Welcome back to the Robert Scott Small Library.  It seems auspicious the first big hurricane bypassed Charleston.  However, the Library and Academic Computing are generating our own whirl of activity.

Students and faculty are already using existing electronic services including off-campus access, wireless service, and electronic reserves.  The big news this season is the new virtual reference service that enables remote users to “chat” with reference librarians.  Using special software, librarians can send live Web pages to users and help users navigate the ever-changing array of information resources.  Another new service is reference consultation.  Students and faculty may schedule appointments to discuss research strategy and resources.  WetCT is now “new and improved” including synchronization with SIS and added links to library services and resources.

Over the summer, a number of the faculty attended the Faculty Technology Institute and judging from the evaluation forms and comments, the program was highly productive and provided many new avenues to enhance teaching methods with new technology. 

Of course, as the new building begins to look more and more finished, the most frequently asked question is, “When will the new library building open?”  The answer, if all goes as planned, by this time next year we hope to be totally operational with a café, comfortable chairs and a wide variety of study environments.

The greatest resource the library has to offer is talented, service-oriented people.  Steven Profit is the newest member of the library faculty.  This semester, the College has a large community of new students, faculty and staff, and we hope you will stop by and visit and share your interests and information concerns.  And to those who are regular visitors, it’s good to have you back.

As always the Library and Academic Computing staff are ready and willing to assist you in your information and educational technology endeavors.  Please contact us if you need special teaching sessions or help with research or hardware/software issues. 

Links and Contact Information

Library
Main Phone: 953-5530
Reference Desk: 953-8000
Library Staff / Departments:  www.cofc.edu/~library/hours.html
Library: www.cofc.edu/~library/

Academic Computing
Phone: 953-5569
Staff: www.cofc.edu/technology/departments/acadcomp.html
Computer Labs: www.cofc.edu/technology/facilities/labs.html#jclong
Faculty Technology Center: www.cofc.edu/~liaisons/
Faculty Liaisons:  www.cofc.edu/~liaisons/
WebCT: www.cofc.edu/~webct/
 
By Sheila Seaman, R.S.S. Library