Bathroom Key

Thanks go to Jackie P for finding the missing ladies room key!
A reminder to all to put the key back where we got it from...
LW

Refunds -- coin copy --1st floor printer?

What is the procedure for refunds if something doesn't print on the 1st floor printer (linked to the 64 public computers)?

That printer isn't part of Coin Copier equipment...I think customers have to have a machine number when they call for a refund.

(I wasn't here for any of the formal copier trainings)

~katie

Holds Slip template -- online somewhere?

Is the Holds Slip/Wrapper file available online somewhere? If not, can it be? There's a file called "CIRC Holds Slip Wrapper" under forms > templates on the intranet, but as far as I can tell it's just a .gif image of our logo. I'm talking about the file that's saved to the desktop on those TR computers. Thanks!

Lisa

Copy Cards

Patrons have been asking me about discontinuing the copycards. I don't know a thing about it. Please inform so I don't look foolish. ldr

Cleaning staff

I think we need to show our appreciation to the cleaning staff. Today, they have cleaned up more than enough disgusting stuff. Should we throw them a party?
Also it would nice if we could catch whomever is using f...s as art.

School Groups

Is there a possiblity of posting to the Cen Blog dates,times,contact staff member, and what school group is expected? Also post if they should go directly to the 4th floor or wait for a staff member.

Help for Staff Summer Reading Club

I've been in charge of Staff Summer Reading Club for some time now. It's really fun, but I think I need a little help.

The nature of the work in general is to set up the program in May, answer staff questions throughout the summer, and get the Celebration together in September/October.

Interested? Please let me know.

Darcy

Plasmas

Does anyone know why half of the plasmas arent on or working?

Does this need to be reported to IT?

Also, what about the missing plasmas? Are we to assume that IT took them?

Adding info to Downloadable Media page

I was doing chat today helping a Seattle Public Library patron download an e-book and I noticed that the SPL e-book page has links that tell which devices are compatible with Overdrive and Netlibrary
http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=collection_digibooks

They also have a link to a how to video next to each electronic book listing in their catalogue
http://tiny.cc/8d7ip

This really impressed me and could be very helpful to patrons! Could we do something like this?

Gordon Turner

Study Rooms-Locking at night?

Katie and I noticed today that the study rooms are getting dirty.

Should we be locking these at night,as this prevents the cleaning folks from cleaning them?

Gordon

Holding books for a few minutes

Twice this week I was at the WD and people would come to me to hold their books for a few minutes (so they can go back to work to get their card) or an hour (have to go home to get the card). I don't want to hold books here are the Welcome Desk. How is th best way to handle this?

Jackie Pierce

papers from TR

Is it correct that we do not give customers papers from TR? I've dealt with a persistent customer twice now who obviously knows and has been given back copies from TR? I thought we weren't doing that anymore?
Cindy

Meeting Room Information

I know this has come up before but is there please a way to let us know who (meaning non-HPL) is using meeting rooms? I know I could dig in from Outlook to look room by room, but when I have a customer in front of me, I don't always think of that. Not to mention when we have docents at WD. I can't just keep calling Hiawatha, Sarah, or someone else in Programming.

A one-stop shop on the blog like we used to giving the weekly schedule would be extremely helpful.

Thanks--Darcy

OCE vend & Out of Order signs & blog

Today I found the OCE VCA in WLC with an out of order sign on it, but the form was not filled out.

Please--

-fill out the form with the problem
-who/when it was reported to PB/or alternate person

Also, please try to remember to update the CEN blog to reflect the status of copiers and VCAs. The OCE Status is under LAYOUT on the right side when you log into the blog. Many staff count on this blog being current and correct when directing customers to other floors/machines.


this is just me....but if a machine isn't taking coins, I just put a note over the slot (with date/time/initials and that I reported it). I don't feel the need to make the whole machine out of order when it is still partially usuable.

katie

Morning Clean-Up

This morning, I went to the 3rd floor to clean up after myself from the Sunday shift, and I noticed a couple of our colleagues already tackling the mess. Thank you, all!

