Ever Struggle with Printing in the Library?

Thanks to the efforts of Jessilyn Dagum (SMU sophomore), Stefanie Gorzelsky, and Serin Anderson, the library has newer, easier to use instructions for the printer on the main level.

Stefanie Gorzelsky, Serin Anderson, and Jessilyn Dagum stand by their newly-designed posters in the main-level library print alcolve.

Posters are being created for the printers on the upper and lower levels, which have different machines.

Changes to Saints Search

Saint's Search on the O’Grady Library home page will have a small update within the next 24 hours.

Currently the Saints Search system (http://saintssearch.stmartin.edu) does not require a login.

However, logging in provides a number of benefits including:

• Retrieval of all possible results for a search.  Some databases – Scopus and MLA are good examples – require that a searcher be logged in to see citations.
•  Access to “My Account” to see all library materials checked out and O’Grady/Summit requests.
•  Use of the e-Shelf, a handy tool for saving citations with a single click.
• Ability to request items through Interlibrary loan and Summit.

To ensure that all students, faculty and staff see and experience a full range of resources and functionality in Saints Search, we will be implementing an automated sign-in feature.  Running a search will look exactly the same, but a sign-in box will appear that looks like the image below.  All current faculty, staff and students will simply need to sign in with their normal network ID and password.

Please send any questions or comments to sanderson@stmartin.edu

New library phone numbers

O'Grady Library has migrated to the campus VOIP system (Voice Over IP). As part of the process, most phone numbers in the library are changing:

• Circulation, interlibrary loan, and general information are now 360-688-2260.
• Reference is now 360-688-2261 (but forwarded to Circulation during the summer).

See the library staff directory for individual numbers.

In the short-term, calls to the legacy numbers should be automatically forwarded to the new numbers.

Our thanks to ITS for upgrading the library phones!

Quick Video of the Multimedia Center's Open House

Here's a quick video shot during the Open House for the Multimedia Center, with faculty and student reactions.

New Multimedia Center is Up and Running

On April 27, the O'Grady Library held an open house celebrating the opening of the new Multimedia Center.  The project is part of the movement towards a learning commons model of the library and has been two years in the planning and making, according to Scot Harrison, Dean of the Library.

Key players in the development of the new Multimedia Center, from left to right: Serin Anderson, Scot Harrison, Dr. Irina Gendelman, and Philip Cheek.

Previously, the Multimedia Center consisted of 8 workstations, three study rooms with audio and video editing tools, and the library's video and audio collection.  Now, the center has 19 new workstations with 27-inch monitors--8 stations have dual monitors--all loaded with Adobe Creative Suite 6 and an 84-inch SMART Board.

As the planning team looked at other schools in the area with learning commons, they also saw that several have similar media creation labs.  Harrison noted that they were particularly drawn to similar spaces at Seattle University and Pierce College.

Fr. Peter Tynan, O.S.B. tries out the new 84-inch SMART Board

Dr. Irina Gendelman, director of the new Communication Studies program at Saint Martin's University, is especially pleased to help students follow the advice of musician and community organizer Jello Biafra, who is famous for telling people to stop complaining about the media and "become the media."  Dr. Gendelman looking forward to using the space for instruction.  "One of the things I was interested in," she said, "was having access to the technology for teaching production classes."

The previous iteration of the Multimedia Center was not sufficient for production on the scale Dr. Gendelman had hoped for.  The workstations were not powerful enough to run the editing software and booted slowly, causing many students to become frustrated. 

With Dr. Gendelman's interest in podcasting and the interest of incoming faculty member, Dr. Sonia De La Cruz, in documentary film and filmmaking, this space should see extensive use.  In fact, Dr. Gendelman's course on podcasting and a digital video course have already used it.

Dr. Irina Gendelman shares student-produced podcasts and videos during the open house.

Dr. Gendelman is excited about being able to offer a new set of classes that will tap into students' creativity and interests.  "Now we can offer more production classes," she said.  And, with the recently created KSMU, a student-run radio station, this boost in production capability will allow students to create more podcasts, vlogs (video blogs), and other multimedia pieces.

Harrison said the upgraded space was paid for by the library's building endowment.  "Part of that endowment is to upgrade, keep the building in like-new condition," he said.  Another part of the endowment is for technology improvements, the new Multimedia Center fits in with both aspects of the endowment.

