Author: Kristen A. Yarmey

Wireless Printing is finally here

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September 18, 2009

9:34 am

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At last! Students can print from their laptops to the Weinberg Memorial Library’s UniPrint system – wirelessly.

Here’s how it works:  First, install this new printing system to your laptop.  Note – we don’t yet have software ready for Mac or for 64-bit Vista computers, but we’re working on it!

Then, to send a print job from a wireless connection to the UniPrint station on the first floor of the Library, just log in into RoyalAir or connect to Resnet. All wireless jobs, whether you’re using your laptop inside the Library or elsewhere on campus, go to the first floor print station in the Pro Deo Room (which you can access 24 hours a day, even after the Library has closed, by swiping in with your Royal Card).

When you print a job using this system, you’ll be prompted to enter a name for the job, a password and your username. Within two hours, go to the Library and swipe your Royal Card at the UniPrint Station in the Pro Deo Room where your documents will be printed and a per page fee will be charged. If you wait longer than two hours, your print jobs will be purged – you’ll have to resend the job to the UniPrint Station.

Remember, the Library subsidizes 200 prints for each student in the fall semester, 50 subsidized prints for students taking an Intersession class and 200 in the spring – see our post on “Printing in the Library – The Inside Scoop” for details.

This is a new service at the Library, so if you run into any problems, please let us know – either tell a Library staff member, comment here on our blog, or post to our Facebook or Twitter pages.

UPDATE: As of February 2010, wireless printing is now available for Macs. Instructions are here.

What Students Should Know about Peer to Peer File Sharing

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September 16, 2009

2:02 pm

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Photo courtesy of Phoney Nickle, under a Creative Commons license
Photo courtesy of flickr user Phoney Nickle, under a Creative Commons license

Here at the Library, we love pirates.  (Who doesn’t?)  But we don’t love hearing about our students being pirates – that is, pirating music, movies, or other copyrighted material.

Here’s what you need to know about pirating:  Downloading or distributing whole copies of copyrighted material for personal use or entertainment without *explicit* permission from the copyright owner is against the law – and the movie and music industries are increasingly searching for and prosecuting people who violate their copyright (yes, including students – for a first hand account, see “How it feels to be sued for $4.5 million,” by Joel Tenebaum).

For this reason, the University of Scranton is particularly concerned about peer-to-peer file sharing.  Not all file sharing is illegal – you can legally share content that you’ve created, or content for which the creator has given permission to share  (for example, some artists and musicians choose to share using a Creative Commons license – like the photographer who took the pirate photo that we’ve used at the top of this post).  But sharing anything that’s under copyright – and that’s mostly everything! – is a violation of both federal law and the University’s Student Computing Policy.

As a result, the University prohibits some peer-to-peer applications and limits bandwidth on others, and student violations  are taken very seriously – see the  University’s Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Policy.

So what’s a movie-and-music-loving student to do?  There are *legal* ways to listen to music and watch movies either for free or for a low price.  For music, try out free internet radio stations like Pandora or playlist.com.  If you prefer to own your own mp3s, check out Amazon’s mp3 store – songs are often $0.99 or less, and each week samplers of new music are available for free.  For movies, become a fan of the University of Scranton Programming Board on Facebook to get the latest updates on free movie showings on campus.  If you’re willing to pay a few bucks, explore streaming music services from Netflix or iTunes.

Want to know more?  If you have questions about the University’s policies on file sharing, contact the Technology Support Center at extension 4357.  If you have general questions about copyright, feel free to ask a librarian – we have lots of resources on copyright and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Flu information from EBSCO and CDC

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September 10, 2009

9:56 am

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H1N1
A CDC image of H1N1

This year, the flu is a hot topic of conversation – between Pandemic H1N1 (popularly referred to as swine flu) and the regular old seasonal flu, there’s a lot to talk about.   If you want to make sure that you have all the facts, be sure to check out the Influenza Evidence-Based Information Portal.

The portal is a free service offered by EBSCO, a publishing company that provides many of the Weinberg Memorial Library’s subscription databases.   In order for information to be included in the portal, it has to be evidence-based – which means that it’s based on the best available research findings.  The portal will be updated as new evidence comes in throughout the 2009-2010 flu season.

The portal features three sections – one each for clinicians, nurses, and patients.  The patient section includes information about both Pandemic H1N1 influenza and seasonal influenza – including their causes, symptoms, and recommended prevention and treatment.  There’s also information about both the seasonal vaccine and H1N1 vaccine, from their risks to who should and should not get each vaccine (did you know that people who are allergic to eggs shouldn’t get the H1N1 vaccine?).

For more information about the flu, also check out the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) pages  on H1N1 and the seasonal flu.  You’ll find resources on current flu activity in both the United States and internationally, as well as additional information on vaccines for both strains of influenza.

