In Pictures

As a classroom teacher, empty bulletin boards and learning centers generally signified the end of a successful year - or a fresh start to a new year filled with anticipation. The same can be said about bulletin boards in the IRC; while updated periodically throughout a term with new books and resources, completely empty boards are a rarity.

It is a 'no brainer' to remove faded and dated materials from the bulletin boards in the IRC.  Crafting new information can be an intriguing conundrum, should they be refreshed with updated images and paper or should they have new topics? Boards in the IRC are instructional and informational in nature, they provide directions for laminating and Ellison machines, covers for new books, reviews for books added to the collection, and general price lists for services.  Naturally location matters, laminating and Ellison directions are placed above the machines and the price list adjacent to the register.

After mapping out a plan of attack for the empty boards (tables and graphs were detailed!) and waiting for an order placed for fade-resistant paper, seven new bulletin boards are in place for incoming and returning students using the IRC. Two of three pictured here feature directions for using the desk top and roll top laminators; the third provides extended information on QR Codes (use and available apps for phones). One week before the students return, I'm wondering if there is space for another board or two.

A few last minute things

Freshmen are moving in to the dorms today marking the start of back-to-school for the 2010-2011 academic year. Walking to Founder's Hall this morning for updated time-sheets, a building literally next door to the library, I happily gave directions to at least three families looking for the registrars office. They have an exciting and event-filled weekend ahead; activities are planned prior to the first day of classes on Monday.

Last-minute details, things in the library physical space and cyberspace, need to be accomplished today; library and IRC hours updated, the library and IRC blogs will have new animoto welcome videos posted and hours, signs are in place on the main entrance and IRC doors (more visually appealing since the color printer was repaired), and the IRC mouse pads successfully revised. I finished a LibGuides course support guide request a few minutes ago and depending on business in the IRC this afternoon, have possibly unrealistic hopes that two videos can be produced and embedded before the end of the day. I'm lucky enough to have a great group of returning student workers, as well as a new hire or two.

The transition from summer to a new fall term often feels abrupt; in many ways we work all summer to prepare for a successful fall. But there is nothing more invigorating than students thrilled to be on campus. Welcome back!

2014 Mindset List

This week students have started to trickle back to campus; the RA's have already been to the IRC cutting ellison letters, laminating signs, printing in color, and other fun things preparing their dorm environment for new charges to arrive and old friends to return. It wouldn't be a new school year without Beloit College's Mindset list.

"Each August since 1998, Beloit College has released the Beloit College Mindset List. It provides a look at the cultural touchstones that shape the lives of students entering college this fall." -- Mindset List 2014

Here are a few favorites, in no particular order, from the 2014 List:

• Few in the class know how to write in cursive.
• Email is just too slow, and they seldom if ever use snail mail.
• Parents and teachers feared that Beavis and Butt-head might be the voice of a lost generation.
• J.R. Ewing has always been dead and gone. Hasn’t he?
• Having hundreds of cable channels but nothing to watch has always been routine.
• They’ve always been able to blast off with the Sci-Fi Channel.

Oddly enough Beavis and Butt-head, along with the Angry Beavers, were a topic of discussion at a family lunch on Sunday; they were a favorite of my nephews. Despite the fact that Sci-Fi Channel is now SyFy (and home of personal favorites Warehouse 13 and Eureka, but I digress), the list includes interesting points for discussion. See also:

• Beloit College Mindset List, Chronicle of Higher Ed (8/17/10)
• What Your Frosh Don't Know, Inside Higher Ed (8/17/10)
• Beloit College Mindset List: Wear Wristwatch? Use Email? Not for Class of 2014, Huffington Post (8/17/10)