Saturday, November 26, 2011

Busy times

Laptops in the library are hugely popular - who knew? The 5 we got set up last month are used every day, and there haven't been any problems with them (except not having enough!). We could have another 5 or 10, and I bet they would be used constantly too. Sometimes it's people who want more computer time than the 1 hour in the lab, other times it's people just wanting to sit in a more comfortable area or curious about how laptops are different from PCs. Whatever the reason, it seems to be a much-appreciated addition to our library services.

No one has figured out the bizarre update problem in the Express group, so next week it's time to start from scratch: re-install Windows and proceed from there. Maybe this will help pinpoint the issue, or just solve the problem; at this point, it doesn't really matter to me, I just want it to stop. All the other groups updated last week and are still working just fine, which is something I am extremely grateful for!

It's getting close to Finals Week: I can tell by the number of students working in the library all day. Only a few weeks until days start getting longer again - if we can make it through the "dark time" everything will be OK!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Back to work

September disappeared (well, not really - I was on vacation and removed from constant internet access!) but now it's fall and time to get back to work.

We'll have our new director soon (Susan Gregory from Oklahoma), and some staff members have moved on to new positions in Helena with the State library, so there are lots of changes!

We also have 5 new laptops we'll set up and have available for the public to check out and use in the library. We haven't decided if we need some security software on it, in case it "walks away" but we might try something - I've found an affordable option.

One express computer insists on installing updates, even after I've un-installed them, and told it to NOT check for updates. These cause some problems, and I can't figure out how they are installing since DeepFreeze should ignore any changes that occur. I have to conclude it's being haunted by gremlins.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

August Already!

The Library was present in the Sweet Pea Parade after all - a "Get On Board" train, with members wearing different "costumes" to represent a variety of countries. Two book carts were converted to engine and caboose, and I got to be Engineer with cap and bandanna, while others had train whistles. We just meandered down the street, looping around when the bus behind us was WAY BEHIND and leaving a gap. It was a fun morning.

Back to other issues: the computer with hardware problems took 3 tries, but finally ended up working (the processor was finally determined to be the culprit). Windows Updates had messed up the entire Express group last month, which I forgot about once I restored them all to before the update. So this month's updates did the same thing! Since I'll be gone next month, it would be a good idea to get this solved, so Mike from the City has started looking at it. All the other machines are fine, and they all started with the Express image when we set them up, so it's quite a quandary.
Our donated scanner has been getting a lot of use, and I have a second one to try. This one might even print, which would be very convenient - people seem to always ask about printing after they scan. I'll see how it works.

This week the 3 Director candidates will visit. We can have meals with them just for some social time, but they will also have time to wander around the library and visit with staff between interviews. There is also a public session later where they will introduce themselves. It will be an exciting day, and (possibly!) my final director search experience!

We've had 2 staff members depart: retirement and relocation. So people are filling in while these positions are advertised - a busy time! We've been looking at reorganizing schedules and staffing, but this might be something the new director could look at as well.

Next month I'll be away but I think things are set to run fairly smoothly without me!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Summertime

Summer means visitors (can I print my boarding pass? check my email?) and the summer reading program (both kids and adults!). Hot weather (we thought it would never get here!) means people at the pool, who then stop over at the library - it's amazing the attire that comes in. This summer has seen a lot of resume-related work, too. So we are still a popular place. The typewriter is also popular (are we the only one in town any more?) and the document scanner, which has developed a problem when scanning photos. So I asked around other City departments, and surprisingly received 2 possibilities! Recycling at its best.

I've had the opportunity to do some hardware-related work, which doesn't come along very often (and I'm not very experienced at!). One out-of-warranty computer stopped connecting to the network, so a new system board was needed. Luckily IT come to my rescue when it still didn't work (and I learned a few extra steps were needed to complete the job!). Next, one of our new machines decided not to turn on. Since it's under warranty, a technician comes out after the initial phone call and troubleshooting. Unfortunately, there was still a problem -he suspected the power supply, which (in theory) the Customer should be able to replace. So I did that this morning, and still have a dead computer. The technician should be dispatched again, and I'll be very happy if he tells me it was just one minor detail I overlooked. Still, these are interesting learning experiences!

