Monthly Archives: November 2015

Library News: Nov. 30

Free up iPhone storage space

by Ryan Johnson, technology training coordinator

Your iPhone automatically saves all multimedia attachments you send or receive via text in hidden galleries within your Messages app. If you like to share videos or other large files, these attachments might be taking up more storage space than you realize, since they’re tucked away and not saved in your Photo Stream or Video gallery.

That’s kind of a big deal, especially for those of us with 16 GB iPhones. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to locate and clear out these files to free up some storage space.

To see how much space your Messages app is taking up, go to Settings > General >Storage & iCloud Usage > Manage Storage. You’ll see a breakdown of how much space each of your apps uses, and, chances are, Messages will be one of the heaviest.

Now that you know how much room your attachments are taking up, go root them out! Open Messages and click on any of your current message threads, as if you were going to send a text to that contact, then tap on Details in the top right:

Under Details, you’ll see information about the contact from that message thread, as well as options to share your location, mute the conversation and, lastly, view your Attachments.

To purge one of these files, tap and hold on it. You’ll see three options: Copy, Delete or More. Tap Delete, and the attachment will be erased.

If you want to delete multiple attachments at once, tap the More option, and you’ll be able to select as many files as you want. Once you’re done, click the trash icon in the bottom right and you’ll delete all those items.

Tech Update reminder

The next Tech Update will be held from 10:30 a.m. – noon, on Dec. 1, in Foster Auditorium and MediaSite Live

Agenda:

Ryan Wetzel from ETS will be discussing the 3D printing lab, the Innovation Lab in the Knowledge Commons and LittleBits.
Karen Estlund will discuss Two-Factor Authentication(2FA)
Binky Lush will provide the latest Drupal update.
Ryan Johnson will be providing information on the new EDUROAM Wireless Available at Penn State and various Universities and how to connect.

If you cannot participate in person please join us via MediaSite Live: http://live.libraries.psu.edu/
Once logged in, click “I-Tech” on the left nav bar in the Mediasite catalog.

LHR News: Nov. 30

Please join us in welcoming the following new hires:

Full-time:
11/30/15 Daniel Peters – IT Support Specialist, ITech

Weather reminder
As the winter months approach, it is good to reacquaint yourself with the University’s policies for dealing with inclement weather. University guideline HRG-10 “Handling ‘Weather Day’ Absences” and Libraries guideline UL-HRG-09 “Weather/Emergency” provide guidance for days when bad weather threatens. Please read and be familiar with them. The University has several official channels of communication for information about campus closures. They include:
• PSUAlert (news alerts sent to cell phones as SMS messages). Employees must register to receive the message (http://psualert.psu.edu/) Libraries’ employees at all locations are strongly urged to register for this service.
• WPSU Radio (91.5 in central Pennsylvania, other frequencies throughout the state)
• WPSU website (wpsu.org)
• Penn State News
Employees at campuses other than University Park should check for the preferred communication channels at their campus.

It is our responsibility as employees to monitor appropriate communication channels when bad weather conditions are threatening and look for closure or delayed opening information.
Only the President, Chief Executive Officer, or Campus Dean has the authority to declare a closure, delayed opening, or early dismissal. At the same time, we encourage all employees to use sound judgement and decide for themselves if travel conditions are safe. In the absence of an official closing, if you do not come to work because of unsafe conditions, you will need to use vacation or personal holiday time to receive pay for work time missed.

When an official closing is declared, University policy describes how employees in “essential services” are handled. The Libraries are not considered essential services under this policy. In the event of a closure, Library employees are not required to work. In rare instances the Libraries may decide to remain open during an official closure. Supervisors have defined minimum staffing requirements to continue operations, and will work with employees to identify who is willing and able to safely stay at/come to work under these circumstances.

If for any reason you miss a closure announcement, and come to work and find the Libraries closed, you should return home if it is safe to do so. Staying on campus presents a number of safety concerns. In addition, OPP crews are working hard to clear roads, sidewalks and parking lots. Your presence may create an obstacle to them doing their jobs effectively. If you find that it is unsafe to return home, and want to stay and work, it is important to know that you must get your supervisor’s approval to do so. If they are not in the building it is appropriate to contact them at home.

Departments are encouraged to talk about the potential impact of closures, delayed openings, and early dismissals in advance, especially when bad weather is in the forecast.

