Monthly Archives: August 2017

LEAP outreach recap

Learning Edge Academic Program, or LEAP, students wrapped up finals on August 11 at University Park. This summer, the Libraries hosted a variety of outreach events for these students. It was a summer of experimentation, and we wanted to give you a recap on how it all went beyond the library instruction many LEAP “prides” had.

We kicked off this program by training the LEAP mentors to give tours of Pattee Library and Paterno Library. We saw many mentors give the tours throughout the summer and others paired up with their LEAP librarian for the tour. Thanks to those who collaborated or worked with the mentors to make sure our LEAP students had a tour of our spaces.

Along with the tours, we also hosted a LEAP Escape Room experience. We saw 30 students, all who completed the library challenge in under an hour. This event was meant to help guide the students through the library and complement our Open House event. In this challenge, they had to find a book in the stacks, use a library database, find a LibGuide, and discover that you can’t go from Pattee to Paterno unless you’re on the first floor. We received good feedback on the challenge and hope to revise the experience for future outreach events.

Finally, for six weeks, we hosted Pop-Up Library events in Redifer Commons. We had items circulate from collections, featured five subject areas, and had engaging conversations with students. It was fun to showcase the library in the residence halls and see some familiar faces week after week. Below is an image of our set up:

horizontal interior photo of table covered with display of library books

The LEAP Pop-Up Library appeared weekly during summer dinner hours in South Halls’ Redifer Commons.

We’d like to thank the following individuals for their help throughout the summer with these various LEAP outreach events; we couldn’t have done it without your help:

•        Anne Behler
•        Trace Brown
•        Jose Guerrero
•        Mark Homan
•        Janet Hughes
•        Kelly Kaiserian
•        Amanda Maple
•        Rebecca Miller
•        Julie Porterfield
•        Lauren Reiter
•        Heather Ross
•        Karla Schmidt
•        Katelyn Towns
•        Rachel White
•        Ali Zawoyski
•        PRaM’s marketing and social media expertise

– submitted by Hailley Fargo and Megan Gilpin

Changes to the COP Leadership Group membership

The University Libraries’ Community of Practice (COP) leadership team has changed membership for the 2017-2018 year. Anne Behler has handed the reins to Erin Burns, who will serve as team leader from 2017 to 2019.

Members of the leadership team include Hailley Fargo, Ben Hoover, Bernadette Lear, Andrew Marshall, Rebecca Miller, Rebecca Peterson, Beth Seyala, Tig Warluft, and Alessia Zanin-Yost.

The Community of Practice is a discussion-driven group for matters of instruction. We hold various Zoom sessions on specific instructional topics, listserv discussions on current instruction-related articles, and plan the COP annual workshop. We also have a few members of the Instruction Steering Committee working with us (Tig, Bernadette, and Rebecca).

If you are new to the University Libraries, or have not participated in the COP before, we would love to have you. Please contact Andrew Marshall (adm135@psu.edu) to be added to the COP listserv.

Feel free to contact us if there are any instruction topics or articles you would like to open a discussion on.

Special thanks to the previous year’s committee: Bernadette Lear, Nancy Adams,Anne Behler, Amanda Clossen, Russ Hall, John Meier, Rebecca Peterson, and Beth Seyala. The May 2017 workshop was a wonderful way to showcase our instruction initiatives and expand the dialogue about instruction at the University Libraries.

The current committee would like to say THANK YOU many times over to Anne and John for their dedication to this group over the years. We are grateful for the service and leadership you provided in starting this group about five years ago.

– submitted by Erin Burns

User Services Training: Confronting your assumptions

by Carmen Gass

Assumptions are necessary to help us make sense of our world. This course defines what assumptions are, describes how different kinds of assumptions may be challenged, and covers the importance of seeking out other people’s perspectives.

The course is available on lrn.psu.edu.

Chinese pronunciation workshop Aug. 16 in Mann, on Adobe Connect

There were almost 4,000 Chinese students and close to 400 Chinese scholars working and studying across Penn State in 2015 and those numbers have been steadily increasing.

Do you feel confident in correctly pronouncing the names Qiaoping, Weixiong, or Xinghua?

If not, join us for a Chinese Pronunciation Workshop taught by Chunyuan Di, lecturer in Chinese at Penn State.

Not a “language person”? No worries! You do not need any previous knowledge of Chinese to attend the workshop. We will only be working on how to pronounce names in order to feel more confident and to make our Chinese patrons feel more welcome here in the Libraries.

