Friday, September 21, 2007

Here's a Printer Jam I've Never Dealt With!

I work in the IT department here at the Library System. I had a job before where I worked with printers quite a bit. I gotta tell ya - I've never seen anything like this. I received this in an email and don't know the original source:

Come and fix the printer jam please...Call Minnie; Mickey is in trouble!

He's not dead but he's sure stuck!? They do end up getting him out and letting him loose for those of you that are mouse lovers. How'd you like to get to work and find this problem? NO THANKS!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Milanof-Schock Director off to Krygyzstan

Congratulations to Herb Landau, director at Milanof-Schock Library in Mount Joy.

From Sunday News 9/16/07

Librarian on a mission
Herbert Landau, the gregarious director of the Milanof-Schock Library, will represent the United States at the October Issyk Kul International Libary Conference in Bishkek, Krygystan, after the Krygyz Republic asked for two U.S. librarians to offer advice for improving its public libraries.

Who better to go than Landau, who ran Best Small Library in America last year, according to Library Journal and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation?

The U.S. Department of State Office of International Programs was impressed with what the Mount Joy library accomplished with limited resources and how it functions as a community center.

Accompanying Landau will be Dr. Leigh Estabrook, professor and director of the University of Illinois Library Research Center.

The two will meet with Krygyzstani public, university and specialty library staffs, librarian groups, students and faculty of the library and information science program at Bishkek Humanities University and the Tokmok and Jalalabat Colleges of Culture, and leaders of the Central Asian Library Association.

To facilitate travel, Landau was awarded a federal U.S. Speaker and Specialist Grant.

Jottit Makes a WebPage in Seconds

You won't get a real fancy looking site, but WOW, you can create a web page in seconds using Jottit. It truly is as easy as filling out a text box. No, I'm not kidding. I created a page in 2 seconds that said Test Page. Go check it out, NOW!

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Ransomizr

Be creative with the Ransomizr -





Ransomizr grabs the last bunch of single-letter images from the One Letter Pool on Flickr, arranges them into an array, and waits for you to type something in the entry blank. The result looks just like an old-school ransom note, and may be copied and pasted from here into the page of your choice.

October's Issue of Office Clues is Now Available

October's issue of Office Clues is now available for everyone on LILLY (link only works from within a library).

Here's what you'll find in this issue:
  • Export data from Access
  • Download pre-made Excel templates
  • Use Outlook's AutoComplete feature
  • Enhance your presentation with AutoShapes in PowerPoint
  • Reuse and recycle shapes or text with AutoText in Word
Find out more by reading the issue.

Each issue of OfficeClues® is designed to boost the productivity of every user in the Library System of Lancaster County. Here you will find useful tips, articles and tutorials on the main Microsoft Office Applications (Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word). This is updated each month.

Friday, September 14, 2007

Another Free SirsiDynix Institute Webinar

Dump the Org. Chart: Get `Er Done!: Management for a 2.0 Library

Presented by:
Gina Millsap - Executive Director, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
Rob Banks - Deputy Director of Operations, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

Tuesday, September 18, 2007, 11 a.m. - noon Eastern / 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. Pacific

Did you get your MLS in the previous century? Is there a digital divide in your library, not just for customers, but for staff? Are innovation and risk organizational values or ... not so much?

Most libraries are using the same organizational structures and task-driven methods of organizing work and staff they've used for a century or more. The real work is understanding and delivering what matters most to our customers. Be a 21st century library leader from anywhere in your organization! Learn strategies for leading a library organization that shares a vision for exceptional service and works together in new ways to make it happen.

Register now to take part in this FREE webinar.

Gina Millsap is the Executive Director of the Topeka & Shawnee County (KS) Public Library. She's worked in libraries for 30+ years and received her MLS in the previous century. Her degree may be an antique, but her outlook isn't; she's a Library Journal 2007 Mover and Shaker (http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6423399.html.) As a seasoned library director, first at the Ames (IA) Public Library and now TSCPL, she is convinced that leading a 21st century library means knowing and responding to what matters most to library customers and the people who serve them.

