• Content migration for Libraries’ units set to begin
• Events
• ‘Getting to know you’: Michael Kattner
• Tech Tip: Installing/uninstalling programs with Privilege Guard
• International Harp Archives
• LHR News: Aug. 31
• Inside Access: New training bulletin for claims returned materials

by Barbara Kopshina, Penn State Dubois Library

Ever wonder what it would be like to eat fire or lay on a bed of nails? If you are curious, just ask Michael Kattner of Penn State Hazleton. During his spare time, Michael performs such feats under the stage name “Professor Fountain.” First, he became involved with magic though the ‘Allied Arts’ such as escape artists, which led to him attending the Sideshow School training program at Coney Island. On Michael’s first day, he learned how to eat fire! During this training, Michael had the opportunity to work with Todd Robbins, an American magician, actor and author who is known for his off-Broadway shows, “Monday Night Magic” and “Play Dead”.

Michael then attended Oddity U, an intensive sideshow training program, which bills itself as “the Harvard of Sideshow Schools.” There he studied under Harley Newman. Oddity U gives people a chance to learn about modern-day, sideshow performances including human blockhead, walking barefoot on broken glass and having concrete blocks smashed onto you while on a bed of nails! Now moving more into the world of magic, Michael is currently serving as president of Ring 30 (Wilkes-Barre, Pa) of The International Brotherhood of Magicians, the world’s largest organization dedicated to the magical arts. Their mission is to offer opportunities for fellow magicians to network and hone their magic skills.

Through magic and stunts, Michael strives to inspire others to overcome challenges and accomplish their dreams. To this end, he also advocates for creativity and learning. One way Michael promotes learning is through his role as a regional coordinator of National History Day (www.nhd.org). This is a year-long program and competition for students in grades 6-12. Students create exhibits, websites, documentaries, performances, or research papers relating to an annual theme. Through this competition, these students learn valuable literacy skills and the importance of libraries and primary sources. Michael also feels strongly about promoting creativity. This summer, he presented a workshop for Northeast Chapter of PaLA (Pennsylvania Library Association) titled “Creativity: Its Work, Not Lighting” and received a University Libraries Microgrant for a workshop “Storytelling Skills for More Effective Communication” in Fall 2013.

Michael has worked at the Penn State Hazleton Campus Library for 19 years. He currently works as an information resources and services support specialist. In August 2014, he completed the Master of Library and Information Science program through the University of Pittsburgh. His plans are to continue to inspire others through his work, both as Michael Kattner, librarian AND Professor Fountain, magician.

Submitted by Jeff Edmunds on behalf of the Digital Access Team and the Bibload Working Group

In an ongoing effort to improve discovery of open access materials, the Digital Access Team has devised a procedure for harvesting and transforming metadata from Internet Archive for loading into The CAT. The first load includes over 1,800 records for titles in the International Harp Archives at Brigham Young University, a collection of harp music scores and related monographs (histories, instructional manuals, libretti) digitized and made freely available by BYU. A Keywords Anywhere search of “International Harp Archives” will retrieve the records in The CAT.

Future loads are expected to include records for American Revolutionary War Manuscripts at the Boston Public Library, Confederate Imprints held by Duke University Libraries, the Spanish America Collection at the John Carter Brown Library, Regimental Histories held by Emory University Libraries, and many others.

• Penn State Libraries rank among top 10 research libraries in North America
• Learning management system update
• Events: Aug. 24
• Tech Tip: Print on one page
• Exhibit highlights Lynd Ward Prize winners
• LHR News: Aug. 24
• Legal update: request for prior art references
• Maps cataloging team celebrates accomplishments

The 2013-14 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Library Investment Index Rankings once again list the Penn State University Libraries among the top 10, and third among U.S. public universities. The University Libraries are listed 8th in the ranking, which provides a snapshot of each research library’s size of its collections and capacity to provide services to students, faculty and staff, as well as to visiting researchers. Read the full story on Penn State News.

The following update on LMS transition is from the University’s LMS Academic Transition Committee. Submitted by Amanda Clossen

Information Technology Services (ITS) is expanding the pilot of the Canvas learning management system (LMS) in the fall 2015 semester. The purpose of the pilot is to broaden awareness and participation in the evaluation of the potential of Canvas to positively impact the teaching and learning experience at Penn State.

The results from the Spring 2015 Canvas were very positive. The recommendation to adopt Canvas as the new LMS at Penn State was presented to the Provost in July. The next step is to present the final recommendation to the Board of Trustees on September 18, 2015.

“At the July 16, 2015, Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting, the Committee on Finance, Business, and Capital Planning, considered the decision to select Canvas as our new LMS and evaluated a proposed ten year capital budget,” says Craig Weidemann, vice president for Outreach and vice provost for Online Education. “The conversation went well, and we look forward to their
formal consideration of our recommendation of Canvas and the LMS implementation budget at the September 18, 2015 BOT meeting to advance the LMS transition process. I know that you are anxious for a formal decision regarding the approval of Canvas as our next LMS to formally begin the transition process. I appreciate your patience.”

For more information on the previous and current pilots, see http://newlms.psu.edu/ and http://canvaspilot.tlt.psu.edu/.

by Brandy Karl, copyright officer and affiliate law library faculty

Have you ever been asked by a patron to verify the authenticity of a copy, for the dates which copies became cataloged or went into circulation? Or to check the date stamp in the copy of a journal?

Patent attorneys (or companies or individuals hired by them) are often searching for the dates which technologies became available to the public by a description of the technology going into circulation in a library. This is part of what is called a prior art search, and it’s important for patent litigators to help find evidence of technologies that pre-date the technology at issue in a case. While libraries and librarians love to help patrons, writing a statement, declaration, or affidavit of authenticity or determining when a volume was cataloged and placed into circulation are not ordinary services provided to patrons.

These requests are more likely to come to staff and librarians working in the science and engineering fields, but may come to anyone at any campus. In order to protect the University, these requests must go through the general counsel’s office — the information must be subpoenaed. Providing the information without a subpoena is contrary to University policy.

If you receive a request from a patron (who may or may not identify themselves as an attorney) asking for information regarding the cataloging, circulation, authenticity, or any other information regarding an item that is not ordinarily or routinely provided to patrons, please pass on the information or request as specified below. If you have any questions or need any clarification, reach out to me at any time. — Thank you, Brandy Karl

Directing Prior Art Reference Requests

Uncertain: If you are uncertain whether a patron request constitutes a prior art search, you may reach out to me at any time or forward me the information.
Brandy Karl
bak25@psu.edu
814-867-5921

Certain: If you receive a request for information that you are sure is a prior art search, feel free to forward it directly to:
David W. Dulabon, Associate General Counsel
dwd117@psu.edu
Office Phone: (814) 867-4088

The Maps Cataloging Team is celebrating a trifecta of large accomplishments. In the past year they have finished cataloging several extremely large map collections:

• 60,600+ topographic maps of the United States
• 30,400+ Sanborn Fire Insurance Map sheets
• 7,800+ Flood Insurance Maps

The team celebrated with a maps-themed cake

Please join Linda Musser, Helen Sheehy and me in congratulating the team on accomplishing these milestones. — Heather Ross

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• ‘Getting to know you’: Stephanie Diaz
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• Penn State Abington in full bloom
• Students to share stories of life among Ojibwe