Monthly Archives: February 2019

Getting to Know You: Jennifer Meehan

Please welcome Jennifer Meehan, Head of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library, to Penn State University Libraries! Read more about Meehan HERE, in Penn State News.

Jennifer Meehan, Head of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library

https://news.psu.edu/story/560269/2019/02/22/literary-arts/meehan-special-collections-library-head-aims-connect-visitors

 

Getting to Know You- Anne Belden

By: Gale Biddle

As we walk into our respective libraries, our eyes are flooded with shelves full of books, CD’s, DVD’s, vinyl albums, games, and so many other fantastic items to use. It seems like each day there’s something new. But, did you ever stop and wonder how those items make it to the shelves? Who’s behind the scenes, pulling levers, pressing buttons like the Wizard of Oz,
and making our libraries’ needs and wishes a reality? If you peel back the curtain, you will find it’s awesome people like Anne Belden, Information Resources and Services Support Specialist in the Acquisitions Department, who are responsible.

Anne’s first job at Penn State was working in a hot dog stand at various sporting events. She began working in the libraries as a student in 2007. Then, in August 2012, she became a part of the Monograph Acquisitions Team, which is responsible for purchasing all types of materials. When your library needs a specific book or a vinyl album, it’s Anne and the team who places the order. She says the best part of her job is getting to view all the new titles that come in to the libraries. However, that can be both a blessing and a curse. Seeing so many interesting items has led to checking out so many items, and Anne says she has checked out more than her share. I think many of us can relate!

cameo photo of Anne Belden in costume (Captain Ahab)A native of State College, Anne is accustomed to the hustle and bustle of the city, especially during football season. She says she and her family have learned to time grocery shopping trips
during halftime in order to avoid the traffic. But don’t expect to see her cart full of unnecessary items. Anne calls herself “a real cheapskate” and likes to stick to a budget. In fact, she even enjoys creating budgets for her friends. In her free time, Anne enjoys going to the gym, practicing yoga, gardening, and, especially, houseplants. Ironically, the reason that she became so interested in caring for houseplants is because she killed the first plant she was given. From then on, she saw it as a challenge to keep and grow them. Now, her house is full of them. She says her favorite thing is to give and get cuttings from plants because that means “each plant has a story behind it.” Recently, she found a fish tank along the side of a road and has decided to take on the challenge of growing aquatic plants. And if Mother Nature will cooperate this year, she also wants to try her hand at container gardening.

When I asked Anne “What’s the best thing about working for Penn State?”, she echoed what so many others have said before her—the people. She says she’s met a lot of her good friends here. Anne also says that Penn State offers so many activities and opportunities to learn about almost anything. One of her favorite things are the lunchtime presentations where you get a chance to hear from all kinds of people on all kinds of topics.

So, the next time an interesting book on a shelf catches your eye, take time to appreciate the people who bring it to you: Amazing, fun, sweet people like Anne!

Ten Random Questions with Anne Belden:

1. Favorite Color? Pink
2. Last concert you’ve been to? Dolly Parton & Lady Gaga
3. If you were on a desert island, what one thing would you have to have with you? Sunscreen
4. If you could listen to only one song for the rest of your life, what would it be? Can’t pick just  one song but anything by Sam Cooke would be great
5. Favorite movie? White Christmas
6. Place you would like to visit that you’ve never been to? Italy for the art
7. What is the first thing you would do if you won the lottery? Buy a farm and rescue animals
8. Favorite food? Pretzels, especially Snyder’s Snaps
9. Is a hot dog a sandwich? Yes, because it’s between bread
10. What talent do you wish you had? To sing

Tech Tips: Add your Office 365 Outlook calendar to Zoom

By: Ryan Johnson

In the new version of Zoom, you can add your Office 365 Outlook Calendar to the home screen.

Office 365 calendar screenshot - tech tip

To do this, follow the steps below:

Click on Add a Calendar in the new zoom home screen.

Select Office 365, Then Authorize with OAuth 2.0.

zoom calendar screenshot - tech tip

In the next window that appears, make sure the EWS URL field is filled out as you see below:

zoom calendar screenshot 2 - tech tip

Click Authorize.

