tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11226289354094487572024-02-20T05:47:01.592-08:00Bozeman TechieRandom thoughts on the public libraryAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-71070369572571627452015-06-29T14:31:00.001-07:002015-06-29T14:31:43.201-07:00Travel Time!It's summer so time to hit the road! There are many new directors ready for orientation visits and libraries I haven't been to yet. We've readjusted consulting assignments (now there are actually territories we are responsible for) so I plan to get out and visit all the libraries in my 2 federations.
I'd planned a trip to Lewistown and area libraries earlier this month but returned from vacation with a nasty cold, so that's been put off for a while. But I was able to get to 9 libraries in the southeast and eastern areas, with plans to head back that way next month for 2 new directors. Lots of miles on the car!
Next week is the Summer Leadership Institute - I've never been to one and am really looking forward to it. We had some "homework" ahead of time, and it sounds like we'll be kept pretty busy for the entire time. I think it will be a great experience.
The GoToMeeting pilot project has ended, which caught some libraries by surprise and disappointed others who hadn't had a chance to take advantage of their accounts. Several plan to get their own accounts now that they've seen the possibilities.
No ALA conference for me this year, but I will be heading to Little Rock for the ARSL conference in October. I'd submitted proposals to a few conferences and am still waiting to hear back from MPLA to see if it's been accepted for their joint Wyoming conference in September. It's been a few years since I've attended MPLA and I'd like to get there since Cheyenne is relatively convenient!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-5184050308838373442015-02-11T10:25:00.000-08:002015-02-11T10:25:25.839-08:00GoTo HeadacheJust when I thought everything was under control...
There are 3 licenses for GoToTraining but 4 people involved, so last week the account I was using was switched to someone else. This means I lost access to my future trainings and everything associated with them (registration lists, polls I'd created). There is an available GoToWebinar license so I've recreated the two remaining sessions there and updated the link where people can register. When trying to recreate the polls I discovered the browser "remembered" much of what I'd entered, all I had to do was guess the first letter of each question. So that was helpful. Because I'd received confirmation emails when anyone registered (and hadn't emptied my deleted mail box!) I could find those, so sent an email to everyone who had been signed up with the new link so they could re-register. Whew!
But strange things are still happening - I got several confirmations of new people registering for the no-longer available sessions. Today I checked the new link, which shows next week's session "Full" even though only one person is registered and I set the limit to 15. And today I got the reminder email for the cancelled meeting! Trying to go to it brings up the message that the meeting room is no longer available (no surprise to me but others will be disappointed!). So a support request has been sent to Citrix and we'll see what can be done. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-40708268226458034952015-02-02T15:34:00.000-08:002015-02-11T10:08:02.647-08:00Way to Go(To)My re-scheduled GoToTraining event went very well this time around - participants contributed and everything worked as it should. I think I'll record the February session so it can be posted on the State Library's Vimeo channel. Even though we've got 3 different sessions planned, there will still be those who can't attend any.
In preparation for recording (and because I'm also slated to "host" this week's State Librarian's webside chat, which involves recording it as well) I created my own practice session. I started a meeting, then joined as a second participant (using my cell phone and the GoTo app). I was able to record a brief demonstration of a new database just acquired by the State Library (Hobbies and Crafts!). Pretty fun! After the demo was done, the video had to be converted to a usable format (.wmv - luckily Citrix has included the codec to do that in their software so it's very easy) and uploaded to Vimeo. I tried this in my own Vimeo account, and shared it with a relative just to find out how it worked on their computer. It was great! I'd like to get libraries to use this idea for creating short videos for their websites - things like how to place a hold, or find specific databases. Unfortunately I can't record that - the control panel (necessary to show How to do it) doesn't appear in the meeting session! So I'll talk it up, and probably will include that in the session we plan for MLA in April.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-29095368061464283922015-01-15T15:32:00.001-08:002015-01-15T15:32:55.139-08:00I Should Have KnownThis morning I had a GoToTraining even scheduled - it's been on the calendar for about a month. As part of my effort to encourage use of the Discover IT search tool, I'm going to show how different settings can lead to widely differing search results. There are 3 of these sessions coming up, one each month. Then we'll move on to a session showing how libraries can actually customize their profile to get the results they think will be best for their patrons. I've been trying this out, using different terms and profiles, to get really comfortable with all the options. I've used GoToMeeting quite a bit, scheduling some new director training sessions, so didn't think this would be too different. I even created a few polls to go along, and had 10 people registered. People started arriving - 6 showed up - but there was no audio! I checked to make sure my microphone was correct (it was) and the Help menu didn't give any ideas. We even ended and restarted, just as a last resort. After 20 minutes I decided to reschedule and work on it without the pressure of having people waiting. The group was very agreeable. Checking settings in the scheduling section I came across audio settings - I had no idea! Don't know how I missed them when creating the event, and changing things now didn't help the already-set meeting. But it looks like future events will be better. But I'll be testing it ahead of time anyway! I've added an extra event, and 3 of this morning's folks have already registered. So it will be OK, but I still think I should have somehow known to check everything one more time.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-34480659430276845172015-01-09T07:55:00.000-08:002015-01-09T07:55:25.976-08:00CESCES - the Consumer Electronics Show - has always been a fascinating event, although I don't expect to ever attend. I started paying attention when even MSNBC started covering it on their financial programs. If 20,000 librarians in Las Vegas (ALA, 2014) can be fun how great would 160,000+ geeks (CES, 2014) be? I have to think it would just be wild!
