Updates to the University Libraries’ Public Computer Improve Desktop Computing

Personnel in the University Libraries’ Information Technology Services unit regularly update the configuration of all public workstations to provide students and faculty who use this equipment with the best and most recent versions of software and online resources available. During the recent Spring Break 2007, several small adjustments, when taken together, improved system performance in general.

Enhancements included important patches or updates to the following programs:
Adobe DreamWeaver 8 Adobe Reader 8
Adobe Reader 8 Pro Apple iTunes
Apple QuickTime Firefox browser
Google Earth Java Runtime Environmental
Microsoft Office 2003 Microsoft Windows XP
SPSS 14

In addition, Libraries’ desktop support personnel installed an updated University Libraries’ toolbar program for both Internet Explorer 7 and the Firefox browser, and the Internet Explorer 7 browser configuration was adjusted to address several issues that students had reported when using the University’s Blackboard Learning System.

In the Science-Health Sciences Library, A.D.A.M, the human anatomy program was added. Also added were two applications that are popularly used by students in the School of Nursing: Mosby’s Nursing Skills application and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ Clinical Simulations program.

For more information, contact Bradley D. Faust, Ball State University Libraries’ Assistant Dean for Library Information Technology Services, BFaust@bsu.edu, (765) 285-8032.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 12; April 2007.

Ball State Saxophone Quartet Performs at Bracken

On Wednesday, April 4, 2007, Ball State University Libraries presented the Ball State Saxophone Quartet in a half-hour performance as part of the Libraries’ Matinee Musicale programming.
Under the guidance of Dr. George Wolfe, the four musicians played selections such as “Prelude and Fugue” by Domenico Scarlati, “Twelve Hours” by Jeremy Spindler, and “Nuages,” a scherzo for four saxophones by Eugene Bozza.
The members of the quartet are soprano saxophonist Nathan Bogert, alto saxophonist Aaron Fredrick, tenor saxophonist Stephen Driscoll, and baritone saxophonist Jeremy Castaneda.

A streamed version of the performance will soon be available from the University Libraries’ Virtual Press, www.bsu.edu/library/virtualpress/musicale

For more information, contact Dr. Fritz Dolak, University Libraries’ Copyright and Intellectual Property Manager and Special Assistant to the Dean, University Copyright Center, FDolak@bsu.edu, (765) 285-5330.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 9; April 2007.

Report about Two Campus-Wide Surveys about Use of Technology by Faculty and Students

Personnel in the Ball State University Libraries’ Technology Training Support Services unit are usually involved with a project or two outside of our daily training and support roles. This academic year, we were part of two major survey projects.

Fall 2006 Campus-wide Faculty Survey of Use of Technology

During Fall Semester 2006, a campus-wide survey of faculty’s use of technology was conducted. The purpose of the survey was to learn how faculty use technology and to compare the results of this survey with those from a similar study conducted during Fall Semester 2003. The procedures followed, and the survey instrument employed, were very similar, with some questions from the earlier instrument not being used because they indicated mastery of certain skills (e.g. e-mail) and some new questions added to reflect the availability of new technologies and services (e. g. DMR). Assistance from the associate deans was enlisted to request faculty to participate in the survey.

Over all, 580 faculty members participated in the survey. Of those, 87% reported that they can perform general computing tasks (file management, software installation, etc.) with ease or with some ease. This is a 7% increase over the 2003 survey results. In 2003, roughly 72% of faculty members were comfortable (ease and with some ease) with productivity applications such as word processing, presentation, and spreadsheets. This year 80% reported that they perform these tasks with comfort. In this category, presentation software use reports showed considerable improvements. The most impressive improvement was reported in the instructional technology category. In 2003, 43% reported using tools such as Blackboard, Gradebook, and inQsit with ease or with some ease. This year, the number reached 72%.

There are many reasons for the increase in comfort level with technology among faculty. Technology is certainly easier to use these days and students provide the gentle nudge for faculty to acquaint themselves with tools like Gradebook and Blackboard. Some of the credit goes to personnel in Technology Training Support Services, too, since the unit has offered 1,744 courses during this period and our figures indicate faculty attendance at 1,469 (not unique individuals.)
These figures do not even include the countless times we visited with faculty for one-on-one training. So kudos to the Ball State faculty who have taken the time to sharpen their skills! And a BIG thank you to all who have taken the time to visit with us to explore the best uses of technology in teaching, learning, and research.

Spring 2007 Student Survey of Technology Use
The Student Technology Use survey was the second major project undertaken this year. It was conducted during the first part of spring semester. An impressive 12% return rate confirmed what we already knew: our students are heavy technology users. Of course, there is still more work to be done.

Of the respondents, 90% report turning in assignments to faculty on paper as one of many options. Printing sky rockets at the conclusion of each semester from 1.7%, who report printing over 100 pages per week, to 37%. Even though a majority (86%) have heard of iLocker, only 48% report using it. With so many electronic file storage and exchange options — 82% report owning a flash drive — we hope use of paper will diminish gradually. In this regard, our technology training specialists are happy to work with faculty to help them discover paperless assignment collecting and grading options.


Technology Training Opportunities
Technology Training Support Services provides training opportunities year round. I invite all faculty to visit one or more of these sessions to explore a variety of educational technologies and how they best fit faculty classroom instruction and pedagogy whether it is in a room or in cyberspace.

