Jan -Mar 2010 results

The survey results in February were similar to those in January.  In March they indicated more pressure on PC availability, possibly due to the approach of the exam season.

ACTION ON PRINTING

We are installing the additional printers this month as planned, which will provide printing on all the Library floors where there are PCs.  We have invited tenders for a new printing management system; if there is a successful tender, meeting our technical criteria and budget, it will bring many benefits including card payment options, next session.

ACTION ON PC AVAILABILITY

Main issues are "reserving" of PCs for long periods using clothing etc., and use of PCs for personal/recreational purposes at busy times. You will have noticed messages asking people not to "reserve" in that way, and to minimise personal use at the busy times. 
The next stages we are thinking of are:

Auto logoff - After (say) 25 minutes of no keyboard or mouse movement, a warning would be displayed and if after (say) 30 minutes there was still no movement, the PC would log off; any unsaved files would be lost.  This is commonly done in other institutions and many of you have supported its use here.   The allowed "idle" time period may differ by floor; in any case it will be well publicised.

Facebook restriction:  to reduce personal/recreational usage at busy times, Facebook could be made unavailable during certain hours.   The April survey asks your opinion on this idea.