Here is the link to the whys etc. on the wiki.
http://intranet.auraria.edu/wiki/index.php/Usability_Spring_2010
It has a link to a 'highlevel' timeline at http://intranet.auraria.edu/wiki/index.php/See_the_full_timeline.
Also he now has an email and is definitely willing to take comments and answer questions from any of us, adam dot engelsgjerd at ucdenver dot edu to see when he is available to talk more.
Also his notes from the meeting are posted on the shared drive at file:///\\cudenver.edu\DeptShares\Library\Education_Research_and_InformationServices\Usability\WebsiteUsabilityProjectOverview.pdf
Monday, March 8, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Creating links our student-only resources
Reminder to creators of guides and webpages:
The links to our proprietary resources can and do change at any time and must include the rewrite wrapper to work for students from off campus.
Please check your database links regularly against the master list of working links to the databases and journals that may be found in the ADI or in Skyline.
Thanks all.
The links to our proprietary resources can and do change at any time and must include the rewrite wrapper to work for students from off campus.
Please check your database links regularly against the master list of working links to the databases and journals that may be found in the ADI or in Skyline.
Thanks all.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
ERI UPDATE - JANUARY 14, 2010
Flash -- Reserves/Media Desk closes.
ERI Update January 14, 2010
1.The Ask Us desk will open for business on Friday, January 15. The Reserves/Media desk closed at 5pm Thursday, January 14. The Reserves/Media services will be handled out of the Ask Us desk starting tomorrow.
The Tech Help desk and Research Help service area will open for business on Monday, January 18.
Temporary signs for these changes and moves are on the black exhibit panels and are in place, ready to turn to face the public as soon as we are all ready. The signage company is working on our quote/design for the permanent signs…it should be very exciting. Thanks to Eric, Amy, Mary D, Farhad and Jerry for preparing and hanging these temp signs.
2.Nearly all of the materials have been moved from Reserves/Media to the Ask Us desk. Circ staff will remain in rm 129 until their new offices are created in the Information Delivery Services (IDS) staff and processing area (which is the area vacated by the media shelving). Thanks to the IDS staff for making sure the move went smoothly.
3.The WorldCat Local Implementation team chaired by Gayle and the Web Team took the feedback from our students, faculty, and library employees and created a much improved, updated home page. See the emails that Gayle and Nina sent out earlier today for more information. These changes are now available at http://library.auraria.edu. Wow! This is a great, cooperative outcome that will benefit our customers tremendously.
4.The 2 color scanners have been moved to the corner of the North courtyard area. The microform scanner will be coming soon and the computer for that scanner has already been moved to this area as well…to this new scanner bank.
5.Doug and others are working on moving the Tech Help, Research Help, and Ask Us desk computers today and Friday. They have also relocated the printers and venda-card machine that were formerly in the back of the Computer Commons to the front, making problem resolution by the Tech Help students easier to handle.
6.The purchase of the self-check machines (and RFID) has been quite a process. Since pursuing a sole-source purchase did not work out, the purchase has been submitted to a bid process. If everything works out well, we may have the 2 self-check machines by the end of Feb. Many thanks to Rick B and Denise for tenaciously following through (and using every negotiating tactic in the book) with this complicated, important initiative.
7.Updated print and web versions of the 1st and 2nd floors are available. Thanks to Nina for helping to create and load the map which you may view at
http://library.auraria.edu/info/maps/firstfloor.html.
Mary D is copying the print version of the map which you may also see in this attachment. Thanks to Denise and Nina for creating this print version.
8.A number of new resources have been added recently including Opposing Viewpoints and the full-text of U.S. Congressional hearings (see emails from Collection Development).
9. Several marketing/informational collaterals became available this week that will help us in our work and in communicating with the students and faculty.
SPRING BOOKMARKS –
New Auraria Library bookmarks are in and available for use. If you need some for presentations, communications, etc, these are at the Ask Us desk.
Many thanks to all who participated in revamping the bookmark, especially to Amy.
