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New IT Help Desk in the Sexton Library

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SextonLib

Dalhousie Libraries and Dalhousie University’s Information Technology Services have joined forces to set up a new IT Help Desk in the Sexton Library. The new Help Desk is in the circulation area, adjacent to the Reference Desk, and provides general assistance with issues such as:

– Windows & Mac computers and associated applications
– Getting connected to campus network (wireless, resnet, ethernet)
– NetID management (activating, resetting password etc.)
– Email (use of WebMail and email client programs)
– Web browsing and other general computing
– Online web learning (OWL)

The Help Desk is staffed Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. You can visit in person, call  494-3139 or email sexton.helpdesk@dal.ca

Try 3D Printing in the Killam Library Learning Commons

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3D printing is now available to all in the Killam Learning Commons! This pilot project, the goal of which is to incorporate 3D printing as a regular service to patrons at a low cost, is the first of its kind at Dal. [Note: As of September 2014, the price of 3D printing is 8 cents per gram. 3D printing is available at four Dal Libraries locations: Killam, Kellogg, MacRae, and Sexton.]

 

These models each took about an hour to print. The dental mould has applications for dentistry students, while the Taj Mahal model could be useful to theatre students building sets. (Bruce Bottomley photo)

3D printing is the process of creating physical objects by building layers of quickly-hardening material one on top of the other. This technology has been around since the 1980s, used mostly by engineers and industry designers. The popularity of 3D printing has grown outside of these disciplines thanks to the efforts of the 3D printer hobbyist community, who have made it cheaper and more accessible.

The 3D printer in action at the Learning Commons Help Desk in the Killam Library. (Bruce Bottomley photo)

 

For this project, Dalhousie Libraries is using a Makerbot Replicator 3D Printer. Users will be able to print their 3D models by sending an STL file to the Help Desk through Filedrop to the address 3Dprinting@dal.ca.

You can create STL files by using 3D modelling programs such as SolidEdge or Google SketchUp. If you don’t have any 3D modelling experience, take a look at Thingiverse.com. Thingiverse has a number of STL files free for download, so check it out and see if there’s anything you want to print.

 

A close-up of the printer building a model. (Bruce Bottomley photo)

 

For more information, visit the 3D printer page on the Dalhousie Libraries website and read the feature story in the Dal News.

Dal Libraries Congratulate Marc Comeau!

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One of the last pieces of the Dal Libraries’ amalgamation with the ITS Help Desk service is now in place.

Marc Comeau has been Systems Manager of Libraries Information Technology Systems (LITS) since 2007 and played a vital role in bringing the Help Desk into the Killam Learning Commons. To reflect the expansion of LITS’ duties, Marc’s position has been reclassified and his official title has been changed to Director, Library IT.

The reclassification reflects not only the level of system-wide responsibility that Marc has for IT services in the Dal Libraries, but also the level of his enterprise-wide responsibilities for systems used by the entire University community.

“All of this is a reflection of the greater role that LITS has been playing within the Libraries for some time now. Today, we are working on the core tasks and infrastructure that the Libraries depend upon. We have more institution-wide responsibilities than ever before. It’s very challenging but equally exciting.” says Marc. “Bringing the Help Desk on board has further solidified our role as a key service point that reaches all of Dalhousie.”

“The reclassification process is quite involved,” says University Librarian Donna Bourne-Tyson, “and I am pleased that the outcome reflects the responsibility, strategic vision and expertise involved in the position. Congratulations Marc on the well-deserved recognition of your contributions to the Dal Libraries!”

ITS Help Desk at the Kellogg – Meet Dag Tollefsen

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We welcome Dag Tollefsen to the new ITS Help Desk located on the main floor of the Kellogg Library. We’ll let him introduce himself in his own words.

“My name is Dag Tollefsen (pronounced Dæg like  Dag Hammarskjold). I’ve worked with several organizations, including DFO White Hills in St. John’s, BIO in Dartmouth, the Department of Oceanography here at Dal, Dell in Ottawa, and most recently I was the Computer Specialist with the Department of Physics at Carleton University.

My wife Cristina and I moved back to Dartmouth with our 18 months old daughter last year so that Cristina could work with the Federal Government, and we’re really glad to be back! We forgot just how kind everyone here is.

As for my responsibilities at Killam, I am a member of the Dalhousie Help Desk, but with a focus on the members of the Carleton campus. I cover:

1. wireless setup and troubleshooting
2. Dal Online PIN resets
3. MyDal password resets
4. general Dal network troubleshooting
5. general assistance with applications such as Office, email, web browsers, etc.
6. help with virus/malware infections

I can be reached by the general Help Desk extension (494-2376) and the Help Desk email ( helpdesk@dal.ca ) and I am located right in the Kellogg library.”

IT Help Desk Now In Learning Commons

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The Killam IT Help Desk has now completed its move into the South Learning Commons.  The Learning Commons technical assistance team have also moved into the same space to provide a central location for all IT services.  The “old’ Technical Assistance desk is still in place, but not staffed, and will eventually be removed.  If you require any assistance please come in to our new location, or just pop in to say hello!

The Help Desk will always be open the same time as the Learning Commons, so it will now have slightly extended hours than it did before the move.

The fall and winter hours of operation are normally:

Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 12 midnight

Saturday and Sunday
10 a.m. – 12 midnight

As exams are approaching the Learning Commons/Help Desk will be opening at 8am on weekends from November 21st until Dec 19th.

Help Desk Moving Into The Learning Commons

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A date has been finalized for the Killam Help Desk to move into its new location in the South Learning Commons.  On Tuesday November 10th the Help Desk in the basement will close.  The Help Desk will reopen in its new location during Friday, November 13th. 

During the three days it takes to move into the new location, including Remembrance Day, a temporary Help Desk will be in operation at the Technical Assistance Desk in the South Commons.  Due to space and security limitations machines will not be able to be dropped off for repair on Tuesday or Thursday after 4pm, and also all day Wednesday.  Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused during the move.  We’re sure you’ll appreciate the end result!