Weekly annoucements from the UMass Amherst Learning Commons

1. Learning Commons Announcements
Week of April 20th
2009
“Nobody ever graduated from a library.
Nobody ever graduated without one.”

2. Please Excuse Our Appearance!
The Du Bois Improvement Project
Renovations are underway in the
Du Bois Library to replace the
building’s HVAC (heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning)
system and expand the Learning
Commons on the Lower Level.
The project will take approximately two years and will add 5,000
square feet to the Learning Commons.

3. THIS IS BIG.
POSTER PRINTING NOW AVAILABLE
AT THE LEARNING COMMONS

4. THIS IS BIG.
• Print posters up to 42” wide
• Premium satin-finish photo paper
• Great for presentations
• Printing by appointment only
Learn more:
http://www.umass.edu/learningcommons/posters/

5. During a FIRE ALARM
what do I do with a LIBRARY LAPTOP?
IF YOU CAN CARRY IT: IF YOU CANNOT CARRY IT:
Bring the laptop with you. Leave the laptop where it is.
Return it within 4 hours of the Library reopening. Once you are safe, call (413)545-2358
If you cannot return it within 4 hours:
Contact the Reserve Office at (413) 545-2358 or
appealsrmm@library.umass.edu
If you follow these instructions, late fees will be waived.
YOUR SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY
Leave as quickly as possible

6. Study Abroad Advising
at
The Link
Mondays: 1:00-7:00 p.m.
Tuesdays: 11:15 a.m.—12:15 p.m.,
2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Wednesdays: 1:00-6:00 p.m.
Thursdays: 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Brought to you by the International Programs Office, 545-2710,
www.ipo.umass.edu, abroad@ipo.umass.edu

7. The UMass Amherst wireless network is now available on
every floor in the W.E.B. Du Bois Library.
To access the network:
1. Connect to the ‘UMASS’ wireless network.
2. Open a browser.
3. Log in with your NetID (OIT Account user
name) and password.
For more information, see:
www.oit.umass.edu/network/wireless
Coverage may vary depending upon location. Some areas on each
floor (e.g., in the stacks) may have limited or no coverage.

9. Remember to::
Save to an external source such as a USB drive or UDrive
to avoid data loss if the computer is shut down!!!

10. “Natural History Prints” by John Green
An exhibit of photographs
by the
Artist, Naturalist and Guide.
January 5th
to
May 8th
ISEL: Integrated Science & Engineering Library

11. Too many databases? Not sure where to start?
Don’t be overwhelmed—use a Research Guide!
A team of 18 librarians has created over 80 new subject
research guides for various topics. These are designed to
be convenient and relevant to students and faculty doing
research, and can be embedded in SPARK. You can find
them at http://www.library.umass.edu/subject or just use
the link on the homepage.

12. Workshops, Spring 2009
With RefWorks, citation management is a snap! Bibliographies are a breeze!
Take a workshop and learn more. Registration is required: refworks@library.umass.edu
Location:
Integrated Science and Engineering Library (ISEL)
Dates & times:
Tues. 4/27, 7-8pm
NOTE: The content of ISEL workshops is the same as those in Du Bois, except
science databases will be used as examples.

13. Remember to::
Save to an external source such as a USB drive or UDrive
to avoid data loss if the computer is shut down!!!

14. The UMass Amherst Libraries is
conducting a brief survey to
assess how electronic resources
are used. The survey will run
during randomly selected times
from now until August 2009.
During the survey, users will be
required to answer 5 short
questions before accessing the
electronic resources. This
information will help us better
understand how our resources
For more information, contact Rachel support research, teaching, and
Lewellen, Assessment Librarian at coursework.
545-3343 or rlewellen@library.umass.edu.

16. Check the availability of OIT computer
stations in the Learning Commons
and the Computer Classrooms:
http://classrooms-av.oit.umass.edu/view.php
Be sure to check the classroom hours and scheduled
classes at the site before going to a classroom!

17. Park in the Campus Garage nearby:
• The first hour of Garage parking is FREE
when your ticket is validated at the
Learning Commons and Technical
Support Desk
• Parking overnight is cheap (just $3 total)
in the Garage between 5 p.m. - 5 a.m.

