iPads at Langsdale

In the most recent update of the Pew Research Center Internet Project, survey results indicate the percentage of American adults who own a tablet computer has grown from 3% to 35% in just three years. An almost equal percentage of men (34%)  and women (36%) own those devices, and adults with higher levels of education (college and beyond) are much more likely to own a tablet computer than those with lesser levels of education.

Here at Langsdale, we’ve been loaning iPads since the beginning of the fall 2013 semester. It’s a bare bones approach: no apps have been pre-installed and the loan period is 14 days with renewals allowed. Preliminary survey results indicate our users are very satisfied with their experience using these borrowed tablet computers, though 50% of respondents prefer an initial loan period longer than 14 days. 83% of respondents do not want apps pre-installed.

Do you own a tablet computer? What has been your experience with the device? If you’d like to borrow an iPad or iPad mini, stop by the circulation desk at Langsdale. Then let us know about your experience.

Welcome Back, Scholar

Welcome back to UB! Amidst all this back-to-school madness there is an oasis: Langsdale Library. We welcome your visit. We can assist you with research and help you find articles and books that you may need. Better yet, you can enjoy not only quiet study space (not to mention more communal and collaborative spaces, if you prefer), but upgraded facilities: fabulous and user-friendly KIC scanners on the first and second floor and a new laptop bar on the third floor, making charging your hardware easier than ever. We have DVDs you can check out for a seven-day loan period, a select number of textbooks on reserve for in-library use, and laptops available for a four-hour loan. New this year are iPads and iPad minis--you can check them out for 14 days so that you and your technology can stay on the move. All you need is your Bee Card to enjoy most of the benefits that Langsdale Library can give you. So if you haven’t gotten your ID yet, be sure to pick yours up today prior to stopping by the Library.

From the upcoming "Langsdale Link": RFID: What Does It Mean to Me?

from flicker via angermann

RFID is coming to the library. But what exactly does that mean? Radio frequency identification (RFID) systems use microchips and radio waves to send and receive data about objects that have been tagged. A useful analogy might be to think of RFID tags like high-tech barcodes.

In the world of retail, RFID has been used for quite some time to tag merchandise in stores and warehouses. Libraries are also experimenting with using this technology to manage their collections. RFID tags will be added to each item Langsdale owns, alongside classic types of library identification, like labels with call numbers.

What will this technology allow the library to do? According to Jeffrey Hutson, Langsdale’s associate director, “Our goal is to implement an RFID system for self-service, collection management, security, and more."

Self-checkout of books is one very noticeable benefit of RFID technology in the library. Unlike the awkward way traditional barcodes had to be scanned by holding items in a specific position under a beam of laser light, RFID chips transmit a signal that will help ensure the self-checkout of books will be quick and easy. Check-in of returned items will be equally easy.

By storing data about the lending status of books, RFID will enhance the library’s security measures, as well. When library materials pass in and out of Langsdale’s gates, the RFID tags have the capacity to store and communicate the lending status of items, as well as alert staff to any circulation issues.

RFID chips will also make managing the library’s collection more efficient and precise. Electronic inventorying has the potential to transform the process of “shelf reading,” or verifying the physical location of items in the stacks. Collection management will further benefit from the implementation of this technology. The computerized processes that librarians use to add and remove materials from the library’s holdings will utilize RFID data to streamline processing.

Stranger than Fiction

(and that can be a good thing)

Some unusual libraries I found while wandering around the internet:

(Via: Gizmodo)

Via: The Little Free Library

Welcome back!

Welcome back! Today marks the beginning of the new semester, and while recent arctic temperatures are forcing us to pull out our long underwear and thick coats as we go into the Spring semester, there are new and interesting happenings here at Langsdale. First up: Cupcakes! As always, the library will be giving away free cupcakes to celebrate the new semester. We’ll be giving away cupcakes on Wednesday, January 30, 3-4pm.

And while you’re getting a cupcake, take a look at the brand new study area on the 3^rd floor. During the Fall semester and the Winter Break, we worked hard on moving books and furniture to expand usable student space in the stacks. While we still have some work to do, we encourage you to check out the new study area and feel free to spread out and get your work done in a comfortable, quiet environment.

Don’t forget to stop by the Circulation desk before you leave. Your library account should have been automatically renewed as long as you are currently enrolled as a student, but you may have books still checked out on your account. Renew your books at the Circulation desk, over the phone, or even online, and start the Spring semester fresh. J

Need to put the "work" into your work-study award? Buzz into our hive.

If you’re a busy bee during the school year who metamorphoses into a worker bee on occasion, ideally you should find a gig that will not only line your pockets, but will enhance your academic life. UB students with a work-study award as part of their financial aid package should consider applying to Langsdale Library. We have openings in our Circulation and Access Services departments, and we’re recruiting now for fall semester.

The best thing about working at Langsdale, according to work-study students past and present, is that it’s a fun place to be, and it’s a job that’s conducive to learning. Lisa Ferguson (’13) says that being able to interact with a diverse range of people is one of her favorite things about working at the circulation desk.

