Archive for December, 2008
December 15th, 2008 by Ian McBride
You might notice a new design if you visit my blog today. I’ve added a new theme to our WordPress installation that users can apply to give their blog the Middlebury College look-and-feel. Well, a version of it at least. This is the design approved by College Communications for use in applications where the full design would be impractical to apply and/or where the content is not necessarily the voice of the school’s administration. WordPress meets both of these criteria.
The design is straight forward and simplistic, but it gives more flexibility in terms of page width than any of the other templates currently available to our users. This is helpful for bloggers who want to add wide content to their blogs, like big images or videos. Most of the other WordPress themes we’ve installed limit the user to less than 400 pixels of width for their content. This design also gives the viewer the opportunity to switch to a fixed-width view if they so desire (see the links in the top right corner of this blog).
If you want to apply this to your blog, log in at http://chisel.middlebury.edu/wordpress/wp-admin, click on the Design tag in the top-left under your blog’s name, scroll down until you see “Middlebury” in the list and click on it’s name. You should be all set. Check your blog to make sure that everything is in order. If something’s not in order, please send me an email letting me know.
Working on this has given me some of the basic knowledge that I’ll need as I work on my next project: designing a template for the New England Review so they can transfer their site content into WordPress.
December 15th, 2008 by Ian McBride
I’ve finished coding a Web Service for retrieving weather information for Middlebury, VT. The service is available at http://web.middlebury.edu/systems/weather/Weather.asmx. Currently, the service supports six functions:
- getConditions() – returns a text description of the weather
- getDate() – returns the date/time of the last update
- getHigh() – returns an integer value of the high temperature in degrees F
- getIcon() – returns the relative name of an icon representing the conditions
- getLow() – returns an integer value of the low temperature in degrees F
- getNOAAUrl() – returns the full URL to the NOAA’s weather site for Middlebury
Because the NOAA requests that you not retrieve information more than once an hour, the information is cached locally until a new request comes in more than an hour after the cache file was last modified. You can use the getDate() function to find out when the cache file was last refreshed. Right now, the service only serves up information about Middlebury’s weather, but I could see expanding this to allow other locations to be requested based a parameter to the service constructor. This might be helpful in getting weather conditions for other campuses. The getIcon() function will return a value like “01.gif”, which is an image file in http://web.middlebury.edu/systems/weather/Images, but you could have your own set of weather icons for your service and just mapt he appropriate condition to 01.gif.
This is based on code written by Brett Wilhelm for the MiddCMS framework. I’ve modified the code so that the different pieces of information are chucked out into functions, but the underlying functionality is the same.
December 12th, 2008 by jtoth
The Selection Team (Ellis, Simmons, Toth and Warren) met last week to create a selection plan for the remainder of FY09, given that the materials budget was reduced by 5% at mid-year. About one-time purchases, we discussed developing spending limits per subject, but decided to let the system proceed as is and to monitor spending closely. We’ll meet with Terry and Joy to talk about music purchasing, to better understand why we spend the amount that we do on music. We’d like to know what our peers spend and a bit more about our purchasing spending history. We plan to tighten the reins a bit on DVD purchasing and examine the approval plan profile to crates savings there. With subscriptions, we’ll once again examine serial continuations, standing orders, and databases to identify resources we no longer need.
Alas, all news isn’t bad. We entered into package deal with Sage Publications just before we were asked to reduce our budget. As with several other packages, for a premium over the cost of our subscribed titles (12% = $4455), we receive access to the rest of its journal roster, some 400+ titles. Sage publishes more in the humanities and social sciences than sciences, so we thought this deal would provide strong coverage in areas previous deals somewhat overlooked. This deal was funded mostly through canceling our subscription to Global Books in Print ($3800), a publication kept in-house for use by acquisitions staff. Our thanks to Acquisitions for letting us know they can live without GBIP.
December 12th, 2008 by Doreen Bernier
Mark your calendars for December 17th, for this year’s LIS Holiday Potluck get-together.
