UO Libraries Home Page

Library Lowdown


A Newsletter for UO Students from the UO Libraries


Welcome to Library Lowdown, the inside track about the UO Libraries for University of Oregon students. Library Lowdown keeps you informed of new and improved library services, resources, programs, and events that further the university's mission of teaching, research, and service.










Winter 2009

Table of Contents

  1. Knight Library Open around the Clock Sunday through Friday This Year
  2. Academic Advising Available Wed. Evenings in Knight Library
  3. Additional Computers Available for Student Use at Knight Library
  4. Library Offers Advanced Booking for Study Rooms
  5. Library Unveils New High-Quality Scanner
  6. Summit Catalog Users Will See Big Changes December 1
  7. UO Libraries Launches New Mobile Phone Home Page
  8. Library Offers Easy Chat Reference Service
  9. 10 Library IT Resources You Shouldn't Live Without
  10. Think Links

 

1. Knight Library Open around the Clock Sunday through Friday This Year

Thanks to funding from the Associated Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO), Knight Library will open at 11 a.m. on Sundays and remain open around the clock until the following Friday at 7 p.m. each week this academic year. Saturday hours run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, click here.

2. Academic Advising Available Wed. Evenings in Knight Library

Visit Room 147A in Knight Library on Wednesday nights between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. during any of the next five weeks and you can get some free, expert advice on your academic status and progress. The UO's Office of Academic Advising and the UO Libraries are teaming up once again to provide drop-in academic advising during winter term. To learn more, click here.


3. Additional Computers Available for Student Use at Knight Library

The computers in the Knight Library's Edmiston Classroom (room 144) are now available for student use when classes are not using the room. All computers in Edmiston Classroom are equipped with Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite applications, as well as other production software. More information about the Edmiston Classroom is available here.


4. Library Offers Advanced Booking for Study Rooms

The library offers a convenient online self-booking tool for 16 study rooms in Knight Library. The rooms can also be reserved in person by visiting the Checkout/Information Desk in Knight Library. More information is available here.


5. Library Unveils New High-Quality Scanner

The library has placed a new high-tech scanner in the copier area (Room 123) on the first floor of Knight Library. This new scanner allows you to scan in a variety of formats and e-mail the image files or save them to a USB drive. To learn more about the library's new scanner, click here.

6. Summit Catalog Users Will See Big Changes December 1

On December 1, major changes were implemented in the heavily used Summit catalog, which makes available to the UO community items from the combined holdings of 36 college and university libraries in Oregon and Washington. For more info, click here.


7. UO Libraries Launches New Mobile Phone Home Page

The UO Libraries is pleased to announce a new home page designed for mobile phone users. Visit http://libweb.uoregon.edu/mobile/ to check on library hours or view a list of library locations and contact information for library staff members, all in an easy-to-view format on your mobile phone. For more information, click here.

8. Library Offers Easy Chat Reference Service

The UO Libraries now has a fast and easy way to connect with librarians to ask reference questions. The library's Ask a Librarian web page at http://libweb.uoregon.edu/general/gethelp.html now uses chat software called Meebo that allows users to simply begin asking questions without downloading or installing any software. To learn more about the Meebo chat service, click here.


9. Ten Library IT Resources to Make Your Life Easier

UO students have access to many IT resources through the UO Libraries. Here is a small sampling.

I. UO Libraries Website

Your first and best stop for all your research and study needs. Here's where you'll find the best resources for any topic you're tackling.


II. The Learning Commons

Need a room where you can collaborate or study with other students? A place to practice group presentations? Access to high-powered multimedia software, scanners, and other technologies? The Learning Commons in Knight Library is your ticket to success.


III. Blackboard

If you haven't already encountered Blackboard in one of your classes, you soon will. It's the university's online course management system, brought to you by the UO Libraries.


IV. Summit Catalog

How does easy access to 28 million items housed at 34 university and college libraries in the Pacific Northwest sound? Summit gives you that and more. You can search Summit through the library's website.


V. Online Library Account

Using your online library account is as easy as checking your e-mail. Keep track of all things library with your personalized account.


VI. Instant Messaging Help

Get your reference question answered from your dorm, apartment, home, or even on the road. IM a reference librarian and stay put. (You can also get reference help by phone or e-mail.)


VII. Laptop Checkout

Get portable. Borrow a laptop from the UO Libraries. They're loaded with Microsoft Office and Adobe's Creative Suite, and configured for full Internet connectivity.


VIII. Undergraduate Research Awards

Turn your research skills into scholarship dollars. Enter the Undergraduate Research Awards competition.

IX. Library News RSS Feed

Get an RSS feed from the Library News web page, and you'll get immediate notification when a new library service or resource comes on line. You can access Library Lowdown, our electronic newsletter especially for students, from the News page, too.


X. Everything Else

We've only scratched the surface. You'll find hundreds of other useful services and resources by browsing the library's website or by talking to our friendly librarians.


10. Think Links

Your library has a number of services and resources designed to help you study and conduct research. Here are some useful links: