Wednesday, August 31, 2022

ART 344: Copying Logistics

Students from ART 344: Digital Darkroom will be borrowing guest printing cards over the next few weeks to make black and white photocopies at the machine across from the checkout desk. This assignment has a lot of moving parts, and this can be confusing to both desk workers and students. Each step of the assignment has been designed by the faculty member to emphasize specific pedagogical and student-learning goals, and requires coordination with the library. The instructor and I try to be clear in our instruction to students, but inevitably they may confidently approach the wrong service point for help, or misunderstand what they can expect from us (and when). I truly apologize for this, and I appreciate your understanding.

This blog post covers:
  • Why this is happening
  • What desk workers need to know
  • Who to contact if you have questions

Why is this happening?

ART 344: Digital Darkroom is a TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) Grant class, meaning the instructor was awarded money to reduce out-of-pocket class materials costs for students from the library. For ART 344, she elected to purchase cameras and lighting packs for checkout through the DMC, as well as allot money for photocopying. For this class, students need to make both black-and-white and color copies from books. Then, they make collages from their copies, both on 8.5x11 and 11x17 paper. Then, they create an 8-page zine from their collages. Each zine is laid out on an 11x17 sheet, with one side in color and one side in black and white, which gets photocopied again. In sum, there are multiple steps to this assignment that involve making copies, in both black and white and color, on both 8.5x11 and 11x17 paper. 

What desk workers need to know

During class time (3:00 pm to 5:50 pm, Monday and Wednesday), students will be working with their instructor in the reference room and around the library. The majority of their photocopying will happen during this class time. However, students will also need to work independently outside of class. To accomplish this, the students:
  • have access to guest printing cards, to use the black-and-white copier across from the checkout desk
  • will be given coins, for using the color-enabled copier across from the checkout desk

ART 344: Digital Darkroom - Guest cards (the part that impacts you)

There are four guest printing cards that will be at the reference desk for use by students in ART 344: Digital Darkroom. Each card is on a sparkly lanyard (three short and white/silver sparkles, one longer with green rhinestones), with ART 344 written on one side in black sharpie. If a student asks about copying for an art class, please:
  • Confirm the student is in "ART 344" or "Digital Darkroom"
  • Exchange one of the guest printing cards in their drawer for their Spartan Card and keep their Spartan Card in the drawer (another photo ID can be used if the student does not have their Spartan Card)
When the student returns the guest printing card, please return their Spartan Card to them. If a student informs you that there is no remaining balance on one of the cards, they can use a different one; there is no limit to the amount of copying they are allowed to do. (Please put the spent card in my mailbox, MURPHY in the ROI office, and send me an email.) If a student comes to borrow a card and all the cards are all in use, let them know that they have classmates currently making copies and they can work with them in the copying area. 

ART 344: Digital Darkroom - Coins (just for your information)

Students will be given envelopes with coins during class. They are required to count the coins to ensure their envelope contains the correct amount, then sign a sheet confirming they have received the coins. Therefore, in a perfect world, no desk worker should be asked by a student for more coins beyond what they have been given. However, despite this set-up, they may ignore these instructions and ask at the desk if they run out of coins before finishing their project. If this happens, please tell them that they need to email their instructor, Kelley O'Brien, and me, Maggie Murphy, to let us know.

Art students from different classes w/ scanning, copying, or printing needs

Please note that there may be students taking art classes who have questions about scanning, copying, or printing that are not in this class; those students will need the same help any other student who wants to use these services will need. Because of this, please ask any student who identifies themselves as "an art student" or "taking an art class" if they are in "ART 344" or "Digital Darkroom" before assuming that their questions relate to this assignment. Please also keep in mind that questions about printing may refer to the RISO or large-format printing services in the Digital Media Commons. However, if any students taking classes in the School of Art have library-related questions and you are unsure of the best way to help them, please feel free to refer them to me! 

Who to contact with questions

For any questions about this, please email me, Maggie Murphy, at mmurphy@uncg.edu. Again, I realize that this assignment has a lot of moving parts, and I really appreciate your understanding. You are awesome! Thanks for your help!


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