Please join us in welcoming the following new hires:
Part-time:
Jeffrey Doane, Earth and Mineral Sciences Library
Mohamad Kanbari, Earth and Mineral Sciences Library
William Dehn, Earth and Mineral Sciences Library
Amanda Hackinson, Penn State Beaver
The University Libraries announce the opening of a Lactation Station in W-336 Pattee Library, west. Cosponsored by The Breastfeeding Support Program at Penn State, the room is available to all Penn State students, faculty, staff and their spouses/domestic partners to provide a comfortable, convenient place on campus for breastfeeding or breast-milk pumping. Room furnishings include a sink, refrigerator, and Medela Lactina Select hospital-grade, multi-user breast pump. The Pattee Station will be the eighth lactation room available on the University Park campus and will have the added benefit of accessibility during evening and weekend hours.
The Lactation Station provides a secure, private and restful room, where you may opt to nurse your child or express milk. For milk expression, you may bring your own personal-use breast pump or purchase a pump kit for use with the hospital-grade pump available in the room. A Lactina pump kit can be purchased from The Breastfeeding Support Program, and the kit can also be used as a hand pump whenever you are at home or cannot access a Lactina pump.
Campus Lactation Stations can be reserved for 30-minute blocks. Prior to using the stations, a brief orientation meeting is required to complete enrollment paperwork and review Lactation Station policies and procedures. To schedule an orientation session or request further information about room access, please contact Lauren Lowe, program coordinator for The Breastfeeding Support Program at Penn State, at breastfeeding@psu.edu or 814-867-0776.
More about the program is available online at http://ohr.psu.edu/employee-and-family-resources/breastfeeding-support/lactation-stations/ –
Join Barbara Coopey and Barb Woods from ILL on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, from 1-2 p.m. in Mann Assembly Room, as they give a brief overview of ILL, explain what ILL is, what systems make up ILL and how to use its features to better serve our patrons. If you cannot attend in person, you can join us on Adobe Connect at https://meeting.psu.edu/ust. This presentation will also be recorded. To register, visit TechSmart.
Library Management Council minutes:
https://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/groups/library_management/intranet/2015minutes.html#021015
Submitted by Ben Goldman
In September 2014, Patricia Hswe and Ben Goldman attended the Pennsylvania Digital Collections Summit at the Free Library in Philadelphia, which was focused on the possibility of organizing digital collections efforts in Pennsylvania, with the ultimate goal of getting PA digital collections into the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) . This meeting, attended by representatives from libraries across the state, resulted in the formation of a “PA DPLA Founders” group, whose aim is to establish a Pennsylvania Service Hub for onboarding PA digital collections into DPLA. In addition to serving as one of the PA DPLA founders, Penn State University Libraries is also contributing resources for technical development on an aggregator tool that collects metadata from institutions across the state and stages it for DPLA, as well as informing metadata practices. At present, the plan is for Pennsylvania to apply as a service hub in the Summer of 2015, which would likely result in the first complete ingest of statewide assets by the end of 2015.
In order to support the development of the statewide service hub and coordinate the local effort needed to prepare local content for ingest into DPLA, Dean Dewey has formally charged a DPLA Working Group. Chaired by Patricia Hswe and Ben Goldman, the working group includes Mohamed Berray, Linda Ballinger, and Andrew Gearhart. Stakeholders for the group include: Annie Copeland, Sue Kellerman, Brandy Karl, Henry Pisciotta, Tim Pyatt, Linda Klimczyk, Linda Friend and Sabra Statham.
The full charge for this working group can be found at https://wikispaces.psu.edu/display/DPLAWG. This wiki will be used by the group to document its work throughout the year, so check back often.
For more information on DPLA efforts at the state level, please see this announcement from PALCI: https://sites.psu.edu/librarynews/2015/02/16/pa-library-leaders-announce-new-initiative-to-increase-access-to-digital-collections/.
