Computing at Brandeis
Brandeis University provides a high speed campus computing network with email service, webpage hosting, and centralized file storage. Wireless computing is available in selected locations. A UNet account is essential to take advantage of all of the resources and services offered by Brandeis Library and Technology Services.
UNet Accounts
Your Unet account is central to your use of the abundant technology resources available at Brandeis. Services accessed through your Unet account include:
- registering a new machine
- access to department computers (servers) that will share files across the network
- network storage space so you can save your files remotely as well as locally on your PC
- space for web pages
- access to library services including online reference works, electronic journals and magazines, electronic indexes to scholarly literature, online library catalogs, and specialized databases
- web-based access to teaching materials
- administrative systems (sage)
Setting Up Email
Your Unet account allows you to access the Brandeis email system. Your personal email address is your Unet ID@brandeis.edu. Brandeis users are able to access their email from a preferred email client or via the web. The webmail system is handy for checking your email on the go, however it creates a heavier load on our servers. Therefore we recommend that you primarily use a supported email client to access your mail routinely.
Learn More about Webmail before using it
Configure an email client and access your mail.
1. Communicate Effectively With Email
Email is a message sent from one person to another using computers connected to the Internet. You will use email to keep in touch with classmates and send/receive messages with professors at the very least. Though email allows message to be sent and forwarded with ease, email has the potential to reach a wide audience. These features can also be misused. Neither can you expect the privacy of an email message to be guranteed. An email message may be forwarded, printed, or permanently stored by any recipient. Email can be misdirected, even when you are careful. Do not put something in an email message that you would not want read by everybody (and this goes once you get out of Brandeis as well). If you receive a message intended for someone else, let the sender know. Email does not show the subleties of voice or body launguae either. Avoid irony or sarcasm and be clear, short and relevant instead. Do not respond to email that is upsetting and avoid flaming, that is sending an angry or rude message.
2. IMAP vs. POP
When configuring your email client, the program is going to ask whether you want to use POP or IMAP to deliver your email. POP is an older standard that you may still use, but LTS strongly recommends using IMAP. With IMAP, your mail is stored on the server. When you use your email client, you connect to the server and read and delete messages as if they were stored locally on your computer. The advantage of this system is that you have access to all of your mail from any location.. IMAP is generally faster at retrieving your mail. For more information on IMAP, read the configuration documentation for your email client.
3. Choose the Client You Wish to Use
LTS supports the email clients listed below. You can discover more about each email client from clicking the link of the particular program and following the link on the next page to the program's website. Once you've chosen an email client, follow the appropriate link to the install and configuration procedures.
Pine (text based terminal mail)
Configuring your mail program to send authenticated mail
If you would rather use another email program, you may do so at your own peril. (LTS strongly recommends against using Outlook).. LTS provides the server names below for reference when using another email client. See your email program's Help section for additional instructions on where to input this information.
|
Incoming (IMAP) Server: |
imap.faculty.brandeis.edu for faculty members imap.staff.brandeis.edu for staff members |
|
Incoming Server Type: |
IMAP |
|
Incoming Server Username: |
Your UNet Username |
|
Incoming Server SSL Support: |
Enabled, on alternate port 993 |
|
Outgoing (SMTP) Server: |
mail.brandeis.edu |
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Outgoing (SMTP) AUTH*: |
Enabled, over TLS/SSL on port 587 or 465 |
|
Email Address: |
Your UNet Username@brandeis.edu |
*On-campus users with embedded clients lacking SSL support may use smtp.unet.brandeis.edu for the outgoing (SMTP) server
5. Account Size Limits
Disk quotas are not enforced as disk space is cheap. However, you are strongly advised to keep individual mailboxes under 500 messages occupying less than 50MB disk space. Many mail clients (such as Outlook Express, IMP, Eudora, and Netscape) can not handle large mailboxes without a significant slowdown in performance.
You will receive a warning by email about individual mailboxes over this advisory limit. They should be reorganized into multiple moderately sized folders.
Learn more about the BeWise Initiative.
