University Library Blogs

UPDATE: The GIL Express suspension has been postponed. GIL Express services will now continue through the fall semester.

The Library recently purchased access to the Historical Atlanta Constitution from ProQuest.  From the publisher:

ProQuest Historical Newspapers–The Atlanta Constitution, historically known as “The Voice of the New South”, is a unique full-image archive offering complete coverage from 1868-1939.

As part of the ProQuest Historical Newspapers program, every issue of this title includes the complete paper –cover to cover - with full-page and article images in downloadable PDF. And the database just keeps growing, with an additional year of content added annually.

The Historical Atlanta Constitution, a leader in shaping Southern opinion on regional and national issues, gives researchers quick, accurate Web access including:

• Complete coverage from 1868-1939
• First-hand accounts of the Reconstruction period and the Post-war South
• Valuable content on the development of modern Southern life
• Writings of Joel Chandler Harris, author of the classic folktale “Uncle Remus”
• Display and classified ads
• Comics and cartoons

This product can be accessed via the Library’s list of electronic resources and databases.

UPDATE: The GIL Express suspension has been postponed. Service will now continue through the fall semester.

The recent decline in state tax revenues has forced the University System of Georgia (USG) to implement budget cuts for the current fiscal year, including the suspension of GIL Express On-Line Requesting and Delivery Service effective October 1, 2008.  This will allow libraries to continue to provide most GALILEO electronic resources for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Georgia State faculty, students and staff can still check out books from any USG library with a current and valid institution issued-picture ID by visiting any of the other 34 USG libraries.

For additional information, including suggestions for how to obtain books not owned by the University Library, please go to: http://www.library.gsu.edu/gilexpress

For questions about GIL Express, please contact the University Library Access & Media Services Department at 404-413-2820 or libcirc@langate.gsu.edu

According to a University of Michigan press release, the university library is the first academic library to install the Espresso Book Machine. The machine “produces perfect-bound, high-quality paperback books on demand” and has been called “the ATM of books.”

Read the full press release.

(originally posted by Bernie Sloan to the COLLIB Listserv)

The Division of Information Systems and Technology (IS&T) is pleased to announce that PantherMail, a new student e-mail system, will launch on October 2, 2008 for all Georgia State University students. After October 1, all official student e-mail correspondence and broadcast messages will be delivered to the new PantherMail accounts.

With PantherMail, students will keep the same student e-mail address they currently use and enjoy a variety of unique features and benefits.

PantherMail, powered by Microsoft’s Live@edu through Microsoft Exchange Labs, offers:

- 10GB of e-mail space, 20MB attachments

- 5GB of online storage space with Windows Live SkyDrive

- Document sharing through Office Live Workspace

- Spaces to create blogs, share photos and more

- Instant Messaging

This ECAR research bulletin provides a context for the current state of academic libraries and the issues they face in a Web 2.0 world. The literature suggests that library services in higher education will continue to be crucial to the core processes of learning, teaching, and research as long key library structures, processes, services, and staff roles evolve to accommodate the epochal changes occurring in publishing and communications.

You need to unzip the EndNote installation package before you run the installation file, otherwise you will be asked for a product key. When you download EndNote, it comes in a zipped package (endnoteX2win.zip). Simply right click on the package, select the “extract all” option and follow the prompts. This will create a new folder called endnoteX2win. Inside the folder will be an installation file (ENX2Inst.msi) and a license file. Run the installation file from the new folder to avoid being prompted for the product key.

Due to an incompatibility with the graphics card in some Dell computers, Second Life only works on the GX 520 models.  These are the 70 computers located on Library North 1.  There is an effort underway to find a solution, but in the meantime please refer patrons to those computers.

Google has recently launched Google Chrome. This new browser is still in (very) beta mode, but is intended to integrate all your computer activities (including word processing) into one browser.

Read about it in comic book form, here.

The library had offered access to the Child Abuse, Child Welfare and Adoption Database, but that product is being discontinued.  In its place, we have added a link to the Child Welfare Information Gateway.  From the announcement from NISC:

The two clearinghouses that compiled the data for the Child Abuse, Child Welfare & Adoption Database, National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse were consolidated into the Child Welfare Information Gateway. The Child Welfare Information Gateway is managed by ICF International and is a service of the Children’s Bureau within the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services.  The Gateway provides access to resources including print and electronic publications, websites, databases and more covering topics related to child safety, welfare and adoption.