Join us 3-4 p.m. today — Wednesday, August 16 — in Mann Assembly Room and via Adobe Connect.

Tech Tip: Have unread messages appear first in Slack channel

by Ryan Johnson

Click on your Team Name at the top and Select Preferences:

Next, Select Mark as Read:

Then choose Start me at the newest message, and mark the channel read OR Start me at the newest message, but leave unseen messages unread.

Events: Aug. 16

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

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.

Extended! Now through Saturday, Sept. 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.

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.

Friday-Sunday, Aug. 18-20: Student arrival days.

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

Tuesday, Aug. 29: Open House Volunteer Training,11 a.m.-noon, Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Aug. 30: Open House Volunteer Training, 2-3 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, Aug. 31: User Services Training event: “Patron overview: Who are our new students?”

Thursday, Aug. 31–Friday, Sept. 1: approximate dates of Eid al Adha in the United States, to be confirmed Aug. 21.

Monday, Sept. 4: Labor Day holiday, no classes.

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

Wednesday, Sept. 6: Docunight: Iran via Documentaries, 7 p.m. Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Monday, Sept. 11: Gender Equity Center kickoff celebration, formerly Center for Women Students, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., HUB-Robeson Center ground floor stage, University Park.

Tuesday–Friday, Sept. 12-15: Penn State Fall Career Days, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Bryce Jordan Center, University Park.

Thursday–Friday, Sept. 14-15: Library Development Board Fall Committee Meetings, Pattee Library and Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, Sept. 14: Libraries Donor Reception and Celebration, 5:30-8 p.m., by invitation, Paterno Family Humanities Reading Room will be closed prior to and following event, University Park.

Friday, Sept. 15-Sunday, Oct. 15: Hispanic Heritage Month, United States.

Monday–Wednesday, Sept. 18-20: 2nd World Open Educational Resources (OER) Congress, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Sept. 20-22: Rosh Hashanah.

Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 21-30: Navaratri.

Sept. 22-24: Family Weekend, Penn State Altoona.

Thursday, Sept. 28: Lynd Ward Prize event honoring author of Rolling Blackouts, Sarah Glidden, 5:30-8 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Saturday, Sept. 30: Yom Kippur.

Wednesday, Oct. 4: Docunight: Iran via Documentaries, 7 p.m. Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Oct. 11: University Libraries 25-Year Service Awards, 3:30-4:30 p.m.,Foster Auditorium and/or Mann Assembly Room, 102/103 Paterno Library, University Park, final location to be determined.

Wednesday, Oct. 11: National Coming Out Day, part of National Coming Out Week at Penn State, details TBA.

Thursday, Oct. 12: Lee Bennett Hopkins Award event honoring authors Jorge Argueta (winner) & Nikki Grimes (honor winner), hosted by Pennsylvania Center for the Book, Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Friday–Sunday, Oct. 13-15: Parents and Families Weekend, University Park.

Wednesday, Oct. 18: Promotion and Tenure Recognition Reception, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Paterno Family Humanities Reading Room, University Park.

Wednesday, Oct. 18: Tech Update, by I-Tech, 2-3 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, Oct. 19: Diwali, Hindu festival of lights, celebrated.

Wednesday, Nov. 1: Docunight: Iran via Documentaries, 7 p.m. Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Sunday–Sunday, Nov. 5-12: Penn State Military Appreciation Week and Homecoming Week.

Monday, Nov. 6–Saturday, Dec. 16: NLM/NIH Traveling Exhibit: Opening Doors: Contemporary African American Surgeons, Life Sciences Library, 4th floor Paterno Library.

Saturday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day.

Monday–Friday, Nov. 13-17: International Education Week, details TBA.

Tuesday, Nov. 14: Penn State GIS Day, 1:30-5 p.m. speakers and lightning talks with 9 a.m.-5 p.m. poster display, Pattee Library and Paterno Library, University Park.

Nov. 19-25: Thanksgiving week break, no classes Nov. 20-24.

Thursday, Nov. 23: Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Wednesday, Dec. 6: Docunight: Iran via Documentaries, 7 p.m. Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Friday, Dec. 8: Last day of fall classes.

Sunday–Tuesday, Dec. 10-12: De-Stress Fest, University Park locations.

Tuesday, Dec. 12: Tech Update, by I-Tech, 10-11 a.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Tuesday–Wednesday, Dec. 12-20: Hanukkah.

Saturday, Dec. 16: Fall commencement, University Park and other Penn State campuses; details and speaker information at multiple Penn State campuses TBA in December.

