Daily Archives: February 19, 2018

Conflict Resolution Training

When people come together they bring their differences with them, and it is inevitable that conflicts will occasionally occur. Dealing with interpersonal conflict is an essential job skill.

This workshop encourages employees to identify their individual conflict management styles, as well as the characteristics of different styles that are present in coworkers. Employing active listening and speaking with intent can increase open and effective conflict resolution, as well as lead to a more productive work environment.

Join us for this training on Tuesday, 2/27/18, 2-3pm, Pattee W23

Eiche Library exhibit celebrates Penn State Altoona African American Read-In

By: Jessica Showalter

Image courtesy of Mary Lou Patrick

Altoona librarian Mary Lou Patrick created an exhibit to correspond with the Penn State Altoona 2018 African American Read-In. The display highlights library materials by and about African American artists, politicians, activists, soldiers, athletes, and others.

In addition to showcasing books and DVDs, Patrick used several strategies to draw attention to digital resources in her exhibit. She designed posters to promote ebooks and databases related to Black History Month. She also incorporated a pamphlet about African American Genealogy Resources available at the State Library of Pennsylvania.

Patrick’s exhibit includes an interactive digital element as well. Using an iPad customized for the display, patrons can explore the PBS website Black Culture Connection, learn more at the website BlackFacts.com, access the CAT, or chat using Ask a Librarian.

Penn State Altoona hosted the African American Read-In February 11–12. The event featured a keynote presentation by Gabeba Baderoon, a poetry reading and book signing by Tsitsi Jaji, a community gathering and dinner, an open-mic read-in marathon, and other performances. Read more about the Read-In at: http://altoona.psu.edu/story/9118/2018/01/02/penn-state-altoona-announces-2018-african-american-read-events.

(Image courtesy of Mary Lou Patrick)

The 2018-19 Strategic Action Plan Team Survey

By: Rachel H White

We are looking for suggestions for action items that the University Libraries can work on in the next fiscal year to support the goals and objectives of the Libraries Strategic Plan. If you have a great idea, big or small, that you think should be explored as an action item, we want to hear about it! These action items help us to further our efforts in Discovery, Access and Preservation, Teaching and Learning, and Advancing University Research. Details of last year’s action items can be found here:
https://libraries.psu.edu/file/8563/download?token=dbTSZk6S.

Have a voice in the future of the Libraries! We welcome all ideas – please submit them using this survey by Wednesday, March 21:
https://pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2tqYzTHwENHVy9D

You may submit as many ideas as you like. Questions? Please email the Strategic Action Plan Team at ul-action-team@lists.psu.edu or contact team members directly.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Paige Andrew, Maps Cataloging Librarian
Paul Burnell, Information Resources and Services Support Specialist, Knowledge Commons
Amanda Clossen, Learning Design Librarian
Matt Ciszek, Head Librarian, Penn State Erie
Jen Jarson, Head Librarian, Penn State Lehigh Valley
Glenn McGuigan, Head Librarian, Penn State Harrisburg
Binky Lush, Manager Discovery Access and Web Services (co-chair)
Lana Munip, Analysis and Planning Consultant (co-chair)
Martha Ney, Proposal and Awards Generalist
Billie Walker, Head Librarian, Penn State Great Valley
Rachel White, Information Resources and Services Supervisor-Manager, Lending Services

Tech Tip: How to invite collaborators on files in Box

By: Ryan T. Johnson

Want to collaborate with a bunch of users on a file but don’t necessarily want to invite everyone as a collaborator in a Box folder? There is a way in the folder settings in Box to do this.

To begin, right-click on a folder or click on the ellipses (…)) to open the More Options menu, and then click Settings.

Then in the Collaboration section you can select Allow anyone who can access this folder from a shared link to join as a collaborator and then specify the role that they join as.

Customer Service Tip: Tell the truth

By: Jeff Toister (submitted by Carmen Gass)

Here’s the scene. You’re facing a customer who isn’t going to like the news you’re about to give him. Should you lie? Exaggerate? Delay? Run and hide?

The correct answer is tell the truth.

** Tell the Truth**

It may be tempting to exaggerate or bend the facts a little to make a customer feel better when there is a problem. Unfortunately, this tactic often makes things worse in the long run when the customer discovers you gave them inaccurate information.

A better way to handle difficult situations is to tell customers the truth. And then tell them what you plan to do about it.

Bonus Info: Here’s a technique from the world of improv that can make it easier to share the truth.

You’re Invited – Diversity Open House

This Wednesday February 21st from 11-2pm the Engineering Library, located in 325 Hammond, will be hosting an open house to celebrate underrepresented and marginalized groups in engineering—as well as raise awareness of the existing resources that the University Libraries, the College of Engineering, and the University at large provide to help members of these groups thrive.

