Microsoft SteadyState Works

This week the new computer maintenance guy had to work on getting our black and white printer to work again on all of our computers. There were a number of problems with doing this that he had to overcome. The first problem was that the computer's networking capabilities stopped working. There was a piece of electronics attached to the printer that made it network capable that is no longer functioning. The Board is trying to decide if we should replace this part. In the meantime, the computer guy was able to manually network the computer into our system so that each of the library's computers can print to it. Manually networking the printer to the patron computers lead him to problem number two. He attempted this procedure last time he visited the library but the computers reverted back and lost the settings he put in. He was able to figure out that earlier in the year I put Microsoft SteadyState on our computers. This is a program that allows the patrons to do what they will to try to change the computer's setting but when you shut the computer off the computer will resume the same settings as when SteadyState was activated. I was not really sure that this program was working but through this process we found out that it definitely was! The computer guy thus had to go around to each computer and shut off SteadyState, install the new printer settings, while uninstalling our old virus protection, install our new virus protection and turn SteadyState back on. This was a long process but he got it done. Computer 1 which was specially designed by Bill Gates for libraries which has its own built in version of SteadyState is still causing the computer guy fits. Because of all the protections that Gates put on those computers it just hates to be messed with but the computer guy got it so it will print again but now it prints to our big color printer. Every computer guy that has looked at that computer hates it for all the protections that it has on it but personally I wish all the library's computers were like it in that I can let anyone, and I mean anyone on that computer and not have to worry that they will in anyway hurt it because it is practically indestructible. From little, little children to destructive teens to handicapped people, I can rest assured they can do their thing on that computer and it will stand up to them. Unfortunately it is not possible to get any more computers like it or to even find out its configuration, believe me I have tried, so it is nice that SteadyState comes close.

I am coming near the end of my last class for my MLS degree. Because I can see the end in sight, I have taken on another "job" in order to give back something to my community. I have started as the treasurer of the Roanoke Area Heritage Center (the museum). The previous treasurer had to resign due to health concerns and I agreed to take the appointment on.

Remember we are going to need at least one new board member come January. To be a board member, you live within the actual Roanoke town limits, you must have lived in Roanoke for at least 2 years and you must be an adult. If you are interested please contact Lavonne, my assistant or me so we can give you more information of the position.

Week of April 7, 2008-GOOD NEW/BAD NEWS

This week the Board of Trustees meet on Tuesday and discussed budget matters. It seems that the tax money which is the library's main income will be delayed due to tax problems at the county and state levels. The money usually comes in June as is now not expected until August or after. This is going to put a real crunch on the library as we will not be able to order books or videos or anything that isn't absolutely necessary until after the money comes in. It is going to be tough going this summer without new books and videos to please the patrons. But a great fall as we will have to make up for the shortages in those areas before the end of the year.

We have also found out that for a reason we don't know the state has cut our budget by $10,000. We are planning to appeal or at least ask why this happened.

On the good new side, the color printer which we thought was going to cost us $643 to repair only cost $125. A new part was not required after all. A small piece of paper got stuck in an area that is all but inaccessible. The technician was able to find it and remove it and the printer is working great. THANK YOU, FATES!!!

The computers have been busy this week. With the weather being better, people are getting out and coming to the library.

I have been working on a new big addition to the library's website. I am hoping to have it up and running come May or June. Look for it. It is called KID CLICK-EVERYTHING FOR KIDS AT THE ROANOKE PUBLIC LIBRARY!

Celia’s Twelfth Blog for Library Systems Class—Francis Ford Coppola is SAFE.

I have found going through the wiki process that things I thought would be easy really aren't. I could never get my computer to print screen or to get it to copy parts of pages which I have been able to do with other computers but for some reason not my laptop. Since I wanted to show different page parts and this wouldn't work I used my flip camera and took pictures of the page I wanted to show. This wasn't a perfect solution but at least I was able to give the user of the wiki an idea of what they should be looking at. I took on the project of writing my group's help page of the wiki so showing examples was useful and in some cases I believe necessary.

At out last wiki group meeting I took a video of Megan using the wiki as part of the training for the wiki. I thought this would be easy to add to the wiki. I was wrong again. First I had to edit the tape as at one point Megan stopped and started again. So I had to make two videos out of it, the first video ending where she started the part she repeated and the second starting where she restarted that part. It amazingly came together quite well. I then proceeded with downloading the video to YouTube. There is a feature in the flip camera software that allows for this fairly easily. At first, I kept getting an error message that it wouldn't transfer. I finally got one to transfer but when I checked it, it didn't work constantly. I ended up taking my laptop to the library and having one the patrons who knows more about YouTube help me. He figured out that the inconsistency was caused by there being to videos downloaded. He figured out that the bad one had to be eliminated for it to work correctly. So he eliminated what he thought was the bad one but it ended up he deleted the good one. I would then have to start over with downloading the videos to YouTube. The filtering in my library prevented me from doing it at the library so I went home and again downloaded the video to YouTube after first deleting the bad one that was still there. They download seemed to go well but I couldn't get the video to play from the wiki. I thus went back to the wiki and eliminated the link that was there and made a new one to the new working video. Now at last I think the video is working and working consistently.

