Monthly Archives: June 2020

Data Days 2020 schedule announced

By: Lana Munip

The Assessment Department is excited to announce the lineup for Data Days 2020 on July 31:
https://staff.libraries.psu.edu/assessment/data-days-2020.

We have a full schedule of 13 presentations that together offer a glimpse into the breadth of research and data-related activities being conducted across the Libraries. The keynote address will be presented by Leo Lo, associate dean for Learning, Undergraduate Services and Commonwealth Campuses. No registration is required, and you can participate in some or all of the sessions depending on your interest (zoom links will be added closer to the date).

All sessions will be recorded for later viewing. If you have any questions, please email lana@psu.edu.

Tech Tip: Turn on live subtitles and captions in PowerPoint from Office 365

By: Ryan Johnson

Do you want to make your presentations better understood by everyone in the room? Some of your students may be a native speaker in another language or have difficulty hearing when you have a soft-spoken guest. Live Captions and Subtitles in PowerPoint can provide captions for your presentation in the same language you are speaking or translate it into another language in real-time!

How to turn on Live Captions & Subtitles:

  1. Open PowerPoint Presentation in PowerPoint on Office 365
  2. Navigate to the Slide Show menu.
  3. Select the Always Use Subtitles option.

Always use Subtitles screenshot

4. Choose where you would like the Subtitles to appear.

4. Choose where you would like the Subtitles to appear.

5. After selecting the location of the Subtitles, navigate to the Spoken Language options.
6. Select the Spoken Language from the menu of options.
7. Next, choose the Subtitle Language for the translation.

5. After selecting the location of the Subtitles, navigate to the Spoken Language options. 6. Select the Spoken Language from the menu of options. 7. Next, choose the Subtitle Language for the translation.

8. After selecting the Subtitle Language, test your presentation to make sure your microphone  is working. Start the slideshow and begin speaking.

Customer Service Tip: Taking the extra step to deliver amazing service

By: Shep Hyken (submitted by Carmen Gass)

Sometimes a little creativity and extra effort can make a big difference in the customer experience.

One of our followers, David Turk, shared an article from a recent issue of the New York Times about how a server at an upscale restaurant “astonished” a guest with an amazing display of
customer service. Read more here.

Events: June 29

Summer 2020
Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

UPDATE: In light of the University’s March 11 announcement regarding measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, nonessential events and meetings scheduled at University Libraries locations throughout the spring semester have been canceled, rescheduled or will be offered virtually. 

Earth Archives exhibition posterEXHIBITION: Earth Archives: Stories of Human Impact. To coincide with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Earth Archives explores the intersection of the environment, human activity, and the documentary record. Highlights of the virtual exhibition include representations of varied print, manuscript, and art works that invites the viewer to consider a range of environmental-related topics and will serve as a growing, centralized resource.

 

buttons from INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY: Highlights From the Ken Lawrence Collection

EXHIBITION: International Solidarity: Highlights from the Ken Lawrence Collection. A virtual look at the visual culture of political protest in the late 20th-century, to provoke thought about international solidarity in our own time, including human and civil rights, immigration, and independence movements.

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.

Virtual Peer-to-Peer Consultations

By: Claire Salvati

The Search Bar offers a suite of peer-to-peer undergraduate student services. Peer Research Consultants, Writing Tutors, and Tech Tutors support research, writing, and technology needs
through in-person (Fall & Spring) and virtual consultations. The services are a collaboration between the University Libraries, Penn State Learning, and Penn State Teaching and Learning with Technology.

We will be launching virtual drop-in consultations and tutoring sessions during the Summer Session II. For more information about how to connect with our services, please visit the Search Bar Services page or https://libraries.psu.edu/services/search-bar-services.

Customer Service Tip: How to be a hero to your customers

By: Jeff Toister (submitted by Carmen Gass)

Heroism is a misunderstood concept.

Countless customer service employees have told me they can’t be a hero. According to them, their job doesn’t allow it.

“I’m a cashier/receptionist/call center rep/etc.,” they say. “There’s hardly ever an opportunity to be a hero to customers. Most of my interactions are routine.”

