We'll also talk about what the future@KSL might offer graduate students. We especially need Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Weatherhead graduate students to meet with library staff in informal discussions.

Share your knowledge & remarks on your research activities—we look forward to hearing from you. Registration is required, lunch is provided. Participants from all groups will be entered in a drawing for a Kindle Fire, which could change your research, too!

Sign Up for your school's session here: http://tinyurl.com/KSL-focus-group

• Social Science & Weatherhead Graduate Students: Feb 1, Noon -1:30 pm
• Arts & Humanities Graduate Students: Feb 6, Noon - 1:30 pm

Sessions are in the Graduate Research Commons room, SW corner (Severance Hall side), 2nd floor.

This semester many of the workshops will take place in the new ACR (Active Collaboration Room), the completely remodeled KSL 215 classroom with high-tech features and comfortable new furniture. Another new offering is a series of workshops, "Tell Me About Technology." Part demonstration and part discussion, these one-hour workshops take place each Thursday on a variety of different topics ranging from e-books to Facebook!

Faculty who are interested in having students incorporate New Media projects into their courses are encouraged to contact the library's Creative New Media Officer Jared Bendis (jared.bendis@case.edu) He'll consult on project parameters, arrange for training sessions, and help faculty learn how best to take advantage of resources such as the Freedman Center and the Software Center.

Registration is required for CaseLearns, where classes continue to be posted. Please check back for new classes, and read more about the program and the Attendance Policy. We'll see you in a class, soon!

These changes in service are based upon an extensive analysis of transaction records that tracked the most frequently asked questions at the Reference Desk, and the times of day during which help was sought. Many (if not most) research libraries have seen the number of walk-up transactions falling over the past ten years, and have been modifying their services accordingly. By reassigning Research Services Librarians (formerly known as reference or collection management librarians) from wait-for-walk-up to a more active form of service, KSL is now able to tailor our services for the benefit of the entire University community. Therefore, beginning this semester the librarians will:

• actively increase their availability for appointments not only in KSL but in academic departments and other places of need on campus.
  
• receive referrals by Main Service Desk staff to handle questions that require specialized assistance.
  
• be available "on call," with at least one librarian scheduled from 11:00 am-5:00 pm Monday through Friday to provide quick assistance within KSL.
  
• increase the opportunities to collaborate in and assist with faculty and student research through regular consultation in academic departments and in a new first floor consultation room created in KSL to meet one-on-one or with small groups.
  
• offer increased instruction opportunities, such as greater availability to teach classes, to assist in assignment/project creation with instructors, and to be available by appointment to assist students.
  
• increase their ability to attend academic department programs, seminars, and other events to proactively support collection development and research needs of faculty.

In addition, KSL will continue to provide a 24x7 online chat service through OhioLINK and through other online systems, including:

• Email: asksl@case.edu
  
• Phone or text message: (216)236-3KSL (216-236-3575)
  
• Chat: http://library.case.edu/ask
  
• Your Librarian: http://library.case.edu/ksl/collections/management/specialists.html

As a further improvement in research services, also on January 17, the library will introduce “KSL Summon,” a service that allows simple searching across the library’s collections of books, journals, and electronic resources, as well as the resources of OhioLINK. The search interface can be used in a straightforward “Google-like” mode, but also provides enhanced features to enable more complex searching. In either case, the search will enable the user, with a single click, to search the CWRU catalog and most of our electronic resources. The KSL Summon index also makes suggestions of more specific databases that may assist the user with in-depth research. KSL Summon will continue to grow throughout the semester as additional resources are indexed.

As Kelvin Smith Library is implementing additional assessment and opportunities for user feedback as part of an ongoing effort to improve the library’s services, users are invited share questions and comments with Brian Gray, KSL Team Leader for Research Services, at bcg8@case.edu or 216-368-8685.

On Wednesday, January 11th we will be purging all saved files from the Freedman Center's work stations. To ensure you don't lose them, please come in to take all files with you. Need a jumpdrive? We sell 'em! Contact us at freedmancenter@case.edu with any questions.

During Interim Session, KSL is open six days a week & adjusts library hours, open until 8:30 Monday through Thursday evenings, and all day Friday and Saturday. Friday the 13th, KSL stays open until 8 pm for those who want to get items ready before the MLK Holiday Weekend.

So whether you're catching up or getting a head start, now is a great quiet time...we'll see you soon!

KSL is adopting the Summon search service to improve the access, speed and results of searching the library's collections. This search service includes the library's catalog holdings, as well as most databases, Digital Case, and more!

