Entries by Tim Richards

The mission of the Mardigian Library is to provide access to authoritative sources of information and knowledge. We are also committed to providing an environment and resources that support student learning. The vast majority of those who use the library and its resources respect the role of the library and understand that the library building is a shared space devoted to the pursuit of knowledge.

However, I have recently received multiple complaints about excessive noise in the library building, trash left behind, and reports of rude conduct. Cleaning staff are noticing numerous food/drink spills, which require extra cleaning and increase labor costs.
It is simply rude and thoughtless to leave trash around for others to pick up. Spilling food and drink causes extra work for maintenance crews; extra cleaning and trash pick up increases maintenance costs. I hope that all who read this will make it a point to pick up after themselves and to remind others to do the same.

We opened Club Cappuccino several years ago to meet a clear student desire to have access to food and beverages during long days and evenings of study and research. Without better “self-policing,” we may be forced to re-think whether we should continue to provide space for Club Cappuccino and whether we should continue our long-standing policy of allowing food and beverages in the library.

We have recently experienced a distressingly high level of loud and disruptive behavior by people who do not respect your rights or the role of the library. We employ a security guard in the evenings specifically to address behavior problems. Even with this presence, behavioral problems do occur.

One of our expectations is that University of Michigan-Dearborn students are mature individuals who are serious about learning, who understand what behavior is acceptable in public places, and who take responsibility for their own behavior. I am confident that these complaints result from the behavior of a small number of irresponsible people who simply do not respect the rights of others.

We need your help. Library staff members alone can do little to control these unwelcome behaviors, but together, we can address these problems. When inappropriate behavior occurs, inform the Circulation Desk staff so we can alert the library security guard and/or Public Safety officers to the problem.


Tim Richards
Director, Mardigian Library

Public printing in the library has become a big headache for everyone. A decade or so ago, when we first began to have a significant amount of material available electronically, we very intentionally elected to not charge students for printing. Previously, we made these kinds of resources available in paper and students could easily read them. If they chose to pay to make photocopies of material for their convenience, they could -- it was up to them. For many people, including me, reading intellectually challenging material on a computer screen is an obstacle to understanding. Many of us need to see the material in print, on paper. This perspective was the basis for our decision to not pass on the cost of printing to UM-D students. Little did we know!!!

Over time, the depth and breadth of materials that are available electronically have grown tremendously. At the same time, word seems to have spread around the region that ANYONE can come to the Mardigian Library and print whatever they want for free. I have heard many horror stories about students who attend other universities and colleges in the area coming here to take advantage of our free printing. Sadly, it is also true that some UM-D students abuse the free printing privilege. Of course, printing is not free--it costs the library a considerable amount of money to offer this service, which is intended to benefit UM-D students in completing course work and conducting research. Things have clearly gotten out of hand. We are in the process of doing something about it.

Specifically, by January 1, 2008 the library will have a means of distinguishing between UM-Dearborn users and "guests." We will continue to allow UM-Dearborn students, faculty members and staff members to print at no cost, while requiring that guests pay a fee for printing. We are not yet certain of the mechanics, but tentatively, our plan is that, temporarily, beginning in January 2008 EVERYONE will pick up printing jobs at the Circulation desk. Students will not be charged for printing; guests will be charged for printing.

As soon as we are able to put the technology in place, those who authenticate as UM-Dearborn students/faculty/staff will be able to print as they do currently while those who sign in as "guests" will go to a service station where their print jobs will be released by a library staff member in exchange for payment. We are trying very hard to put the system in place to allow authenticated UM-D users to continue printing as they always have (and only route guests to the Circulation desk) by January but we need the temporary plan in case we are unable to get everything in place by January. We will try to do that.

It is our expectation that a further step in the process to get a handle on printing will be to institute a printing quota for UM-Dearborn users. If users choose to print beyond their allowed quota, they will need to pay, either on a per-job basis or by adding money to an "account." We do not yet know what that mechanism will be or what the print quota will be. Stay tuned.