18. Workstations in the LC
Public Terminals
• 58 computers
• Open to everyone (incl. public)
• No login
• Windows XP
• Web browsers, Microsoft
Office 2007, Microsoft Student
• Print to public printers (along
brick columns between
staircases)
= public printers
= you are here

19. Workstations in the LC
OIT Terminals
• Around 125 computers
located around edges of LC
• Open to UMass faculty, staff,
students (log in with NetID)
• Windows XP AND Mac OSX
• Lots and lots of software!
(Office, Photoshop, Acrobat…)
• Print to OIT printers
= OIT printers
= you are here

20. OIT’s Remote Printing Service is here!
• Install a small plug-in on your own computer
• Send print jobs from your dorm room or the campus
wireless network to Learning Commons printers
• You have 8 hours to come pick up your print job.
Want to learn more?
•Ask at the Learning Commons & Technical Support Desk, or
•Visit the OIT website at http://www.oit.umass.edu/classrooms/printing/remote.html

21. Printing files from SPARK?
Avoid problems! Before you print,
SAVE YOUR FILE TO THE DESKTOP
THEN, open it and print.

22. Services: Reserve, Media & Microforms Department
Reserve, Media & Microforms Department
3rd floor, Du Bois Library
•Get readings that your professors have assigned for class
•Borrow or view DVDs, audio recordings, and other media
•Explore the retrofuturistic world of Microforms
Borrow a laptop, projector, or video camera
to use in the library

23. Remember to::
Save to an external source such as a USB drive or UDrive
to avoid data loss if the computer is shut down!!!

24. Services: LC & Technical Support Desk
Learning Commons & Technical Support Desk
Get help with…
• Hardware & software
questions
• Accounts, passwords,
connections
• Navigating the library
and Learning Commons
• Stop by, call, or instant
message us

25. Services: Reference & Research Assistance
Reference & Research Assistance
Find the perfect sources for your papers and
other research—work with a librarian!
•Stop by the Reference & Research
Assistance Desk anytime it is open…
•Make an appointment to work with a
subject specialist librarian…
•Or, ask a question via phone, email,
or IM.
http://www.library.umass.edu/ask

26. Services: Writing Center
Writing Center
Stop in or make an appointment to get 30 minutes of
assistance on your writing project from trained experts.
All levels and disciplines are welcome!

27. Services: Academic Advising Link
Academic Advising Link
Academic advisors can connect you with the right academic programs
and opportunities and support your journey to academic success.
•Advising resources
•Campus-wide academic support
•General Education
Requirements
•Registration rules & regulations
•Special Learning Opportunities
•Degree Progress Audit
•SPIRE

28. Services: Learning Resource Center
Learning Resource Center
(10th floor of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library)
• Tutoring and supplemental
instruction for many difficult first and
second year courses.
• Drop-in help and weekly sessions
• Students helping students!

29. Looking for quiet?
•Quiet study areas on 2nd and 3rd floors provide
comfortable seating, electrical outlets, and wireless
Internet access
•Drop-in carrels on 7th and 10th floors offer individual
study space; day-use lockers also located on these floors.
•To report noise in quiet areas in the Library, call 1-2272
from a phone in any elevator lobby, or go to the Building
Operations Desk on the entrance level.

30. Sample question from OIT Copyright Quiz
What is the minimum the RIAA (Recording Industry
Association of America) can make you pay for
infringing copyright on just one song?(Choose one)
• a. $0.99 per song
• b. $75.00 per song
• c. $100.00 per song
• d. $500.00 per song
• e. $750.00 per song

31. Sample question from OIT Copyright Quiz
What is the minimum the RIAA (Recording Industry
Association of America) can make you pay for
infringing copyright on just one song?(Choose one)
Inform yourself. Protect yourself.
Take the OIT Copyright Quiz:
http://www.oit.umass.edu/copyright/quiz.html

32. Did a slide go by too quickly?
View these announcements on the Web!
Visit the Learning Commons website:
http://www.umass.edu/learningcommons
and click Weekly Announcements (under News)