Monthly Archives: September 2018

Data Skills Workshop

By: Lizhao Ge

A Data Skills Workshop series, including three sessions for this fall, is open to all Penn State researchers. The Department of Digital Scholarship and Data Services is sponsoring this event.

The schedule of these sessions is:
Introduction to R, Oct 9, 11 a.m.—1 p.m., Pattee Library Room W140
Introduction to the Command Line, Oct 23, 11a.m.–1p.m., Pattee Library Room W140
Git and GitHub Basics, Nov 6, noon-2 p.m., Pattee Library Room W140

If you need any further information or have any thoughts or concerns please contact Robert Olendorf at rko5039@psu.edu or Lizhao Ge at lmg5672@psu.edu

Thanks!

Tech Tip: Kaltura is now available For all faculty, staff and students

By: Ryan Johnson

Kaltura is now available for the University community to store, create and stream media to individual devices and through links embedded in Canvas. Kaltura will also work with Zoom, Penn State’s conferencing system, to provide a complete conferencing and streaming solution to replace Adobe Connect.

As a media streaming and storage platform, the Kaltura MediaSpace creates media storage options that can be used to create, upload, share, search, browse and listen to recorded audio and watch live or recorded videos, presentations and webcasts.

In 2016, the University determined that Adobe Connect was not meeting all live-streaming and media management needs. The following year, Zoom was introduced to Penn State to enhance audio and video conferencing abilities. Kaltura will serve as the final piece to the University’s conferencing and media management solution by providing unlimited media storage and integrating with Canvas to bring students and faculty members fast, reliable audio and video streaming.

Adobe Connect, the University’s current conferencing and media storage service, will be phased out over the 2018-19 academic year. Media including training videos and lectures will be copied from Adobe Connect to Kaltura by Penn State Enterprise Information Technology during fall semester 2018. Adobe Connect service will not be disrupted while media is being copied over to Kaltura and users do not need to take any action to move or copy content. Starting Dec. 17, Adobe Connect will be placed in a “read-only” state in which users can continue to view media but will be unable to edit or upload additional media. Adobe Connect will be completely retired as of May 17, 2019. Learn more about the Adobe connect retirement timeline on the Conferencing and Media Management website.

Training resources including a quick-start guide for students and Learning Paths for faculty, instructional content creators and non-instructional staff, available on the Kaltura website, so all Penn Staters can start learning how to create, edit, upload, watch and share content in Kaltura. Look for Kaltura and Zoom training for University Library staff this fall. Further information on how to install and use Zoom for audio or video conferencing is available on Penn State’s Zoom webpage.

For more information about Kaltura and the transition away from Adobe Connect, visit the Conferencing and Media Management website.

Library Classrooms + Laptops

By: Rebecca Peterson

Three of the Library classrooms are now equipped with laptops.

403 Paterno has 40 Chromebooks. There are instructions on the walls on how to connect to Wi-Fi on the Chromebooks.

W315 Pattee and W13 Pattee each have 30 Dell laptops.

The key to unlock the charging carts are in the clear kits inside of the podiums. Library staff and faculty who teach in the space are responsible for making sure the laptops are returned, plugged in, and the cart and podium locked at the end of class.

If you have any questions about these spaces or if you would like a review of the Chromebooks, don’t hesitate to contact Rebecca Peterson at rmr28@psu.edu or at 865-9257.

Accessibility of W13 Pattee During Construction

By: Rebecca Peterson

Construction in the courtyard is underway and a few of our usual pathways through the Library have been diverted, such as elevator access to the ground floor of Central Pattee. The Central Pattee elevator is closed off for the duration of construction and the only other elevators to the ground floor are the older models in the stacks and by the Central Welcome Desk, which requires a key to operate. These elevators cannot accommodate a wheelchair or scooter.

To anticipate any accessibility issues, I would encourage you to look for other available classrooms before booking W13. If you do book W13 Pattee, you may wish to include a note such as the following to your instructor:

“Due to construction in the Library, W13 Pattee is only accessible by stairs or a key-operated elevator which does not fit a scooter or wheelchair. If anyone in your class needs an elevator to reach the room, they may speak with Library staff at the central Welcome Desk, inside the revolving doors entrance, or contact me ahead of time and we will be sure to accommodate your students and their needs. If anyone in your class has either a wheelchair or a scooter, please let us know so that we can locate another space for your class. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience as we improve our space.”

