August 26th 2021
LITS has recently made significant improvements in DSpace by rearranging collections based on user feedback. Our intent was to streamline the process of navigating and browsing for users in the repository.
LITS will continue to gather feedback to improve DSpace. Please contact Beau Smith, Digital Resources Librarian, with any questions or comments.
August 24th 2021
August 24th 2021
You are now able to view what is on course reserves right in AggreGator! You can view all items currently on course reserves by going to:
https://allegheny.summon.serialssolutions.com/?#!/course_reserves
We have gone through the list of required reading for the Fall semester, and placed any Pelletier ebooks on course reserve already for you. Please take a look at the current list of course reserves to see if there are ebook options available for your courses. If your course shows up, but there is currently no content, that is because we are still preparing the course.
If your course does not show up, that is because we unfortunately do not have any copies of your required readings. If you would like to place a book on course reserves you can do the following:
OR
There are two ways to submit video or audio to course reserves.
August 24th 2021
Last fall we showed you how to color-code your folders in Google Drive.
This summer, Google has expanded this feature. Now you’re able to customize colors for folders in your shared drives and for your shortcuts to folders as well.
The steps are very similar for shortcuts to Google Drive folders that you have already set up, except that the shortcut lives elsewhere in your “My Drive”. To identify which folder icons are shortcuts, look for a small curved arrow on the icon, and then follow step 4 above.
August 17th 2021
From Google Support:
For more Meet tips and tricks, Techy Coach provides an intro to 5 fantastic features of Google Meet.
After confirming your tab to present, click Present .
Back in Meet, you will see your slideshow in full screen mode.
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August 12th 2021
Web of Science (which includes Arts & Humanities Citation Index, Science Citation Index, and Social Science Citation Index) has implemented a new search interface that is designed to be faster and easier to use than the previous interface. Please note: in the new interface, records cannot be directly exported to RefWorks. Clarivate is working to resolve this issue. If you prefer to use the previous Web of Science search tool, click on Products in the upper righthand corner and select “Web of Science (Classic)“.
August 10th 2021
Google Meet now includes an option to reduce background noise on both desktop and mobile. Meet can remove background noises such as typing, closing a door, or the sounds of a nearby construction site.
..Tip: To check how much noise is cancelled out, next to your self preview at the top right corner of your screen, look at the Voice indicator 
.Here’s an example showing the difference it can make:
August 3rd 2021
Library and Information Services is pleased to announce significant revisions to the LITS web site. The LITS web team has worked to streamline the main LITS page, with careful attention to the resources that Allegheny students, faculty, and employees need the most. In addition, we have added a new pages focused on services for employees, and streamlined our page focused on services for students.
LITS would like especially to thank the members of AAC and SAC who provided feedback and suggestions during the development process.
LITS invites input from our campus community. Please reach out to the InfoDesk at infodesk@allegheny.edu with any questions.
August 3rd 2021
Sometimes it can be helpful to view only a subset of a Google Sheet. This is especially helpful when your spreadsheet grows unusually large or complex. Filters are one way to separate items according to your specific criteria, and especially useful if you don’t want to change what other people sharing the spreadsheet can see.
Zapier Blog provides step-by-step instructions on how to filter in Google Sheets. Technology trainer Leila Gharani presents some examples on YouTube as well:
Learn more about how to sort and filter your data in Google Sheets.
July 28th 2021
Google is sending an email to a number of campus members starting Monday July 26, 2021. To see what that email will look like, there is a screenshot below. Note – the message will be similar to the screenshot; it may not be an exact match.
Google is applying a security update to certain folders and files. Which folders and files?
Please note that for every folder/file of yours in the list, the link will be updated as part of this security update. This means the link will change.
If you shared a file by changing the link sharing on the file from restricted to either anyone at Allegheny College or anyone on the web, people who may have viewed the file in the past will still have access, but anyone who has not previously accessed the file will no longer have access.
For folders or files used in websites, see the – “What else should I know” question below.
The email will come out the week of July 26. If you do not get an email, none of your content will be impacted. There are plenty of people who came to Allegheny after November 2017 and, thus, have no content in Google Drive prior to November 2017. It is an okay thing to not receive the email.
Google will apply the changes to the folders/files in your list starting September 13, 2021 and will complete the updates by September 30, 2021. Your content may be updated at any time during this timeframe. You will not receive any notice that the change occurred nor will you notice the new security update. But please note that the links will be changed.
If you review your list of folders and files and see a file or two that you would like to update now to avoid possible issues later, you can easily copy the file which will create a new link. You can then distribute the new link and/or update a website to point to the new link.
We would suggest renaming the old version of the document (or deleting it–your choice).
You can review what folders/files will be updated by opening the document from the link in the email that Google sends you. There is no need for you to do anything with these folders and files at this time, but you can (see “What else should I know” below). The email is just an update for an upcoming change.
We suggest you save this email, and possibly star the message in order to reference it again in September or later this year.
The security update will change the link to a new link. No content will be changed.
If in September or later this year, you start receiving email updates for people to access the folders/files impacted, more than what you may typically get for a folder or file, you should re-share the new link to those you want to have access to the folder or file.
If the folder or file is located on a website, you would need to update the website to use the new link.