Thursday, April 8, 2010
2nd floor construction
Devcon is currently de-constructing the wall along G-line in the Reference shared work area, and will begin work in the second floor stacks area next Monday, April 12. It will take at least Monday and Tuesday to complete the work. As on the other floors, plastic will be draped from floor to ceiling by the contractor, and additional plastic sheeting will placed over the stacks by Operations and Preservation.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Eric
Operations
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
ProQuest / CSA databases down for maintenance, April 10, 7:00 p.m. to April 11, 7:00 a.m.
7 April 2010
ProQuest® will be performing infrastructure maintenance on April 10, 2010. A twelve (12) hour maintenance window will be required for this maintenance. The window will take place from Saturday, April 10, 2010, at 7:00 PM (PDT) to Sunday, April 11, 2010 at 7:00 AM (PDT).
The following products will be unavailable during these windows:
ProQuest platform products, ProQuest Historical Newspapers, American Periodicals Series
CSA products
UMI products, including ProQuest Digital Microfilm and online dissertation products
ProQuest® welcomes customer feedback. Please email your comments to platform feedback or visit www.proquest.com/go/suggestions.
Please share this information information with your colleagues.
Jayne Dickson
CDL Information Services
California Digital Library
University of California
510.987.0550
jayne.dickson@ucop.edu
PubMed indexing now available back to 1947
"With the addition of the 1947 citations, the MEDLINE/PubMed subset now contains over 20 million citations produced during 63 years of indexing of the biomedical literature."
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/ma10/ma10_oldmedline.html
Thanks to Christy Hightower for the alert.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/techbull/ma10/ma10_oldmedline.html
Thanks to Christy Hightower for the alert.
Gov Docs accessibility
Due to the G-Line construction on the 2nd Floor, the Gov Docs collection will be mostly inaccessible. We’re not quite sure of the timeline for this (at least today and maybe tomorrow?). If you encounter a patron who wants one of these inaccessible government documents, please let me know. We might be able to find a work-around; the desired document might be available online (even if there is no apparent electronic copy) or even on microfiche. So please feel free to call me at 9-5654 or find me in my office (my door will probably be closed due to construction sound) and I will help in any way that I can.
Cheers,
Jess
Monday, April 5, 2010
Students asking for Plagiarism Quiz
Anna Tsing is referring her Anthropology students to a plagiarism quiz. The quiz is hosted by another institution and can be found at http://abacus.bates.edu/cbb/quiz/index.html.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Ref Desk "Not on Desk" lists posted
I have made a posted two lists of who is not on the desk on certain days, to help facilitate trades, coverage, etc. If you do not see a name listed and they are also not on the schedule, that means that are working at S&E that day or are telecommuting.
There are two versions to reflect the double-staff and single-staff schedules we are using this spring.
http://internal.library.ucsc.edu/ref/schedule/index.html
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Best, Laura
There are two versions to reflect the double-staff and single-staff schedules we are using this spring.
http://internal.library.ucsc.edu/ref/schedule/index.html
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Best, Laura
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Billing questions tip
Jess had a good reminder if you encounter a billing question.
Be sure to ask the patron what the bill is for: Printing or library material
If it's printing, refer them to the central IT support line 459-4357 or help@ucsc.edu
If it's a library material fine, refer them to Access or point them to the online library billing form at http://library.ucsc.edu/services/borrowing/billing
Be sure to ask the patron what the bill is for: Printing or library material
If it's printing, refer them to the central IT support line 459-4357 or help@ucsc.edu
If it's a library material fine, refer them to Access or point them to the online library billing form at http://library.ucsc.edu/services/borrowing/billing
New 2nd floor copiers: screen message
The new Ricoh copiers have been installed by Copier Services on the 2nd floor. They are no longer free and are back to the normal pricing (15¢ per page when paying with cash, 8¢ per page when using a Slug Copy Card).
The screen on the copier now displays a message (which we are trying to have changed to something more intuitive) that says:
"To use the following function(s), set Key Counter. Copier"
This means:
"The copier is ready to be used, put a Slug Copy Card in the tower to make a copy and have access to the control screen"
It also displays a tiny message at the bottom left of the screen that says:
"Cannot connect with DHCP server. (101) Contact the Administrator."
