Weekly Announcements from the UMass Amherst Learning Commons.

1. Learning Commons Announcements
Week of
April 5th 2010
1 month to go!!
“Nobody ever graduated from a library.
Nobody ever graduated without one.”

3. What: The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States, and is required by the
Constitution to take place every ten years. Everyone is required to complete the census:
undergraduates, graduate students, U.S. students, and international students, as well as
graduating seniors and others who plan to leave the area at the end of the semester.
Why: The results determine how federal funds are allocated to states and to communities.
The results affect college tuition grant and loan money, research done on campus by faculty and
by students, the number of congressional representatives assigned to our state, and many critical
services that affect college students.
Where: People are counted where they live and sleep most of the year. You will receive a
census questionnaire at your UMass address, either on campus or off-campus, not at the address
of your parents or home address.
How: If you live on campus, you will receive the census in your residence hall.
If you live off campus, you will receive it in the mail.
When: UMass Amherst Census 2010 runs from March 29 to April 15.
For more info visit: http://www.umass.edu/umhome/census2010/

4. UMass Amherst students will be available at the following
locations to answer questions about the importance of filling
out the U.S. Census and who is eligible to do so, and to
provide bilingual support in Chinese and Korean languages.
March 29th – April 1st (Monday – Thursday)
Campus Center Concourse 9:30am - 2:30pm
The Integrated Sciences and 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Engineering Library (ISEL)
Lincoln Apartments 7:00pm – 9:00pm (Monday, March 29th ONLY)
North Village Apartments 7:00pm – 9:00pm (Tuesday, March 30th ONLY)
April 12th – April 15th (Monday – Thursday)
Campus Center Concourse 9:30am - 2:30pm
The W.E.B. Du Bois Library 2:00pm-4:00pm and from 9:00pm-11:00pm

5. Welcome Back to the New,
Expanded Learning Commons!
Over wintersession, extensive renovations
were completed. Some of the changes are:
• 5,000 additional sq. ft. of space
• 8 more study rooms, total = 26
• Seating space for 400, up from 250
• Over 200 computers, including
more than 30 Macs
• New multimedia computers

7. HAITI
In response to the earthquake in Haiti, librarians have compiled a list of
resources for the campus community and the public:
http://guides.library.umass.edu/haiti.
You can also go to the Library home page and click on Subject Research
Guides. Look for Hot Topics on right hand side.
The web page includes links to local/international news coverage of this tragedy
and organizations that are providing assistance, as well as library resources for
background information.
This page will be updated frequently in the coming days and will reflect current
efforts by the library and community organizations to serve residents affected by
this event.

8. Study Abroad Advising
at
The Link
Mondays: 11:00 a.m-2:00 p.m., 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Tuesdays: 1:15-2:15 p.m., 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Wednesdays: 12:00-7:00 p.m.
Thursdays: 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Fridays: 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Brought to you by the International Programs Office, 545-2710,
www.ipo.umass.edu, abroad@ipo.umass.edu

9. WRITING THE LANDSCAPE
Books from the Library of
American Landscape History
February 1 to May 20
Opening reception
Thursday, February 4
4:00-6:00 pm
Lower Level
Du Bois Library

10. www.twitter.com/umassLC

11. Leave something behind in the library?
Check the Library’s Lost and Found at the
Circulation Desk on the Entrance Level.

12. The Academic Advising Link
is a walk-in advising service providing declared and
undeclared undergraduates with answers to quick advising
questions.
Experienced Peer Advisors are on hand to assist you with:
Finding General Education courses
Interpreting your Degree Progress Report
Navigating Spire
and much more!

13. Phone
Email Instant
message

14. Please Excuse Our Appearance!
The Du Bois Improvement Project
Renovations are underway in the
Du Bois Library to replace the
building’s HVAC (heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning)
system and expand the Learning
Commons on the Lower Level.
The project will take approximately two years and will add 5,000
square feet to the Learning Commons.

15. THIS IS BIG.
POSTER PRINTING NOW AVAILABLE
AT THE LEARNING COMMONS

16. THIS IS BIG.
• Print posters up to 42” wide
• Premium satin-finish photo paper
• Great for presentations
• Printing by appointment only
Learn more:
http://www.umass.edu/learningcommons/posters/

17. During a FIRE ALARM
what do I do with a LIBRARY LAPTOP?
IF YOU CAN CARRY IT: IF YOU CANNOT CARRY IT:
Bring the laptop with you. Leave the laptop where it is.
Return it within 4 hours of the Library reopening. Once you are safe, call (413)545-2358
If you cannot return it within 4 hours:
Contact the Reserve Office at (413) 545-2358 or
appealsrmm@library.umass.edu
If you follow these instructions, late fees will be waived.
YOUR SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY
Leave as quickly as possible

18. The UMass Amherst wireless network is now available on
every floor in the W.E.B. Du Bois Library.
To access the network:
1. Connect to the ‘UMASS’ wireless network.
2. Open a browser.
3. Log in with your NetID (OIT Account user
name) and password.
For more information, see:
www.oit.umass.edu/network/wireless
Coverage may vary depending upon location. Some areas on each
floor (e.g., in the stacks) may have limited or no coverage.