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

Strategic Plan Update: 2017-2018 Action Plan

The Libraries’ Strategic Plan Steering Committee is please to introduce the 2017-2018 Action Plan. The Action Plan is now available as a PDF on the Libraries Strategic Planning & Initiatives web page.

The action plan includes a timeline for each action, expected deliverables, a leadership sponsor, and the action’s reflection of the Penn State Strategic Plan thematic priority or supporting element.

There are a total of 19 proposed actions — four for Advancing University Research, seven for Discovery, Access, and Preservation, and eight for Teaching and Learning.

The Strategic Plan Steering Committee has established a communication strategy to keep everyone updated on each action item and the continue to involve University Libraries faculty and staff in advancing the strategic plan. Each quarter, we will update the status of each action item.

To continue to advance the strategic plan, an action plan will be completed during the spring semester. In the fall of each year a small group will be charged to gather feedback on the current action items and to brainstorm additional action items for the upcoming action plan.

We welcome your feedback on the current action plan, process for updating the action plan, communication strategy, and revisions to the strategic plan. Please feel free to send you 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)

Intersections, a Penn State Symposium

Intersections: Technology and Public Services in Special Collections, a Penn State Symposium

A little over two years ago, the Eberly Family Special Collections took one giant step for patron-kind with the implementation of Aeon, a request and workflow management software designed for special collections libraries and archives.

[It doesn’t sound very exciting stated like that… Open your favorite music platform and queue up “Also sprach Zarathustra” by Richard Strauss. Hit play.]

But for our staff, it was like we asked for a wheel to travel to the digital age and Atlas Systems said, “What do you think of a space shuttle instead?” It’s pretty much been a “my god, it’s full of stars” moment (as exclaimed in 2001: A Space Odyssey). Since then, we have been better connected with patrons around the world and streamlined staff workflows at the same time.

This year we offered to host the third Aeon Symposium at Penn State (Aug. 6-8). We’re so excited to bring this symposium here because it’s not just about a single software platform this time around. In fact, the 2017 Intersections symposium will build on its predecessors (the Aeon Symposium at Yale in 2015 and at the University of Michigan in 2016) to expand on what it means to provide access to collections in the archives and special collections environment.

Though Aeon remains a key tool, partner, and product of focus, Intersections also includes other workflows, tools, partners, and products that are present in our daily work.

This symposium also aligns and incorporates many of the key components of the RBMS (Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of ACRL) and SAA’s (Society of American Archivists) Metrics and Assessment Task Force report to broach broader topics with regard to assessing impact via meaningful metrics.

Targeted toward special collections colleagues across the field, attendees are exploring how technology, assessment, and public service intersect to support discovery and access of cultural heritage collections.

graphic of global map with pins noting locations across United States

Image: Geocache of Symposium attendee institutional locations (created by Tim Babcock)

Public service special collections professionals truly work at the intersection of where technology meets end-users’ needs. We are delighted to be the venue for what promises to be an interesting and informative symposium that will reverberate across the rare and archival world of academic libraries.

– submitted by Alex Bainbridge Arginteau

Our once and future website: working group update

Formed in May 2016, the Libraries Website Working Group was charged to evaluate and define the structure, responsibilities, and goals of the University Libraries’ website, and delivered its final report in November 2016.

One of the key outcomes of the group’s report was to move the web management structure from a multiple team/group structure to more of a product owner model. The end result is a round table of individual product owners, managers and the Author Expert Team, with Karen Estlund serving as the overall Website Product Owner. This new management structure provides increased agility with component product owners evolving, contingent on future needs and projects.

Another component of the Website Working Group’s report was the creation of new, efficient workflows for various web-related issues, such as maintenance, content, design, and new projects. Additional information about these workflows as well as the new website management roles and goals can be found on the Libraries’ new Website Management intranet page (link requires Libraries employee login).

One thing that has not changed is the continual look forward approach to the web presence of the Libraries. Some current and future website projects are as follows:

integrating LibCal into the Libraries webpages for group study room reservations, coming for the Fall 2017 semester
redesigning the About, Services, and Research landing pages
enhancing the A-Z Database list with subject categorization
making the Libraries’ digital collections easier to find and use
promoting access and use of open educational resources
enhancing the staff directory and staff profile pages
making key portions of the Libraries website available in other languages, starting with Mandarin and Korean

Lastly, the Website Working Group’s report established a six-month pilot phase, now in progress, after which the group will reconvene to assess the new structure and processes. Group members welcome feedback, which can be provided by via Website Feedback link in the footer on every page of the Libraries’ public and staff intranet sites.