REVAMPED FLYERS/BROCHURES – See email from the Communications Committee, sent out by Denise. These new pieces include flyers for:
Faculty Overview
Faculty Research Help
Faculty Research Services
The New Auraria Library (color and b&w versions)
Student Services
UPDATED Campus Computer Labs and Textbook Commercial Sources Handouts from Bill.
Pursuing our Strategic Plan goal of establishing a public service model that combines services in a helpful way for students and faculty, recognizes organizational efficiencies and copes with staffing decreases and changes, continues to emphasize research help through f2f/email/IM/phone, and begins to create a learning commons environment that includes a focus on tech help -- has taken the energy, creativity and good-will of everyone of us. I thanked a few individuals in this email, but it truly took all of us in lots of different ways to achieve these fabulous accomplishments.
Let’s party…join your colleagues for an ERI pizza lunch tomorrow from 11:30am-12:30pm in the ELC.
THANK YOU ALL,
Cindy H
ERI Update January 14, 2010
1.The Ask Us desk will open for business on Friday, January 15. The Reserves/Media desk closed at 5pm Thursday, January 14. The Reserves/Media services will be handled out of the Ask Us desk starting tomorrow.
The Tech Help desk and Research Help service area will open for business on Monday, January 18.
Temporary signs for these changes and moves are on the black exhibit panels and are in place, ready to turn to face the public as soon as we are all ready. The signage company is working on our quote/design for the permanent signs…it should be very exciting. Thanks to Eric, Amy, Mary D, Farhad and Jerry for preparing and hanging these temp signs.
2.Nearly all of the materials have been moved from Reserves/Media to the Ask Us desk. Circ staff will remain in rm 129 until their new offices are created in the Information Delivery Services (IDS) staff and processing area (which is the area vacated by the media shelving). Thanks to the IDS staff for making sure the move went smoothly.
3.The WorldCat Local Implementation team chaired by Gayle and the Web Team took the feedback from our students, faculty, and library employees and created a much improved, updated home page. See the emails that Gayle and Nina sent out earlier today for more information. These changes are now available at http://library.auraria.edu. Wow! This is a great, cooperative outcome that will benefit our customers tremendously.
4.The 2 color scanners have been moved to the corner of the North courtyard area. The microform scanner will be coming soon and the computer for that scanner has already been moved to this area as well…to this new scanner bank.
5.Doug and others are working on moving the Tech Help, Research Help, and Ask Us desk computers today and Friday. They have also relocated the printers and venda-card machine that were formerly in the back of the Computer Commons to the front, making problem resolution by the Tech Help students easier to handle.
6.The purchase of the self-check machines (and RFID) has been quite a process. Since pursuing a sole-source purchase did not work out, the purchase has been submitted to a bid process. If everything works out well, we may have the 2 self-check machines by the end of Feb. Many thanks to Rick B and Denise for tenaciously following through (and using every negotiating tactic in the book) with this complicated, important initiative.
7.Updated print and web versions of the 1st and 2nd floors are available. Thanks to Nina for helping to create and load the map which you may view at
http://library.auraria.edu/info/maps/firstfloor.html.
Mary D is copying the print version of the map which you may also see in this attachment. Thanks to Denise and Nina for creating this print version.
8.A number of new resources have been added recently including Opposing Viewpoints and the full-text of U.S. Congressional hearings (see emails from Collection Development).
9. Several marketing/informational collaterals became available this week that will help us in our work and in communicating with the students and faculty.
SPRING BOOKMARKS –
New Auraria Library bookmarks are in and available for use. If you need some for presentations, communications, etc, these are at the Ask Us desk.
Many thanks to all who participated in revamping the bookmark, especially to Amy.
REVAMPED FLYERS/BROCHURES – See email from the Communications Committee, sent out by Denise. These new pieces include flyers for:
Faculty Overview
Faculty Research Help
Faculty Research Services
The New Auraria Library (color and b&w versions)
Student Services
UPDATED Campus Computer Labs and Textbook Commercial Sources Handouts from Bill.
