ALIA West

June 2005

for the free skeleton posters

Like many libraries, each year the Curtin University of Technology library and information service asks for user feedback about the quality of our libraries and the services they provide. The feedback we receive is used to improve our libraries and to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of our users.

Feedback received in the 2004 survey revealed that library users were experiencing difficulties in finding relevant material in our libraries and on our databases and catalogues. We felt that the best solution to this problem was to encourage users to 'just ask' a librarian for assistance. To make this easier we introduced additional ways for users to contact a librarian.

Library users can now:

• SMS a query.
• Ask a reference question online @ ask online.
• Contact us electronically.

To reinforce this simple answer we decided to create a number of posters and signs that encouraged users to 'just ask' their librarian. After some creative discussion, rife with puns, we settled on the idea of using an image of a skeleton to represent a library user who had waited too long to ask a librarian for help.

Fortunately the Teaching Resources Library (TRL) at Curtin had a number of skeletons just hanging out to audition for the part of 'the skeleton' in the new series. After a couple of meetings, terms were agreed and we had a semester contract with George, a well loved skeleton who had shacked up with his skeletal sweetheart, Mildred, down at the TRL.

After some minor, and some not so minor, reconstructive craniofacial surgery, George performed provocatively for the camera and charmed staff with his tacit humour and implicit wit. George can now been seen on display boards and lift signs reminding users to 'just ask' their librarian. Some lucky library visitors can even meet the real George at his new desk on level 3 of the Robertson Library - don't be surprised though if you find that fame has made him somewhat detached and indifferent.

In a spirit of professional co-operation we are offering all libraries the electronic artwork (minus the Curtin logo) to our skeleton series of posters completely free of charge. If you would like to take up this offer please contact James Butterfield (please remove '.nospam' from address) ph 08 9266 4186.

James Butterfield