Cornell University Library Instruction, Research, and Information Services

Bringing Individuals and Information Together

IRIS News & Notes
December 2002

Contents:

A Tale of Two Surveys:
Library Building Hours and Services Survey
IRIS Web Needs Assessment Survey
Red Rover Comes Over to Olin
Link to Policies on IRIS Web Site
Digital Imaging Web Site Honored
Staff Kudos
Counter-Thrust Statue in Olin/Kroch Alley

The Winter Solstice comes this month, signaling the longest night of the year. But did you know that on January 4th, the earth will reach its perihelion, the point nearest the sun in its orbit? Although it may not feel like it, on average, the sunlight at perihelion is about 7% more intense than it is in July (at aphelion). And, by mid-January, the days will become noticeably longer. It’s something I like to keep in mind as I leave Olin in the dark each day.

Here’s what’s new from the past month.

A Tale of Two Surveys

Library Building Hours and Services Survey
This month’s featured thumbnail image advertises a major survey of library users that is ongoing until the holiday break. The Convenient Business Hours Working Group is conducting this survey on library building hours and services to determine if there are adjustments or improvements that could maximize our available resources. An announcement of the survey was sent to 37,000 users in the patron file just before the Thanksgiving weekend. As of Tuesday, December 3, over 3,000 individuals had completed and returned the questionnaire. Of those responding, 10% are faculty, 24% are graduate students, and 48% are undergrads. The questionnaire is available online and is also being distributed in paper at some of the libraries. The survey will run through December 20th.

IRIS Web Needs Assessment Survey
A second survey is also underway. This one is IRIS-specific, and is designed to help us assess needs and determine priorities for Web site development, assistance, and training. Each unit within IRIS should complete the survey by December 13. The form is available online.

Red Rover Comes Over to Olin
Red Rover, Cornell’s wireless service, became available throughout the upper floors of Olin Library in November, including in the stacks, graduate carrels, faculty studies, and the west end reading/meeting rooms. The new service has already received rave reviews from several faculty and graduate students, including this note from Laura Free, the tenant of Locked Carrel 389L: “I just wanted to tell you how much easier my life is having wireless access in the carrel! It is just fantastic and the best thing to have happened to the library.” If you know of patrons who need help enabling wireless access on their laptops, IRIS Reference Services has made the following information available:

Wireless set-up for the Mac:
www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/wirelessmac.html
Wireless set-up for Windows:
www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/wirelesswindows.html

More information about Red Rover, is available on the Web site.

Link to Policies on IRIS Web Site
A major goal of the IRIS Cabinet this year is to codify policies and procedures that cut across various units. You’ll note that the first policy to make it on the IRIS Web site covers travel support for eligible academic and professional staff. In the coming months, additional policies governing a range of issues and processes will be added.

Digital Imaging Web Site Honored
Yahoo! en español has selected the Cornell library site, Tutorial de Digitalización de Imágenes as the best of the year 2002 in the category “Internet y computadoras.” The website, produced by the Department of Preservation, was the first online digital imaging tutorial to provided current and interactive content made freely available to a global audience. The English version was released in late 2000, and the Spanish version was launched in March 2001. By the end of this year, it will also be released in French, thanks to the support of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations through a contractual relationship with Mann Library. The number of daily tutorial users averages six hundred—in fact, more than half of all users are accessing the Spanish version. The tutorial recently was updated, with major revisions on topics such as storage and display technology and updated hardware recommendations. It also includes new information on scanning technology, image file formats, and compression schemes.

Staff Kudos
Sylvia Nyana and Sharon Parsons of the John Henrik Clarke Africana Library were the recipients of the 2002 Outstanding Performance Award. Their dedication and hard work enabled the Africana Library to maintain its excellent services during the 18-month search for a director. In addition to managing the facility, they maintained a solid relationship between CUL and the Africana Studies and Research Center.

Two IRIS staffers served on the CUL team that took top honors at this year’s adult spelling bee contest. Congratulations to the "CUL Spells COOL!" team, composed of Kimberly LaMorte (IRIS Admin), Kevin Lash (IRIS-Music) and Laura Linke (RMC) for winning the 4th Annual Adult Spelling Bee held at the Ithaca High School Gym this past month. This is the first time that a Cornell team has won this event. The bee was a fund-raiser for the IPEI Mini-Grant program, which supports innovative teaching in local public schools. This event raised over $10,000 for the program.

Counter-Thrust Statue in Olin/Kroch Alley
As always, I like to end these updates with an invitation for feedback. This month, please weigh in on the placement of the statue, “Counter-Thrust,” in the Olin/Kroch Alley just outside Rm. 106. We’re seeking opinions on that particular statue, its placement (it was just rotated 90° to present another view), and on whether the O/K Alley is a good place for three-dimensional objects. Judging from email already received, I’m sure others might have definite opinions on this topic! And, if there are other things on your mind, please let me know.

Thanks, Anne