20. Remember to: :
Save to an external source such as a USB drive or UDrive
to avoid data loss if the computer is shut down!!!

21. Too many databases? Not sure where to start?
Don’t be overwhelmed—use a Research Guide!
A team of 18 librarians has created over 80 new subject
research guides for various topics. These are designed to
be convenient and relevant to students and faculty doing
research, and can be embedded in SPARK. You can find
them at http://www.library.umass.edu/subject or just use
the link on the homepage.

23. Check the availability of OIT computer
stations in the Learning Commons
and the Computer Classrooms:
http://classrooms-av.oit.umass.edu/view.php
Be sure to check the classroom hours and scheduled
classes at the site before going to a classroom!

24. OIT’s Remote Printing Service is here!
• Install a small plug-in on your own computer
• Send print jobs from your dorm room or the campus
wireless network to Learning Commons printers
• You have 8 hours to come pick up your print job.
Want to learn more?
•Ask at the Learning Commons & Technical Support Desk, or
•Visit the OIT website at http://www.oit.umass.edu/classrooms/printing/remote.html

25. Printing files from SPARK?
Avoid problems! Before you print,
SAVE YOUR FILE TO THE DESKTOP
THEN, open it and print.

26. Services: Reserve, Media & Microforms Department
Reserve, Media & Microforms Department
3rd floor, Du Bois Library
•Get readings that your professors have assigned for class
•Borrow or view DVDs, audio recordings, and other media
•Explore the retrofuturistic world of Microforms
Borrow a laptop, projector, or video camera
to use in the library

27. Remember to: :
Save to an external source such as a USB drive or UDrive
to avoid data loss if the computer is shut down!!!

28. Services: LC & Technical Support Desk
Learning Commons & Technical Support Desk
Get help with…
• Hardware & software
questions
• Accounts, passwords,
connections
• Navigating the library
and Learning Commons
• Stop by, call, or instant
Open every hour the Library is!!!! message us

29. Services: Reference & Research Assistance
Reference & Research Assistance
Find the perfect sources for your papers and
other research—work with a librarian!
•Stop by the Reference & Research
Assistance Desk anytime it is open…
•Make an appointment to work with a
subject specialist librarian…
•Or, ask a question via phone, email,
or IM.
http://www.library.umass.edu/ask

30. Services: Writing Center
Writing Center
Stop in or make an appointment to get 30 minutes of
assistance on your writing project from trained experts.
All levels and disciplines are welcome!
Check out umass.edu/writingcenter for details and appointments

31. Services: Academic Advising Link
Academic Advising Link
Academic advisors can connect you with the right academic programs
and opportunities and support your journey to academic success.
•Advising resources
•Campus-wide academic support
•General Education
Requirements
•Registration rules & regulations
•Special Learning Opportunities
•Degree Progress Audit
•SPIRE

32. The Academic Advising Link
is a walk-in advising service providing declared and
undeclared undergraduates with answers to quick advising
questions.
Experienced Peer Advisors are on hand to assist you with:
Finding General Education courses
Interpreting your Degree Progress Report
Navigating Spire
and much more!

33. Services: Learning Resource Center
Learning Resource Center
(10th floor of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library)
• Tutoring and supplemental instruction
for many difficult first and second year
courses.
• Drop-in help and weekly sessions
• Students helping students!
•Sunday 5 -10 P.M.
•Monday - Thursday 1 - 10 P.M.
Check umass.edu/LRC for details…

34. Looking for quiet?
•Quiet study areas on 2nd and 3rd floors provide
comfortable seating, electrical outlets, and wireless
Internet access
•Drop-in carrels on 7th and 10th floors offer individual
study space; day-use lockers also located on these floors.
•To report noise in quiet areas in the Library, call 1-2272
from a phone in any elevator lobby, or go to the Building
Operations Desk on the entrance level.

35. Sample question from OIT Copyright Quiz
What is the minimum the RIAA (Recording Industry
Association of America) can make you pay for
infringing copyright on just one song?(Choose one)
• a. $0.99 per song
• b. $75.00 per song
• c. $100.00 per song
• d. $500.00 per song
• e. $750.00 per song

36. • A federal jury today ordered a Boston University
graduate student to pay four record labels $675,000 in
damages for illegally downloading 30 songs and sharing
them online. Boston.com 7/31/09
•That is the equivalent of 115 years of in-state tuition at UMass
Visit oit.umass.edu/copyright/index.html for information.

37. Sample question from OIT Copyright Quiz
What is the minimum the RIAA (Recording Industry
Association of America) can make you pay for
infringing copyright on just one song?(Choose one)
Inform yourself. Protect yourself.
Take the OIT Copyright Quiz:
http://www.oit.umass.edu/copyright/quiz.html

38. www.twitter.com/umassLC

39. Did a slide go by too quickly?
View these announcements on the Web!
Visit the Learning Commons website:
http://www.umass.edu/learningcommons
and click Weekly Announcements (under News)