Subject: LTS Disgest November 20, 2002 Issue
From: Helen Zuercher (hlz2@Lehigh.EDU)
Date: Wed Nov 20 2002 - 13:56:31 EST
LTS DIGEST -November 20, 2002 Lehigh Univ. Library and Technology Services
CONTENTS:
--COMPUTING AND LIBRARIES WEB PAGES UPDATED
--DATABASE FINDER
--NETSCAPE VERSION 7
--PASSWORD EXPIRATION AND THE VANISHING WEB PAGE
--SEMESTER BREAK READING
--SCITEC PHONE UPDATE
--LIBRARIES AND MEDIA CENTER THANKSGIVING BREAK HOURS
--FINAL EXAMS HOURS
Subscription, archive and contact information is at the bottom of this
digest.
COMPUTING AND LIBRARIES WEB PAGES UPDATED
On Halloween, the first phase of a massive update to the Library and
Technology Services website was completed. The pages sport a new look,
and reflect the name change from Information Resources (IR) to Library
and Technology Services (LTS). Users browsing through links from the
main page (www.lehigh.edu/lts) should easily find most of the pages they
are accustomed to, but a few of the pages now have new URLs. Users
should check their bookmarks, and update any links to LTS pages that
they may have on pages of their own. There may be additional changes as
work on the site progresses.
We appreciate your patience--if any link seems broken, let us know at
lts.web@lehigh.edu and we'll fix it as soon as we can.
DATABASE FINDER
The Database Finder will soon make its debut on the University Libraries
home page <http://www.lehigh.edu/library> The Finder is designed to
present the libraries' 80+ subscription databases in ways useful to
students and faculty. The finder generates A to Z lists of the databases
by name of database, broad topic areas and full-text availability. The
finder also presents newly acquired databases and a group of "getting
started" databases, geared to undergraduates in particular. For a
preview period it will be linked from the current Databases
<http://www.lehigh.edu/library/databases/main.html> page and then, will
replace that page.
The Database Finder includes metadata for each resource: a short
description of the database, connection URL, dates and kinds of
publications covered, the number of simultaneous users, and links to
online help and to source publication lists. Also included are links to
online tutorials if available. For example, the "more information" page
<http://access.lib.lehigh.edu/dbofdb/dbfull.asp?DBID=91> for Factiva
(the DowJonesNews replacement) includes a link to 10-minute online
multimedia briefings on how to use Factiva.
Each "more information" page is a durable link, too, which means that
faculty and librarians can add that link to course web pages. The link
will "persist." For example, a faculty member has assigned her students
to read articles about public education from the minority press. A link
to the "more information" page on EthnicNewswatch, easily added to a
syllabus online, provides the students the path to that full-text
database where perspectives from the ethnic, minority and native press
are accessible from over 230 publications. Also included is an email
link to the librarian who is the primary support contact. "Ask a
Librarian," L&TS' real-time online reference service, is also linked
from the Database Finder.
NETSCAPE VERSION 7
When classes started this fall, the most recent version of Netscape,
version 7, was only available in a beta (i.e., pre-release) version. A
Netscape derivative called Mozilla was installed to provide an interim
solution. The Mozilla mail client became the default mail package at the
public sites.
With the general release of Netscape 7, plans are now under way to make
this new version available at the public sites. From a practical
standpoint, there is little difference between Netscape 7 and Mozilla.
Netscape 7 is based on a version of Mozilla, and the menus and functions
are essentially the same. Watch for an LTS general announcement of the
date of the migration from Mozilla to Netscape 7. For those who wish to
use a Web-based mail client, IMP will continue to be available.
Questions can be directed to your LTS computing consultant or to the
Help Desk at 8-4357.
PASSWORD EXPIRATION AND THE VANISHING WEB PAGE
Starting this semester, all computing accounts will need to have their
passwords changed on a regular basis (at least every six months). You
have probably already received warning messages in your e-mail and been
forced to change your password for your personal account. What some
people may not have realized is that departmental or special accounts,
such as those used for class, club, and organization web pages, also
need to have their passwords changed. If the password to an account
expires, attempts to view web pages hosted by that account will result
in a 403 "Permission Denied" error message--the pages will seem to have
vanished. As soon as the password is changed, normal access is
automatically restored.
Warning messages about password expiration are sent to these accounts as
well (not to the owners, but to the accounts themselves, such as
inadept@lehigh.edu). If you do not regularly check the mail in a
departmental ("in-") account for which you are responsible, you should
go to the account maintenance web page (www.lehigh.edu/account), log in
using the departmental account's userid and password, and forward that
account's mail to your personal account so that you see any warning
messages that may be sent.
SEMESTER BREAK READING
"On the Same Page Lehigh" is an opportunity for the entire Lehigh
community to read the same one or two books and discuss them together.
Similar programs have taken place across the country on many campuses
and in many communities. The semester break would be the ideal time to
read the first book, City of Light by Lauren Belfer (Dial Press, 1999).
It was chosen because it is well written, accessible, and casts in
fascinating historical relief contemporary issues like the impact of
technology on society and vice-versa, gender and class relationships,
and individual integrity.
City of Light is now available in paperback at the Lehigh University
Bookstore and there are several copies in the libraries. This novel has
also been published in hardback, translation, audio book format, and
large print.
SCITEC PHONE UPDATE
In late October, LTS concluded a month-long test period for the latest
version of the Scitec (aka big red button) phone. The test indicated that:
* speakerphone performance was significantly improved;
* display contrast was improved;
* the switchhook/answer delay was eliminated;
* dropouts were eliminated.
Since this latest version of the phone has been thoroughly tested and
judged acceptable, Scitec will replace all its phones on campus. We are
now finalizing dates for the replacement effort; most likely it will
occur between December 9 and December 23. The installation teams will
focus first on academic buildings (where access may be compromised as
finals wind down) and then move into administrative areas.
In a related matter, we have been working steadily with Intecom to
resolve the on-again, off-again problem with the system card that
controls CallerID on the Scitec phones. The card's performance has been
greatly improved though is not yet perfect, so our efforts will continue.
LIBRARIES AND MEDIA CENTER THANKSGIVING BREAK HOURS
THANKSGIVING BREAK, NOVEMBER 27 TO DECEMBER 1
FAIRCHILD MARTINDALE AND LINDERMAN LIBRARIES
Wednesday, Nov. 27, 8 am to 10 pm
Thursday, Nov. 28, CLOSED
Friday, Nov. 29, 8 am to 5 pm
Saturday, Nov. 30, Noon to 5 pm
Sunday, Dec. 1, Noon to 2 am*
*Linderman Library closes at midnight
FAIRCHILD MARTINDALE MEDIA CENTER
Wednesday, Nov. 27, 8 am to 4:30 pm
Thursday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, December 1, CLOSED
FINAL EXAMS HOURS
DECEMBER 9 TO DECEMBER 18
FAIRCHILD MARTINDALE LIBRARY
Monday, December 9 through Tuesday, December 17, OPEN CONTINUOUSLY
Wednesday December 18, 12 am to 10 pm
LINDERMAN LIBRARY
Monday, December 9 through Tuesday, Dec. 17, 8 am to 2 am
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 8 am to 10 pm
********************************************************************
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