It's Sweet Pea Festival time, but the Library may not be in the parade this year - we missed the registration deadline (never a problem before but there is a new Festival director this year). Protests have been voiced, so we'll see the outcome! Speaking of Directors, we will be meeting the 3 Library Director candidates in August. One day, public and staff meetings, and official interviews. Should be exciting!

Thursday, June 30, 2011

End of the Year!

Well, end of the Fiscal year anyway! That often means a mad scramble to make sure all money is spent, but not overspending - a fine line. Today we received one more table in the computer area, to replace a very outdated and small typewriter table. Now all the furniture matches. I'm waiting for one of the "typing regulars" to try it out. Software is a little trickier: previous rules were everything had to be In The Building on June 30, but how do you tell with software? Installed but not used? Paid for but not tried? We've got some software that will allow us to extend computer time for people in certain circumstances (I'm working on guidelines so everyone is consistent), and some new scheduling software for the meeting rooms.

We're getting anxious to meet a few of the candidates for library director - rumor has it we might see some soon! Skype phone interviews have already taken place, and reference are being contacted to narrow the field down to 3 possibilities. Maybe by the end of summer we'll have things settled!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Evaluating

It's that time again: evaluations! I suspected we might be doing these, so started my list of accomplishments and goals right away. Often I'm trying to come up with something at the last minute. I'd also been clever and kept a list inside the cabinet in my office - when a big project was completed, I noted it there. A great help in trying to remember everything that went on during the past year! Of course, this blog is also a nice way to recall things.

The Library Director search is moving along - there will be preliminary Skype interviews in a few weeks. It will be nice to get the position filled and see what kind of new direction the library might go in. Change can be a good thing.

Friday, May 6, 2011

May Already?

Time flies when you're away from the library! First there was the fun MLA conference in Billings (3 days, and what should be my last event as MPLA representative). Then a quick week to prepare for my 2-week spring vacation. I had a morning of mild panic my last Saturday: all the public computers began restarting themselves, installing updates. That was supposed to have been scheduled a few days earlier, during the night, so this was a shock. Now that we're using DeepFreeze, the restart just wiped out the updates, so it was a never-ending cycle. I spent a few hours taking care of that - I realized this had been the first week of available updates since we'd put the new machines out. So I left for vacation optimistic things were OK, since the next round would come up after my return. Things seemed to be fine - whew! We'll see how things go next week...

Although the BTOP computers are out, there is still more to be done. We've also received 2 ADA workstations (just the software) so I'll be getting familiar with JAWS, MAGic, some magnifying software, etc. We plan to have one station downstairs (converting a catalog station - I can't believe we've gone all this time without one!) and a second on an hour computer in the lab. There probably will be some training on using this software too - I'm anxious to try it out.

Rumor has it the library roof will have to be completely replaced this summer. Staff might be able to work, but we would have to be closed to the public. I wonder if 2 weeks off without pay would be an option? I can think of lots of ways to use that kind of time!

Saturday, April 2, 2011

MIssion Accomplished!

I met my goal of having all 28 BTOP computers out for public use by March 31. Woohoo! The transition has gone so well it's almost a bit of a let-down (but I'm not complaining!). Most comments from the public (and there haven't been that many) have been asking about the old equipment. Of course there are changes that could be made already: Firefox 4 has just been released! So the work is on-going. We plan a celebration in a week or so, after the MLA conference is done. Balloons, a little fan-fare just so everyone knows about the project.

Now that I had some free time I went to work on our "toddler" computer - just an old CPU running an entertaining screensaver, with unattached keyboard and mouse for the under-2 set to play with. Recently the CPU we were using started making some noise, so it seemed time to replace it (it didn't even have USB ports, that's how old it was!). The City sent over a newer CPU set up with just a basic user account, and I tried transferring some screensavers we'd downloaded on the other machine. Apparently I didn't have all necessary the files, because only one would install. But it looked wonderful on a newer machine that could handle the 3-D graphics! That was until the machine started freezing up with the dreaded Blue Screen. Restarting was easy but annoying for the Children's staff. Friday morning I started working on it, trying to get other screen savers downloaded directly on to it, but all had the same problem - Blue Screens after a short time. All day, and Saturday morning I tried a variety of ideas. Finally, after a discussion with the Saturday person working in Children's, we decided a basic Windows screensaver (the 3-D pipes) would be a good idea. Hopefully that will just run and run.

