Ahoy Mateys,
Before I jump ship I thought I would leave you with one final blog entry.
As you know, Galina will be taking over "the helm" while I am away playing in Argentina, and I know that you all will keep things running smoothly (and in fact it will probably be revealed that the only really important thing I do is write this blog) but do lend each other a helping hand should difficulties arise. You will have a number of subs covering shifts so please do your best to make them feel welcome as well and remember that since they are less familiar with the workings of our branch they might require a bit more help on what is where and how we do things here. Of course we try to stay consistent with the workings of the whole system but I know that each branch has its quirks and that includes ours.
Now a bit of work related information:
Galina has downloaded a few e-reader start up guides to print and pass out, should you have patrons with questions after Santa leaves them their new e-reader devices. These are on the desktop of the sit down computer. There are documents for Kindle Fire, Nook and IPad. I think these will be a great help, as well as directing patrons to the ebooks tab now on our homepage. I have also requested some devices from LIT to come and live at our branch so we can use them to walk patrons through the process, so someday we might get those as well.
If you haven't already, please familiarize yourselves with the patron conduct rules and the information about therapy animals in the library that Teresa emailed to all. These are supposed to be posted to the intranet sometime in the near future if you need to review them later.
Magazines are now requestable including those in the blue binders. If you find a "blue binder" issue on your pulls list please ignore it. The request will be filled when the magazine is replaced in the binder.
If the electronic sign needs to be reset, which usually involves turning it off and then on again, there is a remote in the desk drawer where we keep the branch key.
I will replace the kid's Holiday display with books about Winter before I leave for vacation, so if you are searching for winter books you can look there. You may replenish the display as you see fit with incoming winter themed Jeasys.
And on that note, I am about to say ciao for now.
I will go off on my travels knowing that the branch is in capable hands and I wish you all HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A GREAT NEW YEAR!!
SEE YOU FEBRUARY 1st!
Cappy Dick
OK this is an IMPORTANT ADDENDUM:
A HUGE THANKS to my staff who threw me a going away party with LOTS OF GOODIES, A WONDERFUL GIFT that should buy me a few meals and a tango lesson to work off the calories,
an Argentinian quiz so I don't appear to be a gringo dolt, and a WONDERFUL NEW RENDITION
of DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA with accompaniment by Donna on piano and IPHONE.
I am publishing the lyrics here as they are so excellent. Andrew Lloyd Webber eat your heart out!
DON'T CRY FOR HER, CAPITOLA
BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS, SHE'LL NEVER MISS YOU.
SHE'LL BE TOO BUSY,
NOT SPEAKING SPANISH,
BECAUSE SHE'S SWEDISH,
AND SHE NO HABLO...
I KNEW my staff was multi-talented! Thanks Mis Amigos, You are all excellent and truth be told, I will miss you!!
Bueno.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
THE END OF THE WORLD!!!
Well mateys,
evidently the end is almost here, and still Cappy Dick keeps blogging along....
but I will try and make this short and sweet...And speaking of sweets,
the Friends of the library gave us a gift basket full of goodies so please eat them up!
They are in the break room along with other goodies being donated by appreciative patrons.
One of our patrons, Kim, also gave us 4 Christmas cacti, so with Carolyn's help, maybe we will manage not to kill them off. For now, along with our Christmas "snow storm" and other decor that Galina brought in and that Barbara risked life and limb on the ladder to put up, it is starting to look downright jolly in our little branch!
Lit also gave us a holiday gift in that they rebuilt our server and patron's should now be able to print PDF files without trouble as well as access a lot of those sites, including cruzio, that they hadn't be able to get to.
If you are working at the volunteer computer in the back of the workroom, you may notice a fan sound, but its nothing going awry, its just a new piece of equipment that Tinka installed to keep us running smoother.
Galina has made some excellent signs with tear off due dates to remind the patrons of the date their items are due. These are at each of the self check stations. The closing aide should pull off the day's date at closing time and the opening aide should double check that the date is correct upon opening.
There will be no story hours or Tails to Tales until the New Year. Story hours starts again here on Jan. 11th and Tales to Tails Saturday, January 5th.
Things seem to be slowing down a bit for the holidays so all of you take a deep relaxing breath and fill up on chocolate, candy canes and other goodies so you have lots of energy for the end of the world or the new year, which ever comes first.
