Local Knowledge

Knowing when to end an AskAway session can be tough sometimes. When AskAway is swamped, or the patron has been uncommunicative for awhile, or perhaps appears to be disconnecting from the session... How can we successfully close the session for the patron?

ProQuest has now added the option to embed custom widgets into their databases!

Already have an AskAway Qwidget in your EBSCO databases or library web pages? Why not check-out the new option in ProQuest to add a custom widget to all your standard-platform ProQuest databases like CBCA (the options to select individual databases or non-standard platforms like Chadwyck are not currently available).

You can re-use your already existing AskAway qwidget code OR create/update your AskAway qwidget code to embed in ProQuest.

Many ELN libraries use a Content Management System (CMS), such as IronPoint, to deliver their Institutional and Library web pages.

Colleagues:

Starting with this week, we are teaching approximately 1,800 engineering students in a number of big classes - Engineering Cases (APSC 150), Engineering Communication (APSC 176) and Technical Communication (APSC 201).

If you get those students coming to you, please help them by starting with our SciEng homepage - http://scieng.library.ubc.ca where you will see links to the appropriate course pages – APSC 150, APSC 201, APSC 176 and APSC 262.

From Kathy Gaynor at TRU:

We've opened a new branch and moved collections and services.    Due to delays in the renovations, much is still being put in place (ie. furniture, signage, etc...).  Our students may be a little overwhelmed by all of the changes that have taken place.  Please see the following information for a breakdown of what our users can expect to find:

http://www.tru.ca/library/news/2011/083111.html

The AskAway Shift Check-List has been updated with recommended web pages, a check-in list for QuestionPoint and Campfire logins and lots more tips to assist you with starting each shift!

Recently on AskAway patrons have often appeared to disconnect or disappear without warning. Sometimes this is due to internet outages, navigating away via Qwidget links, QuestionPoint server troubles or the patron finding the resources they need and forgetting to return.  The patron status indicator often turns to a red dot in these cases.

Just a heads up that the BCIT web site which includes the Library is undergoing a face-lift. As of Saturday it will look substantially different. None of the actual content has changed, however, just the look of the main page and the navigation.

Since we see a high volume of SFU students on AskAway, here is some information about writing, learning, research, tech support, ESL and graduate student resources available to SFU students through the SFU Learning Commons:
Writing and Learning Support:

Did you know: journals are "in-library use only" at some institutions? Here is a list of institutions and their journal lending periods:
In-library use only:
BCIT
CAP - most periodicals except some graphic arts ones
CNC - except for employees
DC
ECIAD
MUC
NIC - exceptions may be permitted for faculty upon request
NWCC
OC
SFU - with exceptions under special circumstances
TRU - students
TWU
UBC - except Math, Law, and Asian Library journals
UNBC
UVic