Sun 30 Aug 2009
Due to a server crash Saturday afternoon, the USF Libraries is now using a backup catalog. You can still search the catalog, but cannot put holds or renew items. Item status is also unavailable.
We will let you know when the main catalog is back on. We apologize for the inconvenience.
UPDATE: all functions are now back in working order
Mon 24 Aug 2009
It’s official! People are now sending more text messages than they are making cell phone calls. Librarians are aware of the popularity of texting and are ready to take their professional services to cell phones.
Starting now, patrons of approximately 50 librariesfrom all over the US - including USF - will be able to text a question to (309) 222-7740 and a real, live librarian will respond within minutes. The service is free of charge, but standard text messaging rates do apply. Staffed by librarians from around the country, answers are sent to cell phones by librarians in 320 characters or less, or the equivalent of two 160-character text messages. To get more details, as well as hours and participating libraries, check out the My Info Quest page at http://www.myinfoquest.info/
More information about My Info Quest
It’s a different way of helping people get the answers they need, wherever they are at the time, with professional assistance. The service, named My Info Quest is the first collaborative text messaging reference service of its kind. Alliance Library System (http://www.alliancelibrarysystem.com) in East Peoria, Illinois has partnered with participating libraries, Altarama (http://www.altarama.com) and Peoplewhere (http://www.peoplewhere.com) to build this exciting new reference service. The pilot program will extend until December 31, 2009. Other partners include San Jose State University Graduate School of Library and Information Science, South Central Regional Library Council in New York, and TAP Information Services.
Fri 21 Aug 2009
Hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes are available at the LTB 1115 front desk for your usage, in order to help preventing the spread of the H1N1 virus this Fall semester. You are welcome to use them to clean the computer mouse, keyboards and office tools like the stapler and paper punch before you use them. We will regularly clean the desks, tables and doorknobs.
We encourage you to follow the usual precautions as well: wash hands, cough/sneeze into your arm (not your hands), stay home if sick, etc.
Please see the USF H1N1 Information and Resources page for more information and more tips on illness prevention.
Mon 3 Aug 2009
The USF Poly Library will be open during the following hours starting Saturday, August 8:
Regular opening hours will resume Monday, August 24 at 8:00 AM. This schedule also applies to the Open Use Computer Lab.
Thu 30 Jul 2009
The Library’s management software will be upgraded to a new version, starting Thursday, July 30th at about 5:45 PM.
This will not affect searches in the library catalog but users will not be able to see their account or place holds until the upgrade is completed, after 9:00 AM Friday, July 31st at the earliest. Item status (”Available”, “On order” “Due on…”) will not be visible as well.
Users can still check out books at the Front Desk.
Mon 27 Jul 2009
The Library’s management software will be upgraded to a new version, starting Thursday, July 30th at about 5:45 PM.
This will not affect searches in the library catalog but users will not be able to see their account or place holds until the upgrade is completed, after 9:00 AM Frida,y July 31st at the earliest.
Thu 28 May 2009
From an email from RefWorks:
RefGrab-It, a feature within RefWorks, allows users to capture data from web sites through a simple single click!
An enhanced version of RefGrab-It is now available for users with two different versions:
- a bookmarklet (for use in Internet Explorer and Firefox)
- a plug-in (one specifically for Internet Explorer and one specifically for Firefox)
This new version now provides all RefGrab-It users with additional options and features including:
- Show details link for each reference
- Author Resolver linking
- OpenURL Resolver
- Export to RefWorks
The plug-in version has some features that are not available in the bookmarklet version:
- RefWorks Association - creates a direct export to your account and identifies which references RefGrab-It has already downloaded
- Embedded Mode - lets you view RefGrab-It on top of the webpage as opposed to displaying in a new window
- Export RIS Format Files (plug-in only) - allows users who have the ISI help file on their computer to override direct exports from certain data vendors to EndNote, Reference Manager and ProCite and save the references as an ris.text file for importing into RefWorks
Information for installing and using RefGrab-It is available in RefWorks’ online help section. New RefGrab-It training webinars are scheduled for June 2 and June 24.
Wed 29 Apr 2009
The Library (and Open Use Lab) will be open the following hours during the Semester Break:
We are closed on Sundays.
Regular opening hours will resume Monday, May 11 at 8:00 AM.
Mon 27 Apr 2009
Here is an useful compilation of tips and tools to research the Deep Web from the Online College Blog.
What is the Deep Web (or Invisible Web)? It’s the Internet content that typically will not appear after a Google or Yahoo search. This content is harder to access for various reasons: it’s dynamically generated, it comes from scripted or contextual pages, or is protected by password, for example.
The USF Libraries do give you access to great Deep Web resources as we provide the subscriptions to hundreds of databases and thousands of electronic journals, on campus or off-campus. That means that not only you can identify documents of interest, you can actually access the full-text or files themselves. That’s not always the case, even for some of the resources listed in the link. Don’t forget that alumni and community members can visit a USF Library to access most of those resources on-site as well. Look for the public access workstations.
Mon 20 Apr 2009
As we are well implanted in the Web 2.0 era, there are now different ways of enjoying news and content from the USF Poly Library: