Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Another major user-centric renovation completed at the USC Science & Engineering Library was the increase of technology supported. The library now provides large information kiosks, as well as wired-study carrels for laptops. Students are able to use the video conference room as well. As the world starts to rely on technology more and more, the USC Libraries are able to provide the speed needed for their users to get the information they want quickly and effectively.
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Checked out their page. I like that students can request off-site items through the catalog. This is much easier than filling out request forms. I wonder what the turnaround is.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy studying in the UNT Music Library carrels but I with they supported technology to the degree this library does. Many of our Music Library carrels do not have power outlets or ethernet ports. I suppose the needs of STEM students governs this provision but I wish it could be extended to other disciplines.
ReplyDeleteThe video conference room is interesting; I haven't seen it mentioned in any of the other class blogs. Some people take communication tools for granted because they can access them from their home or office, but many people have never used such tools.
ReplyDelete- Alexis Reusser
I can see the video conference room being of use to teachers as well, for guest speakers or meetings or such. It's nice to see that the resources are aimed at the faculty in addition to student uses.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting overview, but I'd like to know much more about the information kiosks. Depending on what they are, these could be very useful--I can think of about 5 different things they could be, though. Also, how much human support is there to support all that technology?
ReplyDeleteThey currently have 4 full times librarians and two support staff that support most of the technology. I am sure that they have the University IT department to help them as well!
ReplyDeleteVideo conference rooms are such a great addition to libraries (especially academic libraries). Not only can these facilities be used by students and faculty, but by library staff as well. These are perfect learning resources for the library to put towards educating patrons (both student and faculty) about new information technologies.
ReplyDeleteGiven the increase in technology in the library, I would hope they have an It professional on site to assist the librarians working there.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like an interesting library.
Those chairs in front of the computer terminals look very relaxing! The designers of the USC Library look like they have considered all the electronic research needs of their patrons.
ReplyDeleteThat's great that they have a video conference room! I had a desktop all through undergrad (no webcam) and at least once for an interview my future employer wanted to meet through a video chat since I wasn't in town, but I couldn't do it! Some of the computers in the library were macs, but they weren't for that purpose and weren't in a private area, so I'd have felt funny using them.
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