Please bring a snack or dessert to share and your own beverage. The party starts at 3:00 pm in the Panther Reading Room, on the upper level.
Also, since the library will be closing at 3:00 pm, make sure to bring your ID to get into the front doors.
December 12th, 2008 by Michael Lynch
December 12th, 2008 by Chris Norris
Submitted by Chris Norris
Here are some of the projects and tasks that DAS staff members have been working on during the past month…
Mike Schuster
- Ran the SYPAEMH process in production to apply Emergency holds for 394 students
- Modified off campus study, field of study database triggers and package to correctly build the first away term for students with multiple curriculum
- Modified SYPCSCC process for applying class codes to prevent it from including winter credits when calculating current credits and also to only copy specific attributes to future terms
- Worked with Jai Shankar to modify the TSRCBIL FormFusion template to print ‘Do Not Remit’ in a few places on student bills when their total is 0 or a negative amount
- Rewrote the LS Apps by Prior College report
- Diagnosed and fixed a problem where custom database procedures were sending email with a timestamp off by 5 hours.
- Modifications to LS & BLSE Financial Aid online web applications
- Expanded the answer box for the college currently attending question on the LS and BLSE Financial Aid applications
- Added error handling in save supplement procedure to check for nonnumeric characters entered as answers to questions looking for numeric answers
- Added text to top of ls_application and blse_application to tell applicant not to use the enter button. Changed text for “Save” buttons to “Submit” buttons
- Added text to explanations/special circumstances instructions: “Please limit to 300 characters.”
- Added error handling in save_application procedure to alert user if they didn’t enter a ‘.’ or ‘@’ in their email address
- Created a spec for the MIIS web application.
- Modified Faculty Advisee list SSB form to allow users to email all advisees or selected advisees
- Online Room Draw 2009 modifications
- Several modifications to room draw space maintenance SSB form for residential systems coordinator
- Several modifications to room draw SSB forms for student submitted applications
- Planning conversations with Jeff Rehbach, MBS Books, and Bob Jansen about creating a process to upload course information to the Online Bookstore vendor and modifying the course listing pages to include links to the bookstore software
Rob Pekor
- Put final touches on the Phone-a-thon data interface for College Advancement
- Added keyword descriptor to output filename of the segment data produced
- Enhanced and modified Oracle procedures behind a Hyperion Mailing report
- Corrected issues with the Volunteer web application (Agents-in-Action) for Annual Giving, problems centered around the field length of the home phone number
- Assisted in fixing problem with online donor roll.
- Created multiple data files for various populations (segments) specified by Annual Giving.
- Analyzing and starting to build specifications for the data feed for the Harris online community project
- Put final touches on the Banner/List-Manager (Broadcast Email tool) integration model with Travis
- This required new function to delineate language school and Bread Load of staff, faculty and students
- Set up volunteer data/assignments for Annual Giving
- Enhanced the Agents-In-Action application to allow input of new ask amounts and assignments
- Created new Oracle package/procedures to allow sending files via FTP from database procedures
Travis Stafford
- Banner/List-Manager Integration project
- Defined types and sub-types
- Defined admin model
- Web Forms
- Supported existing Web Forms
- Ongoing migration of new requests to WPcformsII for BLSE, ACE, RCFIA, HR
- Resolved numerous HEAT tickets and provided support for end-users of online services
Liz Whitaker-Freitas
- Hyperion System 9 Upgrade/Migration
- Resolved several post-migration issues
- Responded to unplanned services outages
- Worked with LIS Staff to develop lab images for new HS9 plugin
- Assisted functional/technical leads with publishing, scheduling and provisioning in new environment
- Researched and resolved connectivity issues with existing queries
- Resolved Oracle Client install issues
- Researched causes of failed jobs
- Tested and deployed Patch/SP
- Cleaned up some custom Roles/Groups
