When new staff begin working in the Library it is essential that we welcome them and give them all the information they need to become part of the Princeton community.  In this workshop we will discuss what is included in the University and Library orientation programs and introduce the new Supervisor's check list for new staff.  This document is intended to help supervisors to cover with new staff all the official and unofficial topics that will make staff feel at home. 
 

This session will review the Library's PULInks service and cover some minor changes to the PULinks/SFX menu which will be implemented in mid July. Topics include: 

• Review of the PULinks/SFX service 
• Tips for searching the E-Journal Finder 
• Accessing articles from Lexis Nexis through the PULinks menu 
• Accessing articles from Factiva through the PULinks menu 
• How to report problems to the SFX implementation committee 

The Library administration, in consultation with McCosh Health Center and the Office of Environmental Health and Safety has designed a new ergonomics plan to ensure that all Library staff have  computer workstations and work areas that are ergonomically correct, and to ensure that all staff receive accurate and up-to-date advice on the proper use of this equipment.  The plan outlines the responsibilities of both administration and staff, and the procedures which will allow us to avoid workplace injuries. 

This presentation is open to all and is especially important for supervisors.  There will be ample time for questions.  The plan is available online.
 

This class is specifically designed for staff who may not be directly involved in acquisitions work, but need to understand and interpret acquisitions records in order to track ordered items or answer questions for patrons.  It is especially appropriate for staff who work at information areas, circulation areas, and branch libraries.  We will look at order type and status , locations and funds attached to orders, reports and claims on unfilled orders.  Staff are invited to email questions to Carol in advance of the class . 
 

There have been some changes to BlackBoard.  Come hear all about it. 

For more information about the latest version, log into Blackboard and check out the funny eight minute video or the two page pdf document. There are also several animated tutorials available online for all aspects of Blackboard.

We are starting one or two new Dialogue@theLibrary groups for the end of summer.  Each group will meet once a week during the weeks of August 18, August 25, and Sept. 1 for an hour or so and will be facilitated by Lila Fredenburg, Luisa Paster, and members of the staff who have been trained in facilitation techniques.  The deadline to sign up is August 13, to allow time to organize the groups.  Suggested topics are:  How am I like and different from others?  How does my own background affect me in my daily life and work?  What can I learn about the cultures of my colleagues?

Watch for announcements in the Fall for:

• more Dialogue facilitator training by Fleurette King
• a kickoff lecture/presentation by a notable speaker
• Dialogue groups to discuss issues of socio-economic class

Librarians have long provided support for statistical information, which they could treat as any other print material with the expectation that the reader would be responsible for how the information was used.  As data products were introduced to the library, first on CD-ROM and more recently via online tools, statisticians, data archivists and data librarians were concerned about user support for these primary sources.  At the same time, the use of statistical information and its popularity in the mass media has made statisticians aware of the need for statistical literacy for the general public.  This paper proposes that there also exists the need for statistical literacy for librarians as well as an increased awareness of how one evaluates data quality and the correct use of statistical resources.  The paper discusses the importance of statistics, how statistical resources are evaluated, and a definition for statistical literacy.  It is hoped that following the paper there will be a discussion of specific skills and knowledge needed by librarians today.  The paper was presented at the IASSIST Conference in May 2003. 

The academic year is about to start.  It's time to close out the records for our summer staff and think about hiring our Student Assistants for 2003/04.  This workshop is appropriate for any staff who have supervised summer staff or who will be hiring Princeton students for the academic year.  We will demonstrate how to use the hiring database, which includes a way to post your positions online, and how to both add and delete people from the Time Collection system.  For more information about policies and instructions on procedures, see the information posted online. 

Come meet Clay Redding, the Library's Metadata Librarian, and gain a better understanding of what metadata is. The focus of this session will be primarily the qualitative aspects of metadata, as opposed to the technical, quantitative side.  Examples of the computational power of metadata and standardization will demonstrate their relationship to digital libraries.  There will be ample time to ask questions.

Later in the year we will have a followup session with examples of how metadata is being used in various projects in the Library.  We will also be videotaping this presentation, and mounting the video online.

Eric and Heather will comment on some of the many interesting items from the Cotsen Collection currently on display.  In the Main Exhibit Gallery are books and toys from 1900-1950 covering topics of war, commercialism, industrialization, urbanization, transportation, and hygiene.  The Milberg Gallery exhibit concentrates on the modern artist and the children's book.  These books are not produced for children, but rather adapt children's stories and themes for adults.