Technology Tips (RSS)

Tuesday, November 03, 2009 4:45 PM

Texting the Information Commons

Now you can get research assistance from the Information Commons via your cell phone. You can always call us at 317-940-9235 and talk to us but now you also have the option of texting us.

Just text 265010 and in the body of the text type "buinfocommons: yourmessage." (Note: You may be charged by your wireless service provider.)

Visit http://www.butler.edu/library/ask for more ways to contact the Information Commons.
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Friday, August 28, 2009 4:30 PM

Chalk & Wire

If you are a student interested in training for Chalk & Wire, please visit the list of I.T. Training Sessions. The Information Commons will be supporting use of Chalk & Wire, but not actually performing initial training. That will be done in the I.T. Training Sessions and in individual classes as professors begin to use it.
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Monday, August 10, 2009 11:24 AM

New Computers in Irwin

There are now computers available to students in every quad/section of Irwin Library. We've had to use the built-in wireless capabilities of the iMacs to install some of them, which meant removing all Macs from the Reference Lab area. The end result is six more computers available to library patrons in different parts of the building.

Current Summary:
Basement: 2 PCs and 2Macs in the Education Commons, 1 Mac in the Rich Media Room, 2 PCs in the General area (where the newspapers used to be)
Main Floor: 25 PCs in the main lab (1 with Scanner), 1 group workstation in the back of the Reference Collection, 2 group workstations in the Collaborative Learning Spaces
2nd Floor: 1 PC in SE quad, 2 wireless Macs (1 usable as a group workstation) in SW quad, 1 PC & 1 wireless Mac (group workstation) in NW quad, 1 PC in NE quad
3rd Floor: 1 PC in NW quad, 1 wireless Mac in NE quad
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Thursday, October 30, 2008 9:35 AM

Groups in the Library

Do you have a group project to work on? The libraries are excellent places for this work. Rather than take up lots of space in the main "computer lab" areas, the libraries encourage you to make use of the spaces that have been designed for group work.

The Science Library has four small group study rooms upstairs. There are no computers in these, so if you need one, you can either bring your own or check out a laptop from the Circulation Desk. There are also two computers across from the Circulation Desk specifically for groups to use.

In Irwin Library, there are three computers on the main floor that are designated as Group Workstations. Downstairs there are a couple more. You can also check on the availability of room IL119, our library instruction room, which is available when a class session has not reserved it. Group study rooms are available downstairs and on the second floor.

If you have any special needs or requests, please stop by the Circulation or Reference Desks or use the Ask A Librarian link on our website.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Monday, March 24, 2008 11:09 AM

Reminder: Use BUFiles

This is your regular reminder to use BU Files for saving documents, papers, class projects, etc.

Every student (and employee) has space on BUFiles for saving these kinds of files. This is typically mapped to your H: drive, so if you go to any lab computer and click on My Computer, the H: drive should point to your space on BU Files, which is entitled with your Butler username.
Do NOT save important documents to the "Default" or to "My Documents" on the computer you're sitting at.

ALWAYS make sure you're saving things to BUFiles (or H:).
Local computers get reimaged, have profiles deleted, etc., causing your files to disappear. This will NOT happen if you save your things on BUFiles. Plus, they will then be accessible from another computer on campus.

Every semester it seems we have a few students in the library who lose documents because they were not saving them to BUFiles. We hope you will read this and act on it before writing your big papers this semester.

If you have any questions about where to save files when you are using library computers, please ask at the Reference Desk.
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Tuesday, March 18, 2008 10:12 AM

Citing Articles, Books, etc.

"Works Cited" list got you down? Are you having a hard time figuring out just what information is supposed to be included when you're citing an online article or a chapter in a book? Don't be dismayed--we're here to help!

Our new LibGuides system has a Guide specifically for citation information. Whatever format you need, we have examples and links to get your questions answered and your bibliography pristine.

Visit the library website (http://www.butler.edu/library) and click on LibGuides. Citations Guides is the first featured LibGuide listed. Just click that and then pick the format you need (MLA, APA, Turabian, etc.). You can also go there directly: http://libguides.butler.edu/citations  (You may want to bookmark this link.)

You can even get there from Facebook by adding the LibGuides app to your profile!
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Thursday, January 17, 2008 1:31 PM

Research Starts Here

Are you starting a research project? Your first stop should be LibGuides.

Our librarians have gathered all kinds of resources into the new LibGuides system, making it your one-stop-shop for research. Visit http://libguides.butler.edu to get started.

(We're also in Facebook! http://apps.facebook.com/libguides/ )
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Monday, December 17, 2007 9:44 AM

LibGuides are Coming

What are LibGuides?

