Questions, Questions and more Questions......

Please remember to denote each of the questions you answer on the stat sheet. Numbers are used to determine both trends in foot traffic and the importance of this desk as a resource.

upd8!!!!

New: Ask a Librarian by text message!

Now patrons and you can get fast help with research in person, on the phone, by email, by IM, or by texting. Text to 66746 and start the first message with ASKUMA to reach a reference librarian.

Text a Librarian is available: Monday through Thursday 8:30 A.M. - 9 P.M., Friday 8:30 A.M. - 6 P.M. Saturday 10 A.M. - 6 P.M. Sunday 1 - 9 P.M.

Check out the "ask a librarian" web page: www.library.umass.edu/ask

Achtung!!

Every week, the two wide screen TV's are updated with a PowerPoint presentation advertising library services, events and information to patrons in the Learning Commons. This presentation is also accessible from our website. The LC Page on Slideshare hosts all presentations, including the most current. Check it out. If you ever have an idea about the presentation itself, or about information that could be revised/included in it, please let me know.

Thank you!!!

Welcome Back!!!

What do Grammy winner Natalie Cole, Pulitzer Prize winner Herbert Bix, and the screenwritier of the film The Departed have in common? They all received their undergraduate degrees from UMass Amherst. Only 7 weeks to go!! Keep up the great work.

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Here is a list of famous UMass Alumni.

Using keyboard bacteria as a (not quite) unique ID

By Casey Johnston

Bacteria have largely stayed out of the forensics game, but with some new research, scientists are seeking to put them into the evidence bag along with human DNA. Researchers have found that the bacteria... more from Nobel Intent

The Most (Overlooked) Beautiful Campuses

By Scott Carlson

Forbes magazine recently came out with its list of "The World's Most Beautiful Campuses," and it cites some fine examples. I approve of the inclusion of University of California at Santa Cruz. Oxford, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale are there, of course. Also featured are some campuses that are not often seen on such rankings, which usually go for the obvious. Gracing the Forbes slide show, for example, is a picture of Kenyon College at the height... more from the Chronicle

Oh so Clean!
Hey all! There are now some air duster cans in the cleaning cabinet. Use them when cleaning the keyboards for the computers. Just be careful to cover your face! The dust in them is unbelievable!
Thank you for all your help at the desk!!

Is the Internet Making Us Stupid?

How we seek breadth of information, and sacrifice depth

By Gary Marshall

Saturday at 12:00 GMT

Since we came out of the caves, every new technology has been greeted with alarm and disdain. When we invented fire, people moaned that we'd forget the art of making salads. When we invented the wheel, people moaned that we'd forget... more from techradar

Need to Save and/or Share Ridiculously Large Files?

March 9, 2010 4:00 AM PST
by Josh Lowensohn

A few years ago it was a big deal to find a place that would let you share 1 gigabyte of files.

Things change, though. Bandwidth keeps growing, and the cost of Web storage keeps shrinking. That's good news for people looking to share increasingly large files, be it an HD video recording or an archive of several files... more from CNet

SPRING BREAK!!!!

Have a safe and relaxing Spring Break! Get some good rest. When we return there will be only 7 weeks left in the semester. Normal shifts will resume Sunday 3/21 at 11AM!!

OMG!!!

A new text-a-librarian service is coming to our Library. More info will be posted after Spring Break!!!

Is internet access a right???

80% Say Internet Access A Right

Nearly half of those surveyed in an international poll said they did not think they could cope without the Internet.

Nearly four in five adults across 26 countries, including the United States, believe Internet access is a fundamental right, a survey released Monday showed.

Not surprisingly, a larger percentage of Internet users believe access is a right than non-Internet user, 87% versus 71%, the poll, conducted by GlobeScan for the BBC World Service, found. Countries with the highest percentages included South Korea, 96%; Mexico, 94%; and China, 87%. (see article here)

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What do you think?? Post any comments below!!!

Explore the Databases!!!

The Library has approximately 300 Databases on its website. From Academic Search Premier to the Zoological Record, there are many ways to track down info. In addition to an A to Z list, there are databases grouped by subject. When selected, there are a collection of databases clustered for a specific major heading. Also there is the name of the librarian who covers that field and a link to the subject research guide for additional leads on research resources.

One favorite is the Declassified Documents Reference Service. It holds over 70,000 documents declassified by the 1967 Freedom of Information Act. Take some time and explore. (Unfortunately my search into Area 51 yielded no returns, must still be classified.)

WE NEED YOU!!!

Your comments are very welcome on this blog. Our ultimate goal is to make the blog more interactive and have your voice be a part of it. Even if you choose to remain anonymous, your comments are encouraged.

New From Google

Google Debuts Public Data Explorer

The company's latest visualization experiment lets users create their own charts and graphs using public data.

By Thomas Claburn InformationWeek March 8, 2010

Google on Monday unveiled a new Google Labs experiment that turns public data sets into interactive charts that can be embedded in Web pages. (see article here)

1 More Week to go!!

Good luck with your midterms!!!

