Monthly Archives: September 2015
Open Access Day special programming event
Web migration forum dates
The Web Implementation and Management Team (WIMT) has organized several sessions in the coming months to provide updates and take questions on the Drupal migration. The forums will be held in Foster Auditorium and MediaSite Live.
They are scheduled for the following dates and times:
Oct 13, 10:30 a.m.: General Update
Nov 13, 9-10 a.m.:Content Strategy
Dec 3 10-11:30 a.m.: Staff Site
Jan 13, 10-11:30 a.m.: Migration Timeline
iOS 9 Hidden Features
by Ryan Johnson, technology training coordinator
By now you probably have heard that iOS 9 was recently released. The new version has many new features that you can find more about here.
What you may not know about is some interesting hidden features:
Have you ever wanted to load the desktop version of a page that doesn’t quite look right on Mobile? There’s a quick shortcut for just that in iOS 9: Just hold the refresh button in the URL bar. After a second or two, a prompt will allow you to request the desktop version of the current page.
Sometimes the apps that eat your battery the most are the ones you actually see the least.
iOS has long been able to tell you how much battery each app was guilty of eating, but now it provides an extra bit of information: the amount of time you were actually looking at it, compared to how much time it spent just devouring juice in the background. To expose the new info, go to Settings > Battery, then tap the clock icon at the top of the app list.
Events: Sept. 28
Tues., Sept. 29, 2:00 p.m.: Dean’s Forum, Foster Auditorium and Media Site Live. Karen Estlund, associate dean for Technology and Digital Strategies will be introduced and talk to you about her recent activities and plans as she transitions into her new job at Penn State. Also: Comments and kudos from Dean Dewey and Space Planning Update by Kimlyn Patishnock
Thurs., Oct. 1, 2015, 3:00-4:00 p.m.: GIS interest group meeting, 126A Paterno Library. Agenda: discussion of updates from the PSU GIS Users Group, along with items of geospatial interest of attendees.
Thurs., Oct. 1, 4 p.m.: Kwame Alexander to accept the 2015 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award for Children’s Poetry for his book, The Crossover, which also won him the 2015 Newbery Award. A book sale and signing will follow. Foster Auditorium.
Fri., Oct. 2, 3:30 p.m.: “Marching Down Field: Preserving Penn State Football Memories II, Foster Auditorium and online. Featuring clips of historic games from the University Archives. Full story on Penn State News
Wed., Oct. 7, 5:30-6:30p.m.: Financial Literacy for Women (latest workshop in the Money Counts Series), Mann Assembly Room, Paterno Library.
Wed., Oct 7, 1-2:30 p.m.: Drupal Migration Forum, Foster Aud. and MediaSite Live. Presented by the WIMT. This is a general discussion session. Do you have a burning question related to the upcoming Drupal migration? If so, don’t miss this forum!
Mon., October 12, 9-11 a.m.: Open Access Day presentation in preparation for the internationally recognized Open Access Week (October 19-25). Penn State librarians and Associate Dean Anne Langley will share their expertise during this half-day program. Sessions will include “How to be an OA Ambassador” and “Implementing Our Policies” and others. More details in this Library News blog entry.
Tues., Oct. 13, 2:00–3:30 p.m.: Focus on ArcGIS Online: Web Mapping Tool for Interdisciplinary Applications, W211A Pattee Library and online at https://meeting.psu.edu/ssltraining/
Tues., Oct. 13, 7:30–8:30 p.m.: Penn State Reads presents “Meet Russell Gold, author of ‘The Boom’” in an interview by Katie O’Toole, Days Inn Penn State, 240 South Pugh Street. Open to the public. The event is sponsored by Penn State’s Institute for the Arts and Humanities (IAH), the Penn State Reads Program, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, the University Libraries, the Pennsylvania Humanities Council and Schlow Centre Region Library.
Sister Joan Chittister — image courtesy of Joan Chittister
Wed–Thurs, Oct. 14-15: Joan Chittister Symposium: Ancient Traditions, Contemporary Questions, Pasquerilla Spiritual Center and Foster Auditorium. See details in news story.
