Author Archives: Jill Shockey

Pattee Library, Paterno Library initiate pilot of large digital screens

vertical image of large digital screen showing library information including upcoming events, available computers, and today and tomorrow's hours

The first phase of the digital signage pilot program includes static sign information with frequently refreshed computer availability and time and weather data.

A Digital Signage task force chaired by Kimlyn Patishnock, senior director of administrative and financial services, recently has been examining the University Libraries’ next phase of digital signage.

A pilot program began at the start of the Fall 2017 semester with the installation of two large, freestanding digital screens at the two main entrances of Pattee Library and Paterno Library near each welcome desk.

Each of the screens is installed vertically in orientation and displays the current time, weather information, the current day and next day’s hours of operation, computer availability by floor, as well as brief information about next five library events.

Prior to the screens’ rollout and screen content’s design, the task force sought user experience research from the Libraries’ Assessment Department.

The screens are touchscreen capable, and future phases of design during the pilot will explore interactive uses of the screen and its information.

 

CANCELED: Meet ‘Lair of the Lion’ authors Lee Stout and Harry West at Fan Fest

Update, Sept. 13: Unfortunately, the Fan Fest event has been canceled


Football fans who will be attending the Sept. 16 game against Georgia State University are able to meet Lee Stout and Harry H. West, authors of Lair of the Lion: A History of Beaver Stadium, at the PSU Press Fan Fest tent.

book cover, title "Lair of the Lion: A History of Beaver Stadium," by Lee Stout and Harry H. WestFeaturing more than 200 photos, Lair of the Lion is the first-ever history of the home of the Nittany Lions. It includes a look at the current stadium’s predecessors, “Old” Beaver Field, built in 1893 on a site northeast of Old Main, and “New” Beaver Field, built on the northwest corner of campus in 1909. The book, written by two longtime Penn Staters, Librarian Emeritus Lee Stout and Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering Harry H. West, was published in July by Penn State University Press.

Stout and West will be available to meet people and sign copies of the book from 5:00-6:30 p.m. on Sept. 16.

Lair of the Lion is available online from psupress.org, or at the following local State College retailers: Ace Hardware, The Corner Room, The Family Clothesline, Harper’s, Lion’s Pride, McLanahan’s Penn State Room, Old State Clothing, Rapid Transit Sports, The Student Book Store, and the Tavern Restaurant.

– submitted by Cate Fricke

Libraries receives Gen. Beaver’s Civil War PA 148th regiment history volume

horizontal photo of four women standing behind rare book displayed on podium

Athena Jackson, Dorothy Foehr Huck Chair and Head of Special Collections (far left), and Jackie Esposito, University archivist (far right), receive Gen. James A. Beaver’s “The Story of our Regiment: A History of the 148th Pennsylvania Volunteers” from sisters Stephanie Dinges Bender and Cathy Dinges Torsell.

Sisters Stephanie Dinges Bender and Cathy Dinges Torsell presented a unique copy of Gen. James A. Beaver’s “The Story of our Regiment: A History of the 148th Pennsylvania Volunteers” to the Special Collections Library on Wednesday, Aug. 9. The item was donated from the estate of their parents, Robert H. and Edith Hopple Dinges of Bellefonte, Pa.

This volume of the regimental history was presented by Gen. Beaver to his wife, Mary McAllister Beaver, and was inscribed “To my dear wife, Mary McAllister Beaver, With the love of her husband James A. Beaver, Bellefonte, Pa 8 April 1905.”

In addition to serving in the U.S. Civil War as Commander of the 148th Pennsylvania Volunteers, Beaver was President of the Penn State Board of Trustees for two terms (1874-1882 and 1898-1914), acting President of the College from 19096 to 1908 and is the namesake for the University’s football stadium. Beaver also served the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as its 20th Governor (1887-1891).

For additional information about this unique donation, contact the Eberly Family Special Collections Library at ul-spcolref@lists.psu.edu or 814-865-1793.

