InfoPoint has been getting a smattering of reports from patrons unable to download E-Reserve articles. I suspect we'll get calls at the Desks, too.
In addition to verifying that they have Adobe Acrobat, Java enabled, and are using a version >3 of IE or Netscape, ask them if they are connecting via a modem line.
It is not unusual for a pdf to take a long time (10-15 minutes even at 56K) to download, so they may think that 'nothing happened' when in fact it is occuring, but they get impatient and shut down, click again, etc., hi-jacking the download
--Scott
The U of MN does not subscribe to the entire 11,000 volume NetLibrary collection; we only purchased access to a portion of the available titles. However, if a user finds a NetLibrary book (in WorldCat, for instance) that is not included in the U of MN subscription, they can access the entire 11,000 volume collection by going to MNLINK (http://www.mnlink.org) and using their MN public library card number. This information was provided by Karen Docherty, MINITEX.
Our online access to ASM (Amer Soc Micobiol) journals is currently down. We apparently got caught between expiration of our old access agreement and negotiations for a new site license. Jim Stemper is aware of the problem; we didn't get prior warning of the imminent expiration. If patrons ask, we do have archival access to ASM journals older than six months through PubMed Central. (In fact, PubMed Central's archives go back quite a bit farther than ASM's own do.)
-Kevin
The SciFinder link from the Quick Links drop down list now appears to work on all Magrath public terminals. Linda
Librarians - the list of art history books is rough - and incomplete.
I'll update it soon. I thought it would be a good opport. to use RefWorks.
thanks
Marlys
The sound on Magrath machines 2 and 3 has been enabled. I have sent an email to Eric to ask him how to turn it off.
Terry
FYI, the phone at the Reference Desk cannot be used to make long distance calls; you will only hear a busy signal if you try. If you need to return a patron's call, and they're not local, you'll need to use your office phone.
To follow up on Shane's welcome (which is now buried down at the bottom of our list of entries) -- welcome! It is my hope that this reference desk blog will largely replace the thin red folder at the Magrath desk that has been used for writing notes to each other at the reference desk (though like everywhere else, I’m sure paper will still have its fans). Exchanging information via this blog has a couple of advantages I hope we'll take advantage of:
Any reference info or questions (e.g., using indexes, or "why do people keep asking about tomatoes?") or public computer issues that you come across, and think would be of general interest, are fair game for entries. Don't be shy about posting!
I've entered the backfile of our reference notes (from the Word file that had been accumulating on one of the reference terminals at Magrath). Effectively, this includes all the notes from 2003 that made it into that file, so there are already several URLs, explanations of performing various functions on our public terminals, etc., on this blog.
Below (that is, my previous post) are some instructions for creating a blog entry.
- Kevin
Here are some quick, hopefully painless, instructions fro creating a blog entry on this blog:
Sally Iverson: I asked the techs here about trying to print 2 pages to one page, side-by-side, and they suggest having the patron print out 2 sheets. If there was the correct software added to the workstation, that could be possible; but for now, we feel it's a good idea to keep things simple and have them print out separate sheets.
- Kathy
Workshop on developing breeding strategies for lower input animal production environments/ edited by
S. Galal and J. Boyzoglu. (ICAR technical series ; 3). Rome : International Committee for Animal
Recording, 2000
We regret that this volume is not available commercially, we have therefore cancelled your order.
We are pleased to advise, however, that it is now possible to download any article or pubblication you require from the International Committee for Animal Recording's website, at http://www.icar.org.
Yours sincerely,
Kirsteen Travers
on behalf of Marta Nin
Casalini Libri
Customer Services
Via Benedetto da Maiano, 3
50014 Fiesole (FI)
Italy
Bernadette left her cell phone number. Call this if you cannot reach her on her office phone, instead of paging her: 612-202-4681.
- Linda
Mike Sutliff and Eric Forbis had two suggestions for printing from WebCT:
1) WebCT uses frames. Make sure that the frame that the document is in is the active frame by clicking on that part of the screen. (This may be hard/impossible to tell visually.) If the usual print buttons don’t work try CTRL-P.
2) Click on the frame and press CTRL-N. This should bring up that frame in a new browser window, with its own buttons. Try printing from the new window.