Events: Nov. 30

Mon., Nov. 30, noon: Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow Presentation on “Teacher Education in El Salvador, Iran, & the Philippines,” Foster Auditorium.

Tues., Dec. 1, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.: Tech Update, Foster Auditorium. Agenda:

Ryan Wetzel from ETS will be discussing the 3D printing lab, the Innovation Lab in the Knowledge Commons and LittleBits.
Karen Estlund will discuss Two-Factor Authentication(2FA).
Binky Lush will provide the latest Drupal Update.
Ryan Johnson will be providing information on the new EDUROAM Wireless Available at Penn State and various Universities and how to connect.

Wed., December 2, 5:30–6:30 p.m.: Identity Theft, Protecting Yourself, Mann Assembly Room, Paterno Library. Identity theft can compromise your personal and financial records and disrupt your life, and it can take years to restore your good name and financial reputation. In this workshop, Penn State’s Financial Literacy Manager, Daad Rizk will help you learn how to protect yourself and what to do if identity theft happens to you.

Wed., Dec. 2, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.: United Way Craft Sale, Mann Assembly Room.

*** The Dec. 3 web migration forum has been postponed. The next forum is planned for 10:30 a.m., Jan. 13. ***

Farming in Peru — Dan Tobin

Thurs., Dec. 3, noon: New Markets, Old Ways: Value Chains and Native Potatoes in the Peruvian Highlands, presented by Dan Tobin, Foster Aud. and MediaSite Live. In the Peruvian highlands, smallholding farmers conserve thousands of varieties of native potatoes using traditional methods and indigenous knowledge. This seminar will present a case study that investigated how new market opportunities influence production.

Tues., Dec. 8, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Penn State Press Annual Book Sale, Kern Building Lobby. 30% off all titles! Also open to the public. See blog post for details.

Dr. Marcus Whitehurst

Thurs., Dec 10, 2-3 p.m.: Dean’s Diversity Forum, presented by Marcus A. Whitehurst, vice provost for Educational Equity, Foster Auditorium and Media Site Live. Whitehurst, who has nearly 20 years of experience in educational leadership, was appointed Penn State’s vice provost for Educational Equity on Sept. 1, after holding the position in an interim capacity for more than a year. The vice provost for the Office of Educational Equity oversees 13 units with 75 staff members, in addition to working collaboratively with a number of offices both within and outside the University. That includes overseeing the Office of Disability Services, the Equal Opportunity Planning Committee, the Multicultural Resource Center, the Office of Veterans Programs, and a number of student support services and programs.

Sun., Dec. 13 through Tues., Dec. 15, 3–8 p.m.: DeStress Fest. Volunteers needed for some shifts. Sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040b4cada929a13-destress

Mon., Dec. 21, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Cookies Around the World, Mann Assembly Room. Do you have a favorite cookie recipe to share? Would you like to sample some traditional cookies made by your colleagues? Join the Diversity Committee for this tasty pre-holiday event with a global theme. It will be held over lunch, so bring your lunch too. Sign up information coming after Thanksgiving: stay tuned!

Save the date:
Discovery Day will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2016 this year. If you would like to be a part of this year’s committee please contact Ann Snowman, ams32@psu.edu

Library News: Nov. 23

Space planning update

In late 2014, Libraries’ Administration appointed the Space Steering Committee and charged it with providing leadership for the development and implementation of the Master Plan at University Park. This includes:

Appointing committees and task forces to examine issues and prepare program plans
Ensuring effective communication to internal and external partners
Generating partnerships with appropriate units
Tracking trends and development and benchmarking against other academic libraries
Assuring assessment activities are incorporated into design and usage of spaces

Now that the Libraries has a full complement of ADs, the committee is moving ahead with the next phases of space planning. Members are: Kimlyn Patishnock (chair), Karen Estlund, Anne Langley, Joe Salem, Dace Freivalds, Henry Pisciotta, Rick Riccardo (OPP) and Ron Servello.

Communication Plan
At the top of our priority list is increased and better communication. We plan to do this through frequent space planning updates in Library News, on the web, and via email; at various forums; and via attendance at departmental meetings. All Libraries’ faculty and staff are an integral part of the process and we welcome your feedback – in person, email to UL-SPACE-PLANNING@LISTS.PSU.EDU or via phone call. We are also updating the Libraries’ Space Planning website to better showcase space planning activities and initiatives.