 

Technical Services Department celebrates annual service awards

group photo with 32 people standing on steps outside library; text on photo: "Penn State University Libraries Tech Services Department Group Photo - 2017"

Members of the Department gathered on July 13 to honor colleagues for many
years of service to the University Libraries:

John Hamilton – 30 years; Sharon Smith – 30 years; Valerie Allen – 25 years;
Rob Freeborn – 20 years; Jaime Jamison – 15 years; Sara Hassinger -10 years;
Bei Jiang – 10 years; Steve Kroger – 10 years; Anne Belden – 5 years; Leah
Oakes – 5 years; Kim Warren – 5 years.

We thank them for all that they do to acquire and make our research
collections discoverable!

– submitted by Ann Copeland

Fall 2017 map and geospatial sessions

Fall 2017 Map and Geospatial Sessions

This Fall 2017, four open map and geospatial sessions will be offered to Penn State students (undergraduate and graduate), staff, faculty and beyond around foundational geospatial topics. Please share with associated departments as we encourage participation across disciplines and campus locations. All sessions have in-person offerings, along with an available remote viewing option using Zoom. In addition to these sessions, individualized and group research consultations are available.

Geospatial Data: Diving into library resources and beyond
Tuesday, Oct. 10, 3:30 -4:30 p.m., 211A Pattee Library

This session will provide an overview of geospatial data available from library databases, PolicyMap, SimplyAnalytics, Social Explorer, and Data-Planet. Additional United States and International organizations will be highlighted from maps and geospatial guides, and related resources to guide the user in locating geospatial data relevant to multiple disciplines. Participants will be encouraged to create their own map visualizations with mapping applications during the session.

Geospatial Exploration: Explore mapping and location topics and applications
Tuesday, Oct. 17, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 211A Pattee Library

This session provides an overview of geographic information systems (GIS) concepts relevant to applying geospatial components in projects. This session will provide an introduction to geospatial data, introductory topics of projects, data manipulation, and geoprocessing techniques

Geospatial Analysis: Introduction to working with location data and demographic data
Tuesday, Oct. 24, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 302 Paterno Library

This session will provide an introduction to using ArcMap software to work with location data and demographic data. This session will work with sample data; however, participants are encouraged to consider and/or use their own data based on research, work, and/or teaching interests. This session will demonstrate general processes of working with location-based data, which may require additional instruction and follow-up in specific contexts, geographic regions, and disciplines.

Geospatial Online: Overview of Online mapping options (ArcGIS Online and more)
Tuesday, Oct. 31, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Location: 211A Pattee Library

This session provides an introduction to ArcGIS Online, a web mapping application which can be used to communicate many spatial research interests across the disciplines. Participants will explore applications created with ArcGIS Online and work with a sample dataset for Centre County, PA to learn the functionality of ArcGIS Online web maps and applications.

– submitted by Tara LaLonde, GIS Specialist, Donald W. Hamer Center for Maps and Geospatial Information

 

Customer service tip of the week: Make directions easy to follow

by Carmen Gass

Shared from Jeff Toister of Toister Performance Solutions, Inc.:

It shouldn’t be hard to do business with your company. This week’s tip is
about making things easier for your customers.

Make Directions Easy to Follow

Many of us have to give driving directions to a customer or show customers
how to walk to a particular place within our store, restaurant, or hotel.
Here are two great ways to do that.

Driving Directions
Verbal directions can get confusing after three steps, so offer your
customers a map or set of written directions instead. This is very helpful
even if you have to draw a map or write down the turns on a piece of paper.
Make sure you provide some visual cues to help your customers know they are
on track, such as “You’ll see a gas station on the right. That’s Ash street –
turn right there.”

Walking Directions
Whenever possible, walk your customer to their destination yourself so they
won’t get lost and you can offer extra assistance. If you can’t do this, give
them clear, concise directions and visual cues just like you would if they
were driving. Write it down if it takes more than three steps so your
customer doesn’t get confused! Bonus Info: One challenge with verbal-only
directions is that information can quickly fade from our short-term memory. Take
this fun challenge (https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/stm0.html) to see.

Tech Tip: How to enroll a new smartphone in 2FA

by Ryan Johnson

How to Enroll a New Smartphone in 2FA

Follow the instructions below if you get a new smartphone and need to reinstall 2FA:

  1. Install the Duo app on your new phone from your app store.
  2. Login to psu.edu on your computer.
  3. Select Re-activate Duo Mobile on the Manage Device Screen for your mobile device.
  4. Open the Duo App on your phone and select Next on the Reactivate Duo Mobile screen.
  5. Scan the code that appears on your computer with your phone.