After we made the training video more pages were added to the wiki. I am worried that this might cause some confusion but do not want to redo the video. The video still highlights the main points of the wiki. I was surprised when today I got an email from a library praising the video as one of the best they had seen explaining a wiki. I hope that everyone else feels that too!!

Celia’s Eleventh Blog for Library Systems Class - THANK YOU, Dr. Ball

This week proved to me that I am gaining not only knowledge from my MLS classes but also confidence in my ability. A patron came in who is a powerful mover and shaker in the town and who for a long time did not approve of me as Library Director. He said that he had a research question for me. "Why are barns red?" I thought that I would have time to find the answer but he wanted me to come up with an answer on the spot. I was able to stay calm and look it up on my computer. He was impressed when I gave him his answer in a short time. (In case you are wondering, it started in the 1800's when they added blood from slaughtered animal or rust (to prevent mold and ivy from growing on the barn walls) to the stain (linseed oil) that was put on the barns to protect it. This thus turned the barn a red /orange color not the bright red of today.) After I read this to the patron, he asked me to print it off so he could take it with him since he wanted to share it with the people he got into the discussion with while driving a man to his doctor's appointment and those working in the doctor's office. The page I printed off for him happened to have a picture of a barn on it that was very decorated so he wanted me to find out why barns are decorated they way they are so I went back to the website I found the original barn information from and with some further digging found that there are two areas of thought on this. One is that they are decorated purely for aesthetic purposes and the other is to ward off evil with the hexagonal shapes. With these answers, I think I was able to actually impress the patron. For a man who gave me a very, very hard time when I was first started this is a real boost to me and to the library. So a big Thank You to Dr. Ball and her Online Searching Class for giving me the confidence to pull this test off.

I spent most of the week working on designing and implementing a website for kids at the Roanoke Public Library. I am adding pages to promote the programs, events and other items that we have available. I am collecting permission and information from area organizations to add to the site also. I have asked all the area schools, the boy and girl scouts, 4-H, visitors' bureau, local chambers, and sport organizations. So far they have all been very cooperative. I don't want to add links without permission. Everyone that I have shown the site I'm making are excited about it. One of my board members is especially pleased as he has been asked many questions about the library and its events as he has been volunteering at the American Legion. This process has been fun, frustrating, and very informative. I can't believe how much I am learning and how much is actually possible. I find that I am really getting into wiki. I love how they allow interactivity and make the pages come alive.

The circulation computer at the library has Microsoft Office 2007 on it which the library was able to purchase at $20 a computer from TechSoup. I have used Publisher to make the library's brochures but not much more. My assistant was using Word to make a paper to insert into a kit we were sent for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners to prepare them for entering school. These are the first kits that the library has that it is planning to circulate. The point of this is that the Word only has a very few fonts on it. It doesn't seem to be downloaded correctly. I have tried to repair it and tried to add more areas to it. Neither of these has worked. I think that I am going to have to completely remove it and then download it again and hope that the bugs in it go away. Computer and computer programs are great when they work and such a major pain when they don't!!!

 

 

Celia’s Tenth Blog for Library System Class—Punished for Vacation

I don't know if it happens to everyone, but I have noticed that every time I go on vacation I come back to some form of disaster that I have to fix or find a fix for. That happened this last week as upon returning I was told that both of our printer were down and that the only thing we and the patrons could print to being the copier. I tried everything I knew to get the big color LaserJet printer to work and nothing worked. I talked to a board member who is our handyman and he said that he would see what he could do. So Monday night after the annual membership Friends meeting, he and the board president went to work on the printer. They followed the step-by-step instructions given by the machine which I and my assistant had done repeatedly to no avail. They then proceeded to try to take the machine apart this again was to no avail. I had called the company that serviced the printer for the company that had donated the printer to the library and they wanted $184 for the first hour service call and $46 for each 15 minutes after that with no other information told to us. I then tried Allen Business Machines which is where the library bought the copies and has a service contract with. After being transferred repeatedly I was told that I needed to speak to their IT serviceman who was out. He did call me in a timely manner and I was told that they charge $125 for the first hour service call and $34 for each 15 minutes after that. I told him what the problem was that we have a 54.6 error and that we have gone through the help steps, cleaned it, and replaced fuser kit but the error was still there. He said that since I could give him the error number and the exact problem he would not have to trouble shoot so he knew what the problem was—we need a new drawer. He quoted me at $654 to buy the part and replace it in our printer. He suggested though that instead of doing that it would be more cost effective to just buy a new printer. He said that often once a problem like this happens it leads to more and more problems and turns into a money pit.

I have been comparing fixing that printer both through ABM or the library buying the new drawer and installing it ourselves or buying new printer. I used the areas of initial cost, capacity of the printer, speed of the printer, cartridges needed, cost and life of cartridges (color and black) and whether it has duplex capabilities. I also have to factor in if we get a new printer that we would have to have the tech guy come to network it in. I have an email in to him to find out that quote.

