The Resources
The Bookstore
The Library
Telecommunications
Hints & Tips

The Bookstore
The Central Connecticut State University Bookstore, located in the Student Center, provides online resources to support classroom learning.

Buying Textbooks Online
Textbooks can be purchased online. Visit the Bookstore web site at www.ccsubookstore.com and click on the “Textbooks” link. The Bookstore will gather the books you order and charge them to the credit card you provide. You will get first access to used books and convenient one-stop pick-up. Once your order is complete, bring your confirmation number the the Bookstore and pick up your books.

*back to top

The Library
The Elihu Burritt Library offers extensive technological resources to the campus community. In addition to the research collections and services offered on its web site, the Library has computers throughout the building with Internet access, as well as Microsoft Office and other productivity software.

The Library Home Page
The Library home page (http://library.ccsu.edu) is your gateway to resources such as electronic journals, magazines, newspapers, online subject encyclopedias, dissertations, and statistical information. Here are just a few of the services you can access from the Library’s home page:

Database Finder - locate databases (for articles, etc.) by name or subject.

E-Journal Locator - locate digital journal or newspaper articles.

CONSULS - locate materials (books, journals, music, etc.) in print or on microfilm.

RefWorks - an online tool that helps you make bibliographies in any style, generate and store citations, and more.

CONSULS - The Library Catalog
CONSULS is the Connecticut State University’s electronic library catalog. It is shared by Central, Eastern, Southern, Western, and the State Library. In addition to locating information about materials (books, DVDs, music, etc.) owned by these libraries, CONSULS allows you to request materials owned by other CSU libraries, renew materials, and access restricted databases from off campus.

Logging in to CONSULS
Open your web browser and navigate to the Library home page at http://library.ccsu.edu.
Click on the “Login to Your Library Record” link. In the Library ID Number field, enter your 8-digit CCSU ID number (found on your Blue Chip ID Card). Enter your PIN.

Note: If this is your first time accessing CONSULS, leave the PIN field blank and click the Display Records button. You are prompted to enter your new PIN twice. Your PIN can be all letters, numbers, or any combination of the two.

Click on the Display Record button.

Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) allows the CCSU Library to borrow materials from other libraries. Electronic request forms are available at http://library.ccsu.edu/services. The Library will notify you via e-mail when your materials arrive. For more information, call (860)832-3408.

Online Search Services
The Online Search Services (OSS) Department is available to faculty and students that need help with their research. Emily Chasse, OSS Librarian, has access to over 500 databases in virtually all subject areas as well as special training in DIALOG, OVID, and DATASTAR databases. Contact Emily Chasse at chasse@ccsu.edu or (860)832-2063 for more information. Search requests should be made three days in advance.

Off Campus Access to Digital Resources
There are two ways to access the subscription databases and electronic journals (for articles, etc.) from off campus: Log in to CentralPipeline and click on the “Library Digital Resources” link, located on the Welcome tab. Navigate to the Library home page and click on any database link. A new window will open asking you for your 8-digit CCSU ID number (located on your Blue Chip ID Card) and CONSULS PIN.

Digital Course Reserves
Your instructors can post digital copies of book chapters, journal articles, sound files, and class notes online. Digital Course Reserves are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with your 8-digit CCSU ID number (found on your Blue Chip ID Card) and PIN from any computer with an Internet connection.

Accessing Digital Course Reserves from CONSULS:
Open your web browser and navigate to the main CONSULS web page at www.consuls.org. Click on either Search by Course Name or Search by Instructor Name. Type the course name or the instructor name in the field and click Search.

A window will open listing all materials posted on reserve for your class. If an electronic copy of the material is available, it will be listed in the Format column. You can sort the material by Title, Author, Call #, or Format by clicking the corresponding button at the top of the column. To access an electronic resource, click on the blue underlined title of the resource.

A window will open listing the author, title of the resource, and a link to the resource. This link may exist as an icon for PDF, Word, Excel, HTML, TIFF, audio, or other type of file. Click on the link. Before the link will open, you must enter your 8-digit CCSU ID number (found on your Blue Chip ID Card) and your PIN and then click on the Submit button. The electronic resource will open.

