New LBIS Website Launched; Your Feedback Still Needed

LBIS launched a redesigned web site on January 9th. Our goal was to implement a design which makes it easy for people to do research and get technology help without having to know a lot about the details of how LBIS is internally structured. We welcome your comments and thoughts on the site; please use the feedback form on the site at http://lbis.kenyon.edu/ launchfeedback or email us at lbis.web@kenyon.edu. The redesign is done, but we're now looking at services like real-time online help and a new approach to our research guide pages. We've already received and implemented some great ideas about the design, and we hope to hear more from you about what we can do to make our website even more useful and usable.

Database of the Week

One feature of the new website is that we list a "Database of the Week" at the top of our Databases A-Z page (http://lbis.kenyon.edu/alldb). We'll be promoting new subscriptions, improvements or expansions to databases, and underused golden oldies. If you'd like to suggest your favorite database for a week in the spotlight, please contact Karen Greever, greeverk@kenyon.edu.

MetaLib/QuickSearch Tutorial February 7th during Common Hour

Another feature of the new site is a tool called “QuickSearch” which allows you to search across multiple databases simultaneously. You can search a list of databases specific to your discipline or create your own customized list of databases to search. We are offering a tutorial about QuickSearch during a Common Hour session on February 7 in Crawford Lab (SAM 206). You can find QuickSearch on the LBIS homepage under the research tab or at http://lbis.kenyon.edu/quicksearch.

Student Network Upgrade

The total Internet bandwidth for the student residential network was increased from 30 to 60 Mb/s (megabits per second) on January 1st. This was done to address performance issues due to vastly increased demand for video services over the Internet. Increasing the bandwidth is the first step in improving network services for students. The Internet bandwidth allocated for the campus offices, labs, and classrooms remains at 30 Mb/s and is not impacted by this change. LBIS staff members also replaced thirteen wireless access points in the residence halls during the holiday break to improve the reliability of the wireless network. There are over 150 wireless access points in the residences; they are some of the oldest on campus and are becoming less reliable over time. About 40% of the wireless access points have been replaced in the last six months.

Forum on Computer Labs, Laptops, and Software

We will continue to hold Common Hour meetings this spring to discuss various aspects of library and computing services on campus. This semester we will hold a Common Hour on public computing. How do students use labs? How do students use laptops in their academic work? What software should be available where on campus? We plan to incorporate what we find into our plans for improving the computer labs and classrooms. We invite feedback and input from faculty on these issues. Please either contact your liaison(see http://lbis.kenyon.edu/directories?q=node/36) or Megan Fitch (fitchm@kenyon.edu) or talk to your departmental representative to our divisional advisory boards.

MATLAB Software Now Available

In response to faculty requests, we have licensed MATLAB, a software package for data analysis, data visualization, algorithm development, and numeric computation. We are licensed to use MATLAB in all public labs and classrooms, and on the instructor's computers which support them. While the software runs on a network server, there is a small local change needed to enable the software. Please contact your liaison or Joe Murphy (murphyjm@kenyon.edu) if you would like use MATLAB in a particular location.

Library as Space Discussions and Activities

This spring and next fall LBIS will be developing a variety of activities to generate conversation and solicit feedback on the library as a learning space as we begin to contemplate what the building should be like post-art gallery and slide library. We will be using a variety of in-person activities, such as focus groups, and also asynchronous activities, such as photoblogs and user-created and annotated videos. We hope to involve students, faculty, and staff as participants and partners in our efforts to make the library better. Stay tuned for notices of ways to participate in this process.

Green Library and Technology Initiative Begins

As part of Kenyon's on-going commitment to sustainability, we are exploring practical ways in which we can lower the environmental impact of our building and our technology infrastructure. This will include activities such as:

· reducing paper consumption
· purchasing energy-efficient equipment
· using energy-efficient lighting
· on-going management of the HVAC systems in our building
· using power-management features for public computers

Stay tuned for workshops and tutorials for how we can all lower the impact of our increasing use of technology in our day-to-day work. If you have an idea for how we can lower our environmental impact, send email to greenlbis@kenyon.edu or visit http://lbis.kenyon.edu/green/.