Copy: Library Instruction

A note regarding this copy: this has been taken from the existing Library Instruction page. I have rearranged and omitted some text, as well as added some. And now, the copy:

The Instruction Program of the ULM Library seeks to develop the information and computer literacy skills of students, faculty and staff at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. To this end, the University Library’s Instruction Program teaches users to independently seek, locate, retrieve, evaluate and use information effectively and ethically for problem-solving.

The Instruction Program is developed in response to identified learning needs and through collaboration with teaching faculty and staff. The Program provides individual and group instruction, course-specific, web-based and open workshop methods.

The Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education from the Association of College and Research Libraries provide the framework for program development and instructional objectives. The Instruction Program of the ULM Library supports the missions of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, the University Library, and the Louisiana Board of Regents Statewide General Education Requirements.

Your subject librarian, or liaison, has expertise in the resources of your discipline and is able to tailor instruction to fit specific course needs. You can direct any question you might have about the ULM Library or library research to your subject liaison. Contact a reference/subject librarian to discuss your course instruction needs. See the list below for liaisons and contact information. Please remember: it takes time to prepare for these courses, particularly in the case of tailoring assignments or classes. Please contact your librarian at least a week ahead of the day on which you desire instruction.

• Dinah Williams: Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Leadership & Counseling, Kinesiology, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Psychology
  
  Email: dhwilliams@ulm.edu
  Phone: 318-342-1069
  URL: http://ulm.edu/~dhwilliams/
  
  
• Carita Alexander: Health Sciences, Communicative Disorders, Dental Hygiene, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Radiologic Technology and Toxicology
  
  Email: calexander@ulm.edu
  Phone: 318-342-3042
  URL: http://ulm.edu/~calexander/
  
  
• Karen Cook: Criminal Justice, History and Political Science
  
  Email: kcook@ulm.edu
  Phone: 318-342-3043
  URL: http://ulm.edu/~kcook/
  
  
• Megan Lowe: Art, Communication Studies, Dance, English, Music and Theatre
  
  Email: lowe@ulm.edu
  Phone: 318.342-3041
  URL: http://ulm.edu/~lowe/
  
  
• Karen Niemla: Business, Accounting, Computer & Information Systems, Computer Science, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, General Business, Insurance, Management, Gerontology, Sociology and Social Work
  
  Email: niemla@ulm.edu
  Phone: 318-342-3045
  URL: http://ulm.edu/~niemla/
  
  
• Maren Williams: Agriculture, Atmospheric Sciences, Aviation, Biology, Chemistry, Construction, Family & Consumer Sciences, Foreign Languages, Geosciences, Mathematics and Physics
  
  Email: mawilliams@ulm.edu
  Phone: 318-342-1065
  URL: http://ulm.edu/~mawilliams/
  

Departments & Faculty/Staff Page

Okay, here's how it is. I want our depts./people page to look something like this one: Cook Library, USM, but without a lot of the visual noise they have. It's arranged (somewhat loosely) by department, with people in those departments listed underneath.

I would like to arrange our directory page alphabetically by departments, with the people who work in those departments listed underneath, in alphabetical order.

To keep from having a stroke, and because I am unfamiliar with tables in Blogger blogs, and because I am loathe to create such a page in Nvu, knowing it won't look the way I want, I created a Microsoft table that basically mimics Cook Library's look but with the arrangement I would like. It is admittedly very rough and not pretty, but we don't care about design at this point, and I trust the designers will make it much prettier when we are done.

One more thing: underlined departments and people indicate those depts. and people who have web pages. I did not include links. And I have not created individual pages for departments. I have only attempted to combine the departments and faculty/staff page into one directory page.

Now, without further ado - my Microsoft word doc Directory.

Copy: Find articles--->Off-campus access

Find articles--->Off-campus access

Even when you're not on campus, you can still access most of the Library's databases and other online resources. You will, however, need to log in to our proxy server so we know you are affiliated with ULM. To do this:

*Select the resource you want to use [link to databases page]. You should be redirected to a login page.
*Your username is you CWID number and your PIN is your birth month and year in MMYY format. Select ULM from the drop-down menu of schools.
*Now you should see the database you selected and be able to search it just as you would on campus.