Libraries T-shirt sale: Order deadline Aug. 18

The University Park United Way Committee is selling T-shirts in time for the annual Open House at University Park, held this year Sept. 6-7.

Please note the design when ordering. Use this form to place your order:
https://goo.gl/forms/w6YXBBde44KSjnac2

Please pay by cash or check and make checks out to Heather Ross and send them to Donna Dean in 126 Paterno LIbrary.

Deadline to order is noon on Friday, Aug. 18, and money is due by Tuesday, Sept. 5.

At University Park, T-shirts will be distributed before the Open House, and mailed to other Penn State campuses that week.

There will be a full sale in mid-fall of polo shirts, fleece, etc.

All proceeds benefit the Centre County United Way.

Save the Date: Penn State GIS Day Nov. 14

Penn State GIS Day 2017 theme:
Visualize the World: GIS: Maps, Drones, Virtual Reality, Location Intelligence

This year the University Libraries and Penn State’s Department of Geography are co-sponsoring GIS Day with geospatial information systems (GIS) talks and a networking reception on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, from 1:30 to 5 p.m. in Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library.

In conjunction with speakers, posters will be displayed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Franklin Atrium, first floor Pattee Library. In past years, lighting talk sessions were popular with attendees as they represent the uses of geospatial information across different units and application areas. Penn State GIS Day events aim to bring together those working with GIS and related location-based technologies to foster greater awareness on campus and beyond.

This year’s featured speaker is Annaka Scheeres, research and evaluation associate, Division of Chronic Disease Prevention–Get Healthy Philly, Philadelphia Department of Public Health. With the promotion of event information, GIS Day planners are in the process of gathering speakers for lightning talks.

If you would like to participate as a lightning talk speaker and/or participate in another manner, please contact Tara LaLonde at tll38@psu.edu.

Please feel free to share with respective departments and units the opportunity to contribute to this event and participate as a lighting talk speaker. More information on Penn State GIS Day is available at https://sites.psu.edu/gisday.

What is GIS Day?

Internationally, GIS Day is a day to foster greater awareness on the use of geographic information systems (GIS) technology and related technologies. GIS Day events occur around the world as a way to illustrate how geospatial information is used to benefit organizations, communities, and beyond.

Penn State GIS Day planning committee members include Elise Gowen (University Libraries), Beth King (Online Geospatial Program), Tara LaLonde (University Libraries),Dan Meehan (Geodesign), Nathan Piekielek (University Libraries), Heather Ross (University Libraries), and Jodi Vender (Geography).

Tech Tips: Adding RSS feeds, Windows 10 signout

Adding RSS Feeds into UCS

You can add an RSS feed as a new folder in UCS, so you can quickly and easily see new RSS content.

To add an RSS feed:

Click the gear icon for Mail Folders, and select New Folder.
Name the folder, click the Subscribe to RSS/ATOM feed box, paste the URL for the RSS feed into the field, and click OK.

The RSS folder is displayed with each story listed as an email message.

How to Sign Out using the New Start Menu in Windows 10

Windows 10 has a new procedure to sign out, restart, shutdown, etc.

To log out of your machine, click on the Start Menu, select the person icon from the windows button and select Sign out. You can also lock your machine from here as well.

To restart, sleep or shut down your machine, click on the power option in the windows start menu. You can also right-click the start menu and sign out/shut down as well.

User Services Training tips: Listening, consumer advocacy

Listening Even When it’s Difficult to Listen

Successful people are generally trained, excellent listeners. In this course, you’ll learn common misconceptions about listening, how to hone your listening skills, and what to do when you encounter roadblocks to listening. The course is available at lrn.psu.edu

Developing a culture of customer advocacy

When customer advocacy becomes part of an organization’s way of doing business, it creates a virtuous cycle. Customers are more willing to share feedback, functional areas get better at using and benefiting from customer insight, and those delivering service see themselves as part of an important strategic initiative. Developing a culture of customer advocacy is one module from the lynda.com course entitled “Customer Advocacy”.

Events: Aug. 7

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

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.

Extended! Now through Saturday, September 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.

Sunday–Tuesday, Aug. 6-8: Intersections, : Technology and Public Services in Special Collections, a Penn State Symposium,welcoming special collections and archives specialists from across the country, hosted by the Eberly Family Special Collections Library, follow #xpsu2017 on Twitter, 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: International Student Undergraduate Orientation, 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.

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, please RSVP online by Wednesday, Aug. 9.