Computer Use

The browse by shelf number functionality in the staff catalog will be shared with others to obtain feedback.
Kay received feedback from the library managers and feelings were neutral towards the shelf number brows-ability and from this reaction, this function will not be added to the Staff Catalog. Since the customer number look up feature was bundled with this feature, customer look up will be added at a later date.

Jimmy demonstrated a portable/wireless library card application entry system to have when a library employee is away from a library location having people fill out library card applications at school visits or other events. With this system, you can search by name to see if someone already has a card, if not, you ill in the information and have a scanner with the device to scan a new card and add it to the system. This could be useful during summer reading to use in house when circulation lines get long and gives the possibility to use it at other events away from the library.

Jimmy and Anne, IT, gave a PowerPoint demonstration giving managers a preview of the new features that will be added to the CyberMars link on the Internet and will be made available to all customers on April 28, 2008.

Credit/Debit Visa cards, MasterCard and Discover can be used to pay for fines, lost or damaged materials and also annual fees for customers living outside our service area.

Effective May 1, 2008, overdue notices, bills and annual fee renewal letters will reference paying by credit cards. Cheryl, CC, will be the primary staff member in handling credit card refunds. When the Express Checkout re-development is completed, coin boxes will be placed at every location so that customers can pay by credit card or cash without having to visit the circulation desk.

Computer Signup: Statistics – Stuart Williamson, PLA
Stu shared computer signup statistics for the period of December 15, 2006 through January 11, 2007. He explained how the numbers in the graphs reflect across different libraries and what the numbers represent. The first graph was the computer utilization graph, it showed the number of minutes available and used over a 4 week period. Stu stated that system wide, these numbers are up 78% over October. He also discussed a variety of other graphs that represents the number of customers signing up for computers, users waiting the given lengths of time, session time of how long users stay on the computers, log on time by library and many more.

Stu agreed to provide managers with statistic reports and graphs to share with their staff. He invited managers to email him with any questions that they may have.

The Records Management Survey is due November 12. This was a request made by an administrative committee including Jim Welch on October 11. The request was for information or records on file in various locations within the library system. Kay explained that the intent is to identify who is keeping what items and consolidate terminology, etc. for consistency within the library system.
Kay also discussed visiting each library within the next 6 months. The intent is to interact with people (staff and customers). She wants to make 2 visits each month to a different library (all on Thursday’s).

Kay addressed computer use suggestions as per recent survey of computer needs. She clarified issues for further understanding. She stated that the addition of more computers is not an immediate thing. Also, computers within the children’s area will be part of a central signup, and anyone will be eligible to use them in that area. The same is true for the YA areas. All will be part of a central sign-up process. Technicalities will be issues for IT to resolve. The Gates computers will be updated to also work in this multi-use process.