The OPAC at the NJIT Library was upgraded today

Some of the new features are:

1) New look and feel for WebVoyage - the new interface includes user-focused search screens, improved navigation and labeling, and a re-designed Quick Search option.

2) Redesigned titles summary list display - new features include citation-style catalog entries, alternating background colors for items on the display, a "filter your search" box on the title summary display, new positioning for the print/save/export actions, and a reorganization of the "Edit Search", "Save Search", jump bar, and sort menu options.

3) Redesigned record display layout in the OPAC - the new WebVoyage provides updated bibliographic displays that include easily-understood labels and the most-commonly-used fields. A new feature, the "Action Box", is prominently displayed on the page to encourage users to place requests, download and print the record, and access additional information about the title. A jump bar located above the Action Box provides easy navigation within the record set and to the research results.

4) Google Book Search link - this feature was implemented in the previous software version (6.5.3). Library patrons can enhance their findings with Google Book Search features such as full text, book previews, cover jacket thumbnails, and a mashup from Google Maps linking pages in a book describing a specific place to its location on the world map. Users will see this link automatically when the title is available at Google Book Search.

5) New "Exit" actions in WebVoyage - A configurable countdown timer have been added that gives the users an alert before the session ends. Upon timing out, WebVoyage will refresh to a new start page, ready for another user to begin a new search in the catalog.

6) Redesigned patron information display in the OPAC - patrons will be able to view a summary of their account transactions with hyperlinks to the relevant sections of the display, and see additional addresses and telephone numbers the library has on record. These changes will provide patrons with an easier-to-use "My Account" display and offer them a more complete picture of their transactions and account information.

7) Printing, emailing or saving OPAC records - The print, save and email options in WebVoyage will be enhanced to add a "Select All" option, make the "Retain Selected" option automatically retain records when moving to a new page, allow emails to be sent to multiple addresses, and permit the users to enter comments to be sent with the email.

8) OPAC accessibility - The redesign closely following section 508 and W3C web accessibility guidelines; WebVoyage includes advanced markup and use of tagging to provide better navigation for patrons using assistive technology. Specific attention has been give to providing "alt" tags for all images and non-text elements, using CSS to govern display, limiting the use of tables, minimizing repetitive content where possible, and adding descriptive text to hidden data elements resulting in a better interface for library patrons.

9) Support for Firefox Web Browser - WebVoyage is supported on the Firefox web browser.

Information Literacy in biomedical engineering has always been a challenge

Biomedical engineering as a profession as well as the department at NJIT has grown by leaps and bounds over the years. At one time it was a program within the Electrical Engineering Department. To date, I was only allowed to give a 15 minute library lecture in FED 101 (Fundamentals of Engineering Design). I do feel that it is too early to introduce subject specific journals and databases so early in the curriculum. Students need a solid foundation in their major before they can understand the technical literature. I had a short conversation with a professor in that department where the following courses were suggested for a library lecture:

• BME 301 - Electrical Fundamentals of Biomedical Engineering
• BME 303 - Biological and Chemical Foundations of Biomedical Engineering

Unfortuately the chairman of the department was not available today for a consultation on this issue.

Finally beginning to plan a meeting of Upstate and Downstate New York Science Librarians

My librarian colleagues and readers of this blog know that I am the convener of the METRO Science Librarians SIG . For several years I have been aware of the Upstate New York Science Librarians Group which meets once a year. I have had some preliminary e-mail discussions with a few of their librarians about a joint meeting, but nothing ever materialized. Today I spoke with Heidi Webb, a student at Syracuse University, who is interested in helping me to organize such a meeting. We thought of January-February 2010 as a good time for such a meeting.

I am glad that I was finally able to break down some frontiers in the planning of this meeting.

Information Literacy in the Chemical Engineering Curriculum

For a number of years I have given 3 lectures in Chemical Engineering 396 described as the first course in chemical engineering capstone laboratory where experiments are conducted in the areas of fluid mechanics and heat transfer. Bench and pilot-scale equipment is used. I have given three lectures:

• Introduction to the Literature of Chemical Engineering
• Scifinder Scholar
• Scopus and other resources of interest

I agreed to combine the three lectures into one lasting for about 90 minutes. I asked the professor if there is any way of assessing the skills learned in that lecture. He said no since when the students write their laboratory reports they only need to cite their textbook and laboratory manual.

On the way to lunch I accidentally encountered the Chair of the Department. I suggested that I give a quiz at the end of the senior year which would see if the students know how to use the literature in their field as they reach graduation. The grade would not count in any course Likely I will have to make a proposal at a departmental meeting.

End of Summer Session II

Time sure passes quickly. Today is August 6 which marks the end of Summer Session II at NJIT. Like most colleges NJIT has two 5-week sessions. The Fall semester will begin early this year on August 31. Thus, the next 3 weeks are usually the slowest weeks of the year for the library. There will be some graduate students and faculty coming in to use the library. Entering students will come around to explore their new environment.

Attended a Metro Webinar on Keeping Up with Tech Trends

Today's technology makes it possible to attend a professional meeting at home or at one's workplace. Today I attended a webinar offered by METRO about keeping up with trends in technology. We all have a comfort zone and it is often difficult for us (especially older people like myself) to try new technologies when the old ones still work.

The following sites were recommended for following general technology trends:

• New York Times Technology Section
• Read Write Web
• Wired Magazine
• Life Hacker
• CNET
• Slashdot

The following sites were recommended to follow library related trends:

• Lita Blog
• Planet Code 4 Lib
• Stephen's Lighthouse
• Tame the Web
• Shifted Librarian
• Digital Reference (Stephen Francoeur0
• Blyberg.net
• Tech metro

Narrated another Powerpoint Today

Over this summer I created a Powerpoint presentation on finding information in the environmental sciences. I showed how to find a book on climate change and articles on the relationship between climate change and air pollution using Academic Search Premier, Scopus, and Lexis-Nexis. Today I went over to Media and Instructional Services and narrated it using Camtasia. Hopefully the students in this course will find it useful.