Thurs., Oct. 22, 4 p.m.: Mariko Tamaki to accept the 2015 Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize for “This One Summer.” Mariko and her cousin, artist Jillian Tamaki, also won a Printz Honor (for outstanding young adult literature) and a Caldecott Honor (for exceptional picture book art) for this book. A book sale and signing will follow. More details to come.
Thurs., Oct. 22, 10:00-11:30 a.m.: Mendeley, 302 Paterno Register online: Survey
Mon., Nov. 16, 1-2:30 p.m.: Mapping Applications: Getting to know SimplyMap, PolicyMap, and Social Explorer, 302, Paterno Library, and online at https://meeting.psu.edu/ssltraining/
Save the date:
Additional Drupal migration forums:
Nov 10, 10-11:30 a.m.: Content Strategy
Dec 3 10-11:30 a.m.: Staff Site
Jan 13, 10-11:30 a.m.: Migration Timeline
‘Getting to know you’: Andrea Pritt
by Barbara Kopshina, Penn State DuBois Campus Library
Ever wondered who the individuals are that put together the “Getting to Know You” columns? Well, I’d like to introduce my colleague and fellow collaborator, Andrea Pritt. Andrea has been at Mont Alto as a library staff member for five years. She was born and raised in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Penn State, University Park. During her time as a college student in the biology department, she worked as a teaching assistant. Shortly after graduation, Andrea joined the team at Penn State Mont Alto Campus Library. She has enjoyed her time in the library immensely and recently decided to start working towards her MLIS degree at the University of Pittsburgh.
Pritt…volunteers as a certified adult literacy tutor and teaches English to migrant workers
In her spare time, Andrea volunteers as a certified adult literacy tutor in Adams County. She works with a variety of people, including prisoners, to help them obtain their G.E.D. She also has her E.S.L. (English as a Second Language) certificate and volunteers to teach migrant workers in the area. Andrea feels strongly that people can better themselves through education and her volunteer work reflects that.
Andrea was just elected as the vice president of the Adams County Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association. She helps to select recipients for scholarships, and participates in fundraising and community outreach. Aside from volunteering, Andrea enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Riley, a Jack Russell/terrier mix, and Jackson, a boxer/lab mix, both of whom she rescued from the S.P.C.A.
2015-16 microgrant awards
The following grant proposals were accepted for the 2015-16 University Libraries Microgrant Program:
Francis, Matt: Exploring EAC-CPF at Penn State Special Collections Library
Abstract: This project aims to explore how Penn State can use Encoded Archival Context – Corporate Bodies, Person, and Families (EAC-CPF) records in order to enhance discovery and access of our archival collections. The project would help increase local knowledge of the EAC-CPF standard, the development of institutional best practices, the creation of a limited number of EAC-CPF records for a defined set of archival materials, and the exploration of how archival tools such as ArchiveSpace can support the creation and use of these records.
Imler, Bonnie: One Click Presentation/Project System for Collaborative Learning Environment
Abstract: The Eiche Library is creating a new collaborative meeting area that will provide a room on campus for our faculty with offices at our downtown location. Faculty will be able to meet individually or hold study sessions with students housed on campus. The new room is designed to have a clean, uncluttered look and still offer the latest in technological advances. The room would be enhanced by the purchase of a ClickShare system that allows multiple users to project with their own devise without wires, multiple steps, logins, or an overhead projector.
Piekielek, Nathan: A feasibility study of automating the georeferencing of historic aerial photographs
Abstract: Historical geographers, digital humanists and researchers from other disciplines are keenly interested in “unlocking” the wealth of data and information that is contained on historical print maps and aerial photographs. This project will contract with an outside entity to perform a feasibility study of implementing an automated georeferencing tool in the Donald W. Hamer Maps Library (MAPSL). Automation is required due to the laborious nature of georeferencing and the volume of the MAPSL collections. The study will conclude with a recommendation to the MAPSL on which tool to incorporate into their workflows.