I was lucky as the other printer that was down was just because it was not plugged into any computer. On the Monday before I left we had a board meeting. The board member I mentioned before came early to look at one of the new donated computer was telling me that there was a problem with the CPU fan. When he opened it up, he found that the inside of the computer was very full of dust and that the fan was clogged with dust. Once he cleaned the inside the fan and the computer worked fine. He thus went and cleaned all the donated computers figuring that they would all be dusty inside. He was right. Evidently when he was reattaching he did not reattach the printer. We didn't notice it since the big printer was the default and the one everyone used until it went down so we didn't notice the problem right away. I glad that was so easy to fix.

One other problem happened too. The OPAC computer that we use for the scanner too wouldn't go on the Internet. It would try but would immediately shut it down. I explained to the tech guy as a flick or like it was taking a picture. I again had tried everything I could think of to get it to work including having one of my patron who is technically good with computers try what he knew. Again we had no luck. The tech guy even had trouble finding the problem but finally did. I had updated Internet Explorer to 7 from 6. In that process or sometime after the program became corrupted. The tech guy took Internet Explorer back to 6 and now it works fine.

I sometime wonder if vacations are worth it, then I wake up and know THEY ARE!!!!

Celia’s ninth blog for Library Systems class--Colorado (Wyoming) Experience

This week I was proved again how wonderful the librarian profession is. For my other class, I was to interview a webmaster. One of the webmasters, I chose to try to interview was the Denver Public Library's. Their webmaster not only answered my questions, she also offered me an inside tour of the library while I am there over spring break. I can't wait!

I also found out that other professions have great people too. March is disability month. To celebrate that, my library has a guest storyteller and the local developmentally disabled group (Pathfinders) come and give a talk. During this story time, I take pictures as my assistant runs most of our story times although I do get the guests and help her plan. We had this special story time on March 3, 2008. I took my digital camera and took about 5-6 pictures. I then went home and downloaded them to my computer. I thought that all went well but when I went to find the pictures on my computer they weren't there. Since I am planning to take the camera on vacation with me I had cleared it thinking all was well. The pictures were simply not there. All I can figure out is that something went wrong with the download. I have learned that I should erase the pictures from the camera until I am positive that they are on my computer and that I know where to find them. Luckily for me the Pathfinders organization sent a lady to take pictures for their own publicity so I asked them to send me those pictures so I could add them to my article to the newspapers to publicize the event. They were happy to help me in this way as both of our organization will get some good publicity out of it.

We also had problems with one of our computers and the printers. We have a 4500 color LaserJet printer that is our default printer. Computer 4 would only print to the 2300 b&w LaserJet printer though. Even when the 4500 was chosen, it would print to the 2300. I had to reset the 4500 printer into computer 4 and finally got 4500 printer working correctly from computer 4. What really bothers me now is how the computer lost those settings in the first place. My board has had me set restore points on all the patron computers. One of the board members has a portable DVD drive he is going to use make back-up disks. We are also planning on putting SteadyState from Microsoft on all the computers also. This program is supposed to take the computer back to its starting point every time that it is restarted. I will be putting that on the computers when I get back from vacation. We are hoping with all this protection the patrons will not be able to add or change things like they are now.

Denver was great! I was surprised as I thought Denver would be more mountainous but we did drive out to see them a little closer than you can from Denver itself. I did get my tour of the Denver Public Library. I took my new flip video camera and took a video during it. We were specially allowed to go into the room where a G7 summit was held during President Clinton's term of office. It was neat to see where the heads of state sat and the special nameplates placed inside the table. They also have a wonderful display of Colorado artworks from the neighboring art museum. We were also shown the genealogy and children's sections of the library. It is a 64 million dollar library that is a showplace as well as a functioning library. It was definitely being used and was a vibrant place so it was proof that libraries are necessary.

I repeatedly took a group of pictures in Denver on my digital camera and then went back to the hotel and downloaded them to my laptop. I have quite a video slide show now of Colorado and even some of Wyoming which we spent a little time in. I was lucky as the hotel gave us complimentary "wired" Internet service. I would have had to pay for "wireless" Internet. I was thus able to connect from Denver and work on the wiki project a little. I copied off maps from the internet before we left which show Denver in squares grids and then part in diamond grids. We thought it was a mistake but once there found out it was actually set up that way. It was confusing! We were often relying on my nephew's phone as he was able to get Google Maps on it. It is incredible to me how phones have changed. Who would have believed 20 years ago that we would be getting Internet, able to take pictures and texts or talk to people on our phones from almost anywhere. My nephew could often be seen in during the "vacation" making sales calls from his phone in the middle of our touring walks of Denver while we females shopped. I left my niece use my cell phone to call her husband and such since I have nationwide coverage and only use it for emergencies. I thought that I had 500 whenever and 75 weekend minutes. It turns out that it was actually the opposite and she talked for 96 whenever minutes so I will have to pay extra since I have an overage. Luckily it isn't that much!

Celia’s Eighth Blog for Library Systems Class-Amazing “New World” of Technology

In my Web Architecture class, we have an assignment to interview a web master. Since I don't have any close, I decided to email ones that I have used their web sites. I emailed my questions to five web masters. Is it any surprise to any MLS students that the 2 public library web masters responded promptly and fully? I heard nothing from the 2 government sites or the corporation that I also emailed. That again proves that we as librarians really do want to spread knowledge whether it is our own or through resources we have found.

