News

With the closing of the Education Building and the formation of MERIT (Media, Education Resources and Information Technology), the School of Education IT Help Desk has relocated. The talented IT Help Desk staff now share the same space as the MERIT Library computer lab help desk. We are working on integrating the staff of both areas so that we can extend IT Help desk hours. To recap, the IT Help desk is now in the open computer lab area of MERIT Library (3rd floor Teacher Ed Bldg - formerly the CIMC). Their phone number remains the same: 608-265-4773. We encourage you to come by and visit!

Posted by Anna Lewis on February 1, 2009

Need some help figuring out Office 2007? Or maybe just an ear to vent your frustration - where the heck IS that button!? Come by MERIT Library for a couple drop-in workshops that will get you started off on the right foot with Microssoft's revamp of Word and PowerPoint.

Word 2007
Wednesday, Feb 25, 11:00am-noon , TEB Windows Lab, 348
This workshop covers the basics of Word 2007 and how to navigate Microsoft's new interface. Get tips on how to create a document with formatted text and paragraphs, styles, breaks, text alignment and more.

PowerPoint 2007
Tuesday, March 24, 10:00-11:00am, TEB Windows Lab, 348
Have a presentation coming up? Need to know how to use PowerPoint? This hands-on class teaches how to create and edit a presentation that will grab the audience's attention with the basics of Microsoft's new PowerPoint 2007. Learn how to navigate the new interface and how to use PowerPoint's basic features to create an effective visual aid for your presentation.

Can't make the workshops? Contact instructional staff for a one-on-one or special session with your group! Or check out MERIT's online software tutorials for some do-it-yourself guidance!

Posted by Cat Phan on February 1, 2009

Wacom Graphics Tablets

Looking for better precision in creating computer generated art or a better way to edit pictures in Photoshop? The MERIT library now has three circulating graphics tablets available. Graphics tablets use a pen and pad interface to control the computer, making it easy to capture handwriting or perform precise mouse functions. The pressure sensitive pens also give you nuanced control of the thickness or density of your brushstrokes.

New for presentations: Remotes and Longer Cables

Giving a presentation? Reserve a presentation remote and control your slides wirelessly. Just insert the USB receiver into any PC or Mac and seconds later you can advance slides, return to previous slides and even control the mouse remotely. It also has a built in laser pointer. Also, if you're giving a presentation in a large room we now have 25 ft. projector cables, which allow you to position your projector and computer further apart.

HD Projector

Want to take your projected images to the next level? Check out our HD Projector. It's heavier and larger than our other projectors but supports true HD output at 1920x1080 resolution and can project images that will look great at 100+ inches. The projector doesn't play sound, so you may want to check out a set of our new JBL Duet Computer Speakers. Or to get really loud, check out the PA System.

Posted by Matt Jabaily on February 1, 2009

The School's Academic Planning Council has selected MERIT (Media, Education Resources, and Information Technology) as the new name for the merger of the CIMC, IMDC, and SoE IT office. MERIT Services and staff are housed on the first, third, and fourth floors of the Teacher Education Building. MERIT will continue to provide the library, help desk, learning spaces, media development, technical support, instructional technology consulting, and infrastructure support formerly provided by the CIMC, IMDC, and SoE IT. Additional information about the reorganized unit including our new website will be announced later in the spring semester.

Jo Ann Carr
Director, MERIT

Posted by Jo Ann Carr on February 1, 2009

The administrative services unit has hired Ade Afolayan. Ade is a freshmen majoring in Business/ Marketing. At the circulation desk, five new students have been hired: Matt Anderson, an undergrad in International Studies, Katie Anstett-Dekker, a classics and classical humanities undergrad, Sam Boss, a grad student in SLIS, (who will also be working at Reference), Tara Pyles, an elementary education undergrad, and Hattie Strange, an undergraduate in Comparative Literature. The lab / IT desk hired two new staff members: Korab Krasniqi, an undergrad in Business, and Byron Sharer Robertson, a grad student and TA in ELPA.

Also of note is that Katie Helmeid and Melissa Patenaude have both been promoted to supervisors at circulation. Finally, Michelle Russo is now assisting Linda Endlich on graphic design projects.

We are excited about all of these changes and additions to our staff.

Posted by Anna Lewis on February 1, 2009

Animals in science and in fact

Animal Coloration: Activities on the Evolution of Concealment, by Robert Stebbins, David Ipsen, and Gretchen Gillfillan.
NSTA Press, 2008
LTy QL767 .S74 2008

A Horse in the House, and Other Strange But True Animal Stories, by Gail Ablow, illustrated by Kathy Osborn.
Candlewick Press, 2007
LTy QL791.A15 2007

Military Dogs, by Frances E. Ruffin.
Series: Dog heroes
Bearport Pub., 2007
LTy UH100 .R84 2007

Wolves, by Duncan Searl.
Series: Smart animals!
Bearport Pub., 2007
LTy QL737.C22 S428 2007

Race Horses, by Michael Sandler.
Series: Horse power
Bearport Pub. Co., 2007
LTy SF335.6 .S26 2007

Animals in the House: A History of Pets and People, by Sheila Keenan.
Scholastic Nonfiction, 2007
LTy SF416.2 .K434 2007

Real-Life Sea Monsters, by Judith Jango-Cohen, illustrated by Ryan Durney.
Millbrook Press, 2008
LTy QL89 .J37 2008

Animals in stories

Dog Diaries: Secret Writings of the WOOF Society, byBetsy Byars, Betsy Duffey, Laurie Myers ; illustrated by Erik Brooks.
H. Holt, 2007
Summary: At the first annual meeting of WOOF--Words of Our Friends--assorted dogs preserve their heritage by sharing tales of canines throughout history, including Abu, who ruled all of Egypt except for one pesky cat, and Zippy, who simply must find the squeaky toy.
LTy PZ3.B9836 Dog 2007

Puppy Power, by Judy Cox; illustrated by Steve Björkman.
Holiday House, 2008
Summary: Boisterous third-grader Fran has trouble controlling herself, but learning how to train her gigantic Newfoundland puppy helps her gain enough self-control to win the part of princess in the class play. Includes instructions on puppy training.
LTy PZ3.C8391 Pu 2008

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure, by Marfé Ferguson Delano; based on the giant-screen film written by Mose Richards.
National Geographic, 2007
Summary: A young female sea dolly is born in the shallow waters of a prehistoric Kansas Mesozoic-era lake and learns to survive after encountering a variety of predators and other underwater dinosaurs from that ancient time period.
LTy PZ3.D3736 Se 2007

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat, by Lynne Jonell; art by Jonathan Bean.
H. Holt, 2007
Summary: When Emmy discovers that she and her formerly loving parents are being drugged by their evil nanny with rodent potions that can change people in frightening ways, she and some new friends must try everything possible to return things to normal.
LTy PZ3.J675 Em 2007

How to Steal a Dog: A Novel, by Barbara O'Connor.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007
Summary: Living in the family car in their small North Carolina town after their father leaves them virtually penniless, Georgina, desperate to improve their situation and unwilling to accept her overworked mother's calls for patience, persuades her younger brother to help her in an elaborate scheme to get money by stealing a dog and then claiming the reward that the owners are bound to offer.
LTy PZ3.O217 How 2007

Posted by Vince Jenkins on February 1, 2009