Multimedia Center Open House Monday March 27th 3 - 4 pm

Come see the O’Grady Library’s updated Multimedia Center:

• 19 multimedia workstations with 27” displays (7 with dual monitors)
• Adobe Creative Suite Master Collection for video editing, photo editing, and more
• 84”SMART interactive LED display
• Stereo sound system

The open house will include selected Communication students’ video projects and a technology “petting zoo” (digital camcorders, iPods, and other equipment available for checkout).

Refreshments will be served.  All are welcome!
 
The open house will be followed by a Photoshop workshop from 4 pm - 5 pm.

Photoshop Workshop: Creating Posters Monday April 27th 4 pm

Dr. Irina Gendelman will lead a workshop on creating posters with Adobe Photoshop in the library's recently updated Multimedia Center:

• Where?  O’Grady Library Multimedia Center
• When?  Monday April 27, 2015:  4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
• For whom?  Open to students, faculty, monks, and staff -- geared to Photoshop beginners. 

Please RSVP to Dr. Gendelman (igendelman@stmartin.edu) if you would like to attend.

Technology workshops at the library

Today is a student workshop on using Google Docs.  More workshosps will be held following spring break.  Contact Erik Gregory to sign up.

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOPS	date	time
All workshops are held in the O'Grady Library's lower level classroom.
RSVP to Erik Gregory egregory@stmartin.edu  to register for the workshops
1.       Moodle Grades Set up your gradebook in Moodle, using weighted grades, sum of grades, grade categories, attendance, etc.  (for faculty)	March 3	12-1pm
2.       Google Docs       Use Google Docs to co-author and edit articles, share projects and work on the same document from multiple computers and locations. (for faculty and staff)	March 4	5-6pm
3.       Google Docs      Use Google Docs to work on the same project with groups and from multiple computers and locations. (for students)	March 5	4-5pm
4.       Poster Design    Create striking posters to advertise your class, events, clubs, etc., using free image editing software. (for faculty, staff and students)	March 18	4-5pm
5.       Poster Design    Create striking posters to advertise your class, events, clubs, etc., using free image editing software. (for faculty, staff and students)	March 19	4-5pm
6.       Screen Casting  Use Camtasia Relay to record actions on your computer screen with audio, to create short instructional videos and lectures. (for faculty and staff)	March 26	4-5pm

Check out our cool technology!

Gorillapod!

Despite our best efforts, many of you may yet be unaware that, deep within the recesses of the library (behind the circulation desk), there rests a veritable trove of technological treasure!

Thankfully, much like Indiana Jones (sans hat), our work study student, Cory, has discovered and documented these devices for your delight and edification.

From Flip video recorders, to voice recorders, to a Kindle, to a horde of digital cameras; the library has a ton of great technology available for you to check out. You can read Cory's descriptions over on the post she made, and come in and check out our fun toys anytime at the library circulation desk.

Check 'em out at SMU Tech Tutorials: Library Toys.

ILLiad and databases are back online

ILLiad has been moved to a new server. You should now be able to logon to your account, if you have one, and request or retrieve articles.

The library's research databases were also unexpectedly down today due to other network upgrades. Access to these has also been restored.

Thanks for your patience.

Music Workstation

The library now has a music workstation that students, faculty, and staff can use whenever the library is open. A 61-key Yamaha keyboard with sustain pedal can be checked out at the Circulation Desk for use in the Lindskog Media Study Room M5. The workstation in this room is equipped with music notation, composition, and teaching software, including Finale PrintMusic.

If you're interested in trying out the new music workstation, just stop by the Circulation Desk and ask to check out the Yamaha keyboard and the key for Media Study Room M5. If you need help using the equipment or software, contact me via phone (360-486-8827) or email (kthomas@stmartin.edu). You can also stop by the library Sundays-Thursdays and ask for me at either the Reference or Circulation Desks.

New computers in library

The library is starting the fall semester with new computers loaded with Windows 7 and new 22” widescreen monitors. Logons should be faster, and the computers support the slick Aero interface with which Vista users are already familiar. These are Dell Optiplex 760s, with Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs (2.8 GHZ) and 4 GB of RAM that should handle even the most resource-intensive engineering applications.

They of course have Microsoft Office 2007 Professional (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, etc.), Microsoft Visual Studio, and many other applications needed for your classes. You will also have a choice of browsers this year--Internet Explorer or Firefox.

As with any major Microsoft upgrade, menus and short-cuts have changed and moved. Having trouble finding the program you need? Ask at the reference desk.