A message from W. Lee Hisle, VP for Information Services and Librarian of the College:
Welcome back!
Summer is the time when Information Services staff takes advantage of the relative quiet to complete special projects. This summer’s projects are particularly noteworthy since they’ve resulted in a number of new services and facility improvements.
IS Website
A newly redesigned IS website is now up that will provide quicker access to the most used resources and services in IS. The site is now in the same style as the rest of the college’s web presence and thus should be easier to navigate.
Compact Shelving and Study Areas in Shain Library
You may know that we were nearly out of space to shelve new materials in Shain Library; at current acquisition rates, we estimated we would use up available space in approximately four years. By adding over 26,000 linear feet of compact shelving on the lower level of Shain, we now have 12-15 years of growth space allowing for normal collection weeding rates and the ongoing move toward collecting materials in digital formats.
As a bonus, compact shelving allows us to create new and expanded spaces for study and research on the lower level, the first floor, and the second floor. When the “cage” is removed from the third floor sometime this year, we plan to add a very nice study space overlooking the Long Island Sound. Some of the older library furniture has been replaced or refinished in Shain as a part of this project as well.
The compact shelving project allowed us to do a major shift of the collections. All bound journals and the LC oversize collections are now reunited on the third floor and the juvenile collection is on the second. The Dewey Collection of older materials is in the compact shelving. Please ask for assistance if you have trouble finding materials you need.
A final note on the use of compact shelving: the installation of our compact-shelving units has been designed to maximize capacity. Those not familiar with the use of these moveable units may find them awkward at first, so please refer to directions which are posted at the end of each range -- or ask for assistance.
Google Apps for Education (Gmail)
The implementation of Google Apps for Education is now complete with only a few bugs still being worked out in a few offices. Gmail is different, to be sure, but most faculty and staff have adapted and are appreciating some of the new features. IS is continuing to schedule Gmail training sessions, and Google Apps training sessions will begin later this semester. Please contact the Help Desk at xHELP (x4357) if you’re having problems with the transition. (The resultant savings of moving from Microsoft to Google for email helped fund the compact shelving project.)
Language and Culture Center
The Language Lab on the first floor of Blaustein has been transformed into a beautiful, comfortable Language and Culture Center with a high tech flair. This effort is consistent with the International Commons program being led by Andrea Lanoux and Marc Forster. Offering students a place to study and watch international films and international television programming, as well as work on their language acquisition skills, the Center is a lovely new student-focused space.
Wireless Access in the Residence Halls
You may remember that our residence hall rooms did not have wireless access (unless near one of the remodeled common rooms). In a major project this summer, all residence hall rooms now have high-speed access to the wireless network using the newest, and most robust, wireless n-standard. Over 230 access points were installed across campus. Over the past few years, our surveys of the student body, as well as discussions with the PPBC, the SGA, and other campus groups, clearly indicated this was the number one student concern relative to IS. Wireless access was upgraded in Harris and Shain Library as a part of this project as well.
Cable Television
Another IS project relating to student life this summer was the replacement of an out-of-date cable television system with MetroCast Cable services. MetroCast serves the neighborhoods surrounding the campus. Not only will students receive better signal and local channels in High-Definition, but they’ll also have the opportunity to contract directly with MetroCast for DVR equipment and premium channels. The savings from changing cable providers also helped fund the compact shelving and the residence hall wireless project.
Charles Chu Asian Art Reading Room
The Chu Room opened in December of 2001 and, as you know, has been a very popular space for student study, guest lectures, and campus receptions. Fortunately, when the room was constructed, the college had just implemented a new policy that major renovations and new construction must be endowed to allow for their upkeep and maintenance. This summer, using the earnings from the Chu Room endowment, the floors were refinished and the furniture was refurbished bringing the room back to its original polish. The carpet is being replaced as I write this. Qiang Ning, Chu-Niblack Associate Professor of Art History and the Curator the Chu Collection, has interesting exhibits planned for this fall, so please stop by for a visit.
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Information Services is pleased that we were able to accomplish these projects, and many others I haven’t mentioned, over the summer. (And, by the way, the successful completion of these projects was only possible thanks to the cooperation and professional assistance of our colleagues in Physical Plant. We thank them.) We look forward to providing the campus community with facilities, collections and services that meet your needs in the future. And we will continue to appreciate your input and support as we move forward.
