September 2008 Archives

At the last AAC meeting (Sept 19), we talked about the problems the scope changes have caused for libraries.  As a short-term fix, here's a quick way to limit to books physically located in your library. 

1. Run your search, scoping to your library by using the drop-down list. 
2. Click on Modify Search.
3. Choose Material Type: Book, and click Submit.

View image

Based on our discussion at the AAC meeting, the following changes have been made to the scopes in InfoSoup:

• Audiobooks changed to Audiobooks (all formats)
• Audiobooks MP3 changed to Audiobooks on CD MP3
• Audiobooks overdrive changed to Audiobooks Overdrive WMA
• Music on CD & cassette changed to Music (all formats)
• Music overdrive changed to Music Overdrive WMA
• Videogames and software added

At Friday's AAC Meeting (Sept 19th), we agreed to cancel the CircWorks/TechTalks meeting scheduled for the end of the month. OWLSnet staff will be investigating moving these meetings to an online format, to encourage member libraries to participate, and allow them to save on travel time and expenses. 

At the AAC meeting today, we mentioned how helpful it can be to subscribe to the OWLS blogs (and NFLS!) in an RSS reader in order not to miss any important updates. A few of us gathered during the lunch break so I could demo how to subscribe to our blogs, but it was chaotic to say the least. I thought I'd post a couple of links here for those who couldn't either hear or didn't have time at the moment to sit in.

RSS in Plain English is a fantastic video on YouTube that will teach you the basics about RSS and how to subscribe to blogs in a reader. I recommend Google Reader and Bloglines for RSS readers (though my preference is Google Reader). They are both pretty easy to use and set up.

If any OWLS libraries have questions about RSS and readers, please feel free to contact me. I'm not sure who NFLS folks should contact for help, but suspect Jamie could lend a hand.

FWIW!
Beth

Previously, setting the notice preference field in the patron record to "None" would generate print notices even if there was an email address in the email field.  However, there has been a change in functionality.  Now, if there is an email address in the email field and the patron notice preference is set to "None" or "Email", the patron will receive a notice via email.  The notice preference should be set to "Print" if a patron prefers to receive printed notices. 

Notices can be sent to multiple email addresses.  When entering email addresses in the email field, separate addresses with a comma only-do not enter a space. Example:      patron@mailserver.com,patron@yahoo.com

If you're printing out the OWLSnet Directory, the following page has changed and should be updated:

*Page 15  Sturm Memorial Library - MAN  Staff listing has been updated.

If you're printing out the OWLSnet Directory, the following page has changed and should