Your smartphone will be setup and ready to go for 2FA.

 

Events: Sept. 13

Fall 2017
Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

horizontal exhibit graphic for The Painted Photograph: Selections from the B & H Henisch Photo-History Collection, extended through September 30, 2017, room 201A Pattee Library, displays five black-and-white historic photo portraits and their encased frames

 

Extended! Now through Saturday, Sept. 30, “The Painted Photograph: Selections from the B. & H. Henisch Photo-History Collection exhibit,” Pattee Library operating hours, Paterno Family Reading Room, 201A Pattee Library, University Park.

 

 

Tuesday–Friday, Sept. 12-15: Penn State Fall Career Days, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Bryce Jordan Center, University Park.

Thursday–Friday, Sept. 14-15: Library Development Board Fall Committee Meetings, Pattee Library and Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, Sept. 14: Libraries Donor Reception and Celebration, 5:30-8 p.m., by invitation, Paterno Family Humanities Reading Room will be closed prior to and following event, University Park.

Friday, Sept. 15-Sunday, Oct. 15: Hispanic Heritage Month, United States.

Monday–Wednesday, Sept. 18-20: 2nd World Open Educational Resources (OER) Congress, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Tuesday, Sept. 19: “Into the Abode of Death,” Penn State Reads-affiliated talk by global explorer Mark Evans, Foster Auditorium, 4-7 p.m., 102 Paterno Library, University Park, and livestreamed via Mediasite Live.

Sept. 20-22: Rosh Hashanah.

Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 21-30: Navaratri.

Sept. 22-24: Family Weekend, Penn State Altoona.

Thursday, Sept. 28: Lynd Ward Prize event honoring author of Rolling Blackouts, Sarah Glidden, 5:30-8 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park and livestreamed via Mediasite Live.

Saturday, Sept. 30: Yom Kippur.

Wednesday, Oct. 4: Docunight: Iran via Documentaries, 7 p.m. Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Tuesday, Oct. 10: Geospatial Data: Diving into library resources and beyond, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 211A Pattee Library and online via Zoom.

Wednesday, Oct. 11: University Libraries 25-Year Service Awards, 3:30-4:30 p.m.,Foster Auditorium and/or Mann Assembly Room, 102/103 Paterno Library, University Park, final location to be determined. 

Wednesday, Oct. 11: National Coming Out Day, part of National Coming Out Week at Penn State, details TBA.

Thursday, Oct. 12: Lee Bennett Hopkins Award event honoring authors Jorge Argueta (winner) & Nikki Grimes (honor winner), hosted by Pennsylvania Center for the Book, Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Friday–Sunday, Oct. 13-15: Parents and Families Weekend, University Park.

Tuesday, Oct. 17: Geospatial Exploration: Explore mapping and location topics and applications, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 211A Pattee Library and online via Zoom.

Wednesday, Oct. 18: Promotion and Tenure Recognition Reception, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Paterno Family Humanities Reading Room, University Park.

Wednesday, Oct. 18: Tech Update, by I-Tech, 2-3 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, Oct. 19: Diwali, Hindu festival of lights, celebrated.

Tuesday, Oct. 24: Geospatial Analysis:Introduction to working with location data and demographic data, 3:30-4:30 p.m., 302 Paterno Library and online via Zoom.

Wednesday, Oct. 25: “What the Libraries Can Do for You,” library resources talk for Penn State faculty and staff, Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University and livestreamed via Mediasite Live.

Tuesday, Oct. 31: Geospatial Online: Overview of Online mapping options (ArcGIS Online and more)3:30-4:30 p.m., 211A Pattee Library and online via Zoom.

Wednesday, Nov. 1: Docunight: Iran via Documentaries, 7 p.m. Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Sunday–Sunday, Nov. 5-12: Penn State Military Appreciation Week and Homecoming Week.

Monday, Nov. 6–Saturday, Dec. 16: NLM/NIH Traveling Exhibit: Opening Doors: Contemporary African American Surgeons, Life Sciences Library, 4th floor Paterno Library.

Saturday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day.

Monday–Friday, Nov. 13-17: International Education Week, details TBA.

