Daily Archives: July 24, 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.