One of the libraries I emailed was the Denver Public Library. During spring break, I am going to Denver. My niece, Amy, has to take her final test to be a doctor in Denver which is why we are going. My sister and I figure that we will have time to discover Denver while Amy is testing. I looked on the Internet for information on Denver. I found out that we are staying in a hotel about 8 blocks from the Denver Public Library. We will in fact be very close to many interesting place including the mint, art museum, state house and other museums. I still find it amazing how easy it is to find that information. I am old enough to remember when to learn that kind of information would have required hours and hours at the local library and the information received may not be as current or as complete. I sometimes want to throw the computer out the window when it doesn't work well, but I can't think how I could get along without one now. If someone comes into the library, I often run to the computer to find out their answer. I search for phone numbers, addresses, books, tax forms and all others kinds of information. How did librarians do this job without a computer? It boggles one's mind to think of it.

I was talking to some 20somethings in my library and we were discussing how much school children learn about computers now days and how computers are a common sight in classrooms. They said that they remember just having a few if any when they were in school. Boy, did I feel old since computers weren't even thought about in school in my day and those that did exist occupied a whole room. Isn't it amazing how schools and even life has changed because of computers and the technology they have brought?

Because of my trip to Denver, the board is meeting on March 3rd over a week earlier than normal. I have to get the end of month reports done on Saturday, March 1. Luckily the local bank is open for a few hours on Saturday so I can hopefully get some kind of bank statement so I can report to the board the library's financial condition. That again is only possible because of computers and technology. Without that technology, there is no way that the bank would have any possible way of getting that information for me for the reports in time for this early meeting.

I was informed by our tech guy that all media inserted into our computers are tested by our antivirus system. That means that it is safe to allow flash drives. The library that has the DVD/CD repair machine we are thinking of buying says that it requires little maintenance. In fact, a maintenance kit came with the machine and they have yet to use it. It just requires a little wiping out after each cleaning. I am hoping that these 2 issues can be finished at this coming board meeting.

I found out on Thursday that we are running out of label protectors. These are clear plastic with adhesive backs that we place over the reused bar codes and book spine labels. Since we are re-shelving and cataloging a lot of our young adult as juvenile where they should have been in the hopes that being shelved and cataloged right they will circulate more we are going through a lot these protectors. I tried very hard to order some through the DEMCO website. I never succeeded at it as that website will never accept my user name or password. I started a small notebook where I keep all the user names and passwords for all the accounts and computers the library has. This has been a lifesaver or should I say memory saver. When I started it I never thought I would have near as many as I do. My board president was going to copy them and have them put into the lock box but when he saw how many there are decided it wasn't worth it. It is amazing that are lives' are now reduced to user names and passwords.

Addendum to 7th Blog

I am sick of winter! sick of being sick! and sick of techno glitches! I don't know why the font is doing wacky things. I think I might have hit something by mistake during one of my sneezing fits. I can only hope that spring and good health return soon because I know the techno glitches won't leave but at least I will be able to handle them with better humor then. Ok, at least I can hope that I will, can't I???

Celia’s Seventh Blog Post for Library Systems Class-The “Duh” Moments in Life

This week I had some enlightening moments. In my other class, Web Architecture, I have been writing website in (X)HTML code. I dawned on me how much programming a website and cataloging materials in the library's automation system have a lot in common, duh. In both cases, punctuation, spaces and the case of letters is so very important. One slight typo in both cases can cause all types of problems. I thought that was odd until it occurred to me, duh, that in both cases the purpose of the work is to communicate with the computer and to get the computer to bring the results we desire with precision, consistency, and reliability. Both are speaking in a language that the computer can understand and interpret correctly, duh.

I remember often as I have "moments" with computers and working to get the results I want from them something that Dr. Ball said in Online Searching, that computers are just dumb machines and that no matter what we humans are smarter, duh. This has become my mantra as a patron asks me to help them do something that the computer doesn't seem to want me to do. For example, this week patron wanted to download a program to his flash drive. This should be an easy process but no matter what we tried we couldn't get it to download there. We tried downloading it to a floppy and that would work but not to his flash. I finally figured out that the flash had its own programs with files and the correct program file had to be opened, duh and then the file could be downloaded to it. This took some time but we finally got the file for the patron.

This episode brought up the issue of allowing patrons to use their own flash drives in the library's computers. My board and I are concerned with picking up viruses or other corruption from them. The board asked me to find out if other public libraries allow flash drives to be used in the computers. To accomplish that I did something that I first did a couple week ago, I posted the question to the INPub listserv. My first post to the listserv dealt with DVD/CD repair machines. My library has been asking for and receiving Library Capital Project Funding to pay for our automation but that automation will soon be paid off and we will have money left in the fund. Since the rules for this money are very specific, we are looking for some item that will take all the money and still qualify as to our project's plan. We believe this kind of machine would fit that and fit a need of the library. We are losing a lot of DVD because they are being returned damaged. It is hard to tell when a DVD is damaged and can't play anymore or when the scratch just came from regular use and not damage so it is hard charge one patron as opposed to another. So these are mainly loses that the library just has to eat. The machine that most of the library's that replied to my question on the listserv was one that cost close to $3,000 at the cheapest. That is way too much for my library to pay, it just wouldn't be worth it, duh. One library suggested one that costs around $350. This is more a possibility with our budget especially since we are hoping to be able to fix disks for patrons for a fee to recuperate some of our expense. My board president found the $350 machine in his Popular Mechanics Magazine in an article saying that it was a good product but that it took a lot of care and cleaning. I was instructed by the board to check out what kind of care and cleaning it needs with the suggesting library.