This means: "I don't have a server to connect with (and won't), so ignore this message."
We are trying to have these either removed or fixed, so stay tuned.
The 3rd floor old copier is currently out of order. The 4th floor old copier is working.
The screen on the copier now displays a message (which we are trying to have changed to something more intuitive) that says:
"To use the following function(s), set Key Counter. Copier"
This means:
"The copier is ready to be used, put a Slug Copy Card in the tower to make a copy and have access to the control screen"
It also displays a tiny message at the bottom left of the screen that says:
"Cannot connect with DHCP server. (101) Contact the Administrator."
This means: "I don't have a server to connect with (and won't), so ignore this message."
We are trying to have these either removed or fixed, so stay tuned.
The 3rd floor old copier is currently out of order. The 4th floor old copier is working.
No printer at the Ref Desk
As a reminder for those that have been away from the desk and are back for Spring Quarter, there is no longer a printer at the McHenry Ref Desk. Details are below in Lucia's March 11th refall message:
"The printer at the McH ref desk is being moved to the Ref offices to replace the dead one. This means we will not have a printer at the Ref desk until further notice.
"The printer at the McH ref desk is being moved to the Ref offices to replace the dead one. This means we will not have a printer at the Ref desk until further notice.
The desk machines still print to this printer, but you will need to
walk into the office (next to the mailbar) to retrieve anything you
print from the desk.
Let me know if you have questions.
thank you,
Lucia"
Monday, March 29, 2010
Desk stats now online
Just a reminder that we have moved to collecting Reference statistics online. The SurveyMonkey page is bookmarked on the browser toolbar on every machine at the desk.
There are only two required fields, but it would be helpful if you could fill out other fields if you have time between questions.
Many thanks to Frank Gravier for getting this project off the ground and on the computers.
thank you,
Lucia
Monday, March 22, 2010
IT support over Spring Break
Omar let Lucia know that CNS will be providing on-call service only. The students working this week are addressing maintenance issues, but will be checking machines and monitoring paper supplies. We need to call the CNS number, 459-2486, if there are problems.
Labels:
CNS,
IT help,
public computers,
ref desk,
staffing,
workstations
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Desk stats migrating to online form
We are migrating McHenry Ref Desk statistics gathering online, using SurveyMonkey. We will start using this on Monday, March 29th, the first day of Spring quarter. We will no longer be using the paper forms and clipboard. However, we do have them on hand in case the power goes out or there is some other unforeseen problem.
Here's the important things to know:
There are only two *required* fields: Shift Time and Desk Stats Category (Dir, Short, Long). The other fields are optional. It would be helpful if you could fill them out, but you don't need to if it's busy.
Category refresher:
+ Directional: Giving directions. Pointing to a resource or service point or location of materials. Directions to the bathroom, etc.
+ Short: Anything more than directional that requires explanation up to 5 minutes, such as how to read call numbers, how to look up a book, etc.
+ Lengthy: Anything longer than 5 minutes.
The form is bookmarked on the toolbars at every Ref desk machine as "MCH REF DESK STATS." If you want to take a look at it now, use this URL: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/mchrefstats.
Keep this URL handy in case you need to enter statistics after your desk shift.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
thank you,
Lucia
Here's the important things to know:
There are only two *required* fields: Shift Time and Desk Stats Category (Dir, Short, Long). The other fields are optional. It would be helpful if you could fill them out, but you don't need to if it's busy.
Category refresher:
+ Directional: Giving directions. Pointing to a resource or service point or location of materials. Directions to the bathroom, etc.
+ Short: Anything more than directional that requires explanation up to 5 minutes, such as how to read call numbers, how to look up a book, etc.
+ Lengthy: Anything longer than 5 minutes.
The form is bookmarked on the toolbars at every Ref desk machine as "MCH REF DESK STATS." If you want to take a look at it now, use this URL: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/mchrefstats.
Keep this URL handy in case you need to enter statistics after your desk shift.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
thank you,
Lucia
Opening PDFs on public computers
If a document opens with the open source PDF viewer (not Adobe), right-click to choose "Open with...Adobe" or save it to the desktop and then drag it to Adobe in the dock. Same for the Ref Desk computers.