Feel free to contact Rebecca Peterson at rmr28@psu.edu or 814-865-9257 if you have any scheduling questions.

Film: The Ascent / Восхождение

By: Tara Murray

An internationally acclaimed WWII film about two Belorussian guerilla warriors – a soldier and a school teacher – captured by the Nazi Germans. Two different ways to act in the face of death.
The vigilant Soviet censors tried to forbid the film, having picked up on the movie’s nmistakably religious undertones, a “no-no” in the officially atheist country. Based on Vasil Bykov’s war novel “Sotnikov,” The Ascent was the first Soviet film ever to receive the Golden Bear award at the film festival in West Berlin, among several other domestic and international awards.

Included in the retrospective classical film series in Germany in 2010. “I have never seen a more poignant movie about the horrors of war,” the prominent German theoretician and literary critic Susan Sontag attested.

6:15 p.m. on Sept. 26, in Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library on the University Park campus. The film will be shown in Russian with English subtitles. Includes a prescreening introduction and a discussion following the movie. Sponsored by the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures, the Center for Global Studies, and the University Libraries.

Save the Date: Lunch and Learn—Embedded Librarianship, Re-envisioning Reference

By: Carmen Gass

Save the Date: Thursday, October 4, 2018, 12-1pm, Paterno E403,
Zoom: https://psu.zoom.us/j/8148672448

Customer Service Tip: Would you like to recognize the Service Star(s) in the library?

By: Carmen Gass

National Customer Service Week (10/1 – 10/5) is a great time to honor your “Best of the Best” in delivering exceptional customer service!
Learn more here .

Events: Sept. 24

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

Sept. 5-Feb. 11, Exhibit: “Into the Woods: Nature in Your Library” Diversity Studies Room, 203 Pattee Library, Explore the Eastern Forest, its wildlife and botanical wealth. Libraries’ resources, services, unique collections and course materials will guide you on the trails of nature education and exploration. Discover local environmental programs. Be inspired by the instrumental work of women conservationists. Check out the related books, maps, movies and more, and get … Into the Woods.

Sept. 10-Jan. 13, 2019, Exhibit: “A Full Course: Encounters with Food” Eberly Family Special Collections Library, 102 Paterno Library, and Sidewater Commons, first floor Pattee Library. To survive and thrive, we must all consume food every day; eating is, therefore, one of the few universal human experiences. The exhibition will consider the more contested and continuing questions surrounding food: where does it come from, what and how do we cook and eat, and what role does food play in our collective imaginations? The books, manuscripts, posters, and ephemera on view will offer a feast for the eyes and food for thought!

Tuesday, Sept. 25: Rethinking Language and Inclusion: Debunking the Myths of Monolingualism, Bilingualism, and Imagined Language Difference. A presentation by Dr. Joseph Valente, Associate Professor of Education and Co-Director of the Penn State Center for Disability Studies. 3:30-4:30 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park, and via MediaSite Live

Wednesday, Sept. 26: Geospatial Exploration: Mapping and location topics and applications. An overview of geographic information systems (GIS) concepts relevant to applying geospatial components in projects., providing an introduction to geospatial data, introductory topics of projects, data manipulation, and geoprocessing techniques. Examples of resources and data for this session are on the Maps and Geospatial: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) guide. 3-4 p.m., 13 Pattee Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Sept. 26: Geospatial Data: Library Resources and beyond. Geospatial data available from library databases, PolicyMap, SimplyAnalytics, Social Explorer, and Data-Planet. Additional United States and international organizations will be highlighted from maps and geospatial guides, and related resources to guide the user in locating geospatial data relevant to multiple disciplines. Examples of resources and data for this session are on the Maps and Geospatial: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) guide, section on library databases. 4-5 p.m., 13 Pattee Library, University Park.

Thursday, Sept. 27: Lunch and Learn with Ben Moonan, Representative with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing.This presentation will discuss the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, how to ensure accessibility, and address deaf and hard of hearing (differences, communication tips, etc.) as well as technology and communication accommodation options. You’re welcome to bring your lunch. 12:15-1:15 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park, and via Zoom.

Friday, Sept. 28: Ithaka Faculty Survey brown bag overview of findings. Steve Borrelli, Library Assessment head, will highlight overarching themes from the spring 2018 library survey of Penn State faculty. noon – 1 p.m., Dean’s Conference Room, 510 Paterno Library.