Tuesday, Nov. 14: Penn State GIS Day, 1:30-5 p.m. speakers and lightning talks with 9 a.m.-5 p.m. poster display, Pattee Library and Paterno Library, University Park.

Nov. 19-25: Thanksgiving week break, no classes Nov. 20-24.

Thursday, Nov. 23: Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Wednesday, Dec. 6: Docunight: Iran via Documentaries, 7 p.m. Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Friday, Dec. 8: Last day of fall classes. 

Sunday–Tuesday, Dec. 10-12: De-Stress Fest, University Park locations.

Tuesday, Dec. 12: Tech Update, by I-Tech, 10-11 a.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Tuesday–Wednesday, Dec. 12-20: Hanukkah.

Saturday, Dec. 16: Fall commencement, University Park and other Penn State campuses; details and speaker information at multiple Penn State campuses TBA in December.

Please submit event information — and all Library News submissions — to Public Relations and Marketing via the Library News submission form.

LEAP outreach recap

Learning Edge Academic Program, or LEAP, students wrapped up finals on August 11 at University Park. This summer, the Libraries hosted a variety of outreach events for these students. It was a summer of experimentation, and we wanted to give you a recap on how it all went beyond the library instruction many LEAP “prides” had.

We kicked off this program by training the LEAP mentors to give tours of Pattee Library and Paterno Library. We saw many mentors give the tours throughout the summer and others paired up with their LEAP librarian for the tour. Thanks to those who collaborated or worked with the mentors to make sure our LEAP students had a tour of our spaces.

Along with the tours, we also hosted a LEAP Escape Room experience. We saw 30 students, all who completed the library challenge in under an hour. This event was meant to help guide the students through the library and complement our Open House event. In this challenge, they had to find a book in the stacks, use a library database, find a LibGuide, and discover that you can’t go from Pattee to Paterno unless you’re on the first floor. We received good feedback on the challenge and hope to revise the experience for future outreach events.

Finally, for six weeks, we hosted Pop-Up Library events in Redifer Commons. We had items circulate from collections, featured five subject areas, and had engaging conversations with students. It was fun to showcase the library in the residence halls and see some familiar faces week after week. Below is an image of our set up:

horizontal interior photo of table covered with display of library books

The LEAP Pop-Up Library appeared weekly during summer dinner hours in South Halls’ Redifer Commons.

We’d like to thank the following individuals for their help throughout the summer with these various LEAP outreach events; we couldn’t have done it without your help:

•        Anne Behler
•        Trace Brown
•        Jose Guerrero
•        Mark Homan
•        Janet Hughes
•        Kelly Kaiserian
•        Amanda Maple
•        Rebecca Miller
•        Julie Porterfield
•        Lauren Reiter
•        Heather Ross
•        Karla Schmidt
•        Katelyn Towns
•        Rachel White
•        Ali Zawoyski
•        PRaM’s marketing and social media expertise

– submitted by Hailley Fargo and Megan Gilpin

Changes to the COP Leadership Group membership

The University Libraries’ Community of Practice (COP) leadership team has changed membership for the 2017-2018 year. Anne Behler has handed the reins to Erin Burns, who will serve as team leader from 2017 to 2019.

Members of the leadership team include Hailley Fargo, Ben Hoover, Bernadette Lear, Andrew Marshall, Rebecca Miller, Rebecca Peterson, Beth Seyala, Tig Warluft, and Alessia Zanin-Yost.

The Community of Practice is a discussion-driven group for matters of instruction. We hold various Zoom sessions on specific instructional topics, listserv discussions on current instruction-related articles, and plan the COP annual workshop. We also have a few members of the Instruction Steering Committee working with us (Tig, Bernadette, and Rebecca).

If you are new to the University Libraries, or have not participated in the COP before, we would love to have you. Please contact Andrew Marshall (adm135@psu.edu) to be added to the COP listserv.

Feel free to contact us if there are any instruction topics or articles you would like to open a discussion on.

Special thanks to the previous year’s committee: Bernadette Lear, Nancy Adams,Anne Behler, Amanda Clossen, Russ Hall, John Meier, Rebecca Peterson, and Beth Seyala. The May 2017 workshop was a wonderful way to showcase our instruction initiatives and expand the dialogue about instruction at the University Libraries.

