3/24/15
Before leaving for Spring Break our internship class welcomed a guest speaker representing the university library. We learned how to search through the library database and catalog for information on library.stonybrook.edu. I was surprised to find out that this website also provides resources to more easily gather information using specialized databases outside of the standard search tool on the home page. Whether a student is interested in respiratory care or mechanical engineering, the library offers access to databases suited just for each of these individual branches of knowledge. I can’t wait to show these tools to customers next time anyone asks me when I’m on shift in the reading rooms!
For shadowing, I moved my hour with Jasmine in order to attend Helen’s resume workshop that week. Instead, Celia mentored me that weekend in North Reading Room. She taught me how to open Sparky, an SSH client used primarily by Computer Science students. Celia also discussed much of the team-based elements that I will pick up as a Senior Consultant. We went over the TLT Blackboard page, which actually has two hidden folders that are hidden from regular consultants. The first folder is the Sr. Con folder, containing a handbook and information relevant only to Sr. Cons (in case we ever need a refresher). Meeting Minutes, which is a recap of each meeting written by one Sr. Con each time, is also kept here. The second folder is the Paper Run folder, which simply lists the consultants who work as paper runners. Celia made clear the distinction between these consultants, who push the large carts carrying boxes of paper between SINC Sites, and other consultants who take paper run shifts at Main and only refill remote printers. This is important because only consultants listed in this folder receive priority scheduling! I also learned about server room and supply closet policy when working at Main, as well as the GroupMe mobile app used as another means of communication between Sr. Cons and Rose and Pam. Lastly, I replied to an email about conQuest towards the end of my shift. Jenney told me about ADV workshops, which serve to teach transfer students about SOLAR and Blackboard. DoIT also makes a voicethread in order to keep students informed in case they cannot make the workshop.