Volunta~support--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interlibrary communication improved The "dackety-clack" of the PSU library's teletype machine has been replaced with the quiet beeps of a microcomputer, signaling a move toward greater efficiency in the interlibrary loan department. The S6,000 purchase of a eTR terminal and an Envax memory retention unit was made possible by alumni gifls allocated with the approval of the PSU Foundation executive committee. "Libraries are in the infonnation business, and information is more and more synonymous with technology," said Millar Library director Tom pfingsten, who added, "Keeping up with technological changes is nearly impossible without outside funding." The new equipment speeds up communications with libraries all over the northwest and California, sending and receiving loan requests, memos and route notes instantaneously. While this "electronic mail service" has not replaced conventional mail, telephone and TWX communication, it has allowed the interlibrary loan department to handle aboul 15% more requests this year, said assistant library director Ken Butler. "This improves our service to the library u.ser, especially the graduate student and faculty member, and ~~~~~i~rf~~~~e~:t:r~~rfrom us," said pfingsten. Previous Alumni Fund allocations 10 the library have resuhed in the purchase of an Apple computer (or audio-visual services and videotape recorders (or instructional television services. Special sets of books acquired with alumni gifts bear l:x>okplates citing their generosity. "Since general fund equipment money has been in very short supply, many o( the library's newer developments would not have been possible without tile Alumni fund," noted Butler. 2 Alumni gifts at work Lelt: Assistant library director Ken Butler and director Tom pfingsten watch student aide Brad Hall send a book request to another state schoot on new ek!ctronic mail system. Below: Peer placement advisor Dee Thompson Upe5 tr~nees Debra Co.eff and Ellen TihOfl during mock inte.....iew at Piacement Office. Right: Junior Amy Simantel, Alumni scholarship re<:ipient. Counselor's dream realized with equipment Not all good stories have happy beginnings. The story about the Placement Office's new video equipment began with a tragedy, but came to a fruitful conclusion through a mix of loyalty and generosity. Career counselor Donna Haines, a PSU alumna ('70, MS '81) who was extremely devoted to the University, died suddenly on the job in May, 1982, the victim o( a heart attack. ~~:db!!Yat~~~~~ h~l~i~:::;7h:ial Placement Office. "Donna was a strong proponent of the use of videotaping in our office," said Placement Director Mary Cumpston. "She used to lament that we didn't have the equipment." me~~i~itfu~~~ ~h~~~~nn~hF~nd made it possible for the Placement Office to purchase a camera, monitor, recorder, stand and tapes. "It's been in nearly constant use since the day we got it," said Cumpston. With the equipment purchased last summer, students are able to tape mock interviews and observe themselves, view recruiting tapes from employers, and "attend" career seminars that did not fit into their schedules. The video equipment has also been used for the training of peer advisors, and for viewing rented, donated and purchased training and instructional tapes. "There's no better teaching tool," said Cumpston. The office's next project will be to tape a tour of the office and its resources. "All of us who knew Donna remark about how pleased she would have been seeing this equipment used," said Cumpston. "It's the ideal tribute to her, the office and PSU." Award helps student with first step toward med school Amy Simantel is the kind of student for whom a 3.85 CPA just isn't good enough. "I'm going to have to quit getting 8's," she said. Her aspirations :~e;~7~~~~h~'~:ft~~~heafi~~;hJ~t ?SU. The Hillsboro High School graduate is on a four-year scholarship made possible by alumni donations. Her particular award, the Holly Hill Memorial Scholarship, was named for another "Hill High" grad and PSU student who died in 1981. "I guess we had a few things in common, like the flute and gymnastics," said Simantel. Now a junior majoring in biology, Simantel has had to put aside her flute and other interests as the MeAT exam approaches and she prepares for a career she expects will bring a sense of "accomplishment and competence. " PSU, which has been a challenging first step for Amy, is becoming a tradition in the Simantel family. Amy's father, a strawberry and filbert farmer and former teacher, received his masters in education in '68, and her mother, a teacher, earned two degrees (BA '74 and M.Ed. '77) (rom PSU. Amy's brother, who is an alternate for an alumni scholarship, arrives on campus this fall, and their ~~~::~~r:c~~:~e~~~~~rfa71 ~f '84. The S1,000 Simantel receives each year allows her to live near campus instead of commuting from Hillsboro. She avoids gains into debt by working one job during school and two jobs in the summer, helping out on her family's farm when she can. Abaut her alumni "mentors," Amy says with a big smile, "I'm glad they gave."
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