Cappy Dick
evidently the end is almost here, and still Cappy Dick keeps blogging along....
but I will try and make this short and sweet...And speaking of sweets,
the Friends of the library gave us a gift basket full of goodies so please eat them up!
They are in the break room along with other goodies being donated by appreciative patrons.
One of our patrons, Kim, also gave us 4 Christmas cacti, so with Carolyn's help, maybe we will manage not to kill them off. For now, along with our Christmas "snow storm" and other decor that Galina brought in and that Barbara risked life and limb on the ladder to put up, it is starting to look downright jolly in our little branch!
Lit also gave us a holiday gift in that they rebuilt our server and patron's should now be able to print PDF files without trouble as well as access a lot of those sites, including cruzio, that they hadn't be able to get to.
If you are working at the volunteer computer in the back of the workroom, you may notice a fan sound, but its nothing going awry, its just a new piece of equipment that Tinka installed to keep us running smoother.
Galina has made some excellent signs with tear off due dates to remind the patrons of the date their items are due. These are at each of the self check stations. The closing aide should pull off the day's date at closing time and the opening aide should double check that the date is correct upon opening.
There will be no story hours or Tails to Tales until the New Year. Story hours starts again here on Jan. 11th and Tales to Tails Saturday, January 5th.
Things seem to be slowing down a bit for the holidays so all of you take a deep relaxing breath and fill up on chocolate, candy canes and other goodies so you have lots of energy for the end of the world or the new year, which ever comes first.
Cappy Dick
Saturday, December 8, 2012
CAPPY DICK IS TO FULL TO WRITE A DECENT BLOG
Ahoy all,
Well, I am still so stuffed from our excellent Capitola/Live Oak party (Thank you Barbara for all your work in making that happen, along with the Live Oak staff), that all my energies are stilll working on digesting so I can't think of a thing to put in this blog. If you didn't make it to this event, all I can say is that you missed out on some great food and good company and I should've hauled back some leftovers but I probably would've eaten them all before they made it to the work fridge, so sorry. Isn't that what December is all about:
Gluttony and Gifts?!
Seriously, it was wonderful to gather without having to answer any reference questions OR MARK THEM DOWN on our typical week sheets, which, thank goodness we are done with until the last week of January. I want to thank all of you for helping me keep track of every question/interaction and all the items shelved. We do really well at this branch in keeping up and closing each day with a minimum of extra work for the next day. It reflects well on how everyone pitches in!
Please observe the beautiful new display we have on the back wall of the children's room. This is thanks to Galina who solicited art from one of the local schools, and to Riley who risked life and limb to put them all up on the wall. And of course to the 7th and 8th grade students from Alianza Charter school, who did such intricate and colorful designs on their "Greek vases." It really brightens up that area.
I believe that next week we will be able to print out a system wides claims returned search list. If indeed that is true, I will put it on the back clipboard with our missing list so anyone can search in their free time. If you do find an item you will need open the systems claims returned bucket 653 and remove the item from the bucket. Also do remember to check it in and send it on its way. We are continuing to find books from other branches on our shelves as well as items claim returned here, so do continue to be diligent in watching the screen and popping open the books before shelving them to be sure they are going to the right place.
The story hour theme this next week is winter so if you find any non-holiday books about winter in the jeasys do add them to the pile on my desk and of course look there should they turn up on your pulls list. This will be our last story hour until January 7th.
Don't forget to replenish our two Holiday displays (adult and kidlets) if you see any appropriate incoming titles.
And Happy December,
Cappy Dick.
Well, I am still so stuffed from our excellent Capitola/Live Oak party (Thank you Barbara for all your work in making that happen, along with the Live Oak staff), that all my energies are stilll working on digesting so I can't think of a thing to put in this blog. If you didn't make it to this event, all I can say is that you missed out on some great food and good company and I should've hauled back some leftovers but I probably would've eaten them all before they made it to the work fridge, so sorry. Isn't that what December is all about:
Gluttony and Gifts?!
Seriously, it was wonderful to gather without having to answer any reference questions OR MARK THEM DOWN on our typical week sheets, which, thank goodness we are done with until the last week of January. I want to thank all of you for helping me keep track of every question/interaction and all the items shelved. We do really well at this branch in keeping up and closing each day with a minimum of extra work for the next day. It reflects well on how everyone pitches in!