So many cool products are demonstrated, although I suspect not many ever become mainstream. Still, it's a good place to see the way research is headed and get an idea of what new developments might be coming along in the future. See what you think. What product would you be most likely to buy?
<a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2866672/best-of-ces-2015-the-gadgets-and-gear-that-wowed-us-most.html#tk.rss_all">Best of CES</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-34952290984123712892015-01-08T15:09:00.000-08:002015-01-08T15:09:26.026-08:00So many gadgetsI've mentioned the TPZ ("Technology Petting Zoo") sets we have, as a resource for showing librarians around the state various gadgets. Mine consists of an iPad, Google Nexus, Samsung Galaxy, Kindle Fire and Dell Venue. In addition I have my own Kindle Fire HD and Asus Transformer. Having so many gadgets is a challenge, requiring different accounts and passwords to keep track of. The iPad stands alone, of course. Since I don't have any other Apple devices that had to have a completely new and unique account. For the others, I was able to set things up with my Gmail account, and the Kindles work with my Amazon account so they seem a little bit easier to manage.
So what do I use most? So far it seems to be the Kindle - it's a nice size, not too heavy to carry and accesses just about everything I need (especially anything I had from Amazon in the cloud). My personal Fire HD developed a display issue so I haven't been using that one nearly as much (still trying to figure out the problem and how to deal with it). I've taken the Galaxy on a road trip and used it for Skype in the hotel, that worked nicely too - I like the larger (10") display. When attending ALA I chose the iPad because it's smaller (I have the mini version) and found it very convenient - it seems to connect to wifi very easily. On a recent vacation I took the Dell tablet because it has a keyboard and I expected to be accessing email. Trying to type anything substantial without a keyboard is just torture! Sadly, both Gmail and Hotmail proved to be extra security conscious and put several obstacles in the way, so accessing email turned out to be impossible when overseas (happily, Facebook was much more agreeable and I was still able to let people know where we were).
I try to use all the gadgets for a variety of tasks just so I can be familiar with each. I've got MtLib2Go on all, assorted web pages bookmarked, and a few library apps on them too. It's been a learning experience to figure out the different navigation styles (especially with the Dell Windows 8!) but at least I'll be able to help others when they have a question about a gadget.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-61079887534402483982015-01-02T10:42:00.001-08:002015-01-02T10:42:53.902-08:00Happy New Year!Once again I feel the need to start a post with the "can't believe it's been so long" apology. Each year I begin with great intentions which seem to fall apart pretty quickly. Perhaps there is something to be said for consistency?
Since the last post, I attended ALA - overwhelming even when not combined with the Las Vegas environment (which included 108-degree temps one day, when the monorail stopped running and I needed to walk back to the hotel - I was sure I'd just dry up on the sidewalk and disappear!). Interesting sessions and author speeches, some fun meet-ups with friends made for a good experience. Will I go again? I think the regional, smaller conferences have more to offer so I'll focus on those.
In the fall I presented a session on Strategic Planning at the ASLD/PLD conference. I had just completed a planning exercise with Belgrade Community Library that went so well we wanted to share. It outlines a streamlined process for smaller libraries that can make it easier for them to achieve useful results without the overwhelming time and effort investment that is often a deterrent to even beginning the process. I'd like to submit this as a proposal to other conferences in the future (MPLA, ARSL, PNLA).
The State Library has developed a pilot program for GoToMeeting, giving an account to every public library in the state. We're curious to see how it gets used and hope to be able to continue it in future years. I spent October setting up accounts, and we've been offering trainings for people to become familiar with the software. Jo flick and I will present a session at MLA in April to help promote it as well as get ideas on usage.
Next month is the Offline conference in Billings. Always a fun time.
