Monthly Archives: July 2017

Data Days Recap

The Library Assessment and Metrics Council (LAMC) hosted its first Data Days on Monday, July 10, at University Park. The event aimed to bring the Libraries together to learn about data use throughout the University Libraries. In all, 12 sessions were delivered, ranging in duration from 20 to 90 minutes by 12 presenters.

While many of the sessions were informational, two workshops were held, including an introduction to R and best practices in Qualtrics & survey design. Informational sessions included multiple perspectives on quantitative and qualitative methods, library data and external reporting, how to create representative samples, a primer on open data, as well as data used in decision making, where examples from Public Services, Acquisitions, a Commonwealth Campus library, and a University Park branch library were discussed.

Participation was broader than anticipated, with 34 individuals registered — 25 faculty and nine staff, who represented eight campuses and 23 libraries or departments. Evaluations were received from 21 participants and were overwhelmingly positive.

I’d like to thank the organizing committee for their efforts, Joe Salem for sponsoring the event, all the speakers for putting together and delivering excellent talks, and everyone who attended for making our first annual Data Days a really successful event. Slides available and sessions delivered in Foster were recorded. All are linked and available on the Data Days intranet page (accessible via login to all University Libraries employees).

– submitted by Steve Borrelli, head of Library Assessment

Microsoft Edge Replaces Internet Explorer in Windows 10

by Ryan Johnson, IT training coordinator

Internet Explorer is no longer the default browser on PCs running Microsoft Windows 10. In its place is a modern browser named Edge.

Microsoft’s Edge browser is more standards-compliant and performs better. It also no longer supports ActiveX controls, so all those old Internet Explorer toolbars and browser plug-ins will no longer function.

Some new features of Edge include:

Ability to pin web pages to the Start Menu.
Built-in E-Reader.
“Set tabs aside” feature allows you to set web pages aside to be accessed at a later time.
Tab Previews.
Set multiple homepages.

If you’ve been using Internet Explorer, this is the browser you’ll be using instead. Internet Explorer 11 is still available on Windows 10 if you need it.

Did you know that multitasking hurts customer service?

by Jeff Toister, Toister Performance Solutions, Inc.

How, you may ask? Humans can only process one conscious thought at a time. We work slower and make more errors when we try to do more than one thing at a time that requires our attention.

Here are some common examples of multitasking that can lead to service failures:
* Trying to type an email while speaking to another customer
* Talking to a co-worker while serving a customer
* Responding to a text while having a conversation

A great way to experience how multitasking can hurt performance is to try a Stroop Test. Give it a try and see how you do.

Bonus Info: Be careful — multitasking can be addictive. Toister compiled a short explainer to describe how this happens and what you can do about it.

– submitted by Carmen Gass, User Services Training Coordinator

Events: July 24

Summer 2017
Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

Through Sunday, July 30, “The Painted Photograph: Selections from the B. & H. Henisch Photo-History Collection exhibit,” Pattee Library operating hours, Paterno Family Reading Room, 201A Pattee Library, University Park.

Through Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017: “Plastics: Knowledge and Information Taking Shape” exhibit, Pattee Library operating hours, Sidewater Commons and central entrance, Pattee Library, University Park.

Through Friday, Aug. 30, 2017: “100 Years of the Pulitzers: Celebrating Our Humanity” exhibit, Arts and Humanities Library operating hours, Diversity Studies Room, 203 Patee Library, University Park.

Through Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017: “ABC: An Abecedarium from the 15th to the 21st Century” exhibit, Eberly Family Special Collections Library, 104 Paterno Library, Paterno Library operating hours, University Park.

square sunburst graphic with text Spend a Summer Day

Spend a Summer Day events for prospective Penn State students and families are held at most campuses; visit https://admissions.psu.edu/sasd for details.

Monday, July 24: Spend a Summer Day, prospective student visits at University Park; similar morning, afternoon, evening and all-day events also at Commonwealth Campuses; complete schedule at https://admissions.psu.edu/sasd.

Wednesday, July 26: Open House Volunteer Kickoff Party, 3 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday and Friday, July 27 and 28: Spend a Summer Day, prospective student visits at University Park; similar morning, afternoon, evening and all-day events also at Commonwealth Campuses; complete schedule at https://admissions.psu.edu/sasd.

Thursday, July 27: Special Collections Library Research Travel Awards “Learn at Lunch” presentation, by Mary Ann O’Brian Malkin Research Award winner Tilden Russell, noon-1 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, July 27: Pop-Up Library (for LEAP), 4-6 p.m., Redifer Commons lobby area, University Park.

Monday, July 31: Spend a Summer Day, prospective student visits at University Park; similar morning, afternoon, evening and all-day events also at Commonwealth Campuses in late July and early August; complete schedule at https://admissions.psu.edu/sasd.