NOTE: If you intend to view multiple documents, you will find it much easier to access Digital Course Reserves after you have logged into your Library record. This makes it possible to view and print multiple documents without the need to log in each time.

Help with Research
Have a question about the Library or need help researching a paper or project? Try the Ask-A-Librarian Service, which can be accessed by visiting http://library.ccsu.edu/help/aska. Fill out the web form and a reference librarian will contact you via e-mail within one working day. You can also chat live with a librarian via the Instant Message (IM) service or the “InfoAnyTime” service (please note that”InfoAnyTime” is not staffed by CCSU librarians and should be used mainly when the CCSU library is closed). For help with using the Library catalog, finding articles, using digital course reserves, and more, check out the Fast Online Help page at http://library.ccsu.edu/help/tutorials for short video demonstrations on using these library services. The web site’s help section also includes concise reference guides on how to prepare MLA, APA, Chicago, and Turabian citations, as well as research guides in various subject areas.

Safari E-books Online
Safari is a product of O’Reilly publishing. Through this database, the CCSU community has access to over a thousand online books on technical subjects ranging from programming to applications to computer science. In addition to O’Reilly, there are also books from The Pearson Technology Group, which includes the publishers Addison-Wesley, Financial Times, Cisco Press, and Prentice Hall. To access the Safari collection, go the Library’s home page at http://library.ccsu.edu, click on the “Database Finder” link and either type the word “Safari” or select the letter “S.”

Wireless Internet at the Library
Wireless access is available in the Library. Visit www.ccsu.edu/wireless.

*back to top

Telecommunications
Telephone service in the residence halls is provided by the University. Each room has one phone line and is equipped with local phone service and voice mail.

Telephones
You must bring your own touch-tone telephone to campus for use in your residence hall room. Any touch-tone analog telephone approved by the FCC will work with the telephone system. If your phone has an option for tone or pulse, set it to tone. Be sure that your ringer is turned on when you plug your phone into the jack. Plug the cord into the voice portion of the wall jack.

Using Your Telephone
To reach another University extension:
Dial the 5-digit extension number (the last 5 digits of telephone number).

To dial off campus:
Dial “9” plus the telephone number.

For EMERGENCIES ONLY:
Dial “911”.

For questions or help with your telephone service or voice mailbox:
Dial 611 (CSU Telecommunications Help Desk).

Long Distance
We do not provide a long distance carrier. You may make long distance calls with a calling card or with operator assistance.

Troubleshooting Phone Problems
No Dial Tone:
Verify that your telephone is connected properly to the wall jack. Plug another telephone set into your jack and place your call again. If the call goes through, your telephone set may not be working properly. Try a different mounting cord (the mounting cord connects the wall jack to the telephone).

If you are having trouble placing calls:
If you have an answering machine, disconnect it and try to place the call with only the telephone set plugged in. If the call goes through, the problem may be with the answering machine or how it is connected. If none of the above suggestions work, call the CSU Telecommunications Help Desk at 611 from on campus or (860)493-0123 from off campus.

Campus Directory Assistance
Campus Automated Directory - (860)832-3567

Faculty/Staff Telephone Directory - www.ccsu.edu/its/telecom/phone/phone.asp

How To Handle Obscene or Harassing Calls
If you are receiving obscene or harassing calls, you should not give out any information. Hang up the phone and immediately contact the Campus Police at (860)832-2375. You will be asked to file a formal complaint with the Campus Police and they will work with the Telecommunications Department to resolve the matter.

Reporting Problems
To report a problem with your phone line, contact the CSU Telecommunications Help Desk at 611 (on campus) or (860)493-0123 (off campus). When reporting a problem, be prepared to provide the following information during your call: your name, campus, residence hall, room number, telephone number, wall jack number (printed on the wall jack), an alternate number where you can be reached, and a description of the problem you are having. You will receive a reference number associated with your call and an estimated time when the problem will be resolved (usually within 24 hours).