Since the listserv worked so good helping to find a DVD repair machine, I decided to try it on the flash drive question. I was responded that there is a program from Microsoft called SteadyState that allows public computers to be returned to their starting state by just rebooting the computer. I have asked my assistant's husband who is an IT man for a neighboring township to look it over and see what he thinks. This programs sounds too good to be true. I hope what they claim can actually be real-it could be a dream come true.

These listserv are really helpful. I am mainly a reader and not a participator. I true to offer my experience if it is something that I or my library has done, but us being so small we are usually a follower and not a leader. But with this class and the others I am taking, I'm hoping that I can give the library's technology a big shot in the arm!!

Celia’s Sixth Blog for Library Systems Class- A Week of Changes

I spent a lot of this last week preparing for the February Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday the 12^th. Thanks to the snow, that meeting had to be postponed after I had everything set up. Because of the postponement some of the checks still had to go out this week and can't wait till next week when we can reschedule the meeting. The checks were for the safe deposit box (or we would have to pay $5 more), the phone bill and salaries. I thought that was all but it so happened that the library is buying a block of service from our computer tech's company. If we buy a 40 hour block we only have to pay $55 an hour instead of $110 and we only have to pay for travel one way. Since they let the computer tech come before the scheduled meeting, the company agreed to take it out of the block anyway, but they would not let him come a second time unless I mailed the check. So I had to get permission by the Board President for getting that check signed by the Board Treasurer before the meeting could take place too. Luckily, the board had talked about and agreed to do this as we are saving so much money so the Board President agreed to this early payment.

So I was able to let the computer tech come on Wednesday. He was able to convince the server to recognize/accept my office computer even though because it is the home version of XP, it can't become part of the domain. Because of this change, I will be able to save all of my records on the server instead of just saving them to a rewritable CD. I appreciate having any kind of saving of data and as many places as possible since I have found that disasters can happen when the system or even parts of the system go down. My office computer is now password protected and if I want to I can block some things from my assistant. That will not be all that easy though since my assistant knows my password.

We discovered while he was working on the computers that the "brand new this fall computer" was operating very, very slowly. He is now looking into it to find out why. We believe that because this computer not well protected because that "fall computer guy" didn't know our network system and something "harmful" was put on it, possibly an extension of MySpace. The computer tech we now have calls himself: the Goodrich Man as in "we can pay him now, or we can pay him later". It is true. He also pointed out that because he knows our system so well he is able to diagnose the system in a fraction of the time of anyone else. He was able to figure out that the new computers from the court do have sound cards they just didn't have drivers to run those drivers. Once the drivers were installed they worked fine. That was proved by some of the patrons later in the day. No more complaining about sound! Yeah!!!!

I did have one glitch after the computer tech left. The receipt printer wouldn't print. The computer tech had added another user named "Staff" for extra protection in case someone unauthorized got behind the desk and started messing with the circulation computer so they couldn't do any real damage. But the automation system would not recognize this user and now the automation system will need to be configured to allow this user. I had to shut the computer down and then restart and sign in as "Administrator" to get the receipt printer to work. This was a fairly easy fix but scared me for a while thinking I was going to have to go back to the post-it-notes. Thank God, I didn't!!!!!!

I didn't have class my Library System class on Thursday, February 14, 2008, but since my schedule is step up for it, the New Albany-Floyd County Wiki Team had a meeting. I was tired from all the changes at the library and feel that I was just not brainstorming well with my fellow members. I had my laptop which I have found invaluable with me so I used it to take the minutes during the meeting. I also tried to record the meeting with a digital voice recorder. The recorder is new so I have to see if it worked. I am supposed to be able to plug it into the computer and make an audio file. I can get it to go to my iTunes library but that is as far as I can get it. I tried to email the file to myself but that took forever so I don't want to block up someone's email. I can make a CD but I can't send that to my fellow team members. I just bought the digital recorder because is thought it was just what I needed for this and my other classes, when the Board Secretary bought one for the library to record board meetings.

I tried to email Dr. Ball from IPFW where we had the meeting and I couldn't. I have not figured out why I can receive my emails there but can't send any. I had to send her the email when I got home. I thought that I was suppose to email Dr. Ball the minutes from the meeting but I have since reread last class's notes and found that they are actually suppose to be posted on the wiki. I have found that when I transfer from Microsoft Word into the wiki the spacing gets changed. I have found that to be really irritating, but I have been trying hard to get it to look good.

Hope your week went better than mine. Check back to see if things go any better…..

