Staff
Q: Who works in the library media centre?
A: Ms A-Y. Bouvier, Mr. F. Duchêne, Ms K. Kozamernik. We also have volunteer parents.
Contact us at: library. sec . cha @ ecolint . ch
Opening Hours
Q: When is the Library / Multimedia Centre open?
A: Monday – Friday: 8:00 – 16:50
General guidelines
Q: Can I have food, drinks, or sweets in the library?
A: No. If you bring a water bottle, it must be kept in your school bag.
Q: What happens if I use my mobile phone inside the library?
A: It will be confiscated and given to the administration.
Q: Why do I have to speak in a low voice in the library?
A: You must allow others to research and work undisturbed.
Q: What do I do if I wish to work with a group of friends?
A: You must borrow the key to one of the small seminar rooms; if none are free, you must go to the cafeteria.
Q: What do I do with books I take off the shelf but don’t want to check out?
A: If you take books off the shelf, please do not put them back. Place them on the book carts.
Circulation
Q: How many items can I have out?
A: There is no set limit.You can take what you need.
Q: For how long can I check out books?
A: Books can be checked out for two weeks. You may renew a book if no one has reserved it.
Q: Can I check out reference books?
A: Reference books, except encyclopedias, may be checked out overnight.
Q: Can I check out magazines?
A: Latest issues of magazines may not be checked out, but previous ones can be loaned for two weeks.
Q: Can I check out music CDs, DVDs?
A: Yes, but for one week only.
Q: How do I know if the library has the book I’m looking for?
A: You must consult our online catalogue (see below).
Q: What if another user has the title I want?
A: You can put in a reservation for it at the issue desk or directly from the online catalogue (see below).
Q: The book I need is not in the catalogue, what can I do?
A: Fill a recommendation form at the desk (or online) or ask the librarians; it could be bought, or borrowed from another library for you.
Using the Library Catalogue
Q: How can I access the library catalogue?
A: You can either use one of the four dedicated computers in the library, or any other school computer. In the library, the Internet defautl home page is the Library’s webpage, on which a link to our catalogue can be found. You can also use the following URL: http://libraries.ecolint.ch/chasec
Q: How do I use the search engine?
A: 1. Type your search query into one or more of the three keyword boxes. To use different indexes or Boolean operators, select a different index or operator in the appropriate list. (For help, see Search Tips.) 2. Limit your search by selecting a material type (such as Book or DVD) in the Material Types list, if desired. 3. Click Search.
Q: How do I read the search results page?
A: Once a search query is sent, the Results page appears listing all the records matching the query. It displays a maximum of 10 brief records at a time. To view the rest of the results list, click the horizontal scroll bar or any of the navigation links at the bottom of the page. From this page you can change the display format (Bibliography-compliant formats, such as MLA are available), sort the record list differently (by title, by author, etc…). To view more information about a specific record, click the Details link. This opens the Details page containing the expanded bibliographic record (See Details for more information).
Q: How do I know if the item I’m looking for is available?
A: Refer to the color of the square or star-shaped icon next to the record. Green signifies available and Red signifies unavailable (Blue indicates an electronic resource).
Q: What are the My account and My bookbag buttons for?
A: My Account is a great feature that allows you to access your library account, view information including current transactions, past transactions, and personal information that is on record with the library. You can also renew items on loan as well as reserve those you’d like to check out. Click the My Account link in the side menu. (If you have not already signed in using the sign in link, you will be prompted to do so.) Your username should be extractly the same as your computer account (most often [Last Name][First Letter of First Name]). Your default password is your student number, as it appears on your ID card (STUxxxxx). Click the following links to access your information: My Info – Lists your personal information, such as address and telephone number, that the library has on file. Current Transactions – Lists your open transactions. History – Lists your transaction history. Change Login/Password – Allows you to change your login information.
Renewing Items: on the My Account page, click the Current Transactions link, click the Renew button that corresponds to the item you want to renew. On the confirmation page, click OK. Please note that you cannot renew overdue items.
Reserving items: this can be done for any item, after you click details.Under Copies/Availability, click Reserve. (If multiple copies are available, click the Reserve button that corresponds to the desired copy.), on the confirmation page, click OK.
Overdue / Lost Materials
Q: What if I do not return an item on time?
A: Reminders for overdue items are sent by email every Tuesday to your school email address (xxx@learning.ecolint.ch). They are only sent for your information: it is your responsibility to bring back your loans on time, even if you haven’t received any reminder.
Q: Well, what if my loan is more than 2 weeks overdue??!
A: Every Thursday, computer accounts are blocked for students with items that are more than 14 days overdue. Another email reminder is then sent by email.
Q: Uh, what if my loan is more than 4 weeks overdue?!!!!