Wednesday, Aug. 2: Special Collections Library Research Travel Awards “Learn at Lunch” presentation, by Dorothy Foehr Huck Research Award winner Kinohi Nishikawa, noon-1 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Aug. 2: Docunight: Iran via Documentaries, documentary screening of a film about, around, or in Iran, or made by Iranians, 7 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Aug. 2: Pop-Up Library (for LEAP), 4-6 p.m., Redifer Commons lobby area, University Park.

Friday, Aug. 4: Special Collections Library Research Travel Awards “Learn at Lunch” presentation, by Dorothy Foehr Huck Research Award winner Kristoffer Smemo, noon-1 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Aug. 9: last day of classes, second six-week summer session, University Park.

Thursday, Aug.10: study day, second six-week summer session, University Park.

Wednesday, Aug. 10: Pop-Up Library (for LEAP), 4-6 p.m., special pop-up event with coffee and snacks, Redifer Commons lobby area, University Park.

Friday, Aug. 11: Final exams, second six-week summer session, University Park.

Friday, Aug. 11: Special Collections Library Research Travel Awards “Learn at Lunch” presentation, by Through the Flower Research Travel Award winner Monica Steinberg, noon-1 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Students: Are you graduating? Take the library with you! Penn State Alumni Association members, including new graduates, can use their member ID number to access databases available through the Alumni Library at https://alumni.libraries.psu.edu.

Saturday, Aug. 12: Summer Commencement, University Park.

Tuesday, Aug. 15: Tech Update, by I-Tech, 10-11 a.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Aug. 16: University Libraries Picnic, 5-8 p.m., Holmes-Foster Park, State College. All University Libraries current and retired employees and their families invited. RSVP details to come.

Fall 2017

Friday-Sunday, Aug. 18-20: Arrival days

Monday, Aug. 21: First day of fall semester classes

Tuesday, Aug. 29: Open House Volunteer Training, 2-3 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Aug. 30: Open House Volunteer Training, 11 a.m.-noon, Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday-Thursday, Sept. 6-7: University Park Libraries’ Open House, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

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

IRC, Records Management see reporting line changes

I’m pleased to report that, effective July 1, Records Management Officer Nathan Troup is reporting to me, and the Inactive Records Center (IRC) team will report to him, to further streamline operations of University records handling.

During his first year in a new role at Penn State, Nathan has done an excellent job guiding many units at Penn State to meet or exceed certified regulatory and governance standards in records management, while upholding the Libraries’ existing archival records excellence and best practices.

During the same timeframe, the IRC transitioned to my oversight. In the last year, the IRC team — Karen Pipta and Jamie Hahn and previously also Ken Basalla — have demonstrated the utmost sensitivity and customer service excellence in handling inactive records across University Park.

Nathan and IRC’s complementary achievements have made it possible for the Libraries to move forward and merge their efforts.

Many thanks to them for their great work; I look forward to supporting their combined functions in advancing Penn State’s records management best practices.

– submitted by Kimlyn Patishnock, senior director of administrative and financial services

Changes coming to periodicals circulation Aug. 14

The Access Services Council Requesting Periodicals Subgroup is pleased to announce that on Monday, Aug. 14, the item type PERIODICAL will change from a 24-hour loan period with no renewals to a 7-day loan period with one renewal.

In addition, patrons will also be able to place holds on University Park items with the PERIODICAL item type. (Penn State Law periodicals will continue to be able to have holds placed on them only by law faculty.)

These changes are possible due to the large percentage of titles we have electronically and to the ease and speed of receiving articles through Interlibrary Loan. Periodicals at the campuses also will circulate for a week with one renewal but will not be holdable at this time. The expectation is that, as individual campuses become ready, they will request to have their periodicals holdable as well.

If there are periodical titles that units feel should retain the current 24-hour loan period with no renewals and no holds, they can utilize the new PERIODSPEC item type. PERIODSPEC is now available in the drop-down list of item types in WorkFlows. Unit heads can have their staff change the item type of periodical titles they want to keep closer tabs on from PERIODICAL to PERIODSPEC at this time.

Selectors: If you choose to designate a title and all of its volumes as PERIODSPEC please alert Serials Cataloging (UL-SERIALSCAT@LISTS.PSU.EDU) and Serials Ordering (UL-SERIALSORDERING@LISTS.PSU.EDU). The aforementioned groups will work along with the Bindery to ensure newly acquired materials are given the appropriate item type.

Training Bulletin 49, Requesting and Circulating PERIODSPEC Items, provides information on this new item type for Libraries staff who work on a service desk.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact the Requesting Periodicals Subgroup: Shane Burris, Chris Holobar, Eric Novotny, and Linda Struble. We would like to acknowledge the leadership and contributions of James Keyzer-Andre (Chair) on this project.

