Media and Technology Section
Updated: June 28, 2005
Spring 2004 Newsletter
Floating
on the "River of Dreams": MATS at WAPL
WAPL is right around the corner (April 28-30) and MATS has some great
programs planned. Find out all the details in this article.
"Alphies" at
Badger High School
By Pete Lorenz, Badger High School
Read
how the library director at Badger High School provides students with
a quick way to create text files when they can’t be near a computer.
Library
Technology Committee meets
By Bob Bocher, DLTCL
Read a quick update of what's happening with LITAC, the state's Library
Information Technology Advisory Committee.
Product
Alert: Overdrive Digital Library Reserve
Learn a little about Overdrive, a new ebook product catching on in libraries
around the country.
Great
Sites
Whether you are looking for the latest technology trends or some help
with a technology plan, these two websites are worth a look….
Quick
Tip: Find That File!
By Marlys Brunsting, Cofrin Library, University of Wisconsin – Green
Bay
Have
you ever created a Word document or Excel spreadsheet, gone back to make
corrections, and forgotten where you saved the file? Read this tip to
learn how to insert the filename and path in the printed version, so
you’ll
never lose it again.
Floating on the "River of Dreams": MATS at WAPL
MATS is sponsoring some exciting sessions at the 2004 Spring Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries’ (WAPL) Conference to be held April 28-30 at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells:
•
Managing Technology with a Customer Focus
This session will identify and introduce the issues involved with managing
technology in libraries while still maintaining a customer-friendly focus.
Barb Kelly, Appleton Public Library, will discuss the following topics:
the tension between what software to provide for patron use and the expectations
of library staff being able to support what is provided; ideas for assisting
patrons with software provided; placement of computers in the library
and the impact of placement on customer service; how to provide your library
staff with what they need to be able to help patrons (e.g. PC management
software).
•
Teaching Computer Literacy to Seniors
Evan Bend, a staff member at the Outagamie-Waupaca Library System,
will share his experience with providing computer training for seniors
in a
public library. Topics will include: tips on what works and what doesn’t;
ways to handle the unexpected and control class content in a productive
way; ways to get back to the basics, accessibility issues; teaching pace
and its importance for this user group; and tailoring classes to students’ experience.
He will discuss how to make the transition from card catalog to online
catalog less intimidating, how to utilize different training
environments for better results (one-on-one vs. small group vs. large
demo); and how to network with local senior organizations.
•
Anime for Everyone: Using Anime and Manga to Reach Children, Teens
and Adults
Barbara Lundt and Kelly Verheyden have developed an Anime Club. Learn
how two branch librarians were able to launch a successful anime club
on a shoestring budget. Their meetings include screenings “of everything
from classic titles to new releases.” They have had good success
with this club, and are excited to share their experiences. They will
present core lists and suggestions for developing collections of manga
and anime for budgets of all sizes and users of all ages!
•
Care and Feeding of your DVD Collection
Whether you have lots of questions about DVDs in your library, or lots
of answers, this session is for you! Join us for a presentation about
DVD care and repair and a group discussion of all things DVD. Penny Habeck
does DVD selection and care and repair for her library, and will speak
on these topics. John DeBacher will present information on how his library
is caring for their DVD collection and will lead a group discussion. Bring
your questions and suggestions!
•
IdeaSlam!
Come ask questions or share your knowledge with your fellow MATS members!
Watch the MATS email list for more details about this event.
Registration and program information can be found online at: http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/wapl/conferences/wapl2004.html
We look forward to seeing many of you there!
"Alphies" at Badger High School
By Pete Lorenz, Badger High School
Last year, I wanted to provide students with a faster way to quickly enter text during their busy days and nights or when other computers were not available. Since I had personally used an AlphaSmart for the last 5 years, I knew that this device could provide the service that we were looking for. We purchased 7 AlphaSmart 3000's to be checked out on a 2 day basis.
The AlphaSmart 3000 is an instant-on full sized keyboard with an attached 4 line LCD panel. Each “Alphie,” as we call them, can hold about 100 pages of text in memory (no disks here!). The Alphies are extremely durable (we’ve never had one damaged), and require only 3 AA batteries. We replace the batteries only once a year (although they could probably last longer!). The devices are very economical, too. Our Alphies are the AS30 model, and cost us only $199 each.
The Alphie includes a USB cable to connect the Alphie to a PC. The student can then download their work into Microsoft Word or Excel. Students can do this at home or at the library on one of our four computers designated as AlphaSmart download stations. Students have found this process easy to do.
Each Alphie is checked out in its own case, along with the USB cable (permanently attached to the netting in the case so they are more likely to be returned) and a handout explaining how to connect the device to a PC. We give the student a quick tour when they check out the device. When a student returns an Alphie, we open the case, inspect the device, and clear any leftover information. This process takes only about 10 seconds.
Students like the flexibility of the AlphaSmart. We’ve seen them used during lunch in the lunchroom, in class to take notes, on the bus to athletic meetings, and while hanging out between school and evening jobs. They’ve been a valuable tool for students, whether they are doing their first draft of a paper or for lists of data to be put into Excel.
We’ve also used the device with our English as a Second Language Newcomers class. Our school provides each Newcomer student with their own AlphaSmart. I’m currently using the device with two library graduate students who, after two weeks with an Alphie, don’t ever want to give it back!
