Well, January slipped by too quickly. It does every year; some day maybe I'll be prepared for that. I taught the laptop class to a variety of users (Windows 7, Vista and XP). The frustrating part was having one person arrive late, with a brand new laptop that hadn't been turned on at all. There is an enormous amount of set-up necessary the first time, so he was a constant interruption whenever we moved on to something new. Later this spring I'll do Computer Safety again.
The RFID tagging has begun, and miraculously doesn't involve me! Teams are working in pairs, both in fiction and non-fiction, with a few other people tagging returned items before they get reshelved. Then the security gates get installed, and we figure out how to use the neat gadget that reads tags as you walk down the stacks.
Sadly we've had an express computer out of service for a few weeks, a result (I suspect) of the imaging software gone bad. Luckily it only affected one machine, but I shudder to think what could have happened if we'd used that on all the adult computers! I'm not too excited about expanding the imaging idea unless we find something more reliable.
The big project (for me) is updating the Technology Plan! We prepared one a few years before moving to the new library, so it's been interesting to re-read that. Not everything we planned on actually happened with the move to a new building. It will be hard to predict what might develop in the next several years, too.
Conference season is upon us: Offline, Broad Valleys meeting, PLA, MLA, MPLA, and others, I'm sure. I have to attend MLA and MPLA; I wish I could go to PLA and Offline; I may get to go to an afternoon session of Broad Valleys. I'm trying something new next week: on online conference through WebJunction. I can't go to all the sessions I'd like, but am curious how this will work. Lois and I really enjoy Computers in Libraries - we hope to attend that in 2 more years.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Merry Christmas!
Biggest surprise for me: Windows7 Professional! Jon-Erik is installing it on my laptop today (it's so convenient having a live-in technician around, even if it is temporary). I'm SOOOO looking forward to this and won't miss Vista at all. I was still nervous with each log on even though we'd created a fourth, emergency, profile on the laptop in case the family account I was using went the way of my personal profile. But really - 4 profiles for one user? That's pushing things, I think.
So my post-holiday activity will be playing with what should feel like a new laptop. My Christmas Eve activity? Uploading my first video to YouTube - something I think I should be familiar with by now. It really was dual purpose: I've recorded video on the Flip camera but hadn't gone any farther, and what's the point if you don't do something with those? So I uploaded a short video of my dad's Christmas trains when we were helping set up his tree. I'm taking the "private" route and only sharing with a select group (family, just to see how the process works. But the video looks good (you'll have to take my word on that!). Another notch in my technology belt!
Today was Audiobook Question Day at the library. A patron with a new Zune had audiobooks she wanted to remove, and it wasn't obvious to us how that would be done. Some searching finally turned up an answer, and she was able to clear her device to make room for more. Judging by the forum discussion she wasn't the first person with the question. Then a patron with an iPod came up with a more difficult question: he has a audiobook in iTunes but when it transfers to the iPod, the chapters get arranged alphabetically! Most books have numbered chapters, so this doesn't happen often, but is definitely a problem. Not sure how to overcome this.
New Year's Projects: learn Windows7 and update my laptop class by mid-January (the next time we're offering it). Then it's time to prepare my presentation on staff technology learning ("Taking the Oh No! Out of 2.0") for MPLA in April. An ongoing project is making tutorials on placing holds and renewing items in our catalog. I'd done one in Jing, but think maybe the Flip Camera might be a way to go. That way we can have narration and explain the process a little better.
It was a Wii Christmas in my family: a brother, cousin, and my parents all got systems! My folks spent the afternoon learning how to use the controllers, and Mom beat Dad at bowling!
So my post-holiday activity will be playing with what should feel like a new laptop. My Christmas Eve activity? Uploading my first video to YouTube - something I think I should be familiar with by now. It really was dual purpose: I've recorded video on the Flip camera but hadn't gone any farther, and what's the point if you don't do something with those? So I uploaded a short video of my dad's Christmas trains when we were helping set up his tree. I'm taking the "private" route and only sharing with a select group (family, just to see how the process works. But the video looks good (you'll have to take my word on that!). Another notch in my technology belt!
Today was Audiobook Question Day at the library. A patron with a new Zune had audiobooks she wanted to remove, and it wasn't obvious to us how that would be done. Some searching finally turned up an answer, and she was able to clear her device to make room for more. Judging by the forum discussion she wasn't the first person with the question. Then a patron with an iPod came up with a more difficult question: he has a audiobook in iTunes but when it transfers to the iPod, the chapters get arranged alphabetically! Most books have numbered chapters, so this doesn't happen often, but is definitely a problem. Not sure how to overcome this.
