Under the weather

Besides the obvious weather challenges today, I'm a bit down today. I have been fighting a cold or something this weekend, and today I had two dental implants put in this morning (#'s 19 and 30, for those of you who are dentally inclined. Now that all the Novocain is wearing off, that Vicodin and a nap that the dentist prescribed is sounding like a better idea than more ibuprofen.

I've skimmed my email for questions from over the weekend, and I think I've responded to them all. If I've missed you, please email me again. If you left a question for me in D2L, I will try to get in there later tonight. Thanks for your patience.

That's one big book | press-citizen.com | Iowa City Press Citizen

Those of you working in binding and preservation-related internships, and my technical services students, take particular note of this.

That's one big book | press-citizen.com | Iowa City Press Citizen

Short office hours today

I have to cut my office hours short today, Thursday Jan 27 as I have to take my mom to an appointment. Office hours will end at 2:30 p.m. today instead of 3 pm. Sorry for the late notice!

Computer Down-Time

This shouldn't have a significant impact on any of you, but I wanted you to be aware that it will impact my ability to receive your email messages this weekend.

There will be campus network downtime on Sunday, January 30, 6 a.m. - noon.

MCTC ITS staff and our vendors will be performing maintenance on Outlook email and remote access systems. During this time, there will be no access to Outlook email or remote access services. All messages sent to Outlook during this time will be queued and delivered once the system is back online.

The MCTC website, phone services and voicemail will remain operational.

We apologize for any inconvenience this required maintenance may cause.

Please contact Dana Harrington if you have any questions or concerns regarding this project at dana.harrington@minneapolis.edu or 612-659-6611.

As Wikipedia Turns 10, It Focuses on Ways to Improve Student Learning - Wired Campus - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Academics tend to "demonize" Wikipedia, unnecessarily, IMHO. There are better ways to use it; this article suggests one way.
As Wikipedia Turns 10, It Focuses on Ways to Improve Student Learning - Wired Campus - The Chronicle of Higher Education

AUGH!

Wow, what the heck happened to this week! I blinked, and it's Thursday and I haven't hardly been in the class space, and now I have two late meetings for work and another meeting for one of my other hats (my Dragon Diva hat) tonight.


So, if you've posted a question to me, or other general course questions, or are just wondering when in the heck we're going to start working on something, uh, I'm working on it!

Thanks to

Bookstore News

Those of you waiting for texts, this is the news I received today from the bookstore:

The list price for the LIBT 2200 Cataloging and Classification textbook is $60.00 (I confirmed it with Books in Print). This is what we are selling it for. It's the same book you've used the past 2 years, soft cover.

Moral Vision was ordered last week…it is a "print on demand" book, therefore, it took a little extra time to get (re-order). We expect it in today or tomorrow. Questioning Library Neutrality will be in today as well.

Also, recommend to your students to order their books on line at www.mctcbookstore.com
I am not ordering any more books to fill shelves. I am re-ordering books we have orders for online since Financial Aid charging has ended.

So, if you placed an online order, your texts should be available shortly.

Office hours today

Just a reminder that I have office hours today from 1:30-3 pm. This is a good time to call me or stop by to check in. My office hours this semester are from 1:30-3 pm each Tuesday and Thursday.

Sometimes I have campus meetings that I need to attend, and they may impinge on my office hours, so I always recommend calling ahead or emailing me to confirm that I'll be available when you are.

Student Email Woes?

Give today's Our View From the Park show a listen. We (I) talk with Kari Campbell and Kris Anderson about the switch to Windows Live for student email accounts.

Listen to internet radio with MCTC Library on Blog Talk Radio

State of Washington to Offer Online Materials, Instead of Textbooks, for 2-Year Colleges - Technology - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Interesting idea; what do you think?

State of Washington to Offer Online Materials, Instead of Textbooks, for 2-Year Colleges - Technology - The Chronicle of Higher Education

No one is using libraries anymore?

That's clearly not true at MCTC...

Door stats:

2010	275,756
2009	271,502
2008	250,617
2007	242,417
2006	207,507

Student IDs

Just a friendly reminder that MCTC Campus Cards/Students IDs will be produced in the same location as past terms, Cafeteria side of T1000 effective tomorrow (Saturday).

And, a tip... If you're on campus and buying food/drinks here in the cafeteria or up at the coffee bar, if you put money on your "Maverick Card," you get a discount of something like 10%.