My big project now is promoting the DiscoverIT search tool, showing public libraries how it can be customized to be more useful to their patrons. Three online training sessions are set for this winter, demonstrating its use and showing options, then I'll move on to the actual customization process in later training. We've been promoting this for quite some time but still don't see everyone using it to the fullest.
I probably should schedule reminders on my calendar to encourage more posting - that might be helpful!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-13097022447712281872014-06-20T09:29:00.001-07:002014-06-20T09:29:09.989-07:00Read for summer!The rain appears to have (mostly) ended, temperatures are closer to normal and libraries have kicked off their summer reading programs - that means it must be summer! This winter brought back memories of years past, when things were typically more severe - we've been spoiled by recent milder times. But there was still some traveling, including a fun week in western Montana with my colleague where we ended up staying in Missoula while a blizzard raged outside. But the hotel internet was great, and we could still get a lot of work done. Offline conference in February, Federation meetings, new director trainings - all great opportunities to network and meet up with folks I haven't had a chance to work with before this. The annual MLA conference in April was a new experience for me as a state library representative instead of a public library employee. Next year I hope to be able to present a session or two.
More fun: a complete set of new gadgets for our TPZ collections! I spent the week setting up the iPad mini, Samsung Galaxy Tab3, Kindle Fire, Google Nexus and my own personal Asus Transformer; an additional Dell tablet will also be added later.Since I'll be heading off to the ALA conference next week this will be a good time to choose one to take along. TPZs won't be loaned out to libraries as in the past, now they are designed just for the consultants to become familiar with the various devices out there so we can help others.
Suddenly there are more learning opportunities too: MOOCs to keep me occupied this summer! "The Future of Librarianship" seems like an obvious topic I need to be following, and I'm looking forward to attending this course with David Lankes. I also signed up for a course on copyright, something I've always wanted to know more about. It's a class designed for teachers and librarians so should have useful information. Before that, however, is the ALA conference. Several sessions I'm interested in have handouts available; I need to get those downloaded to whatever device I'm taking so I'll be prepared! I've never attended ALA, and suspect this will be completely overwhelming, but I'm looking forward to the experience(and Las Vegas with 20,000 librarians is sure to be fun!).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-58800244933689332572014-01-06T09:55:00.002-08:002014-01-06T09:55:46.085-08:00Gadgets Galore!The State Library has a collection of Technology Petting Zoos (TPZs), created as part of the BTOP (Broadband Technology Opportunities) Program, which allowed libraries to experience all sorts of new gadgets and devices without having to actually purchase them. This was great when the ebook and tablet revolution exploded - we all needed a chance to try downloading to a variety of devices, as each seemed to have its own little quirks, and every patron seemed to choose a different one! Nooks, Kindles, iPads and iPods - the list goes on. Over time (less than 3 years if you think about it) technology has changed enough to make some of the earlier devices obsolete (first generation iPad, I'm thinking of you) and the software and process of downloading a little less difficult.
I recently tried to download a new app on the iPad in my TPZ, only to get a message that it needed to be upgraded. Going through the process (which involves an iTunes account, something I needed to create since I didn't have any account information from the previous user) I got the message that my device was up to date - but not enough, apparently. This has led to a complete reconsideration of the TPZs and what they should contain. Last week I pulled out all the devices to see exactly what I had: 2 Sony ereaders, an iPad and iPod (with keyboard!), an older Kindle (but not the original - this wants to think it has wi-fi), 2 Google iRiver devices (something I admit I'd never heard of!), a Nook color tablet, a Sansa SanDisk MP3 player and another device for low-vision users HumanWare Victor Reader - a digital talking book reader according to the website). Trying out the Kindle reminded me of the frustrations early users ran across - it found the wi-fi network but trying to navigate to enter the password was an ordeal, and it wouldn't connect.
The bottom line from this exercise: not much is really useful. The question is what should we have? If our goal is to help users (librarians and their patrons) become familiar with downloading e-books and audiobooks, the list of compatible devices (from OverDrive, what most patrons would be using) is still fairly extensive - we can't possibly have all of them. But as patrons become more familiar with all this technology, maybe we don't really need to have a collection; we just need to be able to help them with their own device. Even OverDrive has developed a program where libraries can check out devices to patrons to try out the procedure, and all information is deleted from the device when returned.
I'm going to try out the Nook Color now - that seems to be the most up-to-date gadget in my kit. I bet it still involves creating some sort of account!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-71456495869704129382014-01-02T09:58:00.000-08:002014-01-02T09:58:24.360-08:00Happy New Year!Here's to great things in the coming months! No, I don't have a clue as to what might come along but the wide-open possibilities are always exciting, like getting in a car with a full gas tank on the open road with no destination in mind. Maybe that's why I enjoy traveling - even if there is an end-point to a trip, the unknown is always out there and anything can happen. I'm avoiding resolutions; instead I'll consider options and goals (which can be similar: I can resolve to post more here, or set a goal of more posts each month - the result would be the same).
