Author Archive
November 19th, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
We’d like to get some quick feedback on 2 potential changes to the left-hand menu in the new library site. If you go the library site in Drupal (under development!), you can see how these changes would look.
- Change the name “Library Departments” to “Contact Us.” The purpose of this page is to give users quick access to departments like Reserves, Interlibrary Loan, Collection Management, etc. Using the word “Contact” in the name of the page brings more attention to the page, we think. It also might allow us to remove the long list of contact info that otherwise could be needed on the library collections pages.
- Create a new subpage under “Library Collections” called “Collections,” and nest pages like College Archives, Government Documents and Digital Collections in it. This decreases the number of subpages under “Library Collections” to 6. White Whale recommends no more than 8 subpages, and without this change, “Library Collections” has 11. We considered nesting some of the collections under “Main Library,” but we think that nesting them under “Collections” gives them a little more prominence.
We think these changes will make it easier for most users to find what they’re looking for. Do you agree?
November 17th, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
This semester, we’ve been using the Suggestions Board in the atrium of the Main Library to get feedback on how we might be able to save money. We’ve asked library users to tell us what’s most important and what they can do without. The most popular comments so far are, “What’s wrong with the printers?” and “Why is wireless so slow?” Our responses are now posted to Suggestions Board and the LIS Suggestions blog.
November 10th, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
Watch it online! Capture: What it is and Why It’s Cool (video)
LISterine Workshops: LIS Technology, Endeavors, and Resources in Need of Explanation: Cool and refreshing! Cleans and protects against boredom and stagnation! This workshop series gives LIS a firsthand look at trends, tools and techniques that influence our work. Read more about these workshops. Want to present a workshop? Want someone else to present? Vote for it in the LISterine Feedback Forum!
October 28th, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
Agenda 10/29/09
Timekeep, notetake, moderate, drive
Announcements
Permissions and workflow for LIS content
11/9 – deliverables on timeline
October 22nd, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
From Jeanne Albert, Director of Quantitative Skills Support, Center for Teaching, Learning, and Research:
The Quantitative Analysis Lab (QAL) in LIB 105 is up and running! On Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings peer tutors are available to help students with the statistics packages Stata, SPSS, and Minitab (see the schedule, below.) In addition, other quantitative software packages are available on the computers in LIB 105, including Data Desk, R, Maple, Mathematica, MatLab, Excel, and Geometer’s Sketchpad. The lab will be a great resource for students who are working in the main library, and can potentially bring together people working on a variety of subjects, topics, and projects.
Quantitative Analysis Lab Schedule
Sundays:
- Minitab tutor: 7 – 10 pm
- Stata tutor: 8:30 – 10 pm
Wednesdays:
- Stata tutor: 8:30 – 10 pm
- SPSS tutor: 8:30-10 pm
Thursdays:
- Stata tutor: 8:30 – 10 pm
Note: During QAL tutoring hours, students working with tutors will be given preference, but other students may use the lab if space is available.
October 15th, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
Hi everyone in LIS,
We have a preliminary outline of content, otherwise known as Information Architecture or IA, for the new Library web page (aka the new version of http://go.middlebury.edu/lib). We need your feedback.
If you’re interested, (more…)
September 28th, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
At last, we will have a permanent space for LIS feedback in the atrium of the Main Library. Look for the LIS Suggestions Board near the HelpDesk soon–the photo of the LIS genie will be hard to miss. The first topic you’ll see there: “Help us save money wisely: What’s most important? What can you do without?” Responses will be posted to the board and to the LIS Suggestions Blog (http://go.middlebury.edu/lissuggestions).
September 23rd, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
How about something like this? It might be too text-y, but some explanation of why you’d want to contact these people/groups seems necessary.
eg, for Chemistry: (more…)
September 14th, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
Submitted by Carrie Macfarlane
This year, we will continue to support geospatial applications like Google Earth and Google Maps through student tutors in the Wilson Media Lab at the Main Library, but we’ve altered the scope of our services a bit.
Like last year, all tutors have been trained in Google Earth and related applications, and a few tutors have additional expertise. Unlike last year, we won’t be able to do in-depth GIS (geospatial information systems) projects during the school year. During the school year, we’ll only be able to help people with projects. During the summer, as long as we have student tutors with GIS skills, we should be able to DO projects for people.
Anyone who would like assistance with geospatial projects can visit the Wilson Media Lab on the main level of the Main Library, or send a request for assistance to DigitalMediaTutors@middlebury.edu.
September 14th, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
Posted by Bryan Carson and Carrie Macfarlane
The next LISterine Workshop (LIS Technology, Endeavors, and Resources in Need of Explanation) has been scheduled. On Thursday, September 17, from 12:30-1:30 pm in Library 145, Alex Chapin will present Capture. Watch your inbox for an invitation.
Want to present a workshop? Want someone else to present? Vote for it in the LISterine Feedback Forum!
August 21st, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
Here is our year-end report on providing geospatial support from the Media Lab (2008-09_GISreport-LISannual). As you know, we were transitioning from 2 years of full-time intern support. This report describes how the transition went.
