these are not entirely practical for public use (as opposed to office use, like a dispenser) but we have our options open and continue to seek a solution. Fortunately there is a café area in close proximity that is open during the regular academic year.

Where did the Wolff Reference Desk go?

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:49:00 -0500

We recently relocated the reference desk to a more central location across from the Wolff Circulation Desk. You'll see us there when you enter the Wolff Library. Past surveys indicated that some students were distracted from their studies by reference desk interactions at the previous location. Now that area will be quieter and the reference desk will be more convenient to our patrons!

I love the scanner in Williams. Can you install one in the Wolff Library?

Tue, 26 May 2009 19:42:00 -0500

Yes! The Georgetown Law Library recently installed a new digiscanner in the Wolff Library, by the Circulation Desk. The scanner is designed to be self-serve, and as easy to use as a photocopier.

It is available to the entire Georgetown Law community. Simply enter your Georgetown Law netid and password and you can digitally scan documents either through the page feeder or the flat-bed scanner. The machine will deliver digital files as email attachments.

To make it even easier for you to use it, the library has posted simple instructions next to the digiscanner.

There is another self-server scanner on the 3rd floor of Williams, by the Technology Help Desk.

If you want more control of how you scan and edit your digital image, the library has another scanner connected to a computer with editing software in the Computer Help Desk in the Williams 3rd Floor Computer Lab.

Can you add a GoCard vending machine in Wolff? The machine downstairs in Hotung is inconvenient.

Tue, 12 May 2009 09:16:00 -0500

Thank you for your comment. Your feedback is invaluable to us. The university regularly evaluates the placement of our GoCard machines and other vending machines on campus so that we can provide services that balances the comfort of our users as well as minimizes waste. We are happy to share your comment with the office that administers the GoCard service on campus.

If you have a Georgetown NetId you can always add money from your computer by visiting the GoCard Online Card Office.

Construction should not be happening during finals week at the international law library.

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:01:49 -0500

Recently leaks from the Wolff Library sprinkler system were discovered on the third and fourth floors. We had to strike a balance between unwelcome distractions during exams and the obvious urgency of a serious situation. Emergency repairs were completed on Monday, April 27. As is our custom during finals we are still stocking free earplugs at our reference and circulation desks to shut out any ambient noise. We appreciate your patience.

Can you give us more group study rooms in the Library?

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:53:00 -0500

Yes! Not one, but three! Thanks to the quick work of Facilities Management the Williams Library has three new Group Study Rooms available for your use. Students can sign-up for these rooms at the Circulation Desk in Williams. You need three or more students to be a group and rooms are available for up to three hours.