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October 28, 2009

Finding Study Space at Tompkins-McCaw Library - More Than Meets the Eye

The 1st floor of TML is usually filled with students collaborating and using computers. It is a popular place for group discussions over lunch. But there are more study areas and more computers throughout the Library.

Up on the 2nd floor of TML you'll find some tables for quiet study, plus there are 8 computers, and in the front corner of the building, next to the Library Instruction Classroom, there is a Quiet Study Room (Rm 2-001).

From the 2nd floor you can also get to our Group Study Rooms - rooms with whiteboards, internet access, and some with DVD/VCRs, anatomical models, or plasma monitors for presentation practice. Check our web site for room details.

In the Basement there are another 10 computers as well as some study carrels and the Multimedia Collaboration Room (turn left when you leave the stairs or elevator and you'll see the sign - Rm B-037). There are self-service multimedia computers as well as group study seating. See our web site for multimedia software details. A soda machine is also in the Library Basement.

Find out more about our Group Study Rooms and Multimedia Collaboration Room, or take a look at a Library map at the TML web site.

Additional study space and computers are available in Hunton Student Center.

March 31, 2009

VCU Technology Fair on April 2, 9:00AM - 2:00PM

The VCU Libraries and Technology Services invite the entire MCV Campus to attend the 2009 VCU Technology Fair. This event brings the latest in technology developments for the classroom, research, and mobile computing to VCU. Thinking about purchasing an iPhone, a BlackBerry Curve, or new laptop? Want to learn how others are using emerging technologies to streamline their research, workflow, patient interactions, and educational experience? Then plan to attend the VCU Technology Fair. This event is free and open to the public.

Participating exhibitors include Lenovo, Apple, Blackboard, Microsoft, Echo, Daly Computers, Dell, Cisco, and Microsoft and many more.
• Over 10 items to be raffled including iPod shuffles, Godiva chocolates, and other goodies.
• Complimentary lunch will be provided!

Presentations
Lenovo Technology Roadmap and New Product Offerings for 2009 - Learn about Lenovo's new products and see how they can help in both professional and personal work. Distance Education Room (2-010)

Using Apple Technologies in the 21st Century Learning Environment - Review data from the Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow-Today results and learn how Apple technologies are being used to support 21st century learning environments including programs for the iPhone in the medical field. Library Instruction Classroom (2-012)

Can't attend on April 2, then plan to attend the Technology Fair on the Monroe Park Campus on April 1 at the University Student Commons.

For more information, call 828-0017 or visit us online at http://www.library.vcu.edu/events/tdays/

March 6, 2009

New Digital Sender Saves Trees, Copying Fees

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Most of our current journal subscriptions are delivered electronically, making quick work of downloading a PDF for later reference. But there's still a massive amount of information stored away in the heavy bound issues filling the Journal Stacks, with no electronic copy available. Previously, to make a quick PDF of an article, you'd have to pay 10 cents a page to photocopy it, and then scan in all the pages with some hostile piece of software.

No more.

The HP Digital Sender, a new arrival at Tompkins-McCaw Library, allows anyone with a VCU eID to quickly make digital copies of any print material to send via e-mail. The machine, located by the copiers and printers on the first floor, can produce color and grayscale images up to 300dpi in resolution in JPEG, TIFF, and PDF formats. When you've scanned all you wanted -- a job that's pretty quick on this zippy box -- just hit "Send" and you'll find your files waiting in your e-mail. Easy!

This new tool will save you time, energy, money, and make all your articles from print far easier to find and share than a manila folder full of scattered photocopies. It's available now, and free to use.

Have you tried the new Digital Sender? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.