You will then be redirected to pick your Microsoft Account.  Select your Penn State account and then you’re finished!

Events: February 25

Spring 2019
Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

Into the Woods exhibit logo

 

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.

promotional poster - Secret Lives of Girls and Women

 

Jan. 28-Sept. 1, 2019, Exhibit: “The Secret Lives of Girls and Women” Eberly Family Special Collections Library, 104 Paterno Library. Through the examination of books, letters, hand-written diaries and other archival materials, The Secret Lives of Girls and Women exposes a wide spectrum of feminine mysteries. The exhibition includes many hidden or concealed aspects of female life found within beauty secrets, secret languages created by women, literary secrets, social taboos and more throughout history. On display during Special Collections Library hours.

 

Thursday, Feb. 7–Tuesday, Apr. 2: Spring 2019 Scholarly Communications Workshops. A series of workshops covering topics such as open access, copyright and fair use policies will be offered throughout the spring semester for students, faculty and staff.  Coordinated and led by Ana Enriquez, scholarly communications outreach librarian, all workshops are free and take place either on Zoom or Paterno Library. Varying times in Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library and via Zoom. To add this workshop series to your Facebook calendar, visit its Facebook Event online.

Thursday, Feb. 21, Launch your geospatial projects: Foundations and Searching for Geospatial Data.  An overview of geographic information systems (GIS) concepts, geospatial data, geospatial software, and an introduction to geospatial analysis topics relevant for multiple disciplines, with a focus on searching geospatial data resources using library resources and additional data sources. Resources and data for this session at Maps and Geospatial: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) guide. 3-5 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, University Park. No registration is required, open to all Penn State students, staff, faculty and visitors, with remote viewing available online using Zoom. To add this workshop series to your Facebook Calendar, visit its Facebook Event.

Tuesday, Feb. 26, Open Access BasicsOffered as part of Spring 2019 Scholarly Communications Workshop series. Learn the history and current directions of the open access movement. Ask your questions. Get prepared to advocate for open access at Penn State and beyond.12:15-1 p.m. via Zoom. Register HERE.

Wednesday, Feb. 27, Use Factors: Their History and ApplicationOffered as part of the Spring 2019 Scholarly Communications Workshop series. This workshop will focus on fair use cases from the last forty years, tracing the relative importance of the four statutory factors and their subfactors. Participants will be asked to practice applying current fair use law to a series of hypothetical fact patterns.12:20-1:10 p.m. via Zoom. Register HERE.

Wednesday, Mar. 6: Docunight: Iran Via DocumentariesOn the first Wednesday of every month, Docunight features a documentary film about, around, or in Iran, or made by Iranians. All 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.

Tuesday, Mar. 12, Complying with NIH Public Access PolicyOffered as part of the Spring 2019 Scholarly Communications Workshop series. Do you understand the public access requirements for your NIH-funded research? Under NIH’s public access policy, publications based on NIH-supported research must be deposited in PubMed Central upon acceptance for publication, to be made publicly available no later than 12 months after the official date of publication. Join us for a brief overview of grant recipients’ obligations, with time for questions. 12:15-12:45 p.m. via Zoom. Register HERE.

Wednesday, Mar. 13, Introduction to Copyright: What’s Protected? Offered as part of the Spring 2019 Scholarly Communications Workshop series. more about copyright law at this interactive workshop. Throughout it, participants will work in small groups to address hypothetical copyright questions and then debrief their responses as a full group. 12:20-1:10 p.m. via Zoom. Register HERE.

Thursday, Mar. 14, Geospatial Online: Overview of ArcGIS Online. An Introduction to ArcGIS Online, a web mapping application which can be used to communicate spatial research interests across the disciplines. Participants will explore applications created with ArGIS Online and work with a sample dataset. More information about GIS is available HERE. 3-5 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, University Park. No registration is required, open to all Penn State students, staff, faculty and visitors, with remote viewing available online using Zoom.
Monday, Mar. 18, Copyright and Your Thesis or Dissertation. Offered as part of the Spring 2019 Scholarly Communications Workshop series.  Join us for this interactive workshop wherein participants will work in small groups to address hypothetical copyright questions and then debrief their responses as a full group. 4-5 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno, University Park. Register HERE.
Tuesday, March 19, Who Owns What. Offered as part of the Spring 2019 Scholarly Communications Workshop series. What does PSU policy have to say about the ownership of scholarly IP? Who gets to sign publishing agreements and make copyright decisions about published research? How does this interact with public access mandates from research funders? Join us for a brief overview of Penn State policy in this area, with time for questions.12:15-12:45 p.m. via Zoom. Register HERE.