We all have worked those weekend and evening shifts where we just haven't been able to clean everything up completely at the end of the day. Can we start making it a practice for everyone to pick up and shelve in the mornings before we open?

--Darcy

Saturday Start Time

So it is Saturday morning and I pull up at 8:15. The guard (just doing his job) at the top of the ramp informs me the building does not open until 8:30 and while he'll let me in he is going to have to send some sort of email to someone informing them of this infraction. This interchange takes a minute tops. I then park and ride the elevator up and am at my desk at 8:18, 12 minutes before I am scheduled to start at 8:30.

Until they perfect quantum transportation that will mean I can get where I am going EXACTLY when I plan on arriving, I tend to give myself 15 minutes. I've seen backups on Houston highways that take as long if not longer, so I like that sort of cushion because I'm the kinda cat who likes to be on time. Thing is, I don't want to be giving security conniptions every other Saturday morning.

Craig-CYOU

color copiers

Does anyone have any advice on how to get the color copiers to work?

I think out of the last 20 times I have tried to use the color copier, I have been successful maybe twice.

Today on R2, I tried to assist a customer. The machine had the correct paper weight in all drawers, no jams, etc. Yet, it proceeded to jam 3x before the customer moved on the the b&w copier.

~katie


For persistently jamming printer/copiers, try this:

Hold shut (all the way up vertically) the bypass feed tray located on the right side of the machine while the copied sheet of paper is moving through the machine. That should solve it unless there is more going on.

You'll note that when you are not holding that tray, there is a 1/4 - 1/2 gap between the end of the tray and the copier. This somehow makes all the difference.

If anyone has problems with jamming printer/copiers, let me know and I can try to troubleshoot them, as I used to work with copiers quite extensively (and cleared 100s of jams). This may save a service call to Oce and keep the machine active for public use.

Let me know if this works for you, Katie.

... Allen

Technology Tips & News 7 May

So did anyone notice Google's new interface? Actually it's not so new; last fall they added a left side navigation with links to Gmail, News etc. but it is now out of beta and permanent.



Ratings of live shows have been falling for a few years now. Many folks use Tivo or DVR type devices to record shows, skip commercials and watch their favorite programs when they want to. However ratings skyrocket when there is a big event like the Super Bowl or Academy Awards: folks gather around the TV set and communicate with friends online about the show. For example, while I was watching the Oscars earlier this year, I was also sending tweets and updating my Facebook status with what was happening live. It's called social TV and there may be devices (perhaps remote controls) in the near future that will allow us to connect with friends while watching TV. I think that's a neat idea.

Google just launched Goggles which allows you to search the web by taking pictures. To find out more, just Google it! And that's not all. Google is getting ready to launch Google Editions - a web-based ebook store/utility, part of the cloud and not dependent on a device. The ebook battle continues and if you need to find out more, check out today's GigaOm at http://pro.gigaom.com/2010/05/hot-topic-e-books/

That's it for this week's tech news and tips. Please do keep in mind what role librarians play as you read these posts.

Saima

Courtesy Logouts

Please remember to completely logout of your electronic accounts while using a staff computer. Lately, I have had to log out coworkers from Yahoo, COH and Facebook accounts.
Thanks,
Saima

Cafe Signs

Signs posted in the cafe point out that "Cafe seating is for customers only" but there is no notification that food bought in the cafe cannot be consumed elsewhere in the library. We need signs in the cafe to save customers the embarassment of being told they cannot consume food elsewhere in the building. It is a disservice to customers not to have this information.
LW

Technology Tip: Facebook Privacy

Facebook is at it again. If you haven't revisited your privacy settings recently, now is the time to do so.

This week, Facebook announced its new data-sharing policies which make much of your profile information publicly available to 3rd-party websites unless you OPT OUT.

There are 2 major features that were introduced this week. Social Plugins add Facebook "Like" buttons to popular websites that allow you to easily post news or information you like to your Facebook profile. This one is not as much a problem, because you are actively choosing to "Like" something. The 2nd feature is called Instant Personalization. This feature will allow partner websites to use your public information to tailor your experience on their sites. Currently there are only 3 partners: Pandora, Yelp, and Microsoft Documents. This feature is the one you need to pay attention to. By default, a box is checked in your settings allowing Instant Personalization. If you do not want to share this information you need to actively go in and uncheck the box.

