System outage, Jan 7-13

The Technology Support Center has announced that, due to an upgrade of the University’s enterprise resource planning system (called BANNER), several University of Scranton systems will be unavailable from 4:30pm on January 7th through 8:30am on January 13th.  These systems include Self Service (UIS), web registration, course schedules, grades, transcripts, account and financial aid information, and the University Course Schedule. (See a full list at http://www.scranton.edu/myscranton.)

The good news is that University email, Angel, and Library resources *will* all be available during that time.  Just go to my.scranton as usual, and when you log in, you’ll get a set of links for email, Angel, and the Library.

If you have trouble, report problems to the Technology Support Center at 941-4357 or techsupport@scranton.edu.

Technology on Your Own Terms Spring Workshops

In Fall 2009, the Weinberg Memorial Library and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) started a new series of workshops for University faculty and staff called Technology on Your Own Terms.  Since we heard a lot of positive feedback about the Fall sessions, we’ve decided to continue the series with an additional four workshops this spring!

Technology on Your Own Terms is all about giving faculty and staff a chance to get some hands-on experience with new technology, so all classes are held in the Weinberg Memorial Library computer lab (Room 306).  All faculty and staff members are welcome, but seats are limited, so please register for any sessions that interest you at www.scranton.edu/ctleregistration (look under Special Event).

Pictures, Pictures Everywhere: The Magic of Compression
Wednesday, January 20, 12-1pm

As digital cameras become ubiquitous, users will be confronted with the issue of image storage and management.  This session will show you how to organize and manage the images you capture on your camera or phone, how to compress them, and how to make them email friendly. (Taught by Eugeniu Grigorescu, CTLE)

Can You See Me Now?: Creating Digital Web Albums to Share with Family and Friends
Friday, February 19, 12-1pm

Participants in this workshop will use Google’s Picasa Web Album to store and share digital photos on the web with family and friends. Utilizing 1 GB of free storage you will create an online album, add name tags to your photos, sort your collection by name, and then create a custom slideshow. In addition, you will learn how to create a collaborative web album that allows family and friends to contribute photos and video to your album. Other topics will include a review of several account settings, email notification, and how to upload photos using an email account. (Taught by Vince Yanusauskas, Library)

Share with Surety: Facebook Privacy Settings for the Casual Facebook User
Wednesday, April 7, 12-1pm

Confused about the ever-changing privacy settings in Facebook? Want to have more control over the content you share? In this workshop, you’ll learn about the latest version of Facebook’s Privacy Policy. Librarian Donna Mazziotti will walk participants through customizing their own Facebook Privacy Settings, armed with the knowledge of what each setting means. It is assumed that participants in this workshop already have a Facebook account, and will have their login information with them when they attend. (Taught by Donna Mazziotti, Library)

Wiki Wiki WHAT!?: What You Need to Know to Understand, Create, and Maintain Wikis
Wednesday, April 28, 12-1pm

A wiki is a webpage where all of the code and underlying framework is already in place, out of sight and out of mind. In this session, you will learn what exactly a wiki is and how to use a wiki to quickly and easily create a dynamic webpage, collaborate on projects, or just share personal content over the internet. Participants will set up a free wiki account and will learn how to hit the ground running by adding content and organizing a new wiki. (Taught by George Aulisio, Library)

Hello, 2010 – Intersession Hours

The Library is back open for Intersession!  Our hours during January will be:

Monday: 8am-10pm

Tuesday: 8am-10pm

Wednesday: 8am-10pm

Thursday: 8am-10pm

Friday: 8am-4:30pm

Saturday: 12pm-6pm

Sunday: 12pm-10pm

We’re looking forward to a new year filled with exciting research and scholarship.  Don’t hesitate to ask a librarian for help on your intersession assignments.

Goodbye for 2009

The Weinberg Memorial Library is closing today (December 23) at 4:30pm for the winter break.  We’ll reopen on Monday, January 4th at 8:00am.  The Library faculty and staff would like to wish you very happy holidays, and we look forward to seeing you in 2010!

The Perfect Gift: Leaves of Class

Still searching for a holiday gift for that last person on your list?  How about 12 chances to win over $14,000 in prizes?

The Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library are sponsoring the 12th annual Leaves of Class raffle, benefiting the Friends of the Library Endowment Fund.  For only $20, you or your favorite gift recipient will have a chance in each one of 12 monthly drawings.

