The Galter Health Sciences Library recently received an award to create a multipurpose space in the Learning Resources Center with the aim of improving and supporting the student and faculty collaboration experience. The new space will also allow Galter librarians to teach small groups of faculty, staff and students on Mac-specific applications. Enhancements related to this project include:
- A new mobile 50-inch plasma display with an attached Mac Mini
- Upgraded and new software on the iMacs
- New furniture
This is just one of many pilot projects the Galter Library has undertaken to create spaces within the library facilitating collaboration among students, faculty and staff.
The Specifics
A large screen Mobile Monitor Cart is available for use by individuals and groups anywhere in the library when it is not needed for instructional purposes. The cart includes a 50-inch large screen plasma display and a Mac Mini computer. Also included are a wired mouse and keyboard for use with the Mac Mini or, if you prefer, a wireless mouse and keyboard is available for checkout at the Circulation Desk. The Mac Mini can be used on both the NU wired and wireless network. HDMI and VGA connections are available so you can attach and display the screen of a personal laptop or other handheld device via the plasma display.
The iMacs in this area have been upgraded to the newest Mac OS, Snow Leopard, and the latest versions of iLife (‘11) and Microsoft Office (2011) have also been installed. ScreenFlow, a screencasting software program that allows you to capture what you are doing on your computer screen, edit the video and then output the results into a QuickTime or Windows Media file, is a new addition to the software suite on these computers.
New furniture was also purchased to create an area that allows faculty, staff and students to easily work and talk together at a table while still being able to interact with a computer. Electrical and network connections are available at the desktop so you can use your personal devices as well as the library-provided iMacs. The furniture was also chosen so that this space can be used as a small hands-on computer training space for Mac-specific applications. Check the library’s website this summer for announcements about Mac-only training sessions.
This project has been funded in part with federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. N01-LM-6-3503 with the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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