For more information, contact Yasemin Tunç, Ball State University Libraries’ Director for Technology Training Support Services, YTunc@bsu.edu, (765) 285-5902.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 9; April 2007.

Graduate Students Read from Creative Theses Work at Bracken Library

On Thursday, April 26, 2007 at 7 p.m. in the Bracken Library Forum Room (Rm. 225), the Department of English Graduate Student Advisory Board presents several students who are completing master’s degrees in creative writing to read from their thesis work.

Each student will read for about 10 minutes in genres from poetry to fiction and non-fiction. The event is open to the campus community.

The Ball State University Libraries are pleased to host this event and invite organizations on campus to use the spacious facilities at Bracken Library for meetings, special events, and receptions.

For more information about reserving rooms at Bracken Library, contact Denise W. Kinney, Ball State University Libraries’ Secretary to Library Assistant Deans, DKinney@bsu.edu, (765) 285-1307.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 8; April 2007.

Report about Geospatial Information Systems Trends, Data Sets, and Software from the 2007 Annual Indiana GIS Conference

I recently attended the Annual Indiana GIS Conference in Indianapolis, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Center on March 6-7, 2007. The conference included workshops centered on changes in the 2010 U.S. Census, the updated National Hydrology dataset, Digital Elevation and Digital Surface Models, and the Public Land Survey System tie-card project.
Shorter length sessions were offered for a variety of subjects, such as the new Oblique Aerial Photography, library-based Interdisciplinary GIS, Development of the GIS Atlas for Indiana, Flood Map Modernization, and an assortment of other trends and projects going on in Indiana.

Particularly important sessions that correspond to services offered in the University Libraries’ Geospatial Resources and Map Collection were on Oblique Aerial Photography. Delaware County is in the process of obtaining a grant that will fund the purchase of new Oblique Aerial photography of the entire county.

So exactly what is oblique photography? Oblique is the technical term used to describe an aerial photograph that is taken at an angle. This means that a feature such as a house, a building or an overpass can be viewed in its entirety. This does not just mean you can see one side of the building; rather, you can rotate the image and see the front door, back door, and both sides as well. This view is familiar to most users and provides for almost instant 3-D modeling.

An oblique image can also be geo-referenced, so that GIS data such as streets, hydrology, and parcels can by layered over it. Our Geospatial Resources and Map Collections will obtain a copy of these aerials when they are available from Delaware County for the BSU and local community.

Delaware County orthophotography is already our most requested dataset, and the new oblique photography holds the promise of being a valuable addition to our increasing in-house GIS data. The Urban Planning, Architecture and Landscape Architecture students and staff are likely to be the most interested in using the oblique imagery for site-plans, building designs, and urban planning projects.

As always, this year’s Annual Indiana GIS Conference was a hot-bed of new ideas with conversations about trends that are occurring in the GIS world. There was also exciting news about powerful new resources for GIS professionals and persons who use GIS media tools. I anticipate that the information and details I learned about available GIS datasets and their applications will prove to be very useful for our students and faculty who use the Geospatial Resources and Map Collection, located in Bracken Library on the second floor.

For more information, contact Angie S. Gibson, Ball State University Libraries’ Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist, Geospatial Center and Map Collection, ASGibson2@bsu.edu, (765) 285-1097.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 8; April 2007.

Friends of the Alexander M. Bracken Library Annual Dinner Features Program on Digital Oral Histories

Seventy-five Friends of the Alexander M. Bracken Library attended the annual dinner at the Alumni Center on the evening of March 28 where they heard about the Middletown Digital Oral History Collection being made available in the Ball State University Digital Media Repository, a project of the University Libraries.

Following dinner and a brief business meeting, Dr. Warren Vander Hill, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Emeritus, Mr. Hurley Goodall, former Indiana state legislator, and Dr. John Weakland, Professor Emeritus of History, presented the Kirkham Lecture. They shared their experiences in conducting oral history interviews that are now being made available in digital format for global access through the Internet.

Dr. Vander Hill moderated the program. In his remarks, he compared the two Middletown Jewish Oral History projects that he conducted under the sponsorship of Mr. Martin Schwartz in 1978-79 and 2002-03. The two projects generated a total of 45 interviews.

Mr. Goodall spoke passionately about an early experience of not being able to tell young people about the history of his own race and how that motivated him to get involved with documenting the African American experience through oral history interviews and other projects. He related how much he appreciated the work that Ball State University and the University Libraries have undertaken to collect and preserve local African American history.

Dr. Weakland described the process that he and other volunteers followed in conducting recent oral history interviews with the members of the St. Francis of Assisi, St. Mary, and St. Lawrence parishes as part of the local Catholic Churches Oral History Project. The project has resulted in 30 interviews from the three parishes so far and more are planned.

Prior to the speakers’ presentations, John Straw, Director of Archives and Special Collections, presented a PowerPoint presentation on the Middletown Digital Oral History Collection project that is being funded by a $25,125 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) digitization grant. This is the second consecutive LSTA grant that the University Libraries have received.

Following each speaker’s remarks, a sample audio clip was played of an interview from the collection discussed by the presenter. The audience was able to follow along with the verbal remarks by seeing the accompanying transcription displayed from the Digital Media Repository collection.

During the business meeting prior to the Kirkham Lecture, Friends’ executive secretary John Straw reported that the Friends enjoyed another productive year with a growing membership of over 2,600 persons who reside in most of the 50 states and over 40 countries.