Please observe the beautiful new display we have on the back wall of the children's room. This is thanks to Galina who solicited art from one of the local schools, and to Riley who risked life and limb to put them all up on the wall. And of course to the 7th and 8th grade students from Alianza Charter school, who did such intricate and colorful designs on their "Greek vases." It really brightens up that area.
I believe that next week we will be able to print out a system wides claims returned search list. If indeed that is true, I will put it on the back clipboard with our missing list so anyone can search in their free time. If you do find an item you will need open the systems claims returned bucket 653 and remove the item from the bucket. Also do remember to check it in and send it on its way. We are continuing to find books from other branches on our shelves as well as items claim returned here, so do continue to be diligent in watching the screen and popping open the books before shelving them to be sure they are going to the right place.
The story hour theme this next week is winter so if you find any non-holiday books about winter in the jeasys do add them to the pile on my desk and of course look there should they turn up on your pulls list. This will be our last story hour until January 7th.
Don't forget to replenish our two Holiday displays (adult and kidlets) if you see any appropriate incoming titles.
And Happy December,
Cappy Dick.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
CAPPIE DICK IS BACK TO THE BLOG
Well, I hope you are all recovered from your "relaxing" Thanksgivings and post party shopping expeditions, because this looks like a week full of "fun".
Firstly, it is going to be another "Typical week" (like there is such a thing at Capitola, what with every day bringing some kind of surprise...) and this one will be a bit different then we have done in the past so listen up.
Firstly we have been asked to keep track of all the books that need to be shelved and all the books that WERE shelved for an entire week. This starts on Monday so I will be asking the aides or anyone else who puts a cart out on the floor to please attach a tag on the end stating the date and how many books are on the cart before you begin shelving. Anyone who empties a cart please pull the tag and put it on my desk"
We will need to let our volunteers or any subs know this procedure as well. Also its important, if you walk a book to a cart or to a display shelf to make sure that is recorded. You can note it on a cart count or you can simply jot it down on a piece of scrap paper, date it and leave it on my desk.
Also anyone working the desk will need to remember to fill out the typical week stats forms after EACH interaction with a patron. Please remember that EACH QUESTION/BOOK LOOKED UP/ETC. gets a hash mark in the correct time slot not just each interaction.. I have to compile these sheets daily so it is important that we all be accurate. I will leave a sheet beside each of the service desk computers.
We have new claims returned procedures that are in the greeenbook so it is a good idea to review the process there if you haven't already. We are about to get access to a system wide claims returned bucket so we can search our shelves for items claimed returned at other branches.
I have created an unclaimed branch bucket for Capitola for 3 months out, so if someone reports an unclaimed item please be sure that you put it in the correct monthly bucket for Capitola. You will see there are buckets for December, January and February so choose accordingly. Also, and this is most important, if you find an unclaimed item on our shelves please do delete it from the unclaimed bucket. Checking it in does not automatically clear it from the bucket.
I have put a list of items from our November Missing bucket on the back counter clipboard so if you are lacking exciting things to do, you are welcome to search for any of those items. If you do search please note on the list the date you searched and if you find anything remember to remove it from our missing bucket also.
We are starting a new month so we have a holiday book display for both adults and kids. The adult display encompasses all the December holidays as well as the winter season so if you find something appropriate please add it to the display. The children's display is mostly just picture books celebrating the holidays and is on the display shelf on the back of the adult display. Remember to look in both these places if you are looking for items that are on the sends list.
The change of months also means its time to pull all the new books dated 6 so be on the lookout for those yellow spine labels and feel free to remove them. Our new displays are packed full so we can use any room we can manage, although most of these titles do circulate quickly.
Story hour this week is "your favorites/our favorites" so if you have some favorite J easys put them on my desk and I will put them on display for our story hour on Friday.
Don't forget the Holiday Potluck at Live Oak on Friday at 6 pm. If anyone needs a ride from the branch I will be happy to stuff you in my little car, just say the word. Should be good fun and good food so do join us!
Happy December,
Cappie Dick
Firstly, it is going to be another "Typical week" (like there is such a thing at Capitola, what with every day bringing some kind of surprise...) and this one will be a bit different then we have done in the past so listen up.
