Daily Archives: April 1, 2019

25 Year Service Awards

During the 2019 fiscal year, three people completed 25 years of service at Penn State. Congratulations to Ralph Homan, Chris Holobar and Amanda Maple, for your dedicated service to the Libraries and Penn State!

“What struck me once again this year is the actual longevity of our honorees at the library. All three have spent all or nearly all of their entire Penn State careers at the University Libraries…Chris has spent his entire full time career in Access Services, Ralph for 20 of his 25 years, and Amanda has been with us since 1994.” Dean Dewey

25 years of service awards at Penn State University Libraries, from Left to Right: Ralph T. Homan, Campus Technician, Media and Technology Support Services; J. Christopher Holobar, Supervisor of Circulation and Reserves, Access Services; Amanda Maple, Music Librarian and Acting Head; Arts and Humanities Library Dean Dewey

From left to right: Ralph T. Homan, Campus Technician, Media and Technology Support Services; J. Christopher Holobar, Supervisor of Circulation and Reserves, Access Services; Amanda Maple, Music Librarian and Acting Head, Arts and Humanities Library; Dean Barbara Dewey.

 

Disability Awareness Month Booklist

By: Dawn Amsberry

April is Disability Awareness Month, also called Diversability Month, at Penn State. In recognition of Diversability, the Libraries Accessibility Committee has compiled the following list of books written by people with disabilities. These stories, memoirs and essays, all available in the University Libraries, provide an insider’s view of the diverse lived experiences of people with various disabilities. We hope you will enjoy exploring these titles. For further reading, the National Consortium on Developmental Disabilities has a comprehensive list of recommended books about the disability experience.

Autobiography of a Face
Lucy Grealy

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Jean-Dominique Bauby

El Deafo
Cece Bell

Exile & Pride: Disability, Queerness, and Liberation
Eli Clare

Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s 
John Elder Robison

Moving Violations: War Zones, Wheelchairs, and Declarations of Independence
John Hockenberry

My Body Politic: A Memoir
Simi Linton

My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey
Jill Taylor

No Walls of Stone: An Anthology of Literature by Deaf and Hard of Hearing Writers
Jill Christine Jepson

The Short Bus: A Journey Beyond Normal
Jonathan Mooney

Stuttering: A Life Bound Up in Words
Marty Jezer

There’s a Boy in Here
Judy Barron and Sean Barron

Thinking in Pictures and Other Reports from My Life with Autism
Temple Grandin

Too Late to Die Young
Harriet McBryde Johnson

What’s That Pig Outdoors?: A Memoir of Deafness
Henry Kisor

Library instruction Reboot: Signs of Success

By: Anne Behler

Thank you for following along with the Library Instruction Reboot! We have greatly appreciated our colleagues’ support, interest, and enthusiasm! In the most recent blog posts about the  project, Anne Behler discusses,”What does success look like?” and Emily Rimland and Jeff Knapp share the story of a class that used badges, paired with an in-person class, as an example of an
impactful teaching experience. As always, thank you for following along and we welcome your questions and comments!

What does success look like?


“They Shook my Hand”-

“They SHOOK MY HAND”

Tech Update – April 4 – Agenda

By: Melody Gehlbach

Reminder: Tech Update
Thursday, April 4, 2019
10 – 11 a.m.
Foster Auditorium

Agenda:
~ Enterprise Active Directory (EAD) update and next steps
~ Collections Reporting News: Now available: acquisitions data, historical data, new ways to interact with collections data, new tools for selectors and more…
~ University Libraries Listserv Updates
~ Common Phishing Attacks and How to Protect Against Them.

If you cannot participate in person please join us via MediaSite Live: http://live.libraries.psu.edu/
Once logged in, click “I-Tech” on the left nav bar in the Mediasite catalog.

