I just wanted to let you all that I've had a few tweaks done to Encore.
The LOCATIONS facet now lists many more discreet locations . One of these locations that people may find particularly useful is the INTERNET location...this allows people to limit their search to items available online.
The other enhancement is the addition of the Worldcat Local database link on the right-hand side of the screen from the search results screen. Although not immediately apparent due to the generic Worldcat Local image, this is the link to Next Gen MELVYL. I would have liked to use an image that reflected this, but unfortunately, Encore doesn't support changing this image yet. :( You'll see once you've done a search in Encore, the Worldcat Local link appears on the right with the numbers of items that match your search. Clicking on that takes you to MELVYL's search results. This link only appears from the results list. It will not appear when you've clicked through to a specific title. This is an enhancement we are eagerly awaiting.
David
Thursday, December 16, 2010
New music research guide
Many thanks to Paul Machlis for his new guide, How to Find Music in the Library.
It's a great review for helping patrons find music sources on the desk.
It's a great review for helping patrons find music sources on the desk.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Phone books
Laura's recent post on pay phones pushed the notion of phones to the front of my reference brain so my attention was quickly captured by Leah Garchik's December 13th column in the San Francisco Chronicle highlighting a unique reference work:
In his new "The Phone Book: The Curious History of the Book That Everyone Uses But No One Reads," historian Ammon Shea writes that for a few decades at the end of the 19th century and start of the 20th, there was a hand-lettered Chinese phone book in San Francisco. This was for Chinese customers of Pacific Bell who used the only foreign-language phone exchange in the country.
Chinatown's first phone, in a Bush Street office, was in operation in the 1880s, and was much used by "farmers selling produce or looking for laborers." Beginning in 1890, residents had access to a public phone in the offices of a Chinese-language newspaper. By 1894, a Chinatown switchboard linked 37 phones; in 1898, they became part of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph.
Because Chinese characters are based on ideas rather than letters, the "directory" system was not alphabetic, and most operators would spend a great deal of their first months on the job trying to memorize phone numbers.
UCSC doesn't have The Phone Book: The Curious History of the Book that Everyone Used but No One Reads, but the section describing this distinctive San Francisco phone directory in more detail is included in the Google Books preview here.
In his new "The Phone Book: The Curious History of the Book That Everyone Uses But No One Reads," historian Ammon Shea writes that for a few decades at the end of the 19th century and start of the 20th, there was a hand-lettered Chinese phone book in San Francisco. This was for Chinese customers of Pacific Bell who used the only foreign-language phone exchange in the country.
Chinatown's first phone, in a Bush Street office, was in operation in the 1880s, and was much used by "farmers selling produce or looking for laborers." Beginning in 1890, residents had access to a public phone in the offices of a Chinese-language newspaper. By 1894, a Chinatown switchboard linked 37 phones; in 1898, they became part of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph.
Because Chinese characters are based on ideas rather than letters, the "directory" system was not alphabetic, and most operators would spend a great deal of their first months on the job trying to memorize phone numbers.
While Santa Cruz may not have such a distinctive history of telephone directories our Special Collections Department does have a small collection of phone directories from as far back as 1918. The collection is in NRLF and more details about its scope can be found here.
Other historical directories more readily available include Polk and Haines directories which can be found in Cruzcat. A detailed list of historical collections of local telephone directories held in various repositories throughout the county can be found on page 65 of Every Structure Tells a Story: How to Research the History of a Property in Santa Cruz County.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Pay Phones at UCSC
We have a list of pay phones on campus, but it is dated 2007. They may still be there, but this is unverified. I will update this entry if I get around to them to see if they are still operational.