A: Bills are printed and sent every Thursday for all overdue items over 28 days. At the moment, no fine is due if an overdue item is returned before the bill is sent, but whenever a bill is printed, a fine will be due (calculated from the 1st overdue day at the rate of Sfr. 0.25/overdue day). If an overdue item is lost or damaged, an administrative fee of Sfr. 10 is due in addition to its replacement cost.
Q: Ok, my loan is more than overdue, but could you please unblock my computer account?
A: No! Students with items that are more than 28 days overdue are not allowed to use/access the library.
Q: Ok, my loan is more than overdue, but can I please check this other book out?
A: Are you Kidding? Students with items that are more than 28 days overdue are not allowed to use/access the library.
Q: What happens if I lose or damage a book or a media?
A: You will be charged the replacement cost of lost or damaged materials plus an administrative charge of 10 francs . If you find it in good condition not long after you’ve paid for it, we will refund your money.
Q: Can I have it charged to my school account?
A: No, it must be paid directly to the library staff.
On-line Resources
Q: Are the Library Catalogue and Website available from home?
A: Yes, the main site’s address is http://libraries.ecolint.ch La Chat Secondary Library’s website direct link is: http://libraries.ecolint.ch/chasec
Q: Does the library subscribe to any online resources?
A: Yes, these are more trustworthy than many sites you find with Google. We currently offer access to: EBSCO, JSTOR, MUSE Project, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Universalis, EDUMEDIA Science, Louvre.edu, Histoire à la Carte, Philip Alan Updates Magazines, Science, Newsbank and World Book Online.
Q: Can I access these resources from home?
A: Yes, for most of them. This can be done from http://libraries.ecolint.ch
Q: When I click Online Databases, I’m being asked for a password
A: Please ask the librarians to obtain a valid username and password. This is necessary to ensure that you are a member of the school community when using our resources from home.
Computers
Q: I can’t log on, what’s happening?
A: Ask the librarians for help. 1. You might be blocked because you failed to return on time some material you borrowed. 2. You might have forgotten your password, or maybe you simply misspelled it. 3. Some technical problem occured on the network or the computer.
Q: I’m logged in, but can’t reach my personal folder or other files on the network .
A: Ask the librarians. Something probably went wrong when logging on; most of the time, it can be fixed very quickly.
Q: Should I tell my password to my friends ?
A:No. The account’s owner is responsible for what is done with it on the school’s computers or on the school’s network. Also, you will get no refund if someone else uses up your printing allowance with your username.
Q: How can I change my password?
A: When logged in, just do CTRL+ALT+DEL on the keyboard, and click on change password. You may also ask the librarians.
Q: Are the computers supervised?
A: Yes. The Library staff and the teachers can watch all the computers’ screens through a remote software. Of course, attempting to disable this software is strictly forbidden.
Q: What is the Lesson drive (SecondaryLesson, L:)?
A: This is a network drive where teachers put documents their students can download, copy and use. It is write-proctected and students cannot delete or modify the content of this drive.
Q: What is the Temporary drive (SecondaryStudentsTemporary, T:)?
A: This is a network drive where EVERYONE can add, move, copy or delete files, including other people’s documents. It is a very UNSAFE place that is only meant to share documents between users. You should alwyays keep copies of important files in your personal folder, as the temp drive is cleaned up regularly and older files deleted.
Q: What about my personal folder?
A: It’s the school network’s safest place. Nobody can access what you put in there (assuming you haven’t told your password to someone else) and it’s backed up every night. However, please note that you can’t store more than 100 Mb in your folder.
Q: I need to install an application I’ve downloaded from the Internet.
A: This is not possible : 1. Most software you’ll need for your work at school is already installed. – 2. technically speaking you’d need an administrator account to install new applications. – 3. we do not allow students to install their own applications both for security and licensing reasons. However, exceptions are always possible; don’t hesitate to ask the librarians.
Q: What software is installed on the library’s computers?
A: Office 2007 ( Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Publisher), Adobe CS5 (Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Acrobat, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, In Design). Common plugins such as Flash, Quicktime or Acrobat Reader are installed too. Windows Media Player is the default audio/video player, but another one called VLC is installed too and might be more suitable to read unusual video formats. Several other specific applications (such as Maths programs) can be found on our computers.
Q: How can I play a DVD on a computer?
A: You must use VLC. It can be found on the desktop, and the icon looks like a red and white traffic cone. Open it, and go to file/open a disc.
Q: Can I view any DVD, including my own?
A: No. Only our school resources can be viewed on our premices.
Q: Can I watch a DVD in the library?
A: Yes. Two portable DVD players are available to be used either with one or two sets or in one of the small rooms with the loudspeakers.
Q: I can’t find a file I saved on one of the computers…
A: Sorry, but you’ll probably won’t be able to find it back. User profiles are created when logging in and deleted when you log out. Normally, if you save something locally on a computer, it’s deleted when you leave. This is likely to occur when you directly OPEN a file from your email account instead of saving it to a safe place, either on a memory stick or on the network, as the file is then stored in a temporary folder in your profile, which is delete when you log off.