Firstly we have been asked to keep track of all the books that need to be shelved and all the books that WERE shelved for an entire week. This starts on Monday so I will be asking the aides or anyone else who puts a cart out on the floor to please attach a tag on the end stating the date and how many books are on the cart before you begin shelving. Anyone who empties a cart please pull the tag and put it on my desk"
We will need to let our volunteers or any subs know this procedure as well. Also its important, if you walk a book to a cart or to a display shelf to make sure that is recorded. You can note it on a cart count or you can simply jot it down on a piece of scrap paper, date it and leave it on my desk.
Also anyone working the desk will need to remember to fill out the typical week stats forms after EACH interaction with a patron. Please remember that EACH QUESTION/BOOK LOOKED UP/ETC. gets a hash mark in the correct time slot not just each interaction.. I have to compile these sheets daily so it is important that we all be accurate. I will leave a sheet beside each of the service desk computers.
We have new claims returned procedures that are in the greeenbook so it is a good idea to review the process there if you haven't already. We are about to get access to a system wide claims returned bucket so we can search our shelves for items claimed returned at other branches.
I have created an unclaimed branch bucket for Capitola for 3 months out, so if someone reports an unclaimed item please be sure that you put it in the correct monthly bucket for Capitola. You will see there are buckets for December, January and February so choose accordingly. Also, and this is most important, if you find an unclaimed item on our shelves please do delete it from the unclaimed bucket. Checking it in does not automatically clear it from the bucket.
I have put a list of items from our November Missing bucket on the back counter clipboard so if you are lacking exciting things to do, you are welcome to search for any of those items. If you do search please note on the list the date you searched and if you find anything remember to remove it from our missing bucket also.
We are starting a new month so we have a holiday book display for both adults and kids. The adult display encompasses all the December holidays as well as the winter season so if you find something appropriate please add it to the display. The children's display is mostly just picture books celebrating the holidays and is on the display shelf on the back of the adult display. Remember to look in both these places if you are looking for items that are on the sends list.
The change of months also means its time to pull all the new books dated 6 so be on the lookout for those yellow spine labels and feel free to remove them. Our new displays are packed full so we can use any room we can manage, although most of these titles do circulate quickly.
Story hour this week is "your favorites/our favorites" so if you have some favorite J easys put them on my desk and I will put them on display for our story hour on Friday.
Don't forget the Holiday Potluck at Live Oak on Friday at 6 pm. If anyone needs a ride from the branch I will be happy to stuff you in my little car, just say the word. Should be good fun and good food so do join us!
Happy December,
Cappie Dick
Saturday, November 17, 2012
CAPPY DICK DOES TECHNO
YEEK! This week's blog is going to be all about technology, not Cappy Dick's area of expertise, but live and learn I guess, and this week its heavy on the learning. Of course we have a couple of days off for Thanksgiving to do the living part too and to give our addled brains a rest.
We have now officially be running the new Evergreen 2.3 for a week and hopefully most of the glitches are worked out. If you encounter anything strange do let me know so we can inform Lit if need be. Last week we discovered a few anomalies that were NOT supposed to be occuring and that Lit was unaware of, so we shouldn't be shy about reporting strangeness if need be.
Firstly, please take the time to look at MY ACCOUNT on our home page and familarize yourself with the various screens and options that are available to patrons. This will be helpful when you encounter questions about the new format.
If a patron reports that the MY ACCOUNT is not working, be sure they are NOT trying to access it from a bookmark to the OLD homepage or the old MY ACCOUNT page as these look similar but are now disabled. Recommend that they try to get in by typing in the library url instead and accessing it that way, and if that works they can bookmark the newer version.
Please also look over the new registration form in EG. You will quickly discover, if you haven't already that it is necessary to use a different format to put in the birthdate and expiration date then we have been previously using. There are examples by each, of the new correct format (and EG won't let you complete a registration with the old formate). For the expiration date, the easiest way is to click the correct date on the calendar, and then it will self-fill for you.
There is new User field on the registrations now which we do not fill in, but it is a good idea to encourage patrons to access it with MY ACCOUNT and to populate the pick up location with the branch of their choice. I believe that if they do not do this, the item will continue to show up at the home branch that we fill in when we do the registration but there is some speculation from higher ups that this may not necessarily be the case.
Richard is working on new procedures that will allow branches to share their CLAIMS RETURNED buckets with other branches so we can do system wide searches. When he has set it up he will be emailing all of us with instructions as well as putting it in the Green book.