One goal will be to increase my involvement in various library associations, specifically MLA and MPLA - I have more time and flexibility and miss the interaction with those governing boards. This might be the time to get back to them. Attending more regional and national conferences is another goal, especially ALA now that I've joined! PLA is every other year, so that could be an option 2 years from now - it seems a bit soon to get to that one in March this year. Computers in Libraries, Internet Librarian - more possibilities!
Becoming more familiar with all the issues facing Montana libraries is another goal. Trustees, directors, forming library districts are all topics I haven't had much experience with up to now and have been working on learning about them so I can be a resource. There is so much information available! I'm at least becoming familiar with where to find answers, even if I don't yet have it all stored for instant recall.
Visiting all the libraries in my federations and geographic area is another goal for the year, one that will be great fun (and goes along with my travel interest!). I can't wait to get started. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-53944267946516157142013-12-13T08:02:00.003-08:002013-12-13T08:02:53.129-08:00Two Months & CountingI was thinking I hadn't yet accomplished much in my new job, when I stopped to consider it's only been 2 months since I started! Sitting in meetings where others had great progress reports on various projects led me to think I wasn't stepping up, but a reality check reminded me it takes time to settle in - it's been a long time since I've been the "newbie" anywhere. It's not like I've just been sitting home, waiting for something to happen (although the possible October government shut-down did cause a little concern!). I've traveled to at least 10 libraries, participated in a few board and director trainings, met a lot of new folks and dealt with some interesting issues, all while becoming familiar with standards, laws and other procedures I wasn't familiar with. The holidays, when things seem to slow down a bit, are a good time to regroup and make some definite plans. I've attended webinars and trainings, including the ContentDM series for the Montana Memory Project - I'd seen some of that in action but going through the complete set really helped in understanding the process of creating a collection. There has been new grant money allocated to that so I'm looking forward to helping libraries with their preservation plans. Another project is a Lifelong Learning and Community Outreach idea - it could be 2 separate goals or we could find a way to combine things. An early idea involved the creation of traveling kits libraries could borrow for recording patron stories and experiences; this might involve training in the use of the equipment and how to share what was collected. Partnering with community groups would also be a big part of this. That's a discussion we'll have next month.
So I will remind myself to be patient and see what new challenges and opportunities come along in the next few months!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-42513517420231733552013-12-04T09:20:00.000-08:002013-12-04T09:20:00.236-08:00We've entered the Week of the Deep Freeze here, with day time temperatures barely getting above zero. Reports say this type of extended sub-arctic freeze hasn't happened for 40 years - it brings back memories of my Alaskan days! So, it's time to get in to hibernation mode and take advantage of the opportunities the internet offers. Lots of online learning sessions are noted on my calendar now.
Yesterday I learned about the Impact Survey from <a href="http://www.techsoupforlibraries.org/">TechSoup</a>, available to public libraries as a way to gather data from users. This will be a great tool for Montana's libraries, allowing them to learn how their patrons are using library computers and databases. This information can then be used to demonstrate the library's value in the community, an important consideration when budgeting and funding discussions come up. Library standards specify feedback should be gathered every 2 years - often a difficult task for libraries to manage. The survey will make it much easier. It's as simple as inserting some simple code into a website, and will result in valuable data that can be used for comparisons with other similar libraries. I'd like to be able to help all libraries take advantage of this.
Today there are a few more learning opportunities, one specifically on rural libraries and how they can be promoting innovation in their communities. Not every library can manage to create a maker space but there are probably other ways to be creative - I'm curious to find out what options might be out there! The state library has a grant we are looking at using for life-long learning and community outreach programs, and I'm hoping some ideas from today's session will be useful in supporting that.
Another idea for the grant is to develop a traveling "story-gathering" toolbox so libraries could record local community experts and stories, like the <a href="http://libraryyou.escondido.org/">LibraryYOU</a> program. I would love to learn more about video recording and editing, and be able to train others to do the same. This sounds like it could be so much fun!
This could also be a good time to play with the various gadgets in the Petting Zoo, just to make sure I'm familiar with all the available features in case someone asks. They are just sitting here, and an unused gadget is a sad thing!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-5623398250603368072013-11-13T13:37:00.001-08:002013-11-13T13:37:16.425-08:00Learning the JobIt's been a month in the new job, and I've learned so much already! Trustee training, new director visits, things I never paid attention to in the past. It's been fun just getting out to explore the state - I've dropped in to visit several small libraries just to say hi on my way to another destination. Libraries are all so different, and it's amazing to see how they manage to do so much with limited resources.