University Park Libraries Master Plan Update
The University Park Libraries Master Plan (PDF download) finalized in October 2013 has not been gathering dust. Current projects include:

1. Collaboration Commons. The expansion of MacKinnon’s Cafe and the Ground Floor West Pattee renovation is now called the Collaboration Commons. This project will double the size of the Knowledge Commons, and will help address the high demand for group study and work space. The schematic design for the Collaboration Commons has been completed, with fundraising to occur during 2015/16.

2. Conservation Lab. The University recently acquired property at 2185 Sandy Drive which will be used to house the Conservation Lab and also provide storage for some Special Collections materials. A comprehensive plan for this space is in development.

3. College Heights Building. This building, purchased by the University in 2015, will be used to house the Penn State Press. Design for this space is underway.

4. Knowledge Commons Phase 7. Phase 7 of the Knowledge Commons will create a new central atrium space in the location of the current outdoor courtyard that links Central and West Pattee, break out spaces, specialized study and workspaces for digital scholarship, comfortable seating, flexible spaces to accommodate collaboration and consultation, and more. A program plan for this space will be drafted during 2015/16.

See more, including a video of the proposed Collaboration Commons, on the Facilities Project Page.

Next Steps
The Space Steering Committee has targeted some key areas for additional information gathering. This information will help with the complex decisions needed to complete an overall plan for the locations of key services and groups within the Pattee/Paterno building and also to help determine the scope of individual remodeling projects. The information gathering, to be done by working groups appointed by the Steering Committee, will address the following key areas:

1. Cataloging and Metadata Services, Acquisitions and Bindery Space (Sponsors: Karen Estlund, Anne Langley)
2. Consolidation of Special Collections (Sponsor: Henry Pisciotta)
3. Digital Scholarship (Sponsors: Karen Estlund, Anne Langley)
4. Learning Center (Sponsors: Joe Salem, Kimlyn Patishnock, Rick Riccardo)
5. Music & Media Center (Sponsors: Henry Pisciotta, Dace Freivalds)
6. Spaces for Inclusion and Diversity (Sponsors: Dace Freivalds and Rick Riccardo)
The working groups will be charged by the end of December 2015. Depending on the group, final reports and recommendations will be due during the 1st or 2nd Quarter 2016. Additional working groups that will address other key areas of the Libraries will be appointed at a later date.

What can You Do?
Stay involved. Take this opportunity to consider how our user and collection spaces can work together to meet the needs and expectations of our users. Ask questions, give us feedback, share ideas. And stay tuned … much more is going to happen!

Tell us what you think:
UL-SPACE-PLANNING@LISTS.PSU.EDU

Two Factor Authentication (2FA) and WebAccess

by Dace Freivalds, head, Information Technology

As of December 3, 2015, two factor authentication (2FA) will be enabled for WebAccess, impacting the more than 2,300 websites behind WebAccess across the University. 2FA is a critical service and will address some of the security challenges the University has recently faced. WebAccess (aka “thumbprint” login window) is the University’s login authentication system for such services as ESSIC, Benefits open enrollment, Angel, and many more services. At the Libraries, WebAccess is used for authentication into databases, UCS, My Library Account, “I Want It”, ILL requests, ABLE and many other services.

What Does This Mean for You?

If You Have Already Enrolled in 2FA:
Beginning December 3, 2015, students, faculty and staff who are already enrolled in 2FA will be required to use two factor authentication when logging in to WebAccess. They will use their Penn State Access ID and password to login on WebAccess, and then will be prompted for the device (or devices) they registered for 2FA. These individuals received an email from the IT Service Desk on Nov. 19 announcing the 2FA implementation date.

I-Tech will be available throughout Dec. 3 and 4 to help if you encounter any problems with 2FA. Drop in and we’ll offer assistance.

If You Have Not Yet Enrolled in 2FA:
You do not have to do anything at this point. You will continue to login to WebAccess the way you do today even after Dec. 3, i.e., you will not be required to use the second level authentication.

However, you will need to enroll in 2FA within the next few months since it will become mandatory for all Penn State faculty and staff in late spring 2016. We encourage you to wait until after Dec. 3 to enroll since we will be offering a number of training/drop-in sessions during December, January and February to help you get enrolled and demonstrate how to to use 2FA once you have enrolled. We will also schedule a number of Adobe Connect sessions for campus library faculty and staff.

What Will I Need to Do When I Enroll?

