Shifting into Overdrive: The Library’s New E-book System!

There’s no use denying it. We live in the age of digital information. Smart-phones, iPods, iPads, laptops, and many other devices ensure that we are never disconnected, for better or for worse. Everything is becoming digitized in the name of ease, and now many things that were staples of the home have become quaint novelties of a bygone era. And, unfortunately, books seem to be falling into this same trap.

I’ll admit it. I am riding the e-reader bandwagon. I was fortunate to receive an Amazon Kindle for Christmas, and I have to admit, I’m a believer in the digital age. While I don’t feel that the Kindle can replace the feel of a good book in my hands, the ease surrounding the small device cannot be denied. I read three gigantic books over the summer, each close to one thousands pages long, and my back thanked me when it didn’t have to lug around those behemoths everywhere I went.

Of course, this is a Library’s Blog, not a personal one. How are these e-readers going to affect the libraries? Are they also doomed to vanish from this world? How do they keep up with this new technology?

It’s a problem that has already been written off by some. But, as a lot of people know, libraries are no strangers to technology. Instead of shunning e-books, they have embraced the new medium, and are offering a new method of digital book distribution, thanks to something called Overdrive.

Overdrive is basically a fancy way of saying “Online E-Book Library.” And it works just as the same, with few headaches. You go to a special section of the Minuteman Library Website, where a listing of all the digital books are displayed. You can search through them, or display them in a full list. When you find a book you want, you click it, select the format you want it in, and then download it. It’s really that simple, with only a few tweaks depending on your e-reader of choice. You then have the book on your device (or even your laptop!) and can start reading right away.

But they don’t stop at just e-books. They have a large selection of audiobooks as well, along with the potential for videos as well. These are just as easy to obtain, following the same process described above. Select, download, and enjoy.

Of course, there are limitations. Firstly, the selection, while constantly growing, is still limited. It is likely that a book you want just won’t be available, however the library is happily accepting requests. Secondly, the library can only loan out a certain number of copies of most books. Like the physical thing, if someone has the only copy checked out, you have to wait for it to be returned before you can take it. That, and there’s no way for the book to be renewed. After the loan period passes, you have to check the book out again, which is a minor issue, but one that should be noted.

However, there are a number of books that are “available anytime,” as it states on the website. This is exactly what it sounds like; the books can be checked out by an unlimited number of patrons. Of course, these are likely not “best-sellers,” and instead tend to be classics.

With that said, Overdrive is already a great service and only has potential to grow better with time. It’s somewhat limited now, yes, but what is there is very easy to use and surprisingly robust. Once the selection grows, I think it will become a staple of libraries everywhere. Unfortunately, it’s not quite there yet. But, I know if I see a book on there I want, or need for a class, you can bet I’ll be using Overdrive to check it out!

E-Readers Now Available!

Did you know that the Whittemore Library not only has e-books available, but they also have three different e-readers available for checkout? Neither did I!

Yes, it’s true! And it’s one of the library’s most interesting secrets. Behind the circulation desk rests these three e-readers, available for checkout to any of the University’s students or affiliates. I recently had a chance to take one of these e-readers for a test drive, and will tell you my thoughts below.

The e-reader, to my surprise, was not of the more well known brands like Amazon’s Kindle or Barnes and Noble’s Nook. Instead, it is a Sony e-reader, but that should not deter you. This one is one of the nicer ones I’ve seen, and also one of the heavier. This gives the e-reader itself a very sturdy quality that feels good in the hands. It doesn’t feel easily breakable, which is good, as library technology tends to take a beating over time.

The e-reader comes with a wall-charger and some directions to help get you started. Finding the power button was a little tricky, but after turning it on, everything was smooth sailing. The menus are clear and easily readable, though the touch screen isn’t quite as responsive to the touch of my finger as I would’ve liked. Thankfully, after a quick glance at the directions, I found a stylus hidden on the side of the device, and using that made the menus much more responsive. I recommend using the stylus at all times, both for the menus and to keep fingerprints off the screen.