If you're having problems accessing our databases from off-campus, please give us a call at the Reference desk (342-1071).




NetLibrary account

If you plan to use any of our NetLibrary e-books [http://www.netlibrary.com] from off-campus, you'll need to set up a NetLibrary account while you're on campus. Simply go to the NetLibrary homepage [http://www.netlibrary.com/] and click on 'Create a Free Account' in the upper right corner. You can choose your own username and password for this one, but make sure you don't forget them since we have no way to retrieve them for you! Once the account is created, you can use it from off campus to access the e-books linked from our catalog.

------------------------------------------

[This is not part of the page copy!] Comments and critiques are welcome--I feel some of the NetLibrary section might be redundant, and like I typed NetLibrary too many times.

Copy: Subject Librarians Page

Ever wonder who you would talk to about making purchase suggestions for your department or major? Need a librarian to teach your class about using the library, or you want to direct your students to the appropriate librarian for your discipline? Not sure who you should consult for research help pertaining to a specific discipline? Then you’ve reached the right page! This is the subject librarians page – it outlines what services the reference librarians can provide and which departments/disciplines for which they are liaisons.

Subject liaisons can…

• Receive and process recommendations for purchases - books, periodicals, or electronic resources (such as databases)
  
• Conduct tours of the library for classes
  
• Conduct bibliographic instruction (sometimes called “library sessions”) for classes. These classes can be tailored to specific assignments or classes, or can be overviews of the Library’s resources
  
• Help develop research assignments
  
• Assist with and collaborate on research

Every department on campus has a subject librarian – check the list below to see who your librarian is!

• Dinah Williams: Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Leadership & Counseling, Kinesiology, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Psychology
  
  Email: dhwilliams@ulm.edu
  Phone: 318-342-1069
  URL: http://ulm.edu/~dhwilliams/
  
  
• Carita Alexander: Health Sciences, Communicative Disorders, Dental Hygiene, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Radiologic Technology and Toxicology
  
  Email: calexander@ulm.edu
  Phone: 318-342-3042
  URL: http://ulm.edu/~calexander/
  
  
• Karen Cook: Criminal Justice, History and Political Science
  
  Email: kcook@ulm.edu
  Phone: 318-342-3043
  URL: http://ulm.edu/~kcook/
  
  
• Megan Lowe: Art, Communication Studies, Dance, English, Music and Theatre
  
  Email: lowe@ulm.edu
  Phone: 318.342-3041
  URL: http://ulm.edu/~lowe/
  
  
• Karen Niemla: Business, Accounting, Computer & Information Systems, Computer Science, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, General Business, Insurance, Management, Gerontology, Sociology and Social Work
  
  Email: Niemla@ulm.edu
  Phone: 318-342-3045
  URL: http://ulm.edu/~niemla/
  
  
• Maren Williams: Agriculture, Atmospheric Sciences, Aviation, Biology, Chemistry, Construction, Family & Consumer Sciences, Foreign Languages, Geosciences, Mathematics and Physics
  
  Email: mawilliams@ulm.edu
  Phone: 318-342-1065
  URL: http://ulm.edu/~mawilliams/

Please feel free to contact us! We're here to help!

Edit, 5:33pm: I have removed Agribusiness and added 're. Thanks for catching that, Maren! We English types have to stick together. ;D

Copy: Ask-A-Librarian Page

Taken from a word doc, with very little formatting other than bullets and links (which have been manually added to this entry):

Need some help? Just ask a librarian! You can contact us three different ways:

• In person: the Reference Desk is located on the first floor of the library, on the right as you enter the library. The desk is staffed by librarians who can help you, face-to-face. Please consult the Library Department Schedule for service hours.
  
• On the phone: as long as the desk is staffed, there’s a person there to answer questions you phone in! The phone number for the Reference Desk is (318) 342-1071. You can also leave a message – we will return your call as soon as possible.
  
• Via email: we are happy to answer any questions you email to us! You can send it to reference@ulm.edu. Be sure to state your question as clearly as possible in order to facilitate a prompt, appropriate, and helpful response.

