Library Gazette

On Thursday, the reference department initiated service via txt messaging. By doing so, we’ve joined a small handful of academic libraries making this format available to patrons.

In order to txt the reference desk, patrons should dial 265010, enter our IM screen name “askzaklive” followed by their question and press enter. The question will arrive at the reference desk computer in an instant message window, and the librarian will enter her response as with any other IM. There only two small differences between a reference session initiated via IM and one via txt messaging: instead of the patron’s screen name, her mobile phone number appears at the top of the window and there’s a limit on the number of characters allowed per message. Otherwise the transaction at the ref desk is the same as an IM. With this program, mobile phone users can send text messages to anyone with an AIM screen name who’s online.

We had been looking for a program to integrate text messaging with instant messaging for several months because most Wake Forest students have cell phones and text messaging is growing in popularity among this demographic cohort. We had been stymied in our efforts by a lack of service providers: one alternative provided only an international phone number which would have been prohibitively expensive to users, while another charged a handsome subscription fee. We had decided to wait until a better alternative became available and on Wednesday evening, Lauren found it. While reading a blog she came across an entry from American University describing their recently-launched text messaging reference service. We tested it on Thursday morning, found it worked seamlessly with AIM decided to go live.

We currently receive approximately one third of all reference questions via instant messaging and we’ll be tracking the statistics for text messaging, as well. We’ll report our finding in a later posting.

Over the years, the Information Technology Team (aka “Tech Team”) has held fall retreats to set aside time to plan the upcoming year and reflect on the past year’s efforts. Our goal is to have an annual event away from the library, so we have quality uninterrupted time to team build and conduct planning activities. For most years, we have retreated to Wake Forest’s Lodge at Fancy Gap. That doesn’t always work out, but this year we were able to schedule our 6th visit to Fancy Gap in 9 years (Has it been NINE years?). The participants have varied through the years due to personnel changes and one-time conflicts that prevent a member from attending. This year, we were disappointed that Erik had to miss for the first time, but he was accepted to present a poster session at the ASIS&T Conference in Milwaukee and they declined to change their dates to accommodate our retreat. I do think I’m correct in saying that Tim and I are the only original Tech Teamers to make all scheduled retreats! Caroline Numbers, Giz Womack, Tim Mitchell, Kevin Gilbertson and Susan Smith made the journey for the 2007 event.

We have streamlined our retreat process over the years so that our “typical” retreat is an overnight where we travel to our destination Friday afternoon. Friday evening is spent preparing and sharing a meal, followed by a “social” activity of some sort. This year, we went “high tech” and left our board games at home. We set up Giz’s Wii game, complete with a screen and projector. It was like we held a mini Get Game@ZSR. Giz and Caroline had the edge, since they both own Wii systems, but everyone had a blast playing tennis, bowling and boxing (ask Tim about knocking me out). Then the group consensus for the movie of the evening was to watch “Snakes on a Plane.” Which goes to prove that every group decision isn’t a good one.

Saturday morning, after breakfast, we always hold the business session of the retreat, which typically lasts until lunch time. This year, it became a long session because, in addition to our normal topics of planning next year’s capital budget requests and assessing YTD progress of team and individual goals, we grappled with issues and opportunities that have arisen due to the library’s and university’s strategic plans. As a team, we want to be proactive in promoting and accomplishing the library’s mission in the context of the new administration and the overall strategic plan. We discussed potential scenarios that might result in new or different roles for the team and what would be required to succeed with new initiatives and directions. It was a stimulating, productive exchange that produced many action items and desired conversations with other teams and the library administration.

After we finish business, we have a hearty lunch, pack up all our stuff and depart the Lodge to have an afternoon team activity. This year, it was Caroline’s choice, and months ago she decided a hike would be fun. Since the Lodge is right on the Blue Ridge Parkway, we drove down to Cumberland Knob, 18 miles away - the site where construction of the Parkway was started in 1935. It was a beautiful fall afternoon and we chose a challenging 2.5 mile loop that took us down along a rocky creek bed and back up. Next time, it’s Tim’s choice - wonder what we’ll do?

If you are interested in viewing our retreat photographs, the authoritative collection is on my personal Flickr site.

On Wednesday afternoon Chris Burris, Elise Anderson and I worked the phones at the WFDD pledge drive. We took contributor’s pledges and provided them with information about the thank-you gifts that are available at various donation levels. During our 2.5 hours at the studio, we collected $7,394 in pledges for our NPR station.

Why so much? I think three factors motivated listeners to call: we were there during the evening rush hour which is a heavy-listening time; there was a contribution match in place, so each donor’s pledge was doubled; and, there were some awesome thank-you gifts available including five ZSR library cards. For a donation of $200 to WFDD, a listener could receive one of our library cards and in fact, one donor claimed a card while we were on the phones. The other sought-after premium was the Terry Gross ticket package for the Fresh Air hostess’ visit to Greensboro next month.

We enjoyed chatting with our WFDD supervisors and had a chance to chat briefly with Denise Franklin, Molly Davis and other WFDD folks. As always, they fed us well – pizzas from Mellow Mushroom. Working the phones during the pledge drive was a fun experience and it felt good to support WFDD.

