Computing at Reese Library

The Information Desk

The Information Desk on the first floor of Reese Library is able to assist library patrons with printing and scanning, computer logons, microform machines (personnel permitting), and basic computer technical help such as saving files, sending emails and attachments, scanning, and using the wireless network. Someone will be available at the desk whenever the library is open. For more extensive help using the computers or for an in-depth orientation to the microfilm reader and scanners, a staff member is available Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. to assist. The ITS Student Helpdesk is co-located with the Information Desk and can provide more in-depth computer assistance.

 

Logging in to a Reese Library Workstation:

The majority of the computers in Reese Library are for student, faculty and staff of Augusta University and the Summerville contingent of East Georgia College. There are four computers which are available for community users if not in use by our students, faculty or staff. There are also computer kiosks on each floor that give direct access to the GIL-Find library catalog to any library patron.

Students receive a Pounce account as part of their application to Augusta University. Students should use the Pounce userid and password to access campus computers after they have registered for classes. Faculty and staff are given userids and passwords as part of the hiring process. Users should contact the ITS helpdesk at 706-721-4000 if a password is forgotten or not working. Before calling, a few things to check are:

1. Is the Caps Lock key on? This may be checked on Reese Library lab computers by the blue led on the upper right of the keyboard above the icon that looks like a lock with an "A" in the middle. (The one with the 9 in the middle is usually on – but that is normal.)
2. Are any personal items sitting on the keyboard? The most common is a notebook laying on the edge of the keyboard just pressing the Ctrl key.

Saving Your Work:

Saving your work often is one of the keys to college success. No one likes to be putting the final touches on his/her masterpiece only to have the computer eat all that work in a blink of an eye. Worse for the aspiring scholar, for virus security and general stability, all of Augusta University computer labs have software that boots the computer to a clean version of Microsoft Window every time it is restarted. If the machine reboots, all that hard work is gone to the ether. The first step of correcting any machine that is acting weird or having a problem is to reboot the machine - sending all the unsaved work straight to the mythical bit bucket.

Where to save files:

1. The easiest way to save files is to carry and use a USB Flash Drive (often called a thumb drive or jump drive.) These are very inexpensive and can have huge storage capacities. The Augusta University computer labs have USB 2.0 ports with very few having USB 3.0, the best bet when buying a drive is to make sure that it is USB 2.0 compatible. This may change in the future as new machines replace older machines in the next few years. When you first get a USB Flash Drive, use Notepad to make a text file with your contact details such as your campus email address and phone number. Put it in the root of the drive and call it something like if_found.txt. This way if it is left behind in a campus computer, we can contact you to get it back.
2. Save the file to Box (https://box.augusta.edu). This is a cloud storage option. The space is practically unlimited. I recommend creating a folder for each class you take or club or other activity you join and storing the respective files so you will always have them. You have access to Box (https://box.augusta.edu) anywhere you have an internet connection and it uses your JAGNetID and Password to access. There are tools integrating box into the Microsoft Office product suite on campus, so you can save and open your files directly from box inside the applications. Of note, you lose access to box when you graduate or take a semester break, so you will want to make a copy of your files to your home computer or a USB drive at the end of each semester.
3. Save the file to the desktop and email it to yourself as an attachment. This option is not as good as the previous two. It leaves you open to a machine lockup eating your hard work before you can attach it to the email. The machines are pretty stable, but why leave your hard work open to the whims of nature if you can help it? It is a good solution if you have mislaid your USB drive and have no time to go find it.

When to save files:

1. When you first open any blank document in an application. Use the software's "Save As" option to place the file in the location you wish to store it and name it something that will tell you what it is. I like the "[classname]_[assignmentname]_[myname]" (i.e., ENGL1101_IntroductoryEssay_JohnDoe.docx) file naming structure, because even 10 years later, I can still tell what an assignment was. Some professors, particularly in Desire2Learn submitted assignments, may tell you what to name your file in the assignment instructions or the course syllabus, so be sure to check those places out before you name the file.
2. When you have written a paragraph or completed a particularly complex thought. Use the software's "Save" option to make sure you don't lose those bons mots. Basically any time you complete a thought you should save the file.
3. When it has been a while. You sit there reading through your notes for that great quote you found in one of your sources and find you didn't write down the part you really need. The book is on the shelf so you just need to go get it. Or, you have been working on your paper looking through on-line articles in GALILEO drinking that large Starbucks you got at the canteen and realize that nature is calling. Before you get up, save your file. Basically, anytime you have been sitting at the computer with the file open doing other tasks, save the file. In short, SAVE YOUR FILE.

Printing in Reese Library:

Students can print on campus using their printing allowance. Students can go to the JAGCard office to add funds to this allowance if they find they need more pages. There are printers on all three floors of the library to accommodate black and white printing. The process varies for the three floors.

