Gilreath, ''Low Tech' Message System Proves Popular', NCSU Libraries Newsletter v22n05 (December 1994)
 
_The NCSU Libraries Newsletter_
Volume 22 no. 5
December 1994
Gilreath, Charles L.01
"'Low Tech' Message System Proves Popular"


In these days of electronic messages and Internet surfing, it is 
easy to overlook more basic needs of people trying to 
communicate with each other.  A case in point is the desire of 
library users to alert study partners of their whereabouts in 
the library or of changes in their plans.  Small scraps of paper 
with notes such as, "Kelly, we're in the study room on the 
seventh floor. Jeff" or "John, we waited for 15 minutes and had 
to go on. Call me later. Jason" have long been found posted at 
various locations in the library.  The effectiveness of such 
messages are marginal at best, and they have been a minor 
problem for library staff who later must go around and remove 
them from walls and doors.

An experiment has been initiated by staff members in the 
Access Services Department to solve this problem for library 
users and staff.  Beginning in late October, a blue binder has 
been placed on the circulation desk at the main entrance to the 
library in which library users can leave messages for each 
other.  Messages are available for all to read, and staff clear 
out old pages each morning.  Response from users has been 
overwhelmingly positive, proof that not all great ideas have to 
be high tech.