Discovery Day Testimonial

By: Carmen Gass

Discovery Day 2018 photo: Board games

“I was curious on the library’s collection in board games. Although I am not a board game player, I totally enjoyed the game. This experience in the Discovery Day enticed my interest
in board games. Thank you for the Discovery Day to give us chances to explore and broaden our interests and views.” Fannie Mui, Monographs Cataloger

“This was my first Discovery Day, and it really didn’t disappoint! It was so great to spend the day learning alongside my colleagues, especially learning a new board game!”
Ally Laird, Open Publishing Program Specialist

“Even though I didn’t sign up for any DD classes, I looked at the schedule that day and found this board game class. I enjoyed it so much I started a group that met every 2 weeks over the summer to play games.” Heather Ross, Information Resources and Services Supervisor-Manager

Customer Service Tip: Mind your body language

By: Jeff Toister (submitted by Carmen Gass)

You’ve probably heard the saying, “It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.” Those are good words to live by and a hint at this week’s tip!

Use Positive Body Language
Have you ever heard a customer service rep say, “I’m sorry”, but you felt she wasn’t sorry at all?

This could be because her body language and tone didn’t convey the same message as her words. You can use body language and tone to convey a more positive message when serving a customer in person or over the phone.

Body Language
Positive body language makes you appear more friendly and puts your customer at ease. Here are a few body language tips.

* Smile. Some of us don’t smile naturally, so work on developing this habit.
* Avoid crossing your arms, stuffing your hands in your pockets, or other body positions that make you appear closed off and unapproachable.
* Stand up (or sit up) straight. This makes you look more friendly and also gives your voice a more pleasant, confident tone.

Tone
Speaking to your customers in a warm, pleasant tone will make it easier for them to relate to you. Your tone will adjust itself naturally if you follow the body language tips listed above.

Bonus Info: Have you ever heard that 55 percent of communication comes from our body language? This handy stat has been a staple of customer service training for years. It’s also totally false. Read more here.

Tech Tip: Pin Office 365 apps to the app launcher

By: Ryan Johnson

tech tip: app launcher screen shot

When you view the app launcher for the first time, you’ll see the core Office apps. If your favorites aren’t shown, you can add them—giving you quick access to the Office apps you use most frequently.

  • On the Office 365 navigation bar at the top of the screen, click the App launcher icon tech tip screen shot- waffle
  • Click All apps to view all of the Office 365 available to you.
  • Scroll through the list and locate the app you want to add to the app launcher.
  • Hover over the app to highlight it and then hover over or right-click the ellipsis that appears.
  • Choose Pin to launcher.

Events: April 1

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

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.

 

The Future is Now, exhibit graphic

 

Mar. 11-Sept. 26, 2019, Exhibit: “The Future is Now.” Diversity Studies Room, 203 Pattee Library. Highlights from current and forthcoming equipment and assistance available to support students’ academic success from the Libraries’ Media and Technology Support Services and Adaptive Technology and Services departments.

 

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, Apr. 1,What is Sacred in Food Sovereignty Research. Megan Griffin, 2018 recipient of the Whiting Indigenous Knowledge Research Award, will present her research in a talk that will explore the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of sovereignty in agro-biodiversity conservation research, and is the first in the series of Whiting Indigenous Knowledge Student Research presentations for spring 2019. 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, on the University Park campus.

Monday, Apr. 1, Edible Book Festival. Students, faculty and staff are invited to submit a book- or reading-themed cake to win a gift card. Edible book awards will be presented in a variety of categories. The public is encouraged to vote for their favorites and have a cupcake to help celebrate the event. Sign up at: http://tinyurl.com/psulibsediblebook

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 Documentaries. On 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.
Thursday, Apr. 25, MediaTech Open House. Stop in to see how MediaTech can help you; learn about the many equipment and technologies options are available for student use, plus register for prize giveaways. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Wagner Annex, behind Wagner Building on Curtain Road. For more info, call 814-863-3202.
 
Friday-Sunday, May 3-5: Spring Commencement, University Park.

Technology Expo 2019 graphic, Monday, May 6 11 A M to 3 P M Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in Innovation Park

 

Monday, May 6: Technology Expo 2019. The annual Technology Expo hosted by Media Technology Services and Support (MediaTech) to bring vendors and state-of-the-art technology equipment to regional I.T. specialists, facilities managers, and others interested in the latest multimedia and related devices and products available for educational, nonprofit and commercial use. 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Presidents Hall, The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, Innovation Park, State College, Pa. 

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.