- Kevin
Students are coming in looking for big pictures of Art by 19th century painters like Cezanne. Marlys has made a list for us - it is on the counter behind the reference desk. If you can't find the list, here are a few books:
Folio ND553.C33 S38 1988
Quarto ND547.S5413x 1995
- Linda
When I bring up a .doc through IE on the public machines, I have an option to use File -> Print or the IE print button. In either case, the job is sent to Pharos directly, rather than giving printing options first.
I showed this to Eric, and he agrees it’s not working like it should. We consequently talked with Mike Sutliff, who attempted a solution, but at present there is not a good way to get around this problem. (The program that gives a view of a .doc automatically embeds itself in IE, and that apparently screws up the command to route a print job through the print options pop-up.)
For now, if someone wants to print a couple pages of a long document, direct them to the writing desk computer, the ADCS computers, or you can do it gratis from the ref desk computer.
- Kevin
A question I've heard several times in just the past few weeks goes something like "How can I get the printer setup page when printing a Word doc or Adobe pdf on the public Dell workstations?" The general rule is to either use the print button on Internet Explorer (if it's being displayed by IE), or use the menu option "File/Print" in the viewer software displaying the doc. *Don't* use the print icon in a viewer program (Office97 viewer, Acrobat); this will send the print job directly to the Pharos popup client, which doesn't offer any printing options.
1) For Questions About Journals/Volumes We No Longer Have Access To:
We are sorry for the confusion you've encountered in trying to access [title of journal]. The University Libraries had complimentary online access to this title [or volume] until June 30, 2003, under our previous comprehensive agreement with Elsevier Science Direct. Due to rising subscription costs and a limited collections budget, the University Libraries have been forced to make some hard choices regarding which Elsevier titles we could continue to afford to provide. The agreement for the remainder of 2003 provides University of Minnesota users with access to only those titles for which we have paid subscriptions, or 661 of the approximately 1200 titles formerly provided by Elsevier Science Direct.
The option now available to you to obtain a copy of the article you need is to request the article via interlibrary loan. You can submit a request via the Libraries' website at: https://www.lib.umn.edu/ordering/ill.phtml Most interlibrary loan requests are filled within 2-4 weeks.
The Libraries are also working with Elsevier to offer a "pay per view" option, whereby you can opt to pay an individual fee of approximately $31.00 via credit card and be able to download an article immediately. We hope to have this option available to you via the ScienceDirect website in the near future.
Although it is unlikely we will be able to afford to subscribe to additional titles in the near future, if you would like the Libraries to reconsider subscribing to this journal, you may wish to submit a request for purchase consideration via : http://www.lib.umn.edu/comments.phtml?page=/index.phtml [for a Wilson or H/SS title]
http://www.biomed.lib.umn.edu/tech/rcrecfm.html [for a Bio-Med title]
Email to : sciref@tc.umn.edu [for a Sci/Eng title]
Email to : magrath@umn.edu [for a Magrath title]
[Note: Include the appropriate link or email address in the above paragraph for the title in question, and erase the other links]
If you have other questions please contact InfoPoint again at : http://infopoint.lib.umn.edu/
Regards,
[Staff Name]
InfoPoint
University of Minnesota Libraries
2) For Complaints About Journals/Volumes We No Longer Have Access To:
We are very sorry for the frustration you've experienced as a result of no longer having complimentary online access to the majority of titles provided by Elsevier Science Direct. Due to rising subscription costs and a limited collections budget, the University Libraries have been forced to make some hard choices regarding which Elsevier titles we could continue to afford to provide. The agreement for the remainder of 2003 provides University of Minnesota users with access to only those titles for which we have paid subscriptions, or 661 of the approximately 1200 titles formerly provided by Elsevier Science Direct.
Thank you for letting us know that this title is important for your research. I will pass your comments along to members of the Libraries' staff who oversee our subscriptions, so that they will be better informed of your needs as they make future collections decisions.
Regards,
[Staff Member Name]
InfoPoint
University of Minnesota Libraries
[Note: For now, bcc: copies of complaints, along with our responses, to the selectors for the subject area involved, as well as to Charles at: c-spet@umn.edu. If Charles asks us to do this differently in the future, I'll let you know.]
Had a patron trying to print only part of a long .doc she was viewing through Internet Explorer. When she tried to print, she was sent straight to the Pharos client, without ever being given an option to print just part of the document. I’ve contacted Eric to see if this can be solved.
- Kevin
Go to http://www.umreports.umn.edu.
Log in with x.500 info to get to the main screen. They have just recently added some screens about appropriate use and security that you need to click through.