Celia’s Fifth Blog for LIBRARY SYSTEMS CLASS-“New-to-us" computers

This past week, The Roanoke Public Library had our computer tech come on Tuesday. Our computer tech is from South Bend so having him actually come to the library is a major deal. He came because the Roanoke Town Court got new computers and donated their old ones to the library. We were very grateful to get them as one of our patron computers had such a small hard drive that just putting the XP operating system and Microsoft Office on it filled it so that only 14% was left. I went to defrag it and couldn't since to do a defrag you need 15% free hard drive space. On another computer, the desktop kept showing an error message. We had to keep telling the patrons to go ahead and click on the "big e" and they would get to the Internet and not try to fix the error as it just wasn't going to fix. Getting rid of those two computers is such a relief that I can't tell you.

When the Town Court told me that they were going to donate the computers I was so excited that I forgot to ask details. At one point in between them telling of the donation which was before Christmas and receiving the computers 2 weeks ago, there was talk that we may only get one computer. I figured that one was better than none so I was still grateful. But when the Judge delivered them, he brought not only the two computers, but the computer that they used as a server, two flat 19" flat screen monitors, 2 mice and 2 split keyboards.

Back last fall, the library's circulation computer hard drive went out. It was a disaster. I was running circulation in safe mode for a time and for a couple months we were giving patrons post-it-notes for their due dates since the register printer is very hard to set up. The board worked fairly fast and bought 2 new computers-one to replace a very, very old patron computer and our circulation one. The President of our Friend of the Roanoke Public Library refurbished that old circulation computer by replacing the hard drive and adding memory.

The conclusion of this is that we have 6 patron computers, one bought new last fall, one is the refurbished circulation computer, two are the donated ones from the court, and one is a special computer got through a Grant from the Gates Foundation that was made especially for libraries. As I am writing this the sixth one is one of the challenges that I knew was coming. The computer tech said that the best possible computer for us would be turning the court's server back into a regular computer. The problem with that is that it had no operating system. The library has special purchased licenses for 2 XPs but we have no start-up disks. I tried downloading them from the Microsoft website since we are allowed because of the license purchase but they were not bootable disks. We finally got one on our third try but this was a long process. The computer tech ended up taking the court's server computer and the bootable disk with him to try to build the computer so that he can just attach it when he returns. Conclusion-the patron should end up with 6 relatively good and fast computers when we are done.

We also have an OPAC computer at the back of the room that we have now attached the scanner to so that we don't have to disturb any patrons in order to scan. Evidently a scanner cannot be put on a network and must be attached to just one computer so this is the least disruptive one. The only problem with this is that the computer is wirelessly connected so the computer tech will have to wirelessly connect it to a printer in order for us to print the scanned items but at least it does not require asking patrons on the scanner's computer to leave it for a while so we can scan something for another patron.

So all sounds well, don't it? But there is a problem- Sound. We discovered the computers donated by the court don't have sound cards. One of the Board Trustees is going to take sound cards out of the old computers that we are getting rid of to put in them but the patrons aren't happy in the mean time but at least that is fairly fixable. We think that the fan may be going out in one of them too so we may be taking a fan out of one of the computers also.

We are planning on keeping one of the better computers as a backup so that should anything happen to one of the computers we have an easy replacement. We are planning on putting the circulation software on that backup computer so should something happen to the circulation computer again we won't be as disabled as we were last fall. I am taking one of the LCD monitors for my office computer and the other will be used by my assistance at her area so the patrons will not have them to fight over. Right now I don't think that we will be using the split keyboard as I have been told that they require a lot of time to get used to.

The computer tech is returning next week to finish off some things he was unable to get to like changing our passwords for more protection, setting up that last computer, and networking my office computer in so that it can share files with the circulation computer and wirelessly connecting a printer to the OPAC. I can't wait till it is all done and the bugs are worked out! I think it is going to be so great to be fully functioning and not have computers that patrons get because they arrived at the library later than others that don't work as well or as fast as they would desire.

Celia’s Fourth Blog – LAR-1

As I said in a previous blog, the beginning of the new year brings about reports. I have now completed the W-2s and W-3 and have sent them off to the IRS and Indiana Department of Revenue. These reports are fairly easy since I keep an Excel spreadsheet showing gross earnings, all deductions taken out and then the net wages that are paid for each pay period. Since the W-2s and W-3 are just summaries of that, it only takes transferring the information. So it is relatively easy.

I wish I could say that the other report I had to do was as easy. Every year, public libraries are sent hardcopy forms from the State Board of Accounts (SBOA). These reports are to record the beginning balances, the incomes, the disbursements and the ending balances of all funds in the library. These entries leave an ending balance that must be showed as to where it is, whether it's in savings, checking or investment accounts and the banks where they are located. For the last two years, I have done this by typing the numbers onto the hardcopy forms and mailing it. This year, the accompanying letter requested that this form be filled out electronically and gave a web site where it could be downloaded. I also received a special letter from our regional director of the SBOA with the same request offering his assistance if problems are incurred.

