Commons Knowledge

UNB libraries are proud to announce a number of new services now available for our Alumni.

Effective immediately, UNB Alumni can receive; free of charge an “Alumni” library card with the same privileges that extramural borrowers currently enjoy. We are also offering on-line access to two databases: Academic Search Alumni Edition and Business Source Alumni Edition

These new services provide support for our alumni as they continue along the path of life long learning that they started while students at UNB. For additional information about either of these services please contact the Circulation Desk of any UNB library or check out the Alumni web page at: http://alumni.unb.ca/ .

The new ITS Helpdesk tracking software, Footprints was launched as scheduled on January 2, 2007. Any problem or inquiry requiring follow-up by ITS staff will now be entered as a uniquely numbered “ticket” and all activity pertaining to that issue will be e-mailed to the appropriate staff member and the original user. This centrally managed tracking system is expected to keep staff and users more efficiently informed and ultimately speed problem resolution. If you have any questions about our new reporting system please contact Helpdesk supervisor, Wayne Hansen at x5800, or whansen@unbsj.ca.

We are very pleased and excited to report that our new Library website will be launched on Monday, January 8. The new website will be far easier to navigate, and will vastly improve access to the rich array of electronic resources and services that the library offers. Many thanks go to the excellent work of our staff members, Linda Hansen, Kris Doucet, and Liane Belway. The technical implementation of the site was conducted by Jeff Carter, who works in the Systems department of the Harriet Irving Library, Fredericton.

You can view our new website at: www.lib.unb.ca/wcl. Any comments or suggestions for improving the site are welcome as we are constantly looking for ways to improve our services.

Ward Chipman Library has withdrawn most of its LP record collection and now maintains a small core collection of drama, poetry and science fiction/fantasy records. The remaining withdrawn records are located in open shelving in the corridors of the second floor of the library. Feel free to choose fine jazz and classical music records to add to your own collections. If you need directions, speak to Circulation staff at the library, or you can phone Janet Fraser at 648-5996.

Over the past few months there has been a lot of publicity surrounding Microsofts introduction of “Vista”and “Office 2007”. Currently, some of UNB’s standard software and applications do not support these new versions. UNB is in the process of convening a team to develop a strategy for the introduction of these products.

To avoid software issues, please do not install Vista or Office 2007 on university computers until the plan is announced in early spring 2007. Questions may be directed to Wayne Hansen, Helpdesk Supervisor at x5800 or whansen@unbsj.ca.

Audio Visual Services has recently completed upgrading a number of classrooms to include data projectors and a new user friendly interface. The new wall consoles, powered by Crestron controllers, function as a convenient connection point for various teaching tools used in the classroom. DVD players, VCRs and Notebook Computers are all supported and can be booked for pick-up from the ITS Helpdesk by instructors. Additional classroom upgrades are ongoing and a current summary of technology available in each classroom can be found here.

Have you ever ordered a book or article and wondered what goes on behind the scenes? Document Delivery Services are the people responsible for finding and arranging your loan request. Effective immediately, this group has changed their name from Acquisitions and Resource Sharing to Acquisitions and Document Delivery in order to better reflect their role. When seeking Interlibrary and Inter Campus materials look for the link to Document Delivery, rather than resource sharing. The web form can also be found under Document Delivery from the Request pull-down menu on the main library page.

Ulrichs Web is the online version of what publication?

Please send your answers to wcl@unbsj.ca. There will be a random draw at the end of the month to select the winner and you will be notified where to pick up your prize of a $10.00 gift certificate to Tim Hortons.

Did you know that you can access your network home directory/folder from home? It’s as easy as pointing your web browser to
http://sjnetstore.unbsj.ca/NetStorage/
When prompted, use your Novell Login and password and you will find your drives and folders readily available. So put away that flash drive.

Juried? Refereed? Peer Reviewed:
No matter what you call it, the idea of identifying those journal magazine and newspaper titles which are acceptable for use in assignments and research projects is important. Ulrichs Web (the online version of Ulrich’s Periodical Directory) is available from the Library’s Website to help you.

Simply travel to https://login/proxy.hil.unb.ca/login?=http://www.ulrichsweb.com/and use the pull down menu to look for your title. When the record appears, a small icon will indicate the item is refereed…Not a visual person? Just click on the title, the information in the record will include a note about it’s status. It will also give you additional information about the title: the publisher, price and the databases it is indexed in.

Need to know more? Contact the reference desk at 648-5888 or drop by the library.

Would you like to use PowerPoint in your classroom but haven´t had
time to convert your transparencies? Instructional Technology
Services would like to help!

Mary Astorino, Instructional Technology Consultant, has a limited
number of Student Assistants available to enable you to make the most
of technology in your classroom. Projects could include transforming
35 mm slides to digital pictures (JPG format), scanning of photos and
old documents or the conversion of transparencies to PowerPoint.

For further information, or to see if your project qualifies, contact
Mary Astorino, at 648-5954 or astorino@unbsj.ca.

Over the past few months there has been a lot of publicity surrounding Microsofts introduction of “Vista”and “Office 2007”. Currently, some of UNB’s standard software and applications do not support these new versions. UNB is in the process of convening a team to develop a strategy for the introduction of these products.

To avoid software issues, please do not install Vista or Office 2007 on university computers until the plan is announced in early spring 2007. Questions may be directed to Wayne Hansen, Helpdesk Supervisor at x5800 or whansen@unbsj.ca.

Did you know that you can search two or more library databases at the same time? A tool called SingleSearch (no, it isn’t a dating service), lets you send keywords or author names or titles to different databases, and then view a single, combined list of records from all the databases that match your words. This can save a lot of time, since you don’t have to repeat searches in one database after another to get a list of the best and latest articles and books on your topic. At UNB Libraries, we have created many Subject Guides that list all kinds of resources on broad topics, and each Guide includes a search box that lets you search multiple databases. Go to the Subject Guides—there is a drop down box on the library home page (http://www.lib.unb.ca/wcl) --and try it out!

Terry Nikkel
Director, Information Services & Systems
University of New Brunswick Saint John
Phone: 506-648-5704