Working from home is a new adventure too. I've got a nice office space set up - two monitors and a docking station (eventually, right now it's a laptop and monitor), comfortable chair the works with the counter height where everything is placed. Business cards, phone, all the necessary accessories are there. The State car is a nice addition too, although the one drawback is the cassette player - luckily I still have some cassettes I like to hear.
With winter coming along, travel will slow down but we can do so much online it doesn't make too much difference.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-43247145778792406212013-09-26T17:46:00.000-07:002013-09-26T17:46:15.659-07:00Moving OnSometimes opportunity comes along when you least expect it. Occasionally a job posting will be announced in an email; if I see something interesting, I pass it along to my unemployed-librarian son. So when a position with the State Library was mentioned I went to the post to send him the link. In addition to that job (and I don't remember what it was) the position of Statewide Consulting Librarian was listed. I had to look twice to be sure I was reading it correctly - that has always been my Dream Job! So, after taking a deep breath I checked the post for more information. It had just been posted with a deadline about 3 weeks away. Applications are done completely online, so this was a new experience. I spend an agonizing weekend perfecting my job experience document, updating my resume and filling out the application, then submitted everything and prepared to wait. I did check the job site once and it seemed to show my application hadn't been submitted - moment of panic! I emailed the contact person, who confirmed she'd received everything, so I could relax again.
So, after the closing deadline (and Labor Day, when I knew nothing would be done) I waited. Just when I was afraid I was out of the running I got the phone call about scheduling an interview. Whew! They were scheduled for one day a week later, so I had time to prepare. Interviewing has never seemed to be a strong point of mine, and I really wanted to do well, so let the research begin! We tried to think of possible questions, prepare answers, look at job skills sites - anything that might help. Finally the day before the interview my "coach" (AKA: hubby) grilled me on specific questions until I was beginning to think I'd never get the job. I emailed a colleague who gave me some very practical and reassuring advice; I spent a little more time on the State Library website and felt much more prepared.
Interview Day: we arrived at the State Library (a 2-hour drive on a pleasant day) early, the committee was all people I know and have worked with so it was a very comfortable setting. Ten questions on a variety of topics related to statewide projects along with the predictable "Why do you want this job?" Since I really wanted this, it was easy to give a very enthusiastic and passionate response! After 90 minutes we were done. In the past I've had the "wish I'd said that!" experience when reflecting on the interview, but this time I couldn't come up with any improvements to responses. It was time to just wait; since this was a Thursday I expected it would be the following week before I heard anything.
So, when the committee chair called the following afternoon I was almost afraid to answer, and prepared myself for the "Thanks, but we've offered it to someone else" speech. What a relief to hear "We'd like to offer you the job" instead. We talked for a few minutes more, then I had to refrain from running down the hall, shouting the news! It was later Friday afternoon, so I told just a few of the people who would need to know before heading home to celebrate.
Gradually the news spread, an official announcement came out the following week, and now I've reached my last day at Bozeman Public Library. It's been 16 1/2 years, and I wasn't looking to leave, but this was too good to pass up. As a Statewide Consulting Librarian I'll be working from home as well as traveling to libraries, helping with statewide projects, going to conferences to discover more exciting things to bring back to Montana. I'm looking forward to the new experience and exploring the state!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-68108863840503398502013-08-22T18:47:00.003-07:002013-08-22T18:47:58.825-07:00You gotta love 'emOh, teenage boys - they can be so entertaining and infuriating at the same time! I had two of my own; they were an experience, each in their own way, so I am not entirely clueless. We get to see an incredible variety in the library, and it's funny how the same problems recur with each new group that comes along. All summer long we've been battling a few who are playing an (apparently) fascinating online game and don't want to stop at just one hour. We've been assuming they have managed to overcome the timing software and just play without being logged in, but I'm wondering if it's the game somehow interfering. They certainly aren't going to tell us if they get to play longer! We make sure they are logged in, shut down computers remotely when they've been around for hours, and it doesn't' seem to make any kind of impression. They keep coming back!
Recently we've had a young man coming in without a shirt. He doesn't stay long, and it's amusing to see his "I'm so cool without my shirt" attitude. Since we live in a northern climate and fall is coming, this won't be a big problem for very long. But it seems to come up every summer.
Then there are the transient musicians (and others) - they are an interesting group, usually with lots of baggage and looking slightly under-nourished. But, they are usually friendly, agreeable and grateful for being allowed to use the library. We always wonder what their individual stories are, and where they end up after passing through.