Wilkins, Joshua: Exploring Chromebooks
Abstract: Supporting our patrons in their studies is becoming more about increasing their mobile access and giving them the ability to work wherever they are, any time of day. We provide laptop computers to access the resources they need, but there are alternative versions of these tools that are less expensive and more mobile, with better battery life and less upkeep for library staff. Chromebooks are set up for web browsing, running programs and apps, and give users tools for exploration, research, and document creation, these computers can function on and off the Internet, and are simple to maintain and replace.
Library News: Sept. 21
Dean’s News
by Barbara I. Dewey, dean, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications
Colleagues, now that the associate deans are all here I want to update you on what is happening with former Associate Dean Lisa German’s portfolio. You might recall that it was developed at the same time as the descriptions of the other associate deans’ responsibilities but never fully put into place because of her departure to University of Houston. This updated configuration of the organization’s administration is based on the principles of collective and collaborative leadership. What does this mean? It means we recognize that all areas of the libraries are connected, some in very strong ways. The associate deans communicate and make decisions together on appropriate topics and take collective responsibility for these decisions. The associate deans are open and available to all in the organization.
I consulted with associate deans, administrators and affected department heads, considered the associate deans’ areas of experience and expertise and put into place the following which means we will not hire a fourth associate dean:
Access Services reports to Joe Salem.
Acquisitions reports to Anne Langley.
Cataloging and Metadata Services reports to Karen Estlund.
I am grateful to Ann Snowman who has agreed to lead Commonwealth outreach, staff
training/development planning, and Hathi Trust efforts and Chris Avery who has agreed to lead library global initiatives and serve as senior faculty for development.
There are a few areas within the organization that need more discussion and thinking before they are assigned but I can assure you that work is ongoing for these areas. Please let me or one of the administrators know if you have any questions or concerns about the plan so far. Best, Barbara
Events: Sept. 21
Wed., Sept. 23, 2:00-3:30 p.m.: Mendeley, 302 Paterno. 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. Register online: Survey
Thurs., Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m.: Mary E. Rolling Reading Series presents best-selling novelist, essayist and editor Elizabeth Benedict, Foster Auditorium. Free and open to the public.
Tues., Sept. 29, 1:00-2:00 p.m.: Dean’s Forum, Foster Auditorium and Media Site Live. Karen Estlund, associate dean for Technology and Digital Strategies will be introduced and talk to you about her recent activities and plans as she transitions into her new job at Penn State. More information will be shared in the near future.
Wed., Sept. 30, noon-1:30 p.m.: United Way Committee’s Tailgate Cook-off. Bring us your favorite appetizer or dessert tailgate foods and you can vote to crown a winner! On September 30, buy your tickets (5 for $5) to vote on your favorite dishes. Stay for lunch. Sign up with your dish here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4ba8ab28a64-united2
Thurs., Oct. 1, 2015, 3:00-4:00 p.m.: GIS interest group meeting, 126A Paterno Library. Agenda: discussion of updates from the PSU GIS Users Group, along with items of geospatial interest of attendees.
Thurs., Oct. 1, 4 p.m.: Kwame Alexander to accept the 2015 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award for Children’s Poetry for his book, The Crossover, which also won him the 2015 Newbery Award. A book sale and signing will follow. Foster Auditorium.
Fri., Oct. 2, 3:30 p.m.: “Marching Down Field: Preserving Penn State Football Memories II, Foster Auditorium and online. Featuring clips of historic games from the University Archives. Full story on Penn State News
Mon., October 12, morning: Open Access Day presentation in preparation for the internationally recognized Open Access Week (October 19-25). Penn State librarians and Associate Dean Anne Langley will share their expertise during this half-day program. Sessions will include “How to be an OA Ambassador” and “Implementing Our Policies” and others. More details to come (also see this week’s blog post on OA Day.)
