The Learning Commons is providing new services for students, including laptop checkout and a biology exhibit. It also provides reminders about study spaces, computer availability, printing services, and academic support services available at the library.

1. Learning Commons Announcements Week of May 4, 2008

2. New Library Services - Just in time for the crunch ! Library users can now check out about 50 tablet PCs/laptops for 4 hours for use in the building from the Reserve Desk on 3 rd Floor. Laptops may be renewed when brought back to RMM if there are other laptops available for loan. On Friday and Saturday nights when the building closes 9p.m., all laptops must be returned to RMM at closing. The Learning Commons desk no longer accepts laptops for safekeeping. Library users will be able to watch videos or DVDs that are on reserve for their class, page a microform, or ask a question at your convenience . Loan periods for reserve and media materials remain unchanged. Reserves, Media & Microforms (RMM) on the 3rd Floor is now open 24/5 - all the hours the W.E.B. Du Bois Library is open

3. Associate Professor of Biology Jeff Podos’ exhibit of neotropical birds will be on display from May 5 to August 29, 2008 in the Integrated Sciences and Engineering Library , Graduate Research Center Lowrise at UMass Amherst. The exhibit includes twelve 16" x 20" color photos or photo montages of birds from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest and the Galápagos Islands. The birds were photographed in their natural environments. UMASS AMHERST LIBRARIES HOSTS “ Images: Neotropical Birds” ~ An exhibit of photographs by Jeff Podos ~

4. Give us an hour, we'll give you a free USB drive! The Libraries are looking for a few undergraduate volunteers to help us evaluate an online research tool. The study takes 45 minutes to an hour, and in exchange you'll get a 512 MB USB drive. To volunteer, just email Kelcy Shepherd ( [email_address] ) to set up a time.

5. Heavy Duty Headphones TI-83 Graphing Calculators USB Floppy Drives Now Circulating at the LC Desk: Available for use on 2 hour loan with a UCard

6. Check out the New Staple Station!! Standard and Heavy Duty Staplers Hole Punch Pencil Sharpener Directly across from the LC Help Desk!!!

7. 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!

8. Atomic Learning provides online training and support for over 110 of the most commonly used software applications through short, easy-to-view-and-understand tutorial movies Applications covered include Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Dreamweaver, Final Cut Pro, Photoshop and many more for either the Mac or PC platform On-campus: http://www.atomiclearning.com/highed Off-campus: http://silk.library.umass.edu:2048/login/atomiclearning UMass Amherst has Atomic Learning on trial through May 31, 2008 Send comments to Richard Rogers: [email_address]

9. 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.

10. New this semester! To enter Du Bois use UMass Amherst UCard between 12 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. (Monday - Friday)

11. Want to Study Abroad? Talk to our Peer Counselors at the Learning Commons Advising Link 4-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday Or: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon-Fri, Advising Center in 455 Hills South

12. = you are here Workstations in the LC Public Terminals 58 computers Open to everyone (incl. public) No login Windows XP Web browsers, Microsoft Office 2003, Microsoft Student Print to public printers (along brick columns between staircases) = public printers

13. = you are here 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

14. 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

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

16. 3 rd floor, Du Bois Library Reserve, Media & Microforms Department Services: Reserve, Media & Microforms Department 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 one a laptop, projector, or video camera to use in the library

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

18. Find the perfect sources for your papers and other research—work with a librarian! Reference & Research Assistance Services: Reference & Research Assistance 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

19. Writing Center Services: 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!

20. Writing Center Hours: Services: Writing Center Sunday 2 – 7 p.m. Monday – Wednesday 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Thursday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

21. Academic Advising Link Services: 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

22. Career Services Services: Career Services Career Services helps students and alumni identify and pursue satisfying careers through a variety of programs and services. Career advice and workshops Resume review Internships More!

23. Learning Resource Center Services: Learning Resource Center Tutoring and supplemental instruction for many difficult first and second year courses. Drop-in help and weekly sessions Students helping students! (10th floor of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library) Open Monday-Thursday 1-10 p.m. and Sunday 5-10 p.m.

24. Looking for quiet? Quiet study areas on 2 nd and 3 rd floors provide comfortable seating, electrical outlets, and wireless Internet access Drop-in carrels on 7 th and 10 th 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.

25. 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

26. 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

27. Can’t get all your research materials at the UMass Amherst Libraries? We can get them for you! Order books and articles through our FAST and FREE Interlibrary Loan service!

28. If you need a BOOK… First try the Five Colleges Libraries , use the Request Item feature within the 5 College catalog. Delivery is within 2 – 3 days. For Books not held in the 5 Colleges or for loans of other types of materials go to the Library’s Interlibrary Loan page http:// www.library.umass.edu/services/ill/index.html . Log in and fill out the ‘Request a Loan' form and the Interlibrary Loan staff will do the rest. Delivery is in 7 - 10 days

29. If you need an ARTICLE… Go to the Library’s Interlibrary Loan page http:// www.library.umass.edu/services/ill/index.html . Log in and fill out the ‘ Request a Copy' form and the Interlibrary Loan staff will do the rest. Electronic delivery is in 1-3 days.

30. Figured out the new research databases page?

31. Pick a subject related to your topic:

32. Hint : Start with the Best Bets Best Bets are recommended databases selected by a librarian with subject expertise

33. You may also find: Subtopics to narrow your subject Subject librarians to contact for help Guides to research in your subject

34. Know the name of the database you want?

35. Know the name of the database you want? Select the first letter of the name to get an alphabetical list.

36. Know the name of the database you want? Or get your search on.

37. Find audio, images, e-books , and more…

38. Any questions ? Get more tips for finding good databases , or help with connection issues.

39. http://www.library.umass.edu 30,000 online journals 300+ research databases Connect instantly to millions of dollars’ worth of quality, scholarly resources! Start your academic research with the Libraries: One-click access to FREE Interlibrary Loan & help

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