News and Microforms Reference Desk Blog

This is a public web space for News and Microforms Library staff and faculty to share reference and operational information, post answers to recurring questions, explanations of class assignments, and other information to help with the News and Microforms Reference/Service Desk

TVs overnight and daytime

There has been another change in the TV sound policy for overnight.  We have had some complaints about the sound being left on in recent weeks and have decided to return to our original policy for the overnight hours.

So, we are going back to turning the sound off at midnight and putting the center television on closed-captioning.  Remember, to do this, you have to change the Input and Output settings in order for the closed-captioning to appear on the screen.  (Please refer to the schedule for the proper setting.)  You will need to turn the Master dial of the amplifier to "0" as well.  If you have any questions about how to do this, please talk with me or Sandy.  In the morning, the person who opens the library will need to remember to return the sound to the 1-1/2 setting.

Also, there have been a few instances in which the students have been turning the televisions off during the day or evening.  Please do a quick scan through the room when your shift begins and throughout to make sure that the televisions are turned on .  This happens frequently during this time of year as students try to find places to study for their final exams.  Just be aware that this is happening and that you have to keep an eye on the situation.

Thank you for your cooperation,
Lisa
Please comment

posted by: newsmicro at 14:19 | link | comments (7) |
policy and service

Micro 4 by author Project

I have started LC classing some of  Micro4 by Author (Oregon series) Fiche.
Right now just working on LC class numbers starting with GV.
A few fiche have been pulled starting with last name beginnning with the letter "A".

If someone is looking for a fiche and cannot find it--Please look in the workroom on the shelf  underneath the microfilm rewinder. There is a sign there. Please then return these fiche to that area.

Thanks,

Carol Holt

posted by: newsmicro at 19:38 | link | comments (3) |
collection information

Color printer at desk

To all,
The HP DeskJet color printer at the desk has become notorious for jammed print jobs.  Please, if your print job doesn't print, open the printer menu and cancel the job, then try re-printing to this printer or send it to the laser printer in the office.  Any jobs that have error messages "clog up" the printer for those of us who want to print to this printer and the cancelled jobs can only be cancelled by the person(s) who sent the job(s).
Thank you for your cooperation. 
Lisa

posted by: newsmicro at 14:53 | link | comments (1) |
troubleshooting

Hold Shelf Alert

There is a reel of The Crisis, New York 1935-1941on our HOLD SHELF for Gregg Baptista.  It wasn't in the drawer when he was looking for it earlier today.  He was told we would look for it and place it on our HOLD SHELF for him.  The HOLD SHELF is the bottom shelf of the book case next to the pillar at the desk.  If he returns to use it just give him the reel and tell him he can just put it on a cart when he's done; in other words, he doesn't have to return it to the desk.

Peggy

posted by: newsmicro at 22:05 | link | comments (2) |
reference inquiries

More on Film Viewing Room procedure

Just a reminder to make sure when groups are finished with the Film Viewing Room and return the key to the NML desk that the key bag is discharged in Workflows before being placed back in the drawer.  Within the last week, we've had two occurences in which the key was returned and in the drawer but not discharged in Workflows.  Fortunately, these were caught in time to discharge before overdue notices got sent out to the respective users.  Refer to Film Viewing Circulation in the notebook at the desk for discharge procedure.  Or, I can give you a quick run-through if you prefer.  Just let me know.

Peggy

posted by: newsmicro at 20:58 | link | comments (4) |
policy and service

HIST 021 Assignment

Hey everybody,
There's a HIST 021 (American Civilization since 1877) assignment floating around out there.  The assignment is due on December 13th and the assignment is to choose any event in history and compare newspaper coverage of the event.  I didn't catch a description of the assignment, so if someone could get one, that would be great.  I've directed two students to the New York Times Historical and the Times (of London) digital archives.
Happy helping,
Lisa

posted by: newsmicro at 19:34 | link | comments (3) |
course assignments

Olympics news research assignment (Dr. Lucas)

To all:  The assignment from Dr. Lucas's Olympic History course is now upon us.  The students may be confused about how best to do this assignment.

They should have an olympic figure and need to find newspaper articles about that person from the period of the historical event.

Recommend to them:

1.  Have key dates of importance --date they won the olympic medal, for example so they can get close to the newspaper coverage.  They may be able to use the New York Times Digital Archive to pinpoint dates, but beaware the NYT does not always cover sports events, even olympic events so it may not always be typica.

2.  Use MICROFINDER to determine which newspapers we have for the years of the event.  Use the Microfinder: Newspapers: Chronological Lists to pinpoint this information.

3.  Pull appropriate reels and show them how to use the microfilm equipment. 

Note:  Dr. Lucas does not encourage them to use the NYT Digital Archive or Times (London) Digital Archive, but you could use these sto pinpoint dates of news coverage. 

Also, if print newspaper indexes are needed--most are located in our Index and Guides area (in front of the NML Desk) along the wall.  YOu can browse or use the Micro-Indices tool on our NML home page http://www.libraries.psu.edu/newsandmicroforms/  (found in the lower right hand) to determine which newspapers we have print indexes for.  This information is also often included in Microfinder at the entry for the specific newspaper.

Please comment that you have read this next time you are on the reference desk. 

Thanks.  Debora

 

posted by: newsmicro at 20:16 | link | comments (10) |
course assignments

Be sure to reserve Film/Video Room correctly

Following up on our staff meeting on 12/1/06

Guidelines for reserving the Film/Video viewing Room.

1.  For film/video use (not a general group study) only . Please confirm with requestor and if they need a group study refer them to locations elsewhere in the Libraries.

2.  3 hours only per week.  Any additional hours (semester long; multiple dates in a single week) should be referred to Debora Cheney for approval.  The reservation should be for a group of 3 or more.

3.  Please include an e-mail for the person making the reservation.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Please comment that you have read this message.

Thanks. Debora

posted by: newsmicro at 20:05 | link | comments (8) |
policy and service

Template by motime.com  |  header image credit: Markus Gann © www.begann.de