Wednesday, Mar. 20, Introduction to Copyright: When You Don’t Need Permission. Offered as part of the Spring 2019 Scholarly Communications Workshop series. Have you ever wondered how things enter the public domain? What rights you have to control use of your work? What rights you have to use someone else’s work? Learn more about copyright law in an interactive workshop where participants will work in small groups to address hypothetical copyright questions and then debrief their responses as a full group.12:20-1:10 p.m. via Zoom. Register HERE.

 

Monday, Mar. 25, International and Foreign Copyright: A U.S. Perspective. How does copyright law vary around the world? When you’re working across borders, which laws apply? Join us for a workshop on these and other questions. This is an interactive workshop wherein participants will work in small groups to address hypothetical copyright questions and then debrief their responses as a full group. 12:15-1:15 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park. Register HERE.

Wednesday, Mar. 27, Introduction to Copyright: Permission and Who Can Grant It. Have you ever wondered how things enter the public domain? What rights you have to control use of your work? What rights you have to use someone else’s work? Learn more about copyright law at this interactive workshop where participants will work in small groups to address hypothetical copyright questions and then debrief their responses as a full group.12:20-1:10 p.m. via Zoom. Register HERE.

Thursday, Mar. 28, The Charles W. Mann Jr. Lecture in the Book Arts. Jesse Ryan Erickson, coordinator of Special Collections and Digital Humanities, associate professor in the Department of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, and assistant director of The Interdisciplinary Humanities Research Center, University of Delaware, will offer a lecture titled A Different Kind of Reading: Victorian Popular Afterlives, providing an examination of the works of Victorian author Ouida (1839-1908), and exploring the ways in which racial consciousness affects one’s interaction and engagement with a text through its textual contents and materiality. 4:30-5:30 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, immediately followed by a reception in Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library.

Tuesday, Apr. 2, International and Foreign Copyright: A U.S. Perspective. Offered as part of the Spring 2019 Scholarly Communications Workshop series.  12:15-1:15 p.m. via Zoom. Register HERE.

Wednesday, Apr. 3: Docunight: Iran Via DocumentariesOn the first Wednesday of every month, Docunight features a documentary film about, around, or in Iran, or made Iranians. All 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.
Thursday, Apr. 11, Geospatial Analysis: Using GIS Desktop software. An introduction to geospatial processes in ArcGIS ArcMap and ArcPro software. This informational session introduces and utilizes key software terminology, along with examples of the functionality within the software. Maps and geospatial examples will be provided in an interdisciplinary manner. More information about GIS is available HERE. 3-5 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, University Park. No registration is required, open to all Penn State students, staff, faculty and visitors, with remote viewing available online using Zoom.
 
Friday-Sunday, May 3-5: Spring Commencement, University Park.

Please submit event information — and all Library News submissions — to Public Relations and Marketing via its Staff Site request form and selecting the “Library News blog article” button.

Customer Service Tip: What Does Customer Service in Higher Education Actually Look Like?

By: Sarah Seigle Peatman, Emily Richardson, Eileen
Soisson, Heath Boice-Pardee (submitted by Carmen Gass)

“Providing good customer service to students has become an expectation in today’s higher education environment, yet customer service in higher education is still new and few are
certain how to do it well, or what the term means when placed in the context of students, faculty, and staff.

To learn more about how colleges and universities are adapting the concept of service competencies to this sector, and to gather practical advice for how units and departments can navigate this shift in mindset, we turned to three acknowledged experts on customer service in higher education: read more here.

