Thursday, December 10, 2009

Seminar Room B

Donna will be housing some items from Special Collections in Seminar Room B through Wednesday, December 16. Please do not schedule anyone to use the space during this time period.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Recent Problems Reported with WiFi

Over the past several days some students have been reporting that they cannot connect to the wireless network. If they come to the Reference Desk with this complaint please ask them to send their Eagle account ID # and the location in the building in which they made their attempt to Rick Wagoner. Between 8 and 4:30 they can call him at 783-2435. In the evenings they can send him an e-mail to r.wagoner@moreheadstate.edu

Friday, November 13, 2009

Troubleshooting Access to Electronic Resources

Early next week I will put a desktop icon on the Ref Desk PC that will take you to this address

http://research.moreheadstate.edu/troubleshooting

As requested in one of our meetings earlier this semester I have created a guide for troubleshooting problems people might have accessing our electronic resources.

When people from off-campus call or IM please give them this URL or walk them through the steps. My number is included in the last step. But please don't tell people to call me until they have gone through the list (or you have gone through it with them).

Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.

Dusting Task Force Project

During your desk shifts, please be sure to remind student workers about the DUSTING TASK FORCE project as they are signing in to work. There is a memo that every student must read and sign as well. It would be a great favor if you point out the memo to them in case they have not read it.

Every student worker is to work on the project after regular duties have been completed.

Thanks!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Wellness DVDs

If any staff calls about the DVDs from the Wellness Center they are at the HR offices. These DVDs can be viewed for wellness points.

A New LibGuide for Career Resources

We now have a LibGuide for Career Resources. I tried to keep it as lean and uncluttered as possible. Suggestions for improvements are welcome.

http://research.moreheadstate.edu/career

A newer edition has been ordered for the Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance. It will be an e-book instead of a print set.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Rec. Reading - FYI

I just found out from Ray that Rec. Reading books are not in WorldCat Local.

NAXOS Records are being fixed/replaced

You may notice for a short period today that the catalog records for NAXOS streaming audio are missing. Clara is doing a global replace to fix these because the links had broken. So they be gone for a while and when they reappear they should be fixed.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Corrections to APA 6th (first printing)

The first printing of the APA style manual has numerous errors. We are ordering copies of a second, corrected printing. In the meantime I have placed in each REF copy a 7 page list of corrections. If that list is separated from the copy then a new one can easily be printed out from this address.

http://supp.apa.org/style/pubman-reprint-corrections-for-2e.pdf

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Encyclopedia Britannica 2010

The 2010 edition is now on the shelf. Now would be a good time to look through the front matter and brush up on the distinction between the Micropaedia, the Macropaedia, and the Propaedia. I actually had to explain it to a student not more than two weeks ago.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Missing Book on Scavenger Hunt - Update

The book has been found and is now in its proper place.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Missing book on the Scavanger Hunt

One of the books on the Library Scavenger Hunt is missing. The call number is 141 B423g and the title is German Idealism: the Struggle Against Subjectivism. The book was set to missing on 9/2/09.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Provisional Study Tables

If students are looking for provisional study tables, please let them know that they are in Allie-Young Hall 220 or the Math Lab in Lappin Hall 108.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

More WCL Fun!

Mykie warns us not to "use the links in WorldCat Local or think we have something electronically b/c WCL says we do. They are coming from the master record in OCLC and not our record. (This is a MAJOR problem with WCL.)." She asks that I "tell all of the other ref deskers not to rely on the WCL links as well." So, you ref deskers, you've been warned!

Friday, August 28, 2009

WorldCat Local - Incorrect Holdings

Patrons may find records in WorldCat Local that are not in the Classic Catalog. The WorldCat Local instructions under "Get This Item" may tell the patron to go to the circulation desk for assistance. Please get the OCLC number for the item and inform Clara about these occurrences. She will delete the record. Let her know about other errors or problems. For now, we do not have control over all the canned messages that patrons see in the WorldCat Local interface.

With my patron, I explained that there are still some errors in the new WorldCat Local database and that we are working to fix them. I thanked her for bringing it to our attention.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

New Interface for Chronicle of HE

There is a new interface for the Chronicle. Please familiarize yourself with it if you've not done so already.

Chronicle of Higher Education

New Editions of MLA and APA Style Manuals

On the shelf right now is the new edition of the MLA style manual (5 copies in REF and 5 copies in MAIN). Also we will soon be getting a new edition of the APA style manual (also 5 copies in REF and 5 copies in MAIN).

The 'Citing Sources' page has been updated with a new link to MLA and will be updated when we get the APA manuals.

Shortcut to Library Systems Work Order

Notice that I put a shortcut on the desktop of the Ref PC that goes to the Library Systems Work Order online form. It is now extremely convenient to use when you encounter a problem that needs Chris Burton's attention.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

MMY and MLA have changed to EBSCOhost

The Mental Measurements Yearbook (which had been through SilverPlatter) and the MLA International Bibliography (which had been through ProQuest) are now both available through EBSCOhost. Let me know if you have any questions.

