Day: June 22, 2011

Copy cards expire June 30 (update)

Posted on by lngo

Update: The library has negotiated a contract extension that will extend the use of Equitrac cards through August 31, 2011 (not June 30 as previously announced). Please see our new blog post on Equitrac copy cards extended through August 31

As part of a transition in vendors for the library’s copying and computer printing services, the Equitrac “copy cards” that have been in use for several years will be honored only until June 30, 2011. Any unused value on the Equitrac cards will be lost after that date. Refunds of unused value will not be available.

For anyone purchasing or adding value to an Equitrac card between now and June 30, we recommend getting only the value that can be reasonably used during that time.

Another option is to use a Cal 1 Card. Currently, this can be done on designated copiers and printers on the second floor of Doe Library, the entrance level of Moffitt Library, and the Bioscience & Natural Resources Library.

Starting July 1, the Cal 1 Card will be used for copying and printing throughout the libraries. For those not affiliated with UC Berkeley, we are developing a “guest card”.

This change is part of a larger transition in which the UC San Francisco Documents, Media & Mail office, in partnership with the UC Library, is managing the copy centers in the Moffitt Library and the Bioscience & Natural Resources Library, and expanding the services available. For more information, see:

» Copying, Printing and Scanning, Self-Service
» Copying, Full-Service
» UCSF Documents, Media & Mail

Equitrac copy cards extended through August 31

Posted on by bquigley

The library has negotiated a contract extension that will extend the use of Equitrac cards through August 31, 2011 (not June 30 as previously announced).

As part of a transition in vendors for the library’s copying and computer printing services, the Equitrac “copy cards” that have been in use for several years will be honored only until August 31, 2011. Any unused value on the Equitrac cards will be lost after that date. Refunds of unused value will not be available.

For anyone purchasing or adding value to an Equitrac card between now and August 31, we recommend getting only the value that can be reasonably used during that time.

Another option is to use a Cal 1 Card. Currently, this can be done on designated copiers and printers on the second floor of Doe Library, the entrance level of Moffitt Library, and the Bioscience & Natural Resources Library.

Starting September 1, the Cal 1 Card will be used for copying and printing throughout the libraries.  For those not affiliated with UC Berkeley, we are developing a guest card.

This change is part of a larger transition in which the UC San Francisco Documents, Media & Mail office, in partnership with the UC Berkeley Library, is managing the copy centers in the Moffitt Library and the Bioscience & Natural Resources Library, and expanding the services available. For more information, see:

» Copying, Printing and Scanning, Self-Service
» Copying, Full-Service
» UCSF Documents, Media & Mail

NCBI’s Nucleotide database

Posted on by esmith

The Nucleotide database is one of three major NCBI databases containing nucleotide sequence data. It contains sequences from the following sources:

  • The International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC, which includes NCBI’s GenBank, the Nucleotide Archive of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), and the DNA Databank of Japan (DDBJ)): a repository containing primary sequence data directly sequenced and submitted by researchers;
  • Reference Sequences (RefSeq): a NCBI-curated collection of non-redundant sequences for major organisms which are derived from primary GenBank data and annotated by domain experts;
  • Third Party Annotation (TPA) Sequence Database: a database of submitter-annotated sequences assembled or derived from primary INSDC data;
  • Protein Data Bank (PDB): an archive of 3-D structural data for biological macromolecules from which nucleotide sequence data is extracted.

The Nucleotide database automatically maps keyword queries to NCBI’s taxonomic organism classification system, and provides a breakdown of the search results by species. Searches can be limited to a single species using the [Organism] field tag. Filters can also be applied for bacteria, INSDC/GenBank records, mRNA, and RefSeq records. Limits include date, source database, gene location, molecule and sequence types. As with other NCBI resources, My NCBI allows you to save Nucleotide searches, create e-mail alerts, and set up preferences for displaying and filtering search results.

SLASIAC Sponsored Interim Report of the Systemwide Library Planning Task Force

Posted on by UC Berkeley Library

On May 4, 2011, Larry Pitts, UC Provost and Executive Vice for Academic Affairs, sent the Interim Report of the Systemwide Library Planning Task Force to all UC Chancellors and the Academic Senate, asking for a review by September 2, 2011. This Task Force was convened by The Systemwide Library and Scholarly Information Advisory Committee (SLASIAC).

The Council of University Librarians has been active in giving feedback to preliminary drafts and will be ongoing participants in any actions that come as a result of this report. Tom Leonard has kept both EVCP Breslauer and the Library’s Administrative Group apprised of the discussions surrounding this report.

As Tom has said about the section on governance, “Governance in a new era of shared services is one of the best sections of this report, giving great hope that the COVC [Council of Vice Chancellors] and CoUL [Council of University Librarians] can have a fruitful relationship.   The suggestion on pg. 19 for ‘a small executive group’ drawn from these bodies and from SLASIAC is a promising idea.”

The Interim Report gives UC Libraries a lot of credit for the extraordinary systemwide savings achieved over the last several years through cooperation. Because of our good track record over the last 35 years (annual savings estimated at $114 million per year), expectations are high that Libraries can achieve even more savings. At the same time, there is consistent acknowledgement that cutting too deep, too fast, or in the wrong places could cripple rather than improve services to users. The UL’s will have quite a bit to say on these points as pieces of the plan are implemented.

The report suggests four broad strategies

  1. Expand and collectively manage shared library services. The report notes that CoUL already has dozens of initiatives ready to move forward, with expected efficiencies and savings.
  2. Support faculty efforts to change the system of scholarly communication
  3. Explore news sources of revenue
  4. Improve the existing framework for systemwide planning, consultation and decision-making.

The report puts forth the estimate that systemwide, libraries may need to cut as much as $52 million over the next six years. Tom reports that he believes this to be the worst case scenario, and probably overly pessimistic. The report also sets very aggressive front-loaded targets (to actually realize $40 million by 2014). These too may shift for the better as the “only to be guessed at future” becomes the known present.

Collections Council will discuss this report at an upcoming meeting.

Best regards, Bernie