Labels:
documents,
public computers,
ref desk,
workstations
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Printing update and clarification
From the public computers, there is no longer a second popup window (that tells the patron how much the print job will be). That changed with the new system, but some did not hear about the change. Macs didn't need the notify acknowledgment, but PCs did, to send the print job. It was a feature of the old
printing system, that we did not implement in the new version. So now all the patron needs to do is name the print job and then pick it up from one of the release stations. They will see the cost when they pick up the print job from the release station (Thanks to Frank Dang for this clarification).
printing system, that we did not implement in the new version. So now all the patron needs to do is name the print job and then pick it up from one of the release stations. They will see the cost when they pick up the print job from the release station (Thanks to Frank Dang for this clarification).
Labels:
Info Commons,
printing,
public computers,
workstations
Questions from the desk
-local high school student needed to find books and articles about Jack Ruby
-community member doing research for a memoir by a former UCSC student from the 1970's
(including info about minority students groups now and then; the 1975 sit-in re: EOP)
-faculty needed help doing a search in our catalog for handmade books
-community member found a book in Google books, needed to find the source of a quotation used, but could not see the page with the source in Google books (we had it and I emailed the source)
-student currently writing a policy statement on the overspending on and
overpopulated prison in California
-PhD student in Hong Kong needed help with contemporary Latin American cinema research in determining which libraries in California (Los Angeles in particular) had a particular film
-graduate student at UCB developing a resource management plan for a ranch property in southern San Benito
County and is trying to determine if it had been part of a Mexican land grant
-graduate student needed to find books, articles, or websites on pre-Christian Basque mythology, specifically a deity associated with caves
-student looking at California high school exit exam information, specifically Latino students failure rate
-community member doing research for a memoir by a former UCSC student from the 1970's
(including info about minority students groups now and then; the 1975 sit-in re: EOP)
-faculty needed help doing a search in our catalog for handmade books
-community member found a book in Google books, needed to find the source of a quotation used, but could not see the page with the source in Google books (we had it and I emailed the source)
-student currently writing a policy statement on the overspending on and
overpopulated prison in California
-PhD student in Hong Kong needed help with contemporary Latin American cinema research in determining which libraries in California (Los Angeles in particular) had a particular film
-graduate student at UCB developing a resource management plan for a ranch property in southern San Benito
County and is trying to determine if it had been part of a Mexican land grant
-graduate student needed to find books, articles, or websites on pre-Christian Basque mythology, specifically a deity associated with caves
-student looking at California high school exit exam information, specifically Latino students failure rate
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Random questions at the desk, 3/3/10
Today patrons I helped were:
- Looking for paper copies of several French language periodicals.
- Looking for a poem, published as a broadside, by Charles Bukowski.
- Looking for the consensus-based criteria for establishing diagnosis of a vegetative state.
- Looking for paper copies of several French language periodicals.
- Looking for a poem, published as a broadside, by Charles Bukowski.
- Looking for the consensus-based criteria for establishing diagnosis of a vegetative state.
Random questions at the desk 3/1/10
History of Lent.
Opiates effect on neurotransmitters and synapses.
Research by mycologist R.J. Wesson on use of "magic mushrooms" in Mazatec ritual ceremonies in Oaxaca.
Water, logging and environmental information about Clavey River in Tuolomne County.
Opiates effect on neurotransmitters and synapses.
Research by mycologist R.J. Wesson on use of "magic mushrooms" in Mazatec ritual ceremonies in Oaxaca.
Water, logging and environmental information about Clavey River in Tuolomne County.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Writing class focused on surfing
There is a Writing section that is focused on topics related to surfing. I've helped a couple of students with this topic and have a few strategies to share:
-not using the * symbol for truncating -- too many items come up with "surface"; leaving it as keyword "surfing" worked much better
-adding "NOT internet" to the keyword search was extremely helpful in the article databases
-Encyclopedia of Surfing: McH Ref GV840.S8 W3476 2003
http://cruzcat.ucsc.edu/record=b2282202~S5
-article databases: Academic Search Complete; Historical Abs; in Illumina (surfing is a Descriptor in CSA) used Oceanic Abs, both Psych dbs, Socio Abs
-adding ideas/subject terms such as surfers, culture, subculture, counterculture, sport psychology, extreme sports, risk-taking, recreation, coastal management, environmental protection, business, marketing, etc.