Pursuing our Strategic Plan goal of establishing a public service model that combines services in a helpful way for students and faculty, recognizes organizational efficiencies and copes with staffing decreases and changes, continues to emphasize research help through f2f/email/IM/phone, and begins to create a learning commons environment that includes a focus on tech help -- has taken the energy, creativity and good-will of everyone of us. I thanked a few individuals in this email, but it truly took all of us in lots of different ways to achieve these fabulous accomplishments.
Let’s party…join your colleagues for an ERI pizza lunch tomorrow from 11:30am-12:30pm in the ELC.
THANK YOU ALL,
Cindy H
ERI UPDATES FROM DEC 21 - JAN 6.
These all appeared in email as well, but in case you would like to comment on the blog and in order to "keep" a record, these updates appear on the blog as well.
ERI Update - Jan 6
Brief update:
1.Printers in computer commons area have been moved to the front of the Commons area and should be functioning by tomorrow. The venda-card machine will be moved to that area also as soon as AHEC can move it (it is bolted to the table). As noted earlier, these moves will make it easier for the Tech Help students to help with the printing and venda-card issues on that end of the room. Thanks Doug!
2.Doug will install a dual monitor swing arm computer set-up at the Reference Desk today. Thanks again Doug!
3.Signage choices have been made for the 3 service areas. We are choosing to continue the jewel-tone pallet of the garnet red wall and hanging signs. That garnet red will extend to the RESEARCH HELP wall and column. The sapphire blue color in the carpet, above the ELC, and of the “bathroom” wall will be used at the ASK US desk. An emerald-type green will be used for the column and signage at the TECH HELP desk. The words on the signs will be brushed aluminum…as described in Open Forum today.
Many thanks to the Facilities Task Force and many others who have helped with the signage aspect of the renovations. I think that is it for now.
Cindy H
ERI Update Jan. 4
Just a brief update for our first day back from break:
1. On Jan 5, the public PCs will be relocated to the column just south of the current Ref Desk (soon to be the new Tech Help desk). This means that these computers will not be available tomorrow morning. Doug will put out signs on these computers noting this change.
The move of the public PCs will clear the way for the creation of the Research Help service area.
2.AHEC is on schedule for this week’s activities in the Ask Us desk area including the patching/painting of walls, lights installation (lights have been delivered), and carpet patching. Therefore, the Reserves and media collections move should start Jan 11 if not sooner.
3.This means that the new service areas, Ask Us, Research Help, and Tech Help will be operational by the start of classes. Two caveats, we likely will not have self-check machines by Jan 19 (but as soon as possible thereafter) and we may begin that week with temporary signage for the service areas.
ERI Update Dec 24 - treats 11:30 today
Last ERI Update for 2009!
I will put this on the ERI News blog as well so that we have a record of the comments if we need to refer to them in the future; however, I wanted to send this as an email as well…to alert you to the treats in the Ref office area from 11:30am-1pm.
Cindy H, the Grinch…
One thing that I consistently see in the feedback from students is that they value the Library for the quiet space that we provide on the 2nd floor. I hear this in discussions with the faculty as well. When I presented The New Auraria Library concept to the UCD Associate Dean’s, I received very positive feedback including the fact that we are remaining true to providing the quiet spaces for study and reflection.
Therefore, I will risk being Grinch on this Dec 24 by suggesting that we not play music on the PA system. I am going to put out some treats, including raspberry sherbet punch, in the Ref office area at 11:30am.
Renovations
• Thanks to everyone of you for making 2009 such a productive year. In the first few months of this year, we had several task groups totaling over 30 people working on a new public service model. Adding these meetings, appreciative inquiry sessions, and ERI discussions to an already busy year made it seem as if we were constantly running to keep up with our jobs and all the changes. We have continued to tweak that public service model and made changes to our organization throughout the year. Now, we are pursuing the changes to the public desks.
• When we return in January, the wall between rm 109B and Circulation should be demolished. AHEC is working over the break and they may begin installing the necessary lighting in this area as well.
• After this area behind the Ask Us desk is painted, carpeting patched, and lighting installed, PSI will begin moving the shelving, cabinets, and collections over from the Reserves/ILL/Media area (this will become the staff area for the merged Information Delivery Services).
