Daily Archives: October 17, 2016

Strategic Plan Update: Action Plan progress as of Sept. 30

The Sept. 30, 2016, action plan update of the Libraries’ 2014-2019 Strategic Plan Steering Committee is now available as a PDF. As you review it, please note the progress on these action items over the last quarter.

Since the June 30 update, the Penn State strategic plan implementation has launched. As part of that process, University Libraries completed an alignment report in early September, further describing the ways in which our strategic plan and action items advance the Penn State plan. We anticipate more collaboration with external units as a result over the next year.

The Strategic Plan Steering Committee will be meeting soon to review the progress and process so far as well as next steps. Over the next month, we anticipate an open call for volunteers to gather feedback on the current action items and captures ideas for new action items. In the meantime, if you have any ideas that you would like to share, or are interested in serving on
that team, please let a member of the steering committee know.

We always welcome your feedback on the current update of the action plan, process for updating the action plan, communication strategy, and revisions to the strategic plan. Please feel free to send your comments or questions to any member of the Strategic Plan Steering Committee:

Chris Avery (cca2@psu.edu)
Matt Ciszek (mpc16@psu.edu)
Karen Estlund (kme20@psu.edu)
Jennifer Gilley (jrg15@psu.edu)
Anne Langley (ael22@psu.edu)
Lana Munip (lzm10@psu.edu)
Rob Olendorf (rko5039@psu.edu)
Kimlyn Patishnock (kjp2@psu.edu)
Sheila Sager (sss2@psu.edu)
Joe Salem (jas1218@psu.edu)
Diane Zabel (dxz2@psu.edu)

Libraries IT and Facilities Helpdesk/Service Desk transition to Service Now

This fall, I-Tech and Facilities will move our current helpdesk/service desk from its current JIRA platform to Penn State’s central service desk platform Service Now. Service Now will give us added functionality and also allow us to see and move tickets with the central helpdesk, printing, and all of the other departments using Service Now.

While this change will entail quite a bit of work and learning in the new system for I-Tech, it should have little impact on Libraries’ faculty and staff.

Our plan is to have the request form available at the same URL as it is now. The form itself may change slightly in order for us to automate some of the Service Now capabilities, and your email responses from the system will look different. The new form will provide access to Knowledge Base articles based on your description.

We will provide more information and details about the new system as we integrate our services into this new tool.

Timeline for the migration:

  • Oct. 17Nov. 27: Designated I-Tech staff work with the Service
    Now team to set up and configure Service Now for library use.
  • Nov. 28Dec. 2: I-Tech and Facilities staff trained in the use Service Now.
  • Dec. 5: Service Now is live for the Libraries IT and Facilities.
    All new service request tickets will be directed to Service Now.
  • December 12-22: Designated I-Tech staff work with the Service Now team
    to finish configuration of Service Now for library use.
  • Jan. 2: All Library JIRA tickets closed or moved to Service Now, JIRA system retired.

What is a web content strategist?

While the definition can be flexible based on context, a web content strategist is the person responsible for overseeing all content for any given project. Since the web content strategist is a new position for University Libraries, we thought it would be a good idea to provide a general overview of the role. The web content strategist will:

  • serve as an advocate for content development throughout the course of a project
  • act as a liaison and collaborate with key stakeholders, product owners, subject matter experts, as well as with developers, information architects, user experience experts, and SEO experts
  • develop recommendations based on business objectives for the Libraries and user needs
  • write and edit content to follow standards for writing for the web
  • ensure editorial guidelines and standards align with Penn State’s editorial standards, including standards for voice and tone as well as accessibility and usability
  • work with authors and content creators to develop content best-practices
  • provide content inventories and audits in alignment with requirements develop a plan and process (content strategy) for handling all of the above—creating, updating, archiving, and in some cases, deleting content.

Given the enormity of most academic library websites, more and more content strategists are being added to library web teams. Our recent migration sets the stage for moving forward with a content strategy that will ensure that University Libraries’ website is useful, usable, and discoverable – now and in the future.

Importantly, creating a strong web content strategy is all about building
good relationships and collaboration with our University Library colleagues.
Thank you again for making our migration a smooth one, and we look forward to
continuing our work with you. Likewise, please continue to submit feedback
at:  https://libraries.psu.edu/website-feedback/. Feedback and requests will
be reviewed and prioritized, and help guide us in planning the next steps for
the site.