New Year's Projects: learn Windows7 and update my laptop class by mid-January (the next time we're offering it). Then it's time to prepare my presentation on staff technology learning ("Taking the Oh No! Out of 2.0") for MPLA in April. An ongoing project is making tutorials on placing holds and renewing items in our catalog. I'd done one in Jing, but think maybe the Flip Camera might be a way to go. That way we can have narration and explain the process a little better.
It was a Wii Christmas in my family: a brother, cousin, and my parents all got systems! My folks spent the afternoon learning how to use the controllers, and Mom beat Dad at bowling!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Deep Freeze
It's December, so we're preparing for the annual Deep Freeze weather event! We had a brief episode a while back, but now it's going to get serious. We should have a week of very cold temperatures, which can mean either no one comes to the library or everyone does! Already we've had a few cases of dogs tied up outside the library for longer than would seem prudent. I've started closing my office door, too, to keep the cool draft from escaping to the public desk area.
Last Saturday was the "Get to Know Your Laptop" class. I had done something similar last winter for a local school Adult Ed program, so thought it would be something good to offer at the library too. I was surprised: 2 people came with new Windows 7 laptops. I've only read a little about that, but from what I could tell it looks pretty good. My handout was written for XP, but the new computers were able to follow along too. Seeing it in action makes me more likely to consider an upgrade for my Vista laptop too - that has always been a bit of an annoyance. The XP netbook is still fine, although I've heard of a few brave people upgrading those to 7 also.
No word from the City about upgrading; I suspect we'll wait for new computers. We've extended the warranty for another year on the public machines, but things are starting to die off: a mouse here, a monitor there. The black & white printer is due for maintenance, but even though several of us are Dell certified, no one (me included!)wants to replace the fuser! The cost of the parts alone is high, and a service call would make it cost more than a new printer. So we're ignoring it for now. It will probably go for a while longer, since the fuser was replaced not long ago when a serious paper jam developed. That technician had a terrible time, which is why I think the rest of us are hesitant to tackle that job.
Only 3 weeks until the days start getting longer again!
Last Saturday was the "Get to Know Your Laptop" class. I had done something similar last winter for a local school Adult Ed program, so thought it would be something good to offer at the library too. I was surprised: 2 people came with new Windows 7 laptops. I've only read a little about that, but from what I could tell it looks pretty good. My handout was written for XP, but the new computers were able to follow along too. Seeing it in action makes me more likely to consider an upgrade for my Vista laptop too - that has always been a bit of an annoyance. The XP netbook is still fine, although I've heard of a few brave people upgrading those to 7 also.
No word from the City about upgrading; I suspect we'll wait for new computers. We've extended the warranty for another year on the public machines, but things are starting to die off: a mouse here, a monitor there. The black & white printer is due for maintenance, but even though several of us are Dell certified, no one (me included!)wants to replace the fuser! The cost of the parts alone is high, and a service call would make it cost more than a new printer. So we're ignoring it for now. It will probably go for a while longer, since the fuser was replaced not long ago when a serious paper jam developed. That technician had a terrible time, which is why I think the rest of us are hesitant to tackle that job.
Only 3 weeks until the days start getting longer again!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Keeping Healthy
Flu is the big topic these days, seasonal as well as H1N1 ("swine" to the average person). When a few co-workers were out, everyone was concerned, but they turned out to just have regular colds, nothing too serious. The Health department ran out of vaccine in October, so those of us who waited are out of luck. They have received some of the nasal spray vaccine, but some of us are too old for that! So I'm just trying to stay healthy, and we've got WetOnes and hand sanitizer all around for everyone to use. It seems to help. I did have a patron today wearing plastic (cellophane-type) gloves in the computer lab, but that's the most extreme behavior I've seen.
The City has recommended developing a plan for the possibility of lots of sick staff - how would services be staffed, etc. The Library came up with ideas of how we could cover some desks, or reduce services, so I think we'll be OK. Being prepared usually means the situation never develops!
The challenge will be to remain healthy as I travel next week for a little vacation.
The City has recommended developing a plan for the possibility of lots of sick staff - how would services be staffed, etc. The Library came up with ideas of how we could cover some desks, or reduce services, so I think we'll be OK. Being prepared usually means the situation never develops!
The challenge will be to remain healthy as I travel next week for a little vacation.
Friday, October 16, 2009
The laptop issue last month (at my own class - very humiliating!)was really a battery pack/laptop issue, not at all related to the projector. Apparently these laptops are very fussy about their power supplies! But everything is working now - we should probably mark each power supply and laptop combo to avoid this in the future.
