Archive for the ‘Technology’ category

Be Responsi-Bull: Don’t Text and Drive

July 1st, 2011

[1]

Reckless and distracted driving is an important thing for people to be aware of. Accidents happen all the time when people are using their mobile phones in their vehicles and this tends to be a common offense made by students. Students are text messaging, updating facebooks, tweeting, and even checking-in as they travel today. Distracted driving killed nearly 6,000 Americans in 2008 and over 16,000 Americans overall. As our technology becomes more advances, it is important that we take a moment to reflect on our responsibility as drivers to pay attention to the road. Despite these statistics, Florida continues to be unsuccessful in passing laws regarding reckless driving regarding to texting and talking on cell phones and is one of 12 states to not place a ban. For now that means it is in your hands to make sure you do not cause an accident with your mobile phone.

[2]

Think about the last time you saw someone talking on a cell phone when you were driving or text messaging? Did you notice that they were driving slower than others and not as responsive at the wheel. Any driver knows that even a minute off the wheel can lead to fatal accidents. Disney has taken the initiative and banned texting while driving among employees. At the end of 2009, President Barack Obama banned federal employees from text messaging while behind the wheel of government vehicles and from texting in their own cars if they use government-issued phones or are on official business.

Take action: make a pledge not to text and drive. Don’t become a statistic. Think about your peers. Be Responsi-Bull

[1] Photo credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/570770
[2] Photo credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1088345

Online Service Interruptions March 4-6

March 4th, 2011

In preparation for the Lo Schiavo CSI Building construction in May, ITS will be conducting infrastructure work that will result in service disruptions.

For the Library, this means interruptions to network  and Internet access. When these interruptions occur, this will also affect off-campus access to all online library services such as:

  • Article Databases
  • Ignacio, the Library Catalog
  • Illiad, the interlibrary loan system

Interruptions are scheduled for:

  • Friday March 4 from 10 pm through 8 am on Saturday March 5 (and could go longer on Saturday)
  • Saturday March 5 from 10 pm through 8 am on Sunday March 6.

iPad and Kindle Updates – Good News!

January 24th, 2011

The iPads and the Kindle have been extremely popular. Thank you! Two things we’ve heard from people who have checked them out from the library so far – they are difficult to get and the reservation process is confusing. We hear you. To make borrowing one of these devices a little easier:

  1. We have ordered 2 more iPads.
  2. We are changing how you request to borrow iPads and Kindles.
  3. The loan period will change from 5 days to 7.

The 2 new iPads should be here late January or early February. This will bring the total number of iPads to five.

Starting tomorrow, all you will have to do to request one of these devices is search library catalog for iPad or Kindle and click on the “Request It” button.

Clicking “Request It” will place a hold on the item for you. When your turn comes around we will email you a note asking you to swing by the library and pick up the device.

We hope these changes make things a bit easier and as always let us know what you think in the comments.


The iPads Are Here!

September 30th, 2010

Its official! Starting October 1, 2010 USF students, faculty and staff can check out an Apple iPad from the Gleeson Library circulation desk.

The iPads will circulate for 5 days and you can read all the fine print here. If all three of the iPads are all checked out, you can make a reservation (booking) for a future date.

There are a few apps, books (including the Library Book Club selections) and other resources on the devices now. Based on your feedback (see survey below) we’ll be adding more resources soon.

We’ve built a very brief online survey – please let us know what you think of the iPad and our efforts to bring new technology (like the Kindle) to the library.


#followalibrary Day

September 30th, 2010
Twitter Logo

#followalibrary Day is Friday, October 1st. Follow @GleesonLibrary!

Do you tweet?  @GleesonLibrary sure does.  Everyday, we post pithy tweets on Twitter to our entertained followers and tomorrow, October 1st, we encourage all Twitter aficionados to follow @GleesonLibrary and mention us as your favorite library.

#followalibrary Day” seeks to promote the visibility, importance, and love for libraries all over the world, by encouraging Twitterers to post the name of their favorite library to all their followers.  Use hashtag #followalibrary and mention @GleesonLibrary in your tweet, so we know you love us!

Oh, you say you want to know our other social networks?  Here you go! Stop by and stay a while.