For more information about the AlphaSmart 3000, visit http://www.alphasmart.com. The site includes a “Community Center” where libraries and other users share their experiences.
Please feel free to contact me at the Badger High School Library or by email (pete.lorenz@badger.k12.wi.us).
Library Technology Committee meets
By Bob Bocher, DLTCL
On March 5, the DPI's Library Information Technology Advisory Committee (LITAC) met in Madison to review a number of issues, including the Library Resource Sharing Needs Assessment Project, LSTA grant categories for 2005, and the state's rebid of the BadgerNet network.
Library Resource Sharing Needs Assessment Project: Russell Consulting Inc., has been hired to assist the DPI's Library Division in doing a needs assessment of the state's resource sharing program. Jeff Russell discussed the proposal that his firm has made to conduct the assessment. LITAC members suggested a number of issues and/or questions they felt should be included in the survey. The survey is tentatively scheduled to be released to a random sample of the library community in late April or May.
LSTA grant categories for 2005: Peg Branson from the Division explained the LSTA grant cycle and presented some preliminary ideas from the Division for grant categories and dollar amounts for 2005. Among the technology grant categories that were discussed include block grants for library system technology projects, public library shared automated systems, and digitization. A summary of these and other grant categories is on the Division's LSTA Website at http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dltcl/pld/lstaprelim05.html.
State rebid of the BadgerNet network: This process initially started in 2002 but was stopped by Governor Doyle in January 2004 because it did not include the UW system, which had withdrawn from the rebid process in August 2003. After several meetings of all parties involved, the bidding process was again started in March under the umbrella group known as the Wisconsin Collaborative Network Initiative (WCNI). This group will review overall network design, review estimated vendor costs, and review procurement tasks and timelines. The new network will have two major components, one for the UW's research and administrative needs, and one for the DOA managed services. The networks will share infrastructure whenever possible and will be interconnected in a practical manner. A network request for information is scheduled to be sent to vendors in April. Ultimately the new network will be implemented statewide in 2005 and 2006. More information is available at http://www.doa.state.wi.us/wcni/index.asp.
LITAC has members representative of the state's library community. The committee meets four times annually. All meetings are open to the library community and the general public and are held at the Reference and Loan Library in Madison. More information is at http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dltcl/pld/litac.html. Any questions about LITAC can also be directed to Bob Bocher, Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning, 608-266-2127, robert.bocher@dpi.state.wi.us.
Product
Alert: Overdrive Digital Library Reserve
What
is OverDrive Digital Library Reserve?
OverDrive Digital Library Reserve is providing libraries, including King
County Library System and ClevNet, with a way to circulate electronic
books to their patrons. Patrons download the items to their own computers
or portable devices, and then the items expire after the set checkout
period.
How
is this different from something like netLibrary?
One important difference between OverDrive and other ebook products,
like netLibrary, is that the OverDrive system can integrate with a library’s
existing online patron database. Patrons can access these items through
the online catalog, and literally “check them out” using
their own library card. The patron can then download the title and read
it on
the device of their choice.
Can
a library only circulate print ebooks with this system?
No. OverDrive has just announced that their system can handle files in
the Windows Media format. Patrons can now borrow digital audiobooks using
this same system.
Where
can I learn more?
There is a slew of information on OverDrive’s Digital Library Reserve
Site: http://www.overdrive.com/library/.
You might also want to check out the Audio Avenue interview with Cynthia
Orr from the Cleveland Public Library, where she talks about how ClevNet
is using OverDrive: http://www.mitbc.org/audioave/web/archives.html.
Great Sites
LITA
Top Technology Trends
XML and Interoperability. RFID. Metasearching.
These are just a few of the Top Technology Trends identified by experts
in the Library and Information Association (LITA), a division of ALA.
At the
Top Technology Trends website (http://www.ala.org/ala/lita/litaresources/toptechtrends/midwinter2004.htm),
you can see the complete list of technologies to watch, and find lots
of citations to learn more about them!
WebJunction
If you haven’t stopped by WebJunction (http://www.webjunction.org),
take the time to check it out. This site, created by OCLC and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has tons
of information related to technology, including sample policies, technology
planning tools, tools and tips for dealing with public computers, technology
buying guides, online courses and tutorials, and more….all for
free!
Quick Tip: Find that File!
By Marlys Brunsting, Cofrin Library, UW-Green Bay
Have you ever created a Word document or Excel spreadsheet, gone back to make corrections, and forgotten where you saved the file? Here’s a tip for inserting the filename and path in the printed version.
Here’s how to do it in Word:
Put the path and filename in the footer of your document so that it updates whenever you change the name of the file or the folder it’s located in.
- Choose View from the Menu Bar at the top of the screen and select Header and Footer
- Click the ‘Switch Between Header and Footer’ button to put it in the footer
- Click on the Insert AutoText button
- Choose Filename and Path from the menu
- Click Close to close this dialog box
Note: if you haven’t saved the file yet, it will appear as Document 1. As soon as you save it, however, the footer will change indicating the drive, path and filename.
Here’s how to do it in Excel:
- Click on the cell where you want the filename and path to appear.
- Type
this in the formula box:
=CELL("filename") - Press the Enter key or the green checkmark.
The path, filename and worksheet number are inserted in that cell:
That’s
it! Follow this tip and you’ll never have trouble finding that
file again!
(See the PDF version of this tip for screenshots
of each step.)
