October 18, 2007

Spam filtering and processing made easier // Faculty channels// Social Explorer// Introducing the Beyond Steel digital archive// LU-ALERT: Emergency alert signup reminder

SPAM FILTERING AND PROCESSING MADE EASIER
LTS recently made improvements to its spam processing page so that users can better implement spam filters and options on their email accounts. Logon to the Account Maintenance page at http://www.lehigh.edu/account and click "Configure SPAM tagging." Changes to the page include:1. A sensitivity slider bar to allow users to adjust the value that triggers spam tagging on messages.2. Whitelist and Blacklist input fields.3. The ability to control the destination of spam (Inbox or SPAM folder) or to discard it completely.4. Retention options for discarding spam after a certain period of time. If you have any questions contact your departmental computing consultant.

FACULTY CHANNELS
A new feature to the portal has been the addition of the "Faculty Channels" tab. These faculty channels make it easier than ever for faculty to assign grades, check their schedule, work with advisees, etc. All of these features existed previously in Banner, but now they are more accessible through the portal. *SOCIAL EXPLORER*A new U.S. demographic research tool is available from the Library Databases page and through the ASA online catalog. Called Social Explorer <http://databases.lib.lehigh.edu/finder/dbfull.asp?DBID=224>, this online resource incorporates mapping and analytical software with U.S. Census data going back to 1940. With this product, users can create interactive maps and reports down to the Census Tract geographic level. For example, even first time users can easily use the mapping slide show feature to create an animated display of maps illustrating the changes that have occurred over the past 50 years to a population or economic variable at a state, county, or census tract level. The software is intuitive and can be queried and manipulated to quickly produce visually appealing, informative results. Social Explorer is certain to be useful for sociologists, historians and political scientists.

INTRODUCING THE BEYOND STEEL DIGITAL ARCHIVE
The LTS Digital Library has launched its newest collection: Beyond Steel: An Archive of Lehigh Valley Industry and Culture, http://digital.lib.lehigh.edu/beyondsteel . At noon on Wednesday, October 24th History Professor John Kenley Smith, who has provided the primary scholarly guidance for the site, will introduce it in Linderman Library's Humanities Forum (room 200). He will use the site's digitized letters, books, photographs, and oral histories to illustrate how this new resource can illuminate researchers' understanding of the Lehigh Valley's industrial boom in the mid 19th century and the later decline of heavy industry. This is a brown bag lunch event with beverage and dessert provided. Call 610-758-3039 for more information or consult www.lehigh.edu/lts/friends <http://www.lehigh.edu/lts/friends>

LU-ALERT: EMERGENCY ALERT SIGNUP REMINDER
Lehigh's new emergency alert notification system, LU-ALERT, ensures that students, faculty, and staff will receive timely and accurate text messages and email in the event of an emergency. To sign up, go to www.lehigh.edu/lu-alert <http://www.lehigh.edu/lu-alert> . You will be taken to the campus portal to log in, then to the LU-ALERT signup page. Make sure your cell phone is handy since the system will send out a confirmation text message (and remember to scroll to the bottom of the text message to obtain your confirmation code).