If you are enjoying the Technology On Your Own Terms series this fall or if you just want to learn more about Google, you can view the DVD Google World, a new addition to the Media Resources Collection. This film scrutinizes Google’s history, corporate culture, business practices and ambitions. Check for its availability by searching our Library catalog at http://wml.scranton.edu/search.
Change of Location for 10/27 Schemel Forum Lunch
Today’s Schemel Forum Luncheon – China Today: What We Need to Know, will be in the DeNaples Center Ballroom from 12-1 p.m. and not Brennan Hall as stated in the brochure.
Android mobile access to My.scranton
We’ve heard from a few students lately about not being able to access my.scranton from their Android phones. When they try to log in, they get an error message that looks like this:
uPortal ErrorSorry, but uPortal encountered an error that is preventing it from rendering. The error must be corrected by system administrators. Try again later.
We talked to our friends over in the University’s Planning and Information Resources office, and they said that the problem isn’t the Android OS but Chrome — so if Android users download Firefox as their mobile browser instead, they should be able to get into my.scranton just fine. Spread the word, Android owners! And thanks for the tip, PIR!
Save Money AND Paper
Too often, we see students printing out page after page of PowerPoint lecture slides, with just a few words on each page. Why not save money AND save paper by printing multiple slides per page?
The Weinberg Library Green Team will be posting these fliers (printed on reused paper, naturally) around our computer labs to remind all of our students and patrons to be conscious of how much they’re using. If you have any trouble with mutiple-slide printing, just ask for help at the Reference Desk!
Google Voice Workshop
We’ve had a lot of good times in our Technology On Your Own Terms series this fall. Bonnie taught us how Google search works; Tim showed us how we could make collaborative drawings in Docs. We even made our own custom maps in Google Maps. But before the Fall 2010 series to comes to an end, you still have one more chance to learn a little more about Google products and services.
On Thursday, November 4 from 12pm-1pm, CTLE’s Eugeniu Grigorescu will teach our last Fall workshop, titled Does Google Give You A Voice? He’ll guide you through an exploration of Google Voice, a recently-made-public service of the search giant. Google Voice offers one central phone number, which can be setup to call your other phones based on caller, time of day, etc. Other features of the service include visual voicemail, personalized greetings, voicemail transcription, international calling, and a lot more. It is easy to set up… Learn how!
As usual, we’ll be in WML 306. Remember, all faculty and staff members are welcome, but seats are limited – so please register for sessions you plan to attend at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration (select Special Event).
Go Green with GoodGuide
The Weinberg Memorial Library has been working hard lately to make sure that our building is as sustainable as possible. We set up a green team, we’ve upgraded our lights with more energy-efficient bulbs, and we’re really pushing recycling.
But the Library faculty and staff have also been chatting lately about the best ways that we can go green in our personal lives. Many of us have started carrying reusable water bottles and coffee mugs instead of using disposable cups. Some of us have switched to buying recycled paper towels and napkins for our homes. The more you think about going green, though, the more confusing it can get. A lot of products these days advertise themselves as green, but which ones are really best for the environment?
Enter GoodGuide, a website created by a University of California-Berkeley professor of environmental policy that rates commonly used products on how environmentally friendly and healthy they are. GoodGuide uses a pretty intense methodology to examine each product, from its contents to the impact of its manufacturing processes. But they also translate that information into scores that are easy for consumers to understand, and their website makes it easy to compare product types across brands. (For example, I compared brands of contact solution – only to find out that the product I’ve been using for years got one of the worst rankings!)
GoodGuide is a “B Corporation,” which means that it’s a for-profit company that has made a public commitment to environmentalism and social justice. The company makes money by selling its analysis results back to manufacturers or retailers who want to use it for market research or to improve their products (see this recent Newsweek article on GoodGuide’s business strategy). So their business depends on the accuracy of their information, which makes me feel a little more comfortable trusting their website. I also like that if you want more information about a product, you can drill down to see how GoodGuide assigned its score and get details on how the ingredients and life cycle assessment were judged. And of course I’m excited to try GoodGuide’s free iPhone app – you can scan barcodes of products to get environmental ratings on the go, while you’re shopping.
So take a second to search for some of your favorite brands – you might find that a greener option is just another step down the grocery aisle!
Information Literacy Stipends for 2010-2011
Call to University Faculty:
Do you want to enhance your students’ research skills? Then an Information Literacy Stipend may be just what you need!
This is an opportunity for you to strengthen students’ research skills in your discipline.
If you are awarded one of the five (5) stipends available for 2010-2011, you will collaborate with a faculty librarian to develop assignments that focus on information literacy skills, and you will also receive a $1,000.00 stipend.
What is information literacy? Why is it important?
Information Literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to “recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) has developed competency standards as a guide to help faculty integrate information literacy into their courses.
To apply…Submit a proposal, not to exceed 2 pages, that includes the following:
- Course name and number
- Student learning outcomes related to Information Literacy Standards
(http://academic.scranton.edu/department/wml/infolit.html)
- Assessment plan to determine how student learning outcomes will be evaluated
- Projected Timeline (Spring/Fall 2011 or Spring 2012)
- Name of the Library Faculty member with whom you will collaborate
Proposals will be reviewed by the Library Advisory Committee’s Information Literacy Subcommittee. Stipends are subject to taxes. Upon completion of the course, you must submit a report documenting the impact that the information literacy component had on student learning outcomes to the Dean of the Library and Information Fluency. This report will be posted on the Library’s Web site.
If you are interested, we can schedule an information session as well as connect you with someone who has completed a successful grant. Examples of previous stipends are posted on the Library’s Web site. For more information, contact Bonnie Oldham, Information Literacy Coordinator at 941-4000 or bonnie.oldham@scranton.edu.
Please submit applications via campus mail to:
Charles Kratz
Dean of Library and Information Fluency
Weinberg Memorial Library
941-4008
Application Deadline:
Monday, November 1, 2010
A Last Minute Candidate for Your Vote!
We have received one more chair for consideration from Sauder. It is called the “Reflect” and will come with a tablet arm and cup holder. It has been put in the 1st floor Bound Periodicals area with the other samples. All of the samples will be here through next Thursday (Oct. 14).
Feel free to take a test drive!
Encore 4.0 is live!
The production upgrade to Encore 4.0 is complete. There are some new features in place and other customizations that are upcoming. Please take it for a test drive, kick the tires and let us know what you think.
Game Night!
When you return from Fall Break come join us for a fun game night! Next Wednesday from 8-11PM we’ll be hosting the game night in the New 24 Hour Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library! We’ll be playing Rock Band, MarioKart, Wii Fit & more! We’ll also have traditional board games, puzzles & SNACKS!
You can just stop on by Wednesday the 13th at 8PM! You can also RSVP on our Facebook Event and share it with your friends. All students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend! We’ll see you then!