Two closest to McHenry Library: Bay Tree Bookstore and Theater Arts ticket booth
Closest to Science & Engineering Library: Health Center
Complete list (**with TDD):
Bay Tree Bookstore 831-425-9245**
Performing Arts (ticket booth, near bldg 3) 831-425-9877
Health Center (back lobby near rear door) 831-425-9241
Kresge Town Hall (in front of the coffee house) 831-425-9073
College 9/10 (under stairwell of College 9) 831-425-9320
College 8 (entry porch DL building) 831-425-9403
College 8 (apt bldg 6 outside) 831-425-9846
College 8 (apt bldg 2 outside) 831-425-9849
Crown College (admin bldg gatehouse) 831-425-9645
Porter College (bldg C, outside dining hall) 831-425-9295**
The map below does incorrectly say UCSF, but it isn't. ;)
Two closest to McHenry Library: Bay Tree Bookstore and Theater Arts ticket booth
Closest to Science & Engineering Library: Health Center
Complete list (**with TDD):
Bay Tree Bookstore 831-425-9245**
Performing Arts (ticket booth, near bldg 3) 831-425-9877
Health Center (back lobby near rear door) 831-425-9241
Kresge Town Hall (in front of the coffee house) 831-425-9073
College 9/10 (under stairwell of College 9) 831-425-9320
College 8 (entry porch DL building) 831-425-9403
College 8 (apt bldg 6 outside) 831-425-9846
College 8 (apt bldg 2 outside) 831-425-9849
Crown College (admin bldg gatehouse) 831-425-9645
Porter College (bldg C, outside dining hall) 831-425-9295**
The map below does incorrectly say UCSF, but it isn't. ;)
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
International census questions
We've had several questions about census statistics and demographics for countries around the world. As a reminder the U.S. Census Dept. maintains a list of International Statistical Agencies here. Many of these agencies provide English language versions. For example, yesterday a patron and I were able to find a report, in English, from the Swedish census bureau about the demographics of immigrants from Iraq to Sweden.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Ref College and Careers collection
Hi all,
As part of the reference reduction I'm planning to do some heavy weeding in the college and careers collection outside of the BI room. Much of the material can obviously be withdrawn or moved into the ref collection under its call number. If there is anything questionable I'll consult with the appropriate bibliographer, but if you have questions or concerns about this collection or the material in contains please let me know. Once I've cleared it I will ask cataloging to remove that location from Cruzcat.
thanks, Frank
As part of the reference reduction I'm planning to do some heavy weeding in the college and careers collection outside of the BI room. Much of the material can obviously be withdrawn or moved into the ref collection under its call number. If there is anything questionable I'll consult with the appropriate bibliographer, but if you have questions or concerns about this collection or the material in contains please let me know. Once I've cleared it I will ask cataloging to remove that location from Cruzcat.
thanks, Frank
My ILL Requests update
Hi All,
This is to inform you that a fix is being put in place that might affect patrons who are trying to access the 'My ILL Requests' service OR might affect when they go to place interlibrary loan requests. We are having CDL change the field where patrons enter their barcode in request and 'My ILL Requests' so that they will no longer be able to put hyphens or spaces between the numbers of their barcode. Patrons were supposed to be putting their barcodes in like this all along, however, the entry field would allow all sorts of variations which would go on to create a distinct account in the interlibrary loan system.
Basically, over the next few days/weeks/months, if you encounter a patron who is having difficulty logging into ILL services you may want to ask how they are going about entering their barcode.
Barcodes should be entered as one continuous string of numbers.
ie: 2210600642878X
AND NOT
22106-0064287-8X OR any other variation like this.
If the patron continues to have trouble please refer him directly to us (call, or e-mail ill@library.ucsc.edu). This fix should be in place sometime on Monday Nov. 15th.
Feel free to write back for any clarification!
-Josh, Interlibrary Loan
This is to inform you that a fix is being put in place that might affect patrons who are trying to access the 'My ILL Requests' service OR might affect when they go to place interlibrary loan requests. We are having CDL change the field where patrons enter their barcode in request and 'My ILL Requests' so that they will no longer be able to put hyphens or spaces between the numbers of their barcode. Patrons were supposed to be putting their barcodes in like this all along, however, the entry field would allow all sorts of variations which would go on to create a distinct account in the interlibrary loan system.
Basically, over the next few days/weeks/months, if you encounter a patron who is having difficulty logging into ILL services you may want to ask how they are going about entering their barcode.
Barcodes should be entered as one continuous string of numbers.
ie: 2210600642878X
AND NOT
22106-0064287-8X OR any other variation like this.
If the patron continues to have trouble please refer him directly to us (call, or e-mail ill@library.ucsc.edu). This fix should be in place sometime on Monday Nov. 15th.
Feel free to write back for any clarification!
