Donation Box: Natural History Museum Utah

Clever, clever, clever! Put money in dinosaurs mouth and it is added to the collection box. Irresistible to children of every age.

Donor Wall: Natural History Museum of Utah

Reference Road Trip to University of Utah

Had a great visit and tour of the Marriott Library in Salt Lake City, UT.
For pictures taken during the visit check out my Flickr Album.
Honoring donors:

Marketing resources via posters:

Utah Library Association in May

I will be presenting with my colleagues Cheryl Sebold, Annie Smith and Regina Koury at the Utah Library Association Conference this May 12-14. http://www.ula.org/conference/2010conf/index.php. Our session is Friday afternoon.

Advice from the Trenches: Evaluating & Selecting Databases, Decoding Sales Speak, Negotiating Licenses, Tracking & Analyzing Database Usage

This is a four part presentation on the evaluation, selection and re-evaluation of electronic databases. The first part on evaluation will include demonstrations of free online assessment tools, review sources, rubrics, and ideas for comparing apples to apples instead of tangerines and kumquats. The second section will have tips for decoding the sales pitch into real decision making information. The third part includes advice on dealing with vendors and negotiating the terms of license agreements. Our costly, recent difficulties with existing licensing agreements will be aired. Lastly, the re-evaluation of databases through statistics tracking and assessment will be discussed.

Utah State University: Power

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

Gotta love these tables with their built in power outlets.

Utah State University: The Barn: FAQ's

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions. Click on the picture to go to the larger one on my Flickr account.

Utah State University: The Barn

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

Here is a picture of the automated storage and retrieval unit taking a shelving stand away. Instead of bins the books are stored on shelving units. Each unit is kept in call number order on these shelves.

Utah State University: Fossils

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

Each service desk has a pair of fossils embedded in the surface. The fossils are from Utah digs.

Utah State University: Gallery Space

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

Looking down from the second floor at the gallery space near the entry of the library. They were mounting a cowboy poetry display.

Utah State University: Lockers

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

A popular item, located througout the library. Checked out to students by the semester for a fee.

Utah State University: Natural Light

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

The volume of natural light penetrating into the library is phenomenal.

Utah State University: Instruction Lab

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

Here we see their (Utah State University library's) instruction lab. Notice how slim the computers are. The decision to go with Apple was made in part because of the ability to remove the tower that all PC's seem to have. Very slick.

This picture is taken from the "front" of the room near the instructor station.

Utah State University: Cool computer stations

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

These are designed for students to check their email. They are stand up stations located near the entry to the library.

Utah State University: Chairs

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

One of the things I really loved about the library was the plethora of seating of different sizes, shapes and locations. Surely there is a spot for everyone to sit and read or study.

Utah State University: Old and New

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

A view looking out over the lower stacks area. The hanging art globes are light fixtures added during the expansion of the science library into the main library. They are from the former social sciences library which was demolished.

Utah State University: Advertising Services/Events

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

There are two of these TV's mounted in the library. On one the content is controlled by the library, on the other the content is controlled by the university. Both promote the services, activities, and resources of the institutions.

Utah State University: Info Commons - Utah State

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

150 computers scattered through the library. Here is the largest concentration in the information commons area.

Reference Road Trip to Utah State Univ. Logan

We left early (7:00 a.m.) in the morning, no shining required, and arrived around 9:00 a.m. First was the tour where we saw & learned many interesting things. I'll post more specific blog entries based on my photographs soon. Then was the meetup with several of their public services librarians. This meetup and conversation was fascinating.

Here are my notes from that conversation.

• Have IM reference up and running, pondering text messaging.
• Blackboard
• Facebook: don't friend students unless you already have a relationship with them, it borders on creepy. Do friend them if they friend you first.
• Webfeat (federated searching) was being funded by the state. They will be losing this in the current round of budget cuts.
• Will be using Ebsco Group Search as their federated search.
• Promoting the use of Zotero (http://www.zotero.org/) a free Endnote like product
• Have a yearly "staff day" held on lawn, in the library, or other part of campus.
• 15,000 FTE (students)
• The reference desk is staffed by librarians, computer lab techs, and the peer mentors.
• Yearly luncheon for IT & Library
• Check out PRIMO indexing information literacy/library tutorials on the web
• Librarians in the reference/instruction department teach an average of 130 classes/year
• They are also embedded in online classes through the bulletin board function in Blackboard.
• Tracking consultations that happen because of classes.
• Tracking prep-time for instruction sessions

Peer Mentor Program
The Office for the Academic Vice President for Research has been funding undergraduate teaching stipends, including 3 for the library.
These students are trained to help at the reference desk, teach the in the first year experience and assistance in the classroom with some of the freshman English classes.

Reference in the Business Building
Britt and Wendy were invited by the college of business to provide reference service in the business building. The college supplied the laptop and desk which was situated in a busy area. They are hoping for better signage this coming semester but were surprised by the traffic they did receive. Professors recommended students stop and use their services after class. Average time spent with a student was approximately 25 minutes. The average at the main library is 6 minutes.

Libstats
A PHP based statistics tracking system designed for libraries. They are tracking who answered the question, the status of the patron, nature of the question, time/date (automatic), length of time spent with patron, the query, and the answer.

20 minutes in class sessions to introduce self, brainstorm topics & research questions. It breaks the ice and integrates the library experience. There is also the perception that the library is important because the professor brought them to the class.

Check out my full photo set from the trip at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157619124300863/

ULA: my last session

CyberInfrastructure Session

For the most part this was a bit over my head and not really applicable to what I do. However, the last bit had a few gems. First BYU has had a decrease in usage of the hardwired computers in the information commons. A reduction to the tune of 50%. Wireless computing has increased until recently and has leveled off. The presenter believes that this too will decrease as more portable cell phone type devices begin to be used such as his iPhone and wireless network cards like the ones offered by Verizon. We need to think about mobile computing and how/where it will impact us.

Cool sign in his presentation: No Shhhh Zone

The Attic

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

Another nook in the children's library.