Customer experience expert and keynote speaker, Adam Toporek, believes all customer service employees can be heroes. He’s the author of Be Your Customer’s Hero, a book that shows anyone how they can be a hero to their customers. Read more here.

Tech Tip: Restart your computer weekly

By: Ryan Johnson

restart computer screenshot

Something I tell all new hires ­– and try to remind all employees when I can – is to restart your machine on a weekly basis.  My general rule is to restart my machine when I’m done working for the week so I have a “fresh” machine when I log in on Monday.

Some of the benefits of restarting your machine include:

  1. Flushes RAM – RAM stands for Random Access Memory and is your computer’s main type of memory. It’s also known as volatile memory because it is constantly in flux. RAM handles short-term tasks and data. Therefore, when you restart your computer, you flush out all the random, unimportant, and temporary data bogging down your device.
  2. Speeds up Performance – Reboots are known to keep computers running quickly. By flushing the RAM, your computer can run a lot faster without all those temporary files piled onto your PC’s memory.
  3. Stops Memory Leaks – These occur when a program doesn’t close properly. Many programs borrow your computer’s RAM while open then return it when you close the program out. However, outdated, overused or glitch programs may end up forgetting to return that memory, resulting in memory leaks. Rebooting can help prevent memory leaks from occurring.
  4. Fixes Internet Connection – Sometimes computers lose their connection to the Internet and will need to be reset. The first plan of action is to restart your computer. Restarting will reset the connection.  However, please note that if restarting your computer doesn’t solve your connectivity issues, you may have to reboot your router or require further servicing.
  5. Bug Fixes – Computers that go without reboots for extended periods are prone to an assortment of irksome bugs and glitches. These annoyances include programs running at a slower pace than usual, unexpected system freeze-ups. Rebooting your computer will prevent the systems’ processors from becoming overloaded and provide them with ample time to recharge.
  6. Saves Time – Rebooting your computer is one of the quickest ways you can fix an error with your machine. By following our guide for when to restart, you can avoid sacrificing time out of your work day. You will also be saving time that could be potentially wasted on future device sluggishness or potential bugs.

 

Other Recommendations

  • Lock your computer every time you step away from your desk (for security reasons).
  • Sign out every time you are done working for the day. (Remember to save all your files before you do this).
  • Do not turn your computer off (It will allow your computer to get software updates and patches while you’re away).

Events: June 22

Summer 2020
Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

UPDATE: In light of the University’s March 11 announcement regarding measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, nonessential events and meetings scheduled at University Libraries locations throughout the spring semester have been canceled, rescheduled or will be offered virtually. 

Earth Archives exhibition posterEXHIBITION: Earth Archives: Stories of Human Impact. To coincide with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Earth Archives explores the intersection of the environment, human activity, and the documentary record. Highlights of the virtual exhibition include representations of varied print, manuscript, and art works that invites the viewer to consider a range of environmental-related topics and will serve as a growing, centralized resource.

 

buttons from INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY: Highlights From the Ken Lawrence Collection

EXHIBITION: International Solidarity: Highlights from the Ken Lawrence Collection. A virtual look at the visual culture of political protest in the late 20th-century, to provoke thought about international solidarity in our own time, including human and civil rights, immigration, and independence movements.

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.

Tech Tip: View Analytics in Zoom Recordings

By: Ryan Johnson

You can view analytics for a cloud recording that you have shared in Zoom.
To begin, sign in at psu.zoom.us and open the recordings tab.

View Analytics in Zoom Recordings

Use the drop-down menus at the top to specific a date range, then click Search
Select the recording you want to view analytics for and click on Recording Analytics.

Zoom alalytics screenshot

Click one of the tabs to view a summary or filter data by view/downloads.
You will see these metrics for the recording:

  • Views: The number of times that someone viewed the recording page. This metric does not track the number of times the recording was played. Also, this metric does not count unique page views. In other words, if someone reloads the page, it will count as another view.
  • Downloads: The number of times that someone clicked Download in the cloud recording page. This metric does not track the number of times that the download was completed. In other words, if the user clicked Download but didn’t finish downloading, it still counts toward this metric.