There is a small learning curve that comes with every e-reader, and this often catches new readers off guard. When you turn the page, the screen has to refresh itself before the next page can be shown. During this refresh period, the screen quickly turns solid black, before loading the next set of text. This sounds intrusive, but it’s not as bad as it sounds, as the whole process takes less than a second. But it does require some getting used to at first, and can be quite distracting. Having had my own e-reader for close to a year, however, I can say that this doesn’t bother me at all.

Turning pages, however, took me a few tries to figure out. Since the screen itself is a touch screen, I assumed that to turn the page I would tap on the edges of the screen. Not so. You can turn the pages two ways. Either by swiping the stylus across the screen  right or left, or by pressing the buttons on the bottom of the device. I found the buttons to be a more reliable method of page-turning, as the swipe didn’t feel as responsive to me.

The e-reader comes preloaded with sixty-six full texts, all of which are “classics” available in the public domain. A student checking out the device cannot purchase or rent new texts, as that feature has been blocked. The librarian can add new texts to the device, and is always accepting requests. The books are all formatted properly, and read fine.

The e-reader does some have restrictions. It can only be checked out for two weeks, with a high late fee of $10 a day. It also cannot be renewed, and has to be back to the library with all parts in tact in order to be checked out again.

With that said, if you are looking for one specific book, it might be better to just get that book itself rather than e-reader, if nothing else than to avoid the chance of high-late fees. However, if you read books quickly, or are planning a trip, the e-reader would make a worthwhile option. It’s certainly a good device, works well, and offers a good selection of books. Just be careful of the late fees!

Your Library: Free Netflix!

It’s true! Well, not exactly the same, but pretty darn close.

There’s this thing called “interlibrary loan” and it’s about to become your new best friend. If you want a book (for fun or for school) but cannot find it in our collection at Whittemore, you can order it from any library in the entire Minuteman Library network. Not only that, but you can also order movies and video games as well. All you need is a library card. They’ll ship it straight here.

And yes, it’s free!

You can either go online or come into the library itself to request a book (or game or movie). The process itself is painless either way, only requiring a few clicks and the creation of a PIN.

Interlibrary loan is a great, if imperfect service. Firstly, while the selection of books is huge, it can take a while to receive the items you request. It generally takes about a week, but if the book is in high demand, or hard to find, it can take much longer. I’ve personally never had to wait more than a few weeks for a book to come in, but that can be a problem if you need it for a class. Order early, just to be on the safe side.

The selection for DVDs is also quite good, with a number of both new releases and old classics available. My taste in films is varying to say the least, but I’ve always been able to find the film I’m looking for. I’ve rented things like The Hangover, Paranormal Activity, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and have always been able to find a copy. You can even order complete seasons of many TV shows. You get all the disks in the boxed set at once too, unlike Netflix where you get one disk at a time. However, the quality of the DVDs themselves is a little suspect. They tend to take a lot of punishment, and I have received a few DVDs that were unplayable. It’s easy enough to order another DVD if the one you receive is defective, but it is something you should take into account.

I actually had no idea that you could order video games through this service as well, and judging by the amount of games that actually are ordered, not many students know either. I found out by chance, but have since used it numerous times. The selection is, in a word, surprising, as the mix of choices contains some new releases and some older ones as well. The selection is not huge, so finding a game is somewhat unlikely, but it’s always worth a quick search. I myself just realized that a library has a copy of Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, a game that was just released on the 15th of November! However, the games are not as readily available as DVDs or movies, so expect to wait a longer time for them to arrive. Also, they can take a beating the same way DVDs can.

Overall, interlibrary loan would a decent service if you had to pay for it. The fact that it’s free just makes the deal all the sweeter. Give it a try sometime!

Have You Found the IT HelpDesk?

If you haven’t been in the library lately, then you haven’t seen the big changes that have occurred.

And when I say big, I really mean it!