August 19th, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
August 14th, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
We’re planning next year’s program for LISterine workshops , and we want your help. What do YOU want to learn? Use the LISterine Feedback Forum to suggest and vote on workshop topics. You get 10 votes–so vote early and often! You can come back later and change your votes, too.
A note to the specialists in the audience: If you see a topic you could present on, please expect that we’ll come after you if that topic rises to the top of the list! Vote accordingly.
Visit it now: LISterine Feedback Forum
July 29th, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
- Media Lab: Has no stats that would be of use to us
- Reference: Has no stats that would be of use to us, but when I asked Bryan about ref stats he suggested EZProxy stats, so…
- EZProxy: Has no stats that would be of use to us YET. Later, we should consult these. They can tell us about subscription database use, including what databases are most commonly used and how many of our database users log in from on-campus vs off-campus. They can tell us more than that too, but to get more we might need help from someone like Ian! Barbara can explain better than I can. Mike Lynch will be a good resource too. If you want a look, go to: \orgs\LIS\LISstaff\ILS III Millennium User Materials\EZProxy statistics\+START HERE 2009.html
July 9th, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
These don’t really stand on their own, and they need to be revised for clarity, but I hope they’ll help us in our discussion, at least.
********************
Your area:
Your workgroup:
1. How important is it for you to reach each of these audiences with your web content?
Students:
(Circle one): Not at all important X X X X X Very important
Faculty:
(Circle one): Not at all important X X X X X Very important
Staff:
(Circle one): Not at all important X X X X X Very important
Alumni:
(Circle one): Not at all important X X X X X Very important
Prospective students:
(Circle one): Not at all important X X X X X Very important
Other (Who: ):
(Circle one): Not at all important X X X X X Very important
2. What is the most essential feature of your department that you want to convey most immediately on the web? Share URLs of content on existing LIS site, if applicable.
3. What other features of your department do you want to convey on the web? Share URLs of content on existing LIS site, if applicable.
4. Is there content from your department on the existing LIS web site that is outdated or irrelevant? If so, please share URLs if possible.
5. If you add content to the current LIS web site, please tell us how easy you feel it is to add and update content.
(Circle one): Not at all easy X X X X X Very easy
Why?
July 3rd, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
Perhaps we can discuss metrics here, to save time in our next meeting? I know we all feel like we have to keep up our quick pace in order to meet deadlines.
I think we’ve agreed to most if not all of the items that Ian included in the list of metrics on the wiki. I added a few points for discussion, though. Can we discuss and finalize the whole list? The text I added is in orange.
Quantitative
* Reduced support requests
* Fewer clicks to find information
* Reduced reliance on other communication systems
o Fewer group emails
o Fewer PDF newsletters and print materials
o Unified documentation
* More frequent updates of news content
* Fewer dead links, reduced need to check for dead links
* Usage analytics analysis
* Subscription rate for syndicated content (feeds)
* Do we want to measure how we respond to feedback, for example do we want to set a goal for ourselves that all suggestions will receive responses (even generic) within a certain amount of time? Macfarlane, Carrie Miyoshi
Qualitative
* User satisfaction survey (on-going, periodical) – is just doing a survey enough for us, or are we looking for a certain level of satisfaction in the result? Of course we probably will never achieve 100% satisfaction. Do we want to set a target somehow, one that is linked to the ratings on the survey (eg, at least 50% of users are at least “somewhat satisfied”)? Macfarlane, Carrie Miyoshi
* “Was this page helpful?” “Rate this page” at the bottom of content
June 24th, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
We will create a new LIS web site that’s easy to use and easy to maintain. We’ll do much of the work ourselves, but we’ll call on others when we need additional skills and expertise. We’ll determine not only the site’s appearance, but also a workflow for creation and maintenance of content. User testing and ongoing assessment will inform our decisions.
June 5th, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
Submitted by Carrie Macfarlane
Please join us at next week’s workshop called “Looking at Library Research.” It’s part of the CTLR Pedagogy Roundtable Series.
Thursday, June 11
1:30 – 2:30 pm
Looking at Library Research, Library 230
Presenters: Brenda Ellis, Joe Toth, Andrew Wentink
Conveners: Carrie Macfarlane and Terry Simpkins
Has the way you do research changed over the past few years? Have you noticed a change in the research your students are doing? Finding information has become easier than ever, but sifting out the best information remains a challenge even for experienced researchers. In this roundtable we will examine some of the changes in the resources libraries provide and in how they provide them, as well as discuss how these mesh (or don’t!) with student and faculty expectations.
May 22nd, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
Submitted by Carrie Macfarlane
Thanks to Jack Cuneo for leading this week’s LISterine Workshop on mashups, and thanks to all who attended. Thanks also to Scott Witt for recording the session! If you weren’t able to attend, you can watch the video; there’s a link in the LISterine blog.
May 8th, 2009 by Carrie Macfarlane
Submitted by Bryan Carson and Carrie Macfarlane
The next LISterine Workshop (LIS Technology, Endeavors, and Resources in Need of Explanation) has been scheduled. On Tuesday, May 19, from 4-5 pm in Library 105, Digital Media Tutors and LIS-GIS Team members Jue Yang and Jack Cuneo will present Entering the World of Mashups. Watch your inbox for an invitation.
Want to present a workshop? Want someone else to present? Tell us!
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