The current committee would like to say THANK YOU many times over to Anne and John for their dedication to this group over the years. We are grateful for the service and leadership you provided in starting this group about five years ago.

– submitted by Erin Burns

Chinese pronunciation workshop Aug. 16 in Mann, on Adobe Connect

There were almost 4,000 Chinese students and close to 400 Chinese scholars working and studying across Penn State in 2015 and those numbers have been steadily increasing.

Do you feel confident in correctly pronouncing the names Qiaoping, Weixiong, or Xinghua?

If not, join us for a Chinese Pronunciation Workshop taught by Chunyuan Di, lecturer in Chinese at Penn State.

Not a “language person”? No worries! You do not need any previous knowledge of Chinese to attend the workshop. We will only be working on how to pronounce names in order to feel more confident and to make our Chinese patrons feel more welcome here in the Libraries.

Join us 3-4 p.m. today — Wednesday, August 16 — in Mann Assembly Room and via Adobe Connect.

Events: Aug. 16

Fall 2017
Academic calendar information for all campuses is available online.

Through Friday, Aug. 30, 2017: “100 Years of the Pulitzers: Celebrating Our Humanity” exhibitArts and Humanities Library operating hours, Diversity Studies Room, 203 Patee Library, University Park.

 

graphic showing illustrated letters and title of exhibit plus dates June 5-Sept. 10, room 104 Paterno Library

 

 

Through Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017: “ABC: An Abecedarium from the 15th to the 21st Century” exhibit, Eberly Family Special Collections Library, 104 Paterno Library, Paterno Library operating hours, University Park.

horizontal exhibit graphic for The Painted Photograph: Selections from the B & H Henisch Photo-History Collection, extended through September 30, 2017, room 201A Pattee Library, displays five black-and-white historic photo portraits and their encased frames

 

 

Extended! Now through Saturday, Sept. 30, “The Painted Photograph: Selections from the B. & H. Henisch Photo-History Collection exhibit,” Pattee Library operating hours, Paterno Family Reading Room, 201A Pattee Library, University Park.

 

 

Wednesday, Aug. 16: University Libraries Picnic, 5-8 p.m., Holmes-Foster Park, State College. All University Libraries current and retired employees and their families invited.

Friday-Sunday, Aug. 18-20: Student arrival days.

Monday, Aug. 21: First day of fall semester classes.

Tuesday, Aug. 29: Open House Volunteer Training,11 a.m.-noon, Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Aug. 30: Open House Volunteer Training, 2-3 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, Aug. 31: User Services Training event: “Patron overview: Who are our new students?”

Thursday, Aug. 31–Friday, Sept. 1: approximate dates of Eid al Adha in the United States, to be confirmed Aug. 21.

Monday, Sept. 4: Labor Day holiday, no classes.

Wednesday–Thursday, Sept. 6-7: University Park Libraries Open House, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,

Wednesday, Sept. 6: Docunight: Iran via Documentaries, 7 p.m. Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Monday, Sept. 11: Gender Equity Center kickoff celebration, formerly Center for Women Students, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., HUB-Robeson Center ground floor stage, University Park.

Tuesday–Friday, Sept. 12-15: Penn State Fall Career Days, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Bryce Jordan Center, University Park.

Thursday–Friday, Sept. 14-15: Library Development Board Fall Committee Meetings, Pattee Library and Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, Sept. 14: Libraries Donor Reception and Celebration, 5:30-8 p.m., by invitation, Paterno Family Humanities Reading Room will be closed prior to and following event, University Park.

Friday, Sept. 15-Sunday, Oct. 15: Hispanic Heritage Month, United States.

Monday–Wednesday, Sept. 18-20: 2nd World Open Educational Resources (OER) Congress, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Sept. 20-22: Rosh Hashanah.

Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 21-30: Navaratri.

Sept. 22-24: Family Weekend, Penn State Altoona.

Thursday, Sept. 28: Lynd Ward Prize event honoring author of Rolling Blackouts, Sarah Glidden, 5:30-8 p.m., Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Saturday, Sept. 30: Yom Kippur.

