Monthly Archives: January 2021

All Staff Conference 2021

Connection • Collaboration • Community
Save the Date: The All Staff Conference is back and we are looking for presenters!

We are seeking proposal submissions from staff members interested in presenting a session at the All Staff Conference on Wednesday and Thursday, June 2 and 3, 2021. Your ideas should be focused on Libraries’ or University initiatives to help your colleagues gain or improve job-related knowledge/skills, build relationships and rapport, and/or provide input other relevant topics.

If you were scheduled to be a 2020 presenter, no need to respond.  We will contact you directly.

Please note an in-person conference is subject to COVID-19 restrictions. Please check our webpage for the latest updates 2021 All Staff Conference. Please submit your proposal by completing the form here by February 12, 2021.

If you have any questions, please email us: 2021Staffconference@psu.edu

The Pennsylvania State University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact Carmen Gass (crg177@psu.edu) in advance of your participation.

Thank you,

All Staff Conference 2021 Committee

 

Register for the 2021 All Staff Conference

all staff graphic

It is time to register for the 2021 All Staff Conference, which will be held on June 2nd and 3rd at the Penn Stater.  Please complete the survey to register by April 23. We hope to see you there! Please note an in-person conference is subject to COVID-19 restrictions.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Penn Stater for the night of June 2nd for traveling Attendees needing overnight accommodations. To reserve a room, you must call the Penn Stater at 1-800-233-7505 by March 1st. Please reference Group Code (LIBR21P) and say that the stay should be direct billed to the University Libraries. You will be asked to supply a personal credit card for incidentals.  If this is a problem or you need any assistance, please contact Carmen Gass (crg177@psu.edu).

The All Staff Conference Planning Committee would like to also remind every full-time, part-time, and technical services staff who wish to attend that they have to register as well as fill out a travel request form—even those at University Park. Please note that this is new. Please take a look at the sample forms (you can download and open with your browser to edit the form):

  1. Travel form for solo drivers using personal vehicle
  2. Travel form for solo drivers using a Fleet vehicle
  3. Travel form for driving with coworkers (you are the driver)
  4. Travel form for riding with coworkers
  5. Travel form for University Park staff

Questions about the travel request forms or completed forms can be directed to ul-ulibs-travel-request@psu.edu. For more information on the travel request forms see the 2021 All Staff Conference FAQ or previous blog posts.

For more information, please check out the 2021 All Staff Conference intranet page.

Thank you,

2021 All Staff Conference Committee

Tech Tip: The Box migration has begun. What you need to know!

By: Ryan Johnson

Box/OneDrive logo

The migration will occur in 2 phases.  The First phase has begun and could last for several weeks.

During this phase you can:

Phase 1

  • Continue to access, update, and save your files in Box.
  • Upload or create new documents and folders in Box.
  • Add new collaborators to your files and folders.

NOTE: You should not remove collaborators or change the permissions of existing collaborators once Phase 1 begins.

In Phase 1 you should not:

  • Access your migrated data in OneDrive.
  • Move your files stored within Box folders to new locations. Any changes to your Box folder structure can result in files being duplicated or missed entirely during migration.
  • Delete files from Box. The file may have already been copied to OneDrive and will still be included in the migration process.
  • Change the names of files or folders in Box. This potentially creates two versions of the file or folder that will both be migrated to OneDrive.

Once Phase 1 is complete, you must stop making changes to existing Box files and stop creating new files. You will be notified by Library Strategic Technologies when Phase 1 is complete and when Phase 2 is scheduled to begin.

Box Sync and Box Drive – It is recommended that you uninstall Box Sync and Box Drive prior to the final migration of your data in Phase 2 to avoid potential errors. Please work with your local IT staff if you do not have admin rights to your computer.

Phase 2

Phase 2 is the final phase of your data migration and typically begins near the end of your migration window. You will receive an email from your Library Strategic Technologies indicating when Phase 2 of your migration is beginning and letting you know how to proceed during this phase.

During this phase, the migration process is verifying that it has copied all your Box files and has the latest version of each file. You will need to avoid accessing your files during Phase 2 to ensure that the migration process completes successfully.

In Phase 2, you should:

  • Wait for the email confirming that your files have finished migrating.

In Phase 2, you should not:

  • Access your migrated data in OneDrive.
  • Access or make changes to your files or folders in Box.

Following migration, you will still be able to access, view, modify, save, or download your files in Box until September 2021. However, any changes made to your files in Box by you or your collaborators will not be migrated to OneDrive and will not be reflected in the version of that file in OneDrive.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact the Libraries Helpdesk.

All Staff Conference: Call for presenters

Libraries' All-Staff Conference 2021 graphic

All Staff Conference 2021
Connection • Collaboration • Community

Save the Date: The All Staff Conference is back and we are looking for presenters!
We are seeking proposal submissions from staff members interested in presenting a session at the All Staff Conference on Wednesday and Thursday, June 2 and 3, 2021. Your ideas should be focused on Libraries’ or University initiatives to help your colleagues gain or improve job-related knowledge/skills, build relationships and rapport, and/or provide input other relevant topics.

