New Software--Will it be better?

Next week all the libraries in the East Central Regional Library system, including Mille Lacs Lake Community Library, will be closed. We are changing our circulation software from Unicorn to Evergreen. We need to transfer all the book and patron records so that will take a couple of days. We also need a few more days to work the bugs out. All of us at ECRL are a little worried--last time we did this in 2007 our whole system crashed.

We're hoping that doesn't happen this time. Evergreen is "open source" software meaning that our tech support people can modify and adjust the program to meet our needs. That is a big plus. Unicorn was a product of Sirsi Dynix and they housed the server that contained the records.

Unicorn is set up so that different functions are in different screens on the computer. If we want to check-in, pay bills, renew or place a hold, we have to click on different screens. With Evergreen we are able to scan in a patron's barcode and do all of those functions from one screen. Check-in is on a separate screen, but we will be able to set up tabs so that we can move back and forth quickly between different screens.

Running the holds list is a daily function for us as a branch. What this means is that we get a list of items that people from other libraries want from our library. We take these items off the shelf and scan them to find out what branch they go to. With Unicorn, we received an e-mail in the morning of the holds for that day. With the new system, we will be able to get the holds as they come in. For example, if someone in the North Branch area requests a book that is on our shelf on a Wednesday afternoon, I can go to a screen on my computer and check the holds before I leave work. I can get the hold and put it in delivery and it will be on its way to North Branch a day ahead of what it would have with Unicorn.

There are minor things with Evergreen that are not as good as Unicorn--it doesn't print up a renewal list--it prints up everything that you have checked out. It also has new terminology that we will have to get used to, such as "bucket" and "grocery". The search screen has more graphics so it runs slower when you want to place a hold.

Evergreen is part of the PALS system which has been used by the Minnesota State College System, so we hope it is reliable software. Be patient as we learn this new software system together. We hope that patrons can make the adjustment and that in the long run, this will have been a positive change for ECRL.

Paul

I suppose every library has its regulars. Most of our regulars come in to do a task or two, such as check e-mail or pick up a book and then leave after half an hour or an hour. This is not the case with Paul.

Paul lives across the street and he usually comes in the door when we open at 10:00 a.m. He takes his book, which he purchased from the library when we downsized our reference collection, and diligently copies out information. He sits at the back table with his books and notebook. When you ask him what he is doing he says that he is researching WWII. He usually stays until around five minutes to five, when we close.

For awhile Paul used the computer. He was especially interested in pictures of German planes and ships. He would copy hundreds of black and white photos and diagrams of these ships. He carefully wrote down the captains of these ships as well as the battles that these ships were used in. He would often get over 100 copies made a day--which he sometimes paid for with all dimes.

At first when Paul came he didn't say much. But now he always asks, "And how is your lovely day?" when he comes in. He also likes to join in conversations about history. This afternoon there was a discussion about a massacre that the Mormons perpetrated on a group of settlers heading west. Paul seemed to think this occurred during the Civil War (another of his interests). He also looked up when Grant was President in his reference book. The massacre actually occurred in 1857.

I guess everyone needs someplace to be--everyone needs human connections. Sometimes that place just happens to be the public library.

The Irrepressible Dalen

Dalen is the type of teen that anyone would want around their library. He comes to use the computers, but he also reads. He also likes to chat--he got an ipod touch for Christmas. He volunteers for around a half an hour a week and he comes to teen programs.

The best part about Dalen is that he has great ideas. He can also strike up a conversation with anyone about anything and he is very tech savy.

One example is the coat rack. I asked Dalen, "What does our library need?" He looked around at the coat laying over a table and said, "a coat rack." He was so right. Though we found several in a library supply catalog, co-worker Carolyn decided we needed a nicer one. Her friend Kenny, who is a wood worker, is now working on a coat rack. Great idea Dalen!

Another example is when just talking to another patron he mentioned our large print books. She said, "What are large print books?" We showed her and she was immediately thrilled. She didn't even know such a thing existed. She checked one out and said she'd be back for more. All because of Dalen.

