Text and Academic Authors textbooks

The Text and Academic Authors took the text books (that used to be housed in the library) when they left the campus. Unless they found storage space, the books may have been discarded. They are in the phone book: 727-563-0020.

Landscape prints from Microsoft Visio

A student tonight wanted to print 3 landscape pages in Microsoft Visio. She selected landscape on the printer preferences but at the printer (B/W) it just gave her an error message (“please wait”). We discovered in the error message details that it kept saying that the paper tray selection didn’t match the job request. So we had to manually change out the printer tray and then it worked.

We did a test of printing landscape in MS Word and it works with no problem. So it must just be a problem for certain software. I don’t think anything should be changed – just an FYI.

Alumni cards & circulation

From circ:
There seems to be some confusion about Alumni cards and I just want to clear it up. We have worked out an agreement with Kathy Giglio from the alumni association.

The preferred circumstance is if the patron has the current alumni ID. If the patron does not have a current alumni card, we require a letter from the association on official letterhead stating that the person is a member in good standing. We do not accept receipts or receipts from the online form.

Also, we do not add an additional barcode to an outdated USF ID. If the patron does not have the current Alumi card, we issue a temporary SAPL card.

IF they decided to purchase a USF Courtesy card because they want to use the gym or the pool, then they also need the letter from the alumni assoc OR the current alumni card before we can enter the ID number in ALEPH. In that situation it’s a toss between the USF Courtesy ID or the alum card for library use. BUT, if the courtesy ID is expired in ALEPH they need the alum card and/or the note on official letterhead.

Additional input from AV services:
If they pay for an ID and bring the original alum card, they do not need a letter to receive an ID from our office. The official alum card will have an expiration date and therefore a letter would be redundant. If they do pay online or pay at the alum office then yes they need a letter to receive a card from US.

Clearing the cache at a horseshoe computer

Question:
Is there a way to clear the cache on a horseshoe computer—or does it supposedly do it when it shuts down at night? A student inadvertently told the computer to remember her login and password for myspace—then we couldn’t get it out. She was uncomfortable with just leaving it. When I tried to clear the cache it wouldn’t allow it. Is there a way that we can relieve folks mind about this kind of thing?

Answer:
If you turn the computer off and then on again, a new profile is brought from the server, and all old ones are deleted. Since the cache is a part of the profile, it is deleted. Christina has gone from machine to machine to confirm that this is working properly as well.

Wireless troubleshooting

The advanced troubleshooting guide (found on our wireless page at http://www.nelson.usf.edu/systems/wireless.html ) has been amended to also cover the contingency of someone who has had a static IP address configured on their laptop. It used to be that very few people were running wireless in their homes, so this issue was rare. Now that there is widespread wireless use in the home, students may need to alter their default settings in order to use our wireless network, and then put the IP information back so that their laptop will work when they return home.

Step 4 in the guide outlines this process, so that if they cannot reach our wireless network and their IP address is static they can alter it temporarily to use our network.

Adobe reader email function

Question: Is it possible to change Adobe Reader (on the student computers) to automatically allow email?

Response: The Adobe email function requires that the person using the machine have it set up with their *personal* email information so that it can send the message. In a public environment, this is not possible. The machines are set up with a generic profile, with all of the settings locked down so that email cannot be personally configured. If it were otherwise, one person could then send email as another which would lead to chaos and lawsuits.

I fight with this concept continually, as large companies assume correctly that 95% of computers are set up properly for individual use- and they cater to this configuration. They rarely allow these confusing options to be disabled or removed for public use computing.

Running textbook CDROMs or other external software products

Question: A CD-ROM text/product for a Chemistry class (“Bridging to the Lab”) does not work on our PCs. (When you click on the .exe file, it comes up with an error message about the shortcut being moved). I tried but then explained to the 2 students that we don’t support outside software/applications/products, etc. and suggested the computing center. Is this correct? (The one student said that at her home it just opens automatically in flash).


Response: We have had problems with students trying to install software, and we do not allow it in an uncontrolled manner as running rogue EXE files can introduce viruses and cause multiple problems. Let them know that to install the software on our machines would likely be against their software license for their book. Even if it is flash based, likely it has to install support files onto our computers.

The campus computing labs have a relationship with and support the faculty so that software packages that are properly licensed and are properly licensed for installation on the machines. We do not have the staff for this type of effort, nor is it our role. We try to meet about 80% of what users need with general applications, with emphasis on library support applications.