Friday, Sept. 28: Football Friday Library Tour. See how the University Libraries preserves its rich legacy through ever-changing physical and technological landscapes. Join a Library Pride tour with a focus on the Search Bar and its High Touch services, the Media and the Makers Commons. Reserve your spot at sac210@psu.edu or 814-863-7718. Tours meet at the Paterno Library Welcome Desk. 3:30-5 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 3: Exhibition Tours for Full Course: Encounters with Food. Join exhibit curators for a tour of the latest exhibition in Special Collections and Sidewater Commons. Learn all the delicious details like why Mr. Carrot is actually not so welcoming, which books you could nibble on, and how we know ice cream is manna from heaven. 2-2:30 p.m., beginning in the Special Collections exhibit space. and Friday, October 5, from 10:30-11:00.

Wednesday, Oct. 3: Geospatial Online: Overview of ArcGIS Online. An introduction to ArcGIS Online, a web mapping application which can be used to communicate many spatial research interests across the disciplines. Participants will explore applications created with ArcGIS Online and work with a sample dataset for Centre County, PA to learn the functionality of ArcGIS Online web maps and applications. More information on ArcGIS Online is available on the Maps and Geospatial: ArcGIS Online guide. 3-4 p.m., 13 Pattee Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Oct. 3: Geospatial Analysis: New to ArcGIS Pro. Learn the uses of ArcGIS Pro software, key terminology of ArcGIS Pro and examples of the functionality within the ArcGIS Pro software. Maps and geospatial examples will be provided in an interdisciplinary manner for participants. More information on ArcGIS Pro is available on the Maps and Geospatial: ArcGIS Pro guide. 4-5 p.m., 13 Pattee Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Oct. 3: Docunight: Iran Via Documentaries. On the first Wednesday of every month, featuring a documentary film about, around, or in Iran, or made Iranians. Docunight events are open to everyone, and all films have English subtitles. Co-sponsored by the Iranian Student Association and the University Libraries. 7 p.m. in Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Friday, Oct. 5: Exhibition Tours for Full Course: Encounters with Food. Join exhibit curators for a tour of the latest exhibition in Special Collections and Sidewater Commons. Learn all the delicious details like why Mr. Carrot is actually not so welcoming, which books you could nibble on, and how we know ice cream is manna from heaven. 10:30-11 p.m., beginning in the Special Collections exhibit space.

Wednesday, Oct. 10: Geospatial Analysis: Using ArcGIS Desktop for location and demographic data. An introduction to using ArcMap software to work with location data and demographic data and working with sample data. Participants are encouraged to consider and/or use their own data based on research, work, and/or teaching interests. This session will demonstrate general processes of working with location-based data, which may require additional instruction and follow-up in specific contexts, geographic regions, and disciplines. Examples of resources and data for this session are on the Maps and Geospatial: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) guide. 3-4 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Oct. 10: Open Source GIS: QGIS. An introduction to using QGIS, an open source GIS software option. Learn more about QGIS from the QGIS website. Participants are encouraged to bring their laptop and if desired have QGIS installed to experience first-hand some of the software’s options for working with geospatial data. More information on QGIS is located on the Maps and Geospatial: Open Source GIS guide, QGIS section. 4-5 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, University Park.

Friday, Oct. 12: Football Friday Library Tour. Enjoy a tour through Preservation Conservation and Digitization with stops and brief demonstrations at different areas. Then learn how to sew a book (or some other PCD activity). Some guest participation. Reserve your spot at sac210@psu.edu or 814-863-7718. Tours meet at the Paterno Library Welcome Desk. 3:30-5 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 29: Ithaka Faculty Survey brown bag on teaching. Rebecca Miller, Library Learning Services head, will present findings related to questions about teaching from the spring 2018 library survey of Penn State faculty. Noon – 1 p.m., Dean’s Conference Room, 510
Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Nov. 7: Docunight: Iran Via Documentaries. On the first Wednesday of every month, featuring a documentary film about, around, or in Iran, or made Iranians. Docunight events are open to everyone, and all films have English subtitles. Co-sponsored by the Iranian Student Association and the University Libraries. 7 p.m. in Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Friday, Nov. 9: Football Friday Library Tour. Enjoy a tour through the Donald W. Hamer Center for Maps & Geospatial Information, with hands-on exhibits, interactive presentations and Sanborn Fire Insurance maps. Reserve your spot at sac210@psu.edu or 814-863-7718 Tours meet at the Paterno Library Welcome Desk. 3:30-5 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 13: Penn State GIS Day. A one-day seminar for individuals working with GIS, geospatial technologies, remote sensing, maps, and location-based research on campus to foster greater geospatial awareness on campus, within the community, and beyond. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library and Franklin Atrium, Pattee Library, University Park campus.

