Playing DVDs on Windows 10

If patrons want to view DVDs on the computers here in the library or on the laptops they rent from the Checkout desk, they will need a special USB drive to insert which will presumably install whatever drivers, etc. are necessary for viewing.

I am told that Access Services is making patrons aware of this when they checkout Reserve materials, but not necessarily when they borrow laptops. Nevertheless, if a patron approaches you with an issue viewing DVDs on machines here in the library or chats you about trouble on a laptop from off-campus, this may be the issue. The special USB drives need to be checked out with a student ID like any other technology and they are a 4-hour loan.

Everything is just fine, fine, fine

Just a few notes from Jackie Gaither about library fines because they have changed a little.

Student fines go over to the Cashier's Office the next business day after they are incurred. Staff and others (non university patrons: FOLs, other colleges, high school students, public library patrons...) pay at the desk.

We don't charge overdue fines for regular stack items, current lit or audio books. They incur processing fees of $20.00 per item plus a $65.00 replacement fee per item when they are 40 days overdue.

We do charge overdue fines for dvds, tech items and reserve items.

REserve items

from Cathy Griffith in Access Services. 

Please remember to provide the call number for reserve items when you look them up for patrons.  The past couple of days we have had several frustrated students at the Check Out Desk looking for reserves without having the call numbers who have said that someone at the Reference Desk already looked them up.  They are frustrated when we have to do it again.  One student even had a note that had the title and the barcode number on it.

Remember that in Course Reserves, if the item is library owned, the title will be a link; click the link to find the call number. If the item belongs to the teacher, the title will not be a link; look beside Location; the call number should say PER BOOK - Name, course, etc. 

Also remember that personally owned items cannot be searched in the public catalog except under Course Reserves. If you can't find an item there, we can search for it by title, etc, at the Check Out Desk in WMS.

Major changes in circulation policies starting in May

University Libraries Giving Borrowers Longer Loans and Fewer Fines!

The University Libraries is pleased to announce that effective May 12, 2014, the following changes will be made to allow borrowers more time with materials and to renew or return materials before money is owed:

•    All 21 day loans will increase to 30 days for materials loaned from the Stacks, Current Literature, Audiobook and Paperback collections.
•    No overdue fines will be charged when materials from these collections are borrowed May 12 or afterwards and returned or renewed late. Most of these materials can be renewed 4 times online. 
•    Overdue fines will continue to be charged on materials from the Course Reserves, DVD, Tech Lending and AV Equipment collections.

Additionally effective July 1, 2014:

•    The lost item processing fee will increase from $10. to $20. per item.  This fee compensates the Libraries for expenses incurred in the billing and reordering processes for lost items. 
•    If items are returned or renewed within specified amounts of time after their due dates (8 days for Course Reserves, DVDs, Tech Lending and AV Equipment; 40 days for Stacks, Current Literature, Audiobook and Paperback books) the processing fee is not charged. 

To set up an online account and to renew, please visit http://tinyurl.com/uncgrenew.

High School Student Check out policies

just a quick reminder on High School student check out policies as they make their way over here for end of semester projects.

Generally a high school student needs a letter from a teacher or their school librarian in order to set up check out privileges with access services. The exception is Grimsley and Page students in the IB program. They are already on a list that Access services has so they can just come in and get their books. The check out limit is 5 books.

New equipment available from Access Services

Here is an update from Access Services on the UTLC equipment, including camcorders and other items, we recently acquired.

1. Right now, we are not lending any UTLC equipment from the Desk.

2. Cathy R. is taking bookings for some equipment (see list below) and she is handling all of those checkout/check-in transactions right now. One item was booked last week and was returned yesterday. Cathy has no more equipment booked until July.

3. We will put together an online 'faculty equipment booking form' soon, to help faculty book equipment when CR is not available.

4. Here are the details and my initial plans for the equipment we have acquired.

(4) camcorders.

2 of these will be added to our public lending pool later this summer. We will train staff before we begin circulating these items.

2 will remain with Cathy Rothermel and faculty can book them for instructional use.
(20) Flip camcorders.
15 of these will be added to our public lending pool later this summer, with training provided beforehand.
5 will remain with Cathy Rothermel and faculty can book them for instructional use.

(7) Digital Voice Recorders.
All of these will be added to our public lending pool later this summer, with training provided beforehand.
(21) Tripods.
16 of these will be added to our public lending pool.
5 will remain with Cathy Rothermel and faculty can book them for instructional use.
(6) Data projectors.
All of these will remain with Cathy Rothermel and only faculty can book them for instructional use.
(5) Large projector screens.
All of these will remain with Cathy Rothermel and only faculty can book them for instructional use.
5. We only plan to circulate the UTLC equipment listed above. If it is not listed above, we did not acquire it and will not be circulating it.

We may discover that we need to keep more/fewer items available for faculty booking through Cathy R. We'll have to wait and see how it goes.