Donations by Friends through the Ball State University Foundation totaled over $34,000, which is a 36% increase compared to the previous fiscal year. These moneys are used to support the University Libraries.

Straw reported on four entertaining and informative programs sponsored this year:
· “Celebrating 30 Years of Renewing Lives: A History of Community Mental Health through CMHS and Meridian Services” presented by Ms. Suzanne Gresham, Mr. Al Rent, and Mr. Hank Milius in October
· “Founding Fathers and Signers of the Declaration of Independence” by Mr. Tom Schnuck in November
· “Organized Labor in Muncie: An Oral History,” co-sponsored by the Center for Middletown Studies, presented by Dr. James Connolly, Dr. Warren Vander Hill, and Mr. Hurley Goodall in December
· “Before Middletown: Using Historical Archaeology to View Victorian Muncie” by Dr. Christina Blanch in February


Outgoing members of the Friends’ Board of Governors in attendance were recognized with certificates of appreciation for their three years of service: Mr. Larry Campbell, Mrs. Nancy Carlson, and Ms. Gretchen Cheesman.

Three new members in attendance were welcomed to the Board with the presentation of lapel pins: Mrs. Marilyn Carey. Dr. Carol Flores, and Dr. Thomas Spotts.

Mr. Hank Milius and Mrs. Marianne Vorhees will be joining the Board as new member also but were not able to attend the dinner.

Three library student assistants received certificates and checks for $100 from the Friends as recipients of this year’s Student Recognition Awards:
· Amanda B. Ashton, Science-Health Science Library
· Holli R. Botset, Educational Resources
· Stacy L. Sowder, Main Circulation


During the dinner, Mr. Martin Schwartz was recognized in honor of his 90th birthday with a spontaneous rendition of “Happy Birthday” from the audience, led by Dr. Vander Hill. It was later learned that Dr. Phil Ball was celebrating his birthday that evening. So the event was a true celebration of Friends in more ways than one.

For more information or to join the Friends, contact John B. Straw, Executive Secretary for the Friends and the Alexander M. Bracken Library and Ball State University Libraries’ Director for Archives and Special Collections, JStraw@bsu.edu, (765) 285-5078.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 7; April 2007.

A Vision for the Archives' Role in the Digital World

The students, faculty, and researchers who make up the customer base for academic libraries and archives are increasingly expecting more innovative and value-added services. Inspired by technological advances, they want flexibility, decentralized access, and a convergence of print and digital media to address their research needs.

As the demand grows for better and quicker access via the Internet to unique resources found in archival repositories, archivists with the skills and vision to prepare and make the rich resources of their collections available in digital format are at the forefront of a new professional frontier. The development of the digital archivist is driven by customer expectations and the emerging role of the archives in fulfillment of those expectations.

As archives and special collections continue to be a primary source for research materials to digitize that may generally be made available without worry of copyright infractions, the archival repository will increasingly play a pivotal role in the digital revolution.

At the same time that focus expands from curating paper-based materials to migrating those materials to digital form for increased accessibility, archivists are also concerned with the challenge of preserving and making available the vast universe of “born digital” assets. The creation of large data sets in “real-time” collections presents unique issues for archivists.

All of these challenges and opportunities create a need for forward-thinking professionals with new approaches to the field of archival science. Research shows that the role of the digital professional requires new competencies and skills beyond traditional training. Today’s digital archivist must combine the knowledge of traditional archival practices with expanded technological skills to achieve the vision of the archives as a place where print and digital media successfully converge to meet research needs.

Youngok Choi, Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science at Catholic University of America, and Edie Rasmussen, Professor and Director of the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies at the University of British Columbia, addressed the need for these new professionals based on a survey that they recently conducted of current digital professionals in U. S. academic libraries.

Among several findings, Choi and Rasmussen concluded that the constantly changing digital environment necessitates that digital librarians and archivists “must be able to adapt to change and continue to learn” and that more professionals educated in the area of digital libraries and archives will be required as institutions are digitally transformed. (D-Lib Magazine, September 2006).

As priorities shift due to digital advancements, new dimensions are being added to the archival and library professions. Archivists and librarians face the challenge of acquiring the necessary skills to both strengthen their traditional roles and quickly acclimate to a dynamic and transformative new environment.

A visitor to the Ball State University Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections will quickly see how the unit’s personnel are adapting to this dynamic digital environment and are embracing a new vision of our role as digital archivists. As the scanners move across the printed page or photograph, the digital projector illuminates the image of a rare document for a class of students, and the archivists create multiple Web pages of finding aids and online exhibits, the advent of the digital archivist and the progression towards the digital archives vision is evident in this archival repository.

Welcome to the home of special collections AND digital projects, a convergence that will produce new and exciting resources for generations of students and researchers.

For more information, contact John B. Straw, Ball State University Libraries’ Director for Archives and Special Collections, JStraw@bsu.edu, (765) 285-5078.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 6; April 2007.

Ceremony at Ball State University’s Indianapolis Center Announces the Bowen Center for Public Affairs and the Availability of the Otis R. Bowen Papers

The papers of Otis R. Bowen, M.D., two-term governor of Indiana and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Ronald Reagan, were officially opened for public access during a ceremony held at the Ball State Indianapolis Center honoring Dr. Bowen on March 23, 2007. Dr. Bowen premiered the collection opening by pressing a button to activate a “virtual ribbon cutting” that was created by the Ball State University Teleplex using images from the Bowen Papers.