When you enroll in 2FA you will need to register a device for the second level authentication. A smartphone is the best choice for 2FA authentication since it provides the greatest level of security and allows you to use the Duo Mobile app. The app allows you to receive push notifications for easy, one-tap authentication and can also generate passcodes for login (even without cellular connectivity). We will encourage faculty and staff to use the push notification, but other options are available. You will also be able to use a mobile phone, a tablet, a landline or a token for 2FA. We will be providing more details on these options during the training sessions, in Library News and via email after Dec. 3.

I Already Have a Token for IBIS. That Means I’m All Set, Right?

Some of you already have tokens for use with IBIS, eLion, ISIS, etc. The token you are currently using for these services will not work with 2FA. You will need to continue to use your current token for these services and use another device for WebAccess authentication as well as any other system that has been integrated with 2FA.

We are working with Libraries’ administration to develop a process for requesting 2FA tokens. We will have more information on this Dec. 3.

Does 2FA Change How Users Authenticate at Their Workstations?

2FA will not change access and/or authentication protocols at public workstations in library buildings, library staff computers at service desks, desktop or laptop workstations in Library employee offices, or desktop access via cable modem off campus (e.g., from an employee’s home computer)? Logging in to a workstation does not require WebAccess, so no 2FA will be needed. However, once a user is logged in to a laptop, computer, etc. then he/she will need to use 2FA for resources that are behind 2FA.

More Information?

Karen Estlund, associate dean for Technology and Digital Strategies, will address 2FA at the Dec. 1, 2015 Tech Update.

Please email questions to Dace Freivalds, head of I-Tech, at dace@psu.edu. We will use the questions, and our responses, to populate a Libraries’ specific FAQ.

LHR News: Nov. 23

Please join us in welcoming the following new hires:
Full-time:

11/23/15: James Searfoss, information resources and services support specialist, Earth and Mineral Sciences Library

Upcoming Holiday:
Thanksgiving Day: The Thanksgiving holiday will be on Thursday, November 26. The University is also closed on Friday, November 27, and this day is considered an Official Campus Closure.

Human Resources Guideline HRG10, “Handling ‘Weather Day’ Absences or Official University Closedowns Due to Weather Conditions,” provides the needed guidance for staff and technical-service employees. Therefore, in general, the following will apply:

Employees who normally work Fridays and are not required to work, including wage payroll employees who are eligible for earned time, will receive pay for the day as if they had worked. Employees who had previously scheduled a vacation day or other paid time off will not have such time charged.
Full-time staff and technical-service employees whose regular day off falls on Thanksgiving Friday will receive an additional day of equivalent time off to be scheduled at another time mutually agreeable to the employee and the supervisor. Although this represents an expansion of the benefit provided for in the guideline, it is in keeping with the intention of the provision of this unique benefit.
LHR Note: Full time employees who usually work Fridays should mark this time as “Official Campus Closure” in ESSIC. Employees whose normal day off is Friday will add the equivalent time in “Campus Closure Compensatory hours earned,” found on the Paid Time Off Earned page, during the submit process at the end of the month. Compensatory time balances must be used prior to vacation.

Use new EDUROAM wireless when traveling to other institutions

by Ryan Johnson, technology training coordinator

EDUROAM is a federation that allows account holders from member schools to connect to the Wi-Fi network at other member institutions using their home institution’s credentials. The availability of the EDUROAM wireless will allow visitors to Penn State from many other schools around the world to connect to our wireless network. Additionally, Penn Staters can test their set-up by connecting to EDUROAM here before traveling to other schools where the wireless is available.

Since the EDUROAM wireless does have some restrictions, it is not recommended that Penn Staters use EDUROAM as their primary network when at a Penn State location. The PSU wireless should be used as usual.

To log on, enter your username in the format abc123@psu.edu, where abc123 is your Access ID, and enter the same password you use for the PSU WIRELESS. Please note that while abc123@psu.edu looks like an email address, it is not. It is your Access ID combined with information to let the host institution know what school you are from. Unless your email address happens to share this exact format it will not work for connecting to EDUROAM.