You can also consult the Library’s Frequently Asked Questions. We’ve based it on questions you, the users, ask us regularly. It provides helpful answers to questions regarding borrowing policies, hours, and other services provided by the Library!

Edit, 5:22pm: Per Maren's suggestion, I have scaled back the exclamation points. I should not compose text when hopped up on Rockstar. :)

Design meeting with Rob Glaze...

As was discussed at the last meeting and in the blog, Rob Glaze [ULM's webmaster, in case you don't know], Mike Magee, and Karen Niemla met today (for almost 2 hours) to talk about the actual web site implementation and design.

Here's some points of note discussed:

-- there was much talk about the site tiers and navigation. Truth be told, the library site is relatively small

-- Breadcrumbs (semantic, not directory) might not actually be appropriate for a web page of this size. You need a breadcrumb trail in the deep, dark forest, not the park. A link to the home page will probably cover our needs. (The home page is, as we've planned it, is a link hub when you really look at it) Besides, as Rob pointed out, the semantic breadcrumbs will not make sense if the page is linked to by more than one.

-- The news box/area has been eliminated. This way, when something critically important changes, people will know for sure that it's important because it would not be posted directly to the home page if it wasn't.
Otherwise, we can put such information on the blog (which is what the blog is for anyway)

-- Rob favors something similar to this http://bambam.info/webexp/qqqq2b.html because other new web pages going up at ULM also have or will have the "geometric" look.

-- picture loading java scripts are okay. Or we can just manually change images. Whatever.

-- Should we have a drop-down menu sort of like this for quick links to all our databases on the home page? (sorry about the mess; inserting html directly into blogger doesn't always work right)
Mike says yes. Karen says no. Rob won't get involved. So this will be decided by a vote at the next meeting!

QUICKLINKS ULMhome page Library HomePage Reference

-- A general page design (of some sort) will be ready for committee approval by Aug. 7 (2008!). It will be fairly independent of "content." The center table will be an empty area where the "content" of the page goes, so that: a) actually creating a page will be easy b) each page will look pretty much exactly the same, which is something users do expect.

-- implementation (AKA "putting up") of the website is largely up to Mike and Rob.

-- ...but of course, we will be using absolutely nothing that the committee as a whole disapproves of. Graphics included.

We did not discuss, however...

-- what happens with pages off the "main" library site (like our subject guides). I propose that such pages have a top banner like the one on my own page: http://www.ulm.edu/~niemla/

It's just a table with a fill and an image link in it. It can be placed in any web page if you know how.
Then users will know they're still in library world and will have a link to return home.
If said page is maroon, the background gradient can be changed to a ULM-gold one, so it won't look odd.

-- Or again, maybe all library web pages should use the same design template as the rest of the site? Should it be this way?
So this will be decided by a vote at the next meeting!

-- ( Of course, pages this far down do not need great attention right away)

-- graphics programs and problems with anti-aliasing and artifacting... it's tedious to make them look just right, but I think it's essential. (I had meant to bring up imaging but forgot)

So...

At the next meeting we will:

-- critique the general web template for the site and approve it and changes to be made to it [this comes first, because a) this is where the "copy" will go; when they meet a real page is created b) if there are changes to be made, time will be needed to make those changes ] The page look will likely be similar to ones you've all seen before, so maybe it won't be much trouble.

-- look at and talk about the "copy" text only pages we've all made.

-- I will try to enforce maximum time of 30 min. for each of these.

2 quick things....

A) Anchor text links
For a while I've been trying to argue that form and content aren't truly separate in html composition because it's nothing like paper. How could I have forgotten one of the best ways to prove that: Text anchors.
If being able to link within the page is an integral part of how the page will "work," plan ahead for that please. However, if you're composing in html right now and you try to add them at this stage the "links"may change as the file's name or position changes. Fixing it shouldn't be too difficult, though.

B)gif. problem solved?
I've found that saving .gifs with Fireworks makes for higher-quality .gifs. Adobe products could likely do even better. Just something to keep in mind, that's all.