Hardware/Software and Computing Resources
Virus protection
Everybody needs antivirus software! Viruses can destroy your data and prevent your computer from working properly. Once infected, your computer is likely to pass these viruses onto other computers in the Brandeis community, affecting their ability to function as well. LTS provides a campus-wide license for Symantec's AntiVirus for all versions of Windows and for Macintosh OS version 9 and above. The license covers all university-owned computers as well as computers you own. To download Norton AntiVirus, see: http://go.brandeis.edu/virus
Repair Shop
The Repair Shop is an authorized Dell Repair Center and Apple Service Provider, and also services IBM, Compaq, and other name-brand computers and printers. Dells and Apples may receive warranty service here, and products out of warranty will be serviced for a labor fee plus cost of parts. The shop is on the lower level of the Feldberg Communications Center. Visit the Repair Shop web site or contact by phone at 781-736-4801
Software Support
LTS provides support for a wide variety of software programs. The Tech Desk staff is trained in these software packages and is available to assist you. Although you are free to use other programs, the Tech Desk will not always be able to assist you if you have a problem with unsupported software. For the current list of supported software (updated before the fall and spring semesters), see: http://go.brandeis.edu/software
Media and Technology Services
Located on Level 3 of Goldfarb Library, Media and Technology Services maintains the University's technology-enhanced classrooms and provides loaner equipment such as overhead projects, computers, data projectors, TVs, and VCRs. Audio and video production, editing, and conversion services are also available.
Contact MTS at 781-736-4637 or mailto:mediaservices@brandeis.edu
Classrooms & Clusters
Members of the Brandeis community have access to public computer labs with networked Dell computers, laser printers, flatbed scanners, CD-ROM burners, and other peripherals.
There are approximately 200 computers in nine classrooms and clusters located in the Libraries, the Feldberg Communications Center, and the Shapiro Campus Center. Most classrooms and clusters are open up to 15 hours per day and some are open 24 hours.
More Help
If you can't find an answer to your question there, the Tech Desk offers walk-in and phone support to faculty, staff, and graduate students. The Tech Desk is located in the Feldberg Communication
Center. Visit the LTS Tech Desk web site or contact by phone at 781-736-7782.
Using the Libraries
Borrowing
Books can be borrowed from the Main Library for one academic year and renewed up to two times. Science Library books borrowed in one month are due the last day of the following month and may be renewed up to five times. Videos circulate overnight. You can renew books that are not overdue either in person, by email (circulation@brandeis.edu), or via the Web.
Books must be renewed on or before the due date.
You can monitor your own borrower account information and renew your library materials directly on the Web. See: http://go.brandeis.edu/renewals
Journals do not circulate; however, special one hour or overnight loans can be arranged by speaking with a librarian.
Library materials on loan may be recalled after 14 days if requested by another patron, or immediately if needed by Reserve. Recalled items must be returned to the library within seven days of notification.
Borrowing privileges will be suspended if a recalled book is not returned. Faculty are not subject to overdue fines; however, as a courtesy to other members of the Brandeis community, we ask that you return books when they are due
A charge of $110 or replacement cost, whichever is higher, is levied for the replacement and processing of lost items. A replacement copy can be purchased in lieu of the lost book fee, but this must be done in coordination with the Library staff.
Off-Campus Access to Electronic Resources
LTS offers access to more than 350 databases and over 30,000 online journals. Learn more about connecting to our electronic resources from off-campus at http://go.brandeis.edu/off-campus
Desktop Delivery of ILL Articles
Brandeis faculty can borrow books, journal articles, and other research materials not owned by the Libraries using the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service.
Our service lets you track the status of your requests online and receive articles directly via electronic desktop delivery to your email account. See: http://go.brandeis.edu/ill/
Get It! & ArticleFinder
LTS offers several new cutting-edge search and retrieval tools: Get It! lets you link seamlessly from an article citation in an online index to the full text of that article in another database -- and more.
Use the companion tool, ArticleFinder, to get from your print citation to the full text online. Both tools can be found on the LTS homepage under Library Research > Find Articles.
National & Regional Cooperative Programs
Brandeis University belongs to a number of national and regional consortia:- The Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program of OCLC offers limited borrowing privileges and/or on-site access to the collections of participating academic libraries in North America. To learn more, ask at the InfoPoint desk in the Main Library.
- The Research Libraries Group (RLG), a membership corporation of institutions devoted to improving access to information that supports research and learning.
- The Council of Archives and Research Libraries in Jewish Studies (CARLJS), a national consortium of Jewish Studies libraries, archives and professional organizations.
- The Boston Library Consortium (BLC), 19 college and university research libraries located throughout New England. Borrow materials in person from any BLC library using a BLC card that you can obtain from the Main Library InfoPoint desk.
Services for Research & Teaching
Research and Instructional Technology Consultations
LTS staff are dedicated to helping you to develop the skills necessary for successful research. Consulting with a librarian will help you to search more effectively and save time as well.