– submitted by Linda Struble, information resources and services supervisor-manager

Learn about customer expectations of service delivery

Service quality is defined in terms of the customer’s perception of how well your service meets his or her expectations. Simple, right? Wait a minute, aren’t expectations always changing? What do customers expect?

Learn about the key reason that customer expectations evolve and change. Identify the 10 overarching expectations customers have of service interactions, as well as expectations for tangibles when service is delivered in person. Continue with the Lynda.com video here.

– submitted by Carmen Gass, User Training Services

Events: July 17

Summer 2017
Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

Tuesday, July 18: Summer Academy for the Blind at Penn State, 90-minute discussion, 1:30-3 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, July 19: PA Forward Information Literacy Summit, Pattee Library and Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, July 20: Special Collections Library Research Travel Awards “Learn at Lunch” presentation, by Albert M. Petska Eighth Air Force Archives winner Marla Okner, noon-1 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, July 20: Dean’s Forum, 1 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park, and via Mediasite Live. (requires Penn State login)

Thursday, July 20: Pop-Up Library (for LEAP), 4-6 p.m., Redifer Commons lobby area, University Park.

Wednesday, July 26: Open House Volunteer Kickoff Party, 3 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, July 27: Pop-Up Library (for LEAP), 4-6 p.m., Redifer Commons lobby area, University Park.

Wednesday, Aug. 2: Pop-Up Library (for LEAP), 4-6 p.m., Redifer Commons lobby area, University Park.

Wednesday, Aug. 9: last day of classes, second six-week summer session, University Park.

Thursday, Aug.10: study day, second six-week summer session, University Park.

Wednesday, Aug. 10: Pop-Up Library (for LEAP), 4-6 p.m., special pop-up event with coffee and snacks, Redifer Commons lobby area, University Park.

Friday, Aug. 11: Final exams, second six-week summer session, University Park.

Saturday, Aug. 12: Summer Commencement, University Park.

Tuesday, Aug. 15: Tech Update, by I-Tech, 10-11 a.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Friday-Sunday, Aug. 18-20: Arrival days

Monday, Aug. 21: First day of fall semester classes

Tuesday, Aug. 29: Open House Volunteer Training, 2-3 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Aug. 30: Open House Volunteer Training, 11 a.m.-noon, Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

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

Strategic Plan Update: Action Plan progress as of June 30, 2017

The June 30, 2017 action plan update for the University Libraries 2014-2019 Strategic Plan is now available as a PDF on the Libraries’ Strategic Planning & Initiatives web page.

The 2016-2017 Action Plan began with 33 actions — 11 for Advancing University Research; 9 for Discovery, Access and Preservation; and 13 for Teaching and Learning. Of these, 21 of the actions were substantially completed and/or operationalized and 11 more are in process or in an assessment phase. Only one item was not initiated in order to take advantage of recently recruited expertise in the areas of digital preservation and collection strategy.

The Action Plan for 2017-2018 is forthcoming.

We welcome your feedback on the current update of the action plan, process for updating the action plan, communications strategy, and revision to the strategic plan. Please feel free to send your comments or question to any member of the Strategic Plan Steering Committee (ul-strategic-plan-steering@lists.psu.edu).

Members:
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)

Tech Tip: New Windows Taskbar in Windows 10

The Windows taskbar (shown above) has changed a bit in Windows 10.

In Windows 8, Microsoft removed the Start button from the taskbar and you only saw icons for your programs here. In Windows 10, the Start button isn’t just back — there’s a “Search the web and Windows” field that launches Microsoft’s Cortana assistant and a Task View button that provides an overview of all your open windows and virtual desktop features.

Both of these features are enabled by default. If you’d like to disable them, you can just right-click the taskbar and choose to hide the Search and Task View options.

In Windows 10, the Search bar not only looks for folders, apps, and files on your PC, but is also linked to the Windows Store (You will need a Microsoft account to use the Windows Store) and your browser so it can search the web right from your desktop.

Finally, in the new settings app we discussed in last week’s tech tip, you can change your taskbar settings; see the graphic for options available:

Events: July 10

Summer 2017

Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

Through Sunday, July 30, “The Painted Photograph: Selections from the B. & H. Henisch Photo-History Collection,” Pattee Library operating hours, Paterno Family Reading Room, 201A Pattee Library, University Park.

Through Friday, Aug. 30, 2017: “100 Years of the Pulitzers: Celebrating Our Humanity,” exhibit, Arts and Humanities Library operating hours, Diversity Studies Room, 203 Patee Library, University Park.

Thursday, July 13: Pop-Up Library (for LEAP), 4-6 p.m., Redifer Commons lobby area, University Park.

Wednesday-Sunday, July 13-16, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, Children’s Day July 12, BookFest July 15, State College and University Park campus.