Information Services Newsletter
From the Assistant Director IT User Services

Once again it is time to issue our Newsletter. A busy year has produced several service enhancements and introduced further projects to bring about yet more interesting and relevant developments. In this issue we report on the highly successful ‘self service’ password change systems that, along with the Summer 2003 student desktop redesign, has made a significant impact on service quality and associated user support services. Our video-conference service has been progressively developing and I encourage you to avail of the forthcoming events which will offer training and promotional information. Media technology services are maturing and the introduction of an online booking service now provides its users with enhanced flexibility. As we approach the summer period, please do maintain a watch on our web pages where announcements will be made concerning various information requests as we plan for 2004/05.

The University of Ulster Library is a responsive service that is always prepared to adapt to better meet the needs of it’s users. We keep a careful eye on how and when people use our libraries. We also take into account any comments about our service that are made at Library / Student liaison meetings or submitted to us on 3Cs forms.

The recent extension of our opening hours is an example of how we can adapt our service in order achieve a better “fit” with what users want. All our main libraries now open earlier, at 8.45am, while the Magee LRC now stays open an hour later, until 10.00pm, in the evening. Use of some of our libraries on Saturday mornings had been dropping off significantly, while students were requesting Sunday opening. Our response has been to introduce in February 2004 new opening hours from 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm on Saturdays in Coleraine, and on Saturdays and Sundays in Magee and Jordanstown.

Initial indications show that these changes, especially 8.45 am opening, are proving very popular with our users. We will continue to monitor library usage in order to see if further improvements can be made, and we will always welcome user’s comments on opening hours.

Noel Wilson