Belk Library & Information Commons News

Three new videos!

1. If you have a citation, or finding a "known" item 
2. Finding Articles' Full-text Using Find@ASU
3. Finding Books: Searching other Libraries (using ABC Express or UNC express)

These brief tutorials (only 2 or 3 minutes each) will make the time you spend doing research more efficient.  If you are a professor, and would like these videos embedded into your AsULearn course, contact Megan johnson @ johnsnm@appstate.edu.

SEE ALL TUTORIALS

The library has added new touchscreen information kiosks on each floor of the building. These monitors will give you instant, easy access to some of our most popular web tools:

• Book group study rooms
• View computer availability maps
• Find events in the library

Our technology services staff is currently working on getting small printers attached to each monitor, so that students may print out confirmation slips when booking group study rooms.

Kiosk Locations

• 1st floor: Two are located between the front doors and the reference desk
• Lower level, 2nd, and 3rd floors: One on each floor by the main elevators

We're working on additional apps to add to the kiosks. Can you think of anything else you'd like to be able to do on these kiosks? Let us know in the comments.

All public computers in campus labs and in the library are now set up to print duplex by default.  This setting is only the default on the black and white printers.  The color printer is still set to single-sided printing.

UPDATE FROM TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES - Email from the Director

We are going greener...

I want to remind everyone that beginning this semester TSS has changed all Pharos printing stations on campus to default to duplex printing where possible.  Students are not charged any extra charges for printing on both sides of the paper, and the cost per page remains the same.

Students may print single-sided if needed, but must change the setting within the print dialog box before the print job is sent.  TSS will be unable to refund any funds for miss-prints.  We are hopeful that this change will reduce our campus paper usage significantly.  I am also happy to tell you that we have upgraded the Pharos software over the holidays and this should help solve the Pharos problems we have experienced over the past semester.

Additionally, we are testing power save settings across many of the public workstations across campus.  We are changing some of our maintenance cycle schedules.  We are also changing our practice of turning computers on first thing in the morning, and instead having the first user of the day turn the machine on when it is needed.  This project has potential to save energy and save the university money.

We're pleased to be part of the sustainability efforts on campus.  Feel free to contact me regarding any of these initiatives.

Have a great semester.

Best,

Tom

Tom Van Gilder

Director of Technology Support Services

Appalachian State University

• see also RSS Feeds in the WNCLN Library Catalog
• see also ASU RSS Feeds Generator

RSS (Real Simple Syndiation) is an XML-based format for sharing and distributing web content that a user "subscribes" to.

An RSS reader allows you to view information from multiple web sites in a single interface.

You can use RSS to keep up to date on news headlines, and RSS can also help keep up with research. You can:

• view table of contents from new journals issues
• discover new journal articles on a specific topic (from multiple journals)
• view news on general topics such as science, technology, business, health, etc. from Google, New York Times, BBC, etc.
• follow blog discussions on certain topics.

To use RSS:

• Create an RSS reader account -- for example, Google Reader or My Yahoo. Readers are also embedded in popular applications, like Microsoft Outlook, Firefox, and Internet Explorer 7.
• Go to your favorite websites and look for a button or the words RSS, XML or Subscribe to this Feed.

• Click the RSS link, copy and paste the URL (web address) into your RSS reader and click Add or Subscribe.
• The name of the site with the number of new items in parentheses should apprear in your reader.
• Check the reader for new content on your subscribed sites, and save, tag, share, or email items of note
• Some feeds to consider:
  Project Muse or Academic Search Complete (in EbscoHost- check the "help" pages - type in "Alerts" for more information or tutorials)

The Library recently added two new business databases for student research:

Bizminer offer industry financial analysis benchmarks for over 5,000 lines of business and industry market trends on thousands more. Market analysis reports are available at the national and local levels down to the zip code.

IBISWorld Industry Market Research Reports cover over 700 industries in the United States as categorized by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Individual reports provide key statistics, segmentation, market characteristics, industry conditions, key competitors, industry performance and outlook, and are available online in HTML, PDF, or Word format.

Go to Library Databases and E-Research Tools to see the complete list of Business Databases.

Find an available computer at a glance!

At a glance, see where the available computers are in the library!

The library is now offering a new service -- computer availability maps. The new policy of requiring student log-ins on public computers has given us the ability to track what computers in the library are currently being used. The Web Team at the library has created a web application that collects this information in real time and displays it on maps of each floor of the library.

So now when the library's busy, you don't have to wander around looking for an available computer! Just check the maps.

We are currently working on a mobile version of the maps for viewing on smartphones, as well as a way to display them on large screens in the library.

If you have any feedback on this service, please let us know!

ANNOUNCING: The Belk Library iPad project! The Main Circulation Desk now has 10 iPads available for check out. The loan period is one week, with one renewal allowed.

The apps and links currently available on the iPads are: Belk Library home page, WNCLN Catalog, TSS Help desk, iBooks, EBSCOhost, British Library 19th Century Collection, Amazon Kindle, Zite, Merrimam Webster Dictionary, Quickoffice, Google Earth, Apple Remote, Bamboo Paper, & GoSkyWatchP.

See more details.

To the Belk Library & Information Commons community,

In compliance with a Technology Support Services campus-wide change, the library and computer labs on campus will be implementing student logins by fall semester 2011. Testing and other preparations have been underway this summer. Any student using these computers can log in with their Appalnet username and password. This brings the campus in line with security standards expected by Information Technology auditors.

The library has set aside 12 computer workstations on the main floor that are open to the general public. In addition, stand-up computer workstations on the upper floors will remain open to search for books and other basic functions. These accommodations are similar to those at other libraries in the state and nationally.

Thank you for your willingness to adjust to these required changes.