Wednesday, Oct. 4: Docunight: Iran via Documentaries, 7 p.m. Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Wednesday, Oct. 11: University Libraries 25-Year Service Awards, 3:30-4:30 p.m.,Foster Auditorium and/or Mann Assembly Room, 102/103 Paterno Library, University Park, final location to be determined. 

Wednesday, Oct. 11: National Coming Out Day, part of National Coming Out Week at Penn State, details TBA.

Thursday, Oct. 12: Lee Bennett Hopkins Award event honoring authors Jorge Argueta (winner) & Nikki Grimes (honor winner), hosted by Pennsylvania Center for the Book, Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Friday–Sunday, Oct. 13-15: Parents and Families Weekend, University Park.

Wednesday, Oct. 18: Promotion and Tenure Recognition Reception, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Paterno Family Humanities Reading Room, University Park.

Wednesday, Oct. 18: Tech Update, by I-Tech, 2-3 p.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Thursday, Oct. 19: Diwali, Hindu festival of lights, celebrated.

Wednesday, Nov. 1: Docunight: Iran via Documentaries, 7 p.m. Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Sunday–Sunday, Nov. 5-12: Penn State Military Appreciation Week and Homecoming Week.

Monday, Nov. 6–Saturday, Dec. 16: NLM/NIH Traveling Exhibit: Opening Doors: Contemporary African American Surgeons, Life Sciences Library, 4th floor Paterno Library.

Saturday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day.

Monday–Friday, Nov. 13-17: International Education Week, details TBA.

Tuesday, Nov. 14: Penn State GIS Day, 1:30-5 p.m. speakers and lightning talks with 9 a.m.-5 p.m. poster display, Pattee Library and Paterno Library, University Park.

Nov. 19-25: Thanksgiving week break, no classes Nov. 20-24.

Thursday, Nov. 23: Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Wednesday, Dec. 6: Docunight: Iran via Documentaries, 7 p.m. Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park.

Friday, Dec. 8: Last day of fall classes. 

Sunday–Tuesday, Dec. 10-12: De-Stress Fest, University Park locations.

Tuesday, Dec. 12: Tech Update, by I-Tech, 10-11 a.m., Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library, University Park.

Tuesday–Wednesday, Dec. 12-20: Hanukkah.

Saturday, Dec. 16: Fall commencement, University Park and other Penn State campuses; details and speaker information at multiple Penn State campuses TBA in December.

Please submit event information to Public Relations and Marketing via the Library News submission form.

Strategic Plan Update: 2017-2018 Action Plan

The Libraries’ Strategic Plan Steering Committee is please to introduce the 2017-2018 Action Plan. The Action Plan is now available as a PDF on the Libraries Strategic Planning & Initiatives web page.

The action plan includes a timeline for each action, expected deliverables, a leadership sponsor, and the action’s reflection of the Penn State Strategic Plan thematic priority or supporting element.

There are a total of 19 proposed actions — four for Advancing University Research, seven for Discovery, Access, and Preservation, and eight for Teaching and Learning.

The Strategic Plan Steering Committee has established a communication strategy to keep everyone updated on each action item and the continue to involve University Libraries faculty and staff in advancing the strategic plan. Each quarter, we will update the status of each action item.

To continue to advance the strategic plan, an action plan will be completed during the spring semester. In the fall of each year a small group will be charged to gather feedback on the current action items and to brainstorm additional action items for the upcoming action plan.

We welcome your feedback on the current action plan, process for updating the action plan, communication strategy, and revisions to the strategic plan. Please feel free to send you comments or question to any member of the Strategic Plan Steering Committee (UL-STRATEGIC-PLAN-STEERING@lists.psu.edu):

Members:
Chris Avery (cca2@psu.edu)
Matt Ciszek (mpc16@psu.edu)
Karen Estlund (kme20@psu.edu)
Jennifer Gilley (jrg15@psu.edu)
Anne Langley (ael22@psu.edu)
Lana Munip (lzm10@psu.edu)
Rob Olendorf (rko5039@psu.edu)
Kimlyn Patishnock (kjp2@psu.edu)
Sheila Sager (sss2@psu.edu)
Joe Salem (jas1218@psu.edu)
Diane Zabel (dxz2@psu.edu)

Intersections, a Penn State Symposium

Intersections: Technology and Public Services in Special Collections, a Penn State Symposium

A little over two years ago, the Eberly Family Special Collections took one giant step for patron-kind with the implementation of Aeon, a request and workflow management software designed for special collections libraries and archives.