The same is true for a lot of people we see regularly who just seem to vanish over time. Once in a while someone will come back after a time, and that's always fun. Then there are those who will never be coming back, and that's sad. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-71521465315800838852013-08-15T18:30:00.000-07:002013-08-15T18:30:49.308-07:00A DeepFreeze ExperienceUnusual to have more than one post in a week but I had a great learning experience today!
We've been using <a href="http://www.faronics.com/products/deep-freeze/">DeepFreeze</a>, some useful software, on our public computers for a year or so and found it made maintaining those machines incredibly easy. Any changes made get erased when the computer restarts, so no more time spent cleaning the desktop or files, removing saved passwords, worrying about viruses being installed. We were even able to schedule automatic Windows updates, saving more time! It's not perfect; I still have to manually update things like Flash, Shockwave and Java, but that's just an occasional morning and not as critical. It's easy to forget to "thaw" a machine before making changes, only to have them disappear at the next start-up, but after that happens once or twice you tend to catch on! We'd recommend it to anyone, and feel it is money well spent.
So, we also had it installed on our PACs since people sometimes leave files or searches on those. This was done as part of a network analysis by the BTOP grant so I wasn't involved in the set-up or install. Now we're getting new PAC computers and need to reinstall DeepFreeze on those, using the same licenses. It took awhile to get the information (I have the Library's set of licenses but these are held by the State Library, and the BTOP folks have all moved on now that the grant is complete so no one was really sure who knew what!) but finally this afternoon I was ready to install DeepFreeze on our new PACs.
The installation file I downloaded from the <a href="http://www.faronics.com/">Faronics</a> support site, associated with the licenses, turned out to be the Enterprise Console, a very useful version if you want to remotely control all your machines from a central location. It's how we manage all the library's computers. But for the PACs we just have each machine managed independently (and since I don't know if our Console version would match up with this one I wasn't going to mess around). I found where a desktop install file can be created - just what I was looking for! File created, Enterprise console uninstalled from this computer, restarted and DeepFreeze installed. Whew!
Unfortunately thawing the machine was not an option - no password I tried worked. This is not good - it would be impossible to ever update or install something new! Moments to panic and wonder how to deal with this disaster. As I tell others, Read the Manual! I learned it's necessary to set the password for the Workstation installation file IN the Console program. Who knew? So, after re-imaging this computer (another lifesaving piece of software!) I began again.
And, all's well that ends well. I set the password in the console program, installed the workstation file and was able to log in to DeepFreeze as usual. Just to be safe, I left the console program on that machine - no need to tempt fate! And, the license also was included so they are all good. Ready to set out new PACs in the morning!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-29182103673500975992013-08-14T12:33:00.000-07:002013-08-14T12:33:02.503-07:00What happened?Something bizarre must have occurred - no posting since April? What have I been thinking! Maybe things have been a bit busy? So many changes: Patrick, Luc, Shari and Carri have joined the Library team; Mary, Katy and Kari have moved on to new adventures. We haven't yet filled Kari's position but hopefully we'll get that done soon.
Summer has been a great time, and we have our usual influx of visitors. To make computer access easier we've stopped asking for ID or adding names to guest cards, and we even created newer larger cards, the idea being the larger card would be less likely to walk out in someone's pocket. The drawback is individuals might come back several times in one day and use multiple cards - on busy days this makes it likely we might run out! But overall the new procedure works well.
We also purchased 5 Macbook laptops for our users who prefer that platform. They are being used frequently too. So many people comment how
New computers all around: 16 for staff and 8 for public use. That means I'll be busy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-61166347150984402162013-04-10T11:11:00.003-07:002013-04-10T11:11:45.340-07:00It's April!March is over, and things are coming together. Except for an annoying spell of bone-chilling weather that belongs back in February...We had a gorgeous Easter so should be grateful I guess!
Double-sided printing is finally a reality on our Black-and-White printer. We purchased a new machined, discovered it didn't duplex as expected, added the duplex unit (after receiving a faulty one!) and made it available to the public yesterday. I'd tested multiple times with our time-print system, and it worked nicely, charging per side as I'd hoped. So I expected smooth sailing when I swapped out the old printer. Silly me! When I deleted the old printer I should have gone through a process in the time-print system of re-entering the new printers. That became obvious once the first person logged on and received an error message...Luckily it was not a busy morning, and within an hour all was right again.
Next week: MLA in Missoula! Because I'm still Public Library Division Chair until the conference ends, I'll be attending the entire session. The downside was not being able to attend Computers in Libraries, but I did get to see the opening keynote speaker when it was streamed Monday morning. A nice talk about Google, Amazon and people willing to pay for an "experience" - an idea we can bring to the library in some ways. My philosophy at Computer Services is somewhat similar - do whatever it takes to make sure a patron has a positive experience. There are limits, of course, but it's good to keep in mind.