If you would like to enroll as a beta testers, please go to http://library.case.edu/ksl/services/summonbetasignup/

Between semesters, KSL is closed on Sundays, but our Interim evening weekday hours make it easy for you to pick up a book, drop off some items, talk with staff or simply enjoy some quiet time before the semester begins on January 17th.

• Tuesday - Thursday, Dec. 27, 28, 29: 8 am - 5:30 pm
• Fri - Mon, Dec. 30, 31, Jan. 1-2: Closed for New Year Holidays
• Tuesday - Thursday, Jan. 3, 4, 5: 8 am - 8:30 pm
• Friday, Jan. 6: 8 am - 5:40 pm
• Saturday, Jan. 7: 9 am - 5:30 pm
• Sunday, Jan. 8: Closed/Interim
• Mon - Thu, Jan. 9-12: 8 am - 8:30 pm
• Friday, Jan. 13: 8 am - 8 pm
• Saturday, Jan. 14: 9 am - 5:30 pm
• Sunday, Jan. 15: Closed/Interim
• Monday, Jan. 16: Closed, MLK Holiday

Enjoy the video capture of both days and explore the colloquium site!

Schedule & speaker biographies included.

Ancestry Library Edition includes digitized images of
• U.S. Federal Census (1790-1930)
• Passenger and Immigration Lists Index
• Military Records
• Vital Records back to the 1800s
• Obituary notices
• US, UK & Canadian records

Enter a name and city & retrieve information that otherwise might have taken you weeks, months, and travel to collect. Reader & printer-friendly tools and other features help you navigate and print easily.

InfOhio has some helpful user guide documents to help you get started. Or, learn how to use it from this short video!

Enjoy this Kelvin Smith Library Research Spotlight.

• Sun, Dec. 11: 2 pm-Midnight
• Mon - Thu, Dec. 12-15: 11 am-Midnight
• Fri, Dec. 16: 11 am-8 pm
• Sat, Dec. 17: Closed
• Sun, Dec. 18: 2 pm-Midnight
• Mon - Tue, Dec. 19 & 20: 11 am-9 pm
• Wed - Thu, Dec. 21 & 22: 11 am-4 pm (exams over)
• Fri, Dec. 23 - Mon, Jan. 2: Closed

After the holidays, come in during Winter Break & get a head start on the next semester...or just enjoy a warm beverage and have lunch or snacks while you catch up on readings & meet with friends.

• Tue - Fri, January 3-6: 11 am-4 pm
• Sat - Sun, January 7-8: Closed
• Mon - Fri, January 9-13: 11 am-4pm
• Sat - Mon, January 14-16 Closed

Plan a visit to Cramelot, soon!

Spring Semester begins on Tuesday, January 17th & Cramelot returns to regular cafe hours.

Here's how:

1. Bring in your completed poster file
2. We'll load it onto our station
3. Tell us how you want it (length, type of paper)
4. Pay for your poster at the Main Service Desk
5. We'll let you know when it's ready!

If you need a consultation with Ann Holstein, our poster printing expert, you’ll still need to set up a time. Visit our website for more information on this service and schedule an appointment.

Sponsored by the Center for Policy Studies, this discussion is held in the 2nd floor Dampeer Room 12:30 pm - 1: 30 pm. Visitors are welcome to take advantage of beverages & food items at the main floor Cramelot cafe in the library & bring them to the discussion.

The KSL location map also indicates an underground parking garage for visitors (fee), and nearby metered street parking, as available.

• Media items are fragile—protect them, and use KSL's indoor bookdrop return

• KSL staff now checks the outdoor bookdrop several times a day, so if you have time-sensitive items, return them inside.

Otherwise, please enjoy the new 24x7 bookdrop convenience. It means you don't have to carry those large stacks of heavy books quite so far anymore!

Whether it's new buildings in town, or ones under construction, University Circle also has a wealth of them, including announcements about new projects throughout the University Circle environs. Steven Litt brings his analysis of art, architecture, and urban life to this week's session. He is sure to engage the audience in related issues of accessibility as well as artistic plans like the pedestrian bridge, MOCA, and the Temple complex. Join us & hear his viewpoint on what the vision may bring to our work-lives here, plus his own commentary, vision, and questions about plans for the future development of University Circle. Make your plans to attend!

Sponsored by the Center for Policy Studies, this discussion is held in the 2nd floor Dampeer Room 12:30 pm - 1: 30 pm. Visitors are welcome to take advantage of beverages & food items at the main floor Cramelot cafe in the library & bring them to the discussion.

The KSL location map also indicates an underground parking garage for visitors (fee), and nearby metered street parking, as available.