LibGuides can be subject guides, info portals, class guides, community guides, research tips, or useful resources on any other topic.

In January of 2008, LibGuides will be replacing the Subject Resource Guides with better-organized, more dynamic and flexible collections of links, book lists, research help, multimedia, RSS feeds, search results, and other information useful to faculty and students alike.

The LibGuides system combines the best features of social networks, wikis, bookmarks and blogs to help librarians share knowledge and promote library resources to the community.

LibGuides also integrates with Facebook, where information is instantly available via the LibGuides app!

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Wednesday, December 05, 2007 3:13 PM

Library on your Google Toolbar

Do you use the Google toolbar in your web browser?

Would you like a button to add that takes you right to the library catalog?

Now you can have one! Just click this link to add our new Google toolbar button. It will give you a confirmation pop-up, explaining that there's a privacy concern--namely, that your search results will be sent to hickory.palni.edu, but that's just where our catalog is located, so no worries.

(If you need the Google Toolbar, here's a link.)
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Wednesday, November 28, 2007 11:39 AM

Working with Emailed Files

A common method of working on papers is to email the document to yourself and then open it from your email. While this method does work, PLEASE NOTE that you cannot just click "Save" when you've opened an email attachment. That will only save the document in a TEMP folder which will disappear once you log off, meaning YOU WILL LOSE YOUR WORK.

If you are opening a document you sent yourself via email, PLEASE save it to BUFiles first and only then start working on it. That will ensure you don't lose all the work you've done.

Better yet, simply work from BUFiles all the time. The only time you won't have access is if you're off campus, in which case we suggest using a USB Flash Drive. If you do choose to use email, remember that files opened directly from an email attachment will open via a TEMP folder and clicking "Save" will NOT save it the way you want.
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Tuesday, November 13, 2007 9:31 PM

Extra Computers in Irwin Library

We are quickly approaching the time of year where you may come into the Irwin Library Reference Lab and find that all the computers are full. Take heart! There are others available!

Room 119 in the Music and Fine Arts Reference area has eight more PCs that are available in the evenings and after any scheduled classes are done using the room that day. Those computers use the same printers as the other lab-type computers located around the library.
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Tuesday, November 06, 2007 6:43 PM

Subscribe to Library News

Would you like to be notified whenever a new Library News item is posted? You can do it via RSS or email.

Just log into DawgBlog at https://www.butler.edu/library/communityadmin/blogs/dawgblog and look in the top left corner. You'll find links for RSS and Atom feeds that you can copy right into your RSS reader or aggregator. If you prefer to receive the notices via email, you can click the "Email" link in that same corner and choose one of the email options.

It's that easy!
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Friday, October 19, 2007 2:48 PM

RSS Feeds for New Books

The Butler libraries now have RSS feeds available to let you know about new books that have been added to our catalog.

Using your favorite aggregator (we recommend Google Reader or Bloglines), just add any of the following feeds and you'll be notified every time a new book is added to our catalog in that subject area.
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Tuesday, September 11, 2007 7:03 PM

RSS Feeds from EBSCO Searches

EBSCO databases have long used "alerts" to help you keep track of new materials that interest you. Now they've begun delivering those alerts via RSS feeds.

Users can now create an Alert directly from the Result List, Search History, or the Publication list. Create instant RSS feed Alerts by clicking on the orange RSS Feed icons.

What does this mean? It means you can create a search in any EBSCO database, grab the resulting RSS feed, and get information sent to you about new materials that have been added to that database that fit your search criteria. And without having to re-do your search every time.

(If you need an RSS reader, we recommend Google Reader or Bloglines.)

Butler Libraries currently subscribe to over 35 different EBSCO databases, including Academic Search Premier, Business Source Complete, ERIC, MasterFILE Premier, MEDLINE, Newspaper Source, PsycARTICLES, and SocINDEX with Full Text.
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Monday, August 27, 2007 1:48 PM

REMINDER: Use BUFiles

Computers in the library labs are regularly rebooted to clear off profiles and keep them running smoothly. When profiles are deleted, that includes all the MyDocuments folders that anyone has used on that machine. End Result: Local folders (including anything on the C: drive) are NOT a safe place to save your documents.

Instead, use BUFiles!

All Butler students, faculty, and staff are given some network space on BUFiles that they can access from any computer on the network. This is your own personal space that no one else has access to. It's much safer, more secure, and more convenient than using the My Documents folder on any machine in a lab. Use BUFiles for storing all your assignments, papers, and other important documents. You can typically get to this folder by opening your H: drive under My Computer.

