Carrel Monday 9/15/2008

All went very well!
Thanks to Maura for organizing the troops and to Steve for organizing the documentation and all the keys!

Some feedback/observations to consider:
1st carrel arrived at 5:25 am to wait in line and started a sign up sheet
83 carrels issued by 8:33 am; 137 by mid-morning
Spring to Fall Thesis students – do they have to re-register?
Make carrel map larger, one-sided and taped to counter for easier viewing
Describe areas on map – light conditions, near windows, quiet area, front or back of building etc.
Cart in vestibule for applications, pens, directions etc. useful
Numbered queue “tickets” were useful
Apples were appreciated!
Exceptions:
Drop/add cards – thesis status not yet reflected in Banner;
Worked really well to have 1st point be map – to select carrel; then referred to 1 of 2 stations with 2 staff (1 key runner and 1 at computer/application); 1 staff member out in the line checking applications and Banner printout and answering questions; 1 staff member at regular check-out/in terminal for non-thesis services
Additional person at “map point” would keep the line moving faster (tended to bottleneck while deliberating carrel choices)
About 10 requests to change carrels after discovering who had a carrel nearby

Please add your comments!

2 comments

  1. I don’t know that I’d recommend describing areas around carrels on the map. Describing each area will be highly subjective since people have different ideas of what “quiet” and “noisy” are, not to mention “lighter” and “darker”. Because of the subjectivity I think we’d get lots more people coming back to the desk to switch carrels, which doesn’t benefit them since there will be fewer options for them at that point. If we continue with the sign-up sheet/post-it deli counter idea, then it will be very easy for students to briefly leave the line to go investigate an area if they haven’t already looked at the carrel areas before Carrel Day.

    Brief comment on Spring-to-Fall re-registering. Since carrels are used over the summer, we can’t let students keep carrel keys over the summer. I don’t think we want to get onto the slippery slope of keeping a list of “reserved” carrels for fall term.

    Thanks to all who help made Carrel Day a success! Looking through the completed applications and pending ones too, it seems like everyone did a great job of making sure we have the info we need, and used good judgment in setting aside incomplete applications, referrals, etc. Thank you!

  2. thanks to all for your help and ideas. The whole process went really well and as of this moment, there are only 24 left which i think is a record fro the first 24 hours of carrel key distribution

    have heard lots of good ideas about how to improve the process

    Comments were
    use one LARGE map for carrel selection, not several pages to flip thru. large is the key, easier to read, easier access

    have 2 expediters to read off names/numbers. whoever came up with that position on monday AM gets the prize. good call!

    apples are great for the fall

    number system works well. use either sign in sheet or number/deli/bakery system

    having some pre view the aps before the students arrive at the circ desk is key. saves a lot of time

    having 8 people plus me in the fall ( which counts for an additional expediter) is ideal ( 2 teams of 2 for carrels and 1-2 for circ desk, 2 expediters and 1 roamer to review aps in line)

    Let me know if I have missed other points. thanks again

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