Instant Messaging...

Please refrain from excessive use of personal Instant Messaging on the LC desk computers. The Trillian service (on the left computer) is for inquiring patrons as well as LC staff to communicate with students at the desk. Please be sure to check Trillian often in case someone is trying to contact us. This is in the interest of improving our service to our patrons.

If you have any questions, please talk to any of the supervisors or Emily.

WONDERFUL NEWS!

Emily Alling will be starting as the new Learning Commons Coordinator as of July 30th! We are so pleased by this announcement. What does this mean for the LC desk? This means that the desk supervisors have a new boss! This is a good thing...Emily has a lot of library and tech knowledge and her expertise will be really beneficial to all of us. My condolences to the folks over at ISEL; I know that they will miss her very much.

Anyway, welcome Emily!

NEW SOFTWARE ON LIBRARY COMPUTERS!

Just recently the systems office updated the library computers and added some new software. Students can now access a Microsoft Student Graphing Calculator program. Also added: Microsoft MapPoint, Encarta Dictionary, Itunes, MDL Crossfire Commander 7.0, MDL ISIS Draw 2.5, and Microsoft Digital Image Suite...when you get a chance, take a look at these applications.

HELPDESK PHONECALLS

Just a reminder that the HELPDESK staff here at the desk do NOT take telephone calls at the LC desk. All of these calls should be referred to the HELPDESK at Lederle. There they have an established ticket system which allows for the best technical telephone service.

The phone there is:

545-9400

More on REFERENCE QUESTIONS...

When the reference desk is not staffed, we can still refer patrons to "RESEARCH HELP" on the left side of the library's home page - in particular to the Subject Librarians who are specialists in the area of interest.

REFERENCE QUESTIONS...

Please refer all but the simpliest ref questions to the reference desk (when it is staffed)...it gets confusing for patrons if we try to answer questions that should be answered by the librarians. When patrons ask questions about databases or online journals, etc., they should be referred to the ref desk. Often patrons' ref questions are more complicated than they first appear and it will save them time, in the end, if we refer them right away to the ref desk. Thanks.

MORE ON TRILLIAN...

Trillian is set up on the left computer so that all you need to do is to start it up...please just take a moment to be sure that all the accounts are actually connected. Ask your supervisor if you have any questions.

Please do NOT add your buddy name to our list or any of your own "buddies." This IM is only for the use of patrons! It is not necessary for you to add your buddies. LC supervisors are the only ones who should have their usernames in the list...we thank you!

Trillian is here! We are now offering an IM service at the LC desk. This means that every morning we will need to be sure to start the Trillian program on the left computer. It is set up so that it will dock on the right side of the screen. People sitting there will need to be diligent about checking to see if anyone is contacting the desk. It will flash when someone is contacting us...it is easy to miss it if you are surfing on another program so do pay attention to the toolbar at the bottom of the screen.

It is important that when "chatting" with "customers," that you not open any attachments sent through IM. Also, remember that each transaction is being recorded (for statistics purposes) so be careful about what gets said in the IM session.

We will be training students on how to conduct conversations on the IM software.

The addresses (AIM, HOTMAIL, ICQ, and YAHOO accounts) will be posted on the LC page for patrons to see. People who have IM accounts with these services will be able to contact us.