Dalen also has set up the Teen Advisory Group Facebook page and done other things to make the library a friendlier place.

Thanks Dalen

December in the Library

December is a slow month in the library--at least at my library. The weather is bad, so nobody wants to get out and about. Today we had around 4 inches of snow. If you live in the country, it takes all day just to plough out.

It's also the Christmas season. In their spare time, people are shopping, baking, or writing Christmas cards. They don't have as much leisure time to read.

Children are in school--at least until a few days before Christmas, plus with the colder weather, they probably want to stay inside instead of venturing out to the library after school.

So what do we do when the books are all put away and the holds are pulled?

1) We decorate--we've gotten our two tiny trees and our plastic poinsetta out of the closets. We also have gold garlands hung from the ceiling with ornaments on the ends of them. And of course, we have our many books about Christmas on display.

2) We plan. Winter storytime is coming up. I've gotten a great book called Storytime around the Year and the "mitten' and "valentine" themes sound very promising. I've made a list of themes and now I am working on the activities, crafts, music and books to match.

3)We work on committees. I'm on the wellness committee and we've been e-mailing back and forth about how to conduct the program this year. The Biggest Loser concept seems like it might work. We did a plan like that a few years ago and it was successful, but some of us want more focus on healthy habits, like exercise and nutrition.

4) Okay, let's face it, we're not productive every minute. We shop a little on-line. We browse through Seventeen magazine for ideas on what to get our neices for Christmas. We drink a cup of Christmas tea and we write our blog.

Treating my Bell's Palsy

I have Bell's Palsy. The left half of my face is paralyzed. It is why one of my eyes is wide open and only one side of my mouth moves when I talk or smile. I am getting the feel of what it is like to be disfigured or handicapped. People have been looking at me with alarm, revulsion and concern.
Despite it's peculiarness, it is a relatively benign condition. According to the to Medline Plus and Mayo Clinic websites, it starts to get better in a couple of weeks and is pretty much gone in 3 to 6 months. There's not much that doctors do to treat the disease--possibly prescribing anti-viral medications or steroids. I've treated mine by reading about it on the Internet.
This doesn't sit well with some people. My brother--who first tipped me off that I might have Bell's said, "Do you want to go to the Emergency Room? It's right across the street." My co-worker, Norma, said, "Maybe you should go to the clinic." One patron asked "What doctor did you go to?" Others have expressed incredulousness that I haven't "gone to the doctor."
I'm not sure why I have avoided medical care. I don't have health insurance, but I don't think that's the only reason. As my husband says, "We can afford it if you want to go to the doctor." At my stage of life, I have grown leary of the authority of doctors. I have been to them enough to know that they are human and fallible. I trust my own knowledge and I know that doctors do not have any magical powers. I trust mostly in the human body to heal itself.
Americans may have to come to grips with this as they go about reforming their health care system. Too often we believe that more is always better and that doctors must do something. It is the great faith and value that we place on doctors and their tools--surgery, drugs, physical therapy--that have spent us into these excesses. Being "under a doctor's care" has such status to us that those of us who opt out of this system are shamed and pitied. The uninsured are even blamed for the high costs of health care. I just wish that the stakes weren't so high with health care. I wish I could go into a clinic and not wait for hours and spend hundreds of dollars on treatments and tests. Although I know modern medicine has something to offer, I also know that our ancestors lived long and healthy lives without it. For now I'm treating my Bell's with rest and aspirin.

Books are Life's Inspiration

I just finished reading Julie and Julia--now a popular movie--about a woman who decides to cook every recipe in the book Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julie Child. It got me thinking about how much a book can be a life inspiration. Another example is an article I'm reading by Ian Frazier (The New Yorker) and his travel across Siberia. Several times in his narrative, he refers to writers who have traveled across Siberia before him. How could these people have undertaken such wonderful and difficult life journeys without the help of a book?
Books are like time travel--they can take you to places you'll never go on your own and introduce you to people--to the point where you feel an affection and closeness to them even though you've never met them. The real Julia Child didn't think much of Julie Powell or her blog about cooking her recipes, but never mind, it was the book itself that was the guide and impetus. They whole experience also changed Julie's life in positive ways, giving her fame and (presumably) fortune.
Next time you are looking for a way to change your life, look in a book. Or write one.