Friday, Nov. 16: Ithaka Faculty Survey brown bag on data management. Cynthia Vitale, Digital Scholarship and Data Services head, will present on findings related to questions on data management from the spring 2018 library survey of Penn State faculty. Noon – 1 p.m., Dean’s Conference Room, 510 Paterno Library, University Park campus.

Wednesday, Dec. 5: Docunight: Iran Via Documentaries. On the first Wednesday of every month, featuring a documentary film about, around, or in Iran, or made Iranians. Docunight events are open to everyone, and all films have English subtitles. Co-sponsored by the Iranian Student Association and the University Libraries. 7 p.m. in Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

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.*

National Service Dog Awareness Month

By: Teresa Slobuski

September is National Service Dog Awareness Month. Originally established in 2009 as National Guide Dog Awareness Month, this month seeks to bring attention to and respect for dogs providing service to individuals living with disabilities and raise funds for organizations accredited by the International Guide Dog Foundation with funding going through the Petco Foundation. National Guide Dog Month was initially started through a partnership between Natural Balance and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

For libraries, questions about service dogs are common. Luckily, there is a wide variety of information available regarding service dogs in general and specific to libraries that familiarize themselves with in order to best support these important members of the community. ASCLA has a handy tip sheet regarding Service or Support Animals. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped also has an information page with information and books about Guide Dogs and Service Dogs. It can also be good to review the Department of Justice’s Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA.

In general, know that any breed of dog can service as a service animal. Service dogs are trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. This can range from the more obvious guide dogs for those with visual impairments to less noticeable services such as providing tactile stimulation for someone with PTSD. Service dog owners do not have to dress their animal in identifying gear nor do they need to have documentation regarding service animal status. However, dogs must still be under control of the handler at all times, so a disruptive or destructive animal can warrant removal from the premise.

Particularities aside, service dogs are an important and necessary part of the lives for many people with a wide range of disabilities. By staying informed of their services, libraries can better support patrons who have service dogs with them. For the month of September, consider learning more about service dogs, working with local service dog schools or advocacy groups, or creating displays or programs to highlight the dogs that do more than just be man’s best friend.

Lunch and Learn: Embedded Librarianship: Re-envisioning Reference

First Name: Carmen Gass

Please join at 12-1 p.m., Thursday, October 4, in E403 Paterno Library.

This presentation will broaden the reference approach by considering embedded librarians as a form of personalized reference for students. It will provide examples of its current success through intentional and meaningful collaborations for designers, course authors, course instructors, and librarians. The customizable program allows for a robust librarian presence
within a course; library instruction and resources are fully tailored to student outcomes and are easily accessible within the Canvas learning environment. Ultimately, these strategies create
a low-risk environment for students to practice their discipline-related information research skills as they progress through course projects. Students now create high-quality papers for online courses, creating a win-win situation for students and faculty! The online learning librarian, Torrie Raish, will be delivering this presentation.

Participants can expect to:
1. Articulate the shared benefit the embedded librarianship creates between instructors, instructional designers, and librarians to enhance student outcomes.

2. Identify communication methods, instructional strategies, and assessments created by the online embedded team to support student learning.

3. Explain how the Embedded Librarian Program has improved the overall quality of research-based assignments using technical components such as research guides, library learning modules, and video tutorials.

Tech Tip: Mobile security

By: Ryan Johnson

As the technology behind smartphones and tablets advances, it’s important to stay ahead of cyber criminals by keeping mobile devices secure. Below are some steps you can take to make your device more secure.

Enable passwords
Smartphones and tablets are targets for criminals looking to steal your personal data. Because of this, it’s important to keep your mobile devices protected by always enabling home screen passwords and locks. These passwords can protect data on your devices if they are ever misplaced or stolen.

Find out more about enabling password protection on your mobile devices:

Locating or wiping a device
If your device is ever stolen or lost, there are a few steps you can take to ensure the security of your personal information. If you have location services turned on, you can locate your device or remotely wipe all information by using either Find my iPhone or Android Device Manager.