If you need more assistance working with BUFiles, visit the Networking & Accounts page on I.R.'s website.
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Monday, February 12, 2007 2:16 PM

Websites By Subject

If you're looking for websites on a particular topic for a class project or paper, you'll be glad to know that the Butler University Libraries have made some select resources available to you.

Every academic discipline taught at Butler has a library liaison, a professional librarian who focuses on that topic. These library liaisons (or subject specialists) have reviewed many websites by and about people and topics in their disciplines. The "Websites by Subject" page is your gateway to discipline-related websites that have met the approval of our librarians. Give it a click and pick your subject. You just might find something new.
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Friday, December 01, 2006 11:06 AM

Saving Documents on Library Computers

When working on documents on library lab computers, whether MS Word, PowerPoint, or anything else, the best place to save those documents is on your H: drive, which is typically mapped to BU Files. That's your own personal space on the network and is accessible from anywhere on campus.

Do NOT save your documents on "My Documents" on the C: drive of the local computer. Those files will automatically be deleted every time the computer is rebooted.

Rebooting the computers is necessary to "clean them up" and delete the large numbers of profiles, which are created every time anyone logs on. This is normally done about once a week, but at this busy time of year, so many people are using the library computers that it's necessary to reboot them all a couple times a week to ensure smooth operations for everyone.

So please do not save any important files on the local C: drive on lab computers. The libraries cannot be responsible for them and they WILL be deleted.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Monday, November 06, 2006 12:04 PM

Open WorldCat

Want to find a book, but don't know what libraries it's in? Checked the Butler Library Catalog and couldn't find that book or CD? Try OpenWorldCat.

WorldCat has been available to Butler students, faculty, and staff via the Library Website for quite a while. But now WorldCat is available to everyone via http://worldcat.org/. Just do a search like you normally would, type in your zip code, and they'll show you libraries near you that own the item. "Books, videos, downloadable audiobooks... if it's in a library near you, you can find it in WorldCat no matter where you are on the Web." You'll even get links to the libraries' websites and services like "Ask A Librarian."

If you want to search Open WorldCat right from your browser, you can download one of their toolbars. You have the options of the WorldCat versions of the Yahoo Toolbar or Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer or a Firefox browser search extension. All of these include installation notes and "how to use" notes.
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Monday, October 16, 2006 11:17 AM

Visual Search in EBSCO Databases

The EBSCO databases have a cool new way to search for information. It's called Visual Search. "Visual Search allows you to search efficiently across broad subjects, and then returns a visual map of results, organized by topic."

You just search for a topic and you're given a visual picture of your search results, where circles represent related topics and squares represent actual articles. To move back (or up) in the map, click outside of a circle or square. Click on Top Level to view the entire map. You can even use the filters at the top of the map to limit or focus information by keyword, date, or publication name.

Click on the circles to focus on that particular topic. Then mouseover any square to get the citation info for its article. If you want more, click the square to view the information on the right side of your screen. You can even see whether the article is available full text.

To search visually rather than textually, just click the "Visual Search" tab at the top of any EBSCO database.


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Wednesday, October 11, 2006 1:43 PM

Printing PDF Documents

Just a reminder for all of you who print PDF files from Blackboard, JSTOR, Academic Search Premier, or other full-text databases that the library offers.

Be sure to click the Print Button that's in the PDF toolbar. Don't use the Print Button or File-Print function that's in the web browser. That way you'll actually get your document printed instead of just the frame at the top of the screen.

If you still can't get it to print correctly, try saving the PDF file to the Desktop or your H: drive, and then open the document from there and print it.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Wednesday, September 13, 2006 1:10 PM

Printing in the Libraries

There is one primary printer for each of the two libraries.

If you're in Irwin Library, you should print to IL_120_1.

If you're in the Science Library, you should print to HB_201_1.

All "lab"-type computers throughout the libraries should automatically print to these. Other printer numbers are for printers that are in various offices in the libraries and are not intended for public use.

Thank you.
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Tuesday, April 25, 2006 8:35 PM

Printing in the Library

To answer a frequently asked question, every lab computer in the Irwin Library building will print to the IL_120_1 printers in the Reference Department, no matter what floor the computers are physically located.

Also, to turn off the duplex printing, here's the shortcut version: Click print, click the Properties button next to the printer name, click the tab entitled Finishing, UNcheck the box next to "Print on Both Sides." Click OK.
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Friday, March 31, 2006 11:30 AM

Printing PDF Files

Having trouble printing a PDF file? Does it keep coming out black, even though the original isn't black? Try this:

Print the PDF file as an image. Click the Print button on the PDF toolbar like you normally would. Then click the button that says 'Advanced' and check the box next to 'Print As Image.'