Tues., Oct. 13, 2:00–3:30 p.m.: Focus on ArcGIS Online: Web Mapping Tool for Interdisciplinary Applications, W211A Pattee Library and online at https://meeting.psu.edu/ssltraining/ More details to come.http://live.libraries.psu.edu/Mediasite/Play/8f10591a3c334f669ebc112bb876f3931d?catalog=8376d4b2-4dd1-457e-a3bf-e4cf9163feda
Tues., Oct. 13, 7:30–8:30 p.m.: Penn State Reads presents “Meet Russell Gold, author of ‘The Boom’” in an interview by Katie O’Toole, Days Inn Penn State, 240 South Pugh Street. Open to the public. The event is sponsored by Penn State’s Institute for the Arts and Humanities (IAH), the Penn State Reads Program, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, the University Libraries, the Pennsylvania Humanities Council and Schlow Centre Region Library.
Sister Joan Chittister — image courtesy of Joan Chittister
Wed–Thurs, Oct. 14-15: Joan Chittister Symposium: Ancient Traditions, Contemporary Questions, Pasquerilla Spiritual Center and Foster Auditorium. See details in news story.
Thurs., Oct. 22, 4 p.m.: Mariko Tamaki to accept the 2015 Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize for “This One Summer.” Mariko and her cousin, artist Jillian Tamaki, also won a Printz Honor (for outstanding young adult literature) and a Caldecott Honor (for exceptional picture book art) for this book. A book sale and signing will follow. More details to come.
Thurs., Oct. 22, 10:00-11:30 a.m.: Mendeley, 302 Paterno Register online: Survey
Mon., Nov. 16, 1-2:30 p.m.: Mapping Applications: Getting to know SimplyMap, PolicyMap, and Social Explorer, 302, Paterno Library, and online at https://meeting.psu.edu/ssltraining/ More details to come.
Two factor authentication is coming to Penn State, are you ready?
By Ryan Johnson, technology training coordinator
What is two factor authentication?
Two-factor authentication adds a second layer of security to your online accounts. Verifying your identity using a second factor (like your phone or other mobile device) prevents anyone but you from logging in, even if they know your password. With increasing security attacks across higher education, passwords along are not a sufficient way to protect resources.
At Penn State, access to many online systems is tied to a Penn State Access Account — the key to logging in to email, ESSIC and many other services students, faculty and staff commonly use. To implement and improve two-factor authentication across the University, Penn State has partnered with Duo Security, a cloud security company. The Duo Security app can be used on a variety of mobile devices as well as on land line phones and tokens.
Soon, Penn State will enable two-factor authentication on many systems and services across the
University. Signing up now means you’ll be prepared and protected as soon as services are integrated with two-factor authentication. To learn more about two-factor authentication and for information on how to enroll, visit http://bit.ly/1ALG6Oy.
Meeting minutes: IT Strategies and DLC
LHR News: Sept. 21
Please join us in welcoming the following new hires:
Part-time:
Tara Mediavillo – Research Hub, EBSL, Maps Library, and Knowledge Commons
Raza Chaudhry – Welcome Desk, Knowledge Commons
Kimberly Klee – Welcome Desk, Knowledge Commons
Arielle Hart – Welcome Desk, Knowledge Commons
Kellie Heckman – Interlibrary Loan
Sarah Mearhoff – Commons Services
Zi-Yu Khoo – Commons Services
Jessie Blank – Commons Services
Francesgladys Pulido – Commons Services
Allison Miller – Commons Services
Bianca Muniz – University Archives
Victoria Santos – Penn State Berks
Andrea Ervan – Penn State Harrisburg
Samantha Gladhill – Penn State Mont Alto
Quentin Hugo – Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Gabriella Jaquez – Penn State Lehigh Valley
Are’anna Russell – Penn State Greater Allegheny
Eugenio Cabrera-Zarco – Penn State Brandywine
Vanessa Sacco – Penn State New Kensington
Jonathan McCabe – Penn State New Kensington
Harry Barrett – Penn State Fayette
Rose Smyth – Penn State York
Joshua Bruce – Penn State Altoona
Nicholas Lashinsky – Penn State Altoona
2016 faculty and staff benefits open enrollment: Nov. 2 – Nov. 20, 2015
Benefits Open Enrollment is your opportunity to change or update benefit elections for 2016. You may enroll, make changes and/or add or remove dependents for 2016 by logging into the Employee Self-Service Information Center (ESSIC) between Nov. 2 and Nov. 20, 2015. Any changes or updates you make during Benefits Open Enrollment will be effective on Jan. 1, 2016.