–submitted by Karen Hackett, web content strategist, I-Tech

Getting To Know You: Carla Rapp

woman wearing Penn State clothing standing at the beach

Carla Rapp

by Tracy Reilly and Jen Cywinski

If you’ve ever had Media Commons come to your campus for instruction, and you live on the Eastern side of the state, then you probably had a chance to meet Carla Rapp. As the Media Commons campus consultant for Penn State’s eastern campuses, Carla travels often to work with faculty in creating
multimedia projects that can be used for classroom instruction. She also provides in-classroom training for students, including demos of software, guidance in creating scholarly multimedia projects, best practices, and project critiques. Carla also supports campuses through the Media Commons
website.

Carla received her undergraduate degree in Communication and Public
Relations from La Salle University and a master’s in Learning Design and
Technology from Penn State. Her first job after graduation was a position at
Bucks County Community College.

Before she settled at Penn State, she enjoyed a diverse range of jobs,
including seven years of filming behind the scenes at the high school football
show “The Big Ticket” for WFMZ in Allentown. She was also involved with
production work and public announcements for “Musikfest,” which is one of
the nation’s largest 10-day music festivals. She also worked for the Lehigh
Valley Iron Pigs, a minor league baseball team and a Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies where she did video production and also worked the scoreboard.

As you can probably imagine, Carla is a big sports fan. She loves to watch the Philadelphia Flyers, and, of course, she is a big Penn State fan! She also loves to cook and try new recipes she finds on Pinterest. She especially loves to cook for her fiancé who she is going to marry this fall, her favorite time of the year!

Carla loves her position at Penn State. She likes working as a team, and Penn State gives her the freedom to come up with new ideas – and new ideas can lead to big things.

Why I used to dislike customer service: tips and tricks for working at a public service desk

Aaron Procious used to find customer service daunting and, frankly “scary.” Through trial and error, he learned several tips and tricks that not only helped him survive, but provide excellent customer service working at a service desk.

Come and listen Aaron from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdsay, Oct. 26, in the Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno, and learn what he wished he knew three years ago!

Benefits open enrollment information available

As a reminder, the benefits open enrollment period begins Tuesday, Nov. 1 and closes on Friday, Nov. 18. More information is available on the open enrollment website http://openenrollment.psu.edu/ and, beginning on Nov. 1, an active link on that page will allow you to enroll or change benefits for 2017. All changes and updates take effect on Jan. 1, 2017.

The open enrollment microsite and benefit guides also provide:

  • Information on health care, dental, vision, optional life insurance, long-term disability and accidental death & dismemberment benefits
  • Explanations of the PPO Savings Plan and PPO Blue Plan, and side-by-side coverage comparisons
  • Basic and comprehensive decision tools that assist employees on the health plan decision-making process
  • A schedule of in-person live meetings and links to a series of online webinars for more in depth and interactive benefits discussions.

University Libraries’ United Way fall events

Join us for one or more of the University Libraries’ United Way fall events over the next several of weeks:

Calendar Photo Contest – deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Oct. 20
The Great United Way Cookie Bake Off – 2:30-4 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 19
Halloween Party – 12-3:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 31
Used Book Sale – noon-5 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3
Arts and Crafts Sale – Thursday, Dec. 1

Calendar Photo Contest
Deadline for photo submission is Oct. 20 by 5 p.m.

We are looking for your photos of the libraries (both inside and outside) or recognizable places on your campus. Questions about the contest? Contact Ann Kopesky (ask190@psu.edu).

Click here to upload and submit your photos to this dropbox folder.

Calendar orders will be taken sometime in November so they are delivered before the holiday break.

The Great United Way Cookie Bake Off
Wednesday, Oct. 19 • 2:30-4 p.m. • Mann Assembly room
Come join us for coffee, tea, milk, and cookies made by you — come try them
all or vote for your favorites! Questions about the contest? Contact Heather Ross  (hdr10@psu.edu).

Donations are still needed. Please sign up using this link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4ba8ab28a64-great

Halloween Party
Monday, Oct. 31 • 12-3:30 p.m. • Mann Assembly Room
The United Way Committee, the Safety Committee,  and UPLEA are sponsoring this
afternoon of fun. Come join us for costumes and photos, food, prizes, and a scary movie. Questions about this event ? Contact Pembroke Childs  (prc107@psu.edu).