First and Second Floors:

On the first and second floors the printer is called BW Queue and prints to a virtual release station. Once you have selected print and selected BW Queue, a popup will appear asking for your JAGNet User ID and a name for the document. You can collect your prints at any black and white printer on campus that has a card swipe station within about 30 minutes from the time you printed. There are two black and white printers with card swipes on the first floor and one on the second floor. (There are additional printers in Allgood Hall and Greenblatt Library to collect the prints as well, but the job may timeout before you can get to those.) Swipe your card at the swipe station or touch the screen and type in your student ID number to get a listing of all your print jobs. Select the ones you want to print and press the print button.  Any you sent by mistake can be removed by selecting them and pressing the delete button.  You only pay for the prints you print with this method. This is also the process for color prints, only selecting Color Queue instead of BW.  There is a color printer on the first and second floor of Reese Library, one in Allgood Hall and one in Greenblatt Library.

Third Floor:

The third floor only has access to a black and white printer and you select printer SV-Q-LIBR-LOBBY-3. After selecting the printer and hitting print, two popup windows will appear one after the other. On the first one it will tell you your printing balance and how much this print job will cost. Select ok and a second popup will appear.  This one tells you the job has been successfully sent to the printer click ok and go collect your print from the printer by the center stairway on the third floor. There is no option to print in color on the third floor.

Public Users:

Public users can print using a similar process to the first and second floor users, but will need to purchase a printing card from the Library Information desk using an online process.  See the Information Desk for details.

Errors:

On the third floor printer, the first window will sometimes come up with an error that says something about “Unable to execute, Printer in error state”. This error means that the printer the software selected has an error. Go over to the printer and read the LCD. If it says “Out of Paper”, add paper to the trays by gently opening the paper tray and placing a package of paper (without the wrapper) in the tray and gently closing the drawer. If there is no paper next to the printer go to the ITS Student Helpdesk at the Information Desk and inform the staff member there. If any other error is on the LCD on the printer, go to the ITS Student Helpdesk at the Information Desk to get help.

Sometimes the first window will say something about being unable to determine the user’s totals. If this happens, you will need to report to the ITS Student Helpdesk on the library first floor during normal business hours to get your account straightened out.

On the swipe stations, sometimes the card reader will give an error about not being able to retrieve your account information (this usually occurs at the beginning of your first semester or if you’ve had to get a new JAGCard.) First try hitting cancel and then touching the screen to bring up the on-screen keyboard. Type in your student ID number. This will sometimes allow you to get your prints. Whether the typed in ID number works or not, go to the ITS Student Helpdesk on the Information Desk and have the student there fix it. This will make your semester run much more smoothly.

 

Wireless Networking at Reese Library:

Reese Library has two wireless networking options: AU-Secure and AU-Guest. For students, faculty and staff, AU-Secure is the best solution as this network is encrypted over-the-air to prevent unauthorized people from intercepting your communications. AU-Guest allows visitors to campus access the internet while they are here. It is not encrypted since it is designed so visitors can check their mail and calendars while on campus.

AU-Secure:

When you connect to AU-Secure, you will have to provide your JAGNet username and password in the window that presents. On a Windows-based laptop or tablet, the interface will check for the presence of a CISCO security checker software and if found will check the device for programs that have been identified as security or legal risks to our network. If the software is not found it presents a screen to download and install the software. Once installed, it runs the check and if no threats are found, grants connection to the AU-Secure network. Apple laptops are similar, but iPads just present the login screen and let the user have access. iPhones and Android phones are very easy to connect, but depending on which version of the software, may have different screen options. They all require the JAGNet Id and password, but sometimes call them different things. If you have any questions, call the IT Help Desk at 706-721-4000 or visit them at the Library Information Desk. They have checklists for most of the types of phones and can talk you through getting connected.

Errors:

Sometimes a laptop or other device will just refuse to work with the AU-Secure router and give unexpected screen options. If this happens, first try to “forget” the AU-Secure connection and then search for wireless connections (many devices do this automatically.) When AU-Secure reappears in the list try to connect to it. Most of the time it will now run through the connection process and work. The next thing to try is to “forget” the AU-Secure connection and restart the device (i.e. power it off and cold start it.) Then try to connect. Most of the remaining cases will be cleared with this process. If these two things do not work, take the device to the IT Student Help Desk at the Reese Library Information Desk and let them fix it for you.

AU-Guest:

The AU-Guest network is usually very simple to connect to. Select AU-Guest and press/click/tap (depending on device) “connect”. A browser window should pop up with a screen full of legal requirements that you will be agreeing to if you click continue (it might say “yes”). Read it through at least for the first time (by connecting you are acknowledging that you will be legally bound by the words on the screen) before you click the button.

Errors:

Sometimes a device refuses to launch that browser window to allow you to accept the legal contract. If this happens, try to “forget” AU-Guest, manually launch the browser (it will give a connection error at this point), and then try to connect to AU-Guest. This usually fixes the problem, but occasionally the device is just stubborn. The IT Student Help Desk at the Reese Library Information Desk will have to help after that.

 

Reese Library offers a wide range of computers and software for students.