Online-survey „Learning and Studying at Klagenfurt University Library”

Dear Klagenfurt University Library users,
Dear Klagenfurt University students,

Carrying out a short online-survey on the subject “The University Library Klagenfurt – a place for learning and working”
we would like you to take a few minutes to fill out the survey to help us to revise and improve our service

 

English version of the survey:    https://survey.aau.at/index.php/378224?lang=en

 

Thank you for your participation!

 

Kind regards,
Your Klagenfurt University Library team

 

Der Beitrag Online-survey „Learning and Studying at Klagenfurt University Library” erschien zuerst auf University of Klagenfurt.

Source: AAU TEWI

Borrowing via self-service kiosk (Test in June 2019)

Dear Klagenfurt University Library users,
Dear Klagenfurt University students,

 

For a couple of years now, you have all had the chance to borrow media from the reading rooms yourself at the two self-service kiosks.

This service is in particular demand when the circulation desk is closed.
During the circulation desk’s opening hours, use of this service fluctuates.

 

To focus our service and to improve the quality of personal service at the circulation desk, we are going to do a test in June 2019:

In June, all users wanting to borrow media from the reading rooms (open shelves, media library, textbook collection, i.e. media that can be borrowed at any time and by anybody) are asked to do this exclusively at the two self-service kiosks! – Please use this service also during the circulation desk’s opening hours.

 

Of course, the circulation desk staff are happy to help you with any problem.

 

Thank you for your co-operation!

 

Kind regards,
Your Klagenfurt University Library team

Der Beitrag Borrowing via self-service kiosk (Test in June 2019) erschien zuerst auf University of Klagenfurt.

Source: AAU TEWI

Reduced opening hours around “Pentecost” (June 08-11)

  • Sat, June 08 – Mon, June 10, 2019 the library will be CLOSED!
  • Tue, June 11: The library will be open from 08:30 to 16:00.

University members have unrestricted access to the library‘s reading rooms.

 

Registration for the 24-hour library is possible via the campus system under “My settings” >> 24-hour library.
Please register at least one day before you plan to use this service for the first time. Accounts are activated every day at midnight.

Der Beitrag Reduced opening hours around “Pentecost” (June 08-11) erschien zuerst auf University of Klagenfurt.

Source: AAU TEWI

Reduced opening hours – “Ascension Day” (May 30)

The library will be CLOSED on Thu, May 30, 2019.

 

University members have unrestricted access to the library‘s reading rooms.

Registration for the 24-hour library is possible via the campus system under “My settings” >> 24-hour library.
Please register at least one day before you plan to use this service for the first time. Accounts are activated every day at midnight.

Der Beitrag Reduced opening hours – “Ascension Day” (May 30) erschien zuerst auf University of Klagenfurt.

Source: AAU TEWI

Electrical installations in the reading rooms (noise on May 27/28 and June 05/06)

Dear Klagenfurt University Library users,
Dear Klagenfurt University students,

In the coming weeks, the reading rooms in the central building will also be fitted with emergency lighting. This requires electrical installations, and we are hereby informing you of when and where to expect noise:

 

Periodicals reading room (level 2):
Monday, May 27
Tuesday, May 28

Reading room (level 3):
Wednesday, June 05
Thursday, June 06

 

Reading rooms and shelves are accessible as usual.
All the same, we recommend to use other rooms.

We hope that these restrictions don’t interfere with your work and that the noise level will remain at a minimum.
We also hope for your understanding!

Kind regards,
Your Klagenfurt University Library team

Der Beitrag Electrical installations in the reading rooms (noise on May 27/28 and June 05/06) erschien zuerst auf University of Klagenfurt.

Source: AAU TEWI

Finding the water bottle, but missing the small weapon: Research on the role of the working memory during hand luggage checks at the airport

Visual search allows humans to identify certain objects: For example, a doctor can recognise dangerous anomalies in x-ray images, or airport security staff can use x-ray technology to identify items inside our hand luggage. At the Department of Psychology, Anna Conci, recipient of an ÖAW-DOC scholarship, is studying the influence of the working memory on the search performance.