Rob Banks is Deputy Director of Operations at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. He has held a number of positions throughout the library in the 18 years he has been with this institution. Rob came to the library as an acquisitions clerk at the time when PC's were just being introduced. He was present for the initial automation of the library and has proceeded to pester those who actually know what they are doing in the intervening years. He has worked throughout the hierarchy and understands the processes necessary to work with the denizens of each level or at least can fake it.

Register for this SirsiDynix Institute webinar at:
https://events.livemeeting.com/SirsiDynix091807Reg.htm

If you have missed previous SirsiDynix Institute events, or are unable to make this one, we have an extensive archive posted at http://www.sirsidynixinstitute.com/archive.php. You can check them out at any time.

More 2007 SirsiDynix Institute events at http://www.sirsidynixinstitute.com/.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Great List of Alt Codes

Want a quick way to get any symbol you need? Need to write something in another language but can't find those letters on your keyboard? Check out this great Alt Codes Reference to help.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Fran Vita's Video Review of the OPAC Class

Fran Vita from Quarryville Library was kind enough to give her video review of the Understanding the OPAC class taught last Friday 9/7/07.



Thanks Fran! Be sure to sign up for the training you need just like Fran did!

Meet Joyce Reynolds from OPAC Class

I taught Understanding the OPAC on Friday 9/7/07. Meet one of the trainees present in this class:

Joyce Reynolds is from the Moores Memorial Library in Christiana. She began as a volunteer about 2 1/2 years ago. After 6 months, she was hired. That makes her a part of the staff for the last 2 years. An interesting tidbit about Joyce: she has taken courses in writing for children. Also, two of her stories have been published in magazines!

Friday, September 7, 2007

Hitchhiker's Guide to Library Surveys Online Training

Received today from CLENERT (Continuing Library Education and Networking Exchange Round Table):


On Sept. 18th at Noon Mountain Time (that would be 2:00pm Eastern Time), Brenda Hough of WebJunction, Betti Grow and I here at the Utah State Library are doing an online training designed for rural librarians: "Hitchhiker's Guide to Library Surveys." It is a WebJunction Rural In-Focus webinar.

The goals are to help participants:
Understand why and how to conduct a library survey
Describe the elements of an effective library survey
Evaluate the survey results

Details and a participant guide are on our website. No need to register in advance.

If you have rural librarians that would benefit from this training, please point them in this direction. This is perfect for librarians who want to collect data to advocate for their libraries, evaluate their programs, and design library services.

Colleen

Colleen Eggett
Training Coordinator, Utah State Library
250 N 1950 W, Suite A
Salt Lake City Ut 84116-7901
801-715-6776 (phone) 801-715-6767 (fax)
1-800-662-9150 (in-Utah-WATS)
ceggett@utah.gov

I will be teaching a class at that time, so if you go, let me know how it was!

Poetry Daily

A nice site from Smartcomputing's daily email: Poetry Daily

"Whether you're an avid reader of poetry or are just looking for something to wake your intellect each day, Poetry Daily is a great Web site for you. Check the site every day for a new featured poem, poet, and book. It's a great way to discover new authors and poems."

From their About page:

" Poetry Daily is an anthology of contemporary poetry. Each day, we bring you a new poem from new books, magazines, and journals.

Poems are chosen from the work of a wide variety of poets published or translated in the English language. Our most eminent poets are represented in the selections, but also poets who are less well known. The daily poem is selected for its literary quality and to provide you with a window on a very broad range of poetry offered annually by publishers large and small. Included with each poem is information about the poet and the poem's source.

Our purpose is to make it easier for people to find poets and poetry they like and to help publishers bring news of their books, magazines, and journals to more people. Well over 1,000 books of poetry are published in the United States alone each year, but they can be difficult to find, even in areas brimming with bookstores. The numerous journals presenting new poetry and poets can be even more elusive. We will lead you to them and, in the meantime, we give you a new poem to carry with you through your day and share with others."