• The timing for moving the Circ staff from their temporary home in rm 129 and joining the rest of the IDS staff has not been confirmed yet. AHEC is still working on the plan and quote for creating the office “walls” and getting the necessary electricity in that department. We should hear back from them soon.
• Both the new Tech Help desk and the Ask Us desk will have swing-arm dual monitors. Rather than drilling additional holes through the granite counters tops, Doug has investigated and believes that the existing holes through which the computer wires come up through the desks can serve a dual purpose. The mounting pole for the swing-arm monitors will fit in that same hole. Good news since we won’t have to drill in the granite again (except for the redesigned ADA station at the Ask Us desk).
• Tech Help desk – we had talked about making the Tech Help desk “look different” from the current Reference desk. One idea was to take away the Ref desk entirely and use the wheeled desks in that spot. Other ideas included shortening or reconfiguring the existing modules of the Ref Desk; purchasing a new desk; putting the Tech Help service at the Ask Us desk and not having a separate Tech Help desk, etc. We will send out a separate update on the Tech Help desk and the Learning Commons “sandbox” area at the beginning of the new year.
Also, here are well-deserved thank-you’s from Nicole and me to the Circ staff:
Subject: RE: The Move
And many thanks to all of you for making this transition smooth and working with the AHEC and PSI staff.
PSI will finish moving the blue walls and haul off the short panel walls today. The demo of the rm 109b wall will start Monday if not sooner.
Woo Hoo! After a year of planning, it is great to see the changes happening with your help and initiative.
Cindy H
From: Toovey, Nicole
Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2009 11:48 AM
To: Hashert, Cynthia; Jamerino, Evelyn
Cc: Martin, Greg; Azimi, Azim; Tawnelle, Patricia; Kerdpanthong, Supak
Subject: The Move
Cindy,
I just wanted to let you know how amazing the Circ staff was for our move. Thanks to Greg for helping rearrange the furniture and for taking down and setting up the department computer. Thank you to Azim for organizing and cleaning and furniture rearranging. Thank you to Supak for guarding the Circ desk all afternoon so others could help the movers and set up their areas. Thanks to Patricia for covering the desk all morning and helping with odds and ends at the desk. Circ pulled together and got the job done.
Nicole Toovey
ERI Update Dec 21
Just a brief update:
1.Likely that PSI will be here on Wednesday to start moving the Circulation staff to temporary quarters in rm 129.
2.Electrical outlets to be installed on the column north of the current Ref Desk (to accommodate the move of the Public PCs) over the week of Dec. 28. Therefore, we will be able to move those Public PCs when we return the week of Jan 4.
3.Earlier, I told you that I had a sample of the brushed aluminum letters for the ASK US, RESEARCH HELP, and TECH HELP signs (which you can also see in the ELC sign). I also now have one sample of the plexiglass that we might decide to use for the desk services signs*. I only have “tile red” sample now for you to look at, but should get a sample of blue and green soon.
Cindy H
*desk services sign =
TECH HELP (same listing that appears on The New Auraria Library exhibit) such as:
Printing
Scanning
Computer software and hardware
Microform machines
ASK US (same listing that appears on The New Auraria Library exhibit) such as:
Information
Check-out
Reserves
Media
ILL
These all appeared in email as well, but in case you would like to comment on the blog and in order to "keep" a record, these updates appear on the blog as well.
ERI Update - Jan 6
Brief update:
1.Printers in computer commons area have been moved to the front of the Commons area and should be functioning by tomorrow. The venda-card machine will be moved to that area also as soon as AHEC can move it (it is bolted to the table). As noted earlier, these moves will make it easier for the Tech Help students to help with the printing and venda-card issues on that end of the room. Thanks Doug!
2.Doug will install a dual monitor swing arm computer set-up at the Reference Desk today. Thanks again Doug!
3.Signage choices have been made for the 3 service areas. We are choosing to continue the jewel-tone pallet of the garnet red wall and hanging signs. That garnet red will extend to the RESEARCH HELP wall and column. The sapphire blue color in the carpet, above the ELC, and of the “bathroom” wall will be used at the ASK US desk. An emerald-type green will be used for the column and signage at the TECH HELP desk. The words on the signs will be brushed aluminum…as described in Open Forum today.