Events: February 18

Spring 2019
Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

Into the Woods exhibit logo

 

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.

promotional poster - Secret Lives of Girls and Women

 

Jan. 28-Sept. 1, 2019, Exhibit: “The Secret Lives of Girls and Women” Eberly Family Special Collections Library, 104 Paterno Library. Through the examination of books, letters, hand-written diaries and other archival materials, The Secret Lives of Girls and Women exposes a wide spectrum of feminine mysteries. The exhibition includes many hidden or concealed aspects of female life found within beauty secrets, secret languages created by women, literary secrets, social taboos and more throughout history. On display during Special Collections Library hours.

 

Thursday, Feb. 7–Tuesday, Apr. 2: Spring 2019 Scholarly Communications Workshops. A series of workshops covering topics such as open access, copyright and fair use policies will be offered throughout the spring semester for students, faculty and staff.  Coordinated and led by Ana Enriquez, scholarly communications outreach librarian, all workshops are free and take place either on Zoom or Paterno Library. Varying times in Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library and via Zoom. To add this workshop series to your Facebook calendar, visit its Facebook Event online.

Monday, Feb. 18, Communicating with International Students & Colleagues: Tips for Understanding Each Other. Practice respectful techniques that improve your ability to understand and be understood.Part of a lunchtime workshop series hosted by English for Professional Purposes Intercultural Center (EPPIC). Register online HERE or email eppic@psu.edu if you would like to participate via Zoom. Noon-1 p.m. at 322 Sackett Building, University Park campus.

New date and location: Monday, Feb. 18, Code for Her ++ Workshop. Learn how to build a Google Assistant Action in a free workshop for students, faculty and staff. No experience or Google device necessary, just your laptop. Free event; participation open to all. 6-8 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, Feb. 21, Launch your geospatial projects: Foundations and Searching for Geospatial Data.  An overview of geographic information systems (GIS) concepts, geospatial data, geospatial software, and an introduction to geospatial analysis topics relevant for multiple disciplines, with a focus on searching geospatial data resources using library resources and additional data sources. Resources and data for this session at Maps and Geospatial: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) guide. 3-5 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, University Park. No registration is required, open to all Penn State students, staff, faculty and visitors, with remote viewing available online using Zoom. To add this workshop series to your Facebook Calendar, visit its Facebook Event.
Wednesday, Mar. 6: Docunight: Iran Via DocumentariesOn the first Wednesday of every month, Docunight features a documentary film about, around, or in Iran, or made by Iranians. All 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.
Thursday, Mar. 14, Geospatial Online: Overview of ArcGIS Online. An Introduction to ArcGIS Online, a web mapping application which can be used to communicate spatial research interests across the disciplines. Participants will explore applications created with ArGIS Online and work with a sample dataset. More information about GIS is available HERE. 3-5 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, University Park. No registration is required, open to all Penn State students, staff, faculty and visitors, with remote viewing available online using Zoom.

Thursday, Mar. 28, The Charles W. Mann Jr. Lecture in the Book Arts. Jesse Ryan Erickson, coordinator of Special Collections and Digital Humanities, associate professor in the Department of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, and assistant director of The Interdisciplinary Humanities Research Center, University of Delaware, will offer a lecture titled A Different Kind of Reading: Victorian Popular Afterlives, providing an examination of the works of Victorian author Ouida (1839-1908), and exploring the ways in which racial consciousness affects one’s interaction and engagement with a text through its textual contents and materiality. 4:30-5:30 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, immediately followed by a reception in Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library.

Wednesday, Apr. 3: Docunight: Iran Via DocumentariesOn the first Wednesday of every month, Docunight features a documentary film about, around, or in Iran, or made Iranians. All 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.
Thursday, Apr. 11, Geospatial Analysis: Using GIS Desktop software. An introduction to geospatial processes in ArcGIS ArcMap and ArcPro software. This informational session introduces and utilizes key software terminology, along with examples of the functionality within the software. Maps and geospatial examples will be provided in an interdisciplinary manner. More information about GIS is available HERE. 3-5 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, University Park. No registration is required, open to all Penn State students, staff, faculty and visitors, with remote viewing available online using Zoom.
 
Friday-Sunday, May 3-5: Spring Commencement, University Park.

Please submit event information — and all Library News submissions — to Public Relations and Marketing via its Staff Site request form and selecting the “Library News blog article” button.