Now, the most important thing to know is that even if you uncheck the box, your friends can still share your information with these partner websites unless you block the application.

Here are very clear instructions from the EFF (Electronic Frontiers Foundation) on how to opt out of Facebook's Instant Personalization.

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/04/how-opt-out-facebook-s-instant-personalization

Another change that Facebook has made concerns your profile information. Now when you go to your Profile (the first time after these changes were implemented), you will see a big box that asks you if you want to link to pages that match any interests you listed in your profile (for example, if you have listed on your page that you are a UNT alum, it will ask you if you want to link to the UNT Facebook page). You can choose to link to just one or two or to all of the suggested pages. However, what Facebook has not made clear is that if you choose not to link to the pages, the information you have previously entered in those sections will appear as empty in your profile. There's really nothing you can do about this other than decide which you would prefer (linking to public pages and sharing your interests with the world or showing no information at all), but it is worth mentioning here that you must make a choice.

~Somer

Technology Tips & News

Somer and I will start posting technology news and tips here on Fridays. In case you didn't know, we started a NextReads newsletter back in January, Technology Dashboard. Take a look at the inaugural issue and March's issue here.

Let us know what you think or what you would like to see - I thought it would be better to post something short and sweet here rather than starting a new blog. Saima

Friday Trainings

What type of trainings would you like to participate in on Fridays? Database, subject specific resources, web 2.0, Office 2007, other computer/technology related topics? Please submit your suggestions via the comments feature.

Thanks,
Saima

P.S. We also need to think about creating database pathfinders and subject guides.
Saima

A Thank You From a Telephone Patron

Mr Wacasy called and wants to thank all of the librarians who have helped him over the phone through the years. So a big THANK YOU to you all!
Lw

Test guides on 2

Should only uncataloged test guides be in the little bookcase that is by the CORE?

With the exception of the CORE book display, I think all tests guides that are cataloged should be in their respective shelf place. This will make things easier for customers and for staff retreiving items for title page or TR.

~katie

Odiferous Men's Bathrooms

This needs a Sprockets order.
Saima

The doors to the men's bathrooms are always propped open and the smells practically knock a person down. Can we shave a bit off the bottom of the doors so they automatically close upon entering and leaving? Or can we issue air freshener to each floor? Something?
L Reeves

Reservations, Blogs and movie stuff

David will update the docent blog.
Saima

The meeting room reservations on the Cen Blog have not been updated since the week onfFebruary 23rd. The Docent blog is way out of date. Would it be possible to have a slot in the bins on each floor or on the meeting room tables were movie posters, bookmarks and giveaways(that Hiawatha receives) are placed? It goes to waste stored in the workroom. Patrons are always looking for bookmarks so at least display those.
L Reeves

Flash Drives

***That's a great question Lisa! We have purchased flash drives and headphones but the Smart Money Manager cash register hasn't been set up to allow this type of function. Perhaps it will in the near future?***
Saima

Could we sell flash drives, the same way we're selling tote bags?

If that's not possible, could they sell them at Inversion?

I get asked for them fairly often; it would be great if we were able to meet the need for them.

Lisa

Census forms and other questions

From the Census Q&A page, this is their current answer to not receiving a form:

Question
What do I do if I don’t receive a questionnaire?
Answer

Beginning April 12, 2010, you should call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance center at one of the numbers listed below to obtain a questionnaire. The phone lines will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (your local time) seven days a week through July 30, 2010.
English 1-866-872-6868
Spanish 1-866-928-2010
Chinese 1-866-935-2010
Korean 1-866-955-2010
Vietnamese 1-866-945-2010
Russian 1-866-965-2010
For the hearing-impaired, dial TDD 1-866-783-2010 (during the times noted above.)

~Cindy

WD & Library cards

I think it means that more and more people want to get their library cards! Staff at WD can replenish applications from circ desk.
Saima

What is the deal? I've been at the Welcome Desk 3x's this week and all 3x's there were no library card applications. I placed a huge stack at the desk all 3x's. Gripe! gripe! gripe!
LReeves

Laptop DVD players?