Ball State University President Jo Ann M. Gora presided over the ceremony that also launched the new Bowen Center for Public Affairs to honor “Doc” Bowen for his years of public service to the state and nation. During her remarks, Gora stated that the gift of the Bowen Papers to Ball State University “… offers a tremendously rich resource for historical, political, and cultural study.”

President Gora described how the papers and the center “promise to raise the collective levels of both our civic literacy and community involvement, at the same time they preserve for posterity the life’s work of an individual who to this day, less than a month removed from his 89th birthday, remains the very embodiment of civic responsibility.”

A video, online exhibit, and Web page were available on computers at the event for the approximately 70 attendees to view and use to learn more about the Bowen Papers that are being preserved and made accessible in the University Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections. Maren Read, Assistant Archivist for Manuscript Collections, developed a Web site (www.bsu.edu/library/bowenpapers) that includes a finding aid, chronology, biography, virtual exhibit, and video.

Maren and Robert Seaton, University Libraries’ Web Developer in Library Information Technology Services (LITS), created the virtual exhibit featuring photographs and information on Dr. Bowen’s career and his collection.
Alexandru Amira, Part-time Desktop Computer Technician in LITS, produced the video available on the Web site that includes interviews with Political Science professors Sally Jo Vasicko and Ray Scheele, who will co-direct the new Bowen Center.

In addition to the virtual exhibit, an extensive onsite exhibit of the Bowen materials is available for viewing on Bracken Library’s second floor through June 31, 2007.

For more information on the Bowen Papers, contact John B. Straw, Ball State University Libraries’ Director for Archives and Special Collections, JStraw@bsu.edu, (765) 285-5078.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 6; April 2007.

Academic Libraries of Indiana’s (ALI) Board Meets at Bracken Library to Finalize Annual Member Meeting Plans

On Tuesday, April 10, 2007, the Academic Libraries of Indiana’s Board of Directors met at Ball State University in Bracken Library. The agenda was to review and finalize plans for the upcoming Annual Membership Meeting, which will be held Thursday, May 10, at the Indiana Wesleyan Conference Center in Indianapolis.

ALI is a 72-member organization. Through the synergy of its member libraries working together cooperatively, its goals are to:

· Increase access to electronic databases and content through collaboration
· Enhance quality of, access to, and curation of tangible collections
· Provide effective instructional support for students in partnership with faculty
· Support professional development and educational opportunities for librarians
· Proactively engage within member institutions, governmental organizations, statewide libraries, agencies, and schools of library and information science.

For more information, contact Arthur W. Hafner Ph.D., M.B.A., Ball State University’s Dean of University Libraries, AHafner@bsu.edu, (765) 285-5277.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 5; April 2007.

Adaptive Computer Technology Specialist Presents Program to Libraries’ Personnel on Understanding Blindness

During his freshman year in 1997, Carlos E. Taylor began working at Ball State University’s Adaptive Computer Technology Lab as an assistant. Since that time, he has completed his master’s degree in Information and Communication Sciences.

On Tuesday, March 13, 2007, Carlos took time from his responsibilities as Adaptive Computer Technology Specialist to address the University Libraries’ personnel who were attending the Libraries’ Staff College program. These sessions, which are generally held during winter and spring breaks, are designed to provide ongoing education and training opportunities for the Libraries’ personnel on a variety of work-related topics.

Carlos revealed that he lost his eyesight when he was a child. He shared with program attendees some facts and dispelled some myths about blindness. About 1 million people are blind in the United States and the number grows about 50,000 annually. Carlos agrees with the National Federation for the Blind’s assessment that the real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight; rather, it is the lack of information among the public about blindness.

Carlos addressed some of those misconceptions, such as that people who are blind or have low vision can only work at certain types of jobs or that they have a sixth sense. The definition of legally blind is that the person’s best corrected visual acuity is 20/200 or worse, or the person’s vision field is 20° or less. Some people who are legally blind can see, although they are not able to read signs well. Carlos discussed a few of the useful tools for those with no or low vision, such as money readers, computers that speak words, special readers, Global Positioning Systems, and wristwatches that audibly state the time.

“With the availability of the Internet throughout campus, many newsletters are being published online, and this is great especially for students who are blind because the Internet provides electronic access to publications,” he said.
“With screen readers, refreshable Braille displays, Braille printers, and screen magnification software, students can access a wealth of information through the method that best suits his or her needs.”

These technologies are available at the Adaptive Center in the Robert Bell Building, Rm. 134-G. The lab also offers many hardware and software resources for people who are hearing impaired or for those with learning disabilities or mobility impairment, www.bsu.edu/web/ucs/ucl/act.

Bracken Library provides public workstations that are adjustable height desks with 30”x60” modesty panels that are wheelchair accessible and adaptive workstations with hardware, such as a large trackball mouse, Braille and large print keyboard labels, large key keyboard, and individual headphones. Software includes text magnifiers and screen readers/text synthesizers. Personnel at the Circulation Desk will retrieve materials for persons with visible or invisible disabilities, upon request.

Ball State is proactive when it comes to issues concerning students with disabilities. Carlos mentioned that students' concerns are listened to and acted upon in a timely fashion. The Office of University Compliance at Ball State helps people get equipment they need for research and learning, and they receive some training and assistance to become acclimated to the layout of the campus.