UPDATE: As of Monday, 11/19/2012 Richard has published the changes in the Green book. Please take the time to read them and refer to them until you are familiar with this process.
Capitola has its own claims returned bucket and this is where we should be listing any items that a patron says they returned, that are still showing checked out to them. Please remember when you are marking an item claimed return to enter the return date within the loan period even if the patron says they returned it after the due date. (see item 2.4 in the Green Book: Marking items claimed returned and also Work Flows section 4)
If you check in an item that has a status of claims returned, please check our bucket and remove the item.
It will not remove automatically. If you are unsure how to do this, you can leave it on my desk with a note and I will take care of it.
Currently I am searching our claims returned bucket once a week but if any of you are lacking for something to do, please feel free to search it yourself.
Our claims returned bucket is found under cataloging/ manage copy buckets/ CAP_ClmRtn_month.
If you have any questions about how to access the bucket or do any of these steps please ask and I will do the best I can to walk you through the steps. We are all learning these procedures so no worries if you are not clear on this. Soon you will be an expert and then we will have another upgrade just to keep us all from getting stale.
If people wish to know donations the friends of the library accept, please direct them to the friends website
FSCPL.ORG where there is a handy button they can click that says DONATE. From there, if they click on Book Donations it spells out what the library will and will not accept. Explore this yourself as its a good idea
to be familiar with what kinds of donations we can accept at the service desk.
Patrons can also access the Friends page from the library home page. There is a Friends selection on the top of the home page.
Janis O'Driscoll is sending out a What's New once a week list of things happening in the system.
I am posting that on the clipboard behind the service desk, as well as any new procedures and Evergreen information that comes out, so feel free to flip through all those papers when things are slow. If you find something wildly out of date, don't hesitate to liberate it from the clipboard. I am trying to keep things current but I can use all the help I can get.
The theme for story hour this week is Families so look for those books at my desk and feel free to take or add items as per usual.
Ok, my fingers are tired and I suspect your brains are too, by now so I say, Happy Thanksgiving. Have a wonderful week and enjoy your time off!!
Cappy Dick
P.S. Welcome back, Barbara. You were missed by all!
We have now officially be running the new Evergreen 2.3 for a week and hopefully most of the glitches are worked out. If you encounter anything strange do let me know so we can inform Lit if need be. Last week we discovered a few anomalies that were NOT supposed to be occuring and that Lit was unaware of, so we shouldn't be shy about reporting strangeness if need be.
Firstly, please take the time to look at MY ACCOUNT on our home page and familarize yourself with the various screens and options that are available to patrons. This will be helpful when you encounter questions about the new format.
If a patron reports that the MY ACCOUNT is not working, be sure they are NOT trying to access it from a bookmark to the OLD homepage or the old MY ACCOUNT page as these look similar but are now disabled. Recommend that they try to get in by typing in the library url instead and accessing it that way, and if that works they can bookmark the newer version.
Please also look over the new registration form in EG. You will quickly discover, if you haven't already that it is necessary to use a different format to put in the birthdate and expiration date then we have been previously using. There are examples by each, of the new correct format (and EG won't let you complete a registration with the old formate). For the expiration date, the easiest way is to click the correct date on the calendar, and then it will self-fill for you.
There is new User field on the registrations now which we do not fill in, but it is a good idea to encourage patrons to access it with MY ACCOUNT and to populate the pick up location with the branch of their choice. I believe that if they do not do this, the item will continue to show up at the home branch that we fill in when we do the registration but there is some speculation from higher ups that this may not necessarily be the case.
Richard is working on new procedures that will allow branches to share their CLAIMS RETURNED buckets with other branches so we can do system wide searches. When he has set it up he will be emailing all of us with instructions as well as putting it in the Green book.
UPDATE: As of Monday, 11/19/2012 Richard has published the changes in the Green book. Please take the time to read them and refer to them until you are familiar with this process.
Capitola has its own claims returned bucket and this is where we should be listing any items that a patron says they returned, that are still showing checked out to them. Please remember when you are marking an item claimed return to enter the return date within the loan period even if the patron says they returned it after the due date. (see item 2.4 in the Green Book: Marking items claimed returned and also Work Flows section 4)
If you check in an item that has a status of claims returned, please check our bucket and remove the item.
It will not remove automatically. If you are unsure how to do this, you can leave it on my desk with a note and I will take care of it.