United Way Used Book Sale
Thursday, Nov. 3 • 12-5 p.m. • Mann Assembly Room
We are currently accepting donations of gently used or new books, movies, and
music for the sale. Questions about the sale? Contact Amy Miller (arm107@psu.edu).

United Way Arts and Crafts Sale
Thursday, Dec. 1 • Mann Assembly Room
In November (after the book sale), we will begin accepting donations of craft
items, books, and supplies. Questions about the sale? Contact Amy Miller (arm107@psu.edu).

On behalf of the United Way Committee, thank you and hope to see you there!

–submitted by Amy R. Miller, co-chair University Libraries United Way Committee

Immersive Experiences Symposium on Oct. 31

Penn State will host its first-ever Immersive Experiences Symposium from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31 at Heritage Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center, University Park.This day-long event, open to faculty, staff, and students, will showcase work being conducted at Penn State in the realm of virtual (VR), augmented (AR), and mixed reality (MR).

Participants will have an opportunity to explore collaborative opportunities, promote their work and research in this space, and network with the pioneers, researchers, and enthusiasts around some of today’s most immersive technologies.

More information and the registration link is available in the full Penn State News article.

– submitted by Derick Burns, Teaching and Learning with Technology

Next Tech Update set for Oct. 18

The next Tech Update is scheduled for 3-4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, in Foster Auditorium, University Park, and on Mediasite Live.

The following items are on the agenda for this update:

Agenda:
Organization Updates – SaS
Repository Roadmap
Videoconferencing – Zoom and BlueJeans
Libraries IT Service Desk transition to Service Now
Workstation updates: Backups, Encryption, Casper, Windows 10, and more!
Libraries Website Update

– submitted by Melody Gehlbach, I-Tech

Tech Tip: What is the best way to save your images?

by Ryan Johnson, I-Tech
This post originally appeared in June 2015.

filetypes

GIF
Gif stands for “graphics interchange format” and was created by CompuServe in 1987 to transfer images quickly across slow connections. There has long been a public debate over whether it’s pronounced “gif” or “jif,” but creator Steve Wilhite says call it “JIF!”

Some quick facts: gif uses 256 indexed colors and dithering, a process where two pixel colors combine to make one to reduce the number of colors needed. It can be interlaced, and progressive loading shows a low-quality image first and then better detail is added. It allows for single-bit transparency–one color can be chosen to be transparent. It can be animated. It uses lossless compression, few colors means files start even smaller than JPEG and compression does not lose any data.

Best uses: web graphics with few colors, small icons, animations, simple images

JPEG

Pronouced “jay-peg,” it stands for “joint photographic experts group” and was designed by this group in 1986. It used a very complex compression algorithm to reduce file size. Sixty to 75 percent compression is usually optimal for website usage and it is often used when a small file size is more important than maximum quality. The human eye doesn’t see color details as well as it does light and dark differences, so some of these color details can be sacrificed to save file space.

This is the standard file format of most digital cameras because it can display millions of colors and has a 16-bit data format. It lets image detail be “forgotten” and then filled in when displayed, but it also called “lossy” compression for the loss of data. This file type is compatible across many platforms (PC and Mac), and other programs (web browsers and image editors) making it very versatile.

Best uses: Still images only, real-world images like photos, complex coloring, shading of light and dark

PNG

Png stands for “portable network graphics” and was designed in the mid-1990s as a way around patent issues with the GIF format, and includes benefits from both GIF and JPEG. It has lossless compression–so, no data loss!

PNG-8 is very similar to GIF. It uses 256 colors and 1-bit transparency; however, PNG-8 files are even smaller than GIF files. PNG-24 uses 24-bit color which is similar to JPEG. It can include more than 186 million colors! These files use alpha-channels and allow transparency to be set on a scale between opaque and completely transparent, which creates a faded, translucent look. Sadly though, some older browsers may have trouble supporting PNG files because of these alpha channels.

Best uses: web images such as logos that involve transparency and fading, images in the middle of the editing process, complex images like photographs if file size is not an issue

There is such a variety of image file formats that I didn’t even go over today available to use. Using the right format for your images to save quality and space on your computer and in your emails and websites is crucial.

