[11981] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
(long) Nova desks, Electronic Resources Center
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Julie Castelluzzo)
Tue Feb 3 21:09:44 1998
Date: Tue, 03 Feb 1998 12:29:43 -0600
From: Julie Castelluzzo <juliec@cooper.edu>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-To: Julie Castelluzzo <juliec@cooper.edu>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Greetings to everyone on PACS-L.
In December, we opened an Electronic Resources Center in our library, with
20 end-user computers in desks designed by Nova Solutions. Before
recommending the Nova furniture, I solicited comments on PACS-L from
people who had experience with similar desks. Some of you have asked me to
report on how things are going now that we're up and running, so here it
goes...
FYI: The Nova desks have the computer monitor mounted below the work
surface, and the user views the screen through a glass viewport. There is
an adjustable sliding drawer to hold the keyboard and mouse.
The main reason I recommended this type of furniture was that we needed to
use the room as both an electronic resources center, and as a facility for
library instruction. Instruction is much easier when you don't have a big
computer screen in between you and the people you're talking to.
The computers are Dell Dimension MMX Pentium 233s, with Mitsubishi Diamond
Pro 76TXM monitors (16 inch viewable). The client software is Windows 95,
with Fortres 101 for security. Our LAN OS is Novell Netware 4.10 with SCSI
Express for CD-ROM networking. We also have a direct Internet connection,
through our college's computer center facilities.
So far, we're offering unrestricted web access using Netscape Navigator
4.04, telnet using NetTerm, Web-based databases such as FirstSearch and
CompendexWeb, and a few networked CD-ROM databases, such as the New York
Times. 4 WilsonDisc databases (DOS version) should be up and running by
the end of this week. Users do not have to log in to use the Web or
CD-ROMs.
In January, we began actively promoting the new Center, with email to all
user accounts at the college, and flyers in all student mailboxes. We're
not keeping an exact count of how many people come in, but there seem to
be more coming every day.
The overwhelming response to the facilities is very positive. The students
love the new desks, which give them room to spread out their papers while
doing a computer search. Those who remember the room as it used to be
(study carrels with partitions between each person) think this is a
major improvement. When the room had just study carrels, it was very
underutilized.
The only people who find the desks uncomfortable are the very tall,
because their knees hit the assembly under the desk. That problem will be
remedied when we convert our older networked computers to the same
software setup, which should be done by the end of this semester. The
older computers are located near the Information Desk on the ground floor
of the library, and are on more traditional counters with pull-out
keyboards. This will also solve any accessibility problems for people who
may not want to climb the stairs to the new center. (The new room is on
our mezzanine level, which can only be reached by climbing about 20
stairs.)
Because we cannot have a staff member in the center on a regular basis,
these computers must be as low maintenance as possible. (Call me a :)
"network nazi.") I have put some icons on the screen with text help files
for common tasks such as printing and using the telnet app. Once we get a
computer near the Information Desk set up with the same software, it will
also be easier to help the users, since we can demonstrate things without
leaving the Info. Desk area.
So far, I've done just one library instruction session. We have a lectern
(also from Nova) with a computer mounted inside, 3M Overhead projector,
and an LCD panel. Everything went smoothly, and both professor and
students were pleased. At this point, we are not scheduling library
instruction sessions unless they are requested by a professor for a
specific class. Next year, who knows? I've already been approached by
people who would love us to do an "intro to the Internet" type of
session. Currently, our Computer Center does not offer such classes, and I
see a potential for the library to fill that gap. Also, I believe we're
getting a lot of patrons who want to use the Internet, but are a bit
intimidated by the Computer Centers in other departments at the college.
I know this is long-winded, but I wanted to get out a report on our
progress, since I know some of you are interested. If you have more
questions, please feel free to contact me directly. Thanks to everyone on
this list for all the valuable tips and advice!
Julie
Julie Castelluzzo juliec@cooper.edu
Electronic Services Librarian
The Cooper Union Library www.cooper.edu/facilities/library/library.html