-Josh, Interlibrary Loan
Monday, November 1, 2010
What to do if a 1994+ UCSC dissertation does not appear in Digital Dissertations online
Although we archive the paper copies of all UCSC master theses and doctoral dissertations in Special Collections, they do not handle the submission of files to Digital Dissertations. We can make an inquiry of the UCSC Graduate Division about the student and title and they will verify that the dissertation was produced. They do not have information about its submission to Pro Quest (the company that produces the electronic files and supports Digital Dissertations). It is not mandatory for students to have their dissertations made electronically available so in some cases it may be that the student decided not to make it accessible in this format. The Graduate Division can check and verify if this is the case.
If you encounter an incorrect record in Cruzcat, where a link to Digital Dissertations is provided but does not work, please let Cataloging know and they can correct the record.
If you encounter an incorrect record in Cruzcat, where a link to Digital Dissertations is provided but does not work, please let Cataloging know and they can correct the record.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Articles & Databases link missing on home page
The Articles & Databases link on the left side of the library home page is missing and it has been reported.
In the meantime, use the Articles link in the center and then click on "More article databases."
Best, Laura
In the meantime, use the Articles link in the center and then click on "More article databases."
Best, Laura
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
EBSCO changes requirements for using search tags in command line searching
EBSCO reports:
Dear EBSCO Customer,
Please note that over the next few days, we will begin migrating toward a new command line search requirement that all search tags be entered in upper-case ONLY, from the current lower, mixed and upper-case options. Here are the details of this change:
Search Tag Changes
Effective with a software release due this week, EBSCO will treat a short list of command line search tags (when entered in lower or mixed case) as text. Only UPPER CASE instances of these tags will be treated as search tags. The tags that will undergo this change are: AN, AS, AU, BE, DE, DO, DR, GI, IN, IP, IS, LA, RN, SO.
The EBSCOhost search engine will place quotation marks around the tags listed above, whenever they are entered in lower or mixed case. Therefore, a user will see the quotes in search history and saved searches going forward.
For example: if the user enters an american tragedy, they will see "an" american tragedy in their search history.
Please note: While users must only enter these specific tags in UPPER CASE with this software release (so that they will be treated as tags and not text), we highly recommend that all users become accustomed to entering ALL command line search tags in UPPER CASE to accommodate future additions to the short list of affected tags. The current list of tags that will be changed is made up of tags that are not frequently used, to cause the least amount of impact on "super" users who are the most likely to employ command line searching.
Dear EBSCO Customer,
Please note that over the next few days, we will begin migrating toward a new command line search requirement that all search tags be entered in upper-case ONLY, from the current lower, mixed and upper-case options. Here are the details of this change:
Search Tag Changes
Effective with a software release due this week, EBSCO will treat a short list of command line search tags (when entered in lower or mixed case) as text. Only UPPER CASE instances of these tags will be treated as search tags. The tags that will undergo this change are: AN, AS, AU, BE, DE, DO, DR, GI, IN, IP, IS, LA, RN, SO.
The EBSCOhost search engine will place quotation marks around the tags listed above, whenever they are entered in lower or mixed case. Therefore, a user will see the quotes in search history and saved searches going forward.
For example: if the user enters an american tragedy, they will see "an" american tragedy in their search history.
Please note: While users must only enter these specific tags in UPPER CASE with this software release (so that they will be treated as tags and not text), we highly recommend that all users become accustomed to entering ALL command line search tags in UPPER CASE to accommodate future additions to the short list of affected tags. The current list of tags that will be changed is made up of tags that are not frequently used, to cause the least amount of impact on "super" users who are the most likely to employ command line searching.
Monday, October 25, 2010
CruzID manager web pg down tonight
New laptops/iPads/calculators/headphones checkout policy
Hi all,
In order to bring our laptop and other equipment lending policies in line with the iPad pilot we have made some changes effective this morning. All laptops, iPads, and calculators can now be checked out for 4 hours at a time. This equipment can be taken outside of the library and may be checked out overnight after 8:30pm. Headphones may also be checked out for 4 hours, but patrons may not take them outside of the library and they cannot be checked out overnight.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me.
Nicole
In order to bring our laptop and other equipment lending policies in line with the iPad pilot we have made some changes effective this morning. All laptops, iPads, and calculators can now be checked out for 4 hours at a time. This equipment can be taken outside of the library and may be checked out overnight after 8:30pm. Headphones may also be checked out for 4 hours, but patrons may not take them outside of the library and they cannot be checked out overnight.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me.
