Reference at Newman Library

Tag: Technology Loans

Revamped Pages on the Library Website

This spring, I’ve been working with a number of different folks in the library to update a few pages in the library website:

Technology Loan Service

With guidance from Jeffrey Lynch, a number of items we used to loan have been removed and new items have been added. With the changes in policy around renewals and loan periods for many items, all the details on those matters have been updated (you need to click on the item to get that additional information).

If you get any questions from students around renewals of loan periods, please always check this page for updated info, as the policies vary by item.

Locating a Print Book in the Library

Previously, this page was titled “Call Number Chart,” but that proved to be too library-centric a way of presenting the page to users, many of whom may not even know what a call number is. Given that users tend to think of what they need from the library in basic, familiar terms and that they conceive of these things as tasks to accomplish, it made sense to retitle the page borrowing on the language that many of us hear in reference and circ desk interactions with students who have found a record for a book in OneSearch but have no idea what to do next. This page has been reworked to focus on the steps in the user’s journey for that task.

There are a number of ways to get to this page:

  1. Use the yellow search box (select the “Library Services & Policies” option before entering your search).
  2. On the Help page there is a “How Do I…?” section with an entry on “Books that includes a link.
  3. Also on the Help page is a link to the Site Map, which presents a hierarchical view of all pages on the library site.
  4. On the Floor Plans page that is on the footer of every page on our website, there is a section on “Book Locations” that includes a link.

Updates to the Technology Loan Service Page

Jeff Lynch and I just finished updating the Technology Loan Service page on the library website so that it reflects current policies and inventory. Here are some notable changes:

  • Chromebooks are now featured on the page
  • Loan periods have been simplified (there used to be a lot of loan periods for the laptops)
  • We’ve put more of a spotlight on how some items have semester-long loan periods while others have shorter ones
  • New FAQ about returning items sent by mail during the period when the library was closed during the pandemic

New items/loan periods at the Laptop & Circulation desks

The 3rd floor laptop desk now loans a small number of Dell laptops for 7 days.  We also recently acquired wireless/Bluetooth mice that students can borrow until the laptop desk closes.

Also, we have new portable DVD players for loan from the circulation desk.  These loan for 7 days and connect to a computer/monitor via USB.

If students ask for these items at the reference desk, please direct them to us.  Thank you.

Bose noise-cancelling headphones – now available for loan at the Circulation Desk

Hi all,

Starting today, we will be loaning Bose noise-cancelling headphones from the circulation desk.  These will be same-day loans, due back 10 min before the desk closes.

We can offer them to students looking for headphones but I think it’s also a good idea to offer them to folks who are looking for a quiet study space but aren’t a part of a group.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thanks, Jeff