INFORMATION SERVICES 2013 Annual Publication Annual Publication 2013 The Information Services annual publication is for friends of the Center for Teaching, Learning & Technology, Information Technology Services and Robert E. Kennedy Library INFO R MAT IO N S E RV I C E S Cal i f o r n i a Po l yte c h nic S ta te U niv e rs ity San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 (805) 756-2966 Cal Poly Information Services | Page 3 Greetings from the CIO For those of you who have received the Kennedy Library’s annual publication in the past, welcome back. For those who are new, welcome. This publication is different from past years because it now combines some of the most recent happenings from the three groups that comprise Information Services — the Robert E. Kennedy Library, the Center for Teaching, Learning & Technology, and Information Technology Services. What happened? The worlds of information, learning, technology and teaching have been overlapping and converging for some time. In recognition, then-Provost Robert Koob created a merged organization about a year ago. Since then, the groups have been working together to explore how we can best support students and faculty in our unique Learn by Doing environment. This publication shares some of our experiences with you, our friends and supporters. It is no secret that state support for Cal Poly has diminished over the past 10 years from 90 percent to our current low of only 37 percent. More than half of these budget losses have occurred over the last five years. The difference has been funded partially by increased tuition and fees, operational efficiencies, reduced classes and services, and philanthropy. These fiscal realities underscore now more than ever the critical importance of collaboration, resourcefulness and innovation in preserving and advancing Cal Poly’s commitment to academic excellence and the Learn by Doing experience. This publication shares the wonderful work of our students and faculty and illustrates how Information Services supports teaching and learning through innovative services and enhanced technology solutions. There is never enough room to share all the things we do, but we thought you might like to learn about the launch of the new Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology, a service and a place that supports faculty in enriching their curriculum with technology; discover more about the Kennedy Library’s new Data Studio, a place where students can find patterns in data to enhance learning; and read a profile of an extraordinary publisher, author, supporter and friend, Peter Booth Wiley. These and several more stories illustrate the depth and range of services, resources and technology that are provided by Information Services to support scholarship at Cal Poly. We hope you will enjoy this publication. We greatly appreciate our partners in progress whose generosity is so very vital to our success. Michael D. Miller Vice Provost for Information Services / CIO Cal Poly Information Services | Page 4 Launched! A Redesigned Cal Poly website Cal Poly’s new home page visually showcases Learn by Doing on campus, offers an improved user experience, and is fully accessible. The engaging content features student success stories designed to reach prospective students, parents and alumni, and features easier navigation so that those audiences can easily learn more about Cal Poly. The redesign was a collaboration between Information Services and Marketing & Communications. Kennedy Library Out Loud Featuring engaging podcasts, fun videos, student stories and more from Cal Poly: lib.calpoly.edu/blog/outloud Cal Poly Information Services | Page 5 Expanding eBook collections Cal Poly students and faculty gained access to more than 16,000 scholarly eBooks as Kennedy Library selectively added individual titles of interest to each college, coupled with the purchase of several large collections. These eBooks strengthened support for important scholarly trends, such as green building technology, while meeting needs of the faculty and graduate students across every discipline. Discover more at lib.calpoly.edu/collections/ebooks/ Cal Poly Information Services | Page 6 Students learning to share data: a critical skill The ability to manipulate, access and share data in a meaningful way is critical to the 21st century workforce in every field. A new campus resource, Kennedy Library’s Data Studio, is designed to support students as they develop these critical skills. At the inaugural Data Studio Open House, students’ work with interdisciplinary data and data visualizations was featured. Among them were ways to detect Netflix service outages through analysis of Twitter posts; a database of E-coli bacteria, its variations, locations and migrations; GIS/maps surrounding architecture, biology, construction management, natural resource management, and marketing; and climate change modeling. Data in society Quentin Hardy, The New York Times’ deputy technology editor, addressed the crowd and raised pressing questions about the future of data in higher education and society. He argued that bringing disciplines together and learning how to find patterns in data, “isn’t just aspirational, it’s critical for where the world is going.” Peer consulting In addition to large screens, high-end software, and flexible space suitable for small workshops and presentations, the Data Studio is home to peer student consultants who help others communicate with data Cal Poly Information Services | Page 7 using geographic information systems (GIS) software. Drop-in tutoring is also available for students to enhance their statistical skills, offered in collaboration with the Statistics Department. The Data Studio was made possible by a generous gift from Peter Booth Wiley, which allowed the library to swiftly create this unique