Films on Demand database

As an education major, I am always looking for new and exciting ways to get through to students and Ritter Library has helped me find a new resource that will help make my job as a teacher a lot easier! Ritter now subscribes to the database, Films on Demand (http://bw.opal-libraries.org/login?url=http://digital.films.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=19475), a streaming video database of intriguing and fun educational programs from Films Media Group. 

Over 9000 films are available to watch and there are thousands of film segments that perfect for embedding or linking to class projects, course blackboard sites, to use in my lesson planning, and many other things.  I know that I can find links to use for future projects in other classes and when I am a course assistant for College 101 in the fall. It’s great because I can login with my name and student ID; I can access the database off campus as well! The movies load much quicker than YouTube and can be paused or moved to a section that you want to play. It has a very quick “reflex” time, from when you click a link until when it plays. You can even take the video and play from the smaller segments that have parts of the movie broken down on the side. The full screen feature makes it seem like you are watching a DVD. I can’t wait to try and play one on a projector screen because the image quality is really high for an online video. I really recommend you check it out and bookmark it on your favorite browser. You never know what it might help you with!

P.S. If you have trouble or have any questions, call Ritter Library  at x2206. The reference librarians are always helpful and ready to help you!

-Cassidy Berkheimer

Middle Childhood Generalist

Class of 2013

Study Room Projectors

Ritter Library now has laptop projectors in the two study rooms on the main reference floor.  They are “short throw” models that are mounted directly above the screen, rather than in the middle of the ceiling.

The video connection is made with a VGA cable stored on a wall hook.  The cable also has an audio connector that can broadcast your laptop’s audio from the speakers built into the projector.  There is a remote control connected to the wall with Velcro.  Next to the remote control is a small sign with simple operating instructions.  There are two computer inputs that can be selected from the remote.  One is for connecting with the VGA cable.  The other is for a wireless connection to the projector.  When selecting the wireless input, instructions on how to connect your laptop to the projector wirelessly will be shown on the screen.  The wireless feature isn’t quite ready – we’re waiting for some network cabling to be completed.  When it is ready, we’ll post an announcement on Facebook.

If you want to see more detailed images of these projectors, go to our photo set on Flickr at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ritterlibrary/sets/72157627763812561/

YouTube Channel

Ritter Library's YouTube Channel has gone live.  It contains tutorial videos that will assist you in using Ritter Library resources.  You will soon begin to see links to these tutorials in our LibGuides and in other locations on our website.  We will be adding many new tutorials to the channel in the months to come.  You can access our YouTube Channel in three ways:

1. Go to http://www.youtube.com/user/bwritterlibrary,

2. Click on the YouTube icon on our library homepage, or

3. Select the 'Tutorials' link in the 'Ask a Librarian' menu.

Ritter Library YouTube Channel

Here is an example of one of our tutorials:

 

New Color Printer

Ritter Library now has a color printer on the main reference floor.

The new color printer

To switch from the default black and white printer to the color printer,  select ‘File’ and then ‘Print’ to access your program’s print menu.  From the printer selection menu, select ‘Ritter Color Printer’.  Note that the default for black and white printing is double-sided, but the default for the color printer is single-sided.  You can select double-sided, though this may not be advisable as the color ink can bleed through to the other side of the page.  Next, click on the ‘Print’ button to submit the print job. 

The printer selection menu

A window will pop-up indicating that color printing will cost $.40 cents per page.   Note that if you do print double-sided,  the charge is $.40 cents for each side – i.e. a single double-sided sheet will cost $.80 cents.  When you click on the ‘Print’ button in the pop-up window, the print job is then sent to the Pharos Printer Release Station next to the color printer.  

The pop-up window

Log into the Pharos Printer Release Station to see the list of print jobs that you have submitted.  Select one or more of the listed print jobs, and click on the ‘Print’ button.  Note that if you send a black and white print job to the color printer, you will still be charged $.40 per page.  Full time students currently have $25.00 available in their Pharos accounts each semester.  That is the equivalent of 500 black and white copies at $.05 each, or 62 color copies at $ .40 cents each.  If you choose to exceed $25.00 per month, you can continue to print – the additional charges will be added to your student bill.

The Pharos Printer Release Station