Last Spring, the California State University Chancellor’s Office conducted a Customer Satisfaction Survey of the Cal State Fullerton Pollak Library in which over 500 students, faculty and staff participated. In addition to dozens of useful comments and suggestions, the survey provided statistically meaningful data on how our users viewed our collections, facilities, and services.  We are proud to report on a scale of 1-5, our users rated us overall a high 4.25.

The 30-question survey results can be viewed in their entirety at the CSUF Administration and Finance website .  Some of our highest scores were in the areas of interlibrary loan, access from home and office, comfortable seating, climate, printers & copiers, cleanliness, and research assistance.  More critical for us were areas the survey highlighted as in need of improvement, such as adequate desk space, noise level, cleanliness of restrooms, and library access during weekends, although even these lower satisfaction scores were well inside the “satisfied” range. Another measure of our performance on the survey was our overall user satisfaction score in relation to six other CSU libraries that also participated in the survey. Here again, we were proud to find ourselves at the head of the class!

Perhaps you missed the survey and would like to send us suggestions for how we can serve you better. The Problems and Suggestions button on the library homepage is always there for you to communicate your ideas and comments.

In considering alternative ways of reducing expenditures, the focus has been on how to make the best use of the Library’s resources and services.

The Library’s open hours remain unchanged.  (7:30-10:30, Monday-Thursday; 7:30-5:00 Friday; 10:00-5:00 Saturday; Noon-7:00 Sunday)

Circulation Desk will close at 9:00; self-checkout is possible thereafter, but there will be no counter assistance.

Reference and Research Services Desk in the ILC will open at 9:00 am and close at 7:00 pm, Monday-Thursday (Friday 9:00-5:00).  24/7 online virtual reference will continue to be available.

Direction Desk in the Atrium will be closed from February 9th.

AV (Audio-Visual) Desk will be staffed only from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday-Thursday, and from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Friday (Saturday/Sunday hours unchanged).  The Circulation Desk will provide some A-V services when the 4th floor desk is closed.

Circulation and Interlibrary Loan policy changes

Recalling of checked-out materials will be resumed.  Use of interlibrary loan for books checked out of the Pollak Library will cease since the associated costs are no longer affordable.

Failure to return recalled materials will result in blocking of borrowing and interlibrary loan privileges.  The intent here is to ensure that scarcer resources are equitably shared by the CSUF community.  The Academic Senate Library Committee was unanimous in supporting this policy change.

Acquisition of New Materials

The Library’s materials budget has been trimmed, but there are no drastic cuts in either print or electronic resources.   A one-time grant from the Patrons of the Library (our community support group) will help sustain purchasing power for critical materials during the remainder of this fiscal year.

Streaming Video

Streaming video is no longer available.  However, the  Media Commons on the first floor opposite the Circulation Desk should make viewing AV materials relatively easy.

Questions are bound to arise as these changes are implemented with the beginning of the semester.  These can be directed to staff at our public service desks or via the “Problems & Suggestions” form.

NCES has just updated the State Education Reforms (SER) website http://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/
Most of the data on the website was collected by organizations other than NCES. The NCES compiles and disseminates data on state-level education reform efforts in four areas: 1) standards, assessment, and accountability, 2) school finance reforms, 3) resources for learning, and 4) state support for school choice options. Specific reform areas include student and teacher assessments, adequate yearly progress, statewide exit exams, highly qualified teachers, open enrollment laws, and charter schools.