In the last few months, we have made several changes at Honnold/Mudd Library, both in the ways we
offer service and the ways some of the areas are physically arranged. You will see the first
changes as you enter the building with the new “Welcome Desk” in place in the lobby area. Some of
the factors that motivated these changes were comments from library users regarding confusion as
to which desk to approach for help, survey and focus group comments regarding services and
physical layout, library literature having to do with best practices in meeting the needs of
users, library staff’s conversations with colleagues about what works well and what does not in
terms of presenting our services and our library space. A group of library staff was formed to
determine what changes would be feasible and best for our users, and the results are now being put
into place. Some of the visible changes are as follows:
- The Reference Desk and the Information Desk have now been combined into one Help Desk located
just at the top of the stairs as one enters the library. The Database Assistance Desk, formerly
in the Search Center, has been eliminated, and an Information Technology staff member now works in
an office adjacent to the Search Center where he is available to help users.
- Several computer workstations have been relocated from the Search Center into the room just
south of the Help Desk, thus expanding the Search Center area and providing semi-private
opportunities for students to work.
- New PCs throughout the Search Center have additional multimedia capabilities such as DVD viewing.
- Multimedia machines have been moved into the Search Center, where users may scan materials,
view videos, use GIS (Geographic Information System) and mulitmedia authoring software, etc.
- A new multimedia room has been set up on Mudd 1st floor, where the Copy Center was formerly
located. The Copy Center has relocated to the area just north of the Search Center.
- The Welcome Desk has been established in the lobby and is staffed all the hours the library
is open. The purpose of this desk and its staff is not only to greet library users, but also to
answer directional and informational questions, to refer people to the appropriate service points
throughout the Libraries, and to monitor the security exit in the lobby.
- The elevator in the lobby is now opened to all library floors. Previously, for collection
security reasons, this elevator only operated publicly between floors 1 and 2 of the New Library.
- The ADA compliant gate and chairlift, previously opposite the elevator door on New Library 2nd
floor, has been removed, along with the surrounding fence-like equipment, thereby opening up the
floor to a more welcoming layout.
We hope that these and other forthcoming changes will serve our users well. We are always open to
suggestions for additional enhancements to our services and resources and hope to hear from you.
Linda Gunter
Honnold/Mudd Library
linda.gunter@libraries.claremont.edu
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