Click on HR Reports, then Personnel Basic Information. From there you can proceed either with an employee's ID which most people probably won't know, or choose from the department list. Eventually you get to a screen where you need to select values like employee class and type, and once you've selected those, you will then get a list of matching information that includes salary.
- Julie
Please keep these instructions at the desk (can’t afford to print off bulk copies and they are available on website: http://www1.umn.edu/adcs/network/).
- Bernadette
Should someone using WebCT on our public terminals get kicked out automatically (even when using actively) after 20 minutes of use? This was happening to a patron today.
- Kevin
I have made an “Out of Order” sign for when computers in the Reference area go down. It is in the Circ folder on the Desktop.
- Linda
The study area also has an Ethernet connection (cable) directly below the wireless box
- Kathy
was unable to select page numbers – printing was all or nothing
The whole study area now has wireless access (per Bernadette)
- Terry
Patron asked about printing more than 1 page per page from the public computers – I wrote to Autosys about it.
- Julie
Outer frame of our new desk monitors has screen on/off switch – last slit on right
-JoAnn
Links to e-versions of Instructions to Authors for Health Sciences journals at http://www.mco.edu/lib/, under “Instructions to Authors.” Includes many multi-disciplinary journals
Clothing and Textiles Db (CD) back up. Useful subject headings/kw: body marking – Africa ; ecoregions
Writing Center is at Wilson Mon/Tues/Wed from 2-5
Is there any way other way to download directly from the index? Many questions about this tonight
patron had trouble printing a long PDF file on Pharos system; breaking into 10-page pieces helps some (though still had to print a few troublesome pages at ref desk)
- Kevin
emailed autosys and EF – access not working on CD-ROM (northernmost one)
Warn people about leaving belongings exposed, even text books. Someone’s Norton Anthology was stolen today.
- Terry
Username: public Password: public Please log in if no one else has!
U of M report on “Base Salaries…” 2002/2003 will be out in two weeks approximately 3/14
- Marlys
We now have Vol 1 and 2 of reproducible Federal Tax Forms and copies of Schedule A and B.
I have bookmarked IRS publication site for quick access to online forms.
- Marlys
There is a pair of earphones on reserve in Circ for patrons who want to listen to something on the computers.
- Terry
Punch cards for printing can only be used in computer labs in the East Bank, e.g., Walter. No more refunds.
- Kathy
Color printing and a scanner are available at McNeal computer lab
some are available in 197 Coffey Hall, 5-6274.
More info at: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~spboc/testfile.html
See also FAQ on test files related to IT courses:
http://faq.lib.umn.edu/public/showRecord.pl?kbrecordid=51&mode=public
- Kathy
Check in the Big Red Notebook under “Index Help” for a Wilson handout called “Output Guide” which lists software (First Search, OVID, etc.) whether or not it does full text, how to mark records, print, download, and email.
- Terry
Is there a secret password for PubMed? Patron in BioSci couldn’t download an article – asked for “special password” – I told her to ask Bio-Med
- Terry
I cleaned out the Magrath email inbox, and started two new folders:
- background info (passwords, etc.)
- pending (not needing immediate attention but not done)
-Julie
Circ now has an Ethernet cord to check out to laptop users.
Hello Magrath Reference! Welcome to the world of blogs. This is just a short message detailing some important points to remember about the software you are using, Movable Type. Note on the right hand side there is a link called "Movable Type manual." Take a look at this manual, especially the section dealing with "Entries." For the most part, this is all you will be doing on your blog is making entries, and/or making comments on other people's entries. I can help you with your "look and feel" or you can feel free to try and adjust it yourself.
On the administrative side note that you can both make a new entry and edit existing entries. Editing is handy especially when you make a spelling mistake. You may also upload files such as pictures, but keep in mind that you have a 1 MB limit. The Templates section is where you can alter the appearance of your blog. Keep in mind if you make any alterations in this section you must use "Rebuild Site" to see the changes reflected on your site. Next you may create new Categories or delete/modify existing ones. You can also create new categories as you enter a new entry. One area you may want to stay out of is the "Core Setup" area of the "Weblog Config." This is where all your directories are set. Otherwise feel free to roam around and make some changes.
Don't worry about messing stuff up (too much). As one of the first in the libraries to have a blog I'm counting on you to experiment and let me know what needs to be changed, added, deleted or what needs to happen to make blogs take off at the University Libraries.
You may delete this message when you feel it is appropriate.