Events: June 15

Summer 2020
Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

UPDATE: In light of the University’s March 11 announcement regarding measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, nonessential events and meetings scheduled at University Libraries locations throughout the spring semester have been canceled, rescheduled or will be offered virtually. 

Earth Archives exhibition posterEXHIBITION: Earth Archives: Stories of Human Impact. To coincide with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Earth Archives explores the intersection of the environment, human activity, and the documentary record. Highlights of the virtual exhibition include representations of varied print, manuscript, and art works that invites the viewer to consider a range of environmental-related topics and will serve as a growing, centralized resource.

 

buttons from INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY: Highlights From the Ken Lawrence Collection

EXHIBITION: International Solidarity: Highlights from the Ken Lawrence Collection. A virtual look at the visual culture of political protest in the late 20th-century, to provoke thought about international solidarity in our own time, including human and civil rights, immigration, and independence movements.

Friday, June 19, Libraries Trivia Night: Jeopardy Style. Following a successful first event with more than 120 participants, the second Libraries Trivia Night starts at 7 p.m. EST via Zoom. Jeopardy-style trivia night will feature questions from Penn State’s founding years as a Farmer’s High School to present-day. Participants will answer two rounds of questions in this webinar-style Zoom event. Winners and prizes will be announced at the end.
event link: www.facebook.com/events/2585040521763069
Zoom Webinar: https://psu.zoom.us/j/93555956996

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.

Round 2 – Libraries Trivia Night: Jeopardy Style

By: Sarah Bacon

Trivia night graphic

Following a successful first event with more than 120 participants, the second Libraries Trivia Night (Jeopardy Style) will be getting underway at 7 p.m. EST on Friday, June 19.

Important Links:
Facebook event link: www.facebook.com/events/2585040521763069
Zoom Webinar: https://psu.zoom.us/j/93555956996

You shared your feedback after the first trivia night and we listened. The event kicks off later, and we are using a new trivia platform with live leader board updates to enhance the
friendly and competitive spirit.

The Libraries’ Development and Alumni Relations team welcomes its 2019 intern Nick Karafilis (’19 H&HD, A&A) as the evening’s co-host. Nick is also the curator of the Penn State-themed questions across multiple categories.

The Jeopardy-style trivia night will feature questions from Penn State’s founding years as a Farmer’s High School to present-day. Participants will answer two rounds of questions in this webinar-style Zoom event. Winners and prizes will be announced at the end.

We hope you can join us for a fun night on the 19th! No studying required.

All our best to you,  the Libraries Trivia Night team #psulibstrivia

p.s. – we encourage you to sign on a few minutes early to get situated and ready to play.

Tech Tip: Pop out a chat in Teams

By: Ryan Johnson

You can instantly pop out your one-on-one or group chat into a separate window. Then, resize, reposition, or close the window as you wish. It’s a great way to get a lot done when you’re in a meeting or in a call.  FYI: You can pop out multiple conversations, but not the same chat twice.

Note: The Pop out chat feature is currently available in the desktop app for Windows and Mac only. It is not yet supported for Teams on the web or mobile. 

You have got a few options to pop out a chat in Teams. Take a look at these different methods.

From the chat list

Select Chat on the left side of Teams to open the chat list. Find the name of the chat you want. Then, select More options  > Pop out chat . Or, just double-click the chat name and you’ll see a new pop out chat window.

Teams chat screen shot

By hovering over a chat

When you hover over one of your chats, you’ll see Pop out chat  . Choose that option and a new pop out chat window will open.
Teams chat screenshot for tech tip

From the chat itself

Go to the top right corner of the chat and select Pop out chat.

Teams screenshot for tech tip

From a profile picture

Double-click the profile picture of the person you want to have a conversation with and you’re in a new window!