By Ann Snowman
Along with the annual call for annexing on February 5 came the recommendation to review Training Bulletin #19: Guidelines for Preparing Collections for Scheduled Transfer to the Annex . This newly revised document outlines the steps to be taken by the selector and sending library staff, the steps taken by Annex staff, and strengthens the role of Annex staff in monitoring duplication. Training Bulletin #19 should be consulted together with the Policy Statement for Annex Storage Facilities that provides guidance for selecting materials for off-site shelving and discourages the duplication of collections in storage. On rare occasion duplication is appropriate, but as the Policy Statement advises, “selectors should endeavor to record in the catalog record their reasoning for both posterity and Annex processing staff, who are authorized to question duplication as it is noted.” Training Bulletin #19 advises, “In the course of processing incoming collections when Annex staff identify a duplicate print volume or run of a periodical, they will withdraw the incoming duplicate. Duplicate monographs will be returned for the selector’s review unless the record has been annotated by the selector with justification to retain duplicate copies.” These more stringent measures are necessary as we near the end of our capacity to store collections off-site. Every effort must be made to conserve the existing storage space, adequate only for 2-3 more years.
This week’s Diversity News blog post features a book review by Dawn Amsberry
Library Services for Multicultural Patrons: Strategies for Encouraging Library Use, edited by Carol Smallwood and Kim Becnel. Scarecrow Press, 2014.
Throughout the Penn State University system, there are over 16,000 students from historically underrepresented groups, and over 8,000 international students. How can the University Libraries reach out to these students, and provide appropriate services and collections? Library Services for Multicultural Patrons: Strategies to Encourage Library Use gives practical advice and how-to instructions on developing innovative programs, outreach initiatives, and a variety of services for a multicultural population. The book targets all types of libraries, but much of the information can be applied to a large university setting, and several chapters focus specifically on academic libraries. The book is divided into seven sections that focus on partnerships, community connections, reaching students, technology, outreach, programming, and reference. The chapters, written by authors in public, academic, and school libraries around the country, discuss strategies and best practices for creating a welcoming, inclusive library environment for multicultural patrons.
By Ryan Johnson, technology training coordinator
The new Box for Office application for Office 13 allows you to easily open, edit, share and save any file from Box seamlessly within Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
Watch the Video tutorial below for step-by-step installation instructions and download the installation file here.
By Heather Ross, supervisor, Social Sciences Library and Donald W. Hamer Maps Library
The Sanborn collection is heavily used by patrons. — photo by Heather Ross
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps were designed to help underwriters to estimate risk without having to see the buildings in person. These historic maps have so many uses for today’s researchers. Stop down to the Donald W. Hamer Maps Library to see the display.
A close up of one of the posters on display
Download the posters here: https://psu.box.com/SanbornDisplay
Submitted by Ryan Johnson, technology training coordinator
If you are at home or on a computer without Microsoft Office you can view and Edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files in Google Chrome with a new extension.
Once the Office Editing for Docs, Sheets & Slides Extension for Google Chrome is installed, Office files that you drag into Chrome, open in Gmail, Google Drive, and more, will be opened in Docs, Sheets, and Slides for viewing and editing.
You can save each file back to its original Office format, or convert it to Docs, Sheets, or Slides to unlock more features, like inviting others to edit with you, commenting, chat, and more.
If you want to see a quick video tutorial on how this works, watch this YouTube Video from Google.
February 11, 2015, noon–1:00 p.m., Mann Assembly Room
Learn how the University Libraries Data Learning Center assist students, staff, and faculty in transforming data into information! This session will introduce you to the services and staff of the Data Learning Center. We will provide you with insight into how our service interactions work and our relationship to other units both within and external to the library.
Presenters: Stefanie Austin, Tara LaLonde, Nathan Piekielek, and Stephen Woods
All library employees are welcome to attend. This session will be offered via Adobe Connect for
those who would like to participate virtually.
Adobe Connect Session: https://meeting.psu.edu/ssltraining/
Please join us in welcoming the following new hires:
Part-time:
Audrey Bencel, Interlibrary Loan
Adriel Gonzalez, Commons Services
Michelle Lovell, Commons Services
Zachariah Mann, Penn State Berks
“FAFSA and Scholarships” will be presented Wednesday, February 18, 5:30–6:30 p.m., in Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library.
Get help unraveling the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in this workshop, part of the Money Counts: a Financial Literacy Series, a collaborative effort of the Penn State Commission for Adult Learners and the University Libraries.
Each year, students and parents complete the FAFSA to be considered for financial aid from the federal government, and in most instances, additional money from the state in which they reside and the college they want to attend. That’s why the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is so important—it is the gateway to three potentially big sources of financial aid from federal, state, and college entities. If you don’t complete a FAFSA, you could be missing out on a lot of financial aid, including potential scholarships. In this workshop, Penn State Financial Literacy Manager, Dr. Daad Rizk will help students review the Financial Aid Process, understand the FAFSA application and explore options to find scholarships to finance education.