P.S. The MLA Directory of Periodicals is included in the same profile as the bibliography and so will be searched along with it as a default.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Digital Voice Recorders

There are now two new digital voice recorders available for checkout at the Circulation Desk.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Revamp -- Periodicals Collection pages

I've just completed a total revamp of the pages for the Periodicals Collection.

http://www.moreheadstate.edu/library/index.aspx?id=2507

Please look it over.

Send any corrections or bad links to Susan.

Send me any suggestion for major changes or further development.

Thanks,

P.S. Can you find the link to an article documenting my favorite cautionary tale -- about a woman who literally died for lack of a good librarian? It's in there on the 2nd level, but you have to look for it.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

New KYVL Login/Password

At the end of June the login and password that has been in place for a couple of years now for KYVL databases will be phased out. The new login and password are operational and available (behind an eagle account login/password) at:
https://secureweb.moreheadstate.edu/restrictedfiles/library/pass_kyvl.html
Please remember to always refer to this web page and to never write passwords on slips of paper for convenience. That's a sure to eventually give patrons out-of-date information. There is a convenient link to this page from the passwords page as well as from many other pages on the website. If you forget the path to it and need the password quickly you can always type "KYVL password" into the search box for the website.

There is a key difference with the new password that everyone should understand. The previous login/password was for the broad category of colleges and universities and so was not restricted to the MSU community. The new login/password is exclusively for MSU and should not be given out to anyone who is not currently a student, staff, or faculty.
If someone not associated with MSU asks for the new login/password, please refer them to the public library in Kentucky nearest to them or to the library at the educational institution in Kentucky with which they are associated.

Since the two will overlap until the end of June, as a practical matter, we probably won't get many questions about this until June when the old login stops functioning.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Support for Wireless Laptops at the Reference Desk

Most of the time, the job of helping students to configure their laptops to be on the wireless network is too technical to be efficiently handled by library staff. So most question about wireless configuration should be referred to the:

Technology Service Center (TSC)
108 Lloyd Cassity Building
(606) 783-9000 TSC Help Desk
Email: tsc@moreheadstate.edu

Because the TSC is not open in the evening or on the weekends there are a few easy things that we can do to assist patrons.

o In the drawer at the desk is a CD (labeled WiFi Installer) on which is copied the security certificate for the wireless network. A patron wanting to establish a connection to the wireless network can load and launch this CD. If this immediate remedy fails to work, then the patron must seek help at the TSC when it is open. The CD will be updated each semester by LTL staff. If the CD is lost or damaged please inform LTL staff.

o When a computer is not configured for the wireless network, there are some network hubs (located on the middle two tables in each reading room) which can be plugged into with a cable. Cables are available at the Reference Desk in the same drawer and in the same fashion as head phones. Ask for an ID in exchange for a cable, but if they don't have and ID give them the cable anyway. Troubleshoot the hubs by unplugging their power cords and plugging them back in.

o When a patron is connected to the wireless network but does not know how to send a print job to the PHAROS release station, then (s)he should be directed to this address to download the appropriate printer driver.

http://www.moreheadstate.edu/printers

NOTE: Each reading room now has three antennae for the wireless network. Previously there had only been one per room. This means that if twenty or more laptops are on the wireless network in each room there should still be a strong signal.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Novelist -- Ask A Librarian

The Ask A Librarian link is now present in Novelist. It had not been previously.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Improvements to the Interface for Reference Universe

If you click in to Reference Universe you will noticed an improved interface.
1) The default is now set for local holdings (before you had to click a check box to limit).
2) Search and browse feature are stationary at the top of the screen.
3) The default display for call numbers on the hit list is now set for Dewey (it had been LC).
The elephant in the room is that the 'e-source' flag is still highly inaccurate. Often you will click on something tagged as an electronic book and it turns out to be a print book instead. This is because the data we extracted from Voyager is inconsistent about how it distinguishes between print and electronic ISBNs and Reference Universe is very particular about having that distinction. This is a problem for every library that subscribes to Reference Universe. The vendor is working on an administrative module that will hopefully allow us to remedy this.

So the bottom line is that Reference Universe just got a lot nicer, but it is still not ready for us to tout it as a scholarly alternative to wikipedia. It will be some day.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Supply Order

If anyone has any ideas for items that need to be ordered for the Reference Desk, please let me know. I'm still very new to ordering and I want to make sure that I get everything we need for the desk. If you have any suggestions, you can drop me a line at s.lane@moreheadstate.edu or give me a call at 783-2283.

Thanks,
Susan

Saturday, March 7, 2009

ERIC DATABASE-Off Campus Link

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to let everyone know that I received a phone call today regarding the ERIC database for off campus use. The patron I spoke with has tried several times this past week to get into the ERIC database so she can do some research for her paper that is due soon, but after she has logged on with MSU id number and her password she still can not get into the ERIC database. The message that she keeps getting is: A Link Has Been Broken! Someone please fix this problem so that our off campus users will be able to access ERIC database and other databases. Thanks for your help!

-Rachel

Monday, March 2, 2009

A Change with Meebo

You may have already noticed a change in the Meebo interface. Now when you need to be away from the desk, the status change is on the left and has been separated from the buddy list (which is still on the right). Now there are just two choices 'Available' and 'Away'.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Office 2007

Chris has updated the computers in the reference room. We now have Office 2007!