LHR News: Oct. 17

Please join us in welcoming the following new hires:

Part-time:
— at University Park:
Gabrielle Cilea – Interlibrary Loan
Stephanie Koons – Arts and Humanities Library
Karan Relan – Engineering Library

— at Penn State College of Medicine:
Lauren Krawchyk – Penn State Hershey

Events: Oct. 17

Fall 2016

Through Wednesday, Nov. 30: “Penn State Wilkes-Barre, 100 Years: 1916-2016” exhibit,
8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday, Friedman Gallery, Academic Commons, Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus, Lehman.

Through Friday, Dec. 16: “Expanding Horizons: Penn Staters in the Olympics” exhibit, Special Collections Library, 104 Paterno Library, University Park.

Through Friday, Dec. 16: “Japanimation: Exploring Anime” exhibit, Sidewater Commons and central entrance, Pattee Library, University Park.

Through Friday, Dec. 16: “From Gay-Related Immune Deficiency to AIDS: The Emergence of HIV in the 1980s” exhibit, second floor Pattee Library near entrance of Arts and Humanities Library, University Park.

Tuesday, Oct. 18: Discovery Day Webinar Series: What the Library Can Do for You, presented by Liz Long and Megan Gilpin, 1-2 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park, and MediaSite Live.

Tuesday, Oct. 18: Team Library, 2-3:30 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Tuesday, Oct. 18: Tech Update, by Libraries I-Tech staff, 3-4 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park, and MediaSite Live.

Tuesday, Oct. 18: David DeNotaris speaks about employment opportunities for people with disabilities, 6:30-8 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park, and MediaSite Live.

Wednesday, Oct. 19: Space planning brown bag session, Libraries’ Space Steering Committee open discussion and Q & A, noon-1 p.m., 510A Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Oct. 19: Libraries United Way Team Cookie Contest, 2:30-4 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Oct. 19: Promotion and tenure recognition event, 4-6:30 p.m., Paterno Reading Room, University Park.

Thursday, Oct. 20: Pumpkin carving 101, by Terry Watson, noon-1 p.m., W23 Pattee Library, University Park.

Monday, Oct. 24, through Saturday, Dec. 3: “Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature” exhibit, Penn State Hazleton Library, Hazleton.

Tuesday, Oct. 25: Patron privacy training, presented by Ann Snowman, 3-4 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park and Mediasite Live.

Wednesday, Oct. 26: Dean’s Forum, 10-11 a.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park, and MediaSite Live.

Wednesday, Oct. 26: Penn State Beaver Library Open House, noon-1:30 p.m., Beaver campus library.

Wednesday, Oct. 26: “Why I used to dislike customer service: tips and tricks for working at a public service desk, User Services Training by Aaron Procious, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, Oct. 27: “Understanding of What Life Is,” noon-1 p.m., lecture by Carl Frankel, inconjunction with the “Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature” exhibit, Hazleton campus library, Hazleton.

Thursday, Oct. 27: Penn State Hazleton Library Game Night, 7-10 p.m., Hazleton campus library.

Friday, Oct. 28: Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Morrison Gallery, Penn State Harrisburg Library, Harrisburg.

Tuesday, Nov. 1: “Orphaned and Homeless: UNESCO and the fate of Jewish books,” 4:30-5:30 p.m., with speaker Miriam Intrator, Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Tuesday, Nov. 1: Penn State Wilkes-Barre Centennial anniversary gala, 6-9 p.m., by invitation only, for more information, contact Rachel Olszewski-Rybicki at 100YearCelebration@psu.edu, Genetti Hotel and Conference Center, Wilkes-Barre.

Wednesday, Nov. 2: Supervisor: Helping New Librarians Find Success and Satisfaction in the Academic Library, 2 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park, and MediaSite Live.

Wednesday, Nov. 2: Website building 101 (for the non-coder), User Training Services event presented by Hailley Foster, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Nov. 2: “Apocalypse Then: The Collapse of the Bronze Age World,” Archaeological Institute of America Public Lecture, presented by Dimitri Nakassis, 6 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, Nov. 3: Librarians: Helping New Librarians Find Success and Satisfaction in the Academic Library, 2 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park, and MediaSite Live.

Tuesday, Nov. 8: New employee orientation, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Tuesday, Nov. 8: Library Learning Services: Exhibition information literacy class, 10 a.m., 140 Pattee Library, University Park.