If you go down the stairs (or take the elevator) to the Lower Mezzanine (LM), you will find the new IT Help Desk, just finished construction early in the fall. No longer will you have to trek over to the basement of Hemenway Hall (though it’s still open if you prefer it) to have your laptop fixed; now you can have your troubles solved right in the library.

When you first come down the stairs, you will see the two newly built study rooms. They are fairly good sized, with comfortable chairs and a big table in the center. Inside each are two large flat-screen TVs, that can be hooked up to a laptop for group discussions. These TVs sound good, but unfortunately I feel that they have more use for slacking than studying. I have, however, seen a few groups in the room using them for presentations, so hopefully my fears are unfounded. While the rooms cannot be signed out yet, in the future that will become an option for groups who want to schedule study parties.

To your left from the study rooms is the IT desk itself. It’s brand new, and offers much more in the ways of both student comfort and ease of use. Instead of sitting behind a table in Hemenway, the IT workers sit behind a large desk with computer monitors that face the student, not the worker. These monitors can  be hooked up to the laptop the worker is fixing, so the student can see what is going on, or for demonstration purposes. No longer do you have to sit awkwardly while the worker clicks around on your laptop!

There are a number of comfortable chairs spread around the desk itself along with desks for study, and a few more TVs scattered around the area. It gives the place a feeling of comfort and relaxation, rather than just a spot to get your computer fixed. The desk itself is also far more welcoming than the room in Hemenway, with warm paneling and a clean exterior. It makes the desk a place that you actually want to visit, rather than a place to avoid.

The IT Desk has also made my life as a Circulation Desk Attendant (which is a fancy way of saying I check out books) much easier. Now, whenever a student has a laptop problem, often with printing, I can point them toward the desk. Not only that, but whenever a printer goes down in the library, someone from the IT Desk is always available to fix it. This means more working printers and less problems, which is always a good thing when you’re a college student.

With the addition of the IT Help Desk, the library is becoming far more of a one-stop-shop rather than just a holder of books. You can get some coffee, find a book to read, and get your laptop fixed without having to brave the great outdoors.

The Bigger Picture in Coming Back to School

It’s the beginning of September, leaving most of us stop and wonder where the summer went.  We wish we had hit the beach more and crossed a few extra things off our to-do list before classes begin and life gets too hectic. Before we know it, the line at the bookstore is getting longer by the minute, the construction is (hopefully) wrapping up, professors are tweaking their syllabi, which directly effects our future, and we are making sure we have the necessary pens, notebooks, etc.  Freshmen move in, smiling ear to ear, daydreaming that their college experience will be identical to their favorite shows on ABC family and the CW.

Depending on the type of student you are, you’re either dreading this coming semester or you thrive on the social and intellectual stimulation that comes from life on a college campus.  Most of you are probably like me, which is somewhere in the middle.

As college students, we endure at least eight semesters during our undergrad.  Some, including myself, have more than eight.  As we get into the later semesters, they get more grueling, and the novelty of a new beginning wears off by the start of our senior year.

Maybe it’s your last first day of school, or your very first day of college classes, either way, I think it’s important to keep our eyes on the bigger picture. It’s easy to get caught in our college bubble, especially for the students that live here.  Our lives consist of classes, clubs, food, friends and a part-time job – probably not in that order.  It isn’t until we are entering, or coming close to our senior year that we begin to think about the world outside of the FSU bubble.  With jobs as scarce as they are, it’s not just about the degree, it’s about how we got there.   How mature we present ourselves in interviews, the clubs we were in and the leadership opportunities we took advantage of.  We are only in this bubble for a few short years, and until we have a significant amount of job experience, it’s what we do in our bubble that determines how we live after graduation.  It’s coming fast, and the sooner we realize that, the better adults we will become.

I’ve heard this all before, but this year is (hopefully) my last full year before I am pushed out into that adult world we hear so much about.  I am looking over my resumé and trying to gain any additional leadership and volunteer experience, just to set myself apart from the other recent college grads that will be applying for the same positions.

