Preparing for MLA

Wednesday we're off to Kalispell for a fun conference. So that means a little preparation here, to make sure things run smoothtly in Computer Services while Lois and I are gone - something I'm not as confident about as I used to be, given the current circumstances.

There still is no explanation for why Internet Explorer on some computers just won't open a web page, but Firefox will. Why it will stop working, if it worked earlier. Our City IT department (the whole crew - we felt so special!) spend a morning last week looking at this. I was relieved that they could at least see there was a problem, even though they haven't come up with a solution. They've recommended a few things to clean up the machines (checking Scheduled Tasks, deleting ALL the temp files, defragging) as a start. Those probably are useful, but haven't fixed things.

IT is also very close to having an imaging program that should be able to return everything to an original state each night - something we've wanted to have but haven't had the time to do. I know there are options for this out there, but having the City work on it is helpful - that way they know what's going on with our computers.

There are so many factors involved: each machine, the CybraryN software, the City's network, the connection to the Montana Shared Catalog - any or all of these can cause a problem, and sometimes they do! So it's very difficult to pinpoint an exact reason.

I keep telling myself that's what makes life interesting....

Back to Work

Vacations and conferences are fun, but now it's back to work (until the next conference, MLA in Kalispell in 2 weeks!).

There were a few glitches while I was gone, but hopefully I'll be able to fix those in the morning. People managed very well, in spite of the little problems. They are a resourceful bunch!

More staff are working on the Web 2.0 course now, too. Some of the newer staff are moving right along.

Networks are funny things

We've still been working through some unusual network problems, and haven't really figured out what is coincidence and what isn't. It probably doesn't matter as long as everything works!

But consider:

1. The anti-virus program hasn't updated on the public computers since the new website went live.

2. The problem of a computer not accessing any webpage (although it still had an internet connection, and was resolved by restarting) disappeared with the launch of the new website.

Now that #1 is fixed, we have #2 back again. Coincidence? I'm starting to think not.

But we can always blame Daylight Savings Time: many of our radio-frequency clocks forgot to change, and the phone system didn't go along, either.

Important things

We're still working on a few glitches with our new website, mostly database access and how to send newsletters, etc. Minor things. Especially since this morning there was an incredible explosion and the power went out. It wasn't the library (although it felt like it could have been!) but a building several blocks away. The structure is just gone. Not much news is available yet but it's a mess and is still burning.

So our website issues are not so critical just now.

Success!

This week was the final push to get the new website ready for public viewing: working out more glitches as we found them (what happened to those links that worked before??? why can't I upload this file???) and one final meeting of our committee before the Friday morning roll-over.

Thursday night, after a fun drive home in a blizzard, I was ready and waiting at my computer to see what would happen at 8 p.m. (the time we'd asked for the change to occur). Lois sends an IM: we need to change our DNS servers! Of course we do; we'd asked about that a while ago, but then forgot once we were busy with website content and other details. Can I remember the log-in to that account? Of course not; that information lives in a folder at my desk so I don't need to remember. Really, changing DNS information isn't something I do every day. She finds the file, gives me the log-in info (I probably could have guessed - it seems obvious once you actually have it in front of you!). Strangely, although we have 2 domain names only one shows up. I change those numbers, and we try to figure out how to log in to do the other domain name. I even call tech support (and sadly, am a bit rude to the gentleman on the other end when he tells me Bozeman Public Library is the account holder, and only the account holder can change who has access to things). There is a form that Lois, who is listed on the account, can fax in with her ID and another piece of ID with her address (like a utility bill - it was starting to sound like she would be issued a library card!). Then in a few days she might be authorized.

That didn't sound promising. The other name on the account? Aaron, who is no longer with the City and we have no idea how to contact him. But Lois keeps working, contacting City IT with the hope that they have the information we need. And, these things take 24 hours or more to actually happen, so I go to bed not knowing if the new website will appear or not.

But, at breakfast I check and am able to see our new website! It's a miracle that lasts until I get to work and discover it doesn't seem to appear on computers anywhere in the library. Since the old site still works, we wait to see what will happen. Our web host says the change worked and it's probably our network having an issue with the whole DNS thing. I called my dad - he had the new site, and after lunch the public computers in the library seem to have it too. So it's like one of those images slowly coming in to view - by tomorrow we expect everyone will see it!

Little Glitches

Or maybe it's just Friday the 13th? Katie spent the week working on the library's new website, preparing to show it to the Reference staff this morning at their meeting. We've been adding content like crazy, troubleshooting various pages and procedures, making sure things work. Many of the problems we've encountered have been minor coding errors that the developer has fixed quickly.

So this morning what happens? When I get to work, Katie tells me our new site is down! We get a "fatal error" message. She had called the developer, I emailed him just to be sure he knew. Later he responded, saying it is a larger server issue; sites are down all over (not sure where this server is, but apparently it hosts many sites, and they were probably live, so our crisis was minor compared to them). Still, it was incredibly frustrating and one of those unbelievable coincidences!

So I have to blame Friday the 13th, even though I'm not that superstitious.

Classes

Winter, particularly January and beyond, after the holidays are done, seems to be a popular time for classes and learning. At the library we have our usual series of computer classes, from the basic Intro to Computers (how do you log on, use a mouse, et) to Beginning Internet and Word. These are very popular, and this time around are filled with waiting lists.

We've also noticed an increase in the number of people writing resumes (or asking about writing one) so wanted to offer a class for that too. Luckily a local business came along offering to teach a series of job skills classes. Using the Internet for job searching, writing a resume, applying online - these are great topics and I think these will be popular too.

Adult Ed through the schools is another opportunity for learning. This year I'm teaching a "Get to Know Your Laptop" class for a local rural school district. Last year I taught a similar class, with the idea that people could bring their own laptop or use one of the school's. There were 3 people, each with their own equipment. That seemed to work better, since the school has Apple laptops - showing someone how to use that, then sending them home to their own PC didn't seem to be useful. So this year I suggested we rename the course. I have 2 people, which makes for great instruction. We sit in a row, with our laptops, and I can demonstrate and see how they are doing. Last week, the first session, we covered laptop basics and did fun things like changing the desktop image We connected to the wireless network, and discussed internet safety, passwords, anti-virus software and some open source options (AVG and Open Office, for example). Next week we'll do more internet searching and email.

I miss teaching classes at the library; I just don't have the time available but have been able to assist when necessary. So I'm really enjoying the Adult Ed class. It's rewarding to know at least a few more people are able to successfully use the technology that is out there.