Welcome to the Commons

“In an information commons, the underlying philosophy is to provide users with a seamless work environment so that they may access, manage, and produce information at the same workstation.”
-D. Russel Baily, Transforming Library Service through Information Commons

The Commons is a collaborative environment that features innovatively designed workspaces offering complete access to the widest possible range of resources.

It is a combination of advanced computers, leading edge software, competent help and support, a wide range of classes, a pleasant environment, collaboration areas, and comfortable seating.

Also available are a practice presentation room with digital projector, and a multimedia room for creating everything from simple images to complex sound and videos.

It is an inviting world which welcomes people who want to study, think, develop new ideas, collaborate with others, or just to rest, read a good book, or surf the net.

So please relax and enjoy this space which has been spcifically designed and created for people like you.

David Newbold
Information Commons Manager

New Workshop Page

We have recently updated the Information Commons Workshop Page (see above for link), not only with new text describing the Workshops, but also providing access to the presentation slides and handouts as well. Now you can see first hand what the workshops are all about, the curriculum, what you get when you participate in the Workshop, and the details of the subjects covered. If you are unable to take a particular workshop, you can still do the exercises and get a summary of the topics covered. So, visit the Workshop Page and explore the wealth of information and exercises available to help you become more knowledgable and proficient in your job.

New Media Room Opens

 The Information Commons announces with great pleasure the opening of the new Media Room to take place on Monday, October 13.  The Media Room computer lets you combine text, audio, video, and graphics to create video and sound clips, graphic images, promotional materials, and animated communications.

To get started in the Media Room, follow these steps:

1. Check out the key at the Biomedical Library main desk

2. Be sure you have a CD, DVD or thumb drive

3. Go to what used to be Study Room 131 (next to the Commons Service Desk).

4. No need to log on.

5. Insert one of the DVDs attached to the key.

6. Select a tutorial and do what it says.

7.  You’re on your way to mastering Multimedia 101.    

Individual or group orientation sessions are available on request.

For more information or assistance, please contact the Help Desk or
David Newbold at dmnewbold@ucsd.edu or 534-3746

 

Office 2007

Office 2007 is now available on all Commons and Graduate computers, in addition to Office 2003. The individual programs for both editions are located in the All Programs list under Microsoft Office

In addition to the standard Office programs, the following have been included: MS Project (project management), InfoPath (forms design), One Note (organization), SharePoint (web design), and Visio (process design).

To assist you in learning Office 2007, the program manual, “Using Microsoft Office 2007” is located in the Common’s mini library to the left of the Help Desk. A separate manual for PowerPoint 2007 is also available there.

Please do not hesitate to ask the Service Consultant on duty for help in locating features and functions.

MatLab

The most recent edition of MatLab is now available on all computers. MatLab is a high-level numerical computing environment and programming language with which you can solve technical computing problems faster than with traditional programming languages.

Stata

A new statistical program called Stata is also available on Commons and Graduate computers. Stata is a complete, integrated statistical package that provides everything you need for data analysis, data management, and graphics. Several sets of manuals are available for reference purposes in the Commons mini-library.

Suggestion Box

We welcome your ideas, suggestions and feedback regarding the Commons and what we can do to improve it. Go to the Commons website Suggestion Page on this web site (http://biomedlinc.wordpress.com/suggestions/, enter your suggestion in the box provided and press the “Submit” key. We will answer your suggestion ASAP.

New Computer Manuals

The Information Commons has just taken delivery of several recently published computer software manuals:

• Adobe Acrobat 8.0 PDF Bible
• How to Do Everything with Adobe Acrobat 8
• Using Microsoft Office 2007
• The PowerPoint 2007 Bible

Microsoft Office Quick Reference Manual

Also, we have put together a series of quick reference help sheets, published by the University of Nebraska, with an extensive table of contents. We realize that your time is short and that you need a way to get answers fast. This manual can help. It covers Word, Excel and PowerPoint 2003. We recommend that you check it out and get used to using it.

We encourage you to have a look at these manuals and find out about methods and functions that can help you get the most form the software you use.

So, What is the Library Information Commons?!?

The Library Information Commons (or LInC for short) is a unique and innovative new resource for faculty, students and staff here at UCSD. On first glance, we appear to be a normal computer lab. But let’s take a closer look…

Overall, LInC is a joint venture between ACS and the Biomedical Library. This means that we have almost 80 brand-new, top of the line machines for your use. In addition to being fast, they have the ability to burn both CDs and DVDs. We also have a scanning station and both a black and white and color printer available. Along with the rest of campus, we have the usual productivity software, such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. But, we also have bioinformatics tools, image editing software, programming tools as well as access to several medical, biological and chemical databases. Check here to see all of the programs available.

Instead of being arranged in a normal configuration, LInC has been set-up to optimize group interaction. Computers are located on hexagonal tables with the sixth space empty for patrons with their own laptops. Additionally, we have wired tables with convenient plugs located on the table top so that no one has to trip over any wires. There are also plenty of convenient plugs located along the walls and in the floors. And just like the rest of campus, we have wireless internet. We also have comfortable, modular furniture that can be easily rearranged. One fact many students don’t know is that LInC isn’t a quiet zone. This is an area where groups can get together and work on projects and assignments. We also have group study rooms and a presentation practice room for your use.

Unlike a traditional computer lab, we have a Help Desk. What makes LInC different than any other computer lab is that we are a combination of a computer lab, reference desk and electronic learning. The Help Desk staff is there to help you with more than just broken computers. They are trained to help you do everything from get your laptop on the wireless network to putting together PowerPoint presentations to looking up information from databases. LInC also has its own reference shelf with dozens of books about using the programs on our computers. These books are available on Roger and can be checked out for up to 24 hours. In addition, there are 390 titles available online for anyone to use at any time.

So, LInC has been designed with today’s students in mind. We offer pervasive technology to provide users with a seamless environment so they may access, manage and produce information all at the same location. We support the unique user needs of professional and academic researchers as well as graduate and undergraduate students and facilitate that learning experience by integrating curriculum, reference resources, instruction and technology. We offer an innovative but comfortable environment with cutting edge technology that allows for research, writing papers, manipulating data and creating presentations, which includes group spaces to encourage collaboration and interaction.

Now, you know what LInC is. We are new, so help spread the word about us. Not only is LInC a place to study or to get your work done, it’s a resource here to help you.