Currently I am searching our claims returned bucket once a week but if any of you are lacking for something to do, please feel free to search it yourself.
Our claims returned bucket is found under cataloging/ manage copy buckets/ CAP_ClmRtn_month.
If you have any questions about how to access the bucket or do any of these steps please ask and I will do the best I can to walk you through the steps. We are all learning these procedures so no worries if you are not clear on this. Soon you will be an expert and then we will have another upgrade just to keep us all from getting stale.
If people wish to know donations the friends of the library accept, please direct them to the friends website
FSCPL.ORG where there is a handy button they can click that says DONATE. From there, if they click on Book Donations it spells out what the library will and will not accept. Explore this yourself as its a good idea
to be familiar with what kinds of donations we can accept at the service desk.
Patrons can also access the Friends page from the library home page. There is a Friends selection on the top of the home page.
Janis O'Driscoll is sending out a What's New once a week list of things happening in the system.
I am posting that on the clipboard behind the service desk, as well as any new procedures and Evergreen information that comes out, so feel free to flip through all those papers when things are slow. If you find something wildly out of date, don't hesitate to liberate it from the clipboard. I am trying to keep things current but I can use all the help I can get.
The theme for story hour this week is Families so look for those books at my desk and feel free to take or add items as per usual.
Ok, my fingers are tired and I suspect your brains are too, by now so I say, Happy Thanksgiving. Have a wonderful week and enjoy your time off!!
Cappy Dick
P.S. Welcome back, Barbara. You were missed by all!
Saturday, November 10, 2012
HEY, MONDAY IS A HOLIDAY!!
Ahoy me hearties,
Cappy Dick was feeling generous and declared you should all have Monday off, so I hope you enjoyed your time away and are back refreshed and ready for a new week!
We have weathered our Evergreen upgrade and things seem to be working pretty well. I think there are some improvements and it definitely looks different and has some different settings so do take time to explore both the behind the desk version and also the public version. If you have a personal library account, I recommend you log in to it and see what the patrons are seeing, in case they have questions.
There is also an e-mail I have printed from Lit in case patrons are using an old bookmark on their personal computers to get to the website and are ending up with the wrong homepage and trying to log in. I have posted it on the clipboard, so please review it.
Speaking of the clipboard, I will always try to put relevant information that we might need to refer to quickly, on the clipboard near the sign in sheets so try and make a habit of checking there for new information when you sign in each day. This blog is only weekly and as we all know things change in our system constantly, so this is one more way to keep informed.
Also please check the branch Gmail which is bookmarked on the middle computer on the service desk. I try and leave it open on a tab all day on that computer so we can check it periodically so give it a gander when you can.
Heck, with all this reading how will we have time to actually work? Well, all those people that say "Oh, you are so lucky to work in a library, you must get to read all day" maybe weren't so far off the mark after all.
We are still having an inordinate number of items either not checked in properly, or not routed to the correct branch (many non-Capitola titles on our shelves) so I am going to INSIST that for those of us on the service desk, we use ONLY the check in computer near the phone to check items in. This means, please do not take items from the drop box to any other computer to check them in. I believe that multi-tasking at the other computers is causing some of these mistakes as you are often interrupted mid-transaction and things are getting mislaid and then mis-shelved.
Of course if during a patron transaction you need to check in an item at the other service desk computers, that is fine. You don't have to run to the check in computer in that case, just do remember where the checked in item needs to go next.
Lit has configured the columns on most of the evergreen pages on our three service desk computers.Please do not change these configurations without checking with me. If you see a sub attempting to change these cut off their hands, uh, i mean , gently remind them to not touch.The computer in the check in room has not been changed so you may need to set up the columns there according to what works best for you. Just remember to save list configurations if you want them to remain in place.
The J New Fiction has been moved once again. It will now live on the small table as you enter the children's area. I will be posting the New York Times best seller list of J Chapter books at the end of that shelving, should anyone ask.
The J holiday books are now displayed on the backside of the top shelf of the adult display books, facing the J New Fiction. If you go to the children's area this will make a lot more sense so do wander over and figure out what I am talking about.
Ken is still making us new shelving for the J Graphic Novels but until he has those in place we will continue to use the rolling red cart near the J New Fiction table.
The story time subject this week is Thanksgiving and as we already have those displayed, if you find any add them to the display and if you need them for the pulls list, you know where to look.