The EDUROAM profile will allow users to connect to the EDUROAM wireless which is available all over the world at public institutions using their PSU credentials. Such institutions include but are not limited to:
• Other Universities
• Libraries
• Public Buildings
• Railway Stations
• Airports

Tech Update: Dec 1

Tuesday, December 1, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.: Tech Update, Foster Auditorium. Watch online via MediaSite Live

Agenda:

Ryan Wetzel from ETS will be discussing the 3D printing lab, the Innovation Lab in the Knowledge Commons and LittleBits.
Karen Estlund will discuss Two-Factor Authentication(2FA).
Binky Lush will provide the latest Drupal Update.
Ryan Johnson will be providing information on the new EDUROAM Wireless Available at Penn State and various Universities and how to connect.

Card sorting game garners student responses

Zoe Chao, user experience librarian and Web Implementation Management Team (WIMT) member, conducted a “card sorting” game with students in the Weltmann Service Lobby last week. Various library services were written on the cards, and students were asked to pick out cards they considered as services, group the cards and label the groups.

photos by Wilson Hutton

This is just one of the many usability studies that WIMT is undertaking in advance of the Libraries’ website migration from Adobe CQ to Drupal. The site will be more contemporary, modern and simplified, and all changes will be based on analytics and usability studies as well as recommendations from the Penn State Office of Strategic Communications.

View the Nov. 13 Content Strategy Forum here: http://live.libraries.psu.edu/Mediasite/Play/e2fa34be26ca48c9876d9a85c5c7699e1d?catalog=8376d4b2-4dd1-457e-a3bf-e4cf9163feda

Events

Tues., Dec. 1, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.: Tech Update, Foster Auditorium. Agenda:

Ryan Wetzel from ETS will be discussing the 3D printing lab, the Innovation Lab in the Knowledge Commons and LittleBits.
Karen Estlund will discuss Two-Factor Authentication(2FA).
Binky Lush will provide the latest Drupal Update.
Ryan Johnson will be providing information on the new EDUROAM Wireless Available at Penn State and various Universities and how to connect.

Farming in Peru — Dan Tobin

Tues., Dec. 8, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Penn State Press Annual Book Sale, Kern Building Lobby. 30% off all titles! Also open to the public. See blog post for details.

Dr. Marcus Whitehurst

Sun., Dec. 13 through Tues., Dec. 15, 3–8 p.m.: DeStress Fest. Volunteers needed for some shifts. Sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040b4cada929a13-destress

Save the date:
Discovery Day will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2016 this year. If you would like to be a part of this year’s committee please contact Ann Snowman, ams32@psu.edu

Penn State Press Holiday Book Sale!

Take 30% off at the Penn State Press Holiday Book Sale! This one-day-only sale takes place Tuesday, December 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Kern Building lobby and is open to the university community and the general public.

The sale will feature our newest titles, including “Among the Bone Eaters,” “Elephant House” (right), “My Degeneration,” “Graphic Passion: Matisse and the Book Arts” (below), “From Giotto to Botticelli,” “The Impossible Craft: Literary Biography” and “Posters for Peace,” as well as classic PSU Press books.

Don’t forget to check out the $5 book table! Can’t make it? Purchase books through the Press’s website, using the code HS2015, for 25% off. We offer free shipping to on-campus addresses; regular shipping charges apply everywhere else. For information on any of Penn State Press’s titles, visit http://www.psupress.org or call 865-1327. —
Laura Reed-Morrisson, managing editor, Penn State University Press

Tips on writing for the web

by Ryan Johnson

It’s important to target your audience when writing for the web. By knowing who you are writing for, you can write at a level that will be meaningful for them.
Here are some tips for writing for the web:

Write clear, simple and effective content. The content of your site should be easy to read for everyone, preferably in a conversational style.
Front-load your text. Put the most important content on your page in the first paragraph, so that readers scanning your pages will not miss your main idea.
Chunk your content. Cover only one topic per paragraph.
Be concise. Write short paragraphs and minimize unnecessary words.
Choose lists over paragraphs. When possible use lists rather than paragraphs to make your content easier to scan.

For more extensive information on how to write for the web, please watch this Lynda.com tutorial: http://www.lynda.com/Web-Content-Strategy-tutorials/Writing-Web/180104-2.html?org=psu.edu
In addition, this YouTube playlist has shorter modules that introduce the basics for writing for the web: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAABFB40F4906E8A9

‘Getting to Know You’: Barb Kopshina

by Andrea Pritt, Penn State Mont Alto

From part-time student worker to full-time staff, Barb Kopshina has a plethora of library experience. As a student at Penn State DuBois Barb worked in the campus library and upon transferring to University Park she joined the Interlibrary Loan team for a year and a half. Following her time in the ILL department Barb worked for the library affiliated company, Brodart before rejoining the University Libraries in 2006. Barb worked at the Dickinson School of Law Library at University Park until 2010 and ultimately transferred back to the library where it all began: DuBois.