Refreshments will be provided. Additional details are online at http://bit.ly/1rzz1Jw. Registration is available online at http://bit.ly/16yTesX.
“Forest Food Fight! Gender, Indigenous Knowledge and the Struggle for Resources at the Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve in South Africa” will be presented on February 25, at noon, in Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library. Katie Tavenneris, a dual-degree PhD candidate in rural sociology and women’s studies, will present the seminar, which will focus on the gender-differentiated knowledge and valuation associated with forest foods, the politics of everyday resistance and the possibility for resource co-management at the Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve. It is free and open to the public and can be viewed online.
Tavenneris… awarded a U.S. Borlaug Fellowship in Global Food Security in 2013
For over 100 years, the communities adjacent to the Dwesa and Cwebe Forests have been caught in a conflict over natural resources. Residents were forcibly removed from the area for decades by colonial and apartheid-era governments. After being declared a nature reserve in 1978, locals lost all access to natural resources. Although the communities won a land-claim battle in 2001, local people are prohibited from harvesting natural resources, including a variety of forest foods. Remarkably, the indigenous knowledge associated with these foods endures through the stories, actions and resistance of local women.
In 2013, Tavenneris was awarded a U.S. Borlaug Fellowship in Global Food Security and was a visiting researcher at Bioversity International in Rome. Her research interests include international development, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, feminist theory, and rural social and agrarian change.
This seminar is co-sponsored by the University Libraries and the Interinstitutional Consortium for Indigenous Knowledge. For more information, see icik.psu.edu. If you have question about access accommodations, please contact Helen Sheehy at hms2@psu.edu or 814-863-1347.
The Drupal migration project continues to move forward. Web Implementation Management Team (WIMT) chair Binky Lush and lead web developer Charlie Morris conducted a short presentation recently to highlight the progress that has been made to date. (Their presentation was part of the February 3 Tech Update and can be viewed on MediaSite Live.) The presentation outlined the following areas:
February 11, noon–1:00 p.m.: Data Learning Center overview, Mann Assembly Rm and online: Adobe Connect Session: https://meeting.psu.edu/ssltraining/
February 12, 2015 10:00 a.m.: Introduction to SelectSurvey. See TechSmart for location and details. Want to learn more about the survey tool for the libraries? Everyone at the University Libraries has access to SelectSurvey. In this Introductory class, you will learn basic survey creation, management and deployment.
February 18, 5:30 p.m.: “FAFSA and Scholarships,” Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library.
February 19, 10:00–11:00 a.m.: Library Research Basics. W315 Pattee Library. Learn how to find books, articles and other materials in your research area or major by using the Libraries’ online databases. You will also discover library services that can help streamline your research process. Individuals not affiliated with Penn State can register by calling 814-865-9257. To register, go to http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/lls/classes/research_basics_seminar.html.
February 24, 11:15 a.m.: Penn State Laureate Susan Russell presents “Thanks, Mrs. Sawyer: How My First Grade Teacher is Helping Me Translate 21st Century Education,” Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library.
February 25, noon: Forest Food Fight! Gender, Indigenous Knowledge and the Struggle for Resources at the Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve in South Africa, Foster Aud. Presented by Katie Tavenneris, dual-degree PhD candidate in rural sociology and women’s studies. View online.
February 26, 9:30 a.m.: Creating Accessible Word and PowerPoint Documents in Office 13
See TechSmart for location and details. In this session, you will discover best practices to create accessible Microsoft Word and PowerPoint documents (updated for Office 13). Whether you create website content or just email and share documents with staff, creating accessible Office files is very important. This session will cover the basic techniques needed to optimize your content for accessibility.
March 2, 10:00–11:30 a.m., Endnote, W23 Pattee. EndNote can be used to search online bibliographic databases, organize references, images and PDFs in any language and create bibliographies and figure lists instantly. Attend one of these seminars to learn how to get the most out of EndNote. To register, go to http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/lls/classes/research_basics_seminar.html
March 5, 10:00–11:30 a.m.: Mendeley. 302 Paterno Library. Mendeley is a free reference manager and academic social network that can help you organize your research library, collaborate with others online and discover other relevant papers based on what you are reading. To register, go to http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/lls/classes/research_basics_seminar.html.
March 18, 3 p.m.: Women Don’t Ask. Book talk discussion session with author Sara Laschever, Foster Aud.
** Also see “Training and Enrichment Opportunities” for additional staff events.