I have made a note of it and will ask the Managers' for their feedback.
Saima


I spoke to a patron today who was upset that the DVD player on his laptop would not work. The laptop folks explained to him that some of the DVD players on our laptops are disabled by IT in order to conserve battery life.

Is there a way we can post a sign alerting patrons about this? The LST folks told me they get a lot of complaints about this.

Gordon

Staff Appreciation Parties

Hello All

Any thoughts on future Staff Appreciation parties? All questions, comments and concerns needed. Yolanda is no longer at Central so looking for assistance to help out. If no one wants them anymore we can discontinue the parties. So far there is only 1 vote for.

Hiawatha

Biggest Looser Challenge Kickoff- Rescheduled Tuesday March 9

To all those who are interested in participating in the Biggest Looser Challenge. There will be a Kickoff on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 from 8:30 am - 9am in the Program Place on the 4th floor.
You can weigh in (in private, of course). If you want to participate in the prize part of the challenge. The fee is $10.00. Please submit fee in an envelope with your name, department, contact information, your weight and your sex. Male or Female. There is a Male challenge and a Female challenge since each looses weight differently. Marlana will be on hand to collect the envelopes. If you have any questions, please contact Marlana Mitchell ext 31481, Andrea ext 31378 or Hiawatha ext 31489.

Hiawatha

Customer Service website

Effective immediately, please refrain from using "customer sucks" website. We have found it in the browsing history of many staff desktops. It is the antithesis of our institution's excellence in customer service mission. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks,
Saima

Paul Beck's obituary

Katie found out that our beloved library patron, Mr. Beck passed away in November 2009. You can read his obituary here.

Saima

Holds in Stacks

If someone calls in TR and asks for a book to be sent to another Neighborhood Library, which is preferable: a) to go and get it and put it into transit; or b) to put a hold on it through Millennium?

If possible, I would prefer not to make it a Stacks request, as staff is very short-handed and sometimes the request can get lost in translation. Better ultimately to follow it through to the end. Thanks!--Darcy

First Aid?

Two questions:

One-Where is the first aid kit located?

Two-Are we allowed to give patrons items like bandaids? If we do so, does that make us medically liable?

Please help,

Thanks,

Gordon

2nd floor--Out of Order/Patron comment forms

I have put all the Out of Order/Patron Comment forms in the desk drawers on the 2nd floor.

On the 700s side, they are in a big manilla envelope in the drawer w/ pencils and scrap paper.
On the 300s side, they are in the left hand drawer w/ the phone books.

I am trying to make an effort to neaten up the staff side of the desks.

~katie

Program Registration without a card?

Darcy recently published instructions on the CEN blog about placing books on hold for patrons who don't have cards yet, using the ICEN holds account + filling in the notes field. I've had more than one call from patrons who don't have cards but want to register for one of our programs. Is there any way to do something similar for program registration? If not, could we create one?

Sorry if this has been covered already -- I looked through my handouts from the training and can't find anything about it.

Lisa

Food Signage

**Update: Paty & Bea are working on a new signage sign that explains the food policy more clearly. Stay tuned.**
Saima

As it stands now, the food signage reads "Food allowed only in Inversion and Teen Room." This is doubly misleading: ONLY Inversion food is allowed in Inversion and non-teens are not allowed to eat in the Teen Room. We are already getting adult patrons bringing their own food up here to Teens, only to be turned away making them disgruntled. CB-CYOU

Is It Plastic?

How has 1 stalwart poinsetta on the inaccessable platform above the entryway has retained its rosy hue? Its black leafless sisters circling the tree passed on from thirst weeks ago.. LW

Good Things

On a positive note to start the new year, here are acknowledgements of changes that improved conditions during the past year.

1. Staff restroom keys
2. Eating Ban
3. Periodical Labels
4. Microfilm machine Instruction manual
5. Sorting room in order
6. 2 ref staff and 2nd Computer at R3
7. Intranet Staff Phone Directory now searchable by Name

Thanks to all and a good new year!

LW