Ball State University offers several services and technologies to assist students who are blind to achieve their goals. For example, the Office of Disabled Student Development can provide a student with note takers for classes, if necessary. The Learning Center can assist by reading exams or provide tutoring sessions. The Adaptive Computer Technology lab assists by making computers accessible by way of a screen reader, which reads text aloud from the computer screen or by providing screen magnification to any on-campus computer.

Campus-wide, signs in Braille are being placed on doors of older buildings to help blind students more easily identify classrooms, offices, restrooms, and other similar spaces. Such signs will be a standard feature for all new campus buildings.

For more information, contact Arthur W. Hafner Ph.D., M.B.A., Ball State University’s Dean of University Libraries, AHafner@bsu.edu, (765) 285-5277.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 5; April 2007.

Each Year Ball State University Libraries Welcome New Faculty

Each year the Ball State University Libraries welcome new faculty to campus. Called Alphas, they attend several sessions throughout their first academic year to acclimate them to their new community. During Spring 2007 Semester, the University Libraries participated in the Alpha Seminars program.

During the Fall 2006 Semester, many Alphas visited the University Libraries for a general introduction to the Libraries’ collections, programs, and services. The recent Alpha visit focused on resources and services that support research and classroom instruction in specific subject areas of the attendees, such as chemistry, computer science, elementary education, English, mathematics, sociology, and theatre and dance.

Librarians Brenda Yates Habich and Lisa Jarrell welcomed and re-acquainted the Alphas with a tour and overview of Bracken Library. They then were provided with an orientation to resources in their disciplines. The presentation highlighted resources for faculty research and student learning. Faculty members also heard about important services like interlibrary loan and electronic reserves.

Greg Siering, Faculty Development Coordinator for the Office of Teaching and Learning Advancement, comments that the University Libraries are an important part of the Alpha program.

“We believe that it is vital that our newest colleagues learn about the variety of resources BSU offers to support their teaching and scholarship, and the University Libraries' participation in our Alpha/Beta programs this spring greatly contributed to that effort,” he said. “The Library tours and orientation that Lisa and Brenda provided will play an important role in helping our new faculty take their teaching and scholarship to the next level.”

For more information, contact by Lisa J. Jarrell, Instructional Services Librarian, at LJJarrell@bsu.edu or (765) 285-5356.

This article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4):4; April 2007.

Many of the University Libraries’ Academic Databases Offer Convenient Citation Feature to Aid Students, Faculty

No research paper is complete without a bibliography that lists authors and source information. This part of the paper, which must be presented in a specific format, generally would not be difficult to create except that there are hundreds of styles, all of which vary one from the other.

Three of the popular citation styles that Ball State faculty requires for student papers include the APA, Chicago, and MLS styles. To make an otherwise daunting step manageable, several of the University Libraries’ academic databases now include a feature that allows students to select the style and then the citations retrieved are provided in that style. This is a very welcomed feature that has otherwise only been available through popular products such as EndNote software for publishing and managing bibliographies or the popular RefWorks, an online research management and bibliography creator service.

Naturally, this service comes with a word of caution. It is that citations can be tricky things and those generated by databases may not always be accurate according to the required style. This means that the writer must double-check the citation for format accuracy before incorporating it into an academic paper.

To check the format, there are various style manuals available at the Libraries’ Reference/Information Desk. In the case of APA and MLA formats, see “Class Handouts” at www.bsu.edu/library/electronicresources/researchguides.

All of the EBSCOhost databases and the Proquest/CSA databases offer the citation feature. This includes Academic Search Premier, ERIC, Business Source Premier, MEDLINE, PSYCArticles, SPORTDiscus, Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals, Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, PAIS International, and Physical Education Index.

For more information, contact Susan E. Taylor, Part-time Reference Desk Assistant, Ball State SETaylor@bsu.edu, (765) 285-3337.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 4; April 2007.

Graduate Student Elizabeth A. Blanchard’s Special “Thank You” to a Faculty Member also Benefits the Ball State University Libraries

Elizabeth A. Blanchard was looking for a special way to say “thank you” to Professor Judi E. Egbert, a Ball State faculty member and advisor in the Department of Social Work. As a token of her appreciation, Elizabeth chose to purchase two books in Prof. Egbert’s honor and recently donated them to the Ball State University Libraries.

“By donating two books in Judi’s area of interest, I hope I can show my appreciation for her sharing of time, knowledge, and understanding of both social work issues and life in general,” said Elizabeth. “I am grateful to the people who work in the Department of Social Work, and I hope that the donation of these books will help other students succeed.”

The books are Cultural Competence in Process and Practice Building Bridges by Juliet C. Rothman and Culturally Competent Practice: A Framework for Understanding Diverse Groups and Justice Issues, edited by Doman Lum.

“We thank Elizabeth and wish her the best as she graduates from Ball State University this spring,” said Dr. Arthur W. Hafner, Dean of University Libraries.

For more information, contact Arthur W. Hafner Ph.D., M.B.A., Ball State University’s Dean of University Libraries, AHafner@bsu.edu, (765) 285-5277.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 4; April 2007.

University Libraries’ Initiates Laptop Wireless Printing for Students, Faculty

Beginning April 18, 2007, the University Libraries initiated laptop wireless printing for students and faculty. Using this service, which is free to students and faculty, almost any document or webpage can be printed from one of the University Libraries’ public printers. To use the service, the requestor clicks on www.bsu.edu/libraries/laptopprint.

