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Feedback and developments

Leave your feedback

The Library is here to support the ECU community’s study, research and teaching and learning activities.

We appreciate hearing what you have to say. You can provide your feedback by filling in our feedback form.

If you’d like to provide verbal feedback, please contact our team on +618 6304 5525.

Complete an online form

Recent developments

Your feedback is important to us and feeds into how we develop Library services and facilities. See a list of recent improvements and innovations, below.

  • Link to journal search.

When we launched the new Library website this year we grouped search links and tips together. You’ll find the option for 'Advanced Search' on the home page, directly under the search bar. If you click Advanced Search, then click the dropdown arrow for ‘Resources’ and select A-Z Lists, you can search for journals by journal title (‘Browse’ tab) and article title (‘Search’ tab).

If you know you'd like to search for individual journal articles by title in Library search (formerly Worldsearch), simply click ‘Search help’ from the home page, located directly under the search bar. The journal search link now sits on the search help web page, along with information about finding journal articles, best practice search tips and Google Scholar.

A recently added video for finding journal articles can also found on the search help web page.

  • A-Z Databases

The A-Z Databases link has moved to a more prominent space, just below the Library home page search bar.

  • Library Research Services web page

From attending a workshop through to publishing your thesis, Library Research Services are here to support ECU researchers. Now, you can find their services listed on one handy Library web page.

A Research Companion Library Guide has also been expanded - designed to provide a range of information resources for the complete research lifecycle.

  • Returns process

In response to an issue a student experienced, we have reviewed our returns process!

During opening hours, books can be returned at the Library enquiry desks and at the returns shelf at Joondalup (level 2). After hours, books can be returned through the after hours returns chutes located at each Library. Always check your Library account ('My Account') after you have borrowed or returned items. Sometimes things do go missing; if this happens to you, let us know straight away so that we can assist with their location.

Please note that laptops and dongles need to be returned to a Library staff member, at the enquiry desk at the Campus Library you borrowed from.

  • Fines

Fines have been removed from Main Collection items (please note: replacement costs may apply for lost or damaged items). Fines accrue on High Use Collection items, Laptops and Special Collections items, so please make sure you don’t keep them over their due time/date.

  • Online forms

We know you need an answer to your enquiries as fast as possible so you can get on with your assignments and proceed to the next step! To assist with popular enquiries, we’ve created a series of online forms that you can easily fill out online in a minute or two - click submit - and be sure a Library staff member will read and respond in the following 48 business hours.

The list of online forms relating to common Library enquiries are accessible here on our feedback and developments web page.

  • Referencing support from Library

We clarified the type of referencing support Library staff offer, and listed this on the Library's referencing web page.

  • Signage

We’ve reviewed our High Use Collection signage to see if we could make any signed information clearer for our users, and also made sure that our website and other communication channels – such as our digital signage – are working effectively with our print signage to enable students to easily find the information about Library services they are looking for.

  • Reciprocal Registration Procedure Updates

The ECU Reciprocal borrower procedure has been updated to meet latest WAGUL requirements for reciprocal borrower application.

  • Private working spaces

Each Campus Library has private and group study rooms available for students to book online.

Additionally, we introduced more individual study booths to the general study space on Level 3 at Joondalup when it was refurbished in 2023, as we know private study spaces are in high demand. We also rezoned Level 3, to increase the amount of space devoted to quiet study. The east side of the floor is now dedicated to quiet study. (There’re lots of collaborative study areas on Lower Level 1 and Level 2.) A note about power outlets: on Level 3 at Joondalup Library power outlets are available throughout the areas where the study desks are, and near the PC’s. Some of the new study booths also have access to power, along the wall. Many additional power outlets with USB chargers were added to Lower Level 1 and Level 2 during the refurbishment of those spaces in 2020. Phone charging stations can also be found at each Campus Library.

  • Keyword searching

ECU’s suite of Library Guides has its own dedicated search function built in to the software, so if you search on the Library Guides home page, all the valuable information your team of Librarians have compiled in the guides should appear in the results. Google indexes these pages however the ECU website does not, so please keep this in mind when searching.

It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the list of ECU Library Guides that explore general study skills development, as well as the guides that have been developed for your specific discipline or study area. They contain information that can save you hours when researching and preparing for projects and assignments!

  • Equipment upgrade

We wanted to make it easier for students to access and return physical items. We addressed this in 2023 by installing new book lockers, new smart-return shelves and upgraded after-hours return chutes. Our team has worked with specialist technicians over a period of months to correctly configure the equipment to the needs of our patrons. If you experience any issues our staff are available during Library opening hours to assist you.

Read more about the upgrade on Library news.

  • Locating subject-specific academic resources

We’ve rearranged our how-to guides web page to highlight our subject-specific Library Guides. These guides are compiled by our Librarians and, in addition to valuable industry information, they contain a shortlist of primary databases and journals containing academic resources for the associated subject area.

You can search for academic resources using Library search, or by our curated A-Z database list, using:

  • journal titles
  • article titles
  • subject area
  • author
  • and many other filters to define and refine your searches

To get started, you'll find instructions, tip sheets and how-to videos collated on our search help web page.

  • Noise levels

Our staff monitor noise levels throughout the Library in their daily procedures, conducting regular checks on each floor. We increase our patrols throughout our busiest times (for example during study weeks and exam weeks), and politely ask students to act courteously by reducing noise levels if the space has become too loud.

We have signage throughout our Libraries to indicate the numerous quiet and silent study areas.

Students are encouraged to use the group study rooms and collaborative and social floors when working in groups, ensuring those in need of quiet can focus.

Our staff are always happy to assist students to find a study area that suits their needs, so please ask for help when you require assistance!

  • Sensory spaces

Each Campus Library now has a dedicated ‘sensory space’. These are rooms students can visit to help calm the senses and regulate. Access to the sensory spaces must be pre-arranged with ECU’s Equity and Inclusion team.

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