The entire Campbell Library building is currently being re-wired with CAT6 wiring. All the fiber optic wires into the building, all the switches, and all the internal wiring are being upgraded. According to Pat Doughty of the Library Network Services Department, this upgrade will significantly improve both speed and reliability of all of the library's computers. During the wiring project, contractors will be working throughout the building, and occasional minor service interruptions may occur. The library's wireless computer system is also being replaced at this time, so that we have the same system used on the rest of the Rowan University campus. User authentication will still be required for access to the wireless network via personal laptop computers.
As part of the wiring replacement, the phone system in the Campbell Library building is being upgraded to Voice over IP service. All the offices and public services desks will be getting new phones. This capital improvement will save Rowan University money because in the future we will only have to maintain one system, not a separate phone and wire system. There will be two data jacks that will be interchangeable, instead of a phone jack and a data jack.
Also this summer, the Library Network Services Department is replacing standalone terminals for library catalog searching in the third and fourth floor book stacks with new thin-client terminals, flat screen monitors, and new keyboards and mice. These more modern computers will be more reliable and easier to use.
The Rowan University Network & System Services Department will be installing the Uniprint (Pharos) printing system in the second floor Electronic Reference rooms (218 and 219) later this summer. This printing system was installed in the library's first floor computer lab this spring along with the other computer labs on campus. It enables users to print files created in any computer lab (or on the wireless system) in any other lab. Students will need to bring their Rowan cards and swipe them to release their files for printing. The cost is 4 cents a page, after the first 375 pages per semester. This system helps Rowan allocate printing expenses more fairly among users, and encourage people to only print what they really need. This will not only save Rowan University money, but also help the environment.
Don't forget that near the computer lab on the first floor there are four networked Macintosh computers available for use by students and faculty. Also, many of our copy machines now take the Rowan Card instead of coins. The price is still 10 cents per page. There is at least one copy machine on every floor, so if the machine you visit is out of paper or has a jam, simply go to another floor. Notifying a staff member of the problem is always appreciated too!
