The Herman B Wells Library houses books and maintains organizations for students. It provides a safe haven for studying and a workplace for librarians.

However, this workplace is so large and has so many functions that both students and staff may find it difficult to sift through the library’s breadth.

The addition of software will make this task easier.

“Kuali OLE will help improve access for students with our library resources,” said Brad Wheeler, IU vice president for Information Technology. “In time, it will help greatly become more efficient to search our library information.”

Kuali Open Library Environment 0.3 is the newest software created to develop and improve the needs of all schools that use administration software for library resources.

With the decrease in library technology manufacturing, sustaining software for libraries is hard, Wheeler said.

As a result, librarians constructed Kuali OLE to help link resources to businesses and enterprises and provide more external opportunities for research.

“With Kuali Open Library Environment, IU Libraries will be able to make our operations more efficient,” said Brenda Johnson, IU Ruth Lilly dean of University of Libraries.

“The software’s customizable tools will allow us to identify ways to improve our workflows for the purchasing of library materials.”

The Kuali OLE works with many colleges and universities and allows them to adopt the software without any licensing fees.

The development of the technology allows library resources to be managed in one primary storage component, making research easier for students.

It forms an easy workflow for library management and provides integration with Kuali Rice, an enterprise service that will allow a more efficient work plan for IU students, faculty and staff.

The new software will also enhance the search capabilities and services of IU’s online catalog, IUCat, and IU’s new search link, OneSearch@IU. Topics that require outside or external information can be accessed through the connections made by Kuali OLE.

“I like the idea of the new software because it seems like it could help students,” freshman Alex Dierckman said.

“It is important to use credible sources for papers and projects, and if the software helps students in their studies, then the library will be more useful.”

The software 0.3 is an early version of a longer project. Because it is the next generation library technology, the entire installation will not be ready for IU for at least a year.

Source:http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=84444

After years of huddling around a single laptop for group study, fighting for outlets and sitting on the floor, visitors to Middleton Library now have a solution — collaborative learning spaces designed for groups to work together comfortably.

Most of the 15 new enclosed areas have opened, while the rest are set to open by the end of the week. Librarians hope the stations will tame congestion and enhance student learning.

“Up until now, Middleton has only had four group study rooms, and we have observed many times that students will pull together groups of chairs to try and work on things together,” said Nancy Colyar, assistant dean of libraries. “We are hoping this will alleviate [the congestion] a little.”

The collaborative learning areas are equipped with 42-inch monitors, tables and chairs to accommodate five to six students. Each station will run BeamYourScreen, a software that allows students to connect wirelessly to the monitor in order to collaborate on projects, group study and presentations, said Greg Brignac, manager of Information Technology Services.

Seven public spaces will be located on the first floor, and the third and fourth floors will house four study rooms each, all available by reservation, Colyar said.

A Lab Technology and Software Support Desk, located in the information area of the first floor, has also been built to assist students with software.

The project also features two presentation practice rooms, located on the third and fourth floors.

“We haven’t seen anything like this at LSU,” Colyar said. “You can stand at a podium, display a PowerPoint, read notes and have yourself recorded so that you can watch the recording and see how well you did.”

This high-tech presentation critique is great for any major, Colyar said, and rooms are available to all students by reservation.

The newly constructed spaces were funded by student tech fees, totaling a budget of about $400,000, Colyar said. The budget provided all learning spaces, presentation rooms, study tables and furniture with money to spare.

The idea for the project dates back to December 2008, under the administration of former Student Government president Colorado Robertson. After touring several southern universities, Robertson saw a need for an improved group study infrastructure.

Since the approval of funding, LSU Libraries and ITS have teamed up to make the rooms a reality.

“This will allow students to use the technology available in a more collaborative environment,” Robertson said. “It allows a peer-to-peer exchange of ideas.”

Outlets and personal technology hookups will be added as the University evolves, Robertson said.

Katie Fruge and Camille Deshotel, kinesiology seniors, were among the first to utilize the new spaces.

“We used this area last year, and we would all have to share one small laptop screen,” Fruge said. “[The learning spaces] will be very handy.”

Source:http://www.lsureveille.com/news/15-collaborative-study-areas-open-in-middleton-library-1.2308165