Find out more about these applications:

Additional tips for mobile security:

Don’t store sensitive, unprotected information on your mobile devices.
Only download apps from trusted sources.
Keep your devices’ operating systems up to date.
Back up your devices regularly.
Only connect to trusted Wi-Fi networks.
Be cautious of links in text messages from unknown or suspicious senders.
Wipe your devices of all data before selling them.

Customer Service Tip: Leading a customer-centric culture (Lynda.com)

By: Carmen Gass

“What do great companies have in common? They have a customer-centric culture that makes employees obsessed with the customer experience. Discover how to get your team excited about customer service, with these practical tips from expert Jeff Toister. Jeff explains how to create a vision that gets everyone on the same page, engage employees, and be the customer service champion your company needs. The concepts apply whether you lead a small team, a department, or an entire organization.”

You can view the course here.

Events: September 17

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

Customer Service Tip: Look for service icebergs

By: Jeff Toister (submitted by Carmen Gass)

It’s tempting to write off service-failures as one-time problems, especially if you found a way to make that customer happy again. What if it wasn’t a one-time problem, but the result of a flaw in your service delivery system?

The problem could be repeated many more times and many more customers could become angry before it gets solved.

Customer service professionals should always be wary of “icebergs” – what you see above the surface is nothing compared to the big, mean problem under the surface. Here are some simple questions to help you check for icebergs when you encounter a service problem:
* What caused the problem?
* How likely is it that the same problem will happen again?
* Who else is affected?

Bonus info: Sometimes, a relatively small thing can help you stand out from the competition. Here’s one simple example where Netflix nails it.

University Libraries Presents: 2018 Football Friday library tours

You are cordially invited to attend our exclusive, behind-the-scenes Library tours. Each tour falls on a Friday of a home football game. Come see for yourself how the University Libraries has preserved its rich legacy through ever-changing physical and technological landscapes to ensure the needs of students, scholars, and the community are met. Reservations are requested as space is limited. Reserve your spot today – sac210@psu.edu | 814.863.7718.

Friday, September 28 (Ohio State)
High Touch and High Tech with 3D Printed Gift*
3:30 p.m.: Meet at Paterno Library Welcome Desk (Curtin Rd entrance)
3:30-4 p.m.: Library Pride (Megan Gilpin) tour with focus on Search Bar and high touch services
4-5 p.m.: Media & Maker Commons (high tech) tour ends, each guest receives 3D printed item
Tour Guides: Media Commons Staff

Friday, October 12 (Michigan State)
Hands-On in Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization (PCD)*
3:30 p.m.: Meet at Paterno Library Welcome Desk (Curtin Rd entrance)
3:30-4 p.m.: Library Pride (Heather Ross) general tour with highlights
4-5 p.m.: Enjoy a tour through PCD with stops and brief demonstrations. Learn how to sew a book (or other PCD activity). Some guest participation.
Tour Guides: Sue Kellerman and PCD Staff

Friday, November 9 (Wisconsin)
Donald W. Hamer Center for Maps & Geospatial Information – A Walk through the Past & into the Future*
3:30 p.m.: Meet at Paterno Library Welcome Desk (Curtin Rd entrance)
3:30-4 p.m.: Library Pride (Denise Conklin) general tour with highlights
4-5 p.m.: Donald W. Hamer Center for Maps & Geospatial Information – hands on exhibits, interactive presentations incl. Sanborn Fire Insurance maps
Tour Guides: Heather Ross and Tara LaLonde

* Please contact Sarah Bacon at sac210@psu.edu or 814.863.7718 to book your tour(s).

Focus on Assessment: Fall 2018 assessment update

By: Steve Borrelli

Focus on Assessment: Fall 2018 Assessment Update

With the fall term underway, I thought this would be a good time to give an update on what the Assessment Department has planned for this semester, and there’s lots to tell you about.

For starters, Bikalpa Neupane is our new graduate assistant. Bikalpa is a 4^th year Ph.D. candidate in College of Information Sciences and Technology, studying human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence. His initial work (described below) is to develop views into historical circulation.