Tuesday, Nov. 8: Meditation techniques lecture, 12:20-1:10 p.m., Hazleton Library, L-12, Hazleton.

Tuesday, Nov. 8: “Poetry without Borders,” poetry reading and reception, 6-7 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library; 7-8 p.m. reception in Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Nov. 9: Behrend Common Read Book Club, with author Will Allen, noon-1 p.m., Smith Chapel, Penn State Behrend, Erie.

Thursday, Nov. 10: Beating Burnout, 10 a.m.,Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park, and MediaSite Live.

Thursday, Nov. 10: “Climate and Conflict,” biology seminar about El Niño, presented by Illiana Baums, Penn State associate professor of biology, 4-5 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Friday, Nov. 11: Coffee with Carmen, with special guests Dean Barbara Dewey and Associate Dean Anne Langley, noon-1 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, University Park.

Friday, Nov. 11: Geography coffee hour, with speaker Chris Oxendine, 3:30 p.m. refreshments; 4 p.m. program, 112 Walker Building, University Park.

Monday-Tuesday, Nov. 14-15: GIS Day events, Pattee Library and Paterno Library, University Park.

Monday-Tuesday, Nov. 14-15: GIS Day poster display, Pattee Library, Franklin Auditorium, University Park.

Monday, Nov. 14: GIS Day career panel, 3:15-5 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park, and on Mediasite Live.

Monday, Nov. 14: GIS Day information fair, 1-3 p.m., Leisure Reading Room, University Park.

Monday, Nov. 14: GIS Day networking reception, 5 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Tuesday, Nov. 15: GIS Day lightning talks and keynote address, 10 a.m.-10:30 a.m., keynote address, “Protecting the world’s forests with GFW fires,” by speakers Stephen Ansari and Christopher Grabris of Blue Raster; 10:30-11 a.m., GeoHive, DigitalGlobe’s crowdsourcing platform presented by James Wilson; 11 a.m.-noon, GIS Day lightning talks, Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Tuesday, Nov. 15: GIS Day lightning talks, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park and Mediasite Live.

Tuesday, Nov. 16: “Why Didn’t I Learn about Native American History in School?,” International Education Week presentation, featuring speakers Sarah Shear and Madison Miller, 10 a.m.-noon, Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Nov. 16: “Educating for Social Justice and Preservation of Mayan Culture, Language and Historical Memory,” International Education Week presentation, featuring Juana Perez, 5-6 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Nov. 16: Space planning brown bag session, Libraries’ Space Steering Committee open discussion and Q & A, noon-1 p.m., 510A Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, Nov. 17: Team Library, 2-3:30 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Friday, Nov. 18: International Education Week presentation, featuring speakers Victoria Sanchez and Rasa Drane, 11 a.m.-noon., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Sunday-Saturday, Nov. 20-26: Thanksgiving holiday, no classes.

Saturday, Nov. 26: Huddle with the faculty, “Thou Didst Mold Us: Penn State Accomplishments Through the Decades: 1855-2016, presented by Jackie Esposito, 8:30-10 a.m., Nittany Lion Inn, University Park.

Wednesday, Nov. 30: “Letters from Sana’a–How to Preserve Archives, Monuments and Museums in Yemen,” Archaeological Institute of America Public Lecture, presented by Alexander Nagel of the Smithsonian Institute, 6 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Dec. 7: Meditation techniques lecture, 12:20-1:10 p.m., Hazleton Library, L-12, Hazleton.

Friday, Dec. 9: Last day of fall classes.

Sunday-Tuesday, Dec. 11-13: DeStress Fest, 3-8 p.m., University Park library locations.

Monday-Friday, Dec. 12-16: Final exams.

Wednesday, Dec. 14: Tech Update, by Libraries I-Tech staff, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, and MediaSite Live.

Thursday, Dec. 15: Coffee with Carmen, with special guest Steven Herb speaking about storytelling, 1-2:30 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, and MediaSite Live.

Saturday, Dec. 17: Fall Commencement, University Park and several Commonwealth Campus locations.

Wednesday, Dec. 21: Space planning brown bag session, Libraries’ Space Steering Committee open discussion and Q & A, noon-1 p.m., 510A Paterno Library, University Park.

Please submit event information to Public Relations and Marketing via the Library News submission form.