How to Find out the Books in a Series

I am learning how to make screencasts. This one shows how to use Novelist--one of the ECRL databases. I apologize for the last few seconds.

Screencasts and videos online

Be an Artist

With a summer reading theme called"Be Creative" we had to have a day of doing art projects. Fortunately we had Gail Dahlgren--budding art teacher--volunteer to show Mille Lacs Lake readers how to imitate the art of Henri Matisse and Claude Monet. Carolyn Avaire read a story called "Bonjour, Mr. Satie" by Tomie dePaola about Picasso and Matisse. Maybe because it was a rainy day we had a good turn out of 13 children on Friday, July 17th.

Reader's Theater

Reader's theater was a concept that I wasn't familiar with until this summer. It was an idea in the big book of summer reading materials. Luckily one of our patrons--Margaret Vos has had some experience with Reader's Theater. She came to our little group on June 26th and put together a cast for two little skits. She gave good advise to the children as we read through the scripts. The Baker's Dozen and Three Little Fishes and the Big Bad Shark were performed on Tuesday June 30th to admiring parents and storytime preschoolers.

Thing 43 - On-line TV and Video

I got a chance to join HULU yesterday afternoon. I looked at a little of the Daily Show and also the Office--two of my favorite shows, but I guess everyone else's too. They were readily available. I know that on-line TV is already changing people's habits. I have patrons who come into the library to watch the shows they missed the previous night--like Grey's Anatomy. For some people, going to a movie or even watching one is sort of social, but for others who just want to see the movie--the computer avenue may be the best route. It also could be a good way to find movies that are no longer available through their satellite dish. Television is already becoming more individualized with niche programming, but on-line viewing choices will make tv less of a shared experience. I can see the new way of watching tv affecting my daughters and their eventual children and families, but my husband and I will probably still watch TV together. I might start to catch up with The Daily Show and the Office now that I know how to through HULU though.

Thing 41 and 42 -- Mash up and Music

I am listening to Pandora music--like John Mayer--so far so good. I've liked the first three songs. My daughter Alice has been telling me that I ought to try this site, so now I finally have. I have also put a jazz station widget on my blog--at leat I hope that I have. I have used radio on-line previously. My other daughter, Livia, was a d.j. on a college radio station so I listened to her a few times. It was hit and miss as far as whether I could get her or not, but the last few times I was able to get her through Quicktime--have a Mac at home. I think this on-line radio and music is certainly the wave of the future. Both my daughters have their laptops with them constantly, so that seems to be one of their modes of listening to music, along with their i-pods of course. Not sure how this will affect libraries, except maybe that people will be listening to the radio while they are doing Internet business. Most of the kids who come in request headphones. We've gone through many pairs in the past few years.

I also signed on for Livestream.fm, but not sure how it will affect my life--didn't have too many things to put on it--Twitter, blog, facebook and delicious. I don't know anyone who uses this service, so that will affect my usage also. Trying to rush through the last few things--definitely wanted to try the music and it has been fun, but I could do more experimenting with radio stations.

Mashups--Thing 40

Mashups have been a challenge for me. I tried many, but somehow I just didn't really understand what made them different from other Internet applications. I asked my daughter Alice if she knew what a mashup was and she said no, so that stumped me further. I did find a little icon that shows places to go for lunch (nothing in my zipcode) and I am in the process of joining a twitter sight about books. I made a Warhol picture of my daughter sunning herself with Big Huge Labs. This site is somehow related to flickr. I also made a magazine cover of my friend Jean Francis who comes into the library to read People--put her on the cover of People with lots of innuendo--that seems to be lost in cyberspace. Libraries are always doing programming, so any way to generate more graphics can be an effective way to promote an event. The mashups themselves (at least the Big Huge Lab) was fun to use, but as usual, my postings are hit and miss--I was happy to be able to get my flickr pictures to my blog so easily. I can't say I've gone looking for mashups because I wouldn't know one if I saw one. I did read on Twitter that one of the people that I was following finished all of her Things on a Stick--before the deadline. I let her know I was impressed--not looking like I'll finish, but I'll try a few more things.