Minutes for July 10th, 2008

The ULMLWPC had a meeting on July 10th which began at about 11:37 and ended at about 12:15pm. In attendance were:

CH
KC
ML
MMag
MW
LJ
KN
(did I miss anyone?)

-- The committee decided to focus on sub-page content today

-- "Design" issues are not priority right now. There is still some confusion as to who exactly will be responsibile for that, but it will certainly involve Rob Glaze, Mike Magee, and Karen Niemla, at least.
[This process will begin as soon as it possible.]

-- The committee decided to assign pages to be developed so that the content will be ready [guidelines to follow]

-- The assignments are...

CH:
Databases by name
Databases by Subject
newspapers

MW:
Off-campus access
The Reference Desk
Contact
Distance Learning
Purchase requests
Job Opportunities

KN:
Tutorials
For faculty/Staff
For Students
Comments


ML:
Ask A Librarian
Subject Librarians
Style Guides
Staff and Departments
Interlibrary Loan [will no longer simply link to Iliad]
Tours and Instruction
copying/printing

KC:
Visitor Information
History [um, of the library]
For the Community

CR:
Friends of the Library

MM:
Computer Lab [not marked on sheet, but I assume it's his]

Orphans:
[these links don't truly need anything new in terms of content or will be handled in a special way. If they do later, we can arrange something]
FAQs
Subject Guides
Floor Plan
Blog
Annual report
Policy
Privacy

[Did I miss anything?]

Everyone who has been assigned pages, please stand by for further instructions.

Guidelines to Make Life Easier:

0. No images, no cells. Just plain text or plain html text. If you have pictures that must be included, have them ready for later but not actually in the document.

1. If, during the course of your composition, you start to feel that your page may be too big or if you're not sure what your page is for, you may post to the blog (or email me/us) and ask about eliminating or splitting up that subject link.

2. Very small page content is O.K. as long as the page is needed because hopefully the design will allow it. This is one situation where the two blend (I've explained this before: http://ulmlwpc.blogspot.com/2008/01/small-is-good.html )

3. If you compose in Word or something like that, any formatting you do (italics, bold, lines, etc.) will be lost because it will be converted to plain text first.

If you want to use formatting and keep it, you may if you use Seamonkey or another html composer. Then using your copy later will be easy because part of the work will already be done. I highly recommend it (having learned the hard way).

But if all this is too confusing... just go to your computer and click start => programs => accessories => Notepad. This makes clean plain text all the time, every time.

4. Is your page going to link to another page in the text? Make a note of it, and it can be added later.

5. Is your page going to reside on the ulm.edu/reference/ directory? If so, you do not need to wait. You likely have ftp access to this directory and may upload any pages you deem suitable as long as the rest of the reference staff is O.K. with it. However, "design" is subject to change, and just because the page is there doesn't mean that anyone is acutally linking to it.

6. Deadline: August 7th.
If you have questions before then, post to the blog or email someone else on the committee. (I'll mention again that if you don't have a Gmail account, you may email your message to me and I'll post it for you)

Yeah, Those pages I was talking about...

I'm keeping my work in this directory on my site:

http://bambam.info/webexp/

I probably should've posted more things sooner, and I'm still working on these, of course.

There's a no-no on some of those pages... transparent PNGs! I've tried to achieve the same effects using .gifs, but the results are ugly (cannot use gradients at all). I've heard that there's a way to create high-quality .gifs with lots of colors. If anyone knows how that can be done, please let me know!
Only IE6 has any problems rendering transparent PNG pixels (they appear as solid gray and do not interfere with content, but it looks bad).

And there's also, of course, the other page I've already made, too.

Please post anything you-all have come up with.

Edinboro U changes web page too

Many many many months ago I believe I showed you-all Baron-Forness Library page as an example of a bad web page. I went back there to see what databases they had while I was evaluating one, and found out that they've completely changed it. And guess what they did?

http://cms.edinboro.edu/departments/library/

The same thing we're doing! It's still not that great, but it's waaaaaaaaaaaay better than it was. Hooray for 'Boro.

Here also is a picture of one of my prototype pages at 800x600 resolution. I'm surprised how much room that really is.