collaborative space. It is supported by the library’s new data services program, led by librarian Jeanine Scaramozzino. libguides.calpoly.edu/dataservices lib.calpoly.edu/blog/outloud/2012/05/11/quentin-hardy-on-what-big-data-means/ “This is a new kind of learning,” said Hardy. “Higher education needs to step up and ?nd spaces like the Data Studio.” Hardy’s talk, along with an interview, is available online at vimeo.com/channels/datastudio. Photo: Marc Smith, Flickr Cal Poly Information Services | Page 8 Introducing the new Center for Teaching, Learning & Technology Dedicated to supporting Cal Poly faculty as they incorporate new instructional technologies into the 2lst century classroom, the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) is a new unit in Information Services. The CTLT was formed when the Center for Teaching and Learning became part of Information Services and soon after merged with Academic Technology. The name, Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology, reflects its unified support of teaching and instructional technologies. Patrick O’Sullivan, recently hired at Cal Poly as the Academic Technology director, was named CTLT director. Increasing accessibility One focus of the new unit is to enhance course content with a variety of learning technologies so that the information is more accessible to more students. With a commitment to student success at the forefront of its mission, the CTLT’s focus in the coming year will be on supporting faculty as they make their course materials more accessible and consistent with CSU standards. This means launching a campuswide accessibility initiative and revamping a website for faculty that offers easyto-use resources for revising course materials to accessible formats. New technologies for learning spaces Another way the staff of CTLT will support learning is by improving classroom environments at Cal Poly through technology upgrades. In consultation with faculty and students, and as budgets allow, the newest technologies will be installed in classrooms. These changes will mean better support for faculty and for student learning. “What is especially exciting is that through CTLT workshops, faculty can update their teaching techniques and take advantage of new instructional technologies,” O’Sullivan said. “That way, when faculty get into updated classrooms, they will be ready to enhance students’ learning experiences.” “There is substantial research con?rming that when we teach with tools that help students with particular needs, we enhance learning for all students,” O’Sullivan said. The CTLT will also collaborate with the Kennedy Library to give students more options to access the resources they need in their coursework — including via their mobile devices — and to increase the innovative use of digital resources in instruction. By adopting an integrated approach in which support for teaching and instructional technology are offered in one place, Cal Poly can continue to provide effective and inspired Learn by Doing experiences for tomorrow’s leaders. Cal Poly Information Services | Page 9 Kennedy Library wins $10,000 John Cotton Dana Award The prestigious John Cotton Dana Award recognizes “outstanding achievement in the promotion of library services.” Kennedy Library is one of eight winners of a $10,000 award from the American Library Association and the first inspired by 1980s “glam” rock. 3. An interactive website where users can see how many banned books they’ve read 4. A shareable infographic about the reasons people attempt to ban books 5. A podcast and blog series featuring two staff readers who read every banned book The I’m with the Banned campaign was designed to inspire community participation in Banned Books Week online, in the library and on campus. In the spirit of Learn by Doing, collaborating staff and students didn’t just want to tell the story of banned and challenged books, they wanted to engage people in the story. 6. A popular T-shirt 7. A video short featuring a student reporter on the campus beat 8. An event with author and director Stephen Chbosky The winning campaign consisted of eight integrated features: 1. An interactive exhibit featuring print infographics about banned books 2. A stitched craftwork reinterpreting banned book covers The interactive web page attracted more than 6,000 visitors. The event with Stephen Chbosky drew more than 500 students and guests. Dozens of libraries across the nation linked to the site. It was a great success, both on campus and throughout the world! Experience it for yourself at lib.calpoly.edu/books/ banned/. Cal Poly Information Services | Page 10 Donor profile: Peter Booth Wiley As the sixth generation family chairman of one of the oldest publishing companies in the United States, Peter Booth Wiley knows a little something about the power of knowledge. Since the days of Thomas Jefferson, John Wiley & Sons has published textbooks that have defined a field, countless bestsellers, and award-winning research, including the work of 450 Nobel laureates. Wiley also partners with more than 800 professional and research societies publishing journals and major reference works. Today this industry-leading company is transforming itself from a traditional publishing house to a company that provides content in print and digital formats and digital services to customers around the world. Knowing Cal Poly As a board member of his family’s publishing firm since 1984 and chairman since 2002, Peter Wiley was familiar with Cal Poly’s strong academic reputation long before his son, Nathaniel (’04), joined the university family as a graphic communication major. His son’s experiences at Cal Poly only solidified Wiley’s understanding of the university’s excellence. “Following Nate’s studies and getting to know President (Warren J.) Baker, I was intrigued