Many thanks to the Facilities Task Force and many others who have helped with the signage aspect of the renovations. I think that is it for now.
Cindy H
ERI Update Jan. 4
Just a brief update for our first day back from break:
1. On Jan 5, the public PCs will be relocated to the column just south of the current Ref Desk (soon to be the new Tech Help desk). This means that these computers will not be available tomorrow morning. Doug will put out signs on these computers noting this change.
The move of the public PCs will clear the way for the creation of the Research Help service area.
2.AHEC is on schedule for this week’s activities in the Ask Us desk area including the patching/painting of walls, lights installation (lights have been delivered), and carpet patching. Therefore, the Reserves and media collections move should start Jan 11 if not sooner.
3.This means that the new service areas, Ask Us, Research Help, and Tech Help will be operational by the start of classes. Two caveats, we likely will not have self-check machines by Jan 19 (but as soon as possible thereafter) and we may begin that week with temporary signage for the service areas.
ERI Update Dec 24 - treats 11:30 today
Last ERI Update for 2009!
I will put this on the ERI News blog as well so that we have a record of the comments if we need to refer to them in the future; however, I wanted to send this as an email as well…to alert you to the treats in the Ref office area from 11:30am-1pm.
Cindy H, the Grinch…
One thing that I consistently see in the feedback from students is that they value the Library for the quiet space that we provide on the 2nd floor. I hear this in discussions with the faculty as well. When I presented The New Auraria Library concept to the UCD Associate Dean’s, I received very positive feedback including the fact that we are remaining true to providing the quiet spaces for study and reflection.
Therefore, I will risk being Grinch on this Dec 24 by suggesting that we not play music on the PA system. I am going to put out some treats, including raspberry sherbet punch, in the Ref office area at 11:30am.
Renovations
• Thanks to everyone of you for making 2009 such a productive year. In the first few months of this year, we had several task groups totaling over 30 people working on a new public service model. Adding these meetings, appreciative inquiry sessions, and ERI discussions to an already busy year made it seem as if we were constantly running to keep up with our jobs and all the changes. We have continued to tweak that public service model and made changes to our organization throughout the year. Now, we are pursuing the changes to the public desks.
• When we return in January, the wall between rm 109B and Circulation should be demolished. AHEC is working over the break and they may begin installing the necessary lighting in this area as well.
• After this area behind the Ask Us desk is painted, carpeting patched, and lighting installed, PSI will begin moving the shelving, cabinets, and collections over from the Reserves/ILL/Media area (this will become the staff area for the merged Information Delivery Services).
• The timing for moving the Circ staff from their temporary home in rm 129 and joining the rest of the IDS staff has not been confirmed yet. AHEC is still working on the plan and quote for creating the office “walls” and getting the necessary electricity in that department. We should hear back from them soon.
• Both the new Tech Help desk and the Ask Us desk will have swing-arm dual monitors. Rather than drilling additional holes through the granite counters tops, Doug has investigated and believes that the existing holes through which the computer wires come up through the desks can serve a dual purpose. The mounting pole for the swing-arm monitors will fit in that same hole. Good news since we won’t have to drill in the granite again (except for the redesigned ADA station at the Ask Us desk).
• Tech Help desk – we had talked about making the Tech Help desk “look different” from the current Reference desk. One idea was to take away the Ref desk entirely and use the wheeled desks in that spot. Other ideas included shortening or reconfiguring the existing modules of the Ref Desk; purchasing a new desk; putting the Tech Help service at the Ask Us desk and not having a separate Tech Help desk, etc. We will send out a separate update on the Tech Help desk and the Learning Commons “sandbox” area at the beginning of the new year.
Also, here are well-deserved thank-you’s from Nicole and me to the Circ staff:
Subject: RE: The Move
And many thanks to all of you for making this transition smooth and working with the AHEC and PSI staff.