The event will feature a variety of guests from across the University whose work encourages and supports diversity, outreach, and inclusion. Activities will include a display of historical minority figures within the field, resources exhibit, and a meet and greet with student groups and other important organizations across campus.

All are welcome and lunch will be provided!

Please contact the Engineering Library at 814-865-3451, UL-ENGR@lists.psu.edu, or Vanessa Eyer vld5011@psu.edu for more information.

Events: Feb. 19

Spring 2018
Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

vertical graphic, collage of black-and-white images Martin Luther King Jr. poster with text “Deconstructing the Dream: At Whose Expense?”

MLK 2018 poster by Addie Ruston

Through Feb. 28: “Deconstructing the Dream: At Whose Expense?” student poster exhibition, Sidewater Commons, with adjacent central entrance exhibit case chronicling the life and work of King using University Libraries resources, first floor Central Pattee Library, University Park.

Jan. 16–May 13, “What Big Eyes You Have! Looking at the Wolf in Fairy Tales”exhibition, Eberly Family Special Collections Library Exhibition Room, 104 Paterno Library.

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 5-7 p.m.: “Faster, Higher, Stronger,” A Winter Olympics Pop-up Exhibit, featuring books, materials, artifacts and memorabilia from the history of the Olympic Games. Mann Assembly Room, 102 Paterno Library.

Feb. 20: (Hindi) Indian Name Pronunciation Workshop, taught by Ritu Jayakar, Penn State lecturer in Hindi, 3-4 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, and via Mediasite Live.

Wednesday, Feb 21: Software in the Humanities and Social Sciences Workshop – QGIS, a free and open-source geographic information system for viewing, editing, and analyzing spatial data with graphical maps, with Zhiyue Xia. Bring a bag lunch; noon-1 p.m. 403 Paterno Library and via Zoom at https://psu.zoom.us/j/914950827.

Wednesday, Feb. 21: Geospatial Data: Diving into Library Resources and beyond. 3-4 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, remote viewing available online using Zoom.

Wednesday, Feb. 21: Focus on PolicyMap — Data sources and visualization options. 4-5 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, remote viewing available online using Zoom.

Wednesday, Feb. 21: Mary Gaitskill 2017 Fisher Famiy Writer in Residence, English Department event, 7:30-9 p.m., Foster Auditorium,102 Paterno Library.

Friday, Feb. 23: Global Health Film Festival, Four films, guest speakers to encourage discussion and refreshments; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library.

Wednesday, Feb 28: Software in the Humanities and Social Sciences Workshop – Hadoop, a way to process very large datasets efficiently, with Juniun Yin. Bring a bag lunch; noon-1 p.m. 403 Paterno Library and via Zoom at https://psu.zoom.us/j/914950827.

Wednesday, Mar. 7: Software in the Humanities and Social Sciences Workshop – PGP (Pretty Good Privacy), a popular program for encryption and authentication of digital messages like email, with Andrew Singer. Bring a bag lunch; noon-1 p.m., 403 Paterno Library and via Zoom at https://psu.zoom.us/j/914950827.

Wednesday, Mar. 14: Software in the Humanities and Social Sciences Workshop – ggplot2, makes pretty, easily reproducible and modifiable graphs for publication, with Nathan Piekielek. Bring a bag lunch; noon-1 p.m., 403 Paterno Library and via Zoom at https://psu.zoom.us/j/914950827.

Wednesday, Mar. 21: Software in the Humanities and Social Sciences Workshop – Pandoc, convert documents from one file type to another and back again, all from the command line, with Grant Wythoff. Bring a bag lunch; noon-1 p.m., 403 Paterno Library and via Zoom at https://psu.zoom.us/j/914950827.

Tuesday, Apr. 3: Jillian Cantor to read as part of the Mary E Rolling Reading Series, Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, 7:30-9 p.m.

Wednesday, Apr. 4: Software in the Humanities and Social Sciences Workshop – IIIF, with Karen Estlund. Bring a bag lunch; noon-1 p.m. 403 Paterno Library and via Zoom at https://psu.zoom.us/j/914950827.

Thursday, Apr. 5: Lecture by Professor Leo Bersani, “Force in Progress”, 5-7 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library.

Wednesday, Apr. 11: Software in the Humanities and Social Sciences Workshop – OpenRefine, a free and open-source resource for cleaning, regularizing, and organizing complex data, with Jose Guerrero. Bring a bag lunch; noon-1 p.m. 403 Paterno Library and via Zoom at https://psu.zoom.us/j/914950827.

Sunday, Apr. 22: International Write-In. Two sessions, 3:30-7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.-midnight. Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library. Interested writers can sign up today at: http://tinyurl.com/psuwritein

Please submit event information — and all Library News submissions — to Public Relations and Marketing via the Library News submission form. *Please note: The content submissions process may be changing soon; please stay tuned for updates.*