Hope this is helpful.
Best,
Laura
-not using the * symbol for truncating -- too many items come up with "surface"; leaving it as keyword "surfing" worked much better
-adding "NOT internet" to the keyword search was extremely helpful in the article databases
-Encyclopedia of Surfing: McH Ref GV840.S8 W3476 2003
http://cruzcat.ucsc.edu/record=b2282202~S5
-article databases: Academic Search Complete; Historical Abs; in Illumina (surfing is a Descriptor in CSA) used Oceanic Abs, both Psych dbs, Socio Abs
-adding ideas/subject terms such as surfers, culture, subculture, counterculture, sport psychology, extreme sports, risk-taking, recreation, coastal management, environmental protection, business, marketing, etc.
Hope this is helpful.
Best,
Laura
Labels:
classes,
databases,
ref books,
ref desk,
ref questions,
reference sources,
students,
topics,
writing
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Film 134A -- American Cinema, 1930-60
There is a fair number (80 from what a student in the class told me) who may be coming in to research the following assignment:
Here's how it might be approached--
Reviews (and date of release):
Variety Film Reviews (McH Ref PN1995 V34)
Reviews and display advertisements:
Los Angeles Times (historical)
New York Times (historical)
Magazine articles, interviews, profiles, advertisements:
Readers' Guide Retrospective
Film criticism:
Film Indexes Online (citations only--no UC-eLinks)
Posters:
Cruzcat (subject: film posters)
Trailers:
Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
--Ken.
Film Marketing and Reception Project
Due at the beginning of your discussion section on Week 8 [week of 22nd February]
You will choose an American film made between 1930 and 1960, one we have not studied in class, and research how the film was marketed and reviewed at the time of its original release. Materials you gather might include original movie reviews, posters, film trailers, press stories, movie star profiles, interviews, etc. You will write a short analysis of the information available from these sources and make an argument regarding how the reception and marketing of the film was influenced by historical events. Your analysis should be 5-8 pages....
Here's how it might be approached--
Reviews (and date of release):
Variety Film Reviews (McH Ref PN1995 V34)
Reviews and display advertisements:
Los Angeles Times (historical)
New York Times (historical)
Magazine articles, interviews, profiles, advertisements:
Readers' Guide Retrospective
Film criticism:
Film Indexes Online (citations only--no UC-eLinks)
Posters:
Cruzcat (subject: film posters)
Trailers:
Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
--Ken.
Class: History 30 "Making of Modern Africa"
Hi all,
Beth and I recently conducted research sessions for David Anthony's
History 30 (Making of Modern Africa) and History 137B (Africa 1800 to
Present) classes, and you will notice lots of activity around these topics
just now. Although Beth and I are happy to assist them when they have hit
research roadblocks, please be aware that they should first consult and
*use* the resources listed in the dedicated guides for each of these
classes linked on the Course Materials page (and to which we introduced
them in class) and below. They should be assured that Reference Desk staff can help
them as well as Beth and myself.
Thanks,
Ken and Beth
History 30 Guide:
http://library.ucsc.edu/course-guides/history-30-making-of-modern-africa
History 137B Guide:
http://library.ucsc.edu/course-guides/history-137b---africa-1800-to-the-present
Beth and I recently conducted research sessions for David Anthony's
History 30 (Making of Modern Africa) and History 137B (Africa 1800 to
Present) classes, and you will notice lots of activity around these topics
just now. Although Beth and I are happy to assist them when they have hit
research roadblocks, please be aware that they should first consult and
*use* the resources listed in the dedicated guides for each of these
classes linked on the Course Materials page (and to which we introduced
them in class) and below. They should be assured that Reference Desk staff can help
them as well as Beth and myself.
Thanks,
Ken and Beth
History 30 Guide:
http://library.ucsc.edu/course-guides/history-30-making-of-modern-africa
History 137B Guide:
http://library.ucsc.edu/course-guides/history-137b---africa-1800-to-the-present
Labels:
assignments,
classes,
ref desk,
ref questions,
reference sources,
students
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