by what Learn by Doing means for students as they move into the world of work. When Nate graduated, I began to understand the way his education informed his work experiences and how he analyzed them as he made career choices. He clearly left Cal Poly with experiences that shaped his insights and added to his maturity.” This understanding of the critical value of higher education led to Wiley’s decision to serve on the Library and Information Technology Advisory Council (LITAC), on which he now is chairman. Transformative gifts In 2011, a gift from the Wiley family helped transform the library’s central courtyard from an underutilized 30-year-old space into a modern green “oasis” with comfortable new seating, plants and collaborative spaces. The outdoor atrium is now more conducive to use for the entire academic community. The Wiley family also supported the launch of the Kennedy Library’s Data Studio. The Data Studio provides a unique interdisciplinary opportunity for faculty and staff to gain hands-on experience with new technologies, software and techniques around the evolving use, sharing and presentation of data. Wiley’s personal investment in Cal Poly reflects his family’s legacy of providing the best resources in the right formats to help teachers teach and students learn. Through his leadership on the LITAC and his family’s generous philanthropic commitment, he serves as a catalyst in re-imagining the learning environment at Cal Poly. Cal Poly Information Services | Page 11 More about Peter Wiley Peter Booth Wiley has worked as a magazine and news service editor, journalist and newspaper columnist. He is the author of five books, all of which focus on the American West and the Pacific Basin. Wiley also serves on the boards of directors of the University of California Press, the Northern California Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors, and the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library. Wiley earned his bachelor’s degree in English literature from Williams College and his master’s in U.S. history at the University of Wisconsin. Recognizing two outstanding student employees Glen Beebe and Jennifer Ray, two talented student employees at Kennedy Library, were recognized as 2013 Cal Poly Outstanding Student Employees of the Year for their contributions to the library, campus community and beyond. Glen, a computer science major, is a programmer in Library Information Technology and was named Cal Poly’s top student employee out of 49 nominees from across campus. Jennifer is an assistant for the College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Science (CAFES) librarian, Katherine O’Clair, and was named second runner-up. Regional honors In a surprise announcement at the awards reception, Glen was also named the Northern California and Western Regional Student Employee of the Year by the Western Association of Student Employment Administrators. He had no idea his application had been forwarded to the larger organization. Unique contributions Glen was honored for his work writing code for the library’s website, including an interactive experience for the award-winning Banned Books Week, and an add-on to Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad) software that automates the book request process. His work now benefits more than 25 libraries across the country in facilitating book loans. Jennifer, an agricultural communications 2013 graduate, helps agriculture students find the research resources they need, updates research guides, and teaches research literacy courses. She also works as a student assistant at the Brock Center for Agricultural Communication, where her supervisor was also inspired to nominate her! Jennifer is on her way to graduate school in the fall, where she will continue her study in agricultural public relations. The two students were enthusiastically nominated by their supervisors, Conny Liegl and Katherine O’Clair, respectively. Cal Poly Information Services | Page 12 1 2 3 Cal Poly Information Services | Page13 ‘Pressing Forward: The Book Club of California at 100’ At the opening reception for the exhibit “Pressing Forward: The Book Club of California at 100,” enthusiastic bibliophiles, printers and artists enjoyed a full spring day of events at Kennedy Library. They included a talk by woodcut artist Tom Killion, a Cal Poly Science Café event with bookbinder Erin Zamrzla, and the announcement of the inaugural Book Collection Competition winners. Special Collections at Kennedy Library, a long-standing member of The Book Club of California (BCC), houses an extensive collection of BCC’s fine press publications related to the history and literature of California and the American West. Documenting the heart At the heart of The Book Club of California is its membership. Led by exhibits curator Catherine Trujillo, Cal Poly faculty and students traveled across California to photograph members with their collections. The people portrayed in the exhibit — among them a librarian, publisher, historian and book artist — have each built unique collections that express their curiosity, intellectual passions and enthusiasm for books. vimeo.com/kennedylibrary 1 Mary Austin, member of The Book Club of California since 1994 “When I walked into The Book Club of California for the first time, I knew I was home. The club is an invaluable part of the book world in San Francisco in addition to its library and fantastic public programming. The club’s space creates a setting that welcomes a community that is curious and passionate about books.” Cal Poly, Special Collections. Photo by Brian P. Lawler 2 Josie, Cairn Terrier belonging to San Luis Obispo County resident Diana Thomas, member of The Book Club of California since 1972 Cal Poly, Special Collections. Photo by Kaori Funahashi 3 San Luis Obispo County resident Diana