This year’s prizes include gift certificates for Scranton Cultural Center performances, a 5-course chef’s tasting menu for two at AV Restaurant, tickets to the Wildflower Music Festival, a one-year membership to the Aronica Wellness Center, a round of golf at Lakeland Golf Club, a new computer and printer, and a one-year membership to the Library’s own Schemel Forum.

The first drawing isn’t until January 31, so there’s still time.  To buy your chances, just fill out the online request form or call the Library at 570-941-7816.

Photo courtesy of flickr user allerleirau under a Creative Commons license.

Holiday hours

Final exams are almost over, and here at the Weinberg, things are starting to wind down for the holidays.  Due to Friday and Saturday exams, we’ll still be open until midnight tonight, but starting on Saturday we’ll be on our holiday schedule.  Here’s when you’ll find us open:

Friday, December 11:  8am – Midnight

Saturday, December 12: 8am – 5pm

Sunday, December 13: CLOSED

Monday- Friday, December 14-18: 8am – 4:30pm

Saturday-Sunday, December 19-20: CLOSED

Monday-Wednesday, December 21-23: 8am-4:30pm

December 24 – January 3: CLOSED

Good luck on those last few finals, and we hope that everyone makes it home safely for the holidays!

Extended hours have begun!

Those of you who are frequent visitors to the Library may have noticed that this week we’ve been closing 30 minutes later than usual. That’s because our extended hours leading up to finals have begun! Here is the schedule:

Tuesday-Thursday, Dec. 1st-3rd, 8AM-12Midnight

Friday, Dec. 4th, 8AM-10PM

Saturday, Dec. 5th, 9AM-9PM

Sunday, Dec. 6th, 12Noon-12Midnight

Monday-Thursday, Dec. 7th-10th, 7AM-2AM

Friday, Dec. 11th, 8AM-12Midnight

Saturday, Dec. 12th, 8AM-5PM

And as usual, the Pro Deo room is open 24 hours, and is accessible by swiping your Royal Card after hours.

Happy studying, all!

Pictures with Santa, PLUS a Holiday Book Signing

It’s December, and the holiday season is in full gear here at the Library.  Our lobby is decked with boughs of garland; our study spaces are filled with students dreaming of a white Christmas; and the smell of Java City peppermint mocha fills the air.

How does Santa arrive at the Library? Through the fireplace, of course.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas at the Library without the one and only Santa Claus.  We’re thrilled to announce that St. Nick will be dropping by again this year, and he has graciously offered to pose for portraits with our students, faculty, staff, and community members.  Santa will be in the Heritage Room on two different days this year: Thursday, December 3, from 11:30am – 4:00pm, and Friday, December 4, from 2:30pm – 6:00pm.

You can get a framed photograph of you with Santa for a $7 donation!  All funds raised will go to help bring the magic of Christmas to a young boy in our community.

On your way up to the Heritage Room, don’t forget to stop by our Christmas Tag Sale in the lobby.   You’ll find decorations, CDs, and unique gifts all available for affordable prices.

As an added bonus this holiday season, the Weinberg Memorial Library is also excited to welcome local author Peter V. Tafuri, who will sign copies of his new children’s book, The Christmas Dog.   The book tells the heartwarming story of a stray dog who helps Mary and Joseph on the first Christmas.  Mr. Tafuri will be in the Heritage Room with Santa on Thursday from 11:30am – 4:00pm and Friday from 2:30pm – 4:30pm.  Bella, the Christmas Dog herself, won’t be joining us at the Library, but you can meet her (and have another chance to get your book signed by Mr. Tafuri) later that night at First Friday.  Bella will be at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (232 Wyoming Avenue in Scranton) from 6pm-9pm.

Side note for animal lovers: In real life, Bella is a rescue dog who likes to help kids learn to read.  You might also see her around the community, showing off her dancing skills to raise money for the Humane Society.

Remote Reference, Bringing Librarians to You

Librarian Bonnie Oldham did a "test run" of remote reference last night from 5pm-7pm in DeNaples

The Weinberg Memorial Library is thinking about offering a “remote reference” service that would bring librarians to students where they work, whether that means DeNaples, the dorms, or a classroom building.

We’d like to know if students think this would be useful.  Please let us know (either in the comments or by talking to a librarian at the reference desk):

1) Would you find it useful to have a librarian available to help you with research projects somewhere outside the Library?

2) Is DeNaples (2nd floor) a good location, or would you prefer somewhere else?

3) What times of day should the remote reference service be available?

Let us know what you think!