Volume 1, Issue 1

Fall 2001


What's New

Library Catalog To Change

By Marc Wildman

This summer, Memorial Library has begun making preparations to migrate its current online catalog to a new “state of the art” web-based online catalog. Both users and staff of the library will benefit from the new system called “ALEPH,” after the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Features of the new system include enhanced searching capabilities, online renewal, and the ability to see the most recent books on order. With the implementation of ALEPH, the library also plans to automate its periodical holdings. Library users will be able to see bound volumes and current issues of periodicals from the moment they are checked in.

From a library service perspective, the migration will mean one integrated system for ordering and cataloging as well enhanced services such as electronic reserves. Currently, the library orders materials in one system and catalogues in another. This proves to be redundant and not cost effective. Bibliographers will also benefit from being able to trace their orders more efficiently.

All SUNY Libraries will be changing to ALEPH over the next few years. SUNY Cortland is fortunate to be scheduled in the second group of libraries to migrate and our migration is planned for early 2002.

The vision of a common library system for all SUNY libraries is part of SUNYConnect, the consortium of SUNY libraries. SUNYConnect leverages the buying power of 71 libraries to provide a common set of databases, a common library system and to provide enhanced services to SUNY students, faculty and staff. The vision is summed up in the slogan, Libraries wherever you are.

Late Night Hours for the Library

Last year, the Library extended its late night hours to the whole building rather than just the Late Night Reading Room. This change in service was well received by students using the library and will continue.

From Sunday through Thursday, the Library will be open until 1 a.m. and will include the book stacks, and periodicals on the third floor. On Friday and Saturdays the late night hours will be in the Late Night Reading Room. Later in the semester, the hours will be until 3 a.m.

Computer Labs in the Library

By Gretchen Douglas

Memorial Library has three computer labs open to students.

The PC lab located in room B117 contains 26 Dell PCs with the Windows 98 operating system. In room B121, the MAC lab, there are 26 iMacs with OS 9.0. These two labs are open to students when classes are not in session. See the bulletin board outside each lab for a weekly listing of classes.

The third lab is the Late Night Reading Room (LNRR). It’s open whenever the library is open and has 15 PCs and 15 Apple Macintosh G3s.

It would take several pages of this newsletter to list all the software that is available in each lab. Academic Computing keeps an up-to-date list on their website at http://acs.cortland.edu Click on Computer labs in the menu and then Software Specs. If you prefer a paper format, each lab has a listing usually available a few weeks into the semester.

If in doubt, please ask at the library circulation desk.

A New Look for the Circulation Department

By Lorraine Melita

Watch for the New Look of the Circulation Desk at Memorial Library. We are re-arranging the physical structure of Circulation, the first service desk you see as you enter the library. We are changing our look to improve service, communication and efficiency. We want to make sure that every user gets service as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

To achieve that aim, the shelving will be used as a staging area for books and as a room divider. The Circulation staff will have scheduled hours at the front counter and also have their own work areas away from the public areas. Schedules will be redesigned to coordinate student and staff hours more efficiently. In making these changes our goal is to make it very clear to library users who is providing the service.

New Look for the Library Web Site

By Karen Coombs

The Memorial Library website will have a new look in the fall. Over the summer, the library site has been redesigned in order to match the SUNY Cortland website. As a result, a new user-friendly homepage has been created. Other changes to the site include the addition of a quick links menu, and a universal navigation bar located on the left side of the page. The new library website will go live for the fall semester on August 21st.

We would be very interested in hearing your thoughts about the new web site. Please call Karen at x2528, or by email coombsk@em.cortland.edu

Instructional Services to Faculty

By Ellen McCabe

How many times have you heard, “how can I find a book?” or “How do I know if an internet site is a good source for my paper?” If students are asking these kinds of questions in regard to a term paper, project or research, you might consider scheduling an instructional session at the Library. The Library offers instructional sessions in the searching databases, locating books and articles, using internet sites, evaluating materials found, and other components of the research process.

CLIP
The Composition Library Instructional Program (CLIP) is required for every composition student and is scheduled by the composition faculty with the coordinator of CLIP, Amanda Johnson at AmandaJ@em.cortland.edu During the session students learn to use general databases to find articles; how to narrow a topic; the difference between journals and magazines; and what constitutes plagiarism.

All faculty may arrange an instructional session customized to the research needs of their students. For instance, you may schedule a session on using a specific database such as Eric, AskEric, SportsDiscus, MLA or PsychINFO.

To schedule a session contact the subject bibliographer for your area. The names are listed at : http://library.cortland.edu/bibliographers.asp

Technology Training for Students, Faculty and Staff

This fall, the Library will again be offering technology workshops for students. The workshops provide students with skills to use the various programs available and to use information effectively. Included are workshops on WebMail, PowerPoint, academic dishonesty, the Library Web Page and other useful topics. Faculty are encouraged to require their students to attend these workshop. The schedule is posted on the library web page at http://library.cortland.edu/scil/scil_schedule.html

Faculty and Staff Training in supported software will continue in the Faculty Staff Training Center (FTC) of the library. The workshops are offered at a variety of times and at different skill levels. The training includes the PIT Stop where people with projects may come in for individualized assistance. The FTC welcomes suggestions, please email ronc@em.cortland.edu with suggestions and concerns.

Multimedia Studio to Open in Fall 2001

By Mark Connell

Memorial Library is pleased to announce the opening of its multimedia facility. Adjacent to the PC lab on the first floor of the library, it features seven MacintoshPower PC’s, six Dell Dimension PC’s and two HP Color LaserJets. Zip drives and CD burners are available along with Sony digital cameras and recorders, video-editing devices, flatbed and slide scanners, and sound recording capabilities. Sophisticated software such as PhotoShop,QuickTime, DreamWeaver, and PowerPoint are available on both platforms,providing a nearly seamless transition between the Macs and the Dell computers and enabling users to create powerful multimedia enhancements to presentations and web sites. This facility is restricted to faculty and student multimedia use and occasionally will be reserved for certain classes. Call Mark Connell for more information.

People News at Memorial Library

There are a lot of new people in the library! Come in and put the name with the face.

Retirements
Lauren Stiles, Associate Librarian emeritus Dec. 2000
David Kreh, Associate Librarian emeritus Dec. 2000
Tom Bonn, Librarian emeritus August 2001
Nancy Coye, Library Clerk III, April 2001

Resignations
Bob Weiner, Brian Rosmaita, Brian Leszcz, Lynne Copley

New People
Edward Adams, Reference Bibliographer for Physical Education, Recreation & Exercise Science
Jon Clippinger, Computer and Information Literacy Instructor (CAP)
Mark Connell, Computer and Information Literacy Instructor (CAP)
Karen Coombs, Information Technology & Instruction Librarian
Amanda Johnson, CLIP Coordinator & History Bibliographer
Lorraine Melita, Access Services Librarian & TMC Librarian
Marc Wildman, Technical Services Librarian
Melody Benn, Evening Supervisor
Rosemary Grabowski, Keyboard Specialist
Donna Pflanz-May, Library Clerk III
The library is also conducting a search for an Instructional Materials Designer.

SUNY Cortland Memorial Library (607) 753-2526
Copyright 2008. Page last updated: 9/15/2004 9:11:11 PM