And don’t forget to follow CDC’s recommendations for preventing the spread of influenza — cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze, wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, and stay home if you feel sick.  Let’s hope the University of Scranton community stays healthy this year!

Update: The Pennsylvania Department of Health just released a new website, H1N1 in PA. It includes a calendar feature that will be updated to show when the vaccine will become available in your area.
Another update: The University of Scranton now has its own H1N1 information page.

Last but not least: We’re keeping a running list of useful H1N1 resources on our Research Guides wiki.

Interdependence Day 2009

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September 8, 2009

10:18 am

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Schemel Forum

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The city of Scranton is celebrating Interdependence Day this year on Thursday, September 10.  Launched in Philadelphia in 2003, Interdependence Day was created in reaction to the events of September 11, 2001 and is meant to be a time to reflect on how all peoples of the world are connected.

Several interdependence events will be held throughout the city and Northeastern Pennsylvania this week.  On Thursday, Kevin Klose, dean of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, will give the keynote address entitled “We the iPhone People: A Revolutionary Interdependence” at 5:30pm at the William J. Nealon Federal Building.  While this event is by invitation only, University of Scranton community members are welcome to attend “All You Have to Do is Listen,” a talk by NPR commentator Rob Kapilow, planned for Wednesday, September 16 at 7:30pm in the Houlihan McLean Center.

Many thanks to Sondra Myers, co-founder of Interdependence Day, Senior Fellow for International, Civic and Cultural Projects at the University of Scranton, and director of the Weinberg Memorial Library’s  Schemel Forum, for coordinating this year’s Interdependence Day events.

P.S. Interested in learning more about interdependence?  Browse the Weinberg Memorial Library’s catalog and check out one of our books.

Update: The University’s Associate Provost for civic engagement and University mission, Dr. Steven Jones, wrote a column on interdependence for the 9/11/2009 Scranton Times Tribune.

Tweet Your Words

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September 2, 2009

9:25 am

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TweetYourWords

Our first Technology on Your Own Terms workshop is coming up on September 15th!  If you’re a University of Scranton faculty or staff member and would like to learn how to use Twitter, come join us – just be sure to register (under Special Events), since seats are limited.

Update: Did you miss “Tweet Your Words”? Notes from the workshop, along with lists of University of Scranton and Scranton-area tweeters, are posted on the Library’s Research Guides wiki.

Technology on Your Own Terms

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August 31, 2009

2:27 pm

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The Weinberg Memorial Library and the Center for Teaching & Learning Excellence (CTLE) are proud to announce a new faculty and staff advancement series, Technology on Your Own Terms.  The series will introduce University faculty and staff to emerging technologies in a hands-on environment, in order to encourage innovation in the workplace and in the classroom.

Technology on Your Own Terms will begin this Fall with four sessions:

Tweet Your Words
Tuesday, September 15 from 12pm – 1pm (WML 306)

You’ve heard about Twitter on the news – now find out what it’s really like.  In this workshop, you’ll create a Twitter account and post  your first tweet.  You’ll also learn how to follow other tweeters and find useful information in the Twitterverse.  (Taught by Kristen Yarmey-Tylutki, Library)

Curl Up with a Kindle
Thursday, October 1 from 12pm – 1pm (WML 306)

Learn how to use an entirely new class of device -a convenient, portable reading device with the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. The device is the Amazon Kindle.  During this workshop, you will learn how to use many of the Kindle’s features including digital highlights and notes. (Taught by Aileen McHale, CTLE)

Really Simple Steps for Managing the Web: An Introduction to RSS
Tuesday, October 13 from 12pm – 1pm (WML 306)

This workshop will explain how RSS feeds and RSS readers can help you manage the abundance of information available on the web.  You’ll create a Google Reader account and will learn to import, organize, search, and share up-to-date content from your favorite websites.  (Taught by Kristen Yarmey-Tylutki, Library)

Stay Alert! Keeping Your Research Up-to-Date
Thursday, October 29, from 11:30am – 12:30pm (WML 306)

Do you spend an inordinate amount of time keeping your research up-to-date? During this workshop you will learn how to set up e-mail alerts and use RSS feeds to gather scholarly information.  (Taught by Bonnie Oldham, Library)

Sessions will be taught in Weinberg Memorial Library Room 306. All faculty and staff members are welcome, but seats are limited, so please register for sessions you plan to attend (select Special Event).

Register today for University for a Day

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August 28, 2009

4:01 pm

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schemelforum

The Second Annual University for a Day
Saturday, September 12, 2009
8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Start the new season thinking! We invite you to join us for a day of listening to, reflecting on and talking about some ideas and people that have changed our world.  Take part in this feast for the mind at The Schemel Forum’s second annual University for the Day.

