Library News

Mobile Survey Results and Thanks!

Many thanks to all those who participated in our recent survey of mobile devices and what you’d like us to offer on a mobile platform.

Here’s what you told us you wanted:

Nucat (80.8%) Hours (75%) Renew my books (71%) Text message (53.8%) Journal articles (42.3%)

Among the suggestions that people wrote in, only one appeared more than once, and that was “reserve a group study room.”  There was only one duplicate among the suggestions: “Reserving a study room”–while there’s no online system for doing that, you can call, same day only, 617-373-8778.  

RESPONDENTS:

Altogether we had 52 respondents total.  Undergrad/grad students and library staff participated.  In my view, however, visitors to the library who are not familiar with NU might appreciate being able to get basic access, wireless and lost and found information on their mobile device.  

Most respondents who answered the question about devices are using the blackberry.  I was surprised not to see more i-phones listed, but a lot of people did not answer the question.  

I know it seems like a setup, but we ARE adding a text messaging service to our existing suite of options for contacting a librarian.  You’ll hear more about that if you read our blog this week! 

Finally here! The redesigned IEEE Xplore

A newly redesigned interface for IEEE Xplore is scheduled to arrive on Saturday, February 13. Major new features for the new Xplore are a brand new interface, a more robust search engine, improved search and more personalization.  E-mail alerts, RSS Feeds, the ability to set your preferences, save searches and much more.  Check out the new type ahead features and the search suggestions as well. There is further information about the new interface here including searching tip sheets. Also, check out the video! launch ieee xplore demo Also, start following IEEE Xplore on Twitter Feel free to send your feedback to Joan Omoruyi at j.omoruyi@neu.edu or call her at 617-373-2806.

Send a love poem for Valentine’s Day, read by outstanding actors!

If you’re as sick as I am of hearing about the Valentine’s Day roses on WBUR, the Times of London is offering something a little different: Choose from a selection of classic romantic poems, read aloud by what they call a “stellar cast” of actors, to be delivered via e-mail to your sweetie. If he or she loves the plummy tones of Alan Rickman or Patrick Stewart, or the elegance of Helen Mirren, then this could be the perfect gift. Best of all, it’s free! (My adoration of Judi Dench is no secret, so I think I’d choose her reading of “How Do I Love Thee” for myself…) The offer expired on February 14, but you can still listen to poetry at the Poetry Archive.

American History in Video Trial

Faculty, Staff and Students: NU Libraries has launched a trial of the video streaming collection, American History in Video until March 25th, 2010. The URL for the trial is: http://ahiv.alexanderstreet.com Visit this product’s help page for search tips and more informaton. American History in Video collection includes 2,000 hours of video and more than 5,000 titles. “The collection allows students and researchers to analyze historical events, and their presentation over time, through commercial and governmental newsreels, archival footage, public affairs footage, and important documentaries. This release provides videos from new partners Newsreel Films and Documentary Educational Resources, additional PBS and The History Channel titles, archival footage from NASA and NARA, additional Universal Newsreel, and much more.” Feel free to send your feedback to Debra Mandel at d.mandel@neu.edu or call her at 617-373-4902.

New LibX Browser Plugin version released today

A new version of our LibX browser extension, (version 1.5.6) (version 2, updated 5/13/2013) is available today!  If you’re already using LibX, you may be prompted to update the plugin sometime in the next few hours.  This version works in Firefox 3 and IE7 Firefox 20 and Chrome 26. LibX for the NU Libraries offers: • An optional search bar at the top of the browser window for NuCat, Nexpress, and WorldCat Local • Highlight any text  in a web page and drag it to the search bar (see video) • Right-click highlighted browser text and search in NuCat, Nexpress, WorldCat or Google Scholar (see video) • Click the embedded N in Amazon, WorldCat, Google, more, and search in NuCat or Tour (see video) • Right-click a web page or URL, including Google Scholar, and log in from home with Library/myNeu login (see video) • Click any isbn, issn, doi, or PMID on the web, and link to NuCat or full text (see video). This version is compatable with Firefox 3, and with IE 7 in XP and Windows (no Chrome version yet). The new version supports links to COINs, a standard for creating citations (see a video of how it works in Wikipedia) The plug-in helps save time, avoid frustration, and bring the library’s content to where you are on the web. Try it out! Download LibX for NU Libraries here