Tag Archives: information technology

Talking about technology

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Cynthia and her new Ipad.

I just got a tablet, an iPad mini. My laptop, a MacBook Air, was too heavy to lug around the campus. My job is a lot like being a student (except that I don’t have exams). Every week I have to read documents and articles and write reports and communications. I also have to go to meetings all across the campus and thus opted to carry my laptop in lieu of paper.  Lately I have concluded paper would be lighter. The intent is that the iPad/tablet will be used every week to read my documents and hopefully to write small reports. Ideally it will be useful for many other things too.

One goal is relying less on printed materials while another is learning to enjoy the iPad’s many online options. I am addicted to paper books so thought I might embrace reading online by reading some graphic novels. My daughter loves reading online because as soon as she finishes a book she can acquire a new one over the web. I will report back in the fall how hooked to the tablet I have become. Meanwhile do you have any tips to get me started? I checked out Goodreads but the selection is too limited and I have read a lot of the titles in my favourite genres. So, now I have to learn how to remove an app.

Thanks for your feedback re: “Tell us what qualifies as “good” library IT” post

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Cynthia kayaking up northThank your for the thoughtful feedback on library IT. I was on vacation up North (see photo) with very poor internet connectivity. I will respond to your suggestions now that I am back. Some of your ideas require research on my behalf. For example, how much did the scanner in the map library cost versus the scanners in other areas?

I will respond to you all shortly, but in the meantime I wanted to thank you all for your wonderful suggestions.

Cynthia

 

Tell us what qualifies as “good” library IT?

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 By Cynthia Archer

Students in Steacie Library computer labThis week my question to you and the problem I am trying to tackle is more complex than last week’s topic. Four years ago in a survey, students tagged the quality of library computing as an issue that needed attention.  In response York University Libraries moved from a plan that replaced computers every five years to one that replaces them every three years in an attempt to make them faster. We also very modestly increased the number of computers available to students.  I was therefore totally surprised to see that in the same survey conducted last year student assessment on the quality of library information technology services was (slightly) lower than ever before. 

Students collaborating around a computerI would sincerely appreciate your feedback to understand what York University Libraries might do to improve our rating.  Some comments from students highlighted difficulty getting access to a library workstation which correlates with a similar complaint that many students cannot always find a place to sit and study in the library during the fall and winter terms.  Some people commented on the speed of printing.  Others talked about difficulties accessing library online journals when not using library workstations.  If we could try to correct one or two library IT issues in 2013/14, what would you suggest and why? 

Please feel free to leave your comments by clicking on the “chat bubble” at the top of this post. We want to know where we can improve.