News 2003-2004
Recent Improvements
New Resources

Media Center News

Digital Resource Collection


The DRC continues in development. New materials to the database included 246 Mesoamerican images of Art Historian Dr. Jessica Christie, approximately 150 student foundations works, and additional images of the Dwight Holland ceramics collection. In conjunction with the development of the DRC, Joyner Library is assisting the School of Art and Design in sharing the Holland ceramics via a Digital History Exhibit. This website will provide open access to all of the images and will also include text transcripts and teaching resource materials. The Holland Ceramic Teaching Collection can be found at the Joyner Library website.

The DRC is a resource to manage diverse collections of materials that may have cross-disciplinary uses. All participating members of the university community work to the same specifications to promote the sharing of information, thereby reducing duplication in operations, a redundancy that drains staff resources and collection budgets.

A centralized database provides faculty, staff, and students with a "one source" site for locating and managing digital resources. A uniform interface provides for discovery of resources across disciplines. The collection also allows the technological have-nots within the ECU campus the opportunity to use digital media without having to divert precious resources towards their development. The resource allows instructors to focus on developing content for their courses rather than designing and managing systems to deliver digital materials.

Accompanying a centralized site should be an effort to unify digital imaging projects rather than reinventing a unique process for each project under development. As result many of ECU's digital imaging projects are now beginning to cooperate. New resources are continually being added to a variety of collections. Please feel free to contact the DRC committee with ideas or if you would like to apply for access to the DRC. More information is available at the DRC website, http://www.ecu.edu/drc.

Media Center Improvements


This summer the Media Center updated the computers for the main lobby. These computers are installed with OSX, Photoshop 7, Illustrator 10, Dreamwaever, Microsoft Office, FIreWorks, Flash, Director, IMovie, Internet browsers, and other programs. A newer networked printer been moved to the Media Center.

Also, the Media Center has designed and is planning use of a new checkout system. The database will automate some of the process for efficiency.

Faculty will be happy to know a new photocopier is on the way. The new copier will have access codes for faculty members. It will be a distinct improvement in the way we do business.

Please note that some materials in the Media Center have been rearranged over the summer.

New Resources


Since our last news letter there have been numerous new acquisitions. Included are a digital camera and camcorder for faculty use, a wide variety of new art education curriculum materials, and a few videos.