“You get to work with people, and you see how the library works from a patron standpoint and a work standpoint. You interact with patrons, with Langsdale staff, with [Langsale director] Lucy—it really enriches your professionalism,” Lisa explains. “A lot of jobs, you don’t necessarily get to talk to the head of the departments, or the director… Here, staff is very accessible, to me, to patrons, and everybody else.”

Both Lisa and former work-study student (and current Langsdale Administrative Assistant) Adam Shutz ('11) are wowed by having near-constant access to DVDs, leisure reading, research materials, magazines and newspapers.

“I love having every book at my disposal, all day, every day,” Adam enthuses.

Langsdale Circulation staff will provide on-the-job training, and you’ll learn valuable skills that will help you better navigate the library and access crucial academic resources. Another perk of working at Langsdale is that scheduling is flexible, so you can set times to work that will help you balance your busy life as a student.

Interested? Please have a cover letter, resume, and a copy your work-study award ready, and submit them through the UB Works website. If you have any questions, please contact Circulation Supervisor Tammy Taylor at ttaylor@ubalt.edu, .

Need help researching for end of the year papers?

Albert Einstein
akg-images / Universal Images Group

Spring Break has come and gone. The countdown of the last 6 weeks begins now. It’s time to begin thinking about those final papers and projects that will be due soon. Research is usually an enormous portion of final papers and projects. Langsdale has resources to make things just a little bit easier for you. I will start with my personal favorite:

Databases: Need credible sources and reliable information? Langsdale’s databases are the best place to start. There are databases for every subject and major. You will be sure to get useful information

LibGuides: LibGuides is a research assistance tool, with subject guides and useful resources compiled by your friendly librarians. Find out what they know by searching through the LibGuides!

Easybib citation help: It’s a simple way to create citations. Citing properly is not always an easy task when you aren’t familiar with the format. Easybib allows you to copy and paste a website, book, Newspaper, Journal, or database. After you gather the information it correctly creates a citation which you can then print or turn into a Word document. This saves you time and ensures that you’re citing your sources accurately (though remember, it is always a good idea to double check the formatting just to make sure that everything is in its right place).

And of course we have a huge selection of books and ebooks to help you with any project.

You can always ask a librarian for help! There are several ways to get in touch with library staff, such as chat, telephone, e-mail, or just stop by.


As you can see we’re here to make these last few weeks stress free!

And as a side note to graduate students, remember you can submit your theses and dissertations to Special Collections and have them bound at a low cost.

Mini Breaks

The Granger Collection / Universal Images Group

There are moments every semester when I need a mini break. A moment in which I don't think of papers, studying, assignments, test, quizzes, midterms, finals, or grades. Matter of fact, I like to pretend that I already have my degree and that I am so rich I don't have to work. In these moments I like to watch a movie or read a book that I've wanted to indulge in but haven't had the time.

Langsdale lets me unfold into my make-believe fantasy every other week by providing an array of DVDs and a special place for leisure reading. Not to mention, it’s super easy to go online ahead of time to see what movies and books are available.

Join me in my mini break!

Extended Due Dates + Ten-DVD Checkout Bonus = A Renewed Purpose in Life

“It's so weird having no real obligations or deadlines. Yesterday I was almost completely unproductive. Not sure if I liked it.” - Rachel Wooley, Class of 2013, via Facebook

Have the dearth of lectures to listen to, term papers to write and final exams to study for left you with the mid-to-late December blues? Do you feel as uneasy and directionless as Ms. Wooley? Langsdale Circulation has the cure for what ails you: From today (December 15th) until 6 p.m. on December 21st, you can check out TEN DVDs* from our collection, and keep them until—wait for it—January 4th, 2012! Not only will watching 10 movies give you a raison d'être this holiday season, but the January 4th deadline will help keep your cat-like state of academic responsiveness in check. Also, becoming reacquainted with leisure-time activities will make you an interesting and sought-after conversationalist at your upcoming holiday gatherings. Why let hot new titles like Bridesmaids, Crazy Stupid Love, Insidious, and Horrible Bosses gather dust on the shelves over winter break? Stop by Langsdale Library and check out ten DVDs today!

*Ten DVDs= 10 discs, not 10 titles. If you check out, say, Season 4 of The Wire, the 5 discs that are in the set will count against your 10-DVD total.

When you're finished with books you've browsed...

Have you ever been shopping, brought stuff with you to the dressing room, and were unsure of what to do with the merchandise after you’d finished trying it on? Some folks opt to put clothing back on the rack where they originally found it; others hang the contents of their reject pile on the return rack for salespeople to deal with later. Here at Langsdale, we don’t want you to have to play the guessing game. If you’ve pulled a book off the shelf, given it a once-over, and are finished with it, just drop it on one of the return carts located nearby. There is no need for you re-shelve it yourself—that’s what library staff is here for. Also, did you know that Langsdale keeps statistics on books that are perused in-house? We use the stats to determine patrons’ reading habits, which informs our future book purchases. Please help us keep our library tidy, and our statistics on your reading preferences current: just drop books, periodicals, and government documents in the return cart. Thanks!