Nicole
Friday, October 22, 2010
Problem with public copiers - extra charges when using bypass tray
Frank Dang reports:
Public Services staff,
I wanted to alert you to an intermittent copier issue. McHenry Infocommons copiers and Cowell Room Copiers.
Sometimes when using the bypass the new copiers are double charging patrons. On Monday I tested this with the copier services staff and we were double charged. Pat True when back and tested it again with the copier technician and could not re-create the problem.
If you have a patron using the bypass tray on the new copiers in either building and they complain of double charging please notify ps_copiers@ucsc.edu and fdang@ucsc.edu with the time, date, copier number and a small explanation of problem.
If a patron is charged incorrectly the Circulation desks have refund forms, and the McHenry circ desk has cards for refunds.
Thanks,
-Frank
Public Services staff,
I wanted to alert you to an intermittent copier issue. McHenry Infocommons copiers and Cowell Room Copiers.
Sometimes when using the bypass the new copiers are double charging patrons. On Monday I tested this with the copier services staff and we were double charged. Pat True when back and tested it again with the copier technician and could not re-create the problem.
If you have a patron using the bypass tray on the new copiers in either building and they complain of double charging please notify ps_copiers@ucsc.edu and fdang@ucsc.edu with the time, date, copier number and a small explanation of problem.
If a patron is charged incorrectly the Circulation desks have refund forms, and the McHenry circ desk has cards for refunds.
Thanks,
-Frank
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Update on Morton Marcus Poetry Reading tickets
McHenry Library's Circ desk is a distribution site for the free tickets to the 1st annual Morton Marcus Memorial Poetry Reading featuring Robert Hass on Nov. 6th. at the Cabrillo College Music Recital Hall.
Unfortunately, all the tickets have now been given out-- this is turning out to be a VERY popular event.
If those of you working at the Circ desk (or at other public service desks) end up with complaints about ticket availability please refer those folk to me. As of today noon there are still 20 tickets left at Bookshop Santa Cruz, and if there are cancellations it is possible there may be some at the door before the event.
Thanks for your assistance and patience .
-Christine Bunting
Unfortunately, all the tickets have now been given out-- this is turning out to be a VERY popular event.
If those of you working at the Circ desk (or at other public service desks) end up with complaints about ticket availability please refer those folk to me. As of today noon there are still 20 tickets left at Bookshop Santa Cruz, and if there are cancellations it is possible there may be some at the door before the event.
Thanks for your assistance and patience .
-Christine Bunting
Friday, October 15, 2010
Zines for Community Studies 161 (Steiner)
If students from CMMU 161 come looking for two zines listed on their syllabus as "at McHenry Library", they are not available here. They are available on the web as free downloadable PDFs.
Here are the links:
Take Back Your Life: A Wimmin's Guide to Alternative Health Care
http://zinelibrary.info/files/takebackyrlife.pdf
Navigating the Space Between Brilliance and Madness
http://theicarusproject.net/files/navigating_the_space.pdf
I will contact the instructor and let her know.
Here are the links:
Take Back Your Life: A Wimmin's Guide to Alternative Health Care
http://zinelibrary.info/files/takebackyrlife.pdf
Navigating the Space Between Brilliance and Madness
http://theicarusproject.net/files/navigating_the_space.pdf
I will contact the instructor and let her know.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
October 18th-22nd desk schedule
Hi Deskers,
Next week's schedule has been posted on the staff portal page. We do not yet have a link on the main page, but I have submitted a request to WIT. In the meantime, login to the portal and then do a search in the top box for "reference". The schedule page will be the first link you see.
I will still distribute a paper copy to those who have asked for one.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Best,
Laura
Next week's schedule has been posted on the staff portal page. We do not yet have a link on the main page, but I have submitted a request to WIT. In the meantime, login to the portal
I will still distribute a paper copy to those who have asked for one.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Best,
Laura
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Biomolecular Engineering/Computer Engineering 123A class
Hi all,
In case you get questions for the Biomolecular Engineering/Computer Engineering 123A class, we have a class guide to help students do research for their engineering design project. This is a 2 quarter class, so the page will likely be up for both fall and winter quarters:
http://library.ucsc.edu/course-guides/biomolecular-engineering-computer-engineering-123a
The class page has links to recommended article databases (Inspec, Compendex, Pubmed, etc.), plus other sources such as patents, application notes, and protocols. Please let us know if you have are any questions.