Green Tips: Ridesharing and hybrid vehicle rentals at Penn State

By: James Searfoss

Zimride:

Looking for a sustainable way to get to and from campus? Try ridesharing with Penn State’s Zimride. Zimride is Penn State’s private ride-matching network that matches you with other
students, faculty and staff who are going the same way, allowing you an easy way to share the seats in your car or catch a ride.

Zimride graphic "Great minds ride together"

Who can use this Zimride?
Penn State requires a valid Penn State WebAccess ID and password to join Zimride. Once registered, you can share rides to and from any Penn State campus. Sign up here.

Questions?
If you have additional questions about Zimride or how to use Zimride please call 1-855-Zimride or email support@zimride.com.

Hybrid Vehicle Rentals:

Fleet Operations at Penn State offer both daily and long-term vehicle rentals. With a number of Ford Fusion Hybrids available, you have a sustainable option for any trip with one of our rented
vehicles. For daily reservations (14 days or less), the rate is $38.00 and 0.10 cents per mile travelled. Long-term reservations are also available. The typical long-term rental periods are Fall
& Spring semesters and one year, but in certain circumstances vehicles may be rented for shorter periods of time. And with gas included and a 7% reduction in daily rental rates across all
vehicles compared to the 2017-2018 fiscal year, rentals from PSU’s Fleet Operations are more affordable than other rental providers for most trips. Contact Fleet Operations at 814-865-7571 or fleet@psu.edu for more information.

Tech Tip: New Version of Outlook (On the Web)

By: Ryan Johnson

Recently Outlook on the web is allowing Office 365 customers try the “New Outlook”.

Outlook screen capture for tech tip

When you click the toggle, you will see all new Outlook on the web modules for Mail, Calendar, and People. If you don’t like the new experience, you can opt-in and out as often as you want.

Some of the new features include:

  • An Improved Search – Find messages from a specific person and refine your search using keywords.
  • Calendar Scheduling – New improved functionality when scheduling meetings include the scheduling assistant that is available in the desktop version.

tech tip screen shot of Outlook calendar

 

Libraries arrivals and departures

By: Rob Harris

This is a monthly update of full-time employees that have joined or left the University Libraries.

In January we welcomed the following new employees:
Gretchen Gueguen – Digital Support Archivist, Special Collections
Alex Harrington – Access Services and Instruction Librarian, Hershey
Jennifer Meehan – Head of Special Collections
Mallory Witzig – Delivery Services Coordinator, ILL

We said good-bye to:
Joni Barnoff – Digital Scholarship and Repository Development
Donna Loesch – Receiving Room
Rob Olendorf – Research Informatics and Publishing

Customer Service Tip: Using journey maps to tell the customer’s story

By: Annette Franz (submitted by Carmen Gass)  

Customer experience professionals use storytelling to gain buy-in and commitment from their audiences (typically executives, as well as employees) and to deliver impactful emotional and
rational perspectives and messages, thereby capturing both the hearts and minds of the intended audience. When they tell the customer’s story, they paint a picture of who the customer is, what problems she’s trying to solve, and the experience the company puts her through in order to solve her problem. They end up taking the audience on a journey, the customer’s journey, and it humanizes the customer experience for the audience.

One of the best tools available to develop and to tell that customer story is journey mapping. Read more here.

Events: February 11

Spring 2019
Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

Into the Woods exhibit logo

 

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.

promotional poster - Secret Lives of Girls and Women

 

Jan. 28-Sept. 1, 2019, Exhibit: “The Secret Lives of Girls and Women” Eberly Family Special Collections Library, 104 Paterno Library. Through the examination of books, letters, hand-written diaries and other archival materials, The Secret Lives of Girls and Women exposes a wide spectrum of feminine mysteries. The exhibition includes many hidden or concealed aspects of female life found within beauty secrets, secret languages created by women, literary secrets, social taboos and more throughout history. On display during Special Collections Library hours.

 

Thursday, Feb. 7–Tuesday, Apr. 2: Spring 2019 Scholarly Communications Workshops. A series of workshops covering topics such as open access, copyright and fair use policies will be offered throughout the spring semester for students, faculty and staff.  Coordinated and led by Ana Enriquez, scholarly communications outreach librarian, all workshops are free and take place either on Zoom or Paterno Library. Varying times in Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library and via Zoom. To add this workshop series to your Facebook calendar, visit its Facebook Event online.