Professional “visual searchers”, including security staff, who scan hand luggage for dangerous items, receive appropriate training. Nonetheless, research has revealed a critical weak point, which also affects these experts: When there are two items to be found, it is often the case that only one is detected. This is a serious problem, for instance when a water bottle is noticed, but a weapon is missed. Psychological studies have repeatedly provided evidence of this phenomenon.

Especially in those instances, where the number of objects to be found is unknown, this effect plays a decisive part. “Science has yet to reach a shared understanding of why this phenomenon exists and which underlying cognitive mechanisms are responsible”, Anna Conci, doctoral student at the Department of Psychology, tells us. In her current research, she is investigating the effects of the working memory on the visual search performance. She hypothesizes: During the course of visual search, optimal speed and precision are impeded by “objects” held in the working memory. Moreover, she also hopes to establish the extent to which the objects in the working memory improve or impair the search performance in comparison to objects that bear no similarity whatsoever.

For the purpose of her work, Anna Conci has conducted extensive experiments  with students – both in Klagenfurt and at the Fernuniversität Hagen, the distance learning university where she previously worked. The heterogeneity of the student population in Hagen allowed her to put together a meaningful group. One of the tools she used was an eye tracker, which recorded the eye movements that occurred during the search. The resulting data permit conclusions to be drawn on the cognitive processes involved in the visual search. To ensure verisimilitude in her studies, she used genuine images taken during real airport security checks. Her next task is to analyse these data and subsequently to bring together the results in the form of journal articles.

We asked Anna Conci to tell us whether it is possible to have a talent for “visual searching”, or whether one can improve over time. Drawing on the investigations she has already completed she tells us: “In Hagen, students tested themselves over a period of 20 days. The results show daily improvement. Even after a gap of nine days, we found that it is possible to pick up at virtually the same level of search performance, and then continue to improve.”

Anna Conci came to Klagenfurt from South Tyrol to pursue her doctoral degree. It was mostly a coincidence that she has ended up in the field of science: “When I finished my Master’s degree, Merim Bilalić, who supervises my doctoral thesis, offered me a position on a project team. That eventually led to the research job at the Fernuniversität Hagen.” She gains huge enjoyment from her scientific work: “ It is a creative activity, we are constantly challenged to think in terms of finding solutions, and new questions arise again and again.” In the past, her career has always aligned well with her plans. In recent years, she has focused heavily on writing research proposals, with the aim of securing a stable financial foundation for her work. Ultimately, this produced the intended result: As a scholarship recipient of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (DOC), she is affiliated with the Department of Psychology, and is free to devote her time exclusively to her research over the next two years.

A few words with … Anna Conci

What would you be doing now, if you had not become a scientist?
I’ve never really given that any thought. I would probably have trained to be a neuropsychologist.

Do your parents understand what it is you are working on?
I believe they do have a rough idea of the subject. I’m less sure whether they understand why and how I do my work.

What is the first thing you do when you arrive at the office in the morning?
I respond to e-mails.

Do you have proper holidays? Without thinking about your work?
That very much depends on what stage my work is currently at.

What makes you furious?
Impudence

What calms you down?
Spending time with my family in South Tyrol

Who do you regard as the greatest scientist in history, and why?
There have been many highly impressive people in the past. Marie Curie is certainly an excellent example. Despite difficult circumstances, she achieved the truly remarkable.

What are you afraid of?
I am afraid of losing people who are important to me.

What are you looking forward to?
The many things, be they small or large, that life is holding in store for me.

Der Beitrag Finding the water bottle, but missing the small weapon: Research on the role of the working memory during hand luggage checks at the airport erschien zuerst auf University of Klagenfurt.

Source: AAU TEWI