Libraries Get Wireless

	Look for this RU Wireless logo, on signs in areas outfitted with the new wireless capability.

In a bid to stretch our resources and broaden the options available to users, the Rutgers University Libraries have added wireless capabilities to a number of well-traveled areas in our buildings in Newark, New Brunswick and Piscataway.

This new service will allow any Rutgers faculty, staff, or student using a laptop computer equipped with a wireless card to access the Internet and use Rutgers online services from the following locations:

ALEXANDER LIBRARY
     Atrium (lower level), graduate reading room (3rd floor), reference area (1st floor),      Scholarly Communication Center (4th floor), undergraduate reading room (1st floor).
DANA LIBRARY
     1^st floor, south wing
     2^nd floor, south wing
KILMER LIBRARY
     1^st floor study areas.
LIBRARY OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE
     1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd floor study areas
SERC READING ROOM
     Entire reading area.

Wireless capability will also be added to the Art Library, the Chang Science Library, and the Paul Robeson Library shortly.

Only users who have a Rutgers email account, and have obtained a NetID, are able to use the wireless network. Many late-model laptops come equipped with wireless capability, but older models will need a wireless card that can be purchased for under $100 at the Rutgers Computer Store or at computer or office supply stores.

For more information on wireless capabilities at Rutgers, including technical specifications and access requirements, please see this website: http://ruwireless.rutgers.edu/. The Libraries' FAQ page on wireless access can be viewed at: http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/ask_a_lib/wireless.shtml

Innovative New Brunswick
Staff Training Series

According to the American Library Association's Support Staff Interests Roundtable, one of the three top concerns among library support staff is access to continuing education and training opportunities. To address this concern, the Access/Collection Services Department of the New Brunswick Libraries has embarked on a four session workshop series aimed at addressing customer service and time management.

The program starts by identifying excellent customer service; and subsequent meetings develop practical techniques for providing service in a library environment, resolving public and work place conflict through communication and understanding, dealing with the stresses of changing technologies, and demands on staff resources. The key areas of the program came from input of department supervisors, and were further refined by comments and suggestions from the access/collection services staff. Marilyn Wilt, Libraries' Training and Learning Coordinator, along with Tricia Torok and Christina Bilinski from University Human Resources and Sherrie Tromp from the Center for Organization Development and Leadership, then took these ideas and developed a custom series that is tailored to the needs of library employees.

The entire department is attending these workshops and is going through in four cohorts made up of staff from all units and hubs to add diverse experiences and perspective. Using this series as a model, Marilyn Wilt is planning to offer it to other service areas of the Libraries. The department has made a commitment to further training with a library supervisor series, and a public service point workshop is currently being developed.

New Jersey Library Association
Scholarships for 2004

The New Jersey Library Association will award scholarships for the academic year 2004-05. These scholarships are offered for study leading to a graduate or postgraduate degree in librarianship. Awards are made on an evaluation of credentials and personal interviews with candidates. All awards are to be used for a graduate library education program that allows the graduate eligibility for a New Jersey Professional Librarian Certificate. Previous applicants and recipients are eligible to apply.

REQUIREMENTS

1. Applicants must be legal residents of New Jersey at the time of application.
2. Scholarships are to be used only for tuition during the 2004-05 academic year.
3. Applicants must demonstrate financial need.
4. Applicants must demonstrate academic ability through submission of transcripts.
5. Recipients of awards must matriculate in a graduate library education program that is eligible for a New Jersey Professional Librarian Certificate. ALA accredited programs are acceptable. (A list of ALA accredited programs is available at http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oa/lisdir.html)
6. Applications must be postmarked no later than February 14, 2004.
7. Applicants agree to be available for an interview. Interviews will be held on March 19, 2004. (Snow date is March 26, 2004.)

Scholarships to be awarded include:

SARAH B. ASKEW SCHOLARSHIP(S) - $ 2,500
GEORGE LAMONTE SCHOLARSHIP(S) - $ 3,000
NJLA MEMBERS' SCHOLARSHIP(S) - $ 2,800
ROGER MCDONOUGH SCHOLARSHIP - $ 600
HINSDALE SCHOLARSHIP - $ 500
HOWARD VOGT - $ 500
DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP - $ 600
PAST PRESIDENTS - $ 500
KARMA FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP - Full Tuition to Attain MLS Degree (includes internship at NJLA Office)

For information or application forms, please contact:
Doreen Shoba, Scholarship Committee Chair
Wayne Public Library
461 Valley Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 694-4272 Ext. 5404
shobad@waynepubliclibrary.org
OR Go to: www.njla.org

	October 12, 2003 September 31, 2003 The Agenda Archive

Contributors for this issue were Penny Page, Matthew Sheehy, and Farideh Tehrani Contributions for future issues of The Agenda should be sent to Harry Glazer, editor of The Agenda, at hglazer@rci.rutgers.edu.