Monday, Feb. 11, Code for Her ++ Workshop. POSTPONED because of weather concerns; please see updated details below (Feb. 18).

graphic advertising (All In) Voices 2019 personal storytelling event with photo collage of a wide variety of faces are cropped to look like spines of books on a bookshelfWednesday, Feb. 13, (All In) Voices. The Libraries’ third annual personal storytelling event featuring open discussions and Q&As with individuals who will tell their stories to raise awareness and foster diversity and inclusion. Bestseller Panel 11 a.m.–noon, and autobiographical discussions at 1–5 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library and various Pattee and Paterno Library locations, University Park campus. Additional information on Penn State News. Sign up for sessions with this year’s Voices at http://tinyurl.com/allinvoices2019; read each Voice’s story description at https://sites.psu.edu/allinvoices.

 

Monday, Feb. 18, Communicating with International Students & Colleagues: Tips for Understanding Each Other. Practice respectful techniques that improve your ability to understand and be understood.Part of a lunchtime workshop series hosted by English for Professional Purposes Intercultural Center (EPPIC). Register online HERE or email eppic@psu.edu if you would like to participate via Zoom. Noon-1 p.m. at 322 Sackett Building, University Park campus.

New date and location: Monday, Feb. 18, Code for Her ++ Workshop. Learn how to build a Google Assistant Action in a free workshop for students, faculty and staff. No experience or Google device necessary, just your laptop. Free event; participation open to all. 6-8 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, Feb. 21, Launch your geospatial projects: Foundations and Searching for Geospatial Data.  An overview of geographic information systems (GIS) concepts, geospatial data, geospatial software, and an introduction to geospatial analysis topics relevant for multiple disciplines, with a focus on searching geospatial data resources using library resources and additional data sources. Resources and data for this session at Maps and Geospatial: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) guide. 3-5 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, University Park. No registration is required, open to all Penn State students, staff, faculty and visitors, with remote viewing available online using Zoom. To add this workshop series to your Facebook Calendar, visit its Facebook Event.
Wednesday, Mar. 6: Docunight: Iran Via DocumentariesOn the first Wednesday of every month, Docunight features a documentary film about, around, or in Iran, or made by Iranians. All 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.
Thursday, Mar. 14, Geospatial Online: Overview of ArcGIS Online. An Introduction to ArcGIS Online, a web mapping application which can be used to communicate spatial research interests across the disciplines. Participants will explore applications created with ArGIS Online and work with a sample dataset. More information about GIS is available HERE. 3-5 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, University Park. No registration is required, open to all Penn State students, staff, faculty and visitors, with remote viewing available online using Zoom.

Thursday, Mar. 28, The Charles W. Mann Jr. Lecture in the Book Arts. Jesse Ryan Erickson, coordinator of Special Collections and Digital Humanities, associate professor in the Department of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, and assistant director of The Interdisciplinary Humanities Research Center, University of Delaware, will offer a lecture titled A Different Kind of Reading: Victorian Popular Afterlives, providing an examination of the works of Victorian author Ouida (1839-1908), and exploring the ways in which racial consciousness affects one’s interaction and engagement with a text through its textual contents and materiality. 4:30-5:30 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, immediately followed by a reception in Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library.

Wednesday, Apr. 3: Docunight: Iran Via DocumentariesOn the first Wednesday of every month, Docunight features a documentary film about, around, or in Iran, or made Iranians. All 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.
Thursday, Apr. 11, Geospatial Analysis: Using GIS Desktop software. An introduction to geospatial processes in ArcGIS ArcMap and ArcPro software. This informational session introduces and utilizes key software terminology, along with examples of the functionality within the software. Maps and geospatial examples will be provided in an interdisciplinary manner. More information about GIS is available HERE. 3-5 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, University Park. No registration is required, open to all Penn State students, staff, faculty and visitors, with remote viewing available online using Zoom.
 
Friday-Sunday, May 3-5: Spring Commencement, University Park.

 

Please submit event information — and all Library News submissions — to Public Relations and Marketing via its Staff Site request form and selecting the “Library News blog article” button.