Benefits Open Enrollment is your only opportunity to make benefits changes for 2016 unless you have a change-in-status event, such as the birth of a child or marriage.
Changes for 2016
First, you must take action in order to continue your benefits for 2016. Under the Pennsylvania Wage Payment & Collection Law, employers are required to have an employee’s written consent to take deductions relating to voluntary benefits paycheck deductions. This permission must be obtained prior to deductions actually being taken. Therefore, ALL employees carrying health care, dental, vision or optional life insurance MUST log into ESSIC during Benefits Open Enrollment to provide consent for the 2016 benefit year.
The University reserves the right to discontinue any and all insurance coverage in the absence of employee consent, so log in to ESSIC from November 2 through November 20, 2015, to ensure that your benefits continue into next year.
Secondly, there are minimal changes to your overall benefit offerings for 2016. You will have access to the same health, dental and vision plans, as well as the same AD&D insurance and long-term disability benefits you currently have.
Life Insurance Enhanced for Faculty & Staff
Penn State is improving this benefit to $50,000 per faculty and staff member! More information about this enhancement, and all of your benefit options, will be available in the coming months.
New Website
The new Benefits Open Enrollment website — openenrollment.psu.edu — is your central resource for information.
Because choosing the best benefits for you and your family is an important decision, we’ve created this easy-to-use website to help you:
- Understand the PPO Savings Plan and PPO Blue Plan options
- Review additional benefit options for dental, vision, AD&D insurance and long-term disability
- Explore the life insurance coverage enhancement
- Connect to valuable resources, including the interactive benefits guide (see below for more information)
- Enroll in or change benefits for 2016
Bookmark this website, as we will be adding information throughout September and October.
For 2016, Penn State has created an all-encompassing digital solution with the Benefits Open Enrollment website. Along with informative videos and useful links, a key feature of the website is an online interactive benefits guide. This online version eliminates the paper supply and printing and mailing costs associated with a traditionally mailed, hard copy benefits guide. You will not be receiving a paper copy through the mail. If you still prefer a paper copy, a printable version in PDF format will be available on the Benefits Open Enrollment website.
Save the date: Libraries Open Access Day on October 12
The University Libraries’ Open Educational Resources (OER) Task Force encourages you to save the morning of Monday, October 12, for an Open Access Day presentation in preparation for the internationally recognized Open Access Week (October 19-25). Penn State librarians and Associate Dean Anne Langley will share their expertise during this half-day program.
The theme of the presentation is “OA 101,” is intended to familiarize Libraries faculty and staff with the terms and concepts of Open Access and lay the groundwork for deeper understanding.
Sessions, with titles including “How to be an OA Ambassador” and “Implementing Our Policies,” will endeavor to answer the questions “What does it all mean?” and “Where do we go from here?” — particularly as Penn State students, faculty, and staff become more aware of Penn State’s new Open Access resolution, the Libraries’ Open Access policy, and related initiatives.
The OER Task Force encourages you to attend all or some of the sessions as your schedule permits, in person in Foster Auditorium or via MediaSite Live. Coffee and networking opportunities will be held in Mann Assembly Room before the program begins. Watch for upcoming program details, including opportunities seeking your input, in Library News. Please contact Ann Snowman, ams32@psu.edu, with questions.
Metadata makeover
Submitted by Jeff Edmunds for the Digital Access Team
Discovery is driven by metadata. As the discovery ecosystem evolves toward a globalized, linked open data environment, the Digital Access Team in Cataloging & Metadata Services is working to make the Libraries’ metadata as clean, consistent, and granular as possible. To this end, the DAT recently collaborated with John Shank, Head Librarian at Berks, and members of the Thun Library staff, to effect a Metadata Makeover.
