Library Technology and Equipment

Reviewed 8/10/2012 by Stephanie Folse.

Borrow a laptop

Current students may borrow laptop computers at the Information Commons desk on the main floor of the Library.  There are 50 Windows and 5 Mac laptop computers with wireless network access. 

Software on Windows laptops        Software on Mac laptops

All borrowers of IC laptops must sign a Laptop Borrower Agreement form each semester before checking out laptops.

Policies and late fines:

• The check-out period is three hours -- fines for late returns are $15 per hour.
• Laptops can only be used in the Library and are not allowed to leave the building.
• Never leave a laptop that you have checked out unattended, since you will be responsible for the replacement cost if it is stolen.
• Likewise, if a laptop, charger, or other components are not returned or are returned damaged, you will be be responsible for the replacement/repair cost.

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Reviewed 7/31/2012 by Jim Gribble.

Computer help

Help using computers, printers and other equipment in the Information Commons is available at the Information Commons desk in the center of the room during all hours the library is open. If you have questions before visiting the IC, the lab manager phone number is 817.257.7664, or you can use our Ask a Librarian page.

For help with faculty/staff office computers, or student personal computers, contact the Technology Resources help desk. 

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Reviewed 7/31/2012 by Jim Gribble.

Connect to library databases from off-campus

Most online resources listed on the library website can be accessed from anywhere in the world. The only difference you will see when using them from off-campus is that you'll be prompted to log on with your TCU username and password after clicking on the link to the resource. If the logon does not work for you, please contact us.

• Using a bookmark that goes directly to an online resource (bypassing the library website) will often not work from off campus, since the remote site has no way of knowing that you are affiliated with TCU. Since our resources change frequently, it is best to go through the library website for access. If you do bookmark a direct link to a remote database or e-journal, use the URL you find on the library website as the bookmark URL (for example: http://library.tcu.edu/PURL/dbase.asp?AcademicSearchPremier for the Academic Search Premier database).
  
  
• If you are a faculty or staff member using a VPN connection from home, you may need to turn off the VPN connection when accessing online library resources. (This is required if the library website doesn't prompt you to log on before sending you on to the remote site, but the remote website does then prompt you to log on.)
  

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Reviewed 1/25/2013 by Kerry Bouchard.

Hardware in the library Information Commons lab

The Information Commons computer lab has computers available for use by TCU students, faculty and staff.

• 100 workstations running Windows 7 and equipped with base PC software described below. Hardware includes at least 19" monitors, 1GB RAM, all with CD-R/RW drives.
• 4 PC multimedia workstations equipped with additional peripheral hardware and software, as described below.
• 10 iMac computers running OS X, with software packages described below
• 5 of the iMac computers are equipped with HP Scanjet N6310 scanners
• 4 workstations on height-adjustable tables to accommodate wheel-chair access
• 1 ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) station on a height adjustable table, equipped with software for use by the visually impaired

Multimedia workstations include the following hardware:

• 22" monitors
• 2 GB RAM
• CD R/RW / DVD drive
• Canon DR-1210C color scanners

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) workstation includes the following hardware:

• CD R/RW/DVD drive
• Canon color scanner.
• Hands free headset and microphone with Parrot translator for voice recognition

Frog Pods:

Thanks to a gift from the Student Government Association (SGA), the Information Commons added the Frog Pods, six collaborative computing areas, in the fall of 2005.

Frog Pod equipment and reservation procedures

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Reviewed 7/31/2012 by Jim Gribble.

Software in the Information Commons

Personal / Course Software
The Library does not install personal copies of software on Information Commons lab computers, both for security and licensing reasons. If there is free software that you feel should be added to the computer lab software suite, then please send us the details, and we will take it under consideration. In the case of commercial software being used for a course, if it is felt that students would benefit by having this software installed on the IC lab computers, please have the instructor or department head contact us and we will check on the cost of licensing the software for lab use. (Please note that since access to IC lab computers is on a first-come, first-served basis, licenses restricted to one or a few lab computers will generally not be useful, since we can’t guarantee that those particular computers will be available at any given time.)

Users with special needs covered by ADA should contact the Coordinator of Student Disabilities Services in the Center for Academic Services located in Sadler Hall 16.  The Coordinator can also be contacted at TCU Box 297710, Fort Worth, TX 76129 or at 817-257-6567.

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Last reviewed 7/31/2012 by Jim Gribble.

Microform equipment

Need help using the microform equipment? Request assistance during regular hours in the periodicals office or at the reference desk.

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Reviewed 12/13/2012 by James Lutz.

Photocopy materials

Photocopiers are available throughout the library.   Users should abide by the Copyright Law of the United States and Related Laws Contained in Title 17 of the United States Code.

Pricing by contract with our servicer is per image (i.e. 2 images on 1 page front and back will be billed for 2 images.)

* To obtain a Department Copy Card please contact the Director of Library Administrative Services, James Lutz.

Need help using the photocopiers?  Request assistance or report problems to the Circulation Desk.

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Reviewed 12/13/2012 by James Lutz.

Printing

All Information Commons lab computers (including laptops) are set up to print to both black-and-white and color laser printers. Cost is factored into your campus-wide student printing account.