Christy H. and I are also willing to take questions directly from students.
-Ann
In case you get questions for the Biomolecular Engineering/Computer Engineering 123A class, we have a class guide to help students do research for their engineering design project. This is a 2 quarter class, so the page will likely be up for both fall and winter quarters:
http://library.ucsc.edu/course-guides/biomolecular-engineering-computer-engineering-123a
The class page has links to recommended article databases (Inspec, Compendex, Pubmed, etc.), plus other sources such as patents, application notes, and protocols. Please let us know if you have are any questions.
Christy H. and I are also willing to take questions directly from students.
-Ann
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Bio 80A Life in the Sea
In case you encounter students from Bio 80A, Life in the Sea - courtesy of the S&E Ref blog.
Tips for Life in the Sea Classes
Many ref books that we tend to use for this class are out for Google Scanning.
Using the Gale Virtual Reference Library has helped. Shortcut: Search "GVRL" in cruzcat.
Searching for the species in Google Books can work too. They can then see if we own the book. Or sometimes they can view enough of the book to use it as a source from within Google Books.
I've had *some* success in Academic Search Complete. You can narrow to publication type = encyclopedia.
Tips for Life in the Sea Classes
Many ref books that we tend to use for this class are out for Google Scanning.
Using the Gale Virtual Reference Library has helped. Shortcut: Search "GVRL" in cruzcat.
Searching for the species in Google Books can work too. They can then see if we own the book. Or sometimes they can view enough of the book to use it as a source from within Google Books.
I've had *some* success in Academic Search Complete. You can narrow to publication type = encyclopedia.
Updated policy regarding double-sided copying
There is no duplex copy support on the Copier services copiers here in the library, automated or manual. This will be fixed when the campus goes to a new copier and payment system, which there is currently a RFP in progress. Duplex will be available again when the new system goes in.
When using the bypass as a manual duplexer more jams will happen. Copier services had to turn off the automated duplex functionality on these copiers due to a compatibility issue between the payment systems and the copiers. Regarding the duplex issue some of the reasons duplex was turned off was because of the impact of support of having jams frequently, the payment issues, reliability and stability.
Elizabeth Cowell is the library contact to work through service issues with Campus Copier and Print services.
Omar will educate the Library ITS students on copier duplexing.
-Frank Dang
When using the bypass as a manual duplexer more jams will happen. Copier services had to turn off the automated duplex functionality on these copiers due to a compatibility issue between the payment systems and the copiers. Regarding the duplex issue some of the reasons duplex was turned off was because of the impact of support of having jams frequently, the payment issues, reliability and stability.
Elizabeth Cowell is the library contact to work through service issues with Campus Copier and Print services.
Omar will educate the Library ITS students on copier duplexing.
-Frank Dang
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
IT Help Desk updated schedule
Staffing hours for the McHenry IT Help Desk through 12/10/10:
9/25/10-10/8/10:
Mon: 12pm-midnight
Tues: 2pm-4pm, 9pm-midnight
Wed: 12pm-midnight
Thurs: 2pm-4pm, 9pm-midnight
Fri: 12pm-8pm
Sat: 12pm-7pm
Sun: 12pm-midnight
10/9/10-12/10/10:
Mon-Thurs: 12pm-midnight
Fri: 12pm-8pm
Sat: 12pm-7pm
Sun: 12pm-midnight
The first schedule through 10/8/10 allows for the new students to be trained. The second schedule reflects full staffing.
The main library hours page now lists these hours, as well as the staffing at S & E: http://library.ucsc.edu/hours
9/25/10-10/8/10:
Mon: 12pm-midnight
Tues: 2pm-4pm, 9pm-midnight
Wed: 12pm-midnight
Thurs: 2pm-4pm, 9pm-midnight
Fri: 12pm-8pm
Sat: 12pm-7pm
Sun: 12pm-midnight
10/9/10-12/10/10:
Mon-Thurs: 12pm-midnight
Fri: 12pm-8pm
Sat: 12pm-7pm
Sun: 12pm-midnight
The first schedule through 10/8/10 allows for the new students to be trained. The second schedule reflects full staffing.
The main library hours page now lists these hours, as well as the staffing at S & E: http://library.ucsc.edu/hours
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