Now we are planning our "mini tech fair" for staff in a few weeks. We'll be showing the digital camera, flip camera, Kindle, iPod, netbook, and laptop/docking station. I hope the rest of the staff is at least somewhat curious about these! Not everyone will have a use for them, but at least they will know what things are and how people might use them. We're arranging for CE credit from the state library too. People who do a project using one of these gadgets can get an extra hour of credit.
We've trained another person to work at Computer Services, so we have options when people take vacation. So far we don't seem to have any flu going around here but we're prepared!
Now we are planning our "mini tech fair" for staff in a few weeks. We'll be showing the digital camera, flip camera, Kindle, iPod, netbook, and laptop/docking station. I hope the rest of the staff is at least somewhat curious about these! Not everyone will have a use for them, but at least they will know what things are and how people might use them. We're arranging for CE credit from the state library too. People who do a project using one of these gadgets can get an extra hour of credit.
We've trained another person to work at Computer Services, so we have options when people take vacation. So far we don't seem to have any flu going around here but we're prepared!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Joys of Technology
Just when I thought I had a handle on technology, something comes along to remind me I don't! Saturday was the Computer Safety class, and I was prepared with handouts of my PowerPoint presentation. Good thing, since the projector and laptop decided not to cooperate! We'd used this laptop for classes all spring, (although we did have a few issues at first - mostly because I was trying to project when it wasn't plugged in - we learned that doesn't work) so I can't figure out why it wouldn't continue to behave. We have a second laptop now, so I'll give that one a chance before calling in the Projector Guys.
We also have a projector in the board room that isn't projecting, just flashing (we think of it as a strobe light!). I tried both laptops so this might involve the Projector Guys to figure it out.
But the class was good, and hopefully a few more people will be a little safer on line! When someone says they always refuse automatic updates, I have to think this was a necessary class!
We also have a projector in the board room that isn't projecting, just flashing (we think of it as a strobe light!). I tried both laptops so this might involve the Projector Guys to figure it out.
But the class was good, and hopefully a few more people will be a little safer on line! When someone says they always refuse automatic updates, I have to think this was a necessary class!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Several staff people went to the state library's Fall Workshop in Great Falls this weekend. I reminded everyone about the library's netbook - a handy way to take notes and get a report written while at a gathering like this (instead of having to write it later!). Happily, someone asked to use it - I'd like to think this will catch on for other meetings and conferences. The library's cell phone also went along; unbelievably one carload of folks didn't have a cell phone among them!
The document scanner we made available to the public has been getting quite a workout. People seem to be able to do pretty well on their own, or at least following the instructions posted. Maybe we should add this to our list of Technology Fair items so the rest of the staff would be familiar with it too.
Before last week's staff meeting we were asked to post a list of 15 of our favorite books. It's been fun to read everyone's list and see the wide variety! And, we each received 5 "Staff Pick" stickers to put on books from our list. Amazingly, a lot of my titles were checked out! I finally found 5, though.
Imaging Update: I made the new children's computer image (there had been one, but it needed updating) and managed to schedule the process all on my own, so now those computers start "fresh" each morning. I want to try the 4 teen computers next just to see how difficult the process is with our time-print management system. I'm considering making an OPAC image too - it couldn't hurt to clean those up, since I know people sometimes use those for the internet event though we don't want them to!
Next week is our first computer class: Computer Safety. I suggested this, after watching so many people leave themselves "exposed" on our computers. And I recently read a great article in Smart Computing magazine that had lots of good ideas. Hopefully this will help a few people be a little safer on line.
The document scanner we made available to the public has been getting quite a workout. People seem to be able to do pretty well on their own, or at least following the instructions posted. Maybe we should add this to our list of Technology Fair items so the rest of the staff would be familiar with it too.
Before last week's staff meeting we were asked to post a list of 15 of our favorite books. It's been fun to read everyone's list and see the wide variety! And, we each received 5 "Staff Pick" stickers to put on books from our list. Amazingly, a lot of my titles were checked out! I finally found 5, though.
Imaging Update: I made the new children's computer image (there had been one, but it needed updating) and managed to schedule the process all on my own, so now those computers start "fresh" each morning. I want to try the 4 teen computers next just to see how difficult the process is with our time-print management system. I'm considering making an OPAC image too - it couldn't hurt to clean those up, since I know people sometimes use those for the internet event though we don't want them to!
Next week is our first computer class: Computer Safety. I suggested this, after watching so many people leave themselves "exposed" on our computers. And I recently read a great article in Smart Computing magazine that had lots of good ideas. Hopefully this will help a few people be a little safer on line.
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