Law Library Relocation

The FAQ for info related to the temporary relocation of Law Library staff during construction.
http://library.law.utoronto.ca/bora-laskin-law-library-birge-carnegie-faq

Disaster Plan Locations

Where to find the Disaster Plan which John T. updates annually.
Please ensure you are aware of its location so you can consult it if it is ever necessary.

1. On the web:
a.  Go the main UTL page. Click on Services, click on Disaster Plan.
You will end up here: http://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/disaster-plans
b.  Go to the main Thomas Fisher page, click on Services, Click on Conservation & Preservation.
You will end up  here: http://fisher.library.utoronto.ca/services/conservation-preservation

2. Physical copies at Gerstein:
a. Administration: Vidya’s desk in the top tray.
b. Information Desk
c. Resource Sharing:  On bulletin board.
d. Resource Sharing & Access Unit:  Circulation Desk
e. Each unit head should also have a copy.


Sandra Langlands
April 15, 2013

New Portal Info Notifications

Through the Portal Info support site (http://www.portalinfo.utoronto.ca) we have created a new Notifications module that resides on the right hand side of the front page.  The intent of the module is to inform our user base of updates or problems that might affect the use of some of the tools that are integrated or accessed through the Portal, for example Blackboard Collaborate.  In order to make it easier to reach everyone we have also created an RSS feed, http://www.portalinfo.utoronto.ca/notifications.xml. 

I thought any of you who provide educational technology support might be interested in subscribing and/or passing the information on to your community.

The Portal Status module and the System Status page (http://www.systemstatus.utoronto.ca/system/systems/portal) is still the method for providing information about the Portal and its operation.

Ryan Green
February 20, 2013

Student Mental Health resources

I attended a workshop at ODLC put on by Kate Witheridge from Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS). She outlined several common conditions that students may suffer from, and also pointed out the range of health services for students on campus. Though we would not refer a patron to these services unless they ask, they are good to know just in case someone comes in and asks for help if they are feeling anxious/overwhelmed/depressed about the amount of work they have to do.

Academic Success Centre:

Offers lectures, workshops and counselling to help with:

Time management, Dealing with procrastination, Exam preparation & writing, Improving concentration, Taking lecture notes, Stress management, Overcoming writer's blocks, etc.

http://www.asc.utoronto.ca/

CAPS (Counselling and Psychological Services):

Offers individual counselling, psychotherapy, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, workshops, and psychiatric medication services. The interprofessional team offers assessment, treatment and referrals for a wide range of emotional and psychological problems, the most common being depression, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, OCD and attention deficit.

http://caps.utoronto.ca/main.htm

Student Health Services:

Offers  students the same services as a family doctor's office, and more. Provides confidential, student-centered health care, including comprehensive medical care, travel medicine and education, immunization, and referrals for specialized treatment.

http://healthservices.utoronto.ca/Main.htm

Accessibility Services:

Provides academic accommodations in collaboration with students, staff and faculty to support students with documented disabilities in achieving academic and co-curricular success. Some conditions include: ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Brain Injury and Concussion, Chronic Health, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Learning Disability, Mental Health, Mobility and Functional, Low Vision / Legally Blind, Temporary Injuries

http://www.accessibility.utoronto.ca/

Grief Support:

Support on campus includes: student grief dinners, academic advising, support groups, spiritual care, counselling and memorial creation

http://www.multifaith.utoronto.ca/GriefSupport.htm/

 

My Documents folder on Public PCs

In the past, if a user left their personal documents on our public computers within the My Documents folder, those files would be saved there for a week. After that the network would automatically delete them.

This has now changed to 4 days. After that the network will automatically delete any files left in the My Documents folder.

This is not something users do a lot of. It is more of a "safety" feature in case someone forgets their files.

This only applies to the My Documents folder. Files left elsewhere are automatically deleted as soon as the user logs out of the desktop.

New Lost and Found Procedures

More background information, as well as suggestions for handling problems, regarding the new lost and found 'locked box' at Gerstein library:

Campus wide Lost and Found is a service of Facilities and Services (caretaking) not the Library. The situation here now is no different than if a student lost, or thinks they lost something in a classroom, sports facility, or elsewhere on campus.

With regard to Facilities and Services, they do not have the staffing to allow daily trips to the Library, nor can they be expected to make a special trip every time someone calls. 

Consequently, staff needs to be careful about managing expectations regarding the service.  If someone approaches you saying they “may have lost something in the Library” please respond with  “no matter where on campus you lost “x” it will end up at the Lost and Found office on McCall Street”. We do not have access to the box but whatever is in it is taken to the McCall Street address once a week.  

If on the other hand they say “I discovered when I went out to my car that I left my keys at a carrel and someone sitting nearby said they put them in the lost and found box”, it would be worth calling to see if the supervisor can come up to open the box.  It should be understood, however, that if the supervisor is not in, if it is outside the hours they are available or that they just can’t manage it, that there is no recourse but to wait until the contents of the box reach McCall Street.  The number to contact is 416-978-6252 at all times for Lost and Found.