- Worked with Velaris on plan for log archiving
- Resolved report issues (Admissions Data Processing Reports, College Advancement Mailing Reports)
- Other Hyperion
- Trained Tech Lead on how to use derived queries and dashboards
- Trained LS on how to publish and maintain ad-hoc reports
- Processed Hyperion security requests
- Resolved Hyperion HEAT tickets
- Prepared list of services currently being performed by Velaris or Midd staff with recommendations for ongoing support
- Ongoing work for the Lockdown project to change reports using saturn or saturn_midd embedded credentials
- FileMakerPro
- Changed views for Athletics FMP application, troubleshooting issues, change nightly schedules to import view data
Ian McBride (was on CTO for a significant portion of this time)
- Participated in the Web Makeover team meetings and work on the Web Redo project
- Installed a test instance of Drupal CMS for this project
- Finalized the soon-to-be-live new News site for Communications
- Moved all non-CMS web applications off the primary CMS server
- Ongoing work to build out site templates for the New England Review in WordPress
- Developed a web service for system monitoring and backup contacts
- Continued work on a web service API for MiddTube
Chris Norris
- Monitoring and Troubleshooting for Online Services
- Identified and resolved Hyperion issues related to SP1 update
- Researched issue related to Banner INB and IE crashes
- Resolved TouchNet Payment Gateway outages and related issues
- Identified and resolved issues related to recent www –> web forms/services migration
- Monitored Online Course Registration (10 days) and resolved related web issues
- Training and Support for End-Users of Online Services
- Conducted a ListManager-Basics workshop for College Advancement staff
- Conducted a ListManager-Advanced workshop for heavy-use broadcast emailers
- Provided ongoing support for CMS editing, resolved HEAT tickets, answered support calls
- Project Specs / Work Definitions
- Refined Banner List Manager Integration project spec with Travis and Rob
- Helped initiate development of Harris Online Community project spec for Communications
- Completed DAS workgroup SWOT analysis for LIS restructuring efforts
- Revised DAS workgroup goals and objectives for upcoming year
- Ongoing Maintenance & Support
- Processed new GO requests
- Updated Middlebury’s United Way web presence
- Coordinated changes to Monterey’s Online Giving Form
- Reviewed Project Phoenix BIA reports, ongoing planning and specification for remote DR web presence
- Tuned GSA Search to improve keyword matching in search results
- New Projects & Tasks
- Configured SubmissionManager web application for Bread Loaf Writer’s Conference
- Participated in the Web Makeover team meetings and worked on related assigned tasks
- Worked with Advancement and Communications on microphilanthropy test for Organic Garden
- Worked with LIS Budget Administrator to help identify areas for cost reductions
- Worked with LIS Licensing to clarify Hyperion software licensing details
- Worked with LIS Policy Advisor to clarify PCI-compliance status
- Worked with Dean of the College and Directory of Public Safety on new Emergency web site specification
- Vendor Related Activities
- Participated in Sun-Guard/SCT Banner DBA weekly status calls
- Participated in Velaris Hyperion SysAdmin weekly status calls
- Initiated contract re-negotiation with Hyperion SysAdmin vendor (Velaris)
- Transitioned DavisUWCScholars.org and DavisProjectsforPeace.org site management duties to external vendor
December 12th, 2008 by Patricia Hornbeck
Cataloging staff and other members of CM met earlier this week in a workshop designed to take a look at CONTENTdm, the software used by the Library to manage its digital collections. Topics covered by presenters Richard Jenkins, Brendan Owens, Brendan Smith, and myself included CONTENTdm functionality, portal development, metadata standards for the lecture archive, and cataloging with the acquisitions station.
A Web session hosted by OCLC on the version 5 CONTENTdm upgrade is being held in LIB145 on Tuesday December 16, from 2:00 – 5:00 pm. The room can probably hold a few more people if you’re interested in attending.
Students from Sight and Sound II and Animation Production screened their work on the evening of December 4th in Dana Auditorium. Links to the online videos will be available soon on the Middlebury Film and Media blog.