Black-and-white printing:

• The first 200 pages printed per semester are free.
• Printing after 200 pages costs 10 cents per page.
• Double-sided printing, the default, counts each side of the paper as a separate page. (This is because the main cost for TCU is toner, not paper.)

Color laser printing:

• Color laser printing is charged against the same account, and is 90 cents per page; there are no free color pages.
• Due to limitations in the print server software used by all TCU computer labs, each color page also subtracts one page from the 200 pages of free printing if you have any free black and white prints left.
• All color printing is single-sided.

Before sending a print job, please check that you are using the following settings. Other settings may cause the printer to lock up when you go to the Print Station to release the job:

• Paper size: 8.5 x 11 inch (letter size)
• Paper source: default tray or auto tray select
• Stapling and collating functions are not available.

Printing instructions

To print, click on "File" then "Print". The print screen appears with the black and white printer (LibLab B&W on Pharos) set as default.

• To print black and white, double-sided, just click Print.
• To print in color, choose the color printer.
• To print black and white, single-sided, click Properties, and select 1-sided printing, per the image below:

A "Print Job Details" window will open with a box asking for your TCU ID number. Type in your ID number and click "Print".

Your job will be saved on the network print server; it will not physically print out yet. Also, you will not be charged yet. To get a print out, go to any of the lab black and white printers (if you chose to print black and white) or one of the two color printers (if you chose to print in color).

The printer stations below are within the IC computer lab:

• Swipe your ID card in the card swipe scanners.
• Your print job(s) will appear on the monitor. If more than one job is listed, be sure to print only the job(s) that you want to print — unprinted jobs will automtically be deleted from the queue in a few hours, and you will not be charged for those.
• Click on the job you want to print to highlight, then click "Print". Your job will print out on the adjacent printer.

Faculty/Staff

Faculty/staff printing in the Information Commons is charged back to departments, based on the ID card.

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Reviewed 8/17/2012 by Jim Gribble.

Scan materials

The Information Commons lab has five Windows computers equipped with Canon DR-1210C scanners, and five iMac computers equipped with HP Scanjet NR6310 scanners.

Instructions for scanning on Windows computers

Instructions for scanning on iMac computers

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Reviewed 7/31/2012 by Jim Gribble.

Scantron grading machine

A Scantron Test Scoring Machine is available in the library for grading tests. This machine reads Scantron Test Forms 882-Eand 886-E   and Scantron Item Analysis Form 9700. The machine is located in library room 126a, a small alcove at the entrance to the Periodicals Reading Room and is available any time the library is open.

Forms:

• SGA provides free Scantron test sheets 882-E each semester. They are available at the Information Commons Desk. No more than three forms are dispensed at a time. Students may also purchase test forms (882-E and 886-E) at the TCU Bookstore.
• Item Analysis Forms 9700 are available at the Reference Desk in the Information Commons.
• This form determines how many students missed each question allowing the teacher to evaluate the difficulty level of the test.
• Analysis forms available at the library are for tests scored on the library machine only. Analysis forms for machines in other locations must be purchased by personnel at that location.

Prior to using the machine:

• Create an answer key using the same test form used by the students
• Feed the key through the machine
• Feed the student answer forms through the machine
• Feed the Item Analysis through the machine (if desired)
• More detailed instructions are available at the machine site

The librarian on duty at the Reference Desk is also available to answer your questions.

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Reviewed 8/20/2012 by Pat Austin.

Staplers, hole punches and other office equipment

Various service desks in the library maintain supplies of:

• Staplers
• Hole punches
• Paper trimmers
• Pencil sharpeners

Some of these items must be used at the service desk.

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Reviewed 8/20/2012 by Pat Austin.

Screen Saver Announcements

The library will post announcements of upcoming events on the Information Commons computer screen savers when requested by TCU departments and student organizations registered with the Office of Student Organizations and/or student organizations that have a faculty sponsor. Guidelines are as follows:

• The announcement should announce an upcoming event, not advocate ideas and opinions.
• Announcements will be posted for a maximum of two weeks. Please specify the day you would like the announcement to begin appearing, and optionally the last day to appear in your request. There is a limit of one screen saver per event.
• Announcements should be sent at least one week prior to the first day you would like it to appear.
• Announcements may not contain text or images likely to be offensive to others. The Library will review text and graphics for conformance to this policy, and reserves the right to request revisions or reject any announcement outright.
• In rare circumstances, such as early closings due to weather, the Library may pre-empt other announcements in order to provide timely information about an unscheduled event.

When multiple announcements have been requested during a given time period, the “slideshow” screen saver will cycle from one to the next, displaying each for one minute.

Technical Requirements/Suggestions

• Announcements should be in the form of a JPG, GIF, or PNG file, or a graphic embedded in an MS Word file. Maximum size is 800 pixels wide by 600 pixels tall.
• Since the IC lab computer screens have a landscape orientation, horizontal layouts are easier to see from far away.
• You may include URLs for web pages with more information about the event.  However, keep in mind that users will not be able to click on the URL, so the URL needs to be short enough for users to write down quickly.

To post an announcement or get more information, contact IC lab managers Desmond Hemphill or Jim Gribble and include your screen saver as a file attachment if it is ready. Please state the name of your organization in your email message.

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Reviewed 1/25/2013 by Kerry Bouchard.