The makeover consisted of extracting copies of all records with Berks holdings from The CAT, performing extensive quality assurance protocols to assess which records were candidates for improvement, matching the records identified to their WorldCat counterparts, and then overwriting the existing records with superior versions. Over 8,000 records were enhanced. Improvements include:
- More authorized headings for personal names
- Additional subject headings
- Foreign subject headings
- Vernacular script (i.e. Russian records now include Cyrillic transcriptions in addition to Romanized ones)
- Faceted Application of Subject Terminology (FAST) subject headings—an evolution of subject terms toward a Linked Open Data environment
- Extensive Summaries and Contents notes, which not only provide rich corpuses of keywords that can be searched in The CAT and LionSearch but also contextualize materials whose character and content might otherwise seem ambiguous to users
In performing the makeover, we learned incidentally
- that Berks holds 8,428 titles not held anywhere else in the Libraries’ system
- that nearly 200 of these titles are not held by any other institutions worldwide (based on holdings set in WorldCat)
- that nearly 300 items held by Berks do not have holdings set in WorldCat, meaning that the world is largely unaware that the Libraries in fact owns the items (a glitch that will be automatically remedied as a result of the makeover)
Plans are to continue with Metadata Makeovers, carefully targeting Libraries collections based on rigorous reviews of metadata quality.
Library News: Sept. 14
Getting to Know You: Nick Smerker
Nick Smerker
by Andrea Pritt, Penn State Mont Alto Library
While he is not technically a University Libraries employee, Nick Smerker certainly has experience working with our Libraries colleagues. If your library is located in the western half of Pennsylvania, chances are that you and he have crossed paths before. From 2003 to 2007 Nick worked with Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) and since 2010 has been a member of the Media Commons team.
Nick works as a traveling media consultant and is based out of the Pittsburgh area. Much of his time is spent traveling to various campuses and consulting with faculty on their class projects. He often makes repeat visits to ensure that students know how to create effective storyboards and rough drafts for their media projects.
Nick, a native of Shippenville, Pa., now resides in Pittsburgh with his two cats, Clyde and Morgan; interesting fact: he is actually allergic to cats! In his spare time, Nick freelances as a web designer and has worked on multiple projects. Recently he redesigned the websites for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Kentuck Knob as well as Allegheny West neighborhood, where he resides.
Tips for Circulation Staff
By Peg Tromm, information resources and services supervisor-manager, Robert E. Eiche Library, Penn State Altoona
It’s the Fall 2015 semester, and as Libraries staff we are all working diligently to keep the Libraries running as efficiently as possible.
To assist you in this endeavor, we are offering you some tips that may help you in this process:
Where to go with a problem: Sometimes, staff members encounter a problem they are just not sure how to handle. To help, Access Services has created a resource that allows staff to ask the experts. This link can be found on the University Libraries Intranet “Resources” tab under “Ask the Circ-Reserves Expert Team a Question.”
Placing holds on “on-order” items: University Libraries staff are definitely customer service oriented, and often they go as far as they can to get materials for their users. Where this becomes a problem is when staff, with good intentions, place holds on “on-order” items using their override in Workflows. Holds should not be placed on an item in the “on-order” location. These holds will not be recognized and only delay the processing of the user’s request. Holds can be placed on newly purchased items once they have reached the “in-process” location status.
Reserve materials in “checkedout” location: Occasionally, faculty placing items on course reserve ask library staff to check out these items to them for the entire semester, so they can have the item without fears of it being recalled. However, reserve items with a “checkedout” location are “holdable,” meaning that other patrons could place a hold on the reserve item. In this case, the owner of the hold expects the item to be processed, but it will remain unfilled until the hold expires, the item is taken off course reserve, or a Libraries staff member intervene. This situation can cause unhappy customers, especially for popular items. To prevent this issue, try to work with faculty to find alternative methods rather than checking out a reserve item for the entire semester.