Well, I had a problem. When going to the prescribed web site, it said "Sorry, the page you requested was not found." I tried everything I could think of to get the web site to work and still got the same message. I then called the regional director as he requested with my problem, unfortunately that was Martin Luther King Day and he was off. He returned my call and told me that the web site address was wrong and gave me the correct one. I then downloaded the form and opened it to begin. Imagine my surprise when the form looked nothing like the hardcopy form. The online form had one column per page. Thus I had to input all the beginning balances than go to the next page and enter all the incomes on the next page and then all the disbursements on the next page. After that I had to enter the bank account amounts. The only way I could figure out whether the amounts were entered correctly was to print out all the pages of the report, because it inserted error message on the printed form. I end up printing it out about 4 or 5 times before all the little errors were corrected and that was after I had completely filled out the hardcopy form.

When I finally got it done, it gave an option of emailing it directly to them. I tried to do this but I did not receive a confirmation that I really trusted. I ended up sending a printed out copy of the form to them along with the signature page. I figure that way I'm sure that it is going to get to them.

I really hope that the state updates this form before they force everyone to use it. People who do not have computer experience and patience will be driven totally crazy by this setup. This year it was optional but they are saying that it will be required in the future. The disbursement part of the form had to be electronically sent to the DLGF (Department of Local Government Finance). The letter from them requesting this had the correct website and was a little better designed. I also had to send the DLGF an Indebtedness Report which was very easy since we don't have any so that only required a quick email.

This coming week, we are having "new-to-us" computers installed into our network to replace some old computers for our patrons. The Town Court donated two computers along with a computer they used as server to the library. We also have one that the President of the Friends of the Roanoke Public Library refurbished from our old circulation computer. Some of our patrons have seen the two new 19" LCD monitors and can't wait to try them. I sure hope all goes well but I am expecting some "challenges" to appear. Stay tuned to find out what they are…..

Annual Report Update 2

I said on a previous blog that I had electronically sent my annual report. Well, I guess that was exactly accurate. What happened is I tried to send the report by clicking the submit button-the report then disappeared. I never received a confirmation that it was submitted but I was no longer able to get to the report. I emailed the State Library and asked if they received it and they said yes. This past Thursday, I got a call from Edythe Huffman at the State Library and she said she had my supplement and the signature page but she couldn't get to the annual report. I told her that the last time I had tried I was blocked from getting to the report and she said that her records show that I should be able to get to it. I tried again and sure enough I could get to the report. I have now resent it and this time I did get a confirmation. Maybe now the annual report really is done. This show a good reason as to why it is a good idea not to wait till the last minute to submit these reports so you have time to fix any glitches that may occur and still have the reports arrive on time. Now it is time to work on the State Board of Accounts LAR-1 report. This is their version of an annual report but this one deals strictly with finances-money coming in and money going out for the year. Can't Wait!!!!

Celia's Third Blog for Library Systems Class-"Odd" Automation

During the holidays, I took some time off and my assistance took over. During that time, she noticed something really “odd” happened with our automation system. A patron had checked out 3 movies all on the same day. When the movies were returned overdue, again on the same day, one movie had a $2.75 fine, another had a $2.25 fine and the third had no fine. It is odd enough that the fine amounts are different and my automation organization is working on that, but how do you get cents when the fine is suppose to be a $1.00 for each business day? When I asked the automation help desk about this, they informed me, this past week after some research, that the fine was set at $.25 for each business day. Here we have been telling patrons the wrong amount-so much for our great automation system! I enquired how to change the amount and was given step-by-step directions. My assistant and I have since gone in and made changes to the system. We found that the fine amounts and maximum fines were not consistent or set where we thought. It took considerable time but I think that the overdue and maximum fines are more consistently set and they are what we thought they were all along. Now all movies, whether DVD or VHS, are fined at $1.00 per business day they are overdue with a maximum fine of $5.00 per item. All other items are fined at $.05 a business day. Automation is great but one has to be very careful as to how it is set up. The old saying “Garbage in, garbage out!” is so very true. I am very anxious to still learn why the amounts were different on the patron’s fine but at least we are working on getting some of the problems solved after 4 years of having the system. My suggestion would be that when setting up an automation system, or even giving information for such a system, do it with extreme care as it is better to do it correct in the beginning than spend time and effort later trying to fix errors. It will also help public relations, if it is consistent and reliable! Some things just can’t be rushed.

On a lighter note, while talking with my board president, I told him that for one of my classes (Information Architecture for the Web) this semester I have to set up a web page for an organization. I had several thoughts on what the subject matter should be and wanted his opinion. One was a site featuring the Roanoke Public Library’s children and young adults’ events at the library. Another was one featuring the Friends of the Roanoke Public Library. He liked both ideas and even thought of one for the board. I was shocked by this as he had a problem with the web page I did for 401 and told me he hoped I didn’t expose it to the public. My response to him was that I thought 3 was way beyond me so we decided the children’s page would be best. I then informed him that in my other class, (this Library Systems class) we were learning about blogs and wikis. He is now thinking that the board should do a blog. He firmly believes that the patrons and community should know what the board/library is doing. So don’t be surprised if in the future the Roanoke Public Library’s home page has a link to a director’s and a board’s blog. Won’t our patrons just be so informed as to what is happening at their library??!!