Susan

The Reading Teacher

I just wanted to give everyone a head's up if you haven't run into this already.

I've been getting students looking for The Reading Teacher (journal). We have it in paper and through 3 of our databases (EBSCO, WILSON and I think Gale, but EBSCO seems to have the best coverage).

The professor left them with the impression that the only way to get the journal electronically is to pay for a subscription and the students are all a bit confused about it. They've all been very happy to hear about what the library has to offer.

-Rachel H.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

No Tax Forms from the State this Year

Again this year we have free federal tax forms for the public available on the first floor, but the commonwealth of Kentucky has discontinued its program for sending paper copies to libraries. So any patron who asks should be referred to , or simply tell them to Google 'Kentucky tax forms'.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Catalog Records Referring People to the Reference Desk

Because of the databases we lost last year to the KYVL budget cut we have had to remove and update a number of catalog records for the journal titles involved. Because this cannot be done all at once there are presently more than the usual number of catalog records directing users to the Reference Desk for assistance. When this happens do the best you can figure out what is happening with that particular title. If you are stumped then call Mykie or Clara to clarify.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Alternative Access Temporarily Out of Commission

Our back-up page for authenticating users with the Referring URL method has been thrown out of whack because the server address has been changed at the campus level. To fix this I will need to update the address with each vendor. Some of these can be done quickly while others require me to send them an e-mail and wait for them to do it. So please keep this in mind when you are assisting patrons who are having difficulties with EZProxy and who need immediate access.

Also, KYVL has recently changed to their new MetaLib interface. I need to confirm whether we need a new login/password for off-campus users. I should get an answer today or tomorrow.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Turn PCs Off

From now on whenever you close the library, you should turn off the computers instead of just turning of the monitors as we have in the past.

The two exceptions are the Pharos print station and the Digital Scanner station. These two should be left on.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Craig's List Please Read!

If anyone doesn't know Craig Raines he is mentally challenged and he usually comes by during the 12:30 block on Tuesdays and sometimes Thursdays. I've made a list of acceptable books and videos to choose from when Craig comes into the Library. Please don't give him more than two selections at a time. He is usually happy with just one. If the books are from LRC please call John as he is happy to help him and has done so in the past. If the book is in APP/KY (because right now he's looking for books about MSU) please call Donna, Teresa, or Rob. Otherwise either get the book yourself or ask a workstudy to do it. Make sure Craig goes with you because he likes to answer the phone and will do so if you are not at the desk. I've included some videos because I know he has access to a VCR but always ask him first if he would like a video too.

Police Books: Police Officer 363.2 P252p LRC Career Collection
Day in the Life of a Police officer 363.23 H427da LRC Career Collection
Day with Police Officers 363.2 LRC Career Collection
I Want to be a Police Officer 363.2 k87d LRC Career Collection
Police Officers 363.2 b772p LRC Career Collection
Sammy, Dog Detective 363.232 b242s LRC Books
Police Officers 363.2 r287p LRC Career Collection
Officer Buckle and Gloria E r234o LRC Books
Youth attitudes and police: Lessons in Law for Young People 363.2 r555y LRC Books
Your World: Let's visit the Policeman 363.2 w721i LRC Books
About Policemen Around the World 363.2 L257a LRC Books
Awesome Fire Engines and Police Cars 628.92 a966 LRC VIDEOS
I Wanna be a Police Officer 363.2 i112 LRC VIDEOS
There goes a Police Car 363.0 T398 LRC VIDEOS

Firemen Books: I want to be a Fireman 363.37023 g799f LRC Career Collection
My Mom is a Firefighter E g7455m LRC Books
What Happens at a Firehouse 628.925 p748w LRC Books
Day in the Life of a Firefighter 628.925 a221d LRC Career Collection
Dot the Fire Dog Ed457d LRC Books
Firefighters A-Z E d3715f LRC Books
Firefighter 628.925 e71f LRC Career Collection
I Want to be a Firefighter 628.925 i11 LRC Career Collection
I Want to be a Firefighter 363.37 m476i LRC Career Collection
Fire! 363.37 m398f LRC Books
Fire Fighters 363.37023 r892j LRC Career Collection
Day in the Life of a Firefighter 628.925 b787d LRC Books
I am a Firefighter E b468i LRC Books
I Want to be a Firefighter 363.37023 k96i LRC Career Collection
Firehouse 363.3 w853f LRC Books
I Wanna be a Firefighter 628.92 i11 LRC VIDEOS
Fire and Rescue 628.92 f523 LRC VIDEOS
There Goes a Firetruck 628.92 t398 LRC VIDEOS
Fireman Sam 628.92 f5235 LRC VIDEOS

MSU (also Morehead)books Images 976.957 i31 APP/KY
Light to the Mountains 378.76957 f586l APP/KY
Morehead State University Farm 630.7 b847m APP/KY
WLEX Presents Kentucky Life in Rowan County 917.6957 w836 LRC VIDEOS