Novelist -- Ask A Librarian

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

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.

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

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

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'.