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Research
Help Is a Click Away
San Diego State
University Library has instituted a "virtual reference"
service on an experimental basis. This service allows a user to
connect with a librarian in real time and ask reference questions
in a chat session. Libraries across the nation have started this
service in an effort to assist patrons in non-traditional ways.
Since many use the Internet to obtain information, the library profession
felt it important that professional assistance be provided from
experts in information retrieval. The California State University
system is experimenting with different vendors for a year to determine
the best option for systemwide cooperation. SDSU is using a system
called Convey.
The SDSU Library
is offering virtual reference for 20 hours a week. The hours are
Monday, Thursday, and Friday 9 a.m. -1 p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday
1 p.m. -5 p.m.. So far, usage has been limited. Faculty and others
reading this newsletter are urged to recommend this service to students
and others who need it. There are some features that are quite powerful.
Web pages can be "pushed" to users, and librarians (with
permission of the user) can take over the patron's screen and type
in suggestions.
To reach this
service, users need to go to the library's home page (http://infodome.sdsu.edu)
and click on the icon for live help. At any time, a user may also
ask a question via e-mail and will usually hear back within a couple
of days. Sometimes the live help librarian will also recommend a
specialist. Although both of these services are open to anyone,
it should be noted that our paid databases (which answer many of
the research needs) are only available to the SDSU community.
Questions so
far have ranged from community type ("How do I report someone
who is cheating on workers compensation?") to general ("How
do I get into the databases?" and "What are your hours?")
to database problems ("Why can't I get into …") to
more detailed research questions ("I need scholarly journal
articles about cardiovascular diseases but something I can understand").
Other examples of recent chat reference questions include a request
for sex education journal articles for adolescents, articles on
bilingual education, and geological information on the California
coast.
So, remember
that librarians are waiting in their offices to answer your questions
when you have them. You can ask SDSU reference librarians a question
in a number of different ways, including face to face, phone, email,
and online chat.
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Thank
You, TogetherSoft!
Students using
the library's Student Computing Center received extra help when
managing multiple software applications thanks to a generous donation
of software from TogetherSoft Corporation. A tool called ControlCenter
6.0 was loaded onto all computing workstations, making life easier
for students working on complex projects. We have received favorable
feedback on the software's capabilities from several SDSU students.
"The TogetherSoft
CASE tool has helped me to gain a better understanding of object-oriented
analysis through its easy-to-use interface and abundance of abilities.
As a graduating information systems student, the knowledge I have
gained from TogetherSoft has helped me better prepare for the professional
world," said David Wedding.
According to
SDSU student Sammy Halo, "TogetherSoft's robust CASE tools
have allowed me to apply many of the concepts and skills learned
in my coursework firsthand. TogetherSoft 6.0 has aided me in the
hands-on experience and knowledge of object modeling and sequence
diagramming, which has proven to be vital in my upper-division studies."
The SDSU Library
is grateful to TogetherSoft for making the latest in technology
available to so many students who work on sophisticated and complex
computer projects.
New
Extended Hours Popular with Students
At 3:00 a.m.
on December 17, 2002, 122 students were burning the midnight oil
in the SDSU Library, completing their term papers and studying for
finals. This wasn't possible for students a year ago. Last March,
SDSU students passed an advisory referendum recommending that a
new $10 student library use fee be collected each term from students.
After approval by President Weber and the Chancellor's Office, the
fee was implemented last fall, and the library immediately began
to use the revenues to extend hours.
The library
and student computing center are now open until 1:00 a.m. Sunday
through Thursday, and the Reserve Book Room (RBR), which provides
access to more than 40 general-use personal computers, is open 24
hours a day when classes are in session. Since shortly after the
expanded hours were instituted, there were students in the RBR every
hour of the night. "There has been a vigorous amount of activity
in the area, especially on Friday and Saturday nights; much more
than we had expected. While SDSU students are the overwhelming majority
of users of Reserve Book Room for study, borrowing library materials
and completing homework assignments, we have a number of community
users as well," said Sara Baird, Reserve Book Room supervisor.
This spring,
in addition to maintaining the extended hours started in the fall,
the library and student computing center will open at 10:00 a.m.
on Saturday, which is two hours earlier (and longer) than in previous
semesters. We think we already know how SDSU students will respond
to this.
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