If you were scheduled to be a 2020 presenter, no need to respond.  We will contact you directly.

Please note an in-person conference is subject to COVID-19 restrictions. Please check our webpage for the latest updates 2021 All Staff Conference. Please submit your proposal by completing the form here by February 12, 2021.

If you have any questions, please email us: 2021Staffconference@psu.edu

The Pennsylvania State University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact Carmen Gass (crg177@psu.edu) in advance of your participation.

Thank you,  All Staff Conference 2021 Committee

Now accepting nominations for Outstanding Student Employee Awards

By Jeffrey Stainbrook
for University Libraries Outstanding Student Employee Award Committee

Do you know of a student employee who consistently exhibits a deep understanding of the library while providing excellent patron service? Do you work with a student employee who is
passionate about their responsibilities, and often provides constructive feedback? Is there a student employee who produces quality work, and is viewed as a leader among their peers and
colleagues?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, the Penn State Libraries wants to celebrate the student’s accomplishments and achievements! Nomination letters for the Libraries’ Outstanding
Student Employee Award are being accepted until Friday, March 12, 2021 (by 5 P.M.).

Outstanding Student Employee Award Categories:
Outstanding Service – Recognizes a student who exceeds expectations in library customer service. This individual displays a positive and empathetic attitude, going above and beyond their assigned responsibilities by contributing their time, energy, and talents to further the growth and development of the University Libraries’ service.

Libraries’ Outreach – Recognizes a student that has been successful in special efforts or initiatives that create, convey, and enhance knowledge and communication between library
departments, the University, and beyond.

Libraries’ Innovation – Recognizes a student that has displayed a significant level of innovation and creativity. The recipient should demonstrate initiative and insight through technology, innovative ideas, or other creative projects.

Student Leadership – Recognizes a student who demonstrates a commitment to leadership amongst their peers and various library departments. The recipient will be an imaginative leader dedicated to supporting and promoting the values of University Libraries.

For information concerning eligibility, timeline, criteria, the nomination process, and more, please visit the Libraries’ Outstanding Student Employee Awards Intranet page.

We look forward to every nomination, and to celebrating each and every student for their dedication to the Libraries, their academics, and to the ethos of Penn State University.

Sincerely,
The 2021 Awards Committee:
Paul Burnell, co-chair
Danica White, co-chair
Alexandra Kowsh, Branch SAT representative
Melissa Millar, CCL SAT representative
James Harlan
Rob Peterson
Jeffrey Stainbrook

Save the Date: 2021 Libraries Diversity Week

By: Jackie Dillon-Fast
on Behalf of University Libraries’ Diversity Committee

Coming this Spring — University Libraries Diversity Week!
The Diversity Committee is in the very early stages of planning a week in May of webinars, workshops, and speakers, all virtual and on a wide variety of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and
Accessibility topics. Based on your feedback about Zoom fatigue, we spread out the usual full day of programming across an entire week. Watch this space and your inbox for more information.

If you have ideas for programming, wish to propose a presentation or want to help out let us know. Contacts: Diversity Week co-chairs Linda Klimczyk (lgk1) or Jackie Dillon-Fast (jud18).”

Save the Date: 2021 All Staff Conference

Libraries' All-Staff Conference 2021 graphic

2021 All Staff Conference
June 2-3, 2021
The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center

The 2021 All Staff Conference will provide opportunities for all Libraries staff (full-time, part-
time, and technical service) to gain or improve job-related knowledge or skills, build
relationships and rapport, and provide input on important matters and concerns.

Please note an in-person conference is subject to COVID-19 restrictions. Please check our
web page for the latest updates: 2021 All Staff Conference

Questions? Contact the All-Staff Conference Committee: 2021Staffconference@psu.edu

The Pennsylvania State University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its
programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have
questions about the physical access provided, please contact Carmen Gass (crg177@psu.edu) in
advance of your participation.

Tech Tip: Shared with You in OneDrive (Not available in File Explorer)

By: Ryan Johnson

After the Box to OneDrive Migration, any files shared with you will appear in the Shared-> Shared with you section of OneDrive.

'Shared with you' screenshot for tech tip

Many faculty and Staff like using File Explorer to view their files in OneDrive.  However, you can’t sync Shared With You and Individual files shared with you in OneDrive in File Explorer. These files are only available in OneDrive on the web.

Note: You can sync to file explorer whole folders shared with you.

Map scan request link in the catalog

By: Heather Ross

A recent enhancement to the catalog now allows anyone to request scans for maps that do not circulate from the Donald W. Hamer Center for Maps and Geospatial Information collection. All
materials in this collection older than 1960 do not circulate.