If a CSU technician must be dispatched to your room for a repair, the technician will call you to schedule a time. If the problem is such that your telephone number is not in service, please provide an alternate number where you can be reached. All repairs will be performed during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:30am - 4:30pm. You must be present for the scheduled appointment and remain with the technician while they are onsite. If you make an appointment for a repair and fail to keep it, you will be charged for the repair call. The technician will wait no more than 15 minutes.

The CSU Telecommunications Help Desk will contact you with a follow-up call to ensure that the problem has been fixed and that you are satisfied with the resolution.

Voice Mail
One voice mailbox is provided to each residence hall room. It is your responsibility to initialize your mailbox and keep it secure. Minimal mailbox initialization consists of recording your name and changing the default password (provided when you move in to your room).

To access the voice mail system and the system tutorial, dial the campus voicemail number, 2-2222, from on campus, or (860)832-2222 from off-campus and follow the system prompts. Please direct all voice mail questions and problems to the CSU Telecommunications Help Desk by calling 611 from on campus or (860)493-0123 from off campus.

Voice Mail Quick Reference Guide
All procedures start after logging in and hearing the “Main Menu.” If there is a dash between the numbers in the Command column, wait for the automated voice before pressing the next number.

*back to top

Hints & Tips
Turn Off Your Computer Every Night
Turning off your computer at night protects it from being hacked into and saves electricity.

Use Surge Suppressors
Electrical surges can enter your computer through any exterior line connected to the unit, including power lines, telephone lines, cable lines, and network lines. When circuits are not adequately protected, your computer is subject to damaging electrical surges and loss of all information stored on your computer. Surge suppressors prevent electrical surges from damaging your computer and peripherals. IT provides surge suppressors for your office computer - contact the Help Desk if you do not have a surge suppressor. You may purchase a surge suppressor for home use wherever office supplies are sold.

Change Your Password Often
To help ensure that your account and our network are safe, please change your password often. Always use a “strong” password (one that includes three or more of these character types: uppercase letter, lowercase letter, numeric character, symbol character) which makes it harder to break. Do not use any part of your name, a nickname, or any other password that can easily be guessed.

Do Not Share Your Password
No one should ask for your password, not even your boss. If you get an e-mail message from someone claiming to be from the University asking for your password, you should not respond and should delete the message. Call the Help Desk immediately and they will advise you on how to proceed. Never share your password with anyone, including University staff or family members.

Secure Your Computer
Logging out of your account or locking your workstation when you walk away can save you from potentially harmful security breaches. If you do not log out of your account or lock your workstation when not in use, anyone can walk up to your computer and access your private data, e-mail account, etc. The University considers the account owner fully responsible for all account activities.

Do Not Respond to “Spam”
Responding to unsolicited e-mail only confirms that you have an active e-mail address and exposes you to additional solicitations and scams that can fill your inbox. Forward spam to JunkMailSubmission@mail.ccsu.edu.

Do Not Open Attachments From Strangers
Exercise caution with e-mail attachments, and never open those from unknown senders. E-mail attachments can potentially contain viruses, which can infect your computer and the our network.

Be Cautious When Using Public Computers
When using a public computer to access resources such as Outlook Web Access, the VPN, or Citrix, it is advised that you exit the browser after logging out. Use caution with any unfamiliar network or computer. Always use computers that are maintained by people you trust or ask if the computer is protected. If you use a public computer away from the the campus, change your password as soon as possible from a trusted computer.

Delete Unnecessary Programs
Your computer’s memory may be cluttered with programs that are unnecessary, such as Gator, Hotbar, Weatherbug, Yahoo! toolbar, and Google toolbar. Deleting these unnecessary programs will free up space on your hard drive and improve your computer’s performance.

Removing unnecessary or unwanted programs (Microsoft Windows XP):
Click on the Start menu. Click on Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs. The Add/Remove Programs window will open. The window will contain a list of all programs on your computer’s hard drive. To remove a program, click on the program name and then click on the Remove button. If you do not know what a specific program does, look it up on the Internet before you remove it to determine if it is needed.