I hear we've hired two new workers for Circulation - both men! I'm looking forward to meeting them. There will be some other staff changes in the near future, I'm afraid - rumors are circulating. But an opportunity to bring in new people!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-18148254554639188402013-03-15T16:02:00.000-07:002013-03-15T16:02:53.449-07:00March MadnessI believe the entire month of March deserves credit for any and all strange happenings...lots of odd computer issues that have no credible explanation, for example (receipt printer just spitting out a batch at the end of the day?). Daylight savings time is a possible cause too (why did a few of the catalog computers NOT make the time change?) but since that also falls in March I'm just going to put it all into the March category.
Then there is Spring Break! This afternoon a few young males felt the need to climb the stone columns in front of the Library and do chin-ups on the metal cross beams. Very entertaining, and done to impress the young lady accompanying them, I'm sure.
A Great Grey Owl is also on spring break and has chosen to perch around the Library this week. She (the Raptor Center came by and said the owl is a female) is quite the local celebrity now: photographers are camped outside all day long. We were concerned the excitement was too disturbing, but she seems to be OK with it, moving to a different area each day. I have more fun watching all the people from my window!
Computers in Libraries will probably not be in my future this spring, since the MLA conference is also in April; as Public Library Division chair I need to be at several events, and the conference is in Missoula, so will just go for the entire time. I will start checking on the Internet Librarian conference in October, another event I've wanted to get to.
We've discovered keeping the laptops plugged in and charging all the time is probably not the best for the battery life - several are starting to show decreased charging ability. I've purchased a new battery for one, but will probably have to get a few more. We'll also be getting a few Macbook laptops to have for students to use; probably a good idea since those are the kind of computers used in schools here. My dream would be to have a few Chromebooks around too, maybe for staff to use so they could be "out and about" in the stacks helping people. It would be nice to have something in hand when a patron asks if we have a book, instead of having to go to a catalog computer.
Spring Break does bring visitors to the Library, and several have stopped to say how much they love it here! That makes it worthwhile.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-29426859762624065302013-02-21T18:48:00.001-08:002013-02-21T18:48:46.858-08:00Still February!Two posts in one month - a miracle! I'm finally starting to take advantage of the evening desk time; it tends to be fairly quiet for at least the last 2 hours, so I can actually accomplish a few things. I've done laptop updates, am updating express computers tonight, and yes, posting to the blog.
We may have figured out DeepFreeze and having the Windows updates happen automatically. For months we couldn't figure out why they didn't work (Mike, the City IT contact thought he had everything set correctly). He recently discovered the entire network shuts off during the night! (I find it amusing that one IT person doesn't tell the others about all network-related things, but that's just me!). So Mike was able to adjust the timing and things seemed to work last time. We still have some minor adjustments (we only want some of the "optional" updates but that doesn't seem to be possible), and I still will do the Flash, Java, etc updates. But this will be a great help for network security, and somewhat of a time-saver.
I'm also setting our browsers on the public stations to open to both the library home page and our Facebook page. I'm not sure it will increase our FB audience - so many people aren't even aware of tabs as an option in browsers - but we'll see.
Is there another visit to <a href="http://www.infotoday.com/cil2013/">Computers in Libraries</a> in our future? I hope so! It's been 5 years since our last attendance, so it must be time to go again!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-14760676192583953982013-02-07T18:52:00.001-08:002013-02-07T18:52:14.089-08:00Happy New Year!Yes, I know we are into the second month of the new year, and it's been a few months since I've posted. No good reason, really; probably just the usual holiday distraction.
Another February, another Offline! This year we headed to Butte. Our <a href="http://www.finlen.com/">hotel</a> was great (I'd like to go back and spend a weekend!) and the sessions were interesting. I'd never heard about the <a href="http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/">Chronicling America</a> site from the Library of Congress but it is an incredible project! I'll keep checking that, and remember it when looking for historic newspaper articles. Lots more talk about gadgets, mobile devices, and how libraries can help the public use them successfully. My favorite take-away: "E-readers are like a gateway drug - people who have never used a computer get one and suddenly are searching and shopping online like crazy!" So true.
Our BTOP laptops are incredibly popular - a few have circulated over 700 times! They are used for the computer classes (which sometimes if a problem, since people are so used to checking one out - it's always a disappointment to find out they are already being used for a class). The scanner is also a great resource. We just need a fax machine! We've also been helping many people with their new e-readers and other gadgets they received for Christmas.