So from one college student to another, I propose a challenge.  I challenge you to be different this year.  To make this first day of school a different first day of school.  Participate more, study an extra fifteen minutes for that test and proofread that paper one more time.  I think the benefits will far outweigh the inconvenience of a little more time spent on schoolwork.  Although, isn’t that why we entered the bubble in the first place?  I know I will be paying more attention to myself and my achievements and what I can work toward this semester.  In addition to making a significant impact on our life after college, this will potentially bring a new energy to the FSU student community.  It’s never too late or too early to make a better path for ourselves in the working world.  Good luck and welcome to those who are coming for the first time, and welcome back for those who are returning.  Let’s look forward to making this year a great year!

Behind the Passion of a Professor

It’s the first day of a new class. You walk in and quickly glance over the faces of your fellow, tired, classmates before realizing you don’t know anyone.  You sigh as you take an available seat in the back of the class.  If you haven’t had this professor before, you anxiously await the syllabus.  If it’s less than three pages, you’re happy.  If it’s more than six, you quickly think about how you can finagle to drop this class for an easier one.  During the first week of class you go through the essential college student checklist.  Does the professor let us out of class early?  How quickly do they answer their e-mail?  How many tests, how many papers, are they a difficult grader?  In my experience, all college students think about these, and rarely think about the person that is teaching them.  We choose the class by the subject, but we don’t have a say in which topics are discussed, the pace of the class or the assignments given to us.  The professor leads the discussion and chooses which questions to ask us.

Why don’t we take more of an interest in who’s teaching us?  Over the years I have had the opportunity to get to know how certain Professors work, and their personalities.  There is no doubt that those who teach us are intelligent, but what is beyond the intelligence?

I am taking a summer class and have a professor that has astounded me with his knowledge and ability to dissect and analyze poetry in a way that is both beautiful and baffling.  I am completely lost in this class, I am the first to admit that I have never before read poetry or thought I would find enjoyment in it.  A few classes ago, he referred to himself as a poet.  The naive, little girl inside me thought wait, you’re a professor, not a poet.  Then I immediately reprimanded myself for thinking something so shallow and narrow-minded.  So, the thought for this blog post was born.  Who is teaching us?  What’s their story?   Did they always want to teach college or is this only their day job?  What’s their real passion?  I thought about this for a few days and decided to google my professor’s name.  I found that he is published and I looked for his work.  It was better than what we are studying in class (which are all phenomenal poets), in my opinion.  Since reading his work, learning about the multiple awards he has received and the books he has published, I began to respect the class much more.  Now knowing that this isn’t a class that was just assigned to him, but that it is subject matter he cares deeply about.

I encourage you to learn more about who’s teaching you.  I bet if you learn how they got involved in the subject matter they’re teaching, and how passionate they are about it, you’ll get excited to learn from them – and learn more.  Trivial things like the length of the syllabus and if they let you out of class early won’t matter.  You may even get absorbed into the subject matter more.  I know that since learning about the passion that my professor has about poetry has made me more excited to learn from him, and has made me appreciate poetry in a way I never thought I would.

What’s Your Vision for Education?

When you think about your ideal education, what does it look like?  Is it the kind that’s in the classroom?  If it is, maybe you prefer the desks to be in a circle so you can see everyone, with the Professor at a desk next to you.  Maybe you prefer the traditional rows with the Professor at the head of the classroom, lecturing.  Perhaps the classroom isn’t the right setting for your ideal education.  Do you prefer a more hands-on experience?  Would you rather do on-the-job training?  When you think about education, does the image of an academic institution come to mind?  If not, do you think about what you can learn from the internet, or talking with friends?  The point is, there are so many different definitions of education.  Your ideal education isn’t the same as mine, and isn’t the same as the Professor who is providing us with the opportunity to learn.  When sitting in a lecture hall, all 50 students take something different away from that lecture, and often times, it might not be what the professor was hoping.  Maybe you asked a question that wasn’t anticipated, making the Professor learn something – that’s right, you can contribute to the educator’s education.  I challenge you to sit back and really think.  What do you want from school?  Do you prefer teaching, or learning?  What do you want to do with your degree?  Are you the type of student who makes a difference in the world?  Are you the type of student who values things other than education; sitting in the back, stalking friends on facebook, waiting for your four year sentence to conclude itself?  Whoever you are, whatever you want, you could probably benefit from seeing this video.  It’s a project done by students – many students – about how they see education.  I promise that whatever you’re thinking, there’s many other students who think the same way you do.  From watching this, your view of education might just change, all because students like you wanted to be heard.

