USE OF UAMS LIBRARY’S LRC FOR TESTING GROWS

This was a busy year for testing in the Library’s Learning Resource Center (LRC). Two hundred and ten (210) tests were given to students from all of the UAMS colleges. This is a 72% increase in the number of tests given when compared to those given in the academic year 2002/2003. There have been very few days when there has not been at least one test going on in the LRC. Tests have been given using Authorware, WebCT, and Perception as well as a few customized tests for special programs.

Testing is handled in two ways in the LRC. Instructors may reserve LRC facilities for specific times when all students come at the same time and take a test. Or students may work with the LRC staff to arrange for “window of opportunity” testing in which the students come by at any time during a specified time period to take their tests. The LRC checks photo IDs and requires students to sign in before logging students into a test.

College of Medicine students have been taking “window of opportunity” tests, but due to the large class size the students are required to reserve a specific time period before testing begins. When large numbers of students are taking tests, the LRC works together with Academic Services and Academic Computing to make use of multiple computer labs in the LRC and on the 8^th floor of the Education Building.

Instructors and students were pleased to discover that students could take tests in the LRC on evenings and weekends. Students have generally had a positive attitude toward being able to select times that are convenient and that they believe are times when they can give their peak performance.

Please contact Joanna Delavan, (686-6752, DelavanJoannaE@uams.edu) or Jan Hart,(686-6751, HartJaniceK@uams.edu), for further information.

Resource of the Month:
PDA NEWS

ePocrates just released the new ePocrates Dx for the Palm. This PDA diagnosis tool uses the Griffiths 5-Minute Clinical Consult integrated with ePocrates Rx reference and ICD-9-CM codes. This application needs 5.5MB of free memory and costs $59.99 for a one-year subscription and $99.99 for a two-year subscription. However, UAMS affiliates get 50% off ALL ePocrates products.

This resource is available for Palm systems only. The Pocket PC version is currently under development and will be released at a later date. Please contact Abby Holt, (holtabby@uams.edu), for the ePocrates discount code.

Abby Holt, MLS
Campus Outreach Liaison

Visitors and Access to Computers and the Internet

The UAMS Library is eager to assist visitors seeking health information, including students involved in biomedical research. Visitors are welcome to peruse the collections, particularly the Library’s consumer health collection housed behind the Reference Desk. Visitors are also welcome to use the limited number (currently eight) of computers on the First Floor of the Library that are set aside for the general public. The Library’s Computer Use Policy for Visitors outlines the Library’s policy for use of computers and the Internet, the behaviors considered inappropriate on UAMS Library computers, and restrictions on children using the computers. Please see further details in the policy.