Person Recognized

Kristen Morgan

Given By

Charles Bombeld

Reason

For cheerful and quiet efficiency. If you need anything and you ask her, she always delivers.

Person Recognized

Giz Womack

Given By

Sarah Jeong

Reason

Thanks to Giz for helping us move tables for the Sponsored Research Reception!

Person Recognized

Prentice Armstrong

Given By

Sarah Jeong

Reason

Thanks to Prentice for helping us move tables for the Sponsored Research Reception!

Person Recognized

Mary Reeves

Given By

Sarah Jeong

Reason

Thanks to Mary for helping us move tables for the Sponsored Research Reception!

Person Recognized

Joe Harrington

Given By

Sarah Jeong

Reason

Thanks to Joe for helping us move tables for the Sponsored Research Reception!

Person Recognized

Charles Bombeld

Given By

Julia Bradford

Reason

Charles went the extra mile to rebox large heavy boxes of personal papers that had come in into smaller more manageable boxes. He and a student also went to the trouble to bring them up to the sixth floor for us. Charles thoughtfully made sure there was information about the donor in each new box so there would be no mix up. Thank you Charles!

Person Recognized

Steve Kelly

Given By

Lynn Sutton

Reason

For taking leadership in the sorting and distribution of chemistry journals from the Data Chambers warehouse.

Person Recognized

Scott Adair

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

Thanks so much for helping to move all the Chem Abstracts out.

Person Recognized

Elise Anderson

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

Thanks so much for helping to move all the Chem Abstracts out.

Person Recognized

Prentice Armstrong

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

Thanks so much for helping to move all the Chem Abstracts out.

Person Recognized

Brigett Beck

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

Thanks so much for helping to move all the Chem Abstracts out.

Person Recognized

Chris Burris

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

For all of your hard work on the DataChambers project. Thanks!

Person Recognized

Elise Anderson

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

For all of your hard work on the DataChambers project. Thanks!

Person Recognized

Carolyn McCallum

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

For all of your hard work on the DataChambers project. Thanks!

Person Recognized

Linda Ziglar

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

For all of your hard work on the DataChambers project. Thanks!

Person Recognized

Scott Adair

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

For helping move all the boxes back from DataChambers.

Person Recognized

Elise Anderson

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

For helping move all the boxes back from DataChambers.

Person Recognized

Prentice Armstrong

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

For helping move all the boxes back from DataChambers.

Person Recognized

Craig Fansler

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

For helping move all the boxes back from DataChambers.

Person Recognized

Cristina Yu

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

For helping move all the boxes back from DataChambers.

Person Recognized

Charles Bombeld

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

For helping unload boxes coming back from DataChambers.

Person Recognized

Lynn Sutton

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

For the loan of your truck for transporting boxes back from DataChambers.

Person Recognized

Wanda Brown

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

For the loan of your SUV for transporting boxes back from DataChambers.

Person Recognized

Mary Horton

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

For the loan of your SUV for transporting boxes back from DataChambers.

Person Recognized

Tim Mitchell

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

Thanks so much for helping to move all the Chem Abstracts out.

Person Recognized

Erik Mitchell

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

Thanks so much for helping to move all the Chem Abstracts out.

Person Recognized

Kevin Gilbertson

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

Thanks so much for helping to move all the Chem Abstracts out.

Person Recognized

Craig Fansler

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

Thanks so much for helping to move all the Chem Abstracts out.

Person Recognized

Wanda Brown

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

Thanks so much for helping to move all the Chem Abstracts out.

Person Recognized

Chris Burris

Given By

Steve Kelley

Reason

Thanks so much for helping to move all the Chem Abstracts out.

Person Recognized

Kevin Gilbertson Dedicated Deacon Winner

Given By

Roz Tedford

Reason

for helping get my problem solved on the LIB100 Wiki in record time!! He found the perfect solution!!

On Friday, September 28^th, seven members of the ZSR staff, Giz Womack, Mary Horton, Lauren Pressley, Chris Burris, Kaeley McMahan, Leslie McCall, and Mary Scanlon, visited the NCSU Learning Commons in the D. H. Hill Library. The website contains detailed information about the services offered by the Commons as well as the blog for the Commons, which is an interesting read.

This Commons includes 2 group study rooms and a presentation practice room all with either projectors or flat panels and white boards. There are over 100 workstations and numerous “soft seating” areas. In addition to the workstations, there are 100 laptops available for checkout, along with mp3 players, digital camera and camcorders and handheld GPS units.

Joe Williams, the Director of the Learning Commons, gave our group a tour of this facility and other parts of the Library. We were all interested in how the Library had placed all the reference materials on shelves around the perimeter of the Learning Commons, making them far more visible than when in stacks.

As with any new space, they are experiencing “growing pains.” Noise levels are occasionally high and some users are not happy with the placement of video game stations in the Commons. Some problems are taking care of themselves. For example, noise levels in the adjoining Special Collections reading room dropped when lamps were added to the large tables that helped with studying, but hindered cross table discussion, an unplanned benefit of the stately brass lamps.

Check out our photos of the NCSU Learning Commons. Also, here’s a brief (and very low resolution) movie of the NCSU Learning Commons.

(Note the abundance of flat panel displays at the entrance, exit and over the service desk that point out available computers, locations of shuttle busses, and more!)