Customer Service Tip: How invisible ropes ruin the customer service experience

By: Jeff Toister (submitted by Carmen Gass)

The prank was pure genius.

Two boys, each about 12 years old, stood on opposite sides of the road. As a car approached, the boys would pantomime picking up a rope and pulling it taught across the road.

This caused speeding cars to slow down as the drivers perceived they were about to run into whatever the boys had stretched across the road. They couldn’t see anything in front of them, but the boys’ actions told the drivers’ subconscious brains that some danger lurked ahead.

Of course, there was no rope. The drivers were reacting to their perception, not reality.

Customer service is often the same way. The experience is almost always amplified for good or bad by invisible ropes—things that alter your customer’s perception of reality.

This post will help you identify invisible ropes that might annoy your customers and ruin their experience. Read more here.

Events: February 4

Spring 2019
Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

Into the Woods exhibit logo

 

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.

promotional poster - Secret Lives of Girls and Women

 

Jan. 28-Sept. 1, 2019, Exhibit: “The Secret Lives of Girls and Women” Eberly Family Special Collections Library, 104 Paterno Library. Through the examination of books, letters, hand-written diaries and other archival materials, The Secret Lives of Girls and Women exposes a wide spectrum of feminine mysteries. The exhibition includes many hidden or concealed aspects of female life found within beauty secrets, secret languages created by women, literary secrets, social taboos and more throughout history.

 

Thursday, Feb. 7-Tuesday, Apr. 2: Spring 2019 Scholarly Communications Workshops. A series of workshops covering topics such as open access, copyright and fair use policies will be offered throughout the spring semester for students, faculty and staff.  Coordinated and led by Ana Enriquez, scholarly communications outreach librarian, all workshops are free and take place either on Zoom or Paterno Library. Varying times in Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library and via Zoom.

Monday, Feb. 11, Code for Her ++ Workshop. Learn how to build a Google Assistant Action in a free workshop for students, faculty and staff. No experience or Google device necessary, just your laptop. 6-8 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, February 13, (All In) Voices. The Libraries’ third annual personal storytelling event featuring open discussions and Q&As with individuals who will tell their stories to raise awareness and foster diversity and inclusion. Bestseller Panel at 11 a.m. – noon, and autobiographical discussions at 1-5 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library and various Pattee and Paterno Library locations, University Park campus.

Monday, Feb. 18, Communicating with International Students & Colleagues: Tips for Understanding Each Other. Practice respectful techniques that improve your ability to understand and be understood.Part of a lunchtime workshop series hosted by English  for Professional Purposes Intercultural Center (EPPIC). Register online HERE or email eppic@psu.edu if you would like to participate via Zoom. 12-1 p.m. at 322 Sackett Building, University Park campus.

Thursday, Feb. 21, Launch your geospatial projects: Foundations and Searching for Geospatial Data.  An overview of geographic information systems (GIS) concepts, geospatial data, geospatial software, and an introduction to geospatial analysis topics relevant for multiple disciplines, with a focus on searching geospatial data resources using library resources and additional data sources. Resources and data for this session at Maps and Geospatial: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) guide. 3-5 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, University Park. No registration is required, open to all Penn State students, staff, faculty and visitors, with remote viewing available online using Zoom.
Wednesday, Mar. 6: Docunight: Iran Via DocumentariesOn the first Wednesday of every month, Docunight features a documentary film about, around, or in Iran, or made Iranians. All 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.
Thursday, Mar. 14, Geospatial Online: Overview of ArcGIS Online. An Introduction to ArcGIS Online, a web mapping application which can be used to communicate spatial research interests across the disciplines. Participants will explore applications created with ArGIS Online and work with a sample dataset. More information HERE. 3-5 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, University Park. No registration is required, open to all Penn State students, staff, faculty and visitors, with remote viewing available online using Zoom.

Thursday, Mar. 28, The Charles W. Mann Jr. Lecture in the Book ArtsJesse Ryan Erickson, Coordinator of Special Collections and Digital Humanities, Associate Professor in the Department of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Assistant Director of The Interdisciplinary Humanities Research Center at the University of Delaware will offer a lecture titled A Different Kind of Reading: Victorian Popular Afterlives, providing an examination of the works of Victorian author Ouida (1839-1908), and exploring the ways in which racial consciousness affects one’s interaction and engagement with a text through its textual contents and materiality. 4:30-5:30 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, immediately followed by a reception in Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library.