During COVID, the center is not open for patrons to browse the collection. To make these items accessible a link to a map scan request form has been added to these records in the catalog. The map scan form has pricing for external patrons and a note that fees are waived for PSU faculty, staff and students. To see this in action, you can view it on this record.

PSU patrons can continue to request materials newer than 1960 through I WANT IT. The link to the map scan request form will remain in the item record after COVID. Many thanks to Ruth Kitchin Tillman and her team for this enhancement. Please direct any questions to Heather Ross.

Getting to Know You: Lauren Everett

By: Gale Biddle

The “Getting to Know You” articles have focused on the full-time staff, faculty, and administration of the Libraries. But, there is an important group that has been overlooked: the
work-study and part-time employees. The work-study and part-time employees are often the unsung heroes of the Libraries. I would like to give special thanks to Carmen Gass for suggesting them for the articles! The first person I am so happy to introduce you to is Lauren Everett, a work-study student and part-time evening supervisor at Penn State Altoona.

Lauren Everett headshot with CosmoLauren was born and raised in Duncansville, Pennsylvania. She attended school at Hollidaysburg, and one of her favorite memories is riding her bike to her elementary school just a couple of blocks from her home. She has 2 sisters, Lindsey, 19, and Bridgett, 17, and one brother, Liam, 14. As Lauren explains, they have much in common, are quite close, and enjoy playing games together.

With English as her major and professional writing as her minor, Lauren anticipates becoming a creative writer after she graduates. To support herself until her writing career takes flight, she first plans to go to graduate school and work in library archives. She discovered her interest in archives when she decided to work with an undergraduate research program transcribing letters and documents. She enjoys solving the puzzles in the context of the transcriptions and connecting the stories together.

When you meet Lauren, your first impression might be that she’s someone who is quite reserved. What you might be surprised to find out is that she listens to Emo punk bands, like My Chemical Romance, and loves reading, writing, and watching anything in the horror genre. She enjoys crafting, sewing, cross-stitching, knitting (which she learned from her grandmother), and crocheting (which she taught herself by watching YouTube videos). Her plan is to hand make items to give to the professors who had special meaning to her during her college career. An animal lover, Lauren also loves to care for her two birds: Philly, a zebra finch, and Cosmo, a cockatiel. Lauren will be graduating this Spring semester. During her time here, this is what she says she’s loved about Penn State:

“What I love most about attending Penn State is the community I have been embraced into; many of my English classmates are very supportive and positive, and I have met many professors who have gotten me opportunities that helped me make decisions about my future career.”

I wish everyone could have the chance to have a conversation with Lauren. I’m not sure I’ve been able to accurately describe just how impressive she is as a person, especially for her age.
She has a maturity beyond her years. She’s incredibly intelligent, talented, kind, and generous. I have no doubt she will accomplish great things.

10 Random Questions

1. What flavor of ice cream best describes you? Neapolitan because depending on the day, I’m able to play the role for what people need.
2. Favorite Color? Purple
3. What song do you never get tired of hearing? “Never Break My Stride” by Matthew Wilder
4. You have $100 to spend, all your friends are busy, and you have a free afternoon. What do you do? Go to Barnes and Noble and Panera
5. Would you rather visit the past or the future? Past
6. What popular trend most annoys you? How the vernacular is going and the obsession with vanity
7. Dream job(s)? Author, librarian in a library that still practices the ancient custom of chaining books to the shelves, or playing the organ in a large cathedral
8. Last show you binge watched? Moonbase 8
9. Favorite cereal? Capt’n Crunch with Berries
10. 4 people you would put on your version of Mt. Rushmore? Stephen King, Benedict Cumberbatch, Gerard from My Chemical Romance, and Robin Williams

Tech Tip: Transferring ownership of files and folders in Box from someone no longer at Penn State

By: Ryan Johnson

In preparing files and folders for migration from Box to Office 365, units may encounter situations where a file or folder owner is no longer at the University. This article details the steps a unit can take to transfer ownership of files and folders from an owner that has left the University to another so that content can migrate properly and still be accessible to the unit.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Create a list of file and folder names to be moved.
    • Include the original file or folder owner and the new owner for each file or folder.
  2. Grant the new owner permission to access the files to be moved if they do not already have permission to access those files.
  3. Contact your unit’s Human Resources (HR) representative to request written (email) approval for the ownership transfer.
  4. Once you receive HR approval, contact the IT Service Desk (ITSD) to request the ownership transfer.
  5. The ITSD will create a request in ServiceNow and verify the file and folder list and HR approval you provide.
  6. Once the ITSD verifies all information, they will initiate the ownership transfer.
  7. You will receive a ServiceNow ticket resolution email when the ownership transfer is complete.
  8. Verify that the ownership transfer was successful for the files and folders.
  9. Contact the ITSD with any questions or issues.