PSI will finish moving the blue walls and haul off the short panel walls today. The demo of the rm 109b wall will start Monday if not sooner.
Woo Hoo! After a year of planning, it is great to see the changes happening with your help and initiative.
Cindy H
From: Toovey, Nicole
Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2009 11:48 AM
To: Hashert, Cynthia; Jamerino, Evelyn
Cc: Martin, Greg; Azimi, Azim; Tawnelle, Patricia; Kerdpanthong, Supak
Subject: The Move
Cindy,
I just wanted to let you know how amazing the Circ staff was for our move. Thanks to Greg for helping rearrange the furniture and for taking down and setting up the department computer. Thank you to Azim for organizing and cleaning and furniture rearranging. Thank you to Supak for guarding the Circ desk all afternoon so others could help the movers and set up their areas. Thanks to Patricia for covering the desk all morning and helping with odds and ends at the desk. Circ pulled together and got the job done.
Nicole Toovey
ERI Update Dec 21
Just a brief update:
1.Likely that PSI will be here on Wednesday to start moving the Circulation staff to temporary quarters in rm 129.
2.Electrical outlets to be installed on the column north of the current Ref Desk (to accommodate the move of the Public PCs) over the week of Dec. 28. Therefore, we will be able to move those Public PCs when we return the week of Jan 4.
3.Earlier, I told you that I had a sample of the brushed aluminum letters for the ASK US, RESEARCH HELP, and TECH HELP signs (which you can also see in the ELC sign). I also now have one sample of the plexiglass that we might decide to use for the desk services signs*. I only have “tile red” sample now for you to look at, but should get a sample of blue and green soon.
Cindy H
*desk services sign =
TECH HELP (same listing that appears on The New Auraria Library exhibit) such as:
Printing
Scanning
Computer software and hardware
Microform machines
ASK US (same listing that appears on The New Auraria Library exhibit) such as:
Information
Check-out
Reserves
Media
ILL
Monday, January 11, 2010
Off campus user question
Two things to watch for when you are helping patrons.
First the daunting security (SSL) warning that sometimes appears when people click on a database to log in may become more prevalent as the databases upgrade their security. Patrons may safely click through this to get to our resources but it's pretty scary at first. We are able to fix it by obtaining and installing a security certificate and have done so for the first four offenders. However this correction process can take up to two months! Please report (bugzilla or to library.eresources@auraria.edu) this problem immediately when you see it so we can start to fix it quickly!
Second the libraries link from the UCD website can be confusing so we have had a few people who have privileges at the Health Science Library resources try to log in to the Auraria Library databases. This may not be apparent at first but just realizing it is a possibility will help you successfully answer their concerns.
First the daunting security (SSL) warning that sometimes appears when people click on a database to log in may become more prevalent as the databases upgrade their security. Patrons may safely click through this to get to our resources but it's pretty scary at first. We are able to fix it by obtaining and installing a security certificate and have done so for the first four offenders. However this correction process can take up to two months! Please report (bugzilla or to library.eresources@auraria.edu) this problem immediately when you see it so we can start to fix it quickly!
Second the libraries link from the UCD website can be confusing so we have had a few people who have privileges at the Health Science Library resources try to log in to the Auraria Library databases. This may not be apparent at first but just realizing it is a possibility will help you successfully answer their concerns.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Guide to internet searching
A recent exchange on the AskAcademic list pointed to this new guide for laypeople on searching the web. There is now a copy on the shared drive.
file://cudenver.edu/DeptShares/library/Education_Research_and_InformationServices/Information_Literacy_Team_2009/internet_searching_guide.pdf
file://cudenver.edu/DeptShares/library/Education_Research_and_InformationServices/Information_Literacy_Team_2009/internet_searching_guide.pdf
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
2010 tech trends
If you like Brian's tech tools to watch at CU Onlines's spring symposium this is another.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/12/03/cashmore.web.trends.2010/index.html
Did you know there was a site you could hum a tune into and it would locate the music?
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/12/03/cashmore.web.trends.2010/index.html
Did you know there was a site you could hum a tune into and it would locate the music?
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