Events: June 8

Summer 2020
Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

UPDATE: In light of the University’s March 11 announcement regarding measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, nonessential events and meetings scheduled at University Libraries locations throughout the spring semester have been canceled, rescheduled or will be offered virtually. 

Earth Archives exhibition posterEXHIBITION: Earth Archives: Stories of Human Impact. To coincide with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Earth Archives explores the intersection of the environment, human activity, and the documentary record. Highlights of the virtual exhibition include representations of varied print, manuscript, and art works that invites the viewer to consider a range of environmental-related topics and will serve as a growing, centralized resource.

 

buttons from INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY: Highlights From the Ken Lawrence Collection

EXHIBITION: International Solidarity: Highlights from the Ken Lawrence Collection. A virtual look at the visual culture of political protest in the late 20th-century, to provoke thought about international solidarity in our own time, including human and civil rights, immigration, and independence movements.

 

Wednesdays, Apr. 22-June 10, Remote Research Webinar Series. Free webinars to assist Penn State researchers with shifting their research from onsite to offsite. The series highlights various University services and infrastructure to support remote research. All sessions will be held via Zoom. Additional resources for remote research may be found at https://remoteresearch.psu.edu.

Thursdays, Apr. 23-June 4, Research Data Skills for Graduate Students. Learn more about and improve skills in the areas of data management, data analysis, data visualization and data publishing. in collaboration with the Institutes of Energy and the Environment, the free virtual seminars highlight essential data skills that graduate students can utilize throughout the research data life cycle. All sessions begin at 3 p.m. Advance registration is required.

Friday, June 19, Libraries Trivia Night: Jeopardy Style. Following a successful first event with more than 120 participants, the second Libraries Trivia Night starts at 7 p.m. EST via Zoom. Jeopardy-style trivia night will feature questions from Penn State’s founding years as a Farmer’s High School to present-day. Participants will answer two rounds of questions in this webinar-style Zoom event. Winners and prizes will be announced at the end.
event link: www.facebook.com/events/2585040521763069
Zoom Webinar: https://psu.zoom.us/j/93555956996

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: The incomplete answer

By: Shep Hyken (submitted by Carmen Gass)

I recently wrote about the expected experiences gap, where the customers’ expectations—based on the experiences they have with their favorite companies—are higher than what they receive from the company they are currently doing business with.

We heard from one of our Shepard Letter subscribers, Jared Lender, who gave us another example of a gap, one that results from incomplete information. In other words, it’s the gap
between the answer the customer received the first time they asked and the answer they should have received. Read more here.

Events: June 1

Summer 2020
Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

UPDATE: In light of the University’s March 11 announcement regarding measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, nonessential events and meetings scheduled at University Libraries locations throughout the spring semester have been canceled, rescheduled or will be offered virtually. 

Earth Archives exhibition posterEXHIBITION: Earth Archives: Stories of Human Impact. To coincide with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Earth Archives explores the intersection of the environment, human activity, and the documentary record. Highlights of the virtual exhibition include representations of varied print, manuscript, and art works that invites the viewer to consider a range of environmental-related topics and will serve as a growing, centralized resource.

 

buttons from INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY: Highlights From the Ken Lawrence Collection

EXHIBITION: International Solidarity: Highlights from the Ken Lawrence Collection. A virtual look at the visual culture of political protest in the late 20th-century, to provoke thought about international solidarity in our own time, including human and civil rights, immigration, and independence movements.

 

Wednesdays, Apr. 22-June 10, Remote Research Webinar Series. Free webinars to assist Penn State researchers with shifting their research from onsite to offsite. The series highlights various University services and infrastructure to support remote research. All sessions will be held via Zoom. Additional resources for remote research may be found at https://remoteresearch.psu.edu.

Thursdays, Apr. 23-June 4, Research Data Skills for Graduate Students. Learn more about and improve skills in the areas of data management, data analysis, data visualization and data publishing. in collaboration with the Institutes of Energy and the Environment, the free virtual seminars highlight essential data skills that graduate students can utilize throughout the research data life cycle.All sessions begin at 3 p.m. Advance registration is required.

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.