Only 5 more days until Spring Break!!!!

Remember the Line Count!!

This is just a simple reminder to remember the queue count at half past every hour. Even when its slow, it's important to remember to enter the zero. This number will be used to help shape the future direction of the LC. Thank you for your great efforts thus far.

Back up and running!!

Be sure to check out the new and improved Staple Station. The staplers and hole punch are secured to the desk. Please remember to stop by and check it out while on your roves!!!

It's Official : Apple iPad Coming to U.S. on April 3

Apple finally announced the exact date of iPad availability in the U.S.: It’s Saturday, April 3, for Wi-Fi models, while models with both Wi-Fi and 3G will be available in late April.

As far as other countries go, all models of iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK... more from Mashable

Jobs for Graduates in the Knowledge Economy?

By Trent Batson -- 03/03/10
We are in a recession from which we won’t recover in the usual sense: We won’t return to economic vibrancy with the same distribution of employment opportunities as we had even a couple of years ago. Technology is now pervasive and has changed both the nature of knowledge and the ways we use knowledge in our jobs. It is time to replace classroom experiences... more from Campus Technology

Job Hunting??

Higher ed is one of the biggest "industries" in this state. If you are about to graduate, try looking for work at a college or university. Besides reliable benefits, most schools offer employees some sort of tuition reimbursement, support and/or incentive for taking classes.

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There is a great website for jobs in higher ed here. You can search for specific types of jobs, or jobs within a state or specific school. From advising and business operations to library and administration, there are many entry level jobs where you can get experience while furthering your education.

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If you have any questions, ask me and I'll be glad to talk to you about it. Best of luck in your job hunt!! Dan

Apple's HTC patent suit: Can it derail Google's Android devices?

Date: March 2nd, 2010
Author: Larry Dignan

Updated: Apple said Tuesday that it is suing HTC for infringing on 20 patents related to the iPhone and pursuing a permanent cease and desist order that could derail a wide range of Android devices. Specifically, Apple is suing HTC in a Delaware district court and the U.S. International Trade Commission for violating patents related to “the iPhone’s user interface, underlying architecture... more from TechRepublic

What to do in an emergency.

The library has just acquired a defibrillator for the building. You may have noticed it mounted on the wall behind the Information Desk.

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In the event there is an emergency in the LC, your first response is obviously to get help. Firstly a supervisor should be notified. If the supervisor isn't immediately available, call the Building Monitor Desk upstairs. There is a list of phone numbers directly above the phone.

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If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask a supervisor

Did you know?

The Procrastination Station served 77,882 cups of coffee last year.
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On May 11, 2009 the library hosted a record breaking 8600 visitors.
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Many interesting facts like this can be found on the Library's Annual Report. Check it out!

Keeping time!!!

Remember to punch in and out every shift. This procedure isn't just for monitoring time and attendance, but ensures you get paid for all the time you worked..

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Secondly, be sure to punch out right when you shift is scheduled to end. You will NOT be paid for any time spent after the scheduled conclusion time of your shift unless approved by a supervisor, even if you punch out 15 minutes late.

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Only 8 more weeks left in the semester!!! Keep up the great work!!

Headphones Alert!

Please make sure when checking out headphones and calculators that they are actually being checked out. There have been a few instances when the patron returns the items they were not actually checked out. In order to make sure our items are not stolen from the library, double check to make sure the headphones and calculators are actually checked out to the patron.

Much appreciated!!!

The New News Landscape

Rise of the Internet: Understanding the Participatory News Consumer
Pew Internet and American Life Project 03/01/10

Summary of Findings

In the digital era, news has become omnipresent. Americans access it in multiple formats on multiple platforms on myriad devices. The days of loyalty to a particular news organization on a particular piece of technology in a particular form are gone. The overwhelming majority of Americans (92%) use multiple platforms to get news on a typical day, including national TV, local TV, the internet, local newspapers, radio and national newspapers. Some 46% of Americans say they get news from four to six media platforms... more

Exhibit: "Digitizing Du Bois: One Year Later"

The UMass Amherst Libraries present an exhibit, "Digitizing Du Bois: One Year Later," through May 21, 2010, in Special Collections and University Archives, Floor 25, Du Bois library. The exhibit features noteworthy items discovered during the process of digitizing the Du Bois Papers. The items include photos, letters, posters, and other papers relating to W.E.B. Du Bois's life and the history of the 20th century. For more info, click here.

Media visit possible

Jackie Bruno, a reporter for channel 22 news, is coming to campus this week either Monday or Tuesday to do a story on the UMPD Active Threat program. Since the library had a very high number of staff participate in the program there is a very strong possibility the news crew will be coming to the library to speak with staff and students about their reactions to the program.

The exact day and time is unknown at this point. However, this message is to alert staff of the possiblity they may see a camera crew in the library this week. Let a supervisor know if you see them in the LC.