Libraries
MnSCU/PALS (Project for Automated Library Services)
MnSCU/PALS is the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities/Project for Automated Library Services and is a consortium of over 125 libraries and branches with a common philosophy of resource sharing. MnSCU/ PALS libraries utilize a centralized library automation system (PALS) developed over the past 20 years. MnSCU PALS is housed at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Website Information: www.mnpals.org
MnLINK - The Minnesota Library Information Network
MnLINK (the Minnesota Library Information Network) is a statewide virtual library that is funded with a $12 million appropriation from the Minnesota legislature in 1997. It is a collaborative effort among libraries throughout the state, especially the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and the University of Minnesota. MnLINK will be a new statewide information system that will link public libraries, academic libraries, school libraries, and government libraries all over Minnesota so that they will appear to the user as a single resource.
Library Projects
Research QuickStart (Assignment Calculator and LibData)
The Assignment Calculator tool and the LibData tool, developed by the University of Minnesota, will be made available at no charge to Minnesota State Colleges & Universities institutions. Hosting for these service will be provided by St. Cloud State University. If you have further questions or are interested in deploying these tools for your institution please contact Todd Digby at todd.digby@so.mnscu.edu.
About Assignment Calculator
Assignment Calculator provides students with a basic time line and framework for writing papers. After typing in a due-date, the Assignment Calculator displays a list of tasks needed to be accomplished, the dates on which these tasks need to be completed, and links to tutorials and instruction sheets that can help students progress. The outline can link directly to subject resources provided through the LibData software.
About LibData
LibData contains three aspects to LibData:
Research QuickStart (Metro State calls this JumpStart)--a subject guide to resources;
CourseLib (SCSU calls this Course QuickStart)--resources tailored to specific classes;
PageScribe--resources tailored to any specific purpose
All run out of a central database of resources, but can be presented with different headers and footers and with different layouts. Annotations for resources can be edited for specific subjects. LibData provides usage statistics. Contact Todd Digby (todd.digby@so.mnscu.edu) to find out more about these projects.
Contacts:
Todd Digby
System Director of Academic Technology
651-201-1812
todd.digby@so.mnscu.edu
Stephen Elfstrand
Executive Director MnSCU/PALS
507-389-5062
stephen.elfstrand@mnsu.edu
