BGI Reference Desk

SourceOECD Health Data

Should anyone else want the SourceOECD Health Data, tell them to do this:

1. SourceOECD: http://www.lib.umn.edu/cgi-bin/oecd.cgi
2. Clicked on Statistics Tab at the top of the page
3. Put your mouse over the link "OECD Databases" in the menu on the left.
4. Choose Health Data
5. Click on the "Go" Button
6. Save the file to your computer.
7. Follow the installation instructions.

Make sure to warn them about this:

--Amy

Firefox Browser Now on GPLRef Computer

After an enthusiastic recommendation from Shane a few weeks ago, I downloaded Firefox to my office computer. It's as good as advertised, so I've added it to the GPLRef computer.

It's the funky little icon on the Quick Launch Menu - .

It's all the good parts of Netscape without the annoying parts. I haven't hit a site yet that it won't display properly.

Try it out - if we all like, I'll make it the default browser. -- Amy

Microprint

GPL has several large collections of microprint, a technology used mainly by Readex before the advent of microfiche. The main sets are British Sessional Papers (1731-1918), and U.S. depository and non-depository documents (1958-1972), keyed to the Monthly Catalog. The collections are in S34.

There is a new reader in Periodicals, in the same room as the microfilm and fiche readers. But there is no scanner and no way to print. NO WAY. If users need print copies, there are two options, both through the Inter-Library Loan office. One is to request ILL from a library which has the document in paper or fiche. The other is to send our microprint sheets to Winona State, which does have a printer and is willing to do small amounts for the U. Quality from other formats may be better.

To send microprint sheets, pull from the box the sheets with the pages the user needs. Put a slip or sticky to mark the place, and keep the red box at the GPL desk or workroom, with a note about when pages were sent. Take sheets with complete information on patron and their request directly to Cherie Weston in ILL. She will notify patron when copies come, hold them at circ, and return the sheets to GPL.

Julie

LNCongressional

LN Congressional is planning a redesign of the interface. On the GPL reference desk is a word doc with screenshots. Not the final decision, but it will give you an idea of where they're going. -- Amy
file:LNC_Redesign_Screens.doc

UMCAL Tips

Web version lets you save agendas you look at a lot in a favorites list; can't find similar function in desktop.

Desktop's auto-schedule for meetings is in the Tools menu of the Meeting-Entry dialog box. Nicer than MM - suggests multiple times in one go rather than one at a time.

Home Page Modifications

Modified the Quick Links on the homepage:

-moved to Guides: Eric, Researching...Leg
-removed: PAIS, Canada, MN Statutes
-added WDI Online, LN Index to Gvt. Per, UNSTATS
-modified CQ to go to CQ Library home

Note for Amy about Icons/Shortcuts

Icons: Go to Control Panel -> Display -> Appearance
Set Icon Font Size to 10
Set Horizontal and Vertical Spacing to 70

On MR: Make shortcut from another shortcut link on desktop; save to All Users/Desktop. Exit to public login. Disable Fortres; mess with icons as above; rearrange as needed.

WDI Online on GPL Computers

WDI Online (via a link in the guide) and its guide are now installed on all 4 Mount Rushmore computers and Fillmore.

I have not changed the signs since we're not supposed to publicize until a resource is cataloged.

I have also increased the spacing between and font size of the icons on the monitors. I think this is an improvement... -- Amy

WDI page updates

Switched out references to WDI CDs to WDI Online

Updated stat/tool_wdi.phtml to reflect Online edition

Added note to /guides/wdi.phtml, which is specific to the 2004 disk, pointing users to online version.

Deleted /guides/wdi_images.phtml