Install McAfee VirusScan + Anti-Spyware
Viruses can infect your computer without your knowledge and cause harm. They can eat up your computer’s memory, decrease performance, corrupt data, cause crashes, and are often very hard to get rid of.

It is very important to install virus scan software on your computer and to update it regularly. McAfee VirusScan helps keep your computer free of viruses, Trojan horses, and other malicious code. VirusScan software scans your computer’s hard drive and provides detailed reports of what it finds.

We provide McAfee VirusScan Enterprise + Anti-Spyware Module free to all students, faculty, and staff. The software is pre-installed on all campus computers. To download McAfee Enterprise for home use, visit
www.ccsu.edu/its/downloads. For installation instructions, click on the “help” link next to the version of McAfee that you are downloading onto your computer.

Update McAfee VirusScan + Anti-Spyware
It is imperative that you update your virus scan program regularly! Viruses are constantly getting meaner, uglier, and sneakier. Updating is the only way to keep your virus scan program abreast of new viruses so it can detect and remove them from your computer. It is important that you update McAfee VirusScan every week to ensure that it is running at peak performance and is keeping your computer and our network virus free. Your on campus version of McAfee VirusScan is updated automatically. For instructions on how to update your home version of VirusScan, visit www.ccsu.edu/its/downloads and click the “help” link next to the version of McAfee VirusScan that you downloaded onto your computer.

Install and Update Spyware Removal Programs
Spyware is a type of software that covertly loads itself onto your computer, monitors Internet activity, and transmits information from your computer to someone else, all without your knowledge. Spyware can collect and transmit information such as e-mail addresses, passwords, and credit card numbers. In addition, spyware takes up memory space and eats up network bandwidth as it sends information back to the spyware’s home base through your Internet connection. Spyware can cause a myriad of problems within your computer, including system crashes and degraded performance.

To help combat spyware, install a good spyware removal program and make sure you update it regularly. We install McAfee VirusScan Enterprise + Anti-Spyware Module on all campus computers. It is also available for home use by all faculty, staff, and students (see below). If you do not use McAfee Enterprise, we recommend a program such as Ad-Aware, Spybot Search and Destroy, or Microsoft Windows Defender for your home computer. After you install a spyware removal program, you must update it regularly to download the latest definitions.

Visit www.ccsu.edu/its/downloads to download McAfee Enterprise for your home computer. You can download Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy from www.download.com. Microsoft Windows Defender can be downloaded from www.microsoft.com.

Weekly Computer Maintenance
We recommend that you perform each of the following tasks as part of a weekly computer maintenance program. This will help to keep your computer running at optimal performance.

Delete Internet Cache
Your computer stores information from all the web sites that you visit in a space called an Internet cache. This information can eat up memory and slow down your computer’s performance.

To delete your Internet Cache from Internet Explorer:
Open Internet Explorer. Click on Tools, then Internet Options. On the General tab, under the heading Temporary Internet files, click on the Delete Files button. A Delete Files warning box will open, click on the OK button to delete all temporary files.

Delete Cookies
Some web sites place cookies (small data files) on your hard drive. Cookies contain information the site can use to track such things as passwords, lists of pages you’ve visited, and the date on which you last visited a certain page. If your computer becomes infected with spyware or a virus, cookies are one of the first places it will look to for information about you.

To delete cookies from Internet Explorer:
Open Internet Explorer. Click on Tools, then Internet Options. On the General tab, under the heading Temporary Internet files, click on the Delete Cookies button. A Delete Cookies warning box will open, click on the OK button to delete all cookies.

Defragment Your Computer’s Hard Drive
Your computer saves information in blocks, in random available space on your hard drive. After a while, your computer uses up all of its contiguous storage space, and as a result, your computer slows down. Defragment your hard drive when your computer behaves sluggishly, when you install a new software program, or remove an existing software program.

To defragment your hard drive (Microsoft Windows XP):
Click on the Start menu. Click on All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then Disk Defragmenter. The Disk Defragmenter window will open. Click on Defragment. Depending on your hard drive, this may take up to one hour or more.

*back to top