Michele A. Faroh, former Student Government Association Secretary and M.B.A. graduate student said, “This is a huge service for students with laptops and a big time saver.”

Dr. Arthur W. Hafner, Dean of University Libraries commented, “Daily in the University Libraries, we are seeing a large increase in the number of students using laptops and small-screen smart devices. We are confident that this new service will enhance student productivity for research, learning, and class projects being completed in the University Libraries.”

The printing service requires the requestor’s e-mail address, the name of the file or Web page that will be printed, and identification of the public printer where the file will be printed. The service then captures the file or webpage, sends it off-campus to a third-party server and returns the file to the campus for printing. The e-mail address identifies the print for the requestor who has 90 minutes to “release” the job for printing and pick-up at any one of five printers in the University Libraries selected by the requestor. No additional software or steps are required for using this service.

Currently, the service allows for printing of over 100 file formats, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Adobe PDF, Fax, JPEG, and TIFF. The requestor can request that the document be printed at Bracken Library at one of three locations (Periodical/Reserve area, first floor near the north entrance, or in the Educational Resources Collection) or at the Architecture Library or the Science-Health Science Library.

For more information, contact Bradley D. Faust, Ball State University Libraries’ Assistant Dean for Library Information Technology Services, BFaust@bsu.edu, (765) 285-8032.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 3; April 2007.

University Libraries’ Personnel Find Dual Monitor Workstations Boost Productivity

Several employees at the Ball State University Libraries have been using a second 17” flat-screen monitor at their workstations. Early and continuing reports are that these dual monitors result in higher productivity, reduced eye strain, and enhanced multi-tasking opportunities for improved work flow.

The first area to test dual screens was Interlibrary Loan Services. They are now also being used in six additional areas, including Archives and Special Collections, Authority Control/Bibliographic Control, Dean’s Office, Library Information Technology Services, Metadata and Digital Initiatives, and the University Copyright Center. In addition, the public workstations in Geospatial Resources and Map Collections feature dual monitors for use on its public workstations.

Karin Kwiatkowski, Interlibrary Loan Lending Coordinator, reports that the dual monitors on her desk are great because she can quickly find the data that she needs without toggling between and among different windows. “We used to have physical paper and one screen. With two screens, it is more efficient and there is no eye strain,” she says. “In my work, I would have four windows open at any given time. Now one monitor can stay open for ILLiad, which is our primary software, and the other monitor can be used for searching catalogs, the Internet, or workflows.”

Kathy S. Reed, Bibliographic Control Supervisor, agrees that having two monitors at her workstation has increased her productivity by 15% to 20% depending on the task. She searches often in OCLC Connexion, an international database, to match existing Unicorn Workflows records as warranted. She finds that when she needs to use three applications simultaneously, she can move between screens with ease, and it takes a lot less time.

“I constantly make use of the second monitor,” adds Jonathan M. Brinley, Metadata and Digital Initiatives Developer. “When I’m coding, the two screens let me have a command prompt on one screen and an editor in the other, making it easier to test and debug the code. When I’m cataloging a digital image, the second monitor allows me to see the image while I catalog it. When working in a spreadsheet or database, sometimes 1280 pixels isn’t enough to see what you need to see. The second monitor lets me expand the window to save a lot of scrolling back and forth.”

Robert L. Seaton, Web Developer in the University Libraries, uses dual monitors to increase his throughput. “With two monitors, I can have Photoshop open full screen on one and a Web browser editing program and an Explorer window positioned in the other, all viewable at the same time,” Robert said.

The only cost involved with adding a second monitor is the cost of the monitor itself. This is because Windows XP automatically recognizes the second monitor and provides a few basic configuration options. The first is to duplicate the image of the first monitor on the second, a configuration often used during presentations with a laptop and overhead data projector. The second configuration uses a second monitor to double the amount of Windows workspace available.

For more information, contact Bradley D. Faust, Ball State University Libraries’ Assistant Dean for Library Information Technology Services, BFaust@bsu.edu, (765) 285-8032.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 3; April 2007.

Bracken Library Exhibits Two Bronze Statues from the Ball State Museum of Art

Thanks to two ongoing loans of statues from the Ball State Museum of Art, Bracken Library’s visitors are treated daily to seeing two beautiful bronze statues.

Forest Idyll, affectionately known on campus as The Naked Lady, a bronze statue of a lady with a fawn, was sculpted in 1930 by Albin Polasek (1879-1965). It stands prominently near Bracken’s south entrance on an oak platform which serves as a message board where students leave notes for one another about where they can be found on any of Bracken’s five floors. The statue is from the collection of Frank C. Ball.

Glint of the Sea — A Figure of a Nymph, is a bronze sculpted in 1924 by Chester Beach (1881-1956). It stands near Bracken’s north entrance
To uphold its mission of being A destination for research, learning, and friends, the Ball State University Libraries seeks to create a friendly and inviting atmosphere for the campus community.

For more information, contact Arthur W. Hafner Ph.D., M.B.A., Ball State University’s Dean of University Libraries, AHafner@bsu.edu, (765) 285-5277.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 2; April 2007.