For assistance in the Main Library, visit or call the InfoPoint (x6INFO); for assistance in the Science Library, visit or call (x67520), or see: http://go.brandeis.edu/ask-librarian
Research and Instruction staff in the Faculty Resource Center, located on Goldfarb Library level 1, support the application of technology in teaching, learning, and scholarship.
Among other things, the FRC supports the course management system LATTE, class mailing lists, and instructional use of multimedia. The FRC also researches new software applications and evaluates them for potential use in teaching and learning at Brandeis. For more information, contact LTS staff at 781-736-LTTE, mailto: ris@brandeis.edu
Reference Help 24/7
LTS provides reference assistance in person, by phone, email, and by chat. The BLC ASK 24/7 service offers professional reference librarian assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in real time over the Web. Just click on the Ask A Librarian logo, located on most LTS Web pages, then click on BLC ASK 24/7 to get immediate online assistance from a librarian.
The BLC ASK 24/7 service is staffed by professional reference librarians in 7 Boston Library Consortium member libraries -- Boston University, Northeastern University, Tufts University, UMass/Amherst, UMass/Boston, and Williams College -- and by professional reference librarians from across the country.
For more information, contact Anne Woodrum, Research and Instruction Services Librarian (woodrum@brandeis.edu, x64622).
Mediated Searching for Science Faculty
In addition to having desktop access to key scientific databases, you can request librarian-mediated searches of an additional 200 science and technical databases from STN, a division of the American Chemical Society. For example, the science librarians can search Beilstein, Gmelin, or Inspec on your behalf. Contact the Science Library (x67520) for more information.
Instruction Programs (FYI)
LTS staff are available to provide classroom sessions in effective research skills and strategies or special applications of instructional technology. We provide instruction in the use of specific reference and technology tools, Internet and technology resources, and research techniques.
- The First-Year Library Instruction Program (FLIP) provides all First-Year students with a formal session on basic library research skills and strategies. These sessions include learning to search online databases and critically evaluate resources. The FLIP program is a component of the required University Writing courses.
- The Intensive Course Program is designed to meet the needs of students in advanced courses that require in-depth library research or special applications of instructional technology. Faculty from selected upper-level or graduate courses work closely with LTS staff to incorporate library and technology resources in beneficial and novel ways.
Faculty should sign up for an Intensive Course the semester before it will be offered.
For more information contact David Wedaman, Associate Director for Research and Instruction Services (wedaman@brandeis.edu, x64548)
Course Support Materials
We encourage instructors to use the online course management software LATTE to make required course materials available to students. However, some materials may be placed on traditional reserve in either the Main or Science libraries. These materials will be loaned for limited periods only while the facility is open.
To learn about submitting reserve requests, see:http://go.brandeis.edu/reserve/
Or contact the Library Reserve staff (reserve@brandeis.edu, x64630) to learn more about reserve services and to request forms.
The Science Library Circulation Desk handles print reserves for the Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology and Computer Science departments. For Science Library reserves, contact Rosalie Johnson (johnson@brandeis.edu, x64707).
Online Course Management
Library & Technology Services support the LATTE course management system. LATTE allows you to manage online course materials such as syllabi, electronic reserve readings, streaming audio and video, homework assignments, online quizzes, and bulletin boards.
A LATTE "course" can be created at faculty request for any class offered at Brandeis. Students enrolled in the class are automatically given access.
Scanning Course Materials
Faculty scanning stations are maintained in 17 academic buildings around campus to allow instructors to scan materials for course use. You can also make use of the Faculty Resource Center (FRC) and the scanning machines in the Main Library Information Commons if you would like assistance with scanning. For more information see: http://go.brandeis.edu/scan-stations
EndNote for Bibliographic Management
EndNote is a personal citation/bibliography manager program that runs on Macintosh and Windows computers. It helps researchers to organize references in a database, which can be used to format citations and create bibliographies automatically in a word processor.
Brandeis University has purchased a license for EndNote version 8 that covers all faculty, staff and students, for use on campus and at home.
Documentation and information about Endnote training workshops is available online. For further information about this tool, and to download the software, see: http://go.brandeis.edu/endnote
Copyright Law Compliance
LTS policies are designed to respect the rights of copyright holders while providing for the fair use of library materials by Brandeis faculty and students. LTS policies for Reserves, Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery and Photoduplication Services conform to U.S. copyright law.
Please contact Susan V. Wawarzaszek, Chief University Librarian (wawrzaszek@brandeis.edu, x64700) with questions about library copyright policy. For more information, see:
http://go.brandeis.edu/copyright-information