My creation

My creation
Originally uploaded by islelibrary

I've Warholed my daughter Alice sunning in the backyard.

Lunchbox Mashup

Scrapbooking -- Thing 39

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

I made my scrapbook using smilebox. I uploaded some pictures to Voice Box, but then I couldn't figure out what to do with them, but oddly enough, when I signed on to smilebox, my pictures were already there. There was no "library program" theme page, but the rock band theme seemed to work okay. I needed lots of pictures so I added in a few extras, including one of Elvis. This was a teen program we had last night with Nintendo Wii--June 11, 2009. I can see posting more pictures from programs on scrapbooking sites.

Thing 38 -- Screencasting

Screencasting is fun and I can see how it could be addictive, especially to former teachers such as myself. I looked at a few different screencasting tools--Jing and Skitch. I tried to download Jing, but it seemed to take forever and I was anxious to get on to the screencasting after I got a feel for what it was. I looked at Skitch, but it was more about copying your screen to a blog or facebook or whatever. I finally settled on Screen-cast-o-matic. It was extremely easy to record--I didn't add any audio because I don't have a mic. All I did was place the screen square around the ECRL catalog and place a hold. I redid it a few times because of some glitches (no holds allowed on this material, already have a hold on this material), but I think it turned out fine. It is 1 minute and 31 seconds long. It was very easy to make, but as usual I had more trouble trying to figure out how to get it onto my blog. I did end up putting a link to my screencast on my blog, but the whole screencast isn't there. I hope that is good enough. It is two clicks to get to the screencast rather than right on the blog, like my slideshow. Not sure if I know how to put it directly onto the blog. I can see lots of uses for screencasts on a library interactive webpage--we get numerous questions about how to place holds or use the databases. This is a perfect tool for showing people how to use library resources.

My Screencasts | Screencast-O-Matic

My Screencasts | Screencast-O-Matic

Thing 37 - Photo Tales

As you can see I used the "Slide" function to make a slide show. I'm very pleased with it and it was very easy. I hate to write this lame blog prompt because the slide show is so cute and I'd prefer to highlight that. All I did was upload my pictures and add a few captions and the program did the rest. I probably had some other choices of presentation, but this one turned out great.
I can see many uses both personally and at the library for the photo sites. I opened a flickr account and ECRL has photos on flickr, but I still have to ask someone at headquarters how to add my pictures.
We just received a Lumix digital camera for our library as part of an LSTA grant, so I am very happy and excited to have the use of that. Mainly we will use it to highlight our programs, but it is fun to take pictures of patrons and Friends of the Library also--Friends meeting starts soon, so gotta go.

Discovery Zoo

Thing 36 - Generators

Although I'm not sure how useful it is, I have had fun with the background generators. I made my own tartan--sort of neon blue and green. My aide, Norma, didn't seem too impressed--"They changed something else on the computer now!!" I have now used the make your own background site to change it to purple swirls--hope Norma can handle that one. I can't think of how I'd use the generators in the library--perhaps if I had to do some sort of hand-out for a program, I could add a cartoon or a wordle. I guess I could generate some graph paper if a student wanted to do some math and they forgot their graph paper--of course this has never happened in my library. I liked the comic generator--I did think several of the cartoons were funny but I don't have confidence that I can come up with something funny. I would use the cartoons to e-mail something funny to my fellow librarians or put something on facebook. I really liked the wordle site--seems to poetize ordinary writing. I can't recommend any other generators, but I enjoyed the ones I worked with at these sites.