Improving the University Libraries’ Services to the Ball State Academic Community by Listening and Implementing Suggestions from Students, Faculty

In September, 2005, the Dean of University Libraries, Dr. Arthur W. Hafner, appointed the Services Excellence Working Group (SEWG). One of their recent projects has been to create and implement a No Log Tracking System for collecting and analyzing comments and suggestions from students and faculty that are made to librarians and paraprofessional personnel.

The SEWG and Dean of University Libraries review these comments and suggestions with the objective of improving customer service. This adaptability and flexibility in listening and hearing our students and faculty has helped to develop and enhance long-term relationships and to keep our students and faculty delighted with our services.

The purpose of the No Log Tracking System is to find and identify patterns in service limitations and to raise the awareness of service quality and content so that the University Libraries’ operations and procedures are continually reviewed and reassessed to assure excellent customer services.

The idea for a No Log Tracking System came from Kathy McMillan’s article, “Generating Goodwill: Turning No into Yes,” American Libraries 36(10): 48-49; November, 2005. According to the article, the idea was originally that of Jackie Sollers, head of the Carroll County, Maryland Public Library’s Eldersburg branch, Eldersburg, Maryland.

Listed below are some examples of changes that have been made to the University Libraries’ operations and procedures as a result of comments from students and faculty where the Libraries’ administration has strived to turn a former “No, we cannot do that” into “Yes,” resulting in improved service and customer satisfaction:

· Adding public catalog access through PCs throughout the Libraries for quick public catalog searches, saving people time to access the catalog (other PCs require log-on)
· Allowing non-reserve music CDs to circulate
· Equipping all of Bracken Library’s public computers with print drivers to allow customers to send print jobs directly to the color printer/photocopier at the low cost of 25¢ per copy
· Implementing laptop wireless printing (without charge to students, faculty) throughout the University Libraries
· Implementing printing (for free) from the University Libraries’ iMAC computers
· Increasing the circulation period for alumni to borrow DVDs and VHS materials
· Increasing the Libraries’ hours to provide more service on Sundays and later hours at night until 3 a.m. (120.5 hrs/wk)
· Increasing the number of recycle bins throughout the University Libraries
· Installing a vending machine area in Bracken Library’s lower level, complete with a large-screen television, microwave, and comfortable chairs and tables
· Opening of the now popular Bookmark Café @ Bracken Library through Campus Dining Services following a Bracken Library survey about a café in the facility
· Providing a drop box for U.S. and campus mail inside Bracken Library
· Making available desktop computers and software for persons using reserved scholar study rooms
· Providing larger waste receptacles throughout the Libraries to accommodate refuse from the consumption of food and beverages
· Making available plastic copy cards for sale for the photocopy machine in the two branch libraries

Members of the SEWG provide recommendations to the Dean of University Libraries through suggestions concerning targeted staff development for professional, faculty, and classified Libraries’ personnel through technology instruction, customer service training, and promotion of service knowledge to maintain a high level of professional expertise and service. The SEWG does this, in part, by recommending and helping to develop service training rubrics for students assistants and reviewing guidelines for and adoption of self-assessment service standards.

For more information, contact Arthur W. Hafner Ph.D., M.B.A., Ball State University’s Dean of University Libraries, AHafner@bsu.edu, (765) 285-5277.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 2; April 2007.

Tragedy at Virginia Tech

Monday, April 16, 2007, was a day that was tragic, incomprehensible, and sad for America.

We cry and share the grief for the loss of so many innocent students and educators who were massacred and injured while pursuing their dreams for academic success and classroom excellence. This was truly senseless, something completely unthinkable that has touched and changed the lives of so many both at Virginia Tech and in academe. We express our deepest condolences and profound sympathy to all who mourn.

On Wednesday evening, Ball State students, faculty, and staff lined the sidewalk and grassy area near Bracken Library’s north door by the Frog Baby Fountain for a vigil to remember the massacred and the evil that happened at Virginia Tech. Victims’ names were read while about 200 students lit candles in their memory.

This newsletter article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 1; April 2007.

4th Annual Copyright Conference at Ball State Well-Received

Speakers at the Fourth Annual Copyright Conference, held April 11, 2007, sponsored by Ball State University Libraries, combined copyright with a classic theme from the popular television series Star Trek to make the subject of the U.S. Copyright Law educational, understandable, and entertaining. According to comments from the 114 attendees, the six speakers succeeded in boldly exploring copyright in teaching and learning.

A central focus of the conference was to explore Fair Use and how it can be used in both face-to-face and distance education classrooms. To accomplish this, five nationally-known copyright experts and one internationally known intellectual property expert, both from academe and the private sector, spoke about how to use another person’s intellectual property through Fair Use and the TEACH Act, among other alternatives.

“This was one of the most worthwhile conferences I've been to,” said Kevin Roe, Supervisor of Media Processing for Fort Wayne Community Schools. “The conference is such a valuable resource for those of us who deal with the questions and problems of copyright at work.”

The Conference began with a welcoming address from H. O’Neal Smitherman, Ph.D., Ball State University’s Vice President of Information Technology and Executive Assistant to the President, to the 114 attendees, some of whom traveled from Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Texas to attend. Conference Chairperson Dr. Fritz Dolak then framed the larger discussion about copyright and intellectual property that set the tone for the day’s conference.

