Does the Branching Out blog show up like this when you view it in Internet Explorer (IE)?

This is because you are viewing the blog in an older version of IE. The Branching Out blog (or any UofS WordPress blogs) will not show up correctly in earlier versions of IE. You have a few options:

1. Who cares? It doesn’t really bother you – leave it alone.
2. Look at the blog in another internet browser: Firefox  or Chrome
3. Update Internet ExplorerThe Branching Out blog (or any other UofS WordPress blogs) will not show up correctly in Internet Explorer older than version 8.0. I suggest updating to at least version 10 (11 is the latest).

In January 2014, a new space for student music listening activities was unveiled in the Education & Music Library. It is designed to meet the needs of students who are required to complete individual and group assignments related to music listening, arranging, editing and composition. The space includes new equipment, which replaces the listening carrels that were in the branch for many years.

The listening area includes movable listening carts and comfortable red armchairs.

The configuration includes four media carts equipped with listening equipment such as LP turntables, tape and CD players and input ports for mobile devices and laptops. The stations can accommodate up to 6 simultaneous listeners at once and students can now also borrow noise reduction headphones from the circulation desk.

A close up look at one of the listening carts.

One computer station equipped with software for music editing and music notation is accessible to all students. The music department has generously donated a midi keyboard for use with the computer station. The station is in high demand these days as students have composition and arrangement assignments due throughout the semester. In addition, the equipment helps to facilitate self-directed student projects in music creation and exploration.

The computer workstation allows students to access music composition and notation software and input with midi keyboard.

The listening area is located in close proximity to the CD and DVD collections. The space is part of a larger project to provide more open and flexible study spaces for library users in our branch.

Thanks to a summer-long shifting project, this area has been opened up for comfortable group study.

The entrance of the Education & Music Library has a new look! Over the summer of 2013 we removed our old reference desk and created a new single service point area. Next to the circulation and reserve materials, the new area includes a red ‘feature wall’ to match the colours found in other areas of the Education Building, a curved desk with a swivelling computer monitor and a matching red ‘ASK us’ sign. The new plasma screen has been great for advertising upcoming events and activities in the branch. Construction of the area was completed in September 2013 and both staff and library patrons are enjoying the new area.

In my role as the University Library’s instructional designer, I frequently investigate and use a variety of educational technologies. I also have an interest in considering what is coming down the road and what spurs the adoption of new technologies in post-secondary institutions.

This brief article in THE (Times Higher Education) presents six areas of consideration to help us think about what future services could look like given technology adoption trends.

If you have a moment, give it a glance and let me know what you think!

David Francis

Hi everyone,

It is finally here, a forum for University of Saskatchewan Library employees to connect with, learn from and engage with each other. Branching Out is the result of a vision of library employees sharing the happenings, ideas, photos, and fun in their units across the library — it is something written for library employees by library employees. One Library, with a myriad of units, all intimately connected with each other. Keeping current and “in the know” has never been so easy and, hopefully, it’s never been so fun. So please, read a little, write a little, enjoy a lot.

For information about the guidelines for posting blogs or comments, please look at the purpose & guidelines section. FAQs includes instruction on how to post a blog, add an image, and set up an RSS feed.