MCAB will sponsor six films during JTerm, starting with Mean Girls on the 9th at 7:00 and 10:00 pm in Dana Auditorium. Some films will be shown in the Grille — check the College Calendar for details.
December 12th, 2008 by Michael Lynch
Bryan Alexander has an interesting post on the NITLE blog, Liberal Education Today.
December 12th, 2008 by Doreen Bernier
The Undergraduate Research Office is gearing up again for its spring Student Research Symposium, which is scheduled for April 17, 2009. Students from all classes are invited to present their research, and LIS provides them with both research and technology support. Watch for updates and links to the Symposium web site and LIS support pages.
From Brenda: The end of the term brings the last push to finish papers. Many econ students have emailed, stopped in, or made appointments for help finding data. Usually they’ve already looked in the obvious places and crawled the web, so their questions aren’t easy. Sometimes a gov’t or international org. website has some of what they need, but they need earlier years, other countries, another variable, etc.
Then there are the usual students who are looking for books and articles for papers. They are appreciative of the help they get both from librarians helping them to identify resources and from the staff and students in ILL, who get all those resources we don’t have.
One of the highlights of the semester was participating in the Jane Austen Dinner and Dance held for Mary Ellen Bertolini’s FYSE1144 Austen and Film class. It’s held downstairs in the CFA. Brenda and Mack joined the students in the class for a catered dinner featuring foods mentioned in the Austen novels and then joined in the country dancing afterwards. We all had so much fun we didn’t want to stop dancing. See: https://segue.middlebury.edu/view/html/site/fyse1144a-f08
December 12th, 2008 by Doreen Bernier
Next week is the final week we will be collecting for the food shelf. We will be bringing the goods to HOPE on Thursday December 18. So there is still time if you want to donate a non-perishable item. A collection box has been placed in the library staff room.
Thank you for your contributions.
December 12th, 2008 by Doreen Bernier
Submitted by Terry Simpkins
The Music Library has started a new blog, On That Note, intended to publicize Music Library resources and services, highlight new and interesting acquisitions, promote local musical events, and, comment on interesting news from the music world. Please visit us at:
December 5th, 2008 by Elin Waagen
Submitted by Elin Waagen
The last Tasty Tech Treats brown bag lunch of the semester was held on Thursday 12/4 at noon in Lib 105. Topics included iGoogle, Google Reader and Twitter, Yammer, GoogleNews, and GoogleAlerts.
The winner of the iPod shuffle grand prize (generously donated by Amy Hoffman) was Terry Simpkins. Congratulations, Terry!
Many thanks to our presenters for the web 2.0 series – Mike R, Mike L. Adam F, Alex C, Joe A, Jeff R., Bryan C, and Mary B.
Total attendance for the series was 50 – many thanks to all who attended and participated.
And last but not least, a big thank you to the group (formerly knows as LIS Administration) for their support of the idea and for funding the prizes.
Please let Bryan and Elin know if you think it would be worthwhile to continue the series in some shape or form in the Spring.
December 5th, 2008 by Elin Waagen
Submitted by Elin Waagen
LIS student employees were treated to a beautiful holiday buffet table filled with savory and sweet goodies on Thursday. Many thanks to Maura Clancy and Lisa Terrier for organizing and to LIS staff for contributing to the wonderful spread. The event was greatly appreciated by our student staff during the busy last week of classes.
December 5th, 2008 by Elin Waagen
In order to accommodate the large amount of returns at this time of year we have designated 2 overflow areas for recently returned library materials – 1 on the upper level and 1 on the main level of the Main Library.
All recently returned library materials in A-N classes, and the oversize group, can be found in the upper-level re-shelving, first range of stacks at SW end of upper floor. Please note – this is a new area – not the shelves used in previous semesters.
Recently returned materials in the P-Z classes can be found on the Main Level in the regular re-shelving area -around the corner from the media viewing rooms.
Please be aware that materials in re-shelving areas are shelved in general alpha order, not in exact call number order.
