Two Months & Counting

I 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!

We'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 TechSoup, 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 LibraryYOU 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!

Learning the Job

It'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.

Moving On

Sometimes 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!

You gotta love 'em

Oh, 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.

A DeepFreeze Experience

Unusual to have more than one post in a week but I had a great learning experience today! We've been using DeepFreeze, 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 Faronics 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!

What 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!

It'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!

March Madness

I 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.

Still 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 Computers in Libraries in our future? I hope so! It's been 5 years since our last attendance, so it must be time to go again!

Happy 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 hotel was great (I'd like to go back and spend a weekend!) and the sessions were interesting. I'd never heard about the Chronicling America 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.