In order of their presentations, the speakers were

Donna L. Ferullo, J.D., Director of the Copyright Office, Purdue University: “Digital Fair Use Trek: Section 107”Ms. Ferullo covered the Four Factors of Fair Use: Purpose, Nature, Amount, and Effect. She discussed relevant court cases on Fair Use, including derivative works, transformative use, and parodies.
· Dwayne K. Buttler, J.D., Professor and Evelyn J. Schneider Endowed Chair for Scholarly Communication, University of Louisville: “Live Long and Prosper:” A warp speed view of library copying with phasers on stun for the TEACH Act
Mr. Buttler delved into Section 108, Library Copying, of the Copyright Law, as well as Section 110(2), which addresses how to use someone else’s intellectual property in the classroom without walls. He covered the many ins and outs, and the vagaries for both of these sections in the Copyright Law.
Michelle L. Cooper, J.D., Bose McKinney & Evans LLP, Education Law Group: “The Menagerie:” Practical digital legal advice
Ms. Cooper concentrated on intellectual property ownership issues, including the exclusive, oftentimes overlooked, rights that students have in the intellectual property they create for classes. She used several real-life situations that upheld and verified student rights and that also enhanced the work-for-hire doctrine.
James R. Williams, J. D., DeFur Voran LLP, Ball State University's Legal Counsel for Education Law: “Subspace Education:” iTunes U
Mr. Williams discussed the uses of a new, free, 365/24 technology for the classroom, i.e., the Apple iPod-oriented, iTunes U. He also discussed problematic issues including the uploading of course content without permission to YouTube, etc., and the potential abuse of embedded copyrighted materials in iTunes U’s approach for educating today’s students.
Kenneth D. Crews, Ph.D., J.D., Samuel R. Rosen II Professor, Indiana University School of Law (Indianapolis), Indiana University School of Library and Information Science; Associate Dean of the Faculties for Copyright Management; Director, IUPUI Copyright Management Center: “The Way to Eden:” Current issues & updates in copyright including the Google challenge
Dr. Crews’ discourse was a duality of today’s copyright issues and future issues via a unique, time warp interview with himself: “Google eventually uploaded the universe,” he said. Dr. Crews opined that the Constitution’s original role in copyright is being overplayed by the Congress to the detriment of education.
Carl M. Johnson, Director of the University Copyright Licensing Office, Brigham Young University: “The City on the Edge of Forever:” Inside the scenes at a University Copyright Office
Mr. Johnson shared some of his practical experiences that call for the administration at one’s institution to be involved in intellectual property issues, including crafting a copyright policy, and directing copyright education. He discussed his approach to Fair Use analysis and how this effects a given decision. Mr. Johnson provided a comprehensive intellectual property resource list in his handout.

Copyright Conference Awarded Continuing Legal Education Credits
Again this year, the Indiana Supreme Court’s Commission for Continuing Legal Education granted 5.7 Continuing Legal Education credits for Indiana attorneys who attended the Conference. As was done last year, a petition has been sent to the Ohio Supreme Court for CLE credits for those Ohio lawyers who attended this year’s conference.

Conference Breakout Session
The conference included a breakout session on using various types of materials under the concept of Fair Use. The attendees were divided into four groups and each was given a Fair Use scenario. One of the Conference experts was available to each group as a resource for determining what digital uses could and could not be invoked for educational Fair Use.

Conference Blogged Live by Chadwick Seagraves
This year, there was a unique perspective for the Conference since it was blogged live by Chadwick Seagraves, Information Technology Librarian, Marian College, Indianapolis. His blog on Digital Trek can be viewed,http://technorati.com/tag/copyright?from=http://infosciphi.info.


Conclusion
For the attendees, Digital Trek was a successful, one-day, concentrated tour de force through a plethora of intellectual property and copyright issues. The skills, legal proficiencies and professionalism of the presenters -- Dwayne K. Buttler, J.D.; Michelle L. Cooper, J.D.; Kenny D. Crews, J.D., Ph.D.; Donna L. Ferullo, J.D.; Carl M. Johnson; and James R. Williams, J.D. -- made the Fourth Annual Copyright Conference at Ball State University an educational and worthwhile Digital Trek!

For more information, contact Dr. Fritz Dolak, University Libraries’ Copyright and Intellectual Property Manager and Special Assistant to the Dean, University Copyright Center, FDolak@bsu.edu, (765) 285-5330.

This article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 1; April 2007.

Bookmark Café @ Bracken Library Continues to Grow as a Popular Student, Faculty Gathering Spot

Bookmark Café @ Bracken Library Continues to Grow as a Popular Student, Faculty Gathering Spot

Every day from opening ‘til closing, students, faculty, and staff stream in and out of the Bookmark Café @ Bracken Library. The café, conveniently located in Bracken Library’s southeast corner, provides about 900 square feet of comfortable, inviting space for people to gather, relax, and visit with each other. The reasonably priced menu includes Seattle’s Best Coffee® and many other beverages in addition to pastries, salads, soups, and sandwiches. Visitors can hear XM satellite radio or watch plasma monitors that feature national and international news.

The café contributes to the transformation of Ball State University Libraries as a dynamic social, learning, and gathering space on campus. It supports Ball State’s Strategic Plan for increasing the vitality of campus social and cultural life.

For more information, contact Arthur W. Hafner Ph.D., M.B.A., Ball State University’s Dean of University Libraries, AHafner@bsu.edu, (765) 285-5277.

This article first appeared in The Library Insider 5(4): 1; April 2007.