The Library Assessment and Metrics Council (LAMC) completed its work on the Assessment Archive in the spring. The archive aims to provide a place for you to upload documents related to local assessments to improve the libraries’ ability to tell our story and to serve as a repository of assessment projects to provide ideas, guidance, and contacts for when you’re considering developing an assessment project and want to get some ideas on how to go about it. Over the summer, we’ve worked to populate it with Assessment Department projects, and we’re starting to see projects from colleagues around the libraries too. We’re approaching 20 projects to date, so take a look when you have a chance and consider submitting a project you’ve completed.

In addition to the projects described below, we’ll be consulting on a number of other projects, and have two job enrichment opportunities in the works. We look forward to getting these finalized and moving forward so we can take on additional projects and further enhance organizational capacity for assessment.

Data Gathering Week will run this fall from Monday 10/15 through Sunday 10/21. I plan to send a couple of reminders out as the dates approach.

Fall 2018 Assessment Projects:

Communicating the Results of the Ithaka Faculty Survey – The Libraries administered a local version of the Ithaka Faculty Survey between March and April. This survey has a series of questions about how faculty discover and access research materials, issues around scholarly communications and conducting research, data management, and teaching practices, as well as a forward-looking market research section that has some really interesting questions and results.

Since receiving the results in May, we’ve been working to visualize the results using Tableau. Lana Munip developed filterable visualizations for each question, available on the intranet. Over the next couple of weeks, we plan to schedule a series of brown bag meetings to review the sections, hopefully with the help of those who are closely tied to the programming around these sections. The first of these will be at noon on Fri. 9/28 in the Dean’s conference room and over Zoom https://psu.zoom.us/j/3283054988. Stay tuned for more on this.

Investigating Emotional Connections to the University Libraries: exploring motivations for utilization and support – The Assessment Department and the Development and Alumni Relations Department are partnering to host 10 focus groups with students, parents of current students, and donors. The goal is to learn more about why students use the library, what their parents think the library is about, and to investigate emotional connections to the library to inform the development of a cohesive message that the Libraries Development Board members can use when working with potential donors.

Needs Assessment of Political Science Graduate Students – This partnership between Social Science Librarian Andrew Dudash and the Assessment Department will conduct a focus group study of incoming Poli. Sci graduate students, to investigate the extent of their understanding of how the libraries can help them, and to better understand their needs and interests to inform support and programming plans.

Assessing a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) environment and the viability of portable chargers as an alternative to adding additional outlets – This study is a partnership between the Knowledge Commons and the Assessment Department. As the Collaboration Commons (currently under construction) will function as a BYOD space, we’re interested in assessing if BYOD will meet student needs. We plan to conduct an observational study, integrate flip charts in the new Paterno 128 space adjacent to Starbucks, and survey students about their laptop usage and needs. Since the conversion of Paterno 128 did not include adding additional outlets, and the Libraries are providing portable chargers, we thought we’d take a look at what students think about these, too. This study will span most of the semester.

Libraries Website Top Level Language – This usability study will use card sorting to identify students’ preferred grouping and labels for the top-level navigation links (i.e., Services, Research, About, Ask). The testing will take place online via our library website as well as in person at UX Cafe during the semester.

Visualizing Historical Circulation– This project is about enhancing organizational access to data and informing decision making. Bikalpa aims to develop multiple views into historical circulation with the aim of assisting Collections Services and Strategies Librarian, Julia Proctor, and others involved in collection development look at circulation history in new and interesting ways. The plan is to develop views of LC circulation, user type, and location by timeframe. This is a rather data-heavy project requiring deep knowledge of our data and tools. This project would not be possible without the cooperation and support of I-tech and Lending Services.

There is a lot of information here. Feel free to reach out with questions or comments.

Box at Penn State – iOS 10 End of Life Notice

By: Ryan Johnson

This notice is from Box at Penn State:

Upon the release of iOS 12, Box will no longer continue support for iOS 10. This is a courtesy notice to remind our customers of our support policy for the latest two versions of iOS. We do this in order to ensure a quality experience for our mobile users.

This means:

– Users will no longer be able to receive new app updates if they are on iOS 10.
– Users will no longer receive any fixes or new features for the Box app on iOS 10.
– The latest version of the app on iOS 10 is still functional at this time.

The iOS devices which will no longer be supported (because they do not support upgrading to iOS versions newer than iOS 10) are:
iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, and iPad 4th generation.

Currently, iOS 12 is in beta and is coming from Apple in Fall 2018. At that time Box will officially discontinue support for iOS 10.

Events: September 10

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