The First Page, August 2009
The First Page from Library and IT contains timely tips and news that you need to know as you get settled in for the Fall Semester.
Table of Contents:
Welcome Back to Library and IT for Fall 2009
Students: Changes in BUTV Service
Students: Telephone and Voice Mail Information
Changes in Circulation Borrowing and Billing
Faculty: Circulation Services Just for You
Faculty: Thursdays at 8 Workshops
Faculty: Building Up the Library Collections
Faculty: Information Literacy Skills
Welcome Back to Bertrand Library for Fall 2009!
Over the Summer Break, Library and IT folks were busy as usual. Not only were many changes made to our physical space in the Library, but we completed many important projects, such as the myBucknell redesign and the changes in Bucknell wireless networking. Do you have ideas for Library and IT that you’d like to share? Consider sending us a note using our online comment form, at http://www.bucknell.edu/x9609.xml. We love to hear your ideas!
Students: Changes in BUTV Service
Bucknell and our content partner D & E Communications brokered a major change in the way that we will distribute BUTV to the students this fall. Students no longer need to buy a set top box from the bookstore. Instead, D & E will lease a set top box to the student with no charges up front. For students who are hesitant about making an investment in a piece of equipment that they can't use beyond Bucknell, it is the perfect solution. Students who currently own a set top box will find that it works exactly the same way as in previous years, but they will also benefit because they will pay slightly less per semester for their content subscription.
Prices for the semester subscription will be $105 if you own a set top box and $130 if you are leasing a set top box. Students may pick up set top boxes directly from D & E's offices on S. 2nd Street.
Students: Back It Up!
Back it up, Bucknell! No matter what you use or how careful you are - you are on the brink of disaster if you have not backed up your important documents, music, or photos! A drop, a spill, a simple hard drive failure, a USB key that doesn't open . . . and everything is lost.
The Tech Desk strongly encourages everyone to back up their data. For your important files for class like papers and presentations, students can use their 600mb of network space. For those all important photos from your year abroad, and all of your music, an external hard drive is the perfect solution. Macs come with the outstanding Time Machine backup software.
If it is important to you, it needs to be in at least two places!
Students: Safe Connect
Students will see a new notice when they log onto their computers this fall. SafeConnect is another feature in our program to secure the campus from unscrupulous network threats. By installing a policy key when first connecting to the network, SafeConnect will check for username authentication, current and installed antivirus programs, and up-to-date Windows security patches. Mac/Linux users and XBox/Nintendo players should be able to pass through after just authenticating with a username.
For BUTV users, SafeConnect will not affect your ability to watch TV, even if your computer needs a security update. Our goal is to maximize our ability to ensure that the campus network is safe and secure.
Students: Telephone and Voice Mail Information
Telephone numbers are permanently assigned to university owned rooms. The number is located on the jack designated with a black "voice" icon.
Voice Mail- Each student has been assigned his/her own voice mailbox. Voice Mail is indicated by either a broken dial tone, or a phone equipped with a "Voicemail compatible light".
PAC Numbers- Students are provided a PAC number to allow toll calls to be dialed directly and billed to the student's university account.
Your phone number, voice mail instructions and PAC number can all be viewed through myBucknell by selecting Telephone Services beneath the banner web link.
Please call the Telecommunications Office at 570.577.1810 for further assistance.
Wireless Network Changes
Wireless users will see a new wireless network when they come to campus. Bucknell.edu is replacing the bucknell and bucknell_wpa networks, and it brings a host of security improvements and options for Bucknell. Bucknell.edu uses a much higher level of encryption and since it also uses the Bucknell username/password combination, it allows us to direct users to different networks based upon their login information. The bucknell network is scheduled to go away during the fall semester.
While less of an issue for Bucknell students and staff, the bucknell_guests network will now prompt users to accept our Acceptable Usage Policy before network access is granted, and this prompt will re-appear every few hours. Travelers who have used wireless networks in hotels or cafes are familiar with this process, and any Bucknell students or staff using the bucknell_guests network will instantly know that they are on the limited guest network.
If you need help connecting to the wireless network, please contact the Tech Desk at 570.577.7777
News from Equipment Services
Students: We now have 16 laptops available for in-library use. Check one out to use for up to 3 hours at the Equipment Services desk. All you need is a BU ID card.
Reminder: All faculty, staff, and students are responsible for overdue fines when borrowing equipment. These fine rates are different than those for other library materials.
For more information, including our hours and policies, visit http://www.bucknell.edu/EquipmentServices.xml.