Tomorrow's staff meeting focuses on the situation of a shooter in the Library. When we first moved to the larger building we had a police presentation, with the message of "Not if, but when" some kind of event would occur, and prepare for it. There are limited options for some areas of the building but it does help to have thought about things.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-4944015275010082432012-10-16T11:09:00.000-07:002012-10-16T11:09:54.733-07:00October!Still a beautiful fall in these parts, although today we're having quite a rain event designed to test the new Library roof, I'm sure. So far it's working well, and the sound of rain is much more pleasant compared to previous years and rain on the metal roof.
Our staff retreat last week was a great experience. We learned a few things, and spent an afternoon involved in some long-range planning. Sometimes that seems like an exercise in fortune-telling but there were great ideas! I wonder how many we'll see, and how soon.
Our Apple iPad was replaced and the new one is working much better! Next week we have training sessions for the public, and recently had a Headwaters Association meeting about e-readers as well. So we're getting much more familiar and comfortable with all this technology. Just in time for the Next Big Thing, whatever that might be!
Book ordering has taken on a new procedure, which means I no longer add titles to the catalog when they are ordered. More time for other things, but I miss seeing the new fiction and being able to place holds early on!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-36162404820018918002012-09-19T18:17:00.001-07:002012-09-19T18:17:15.980-07:00September!Although it doesn't feel like fall - we're having a very warm time, complete with smoke from fires - the calendar says it is. Students are back, football is on, and classes have started.
My new schedule is working nicely, although I have to keep it posted to remind me where I should be...Evenings are still quiet, and we've gotten a spine label printer working in the office. That will help keep us productive while working the desk.
Now I want to spend some time playing with the gadgets, to become better familiar with library applications people will be asking about! I know how to download an eBook on my own Nook and tablet, but should be able to do that on all the library toys too. One of our iPads has had to go back to Apple a second time - it sometimes would randomly select whatever it felt like choosing, or zoom in and out on a map. Hopefully they can figure that out this time around.
Next month we have an all-day staff training day - away from the Library! I'm looking forward to that...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-78756305747523848432012-08-30T17:59:00.000-07:002012-08-30T17:59:21.697-07:00New ScheduleFall often seems like a time of new beginnings, a habit formed from earliest school days. So this seemed like a good time to try out a new work schedule, thanks to the hiring of Jason at Computer Services. This is the first week, and so far it's been going well, although it hasn't been quite "normal" yet. One day I had a scheduled appointment that altered things, and another day we had to juggle to cover for a co-worker's absence. Even so, I think it will work well - 4 long days and 3 days off! Evenings - I've added 2 - seem to be relatively quiet, so there will be time to work on some projects, and offer extra help to people who might need it. I also will be working with an intern from MSU this semester.
Our first staff barbecue is next Friday! Something new, and I think it will be a great time. We usually have a good time at this away-from-work gatherings. Next month there is an all day staff "retreat" too - another new experience!
I've been busy helping plan the annual fall retreat at Chico Hot Springs for the ASLD and PLD groups of MLA. We're going with the "Be Prepared" theme - disasters, strange patrons, software are all planned sessions. It's close to Halloween so that seemed an appropriate theme! And, offers lots of decorating possibilities as well...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122628935409448757.post-19487785567849831152012-08-25T14:51:00.001-07:002012-08-25T14:51:09.049-07:00Winding DownSummer is fading, school is starting, and I've got a new work schedule. In addition, the roofing project is also finishing, skylights have been replaced (it's no longer dark and gloomy in my area!) and our new person will start this week. He spent yesterday afternoon manning the Computer Services desk - a trial-by-fire kind of day, since we'd been closed for 2 days and everyone came to the library! He handled the commotion very well, dealing calmly with the add situations that only seem to occur when things are crazy. It was a great learning experience, since I could show him how to handle what are rare problems; hopefully he'll be a bit more prepared next time they happen.
My new schedule involves 4 longer days and 3 days off - a little experimental, but something I'm looking forward to trying to see how it works. Two evenings - it's been years since I've worked an evening. Fridays are already longer, with our 6 p.m. closing, so Tuesday will be a bit longer too.
To adjust to a change in workflow, we've been adding some equipment to my office so both Kari and I can do more processing there, while we're at the desk. We added a scanner and hope to add a spine label printer. An older one started failing so we ordered 2 new ones, and I've spent the past week trying to get it working! Finally a phone call to the dealer's tech support was able to determine that the printer works, but why it wouldn't actually print labels remained a mystery. An additional call by the technician to the manufacturer brought the news that we were just wasting our time: the printer and software will never agree! So we're getting 2 different models that should work.
Planning continues for the ASLD/PLD retreat at Chico Hot Springs in October. We've gone with a "Be Prepared - Scary Things Can Happen" theme, appropriate since it will be close to Halloween. My favorite holiday!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876795463864718399noreply@blogger.com0