http://visionsofstudents.org/

I Heart Academic Databases

I’ve done it, you’ve done it and most students’ in your classes have done it.  The not-so-silent groan after your least favorite Professor hands out the assignment sheet for your next major research paper.  10-15 pages, two sources on every page.  You’d rather get a root canal than sit at home and write this paper when you could be watching Glee.  You think about all the other class assignments you have and you see the hours of sleep you get each night dramatically decrease before your eyes.  Finally, the friendly, colorful, comforting image of ‘Google’ comes into mind, the familiarity of it brings your increased heart rate to a normal (after 3 cups of coffee) level.  You know ‘Google’ will never fail you as long as your wireless is working.  All you have to do is type in the title of that book you never got around to reading and the quotes for your research paper will pop up, making your academic life a breeze.  Of course it takes 20 minutes to wade through the 20,000 websites that popped up in your search.  You find the perfect one, that you hope is credible and accurate. Copy-and-paste the words that somewhat pertain to your topic into the word document – right before you have to adjust the font, size and color to make it all match.  Then you stress about how to properly cite this website and author so you don’t run into any plagiarism issues.  Academic institutions tend to frown upon that.  You then fill in your own thoughts around those quotes and 5 hours later your done, searching for your stapler so you can get half an hour of sleep before the paper is due for your 8:30am class.

A few weeks later you get the paper back and your grade is less than you were hoping.  You wonder what happened, what when wrong, you spent such a long time on that paper!  On the book you may or may not have read.

Next time this happens to you (and it will, I promise) think about using the Library.  Yes, that’s right, the brick building that is an entire 6 minute walk from the dining hall.  There are people here with the sole purpose of ensuring that you write a phenomenal research paper.  They’re called librarians, and they’re great.  They can sit down with you and go over the online databases – which are, in fact, better than your beloved ‘Google’.  Craig Silverstein, who is the director of technology at google even says so in this article: http://www.ilovelibraries.org/loveyourlibrary/quotesaboutlibraries/index.cfm.  There are entire papers written by experts on the same topic you are writing yours on.  Think of all those nice, long quotes you can use! These databases aren’t free, they come with some hefty fees that are taken out of your tuition. That’s right, you pay for these magical databases – so you better start using them!  You can search through the databases by subject area – it’s really quite simple.  You also will not have those irritating ads on the side.  As your trying to read about the history of women’s education in the Eighteenth Century, you won’t have weight loss and teeth whitening ads lining your right margin – wasn’t it great when Facebook was also ad free?  Regardless, your academic databases are!  Plus, many of them already come cited, so you can simply copy and paste that into your Works Cited page.  That earlier stress about plagiarism is no longer a problem!  No need for Noodlebib, either.  – That’s right, I just saved you an entire, time consuming step. These databases are also updated on a regular basis, so you aren’t getting articles from the dark ages.  Although they do have a wide range in the dates they were written, in case you’re looking for historical articles.  Like ‘Google’, you can also access these magical databases from home, in your pajamas while watching your favorite episode of Lost, on repeat (it’s okay, we all do it).   When you use these databases and the librarians (which you can e-mil, instant message or text) your grades for papers will increase, dramatically.  This will effect your GPA in a very good way, making your parents proud, allowing you to get into a stellar graduate school, where you will meet the person of your dreams and then get married.  Yes, all because you stopped using Google for your research papers.  It’s that easy!