Kari will be hosting her second Tea and Talk adult get together on this Wednesday morning at 9:30. There are fliers if any patrons are interested.
There are also our ongoing Tales to Tales on Wednesday, Teens and Tweens group meeting Thursday afternoon, and pre-school story time on Friday, so as far as programing goes it will be a full week.
Hope you remembered to honor all our veterans and had a fine day off.
Happy Week!
Cappy Dick
Cappy Dick was feeling generous and declared you should all have Monday off, so I hope you enjoyed your time away and are back refreshed and ready for a new week!
We have weathered our Evergreen upgrade and things seem to be working pretty well. I think there are some improvements and it definitely looks different and has some different settings so do take time to explore both the behind the desk version and also the public version. If you have a personal library account, I recommend you log in to it and see what the patrons are seeing, in case they have questions.
There is also an e-mail I have printed from Lit in case patrons are using an old bookmark on their personal computers to get to the website and are ending up with the wrong homepage and trying to log in. I have posted it on the clipboard, so please review it.
Speaking of the clipboard, I will always try to put relevant information that we might need to refer to quickly, on the clipboard near the sign in sheets so try and make a habit of checking there for new information when you sign in each day. This blog is only weekly and as we all know things change in our system constantly, so this is one more way to keep informed.
Also please check the branch Gmail which is bookmarked on the middle computer on the service desk. I try and leave it open on a tab all day on that computer so we can check it periodically so give it a gander when you can.
Heck, with all this reading how will we have time to actually work? Well, all those people that say "Oh, you are so lucky to work in a library, you must get to read all day" maybe weren't so far off the mark after all.
We are still having an inordinate number of items either not checked in properly, or not routed to the correct branch (many non-Capitola titles on our shelves) so I am going to INSIST that for those of us on the service desk, we use ONLY the check in computer near the phone to check items in. This means, please do not take items from the drop box to any other computer to check them in. I believe that multi-tasking at the other computers is causing some of these mistakes as you are often interrupted mid-transaction and things are getting mislaid and then mis-shelved.
Of course if during a patron transaction you need to check in an item at the other service desk computers, that is fine. You don't have to run to the check in computer in that case, just do remember where the checked in item needs to go next.
Lit has configured the columns on most of the evergreen pages on our three service desk computers.Please do not change these configurations without checking with me. If you see a sub attempting to change these cut off their hands, uh, i mean , gently remind them to not touch.The computer in the check in room has not been changed so you may need to set up the columns there according to what works best for you. Just remember to save list configurations if you want them to remain in place.
The J New Fiction has been moved once again. It will now live on the small table as you enter the children's area. I will be posting the New York Times best seller list of J Chapter books at the end of that shelving, should anyone ask.
The J holiday books are now displayed on the backside of the top shelf of the adult display books, facing the J New Fiction. If you go to the children's area this will make a lot more sense so do wander over and figure out what I am talking about.
Ken is still making us new shelving for the J Graphic Novels but until he has those in place we will continue to use the rolling red cart near the J New Fiction table.
The story time subject this week is Thanksgiving and as we already have those displayed, if you find any add them to the display and if you need them for the pulls list, you know where to look.
Kari will be hosting her second Tea and Talk adult get together on this Wednesday morning at 9:30. There are fliers if any patrons are interested.
There are also our ongoing Tales to Tales on Wednesday, Teens and Tweens group meeting Thursday afternoon, and pre-school story time on Friday, so as far as programing goes it will be a full week.
Hope you remembered to honor all our veterans and had a fine day off.
Happy Week!
Cappy Dick
Saturday, November 3, 2012
YAY! TIME TO HIBERNATE
YO,
Well we made it through Halloween unscathed, despite the fact that Riley had a REALLY BIG SWORD on his costume! And we even got to hibernate for an extra hour thanks to the end of daylight saving time on Sunday. Hope by now you have corrected your watches and clocks (those of you who are old school and wear timepieces instead of using your phones) so that y'all get to work on time, and lets hope our patrons have too or we will have a heck of a time getting rid of certain ones who shall remain un-named when we close.
No big news this week EXCEPT that the new EVERGREEN 2.3 is supposed to be installed so check the Capstaff email to see if there are any relevant updates. I hope it all runs smoothly and that all the Evergreen glitches have been resolved, but I am not keeping my fingers crossed to tightly...too hard to type that way for one thing. If there are two Evergreen Icons on the desktop DO OPEN THE ONE THAT SAYS 2.3. I will clear the old icons (2.09) off the various desktops when we have the all clear from LIT.
