A new, networked printer/copier has been installed on the 5^th floor of the 185 West Broadway building, in the lounge space at the far end of the cafeteria.  This printer works the same as the ones in the Library, and you may configure your laptop to print to it, following the Information Technology Instructions under the Portal’s “Info Tech” tab.  This printer is named W500, and it is available 24 hours a day, even when the Library is closed.

Meanwhile, the printer/copier has moved out of the Information Technology Help Desk room next to the Library Reference Desk (L100).  If you have configured your laptop to send jobs to that printer, the jobs you send will be automatically routed to the printer in the Reserve Room (L101).  If you want to print on the first floor of the Library, you don’t have to change anything.

The printer/copier that moved out of the Help Desk room has been relocated to printer/copier room L204, which sees the highest volume of printing.  Installation of that machine is not yet complete; you will be notified when it is up and running.

Effective Monday November 8, study areas and computer labs in the Mendik Library at 185 West Broadway will remain open to NYLS students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  This Study Hall schedule will remain in effect through the end of the exams period, except over Thanksgiving recess.

During the Study Hall period all areas behind the Circulation Desk, including the Reserve Collection and the Reserve Reading Room, will close at 11 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, and 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The Library opens for business at 8 a.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. on weekends.

During overnight Study Hall hours there are no librarians on duty; security guards patrol Library rooms and study areas.  All Circulation transactions, including borrowing and return of books, as well as charge-out and charge-in of Reserve materials must be complete by regular closing time.  Policies regarding food, drink and quiet study remain in effect.

Overnight Study Hall is for NYLS students only; you’ll need your NYLS ID to stay at closing time, and to enter the Library after closing. Please have your ID ready to show the guard.

Extended Study Hall hours are suspended for Thanksgiving break, Wednesday November 24 through Sunday November 28.  Study Hall resumes on Monday November 29.

On the lighter side . . . just in time for Halloween come these Extreme Pumpkins.  Quite a collection; make sure to check out the Photo Gallery and previous Contest Winners.

Don’t forget to stop by the Reference Desk for some Halloween chocolate (not to mention answers to all your questions!).  No costume required.

Sorry, end of study break.

For the fourth consecutive year we surveyed one-Ls during First Week library tours about their use of digital communication tools. Nearly 640 students responded to questions about what form of electronic communication they used most often; what social networking site they used and how often; whether they subscribed to or read blogs or RSS feeds; how often they listened to podcasts; what type of computer and which web browser they used most often; and whether they have used e-books. This year’s survey also asked which electronic devices students owned (including Blackberries, iPhones, other smart phones, iPads, and e-book readers), which search engine they used most often, and how often they used a different search engine to repeat a search seeking different or additional results. And, as always, we asked for their favorite pizza topping. The four years of data are beginning to reflect certain trends.

• E-mail use continues to plummet vis-à-vis text messaging as the preferred means of written electronic communication among members of the class of 2013/14. The percentage of those favoring e-mail fell this year to 45%, down from 55% in 2009, 62% in 2008, and 67% in 2007. At the same time, entering students’ preference for text messaging rose to 43%, up from 35% in 2009, 31% in 2008 and 24% in 2007.
• Facebook is continuing to grow in dominance and importance. Not only did 89% of survey respondents name it as the social networking site they use most often, but more and more of those using it are using it more and more often; frequency of use increased again this year, with 46% reporting logging on to the site more than once per day, compared to 2009 (39%) and 2008 (28%).
• While 41% of this year’s class subscribe to or read blogs (up from 36% in 2009 and 32% in 2008), the number of students subscribing to or reading RSS feeds remained small, at just 11%, on par with 2008’s figure but down from nearly 14% in 2008.
• Podcast use presented a mixed bag: while 25% of respondents downloaded or listened to 1-5 podcasts during the year (continuing a downward trend compared to 29% in 2009 and 32% in 2008), those who downloaded or listened to more than 5 podcasts increased to 18%, slightly more than the 16% figure from both 2008 and 2009.
• The popularity of Macs compared to PCs continued a steady climb, rising to 48% from 38% in 2009 and 31% in 2008.
• Internet Explorer continued to lose popularity while both Safari and Google Chrome made big gains as browsers of choice. The latter two (31% and 12%), along with Firefox (36%), are now the choice of nearly 80% of respondent users.
• A new question this year asked which search engine respondents use most often. Not surprisingly, 93% identified Google. Interestingly, 44% of those surveyed “sometimes” use a different search engine to perform an identical search after receiving results from an initial search, perhaps recognizing that individual search engines can have limitations and failings. An additional 8% “usually” use another search engine to supplement their results and nearly 5% “always” do so.
• Another new question asked students which among certain specified electronic devices they owned. Among “smart phones,” Blackberry holds a 40% share compared to the iPhone at 22% and “other” smart phones at 17%. Less than 5% of respondents own an iPad and less than 4% own an e-book reader. A surprising 12% owned none of the five devices.
• Use of e-books (via a computer or any other electronic device) showed an unexpected drop-off –- 42% compared to last year’s 56%.
• Finally, after years of dominance as students’ favorite pizza topping, pepperoni (21.63%) lost its crown to cheese (23.20%). Mushrooms repeated as a contender with 10.66%.

For more information and the complete survey results, click here.

We are pleased to announce the five OneL prize winners in the Mendik Library FeedBlitz Registration Drawing announced during library tours. Congratulations to:  Albina Gertsberg, Tara Gatto, Michael Jozefczyk, Pihra Pizzingrilli and Chloe Mentar, who have each won either a Barnes & Noble Gift Card or a NYLS Guest Card (which may be used for printing and copying as well as food purchases at the coffee bar and the café).

There will be more chances to win later this semester.  All you need to do is stay subscribed to the Mendik Library News & Announcements blog via FeedBlitz (if you are not already subscribed it’s not too late – go to this page, enter your email address and click Submit). We will hold an additional prize drawing on November 5, 2010.

Remember that you can IM with the librarians at the Reference Desk (AIM, Yahoo Messenger and GoogleTalk screen names:   nylslib).  We welcome your IM inquiries about library services, facilities, and legal research.  A librarian is available to answer IMs whenever the Reference Desk is staffed (M-F 9 AM to 9 PM and Sat-Sun 11 AM to 6 PM).  Please take advantage of this service, but remember that for some things, an in-person visit to the reference desk will still be your best bet.

Please remember the policy governing the Group Study Rooms on L2 and L3 in the Mendik Library:

Group study rooms are designated for groups of students to work on academic tasks.  A study group consists of two or more students, conversing in a normal tone of voice.  Study groups are welcome to use the room on a first-come-first-served basis.

Individual quiet study is allowed only when study groups are not using the room.  Quiet studiers must share the room, or yield it if the conversation bothers them.  Be considerate of other library users who may require this room.  Do not stay for more than four hours.

Also, remember to leave this room clean and in order.  All trash should be placed in waste baskets and furniture returned to original locations.  Do not store or leave your belongings unattended.

Remember that you can IM with the librarians at the Reference Desk (AIM screen name nylslib).  We welcome your IM inquiries about library services, facilities, and legal research.  A librarian is available to answer IMs whenever the Reference Desk is staffed (M-F 9 AM to 9 PM and Sat-Sun 11 AM to 6 PM).  Please take advantage of this service, but remember that for some things, an in-person visit to the reference desk will still be your best bet.

On Saturday, April 3rd, the Fire Department will conduct fire alarm testing at 185 West Broadway. The testing will begin in the morning and is expected to be completed by early afternoon.  Alarms will sound from time to time as the FDNY inspectors move from section to section of 185 West Broadway.