Charge and sanitize!

In case you haven't noticed we've made incremental changes to the library, all to make your research time valuable and healthy.

 

For starters you can charge your device with our charging station, located next to Starbucks. Let your device take a breather and recharge while you do the same.

 

The awesome folks at Heath Services provided us with 6 hand sanitizer stations. These units are located throughout the building: 2 on the 1st floor and 2nd floor and 1 each on the 3rd and 4th floor.

Have ideas or suggestions to make your library stay better? Let us know!

Chargers? We have them!

Stop by the circulation desk in the Library --we have two iPhone 5 / iPad 4 chargers, original Apple device chargers, several micro and mini USB cords, computer mice, multiple SD card reader/writers, a portable floppy disk drive and lots of other device type things you might need. All can be checked out for 3 hours --don't forget your student or staff ID.

Mary Aagard
Head, Access Services

Mobile device chargers available for check out

Can't find an outlet to charge your phone or laptop? Then check out a MiLi! MiLi are external battery packs that can charge your mobile device, be it an iPad, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

The Circulation desk has three in-library use MiLi chargers that check out for 3 hours.

Mary Aagard,
Access Services Librarian

Join the Albertsons Library in attending the “Great Ideas for Teaching and Learning Symposium" on January 10 in the Student Union Simplot Ballroom. This event is co-sponsored by The Center for Teaching and Learning and the STEM Station.

The Albertsons Library will have a table for the Mobile Learning Table Topics session, from 1:00-3:00 PM in Simplot Ballroom A. The Albertsons Library has a growing collection of informative guides on mobile teaching and learning, including one for the symposium available at http://guides.boisestate.edu/mobile_symposium

If you want to know more about e-books, explore mobile technology and pedagogy, or have questions about your Kindle, Android tablet, iPad or iTouch, then stop by and let us help you.

eBooks from Albertsons Library

In Fall 2011, over 55,000 new eBooks were added to the Albertsons Library collection through the EBL platform. These eBooks are immediately available, providing access to information, 24x7, wherever users are located.

Faculty and students are using eBooks in a variety of ways including eBooks for research projects and coursework; eBooks for course reserves; and eBooks for the new Fall 2012 University Foundations classes. EBL books are available through the Library catalog (http://boisestate.worldcat.org/) or from the EBL (http://www.boisestate.eblib.com/) database.

The eBooks cover a wide array of academic disciplines—from immunology to higher education to art history. The Library’s eBooks are accessible to University students, faculty and staff.  More than one person can use an eBook at the same time.  No returns needed!  The majority of eBooks available through the Library can be read online or downloaded to a desktop, laptop, or mobile device.

The eBook library guide (http://guides.boisestate.edu/ebooks) provides a starting point for learning about the Library’s eBook collections.

Contact us or stop by Albertsons Library to learn about the potential of eBooks or how to download eBooks to your mobile device.

Mobile Access to Library Resources via QR Codes

Have you seen these posters around the library?

Albertsons Library is using QR codes to give smartphone users access to the library's mobile-friendly resources, such as the library's website, research databases, extensive subject guides, and text reference help. Scanning a QR code is a quick way to transfer information from online or printed material to your phone without typing it in. You also retain that information in your device for future reference.

Instead of manually typing the library's URL or the library's text number, you can simply use a barcode scanner on your phone to scan a QR code [the black & white pixelated graphics above] for each service. Scanner apps are freely available for a variety of mobile devices--you can pick a scanner app from this list: http://bit.ly/fJGqz9

QR codes make the transmission of data from static to mobile quick and simple. If you have any questions about these QR codes or reference services, just let us know and we will be happy to assist you.

QR Codes in the library

Albertsons Library
Mobile Site

Are you wondering what this square graphic represents? It's a QR code. Developed in Japan, a QR code (short for "Quick Response" code) is a barcode that contains information that can be read by a mobile device, usually a web-enabled phone with a camera.

The information within a QR code can vary--it can be a phone number, a website link, a link to play a video, a link to map directions, and more.

What do I need?
To decipher the code you need a web-enabled phone with a camera, and a decoding application called a barcode scanner. These scanner apps are freely available for a variety of mobile devices--you can pick a scanner app from this list: http://bit.ly/fJGqz9

How do I scan this QR code?
After downloading and launching a code scanner application, simply point your device's camera at the QR code and the app will reveal the information in your device by linking you there, usually using your device's web browser. For example, scanning the QR code above will take you to the library's mobile website.

Why should I use it?

Scanning a QR code is a quick way to transfer information from online or printed material to your phone without typing it in. You also retain that information in your device for future reference. QR codes make the transmission of data from static to mobile quick and simple.

The Albertsons Library uses QR codes as a simple and fast way for students to access library resources with their mobile devices. You will see a greater number of QR codes throughout the library, in printed materials, and online.

If you want to know more about QR codes, including how to create your own, read our "What's a QR Code?" guide, or visit us at the reference desk.

Listen now! Free mobile streaming music through library databases

Smart phone users, rejoice! Alexander Street Press, publisher of our streaming music databases Classical Music Library, Jazz Music Library, and Smithsonian Global Sound for Libraries, has made their spectacular collections of high-quality streaming music available to the mobile user. By scanning QR codes, such as those in this blog post, you can launch right into specially selected playlists (for instance, the QR code at left links to a playlist for French Bastille Day; QR code below right links to an e-album of music from the movie Pride & Prejudice).

As you browse the database, look for the cell phone icon: . Clicking that icon from your smart phone will bring up the mobile player, while clicking from a computer will automatically generate a textable shortlink and scannable QR code for the album or playlist. Don't forget that these great databases allow you to create your own playlists, too! The only apparent drawback is that (unlike listening on your computer) mobile access only allows you to play one track at a time and can't run a group of songs in continuous playback -- but if you figure out how to do that, please let us know!

The service is currently available from the three above databases for all Android and iPhone devices, including the iPod Touch and iPad. Later in 2010, you can expect more streaming access! The publisher is planning to add its nine video collections, including American History in Video, Dance in Video, and Ethnographic Video Online.

If you want to learn more about QR codes, try watching this short, helpful video from CNet.

Albertsons Library on Your Phone

We have been working on a (beta) mobile version of Albertsons Library which includes resources like map locators, contact info, access to research databases, and our catalog, to name a few.
If you haven't tried it, please go to http://library.boisestate.edu/m/ and let us know what you think. This is a work in progress so we want to hear from you about what you like, what can be improved, or suggestions for future mobile projects.