On to Billings and MLA!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Maybe look at a book?

Some days things are just a bit different, and often there seems to be a bit of a pattern to it. Today was "Use the Internet even if a print source would work better" Day. I happened to answer the phone this morning, and was talking with a woman who needed information on cooking sausage. This almost seemed to be a Reference Desk question, but since I wasn't busy or at a public desk, I figured I'd handle it. She couldn't get to the library and didn't have internet so wanted me to look up instructions. "What do they say about cooking sausage?" she asked, as if the internet was a specific entity I could ask. So we did a little reference interview: what kind of sausage? Links or patties? Beef was the reply. Her phone connection wasn't the best, either, so I was only getting 75% of the conversation. I started with allrecipes.com but only got recipes including sausage (and some sounded great!) but this was beyond what she was looking for. So back to Google and "sausage cooking instructions" which got me more specific information. I read the various methods (which, thankfully, corresponded to what I had already told her off the top of my head). She hung up after a bit, so I have to assume she got what she needed. But I wondered if there wasn't a cookbook around somewhere?

A co-worker had the phone call asking for "phone numbers of all bookstores in Bozeman." That's a case where a phone book would be more efficient, and that's what we'd use to answer the question. It's hard to know the actual reason for this so maybe the phone book wouldn't be the best source, but I always wonder. People often think the internet is the ultimate source when it's really just one of many.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Progress!



Things are moving along quickly with the new computers - children's and teens are both out and seem to be working fine. The Adult image has been made, and in the morning I'll send it out to 3 machines. Tuesday morning those get moved out and 3 more prepared, and so on until all 12 are out. The hardest part now is the physical moving and set-up!

My goal was to have this done by the end of the month, and it looks like that's going to be accomplished. Then it's on the the MLA/MPLA conference in Billings! I've agreed to be part of the MPLA Communications committee, and we're starting to take advantage of the many social networking options. Facebook, Twitter, and a few others are being added to the MPLA home page.

At a recent staff meeting we spent some time discussing specific issues at each service desk, and trying to come up with one concrete solution. The Computer Services group agreed that giving out guest passes repeatedly to the same people (who can't get library cards, since they are just visiting or don't have a physical address, just PO Boxes on their ID, for example) was time-consuming. We decided to try having these folks keep their guest pass. We already know them by name (since we've seen their ID over and over), and the cards are already set to not allow checking out materials. So far we've allowed several regulars to keep the cards, and they have all been thrilled! My next goal is to add some software that would allow us to extend time on specific computers when people ask. We get that request frequently enough that I think this could be a good customer-service move. Right now we can't make that happen.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Computers Are Coming!



I've been working on setting up the first of the new computers for the past 2 weeks: installing necessary programs and software, adding printers, working with CybraryN to make sure the new system works with their software (that was an obstacle we had to work through with a few online sessions!) but finally things are ready! Four of the Express group computers are out and being used, with 3 more getting imaged this afternoon and one more in the morning. Then it's on to the other groups - children's, teens, and finally adult. We're using DeepFreeze, which should make things easier too: restarting the computer sets it back to the original configuration. I'm looking forward to the next few weeks to see how that all works.


While I was working on the computers, the City also was holding its first IT Week - lots of good sessions dealing with various technology topics. I was able to attend several: ADA issues, using the city phones and Outlook, a discussion on social media. I wish it hadn't been scheduled for last week, but it's all worked out. My original goal was to have the Express group completed by March 15, so I'm only a few days off.

Next month: MLA/MPLA in Billings! My last conference as Montana's rep to MPLA - a position I've enjoyed but will pass along to someone else. Then some vacation time...

Friday, February 25, 2011

Get Ready for BTOP!

