Welcome Back

Hello Colleagues!

We've missed you.  As you probably know, you're coming back to some changes.

First of all, notice the new furniture:  Long tables and chairs in the atrium, new chairs at each student computer station, and really cool little barrel stools at the ref desk. In addition the upholstery on the lounge chairs has been repaired.  All in all, we're looking rather spiffy!

Secondly, they are working on the elevators.  Look at your email from Tamika from last Friday for details.  We probably will know only day by day which elevator is functional. Unfortunately, we have no alternative to get people to the 3rd or ground floors when the interior elevator is out of order. We can, however still help them get the books they need to check out.  If someone who is mobility challenged needs resources from the stacks downstairs and  gives you the call numbers of those books, please retrieve them and bring them to the student. Because we are usually double staffed on the ref desk, we hope this system will work during the time the elevator is out. Please let us know if you have a better idea or if there are any problems with this approach.  We can always brainstorm alternatives.

Third, and finally, we know that within 18 months GPC will merge with Georgia State University. So far, that fact is all we know.  Here are links to a couple of sites that might give clues to the process:
FAQ from BOR: http://www.usg.edu/images/news_files/GSU_and_GPC_Consolidation_FAQs.pdf
Q &A with Mark Becker, GSU President http://www.gsu.edu/2015/01/06/consolidation-qa-president/
There will be a town hall meeting tomorrow with Presidents Becker and Watts.  We'll keep you posted on developments. 

In the meantime, let's keep our focus on our students and their success--AS WE ALWAYS HAVE!

ASK ME (YOU)

As the new semester begins, many students need help finding essential services.  Though there are official "ASK ME" volunteers around campus, students often look to the library for answers. (Yay!) Please consider wearing an "ASK ME" button while you are at the desk. 

There is a copy of the updated campus map at the desk as well as a list of FAQs. Listed below are the important numbers to call for questions you don't know how to answer.

Important Numbers and Resources

For general information regarding your questions, contact information is listed below.

Resources and Information

Academic Calendar:

gpc.edu/calendar/academic/

Admissions Status Check:  gpc.edu/mystatus

Sign up for text alerts. Upload admissions documents.

Financial Aid Status Check

gpc.edu/~finaid/checkstatus.htm

Forgot your Login?  Go to Get My Login.

idmgmt.gpc.edu/gml

Questions? Ask GPC (frequently asked questions)

www.gpc.edu/FAQ

Student Information System – SIS

Your personal records:  https://sis.gpc.edu

TAGs-Transfer Admissions Guarantee program

gpc.edu/tag

Tuition, Fees, and Refunds

http://depts.gpc.edu/~gpcsacct

Withdrawals vs. Drops

gpc.edu/~finaide/withdrawals.htm

Departments

Public Safety:

EMERGENCIES:  770-274-5511

Non-Emergencies:  770-274-5500

Bookstores

gpc.edu/~acadaff/Schedules/bookstore.php3

Disability Services

gpc.edu/~gpccds

GPC Online/iCollege

gpc.edu/online   678-891-2805

Learning Resources Centers (Libraries)

gpc.edu/library

Learning and Tutoring Centers

gpc.edu/~gpcltc

Service Desk for Technology Issues

678-891-3460 or servicedesk@gpc.edu

Testing

http://testing.gpc.edu

Please note:  Due to federal law and for your safety, specific information regarding your records cannot be given over the telephone. Please be prepared to come to an office for assistance and remember to bring your GPC-ID card.

Legend:

Testing: Testing Center

LTC:      Learning and Tutoring Center

ESL:      English as a Second Language

LRC:     Learning Resources Center (Library)

FOR:

·   Advising, Counseling, & Retention Services

·   Enrollment & Registration Services (or visit www.gpc.edu/selfservice to email)

·   Financial Aid

·   GPC Online (or email gpcol@gpc.edu)

·   Student Accounts

Call 678-891-3535 (Try the self-service option for answers to common questions-available 24/7.)

FOR:

Testing – All campuses: Call 678-891-3700 or visit www.gpc.edu/selfservice to email

International Admissions and Advising: Call 678-891-3235 or issa.gpc.edu

  

Military Outreach Center

Clarkston Campus, Building CH, Suite 1300

678-891-3025 or www.gpc.edu/militaryoutreach

Dunwoody Phone Numbers
Bookstore:          678-891-5170

Tutoring:             770-274-5244

Eng. 2nd Lang:   770-274-5180
Library:               770-274-5085

NPR Book Concierge

In case you haven't "heard," National Public Radio is now in the readers' advisory business.  Sure they frequently had Nancy Pearl on for guest spots to review books, and they've run lists of best books since at least 2008. But for 2013 and 2014 they have an interactive service called "NPR's Book Concierge."

There are 27 filters that can be used and combined to narrow the recommendation. It's a fun little tool to use whether you're looking for a good read over the holidays or finding something recent that matches a patron's interests. (Remember that NoveList is one of our databases that will also help you find books with very specific interests.)

It would be a great project to compare NPR's best list with GPC holdings and send a list to Angiah for collection development. Anyone interested?

Downloading e-books on Mobile Devices - From Sonya

On 11/20/2014 Sonya emailed: We are receiving more and more questions about downloading e-books in chat and at the reference desks, so I want to make sure that we are all on the same page in answering them. 

All EBSCO e-books including former Netlibrary e-books can be downloaded on a user’s device for off-line viewing. Steps will vary slightly if downloaded on a computer or a mobile devices.

For all users: (this is only done once, the first time a user downloading a book)

           - Create ebsco personal account  

           - Create Adobe digital id (adobe digital id created to use with other adobe products, or for public library books, can be used)

For computer users:

      - Install Adobe Digital Editions

      - Authorize Adobe digital editions with your Adobe ID

For tablet users (will work on iOS, and Android devices including Kindle Fire) – one time step         

         - Install BlueFire Reader

     -   Authorize BlueFire Reader with your Adobe Digital ID

Once it is done, the process is seamless because a computer/ device will remember what program to use, etc.

 EBSCO e-books CANNOT be downloaded on library computers or any computers on campus.

If a user clicked Download by mistake they can e-mail the file to themselves and open it at home with Adobe Digital editions or they can sideload it to their compatible device (connect a device with a computer and drag a file to a downloads folder on a device).

Also if they were logged into their EBSCO account, the selected book will stay in their EBSCO folder, so they can download it at home without having to search for it again.

The default check out period for EBSCO e-books is 7 days. Books expire after 7 days, they do not need to be returned.

We have a variety of instructions for different devices at http://guides.gpc.edu/mobile_ebooks

Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional explanations. 

Thank you!  sonya

New DVDs

 

Hanging Indent

Lots of research papers are being printed these days.  A frequent question is how to make a hanging indent in MS Word. Remember that MLA citations are double spaced, so make sure the format of the paper/page is established at that line spacing. Then highlight the citations to be formatted and click on the small arrow in the lower right of the paragraph section on the top ribbon.

A dialog box will open.  You'll need to find the window labeled "special" and choose hanging. You can also make sure that line spacing is correct and the .5 indent is selected. Then click OK at the bottom of the page.

Voila! Hanging indents without tons of tabbing.