We still don't know when Barbara will be rejoining us, but we are sending her, her mother and her family all of our best wishes from afar. In her absence various aides will be filling in some of her hours. You may see Peggy Stone (aide from LSB and GP) around a bit as she is taking lots of the hours.
You may see her teenage son Judah working on his computer in our staff room as that is a quiet space for him to study while she is working.
If you do see an aide working that you haven't been introduced too, do introduce yourself and offer your help should they have questions. Each branch is a bit different in terms of shelving and procedures so direction is always welcomed, I am sure.
We have two new displays for November. In the adult area, adjacent to the New books, the Theme is :Share your Table. We have fiction and non-fiction titles there reflecting cookery, Thanksgiving, Charity and Good food reads. There is a whole genre of mysteries and fiction around recipes so if you see any of those in the stacks, please feel free to add them to the display as well as other titles you think might be appropriate for our display.
In the children's area I have put out the small smattering of Thanksgiving books and to bulk up the display, also books with autumn and harvest themes, so again, if you see any titles that you think would merit showing off in that area, please do add them.
This year SANTA CRUZ READS will be reading John Steinbeck for THE BIG READ and as recognition of writing as a form of activism, SCPL, Friends of SCPL and SANTA CRUZ WRITES are sponsering a writing contest open to the community. There is information available at www..santacruzreads.org and there are entry forms at all the libraries. Ours are by the sit down reference station at our service desk.
Our story hour theme on Friday is Trucks. There is a stack by my desk should anyone be looking for them or have picture books to add.
I think that wraps it up. Happy Autumn and don't forget to vote!!
Cappy Dick
Well we made it through Halloween unscathed, despite the fact that Riley had a REALLY BIG SWORD on his costume! And we even got to hibernate for an extra hour thanks to the end of daylight saving time on Sunday. Hope by now you have corrected your watches and clocks (those of you who are old school and wear timepieces instead of using your phones) so that y'all get to work on time, and lets hope our patrons have too or we will have a heck of a time getting rid of certain ones who shall remain un-named when we close.
No big news this week EXCEPT that the new EVERGREEN 2.3 is supposed to be installed so check the Capstaff email to see if there are any relevant updates. I hope it all runs smoothly and that all the Evergreen glitches have been resolved, but I am not keeping my fingers crossed to tightly...too hard to type that way for one thing. If there are two Evergreen Icons on the desktop DO OPEN THE ONE THAT SAYS 2.3. I will clear the old icons (2.09) off the various desktops when we have the all clear from LIT.
We still don't know when Barbara will be rejoining us, but we are sending her, her mother and her family all of our best wishes from afar. In her absence various aides will be filling in some of her hours. You may see Peggy Stone (aide from LSB and GP) around a bit as she is taking lots of the hours.
You may see her teenage son Judah working on his computer in our staff room as that is a quiet space for him to study while she is working.
If you do see an aide working that you haven't been introduced too, do introduce yourself and offer your help should they have questions. Each branch is a bit different in terms of shelving and procedures so direction is always welcomed, I am sure.
We have two new displays for November. In the adult area, adjacent to the New books, the Theme is :Share your Table. We have fiction and non-fiction titles there reflecting cookery, Thanksgiving, Charity and Good food reads. There is a whole genre of mysteries and fiction around recipes so if you see any of those in the stacks, please feel free to add them to the display as well as other titles you think might be appropriate for our display.
In the children's area I have put out the small smattering of Thanksgiving books and to bulk up the display, also books with autumn and harvest themes, so again, if you see any titles that you think would merit showing off in that area, please do add them.
This year SANTA CRUZ READS will be reading John Steinbeck for THE BIG READ and as recognition of writing as a form of activism, SCPL, Friends of SCPL and SANTA CRUZ WRITES are sponsering a writing contest open to the community. There is information available at www..santacruzreads.org and there are entry forms at all the libraries. Ours are by the sit down reference station at our service desk.
Our story hour theme on Friday is Trucks. There is a stack by my desk should anyone be looking for them or have picture books to add.
I think that wraps it up. Happy Autumn and don't forget to vote!!
Cappy Dick
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