It has also been pointed out that on the Lost and Found website (http://www.fs.utoronto.ca/caretaking/lost.htm)  people are told they can check the lost and found office in the building.  This may be true of a number of buildings on campus but is not true of ours as we do not have such an office here.

One exception to all of the above is with regard to TCards.  TCards are actually the property of the TCard office and any cards handed in will continue to be sent to the TCard office as in the past.

Feb. 13, 2013

Lost wallets, passports, etc.

If a patron wishes to check if we have received a lost wallet, passport, or any governmental issued photoID, i.e. driver’s license, health card or citizen’s card we can contact the Facilities and Services supervisor at 416.684.4485.  This number is also found on the contact sheet in the most left hand cupboard at the  Loan Services desk.  If possible they will come and open the box.  The supervisor is typically not available after 2pm.
Renata (Feb 7, 2013)

Cost of Printing and Photocopying

Just a refresher as I get these mixed up all the time!

Printing = 15c per page, $1 per page for colour
Photocopying= 10c per page with a t-card, 15c per page with change
Scanning= free, but the user must have a balance on their t-card for the scanner to work

Gerstein Lost and Found Procedures

This is a copy of the procedures sent out by Renata on January 22, 2013.

Gerstein Lost and Found Procedures

Date: January 21, 2013

1.0       Policy

This policy is to ensure unclaimed materials found in the University of Toronto Library (UTL) are handled securely and accountably according to University’s Facilities and Service’s Caretaking protocol on Lost and Found.

2.0              Purpose

2.1              To declare that UTL is not at all responsible nor liable for any lost materials in its

            libraries.

2.2              The sole responsibility for processing lost and found materials is with  Caretaking,

            Facilities and Services.

2.3           The Library and its staff will endeavor to assist library patrons in finding their lost

           materials by directing them accordingly.

To this end, the following procedure is established outlining the responsibilities of each party involved:

3.0       Procedures

3.1       Library Staff

3.1.1    When a patron attempts to hand in a found article in the library, the library staff

will immediately instruct the bearer to deposit the article in the lost and found box by the Loan Services Desk.

3.1.2    Articles will be removed from the box on Fridays only. Articles in each case will only be available for pick-up at the Lost & Found Office after 2:00 pm on the day of pick-up, or later.

3.1.3    Library staff will direct claimants of lost item(s) to call the University’s

Caretaking, Lost and Found Office at 416-978-6252 or

direct them to 256 McCaul St. - 3rd Floor - ring the "Lost & Found" buzzer.

McCaul St runs south from College St. East of King's College Rd.

3.1.4    If a patron claims a lost wallet, passport, or any governmental issued photoID, i.e. driver’s license, health card, citizen’s card, instruct the patron to call Campus

Police at 416-978-2323.

Exception:      All TCards found and returned to the library are handled internally.

Library staff must take these cards and follow their library protocol for ensuring they are immediately returned to the TCard Office.

3.1.5    Oversized articles will be placed adjacent to or atop the Lost and Found box.

3.1.6    Articles that are abruptly left at any service desk must be immediately placed in or

            on the Lost and Found box.

3.1.7    Library staff must avoid handling or taking possession of any found articles.

3.2       Caretaking

3.2.1    Caretaking Services are responsible for the collection and disposal of Lost &

Found articles from all buildings on the St. George Campus.

3.2.3    The Caretaking’s Lost and Found website provides the following instructions on

how a claimant may find their belongings;

a)         Clothing, books, binders, umbrellas:

- check by the Lost and Found box (applies only to Robarts and Gerstein

  Libraries)

- check at the caretaker's office in the building where the article was lost      

- if the article is not there, check with the main Caretaking Service Office.

b)         Cell phones, wallets, computers, bicycles, jewelry:

- check with the main Caretaking Service Office or Campus Police.

3.3.      Campus Police

3.3.1    At their discretion, Campus Police may attempt to retrieve lost articles from the

Lost and Found box for a claimant should the lost article be a government issued

photoID.

3.3.2    Campus Police may contact a Caretaking supervisor to assist with finding and retrieving the lost article from the Lost and Found box in the library.

3.4       Library Patrol

3.4.1    As with Library staff, a Library Patrol will direct claimants of lost item(s) to call

the University’s Caretaking, Lost and Found Office at 416-978-6252 or

direct them to 256 McCaul St. - 3rd Floor - ring the "Lost & Found" buzzer.

McCaul St runs south from College St. East of King's College Rd.

3.4.2   If a patron claims a lost wallet, passport, or any governmental issued photoID, i.e., driver’s license, health card, citizenship card, instruct the patron to call Campus Police at 416-978-2323.

3.4.3    Given the opportunity, a Library Patrol will extend this service to a claimant by making the appropriate phone calls to either Caretaking or Campus Police.