While it will take a little longer to print, it usually solves the problem.
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Thursday, March 30, 2006 3:09 PM

EBSCO - Saving Your Searches

How would you like to go into an EBSCO Database and not have to re-create your search?

EBSCO Databases allow you to save your search results once you've created a profile in their system. That is DIFFERENT from your Butler profile. It involves actually creating a new account with EBSCO. You will use that account to access your saved search results. Go into any EBSCO database and click on "Sign In to My EBSCOhost" to get started.



Once you've done that and created your own profile in EBSCOhost, you can save and reexamine your searches in "My Folder."

If you have any questions or problems using "My EBSCOhost," please contact a Reference Librarian.
posted by spfitzin with 0 Comments [Edit]
Wednesday, March 22, 2006 12:53 PM

Subscribing to DawgBlog

How would you like to be notified whenever there's a new message posted to DawgBlog? It's easy! In fact, you have a couple of options.

If you use an email aggregator like Bloglines or Google's Personalized Home Page, you can grab the RSS feed from our home page and add it to your collection of feeds. You can even subscribe to a specific category, if you'd rather. The RSS links for those are next to each category in the lower left sidebar.

Don't do RSS yet? Would you rather get a good old email whenever there's a new post? You'll have to be logged in to DawgBlog (using your standard Butler ID and password), but after that it's easy. Just click on the "Email" link in the top left corner of the screen and choose whether you want notifications when there new posts and comments or just new posts. Then sit back and enjoy!
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Wednesday, January 18, 2006 2:23 PM

Finding the Author of an Article

Need to find the name of an author when you don't know the name of articles they've written?

Many of our databases have Indexes where you can search and browse through all the entries they have for that field (such as Author, Subject, Publisher, or even Language). Just look for the Indexes button at the top of the screen and select the field you want to search. Then put in one or more of the letters that the name starts with. It may take some browsing through screens, but it can help you find an author when you don't know how to spell his/her name.
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Tuesday, August 30, 2005 8:20 PM

Virus Warnings -- HOAXES!

Almost any virus warning you get in your email is a hoax. Let's say that right up front. At Butler, if there is any serious virus threat, Information Resources (IR) will email the campus, like they did just last week.

The same is true for giveaways from Applebees, Disney, Microsoft, or anything else. There IS no email tracking program and there is no way anyone will know how many people you forward an email to, unless it's all sent, with headers, to the people who want to know.

When in doubt, DON'T FORWARD THAT EMAIL!!

Also, please check the HoaxBusters website if you want to be sure. You'll probably find that they've already documented the hoax you've received, and you'll be able to read the text of your email on their site. That's a pretty good tipoff. The URL for HoaxBusters is:
http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/
posted by spfitzin with 1 Comments [Edit]
Wednesday, August 17, 2005 9:47 AM

Virus Checking

You may have heard that there's a new computer worm (virus) going around and that we've been encouraged to double-check our virus detection programs and make sure we have the latest virus definitions. It's a good thing to do anyway, so here is a review of steps you should take to make sure you're as thoroughly protected from viruses as possible. These directions are for Butler-issued computers but will be similar for other computers, depending on what virus protection software you have.

(Note: Information Resources has an excellent page with lots of information and directions, including how students can download Symantec AntiVirus from My.Butler.)

There are two primary tasks you need to do. One is keeping your virus definitions current (so the computer knows what to look for), and the other is actually scanning the computer's hard drive.

To update your virus definitions: Run your Symantec Anti-Virus program (Start--Programs--Symantec Client Security--Symantec AntiVirus Client). Click the LiveUpdate button to get the updates right now. To schedule regular updating (highly recommended), click File--Schedule Updates. Check the box to enable automatic updates and select a time that your computer will be on and logged in.

To scan for viruses: Run your Symantec Anti-Virus program (Start--Programs--Symantec Client Security--Symantec AntiVirus Client). Click Scan Computer, check the box next to "C: Local Disk" and click the Scan button to scan right now. To schedule regular scanning (highly recommended), click Scheduled Scans, then New Scheduled Scan. Click Next, then set a time and frequency (daily is best, but weekly is okay) that you'll be logged onto the computer, but preferably when you'll be away from it. Lunchtime is good, or if you have a regular class or meeting. Click Next and check the box next to "C: Local Disk" and then click the Save button. You're all set!

(By the way, if you haven't seen that Windows Update icon in a while, you can visit Microsoft's Update site at: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ (make sure you're using Internet Explorer for this) or visit the I.R. page (linked above) to make sure you've got the latest of everything.)
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