We are one of 29 (I think) libraries receiving new computers as part of a state-wide grant to increase access to technology. I don't remember what BTOP stands for but it's a catchy acronym, and we've been working on this for several months. While at Offline earlier this month I went to a session explaining more of the process, and now we're starting to receive the equipment! Earlier this week 28 monitors arrived, and next week we'll see 28 CPU's. Then it's time to get them ready - install the printers, set up CybraryN, add whatever programs the public is used to having available (chats, Google Earth and SketchUp, etc). We've given up our imaging plan (which was OK to a point but not as effective as we'd hoped) so will start using DeepFreeze, software that resets computers each time they get restarted. Something new for me to learn! So I expect to be a bit busy for a few weeks...

Offline was fun, as always, and Bozeman offered to host it next year. We'll be busy planning that in a few months.

The MLA conference comes up next month too, in Billings. This will be my final conference as MPLA representative, which has been a fun office. I've been able to go to several out-of-state conferences but will be glad to stay home next year so others can go (and maybe have the chance to attend something different, like Computers in Libraries again!).

Thinking Spring while we experience sub-zero temps for a few days....

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Groundhog Day!

Although it's a beautiful sunny day here (but still cold, at a chilly 20 degrees!)I heard Punxsatwny Phil didn't see his shadow so at least the East should have an early spring! Ironic, considering they are having their worst winter in years, as far as snowfall goes. It doesn't really matter in Montana, since we can have snow any time; spring just means wet slushy snow and gray skies. I'd rather have the nice snow and blue skies!

Lots of new staff at the library now. There was a glitch in getting some of them set up on all computers. They would log on a computer and go through the process of entering settings in the catalog software (which has to be done on each machine!), then ambitious and helpful staff would also log them in on a second computer to get started. This caused the network to go a little crazy, since the first log-in hadn't been logged off to actually save. So at a subsequent log-in dire error messages would appear, and all the previous work was lost! Once again confirming my tendency to be methodical and do things step-by-step. So a few people had to start over, but now that we've figured it out we'll do better in the future.

Last week I taught the Computer and Online Safety class. There is so much information that could be discussed, so I try to keep it simple. There were 8 "mature" women, so we had a great time and they all seemed very pleased (and not too overwhelmed!) with what we covered. I enjoy teaching, and some day hope to get responsibility for the classes back to Computer Services and a small consistent group of instructors. I think that would result in better continuity throughout the classes.

Offline next weekend! I'm bringing my recently-purchased Sony e-reader to go along with a session on other gadgets. I have downloaded a title on to it using my laptop but haven't used the netbook, and don't know if I'll be able to connect those two - there are "authorization" issues with the Adobe DRM software. At least that's been the experience with the Nook. I think it will take a little getting used to reading on the e-reader. It's not difficult, just different than holding a book. But using a cell phone was different than earlier phones at first, and now seems perfectly normal.

Something unrelated to library work but fun: there are now several of us who knit, so the idea of meeting on occasional Sunday afternoons for some knitting (and other crafts) time away from work seemed fun. One staff member mentioned the Scarves for Special Olympics project back in December, so we decided to work on that. This week we'll pack up the scarves (at least 20!) and ship them off. We're already looking forward to making more next year.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

New Year, New Stuff

We've started the new year without Alice, and although we're not floundering it does feel strange to not have a director sitting in that office. Terri and Lois are interim directors and will do fine, but it has added to their already full work-load, as well as Nancy's. Hopefully things will move quickly in the hiring of a new leader!

Even if we don't have a new director, lots of other new people are coming on board. I'm training 2 new substitutes, and have also trained another staff person to start working at Computer Services. This will help with our workload - right now we're juggling schedules when someone is sick. There are 2 others who eventually will also be available, and 4 more for Circulation/Information desks. Whew!

Today I had a dad (I assume) with a young toddler (less than a year old, I'd guess) headed to the computer lab for. I suggested he could use the children's library or student computers downstairs - we don't have children (especially that young) in the lab, just because they get noisy and the other users complain. He was surprised he couldn't use the lab; I explained why, and pointed out he already had a noisy toy going off in the diaper bag. He said the toy wouldn't be going off, and his little boy wouldn't make much noise. I just laughed and said they can't help it - that's what babies do! And this little guy was just smiling and laughing - so cute. But Dad went downstairs, and it wasn't long before I could hear the noise confirming what I expected: once Dad's attention was on the computer, Little Guy wasn't happy!

Next month: Offline, my favorite techie conference!