Barb currently lives in her hometown of Sykesville, Pa, just 15 minutes south of DuBois, on the Walker Century Farm. This 60 acre farm has been in Barb’s family since her relative, Christian Walker, originally purchased it back in 1855. Along with a whole host of vegetables, the family farm is home to chickens, cats, and dogs. And as a lover of animals, Barb has four Siamese cats of her own, three males and one female, ranging from six to 12 years old.

Barb’s four Siamese cats

Outside of being my fellow co-author of the “Getting to Know You” series and sitting on various University Libraries committees Barb really enjoys genealogy research. She has traced her family history back to the 1700’s and actually has the original German Army discharge papers of her fourth great grandfather, Christian Walker, from 1845. Acting as Secretary for the Rumbarger Cemetery Preservation Society she volunteers to help restore the cemetery. The Rumbarger Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in DuBois and requires long-term preservation and maintenance.

Library News

Giving Tuesday and Nov. 17 event focus on textbook fund

plus:

Campus-wide sustainability program modeled after Green Committee’s game

The Libraries’ Green Committee and its successful Recycling Sorting Station game developed for this fall’s Open House at University Park so impressed members of Penn State’s Sustainability Institute that they have developed two versions of it for ongoing campus-wide educational initiatives.

Jennifer Funk, Interlibrary Loan information resources and services support specialist and Green Committee member, suggested the idea of a sorting station as a way to involve the Green Committee in Open House activities, and to help educate a new cohort of students and other new patrons about recycling and composting best practices. The Sorting Station stop on the Open House tour gave the committee an opportunity to illustrate both proper sorting and its impact.

Linda Struble, information resources and services supervisor-manager at Penn State’s Engineering Library and a member of the Libraries’ Green Committee, volunteered at the Sorting Station. “The students really seemed to enjoy it. And because Penn State’s Sustainability Institute also provided us with examples of products made from recycled materials, like fleece clothing and carpeting, it helped demonstrated the value of proper recycling,” she said.

two students listening to Linda Struble talk about recycling and sustainability in Franklin Atrium, Pattee Library

Linda Struble, a member of the University Libraries’ Green Committee, answers students’ recycling and composting questions during the Libraries’ Open House. The committee’s sorting station game offered a fun way to educate new students, faculty and staff about Penn State’s commitment to sustainability.

Committee members used baskets that patrons use for carrying books as “recycling bins” for the game, and as luck would have it, an older green basket was available to stand in as the game’s compost bin. Members also printed sheets of recycling signage similar to those on the Libraries’ recycling bins, and posters listing five actions individuals can take to reduce their waste.

They borrowed the Sustainability Institute’s bag of clean recyclables available for such programs and collected other oddball recycling items to challenge players. The Institute also provided an “answer key” indicating where each item should be placed correctly in the waste stream.

“We made sure to insert humor into the game,” Struble added. “For instance, multiple participants feigned surprise when they discovered a rubber chicken in the compostable bin, representing a real chicken, bones and all, that are compostable.”

Lydia Vandenbergh, the Sustainability Institute’s associate director of employee engagement and education, and other Sustainability Institute members volunteered for shifts at the sorting station along with Green Committee members. After they saw the sorting station game’s success, Sustainability Institute members decided to use the same concept to create a traveling educational show, tentatively called the Recycling and Composting Roadshow.

Two versions of the Roadshow were developed — one for high student-traffic areas, including on-campus dining halls, the HUB-Robeson Center, and the University Libraries, and the other for more general-traffic campus audiences including classroom buildings.

Karen Serago, academic adviser at the Smeal College of Business, and Dan Cahoy, professor of business law and a member of the college’s sustainability board, learned about the recycling and composting roadshow from Penn State student Kaitlynn Hamaty, an intern at the Sustainability Institute.

The Roadshow already is in use, and Sustainability Institute members have demonstrated it to Green Team representatives across the University Park campus and offered it for future educational programs. The committee’s idea also will be featured in the Sustainability Institute’s e-newsletter.

Congratulations to the Green Committee, whose ingenuity has inspired a new level of sustainability education at University Park.