Full Schedule:

8:45am – 9:30am Registration

9:30am – 10:45am Toni Morrison’s A Mercy: A Paradigm and a Cautionary Tale of Interdependence in a New World (presented by Stephen Whittaker, Professor of English and Theater)

11:00am – 12:15pm Rosalind Franklin: Another Twist in the DNA Double Helix (presented by Janice Voltzow, Professor of Biology)

12:30pm – 1:30pm Buffet Luncheon

1:45pm – 3:00pm The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Run it: White Collar Crime and the Global Financial Crisis (presented by David Friedrichs, Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice)

3:15pm – 4:30pm Globalization: For Better and Worse (presented by Goodwin Cooke, Professor of International Studies at Syracuse University)

4:30pm – 5:15pm Reception

All this plus morning coffee, lunch and a closing wine reception in very good company for a very low price! Free to current Schemel Forum Members. $25.00 Schemel Forum Non-Members.  Reservations are required, so please register by contacting Kym Balthazar Fetsko, Schemel Forum Events Coordinator, at 570-941-7816 or fetskok2 (at) scranton (dot) edu.  Also be sure to check out the full Schemel Forum fall schedule!

University for a Day is made possible through the generous support of the Neighborhood Development Trust Fund and the Scranton Area Foundation.

Introducing the Library Research Guides Wiki

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August 25, 2009

10:09 am

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ResearchGuidesWiki The Weinberg Memorial Library is proud to announce a new collaborative project this fall –  the University of Scranton Library Research Guides!

The Research Guides basically act as a starting point, where students and other researchers can find useful resources in their discipline.  We’re using the Guides as a “home” to bring together helpful databases, reference books, e-books, and web resources for each subject.  While we’re focusing on traditional academic disciplines, we’re also creating Research Guides for interdisciplinary issues like Sustainability and New Technology.

The best thing about the Research Guides, though, is that they’re in wiki format (like Wikipedia) – which means that anyone can contribute links or references they find useful in their work.  It also means that the Research Guides are fluid.  Unlike static web pages, they will change and adapt over time as contributors add, update, and reorganize resources.

We’d like to invite all members of the University of Scranton community to view, edit, and improve our Research Guides.  If you’re new to wiki editing, take a minute to visit our Getting Started page.  Let us know if you have questions, comments, or suggestions.  We’re looking forward to collaborating with you!

Printing in the Library – The Inside Scoop

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August 21, 2009

9:18 am

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UniPrint

Need to print that syllabus, those lecture notes, that paper?  You can do it in the Library!  We have two UniPrint stations (one on the First Floor, in the Pro Deo Room, and one on the Second Floor at the top of the stairs) for printing from computer workstations.

To cover the cost of paper and toner, the Library does charge a small fee for printing from our stations – 7 cents per page, debited from your Royal Card account.  However, to make sure you start the semester on the right foot, the Library subsidizes your first 200 prints each semester!

We get a lot of questions about printing, so here are a few details:

  • The Library subsidizes your first 200 prints in the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 semesters.
  • If you’re taking an Intersession class, you’ll also get your first 50 prints subsidized in January.
  • Your subsidized prints should be available on your Royal Card starting with the first day of classes.
  • Unused subsidized prints “roll over” from Fall and Intersession into Spring… but any prints that are unused by the end of summer do not roll over into Fall 2010.
  • We do not subsidize photocopies.
  • When you send a print “job” to the UniPrint system, it will stay in the print queue for 2 hours – so make sure you go to the station and print it out before it expires.
  • If you are having trouble printing, ask for help at the Reference Desk!

Please remember to “think green” and print only what you need.  If you’re printing PowerPoint slides, think about printing 6 slides per page – you’ll save 5 sheets of paper.

P.S. You asked us for wireless printing- and we’re working on it! We’re testing it right now and will let you know when it’s ready to go.

Update: Wireless printing is now available for most PCs.  We’re still working on Macs and 64-bit Vista computers.

Farewell, Professor Ramos!

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August 17, 2009

3:23 pm

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Prof. Donna Ramos and her official retirement chair
Prof. Donna Ramos and her official retirement chair

Today, the Library faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the retirement of Asst. Professor Donna Ramos, who has been the Weinberg Memorial Library’s cataloging librarian for 35 years.  At the luncheon, Library Dean Charles Kratz and Library Chair Betsey Moylan spoke about Donna’s commitment and dedication to her work.  Prof. Ramos was also presented with the “Ramos Gate,” a tribute to cataloging, retirement, and gardening handmade by Library staff member Barb Evans and a team of Library student workers, as well as an official University of Scranton chair.

We hope that Prof. Ramos will now have plenty of time to work in her garden, even though she will be greatly missed by the entire Weinberg Memorial Library family.