Q: Can I recover a file or a folder I deleted by mistake?
A: If you’re talking about a file you’ve created today, the answer is “no”. If it’s been created before, it should have been backuped during the night. Ask the librarian. However, be aware that what is stored in the temporary drive or on the computers’ local drives is not backuped.
Q: Is it possible to scan a document in the library?
A: Yes, two computers are equiped with scanners, Photoshop CS5, and if needed, text recognition software (this is in addition to the scanner function of the photocopy machines).
Q: Is it possible to burn a CD in the library?
A: Yes, the two same computers on which scanners are installed are equiped with CD burners.
Q: Is Photoshop installed on all the library’s computers?
A: Yes.
Q: Can I borrow headphones to hear sound on the computer?
A: No. We no longer have these for loan.
Internet
Q: Am I allowed to play games on the library’s computers?
A: No. This includes on-line games and games you could have installed on a memory stick or found on the network.
Q: Am I allowed to chat on the Internet?
A: No. MSN/Live messenger is not installed on our computers, and students are not allowed to use web-based chat system. This includes the use of NET SEND command on the school network.
Q: I’ve been filtered! I’m sure the site I wanted to look at is OK and I really need that information!
A: Yes, the school’s Internet is filtered. The library is NOT responsible for that. The same filter applies to the whole Foundation, including LGB, Nations and La Chat, and it is NOT possible to unblock a site, even for your teachers. However, if you think that a site should be blocked or unblocked, tell the librarians so they can raise the issue to the appropriate persons, althought it can be a slow process.
Q: I’ve been filtered!, but what I wanted to do was maybe not appropriate…
A: Don’t do that in school!
Q: Am I allowed to check my email on the library computers?
A: Yes.
Q: I can’t access my web based email account, was it blocked?
A: No. Just be aware that at certain times, especially in the morning, Hotmail accounts are difficult to reach, probably because their servers are overloaded.
Wifi
A Wifi network is now available in the library for use with your personal laptops or handheld devices.
Q: What is available?
A: Internet :YES (filtered); Printers: NO; School network (S drive, Lesson drive, Temporary drive etc…) : NO
Q: What are the conditions of use?
A: ALL the rules that apply to the library computers also apply to your personal computer when used in the library.
Q: More specifically, What is not allowed?
A: Games, online chat, and more generally any application or website that would cause disruptive behavior.
Q: Is the Internet filter active on the wifi network?
A: Yes, of course.
Q: Can it be disabled?
A: No.
Q: What happens if I fail to follow the rules?
A: As your Wifi account is the same as your regular school account, your right to use both systems could be suspended.
Q: Now that I understand what is allowed and what is not, how am I supposed to connect?
A: Only attempt to connect to Ecolint-Extranet (the other one is for school computers)
You must use your school computer account in the following format:
username: [username]@cha (for instance: gatesb@cha)
or : cha\[username]
password: [your password]
Please note that setting a proxy server is NO LONGER NECESSARY.
Make sure that your network configuration is set to obtain an IP address automatically through a DHCP server. Don’t configure you TCP/IP or network settings manually.
Printing
Q: Where is the printer/photocopying machine?
A: Next to the issue desk, inside the library..
Q: How can I print?
A: The only available printer is now the photocopy machine. You need a photocopy card to use it. Cards are sold in the Bookroom and can be recharged from the machine on the landing outside the MMC.
Q: How does it work?
A: Just print normally from any computer, adjust your settings using the properties button on the print windows; then go to the photocopy machine and insert your photocopy card. This card must be linked to your computer account. If it isn’t, please ask the librarians to do it for you. Press # on the card reader. You’ll then be allowed to print any pending print job you’ve sent from your computer.
Q: Is it possible to print in colour?
A: Yes. If you need a colour print, click properties on the print windows from your computer and select the appropriate option.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: A4, B&W: 0.15 Sfr. / page.
A4, Colour: 0.75 Sfr.
A3, B&W: 0.30 Sfr.
A3, Colour: 1.00 Sfr.
Q: I tried to print, but nothing came out of the printer after I pressed #.
A: Is your card properly linked to your account? Do you have enough money loaded in your card? In doubt, please ask the librarians.
Q: Can I refill my photocopy card?
A: Yes, please use the machine on the landing outside the library.
Small Study Rooms
Q: What should I use the small rooms for?
A: Small rooms should be used by small groups who need to talk as they work. They should not be used as a quiet place you can go to concentrate: the quiet place is supposed to be the library itself. If other students are making too much noise, ask them to stop, to leave or tell them to get a small room if they really need to talk AND work.
Q: How can I use a small room at the back of the centre to study with my friends?
A: You must use your student card to take out a key.
Q: Are all the rooms intended for group study?
A: No, one is reserved for confortable leisure reading.
(updated 20120507fd)
Is there any way to report websites that sneak through the filter, other than to warn the librarian directly (that way we can give the URL)?