[It doesn’t sound very exciting stated like that… Open your favorite music platform and queue up “Also sprach Zarathustra” by Richard Strauss. Hit play.]

But for our staff, it was like we asked for a wheel to travel to the digital age and Atlas Systems said, “What do you think of a space shuttle instead?” It’s pretty much been a “my god, it’s full of stars” moment (as exclaimed in 2001: A Space Odyssey). Since then, we have been better connected with patrons around the world and streamlined staff workflows at the same time.

This year we offered to host the third Aeon Symposium at Penn State (Aug. 6-8). We’re so excited to bring this symposium here because it’s not just about a single software platform this time around. In fact, the 2017 Intersections symposium will build on its predecessors (the Aeon Symposium at Yale in 2015 and at the University of Michigan in 2016) to expand on what it means to provide access to collections in the archives and special collections environment.

Though Aeon remains a key tool, partner, and product of focus, Intersections also includes other workflows, tools, partners, and products that are present in our daily work.

This symposium also aligns and incorporates many of the key components of the RBMS (Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of ACRL) and SAA’s (Society of American Archivists) Metrics and Assessment Task Force report to broach broader topics with regard to assessing impact via meaningful metrics.

Targeted toward special collections colleagues across the field, attendees are exploring how technology, assessment, and public service intersect to support discovery and access of cultural heritage collections.

graphic of global map with pins noting locations across United States

Image: Geocache of Symposium attendee institutional locations (created by Tim Babcock)

Public service special collections professionals truly work at the intersection of where technology meets end-users’ needs. We are delighted to be the venue for what promises to be an interesting and informative symposium that will reverberate across the rare and archival world of academic libraries.

– submitted by Alex Bainbridge Arginteau

 

Our once and future website: working group update

Formed in May 2016, the Libraries Website Working Group was charged to evaluate and define the structure, responsibilities, and goals of the University Libraries’ website, and delivered its final report in November 2016.

One of the key outcomes of the group’s report was to move the web management structure from a multiple team/group structure to more of a product owner model. The end result is a round table of individual product owners, managers and the Author Expert Team, with Karen Estlund serving as the overall Website Product Owner. This new management structure provides increased agility with component product owners evolving, contingent on future needs and projects.

Another component of the Website Working Group’s report was the creation of new, efficient workflows for various web-related issues, such as maintenance, content, design, and new projects. Additional information about these workflows as well as the new website management roles and goals can be found on the Libraries’ new Website Management intranet page (link requires Libraries employee login).

One thing that has not changed is the continual look forward approach to the web presence of the Libraries. Some current and future website projects are as follows:

  • integrating LibCal into the Libraries webpages for group study room reservations, coming for the Fall 2017 semester
  • redesigning the About, Services, and Research landing pages
  • enhancing the A-Z Database list with subject categorization
  • making the Libraries’ digital collections easier to find and use
  • promoting access and use of open educational resources
  • enhancing the staff directory and staff profile pages
  • making key portions of the Libraries website available in other languages, starting with Mandarin and Korean

Lastly, the Website Working Group’s report established a six-month pilot phase, now in progress, after which the group will reconvene to assess the new structure and processes. Group members welcome feedback, which can be provided by via Website Feedback link in the footer on every page of the Libraries’ public and staff intranet sites.

 

 

Libraries T-shirt sale: Order deadline Aug. 18

The University Park United Way Committee is selling T-shirts in time for the annual Open House at University Park, held this year Sept. 6-7.

Please note the design when ordering. Use this form to place your order:
https://goo.gl/forms/w6YXBBde44KSjnac2

Please pay by cash or check and make checks out to Heather Ross and send them to Donna Dean in 126 Paterno LIbrary.

Deadline to order is noon on Friday, Aug. 18, and money is due by TuesdaySept. 5.

At University Park, T-shirts will be distributed before the Open House, and mailed to other Penn State campuses that week.

There will be a full sale in mid-fall of polo shirts, fleece, etc.

All proceeds benefit the Centre County United Way.