Second Blog Update

Well, I have learned that this blog is especially to be about technology and how we deal with it. I was praising the fact that my library was automated which means that we are fairly up with our technology as most library's as small as ours aren't automated. This automation really helped with that annual report but the numbers still had to have work done to them since we are still in the process of making full use of the system.

What I have learned is that no matter what kind of technology you have working for you, human error still come into play. When my board president looked over the numbers, he found that somehow I had picked up totally wrong ones for the Library's Capital Projects Plan. Even I can't come up with where I got the numbers I had put down in that area. I am glad that he looked it over. There is also the case of my first blog. I have found sentences that didn't come out as I wanted and some misspellings. Thanks to the Sauers' book we are reading in class, I found out that you can download an add-in to Word that will allow you to type the blog into Word and then when you are ready transfer it. I think that is great since I am so used to working in Word and having it help with my spelling and grammar, especially when my brain goes faster than my brain. I also found out in class from a fellow student that cut and paste works to so hopefully those human errors will be minimized.

Celia's Second Blog for Library Systems Class-Annual Reports

The end of one year and the beginning of the next means reports if you are a library director. This past week I have been filling out the State Library's annual report. The report on my library ended up 43 pages along with a 6 page supplement and a signature page. I am glad that these reports can be done on-line. I am a horrible typest on a typewriter so I'm glad that the computer does it for me especially fitting the numbers in the boxes and on the right lines with the added benefit of seeing what was put in for the previous year. I am also grateful that back in 2005 my library got automated. The automation system makes it fairly easy to come up with all the numbers that the report requires. I can't imagine how the libraries without such a system could come up with all the information that is needed. It has to take them forever as the report took me the better part of 3 days. What I really find amazing it that some libraries don't even have access to the Internet, how do they function as I find that such a basic requirement.

The report showed that my library is progressing which makes me very happy. We have more non-residents buying cards. With my library being a town only library in a township that doesn't have library service, this is encouraging. We also increased in our student cards. We offer free cards to students of Roanoke Elementary School who live outside the town limits during the school year. We also increased in our circulating materials except for magazine subscriptions. For some reason, our magazines just don't go out that well except for a few specifics like Newsweek, Oprah, Midwest Living, Taste of Home and American Girl. We have been working hard to get new books in and weed the ones we have. We are so small with such limited space this is quite a task. We had quite a few books in a town hall storage room that we have now weeded a lot of and are having a big "take home a book for a donation" since the town hall needed that space back. We can't call it a "book sale" because if we do the Friends of the Roanoke Public Library would have to pay sales tax since the library is selling the books on their behalf.

The report is finished now except for having my board president look it over and sign the signature page. I have already sent the supplement electronically as my answers disappeared on it if I left the site it is on and tried to come back. As soon as my board president OK's the main report, it too will be sent electronically. Only the signature page has to actually be mailed. It is such a relief to have it done but more reports are due soon so the fun is just beginning.

So now you know what I'm up to. Check back later for more updates.

Celia's First Blog for Library Systems Class correction

The previous blog should say that my board members were not tech savvy enough to understand blogging or to take the time to learn so they didn't go look at it. They do show an interest in my classes but don't want to take anymore of their time outside of meeting than they are required to because like everyone else they are very busy people.

Celia's First Blog for Library Systems Class

Hi,
I am Celia and I am creating this blog brand new for my Library Systems class. I tried a blog for my 401 computer class which I had designed for my board members to show them what I was learning in my MLS classes but they were tech savvy enough to really know what I was talking about so only one of them actually ever visited it.

I am Library Director at the Roanoke Public Library which is where the board comes in. It is a very small library in a small town of about 1,495 people. The population is very tech savvy, at least most of the ones I see aren't but I would like to do more with the library's website and other technology to try to attract more young people into the library. I am always impressed with library websites that have blogs, podcasts, wikis and other things going on besides just the basic webpage. Our webpage comes as part of our library automation system so I don't have to maintain it but I am hoping with this class and other I am taking that I will be able to personalize it and make it much, much more interesting.

I am hoping that this class will help me with that process. Last semester I took Dr. Ball's Online Searching class and although I didn't do as well I as I should have I learned a lot. The work I put forth I think has made me a better searcher if just in the fact that I have more options open to me if I fail to find what I want on my first attempt. I just keep digging knowing that the information is there if I can just figure out how to get to it. In that class we looked up information for a couple of libraries but the fall semester of this class did the actual wiki setup. I think it will be fun to see the whole process instead of just that small portion. I was helping one of the students in that fall semester class clean up my group's information to make it appropriate for the wiki and that was fun and interesting. He taught me a lot just by saying, "why don't you do it this way?" My usual response to him was "I would if I knew how" so he would teach me. It was great!

For a library as small as Roanoke Public Library is, I am proud of the fact that we do have wireless Internet. It is finally getting around town that we have that capability and that it is fairly reliable. When I first started at the library it would go out with every power flicker and then we would have to let our tech guy know so he could reset it. I and my assistant have now figured out how to reset it ourselves and that along with a new power backup supply has really made it very reliable and popular with those who have laptops. I have even used my laptop to complete assignments. (Don't let my board know that! hahaha)

Well, that's enough for know. Check back later.