Changes in Circulation Borrowing and Billing
In order to streamline borrowing and to contribute to the "greening" initiatives on campus, Circulation Services has made a few changes to our check out procedures. Items no longer have "date due" stickers. We have said goodbye to the old date stampers! All Bucknell borrowers can view their check-outs online from their Library Account, and they will be offered the option of receiving a printed receipt when they check out items at the library. All Bucknell borrowers will also receive "Soon Due" notices as a reminder three days before an item is due. Overdue notices will continue to be generated automatically at scheduled intervals until items are returned. We have also streamlined our billing policies and procedures. Overdue books will now have a weekly fine increment instead of a daily increment. When a book is 8 days overdue, the fine is $5; at 15 days overdue, the fine increases to $10 per item; and at 22 days overdue, the fine is $20 and the item is assumed lost. At that time, replacement fees for the book will be charged. If the item is returned, the replacement fee is waived and only the overdue fine remains. If the book is indeed lost, the fine is forgiven but the replacement fee is due. There are no changes in the fine structure for items other than books. We have modified the payment of fines to streamline our billing process as well. The Circulation Desk will no longer accept cash payments for fines or fees from Bucknell borrowers. Instead, all fees will automatically be included in the borrower's university bill. Call 570.577.1882 if you have any questions.
Check Out the New myBucknell!
myBucknell 2.0 is here!
The new version includes a host of new features and functionality, including:
· A customizable dashboard full of gadgets - such as your email, the campus calendar, course schedules if you're a student or faculty member, Blackboard messages, the message center, and more, that let you put information you prefer in one place, and featuring one-click addition or deletion of gadgets.
· A customizable navigation pane so you can put information where you want it on your myBucknell screen.
· A new search tool featuring Google technology.
· A new and improved campus events calendar that will show you campus events for any day of the year with one click.
· Integration with other Bucknell systems, such as Zimbra Web and Blackboard, so you can access this information in one place.
· Campus, national, and world news in a single gadget so you can read whatever news you want when you want it.
Please use the Feedback link in the upper right corner of the new myBucknell to provide feedback to our development team, and call 570.577.7777 if you have any questions.
Faculty: Circulation Services Just for You
Services designed especially for Faculty include "Reserves," "Hold for Classroom Showing," and "TA Permission Forms." TRADITIONAL RESERVES: Faculty who would like to place items (personal or library books or other media) on Reserves for their students to borrow for short periods of time (2 hours, 3 hours, overnight) can use the online Reserves Request form or the paper form available at the Circulation Desk in the Library. At the end of each semester, we will provide a report listing how many times an item on Reserves was checked out. HOLD FOR CLASSROOM SHOWING: Faculty members who would like us to hold a video (DVD or VHS) for a specific date for showing in class can complete the online form or the paper form at the Circulation Desk. The video will be removed from regular circulation a few days in advance and placed on the Holds shelf at the Circulation Desk so that no one other than the requestor can check it out. When it is returned, it will be returned to regular circulation. The "TA PERMISSION FORM" available at the Circulation Desk requires the faculty member's signature to give permission to a specific TA or other students to check out library items on the faculty member's library account. The TA will receive a paper copy of the authorization form to present to the Circ Desk when completing a transaction on behalf of the faculty member. Call 570.577.1882 if you have any questions.
Faculty: Thursdays at 8 Workshops
Watch for a calendar of events for Thursdays@8, a new series of workshops for faculty coming from our instructional technologists and librarians. Beginning on September 3, each Thursday morning at 8am we will offer a breakfast workshop on a particular topic that we hope will be of interest. Topics will range from beginning GIS and digital video to using online survey tools, RefWorks, interdisciplinary library resources you might not know about, and creating better PowerPoint slides. In addition, we will offer monthly roundtable lunches as well. Look for announcements in the Message Center. We look forward to seeing you there!
Faculty: Building Up the Library Collections
Teaching a new course and finding the library collection lacking? The Gladys Brooks Fund enables the Bertrand Library to work with faculty to build core collections for new courses and to add depth and/or new perspectives in response to curricular changes. This fund supports a variety of one-time purchases including books, audiovisual materials, and some electronic resources and periodical backfiles. Please note that this does not include instituting journal subscriptions. To apply see the Gladys Brooks Fund Request Form and/or contact your library liaison.
Faculty: Information Literacy Skills
The new semester is here. That means it's time request a library user education session (or multiple sessions) for your students. Librarians are available to teach your students how to utilize the library's collections and research resources. They will work with you to plan sessions to meet your specific learning goals for your course. To schedule a consult or library session, contact your library liaison.