December 5th, 2008 by Elin Waagen
From the LIS web pages – a few changes for our users – in response to a suggestion from the LIS Suggestion blog.
Need help finding a book?
If you can’t find the library material you’re looking for, try these steps:
Check the listing in the library catalogue to make sure the item is listed as status available.
Make sure you’re looking in the correct library: Armstrong (McCardell Bicentennial Hall), Main Library, Music Library (CFA).
Check the “Location” of the item, it might be part of a specific collection: Reference, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Oversize, Vermont Collection, Reserves, Media, Government Documents, Mini-scores, or Special Collections. Each of these collections is housed together in separate areas in each Library, not with regular books on the shelves.
Check the Library Map to make sure you’re looking in the right place.
If you still can’t locate the item you’re looking for on the shelf, please report it missing.
There are several ways to do this:
Web:
Place a request through the library catalog, MidCat. This will initiate a search and we will hold the book for you if found. We will notify you by email if not found.
Email:
Library Circulation at library_circulation@middlebury.edu,
Call:
Main Library Circulation Desk at 802-443-5494
Music Library at 802-443-5218
Armstrong Library at 802-443-5449
In person:
Stop at one of the Circulation Desks in person
December 5th, 2008 by Doreen Bernier
1. Student publication database – Carol and Jeff attending a meeting to discuss questions about a student publication database which would combine and extract student research, student grant, student publication data, etc and also track things like student employment after graduation. Trying to define the problem and figure out the players involved.
2. Student advisory group. A student advisory group will be formed to discuss student technology issues. Terry and Mike will be on this group as well.
3. Update on budget: Carol continued her overview of the library budget. Area Director’s need to look at the spreadsheet Carol sent, review possible cuts with managers, along with identifying potential savings this year (i.e give money back to the College).
4. Mills: Mary, Adam and Bryan met with Michael Geisler and Mackie Gaines to be updated on the current status with language schools at Mills. Mary shared notes from this meeting, and is currently serving as LIS liaison. There are many conversations that have yet to begin surrounding this. Some major points that need resolving:
- Segue
- Budget timeline
- Library support
December 5th, 2008 by Doreen Bernier
This year Cookie Night will be held on Tuesday, December 9th! Our students truly enjoy the home-baked goodies provided by LIS staff during a brief late night break from studying for their finals exams. So, take out the flour and sugar and let’s bake up a storm!
Cookies can be left in LIB250D during the day on Tuesday. Don’t forget to put your names on your dishes and trays.
December 5th, 2008 by Sheldon Sax
Submitted by Shel Sax
This is a recently completed three-year collaborative project funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Carried out by researchers at the University of Southern California and University of California, Berkeley, the digital youth project explores how kids use digital media in their everyday lives.
Digital Youth Media has the complete report as a white paper and a two page summary in pdf format. If you’ve wondered how today’s youth are using digital media, It is interesting reading.
December 5th, 2008 by Judy Watts
Submitted by Judy Watts
Geospatial Technology Support in Small Academic Libraries: Time to Jump on Board?, by Carrie M. Macfarlane and Christopher M. Rodgers, Middlebury College, has just appeared in the Fall 2008 issue of Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship. This article describes in some detail the work that Carrie did with GIS Interns Katie Clagett and Chris Rogers leading to the Google Earth and GIS support that is now offered by Digital Media Tutors in the Wilson Lab.
Congratulations to Carrie and Chris for producing a piece that is both entertaining and useful to other institutions attempting to find a way to offer support for geospatial technologies. What is described in the article represents a huge commitment by three very dedicated individuals – Carrie, Katie, and Chris – leading to the successful application of geospatial techniques across the curriculum. There were many challenges along the way, including rapidly developing technology and the end of funding for GIS interns, but the result is that students and faculty may now find a wide range of support to suit their needs. Kudos, too, to Joe Antonioli and the Digital Media tutors for stepping up to the challenge and adding yet more ways to help.
|