Thomas, member of The Book Club of California since 1972 “I value the BCC as a community of people who appreciate books for their utility and for the delight they can provide to everyday life.” Cal Poly, Special Collections. Photo by Kaori Funahashi Cal Poly Information Services | Page 14 Cal Poly Information Services | Page 15 Cal Poly (interactive) Science Café Imagining your ideal city using found objects. Troubleshooting bacteria collection with researchers. Using your smartphone to play a carnival game and pop real balloons. Cal Poly Science Café continues to challenge participants to Learn by Doing in new ways. Students, faculty and community members work side by side with artists, entrepreneurs and innovators from Cal Poly and beyond. Everyone is invited to this popular public program, featured on Boing Boing and NOVA’s sciencecafes.org. Watch interviews with our experts on vimeo.com/channels/calpolysciencecafe. Cal Poly Information Services | Page 16 Infinite, intimate, inclusive: Making connections with Stephen Chbosky Author and director Stephen Chbosky came to campus for a lively, informal conversation about his coming-of-age story, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” on Oct. 5, 2012. Offered as part of Kennedy Library’s Banned Books Week celebration, the event provided an overflowing audience of more than 500 Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo students an intimate question-and-answer session with Chbosky following his interview with library student assistant Victoria Billings. The conversations revealed the diversity of voices in our community and as the power of literature to make meaningful connections. “And in that moment, I swear we were in?nite.” Watch a video of the Chbosky interview on Kennedy Library Out Loud. Cal Poly Information Services | Page 17 Raytheon supports new ITS roadmap process Using planning methods introduced by Kevin Neifert, Raytheon Co. vice president for strategic planning and a Cal Poly grad, Information Technology Services (ITS) has launched a collaborative planning process with campus units to establish technical roadmaps. Roadmaps offer a way for ITS to align campus needs and resource requirements with the timing of technology projects. By talking with campus representatives, ITS better understands major business processes and concerns within each area. Working together, the teams identify a series of possible technology projects or business process changes that will address identified concerns. A roadmap of technical projects is then created based on campus and ITS project priorities. Popular PolyLearn In just one year, a cross-unit Information Services team successfully shepherded the campus through a massive transition to a new, open-source online learning management system called PolyLearn. PolyLearn is the campus name for Moodle, which provides faculty and students with online tools and resources to enhance lessons, quizzes, assignments and discussions. Its popularity continues to grow, with 850 faculty members using it for nearly 2,000 courses that serve more than 18,000 students. Cal Poly Information Services | Page 18 iPads and Kindles Because of how much students love to check out iPads, Kennedy Library has tripled the number available to borrow. Each iPad features a range of academic and general apps. In addition, the library updated its Kindle devices to provide essential accessibility features. Each Kindle now features more than 370 titles! Meet Eileen Joseph To find out more about Information Services’ current and future initiatives, please contact: Eileen E. Joseph, Director of Advancement Information Resources, Technology & Strategic Initiatives California Polytechnic State University Office of the CIO Pilling Building, Room 115A San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 805-756-5775 (office) 805-458-6473 (cell) Donations can be made online at giving. calpoly.edu/. Thank you for making a difference! Planning our future by learning from our students Kennedy Library regularly asks students for input on services and programs to better meet their needs. During fall quarter 2012 the library partnered with students enrolled in Listening to the Customer (BUS 418) as they investigated the needs of students using the library. Among the students’ suggestions: stocking healthy snacks in the vending machines, providing moveable walls for study flexibility, and adding charging stations to keep mobile devices alive. The library is already moving to implement these ideas. GIVING THROUGH INFORMATION SERVICES Information Services recognizes that a flagship academic institution can only exist with world-class resources. Our mission is to provide unparalleled services to the students and faculty of Cal Poly. Please use my gift for the following purposes: ? ? ? ? Fund for Library Excellence Fund for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Emerging Technologies Fund Earn by Doing Student Assistantship Fund (please specify) ? ? ? ? ? ? Library Services Information Technology Services Center for Teaching, Learning & Technology Special Collections & University Archives Library Collections & Digital Resources Library Building Transformation Fund ? Area of Greatest Need ? Please contact me about additional giving opportunities and vehicles. Donation Information Your Information: Name: Address: City: State and ZIP code: Telephone: E-Mail: Work Information Your gift may be matched by your employer Name: Address: City: State and ZIP code: Send your Contribution Online at: giving.calpoly.edu By the telephone by calling: 805-756-5775 Mail your contribution to: Information Services, Advancement Office Pilling Building, Room 115A 1 Grand Avenue Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0600 California Polytechnic State University Information Services San Luis Obispo, CA 93407