Wednesday, Apr. 3: Docunight: Iran Via DocumentariesOn the first Wednesday of every month, Docunight features a documentary film about, around, or in Iran, or made Iranians. All 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.
Thursday, Apr. 11, Geospatial Analysis: Using GIS Desktop software. An introduction to geospatial processes in ArcGIS ArcMap and ArcPro software. This informational session introduces and utilizes key software terminology, along with examples of the functionality within the software. Maps and geospatial examples will be provided in an interdisciplinary manner. More information HERE. 3-5 p.m., 211A Pattee Library, University Park. No registration is required, open to all Penn State students, staff, faculty and visitors, with remote viewing available online using Zoom.
 
Friday-Sunday, May 3-5: Spring Commencement.

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.*

Tech Tip: New Voicemail Feature with Office 365

By: Ryan Johnson

Office 365 logo and telephone picture for tech tip

A new voicemail feature has been integrated with Office 365 that will allow Penn State faculty and staff voicemail users to more easily manage their voicemail messages, save time and share information quicker.

Single Inbox connects faculty and staff voicemail accounts with email inboxes and gives users more options for retrieving, managing and storing their messages for better long-term accessibility and increased productivity.

In addition to the traditional methods of checking and managing, users can now check and manage their voicemail in Outlook. With Single Inbox, they will receive an email each time they receive a new voicemail. The email includes a transcription and an audio recording of the message.

Below are a few notes related to the new Single Inbox feature enhancement:

  • Voicemail messages will appear as an email in Outlook with a transcription of the message in the email body and a recording of the message attached as a .wav file.
  • Users can listen to, rewind and fast-forward these recorded messages using media players on their systems.
  • Messages that are read or deleted in email will be marked as read or deleted within the voicemail system and vice versa.
  • The Message Waiting Indicator light on the user’s VoIP telephone will follow the status of voicemail messages delivered to their email account.
  • Users may still listen to voicemail messages as they normally would on their phones.
  • Because voicemails will exist in Outlook, users can take advantage of Outlook’s organizational features by simply moving voicemail messages into related email folders such as ones for projects, certain co-workers or events.
  • Where it previously wasn’t possible, users will be able to share voicemails received from outside working groups with team members by forwarding the message along like a regular email.
  • Users can leverage Outlook’s calendaring features. Voicemail users will be able to call into their voicemail to hear a list of upcoming meetings and their participants, send a message about a meeting, accept or decline invitations and cancel a meeting they’ve organized.

 

Single Inbox is enabled for all faculty and staff who subscribe to the University’s VoIP voicemail services, however, users will be able to change their preferences for voicemail notifications and how they appear in their email inboxes.

Single Inbox is only available in areas serviced by the University’s Cisco voicemail system and whose users have migrated to Office 365.

To learn more about the Single Inbox feature or to discontinue, resume or modify preferences for voicemail notifications, visit KB0011940 Telephony: Single Inbox – Index of Informational Articles on the Penn State Knowledge Base.

 

Library Instruction Reboot Update

By: Anne Behler

Library Learning Services invites you to follow along with their progress as they work to reboot their instruction program. This week, learn the Reboot backstory from Anne Behler; get to know the Digital Badges team in a post by Torrie Raish; and hear from Dawn Amsberry about the work that the team focused on distinctive populations is gearing up for.

Thank you for following our journey! We welcome your questions at ul-lib-learn-svs@lists.psu.edu

Customer Service Tip: 16 customer service skills that every employee needs

By: Gregory Ciotti (Submitted by Carmen Gass)

There are certain customer service skills that every employee must master if they are forward-facing with customers.

Without them, you run the risk of finding your business in an embarrassing customer service train-wreck, or you’ll simply lose customers as your service continues to let people down.

Luckily, there are a few universal skills that every support member can master that will dramatically improve their conversations with customers. We’ll cover the 16 most-needed skills to master this incredibly important position. Read more here.