UNews - web links

Information outlet has the right answer

trevor.kenney — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:24:17 +0000

You no doubt have noticed the friendly faces greeting you at the Campus Information Services outlet located directly across from Tim Hortons in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness. This operation, which just recently opened, is yet another initiative from the Recruitment and Retention Project.

To develop the initial operation, Ryan Hall has been seconded as the operational manager in a strategic partnership with Sport & Recreation Services. Campus Information Services (CIS) team members are also members of the U-Crew, a group of students trained by Recruitment and Student Life in way-finding, general service information and conducting campus tours.

"This pool of trained students is an enormous benefit in pulling together a knowledgeable team," says Hall.

Operational manager Ryan Hall chats with a student at the Campus Information Services outlet.

Although the majority of inquiries CIS receives have been related to way finding, team members are also equipped to provide Faculty information, general assistance and ID Card information, as well as distribution and pick-up services for departments.

Way finding includes the physical location of spaces on campus, as well as the location of service information on the web; e.g., the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Calendar. Slightly more than half of the inquiries to date are from students, with the other inquiries coming from faculty, staff and the local community.

Other duties for CIS team members include assisting several student service units across campus in developing programs and databases and monitoring the Services for Students web page to ensure all web links are active.

"This is a win-win situation, because it allows our students the opportunity to gain more information about our student services from across campus, then turn around and share that information more broadly," says Hall. "It also gives these units increased and more sustainable service levels and provides much more information to our clients."

When major campus events such as convocation, Horns Athletics, New Student Orientation and the campus open house take place, the CIS outlet space is shared.

Campus Information Services will also co-ordinate the services within the Collaborative Learning Centre located in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall Atrium, along with a support team of service professionals such as Library Peer-Assisted Technology Support Students (PATTS), and the I.T. Solutions Centre staff.

While the operation has only been open a few months, Hall and his team have already accumulated a great deal of information for distribution, and made connections across campus. They are now entering the next phase of implementation by co-ordinating their services for the downtown Penny Building and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Calgary and Edmonton campuses. As well, the creation of a web site is in the planning stages, bringing the information to an online format. The end goal is to provide one central location for the collection and distribution of general ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ information, as well as a meeting place for campus tours.

Campus Information Services operates from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday with reduced hours heading into the holiday period. All inquiries are logged, in order to monitor traffic to adjust the hours of operation to meet client demand. The Campus Information Services team invites everyone to let it know how to better assist in the collection and distribution of information to make the U of L a more welcoming and service-friendly university.

This story first appeared in the January 2013 edition of the Legend. To view the entire issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Library's QR codes debut

trevor.kenney — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:22:12 +0000

As smart phones become more and more popular, so do the applications that make them so useful. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Library is catching on to this trend in a practical and useful way.

The library initially delved into this area by introducing its mobile website, which was the first of its kind on campus. Now, the IT folks have done it again: they've created scannable bar codes, known as QR codes, for students to book group workrooms on the spot with their mobile phones. Many future applications are also possible with this technology.

What exactly are QR (quick response) codes? These scannable codes contain all sorts of information, such as URLs or web links, videos, textual information, or any combination thereof. You may have already used them yourself if you've taken advantage of paperless boarding cards to board a flight, a service being offered by several airlines.

These codes can be read by 'scanning' them – basically taking a picture – with a smart phone such as an iPhone, Android, etc. The appropriate software application (downloaded from your phone's app store – available for free or a nominal fee) is also required.

The library has several useful applications for QR codes. The first is for group workrooms. Students now have the ability to check a room, while standing outside, to see if it's been booked, and if it hasn't, reserve it right on the spot. The second application is in the library catalogue, where each catalogue record has a unique QR code included in its display. When you scan the code into your phone, the location, call number, etc. of the item will be displayed on your smart phone, with no need to write down the information.

The Library is proud to once again lead the pack with this new technology. And with the popularity of smart phones on the rise, we can only assume there are more great things to come.

For a look at the full issue of the December Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Library's QR codes debut

trevor.kenney — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:19:35 +0000

The library initially delved into this area by introducing its mobile website (http://www.uleth.ca/lib/about_Us/display.asp?PageID=272), which was the first of its kind on campus. Now, the IT folks have done it again: they've created scannable bar codes, known as QR codes, for students to book group workrooms on the spot with their mobile phones. Many future applications are also possible with this technology.

The Library is proud to once again lead the pack with this new technology. And with the popularity of smart phones on the rise, we can only assume there are more great things to come.

For a look at the full issue of the December Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - web links

Information outlet has the right answer

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Library's QR codes debut

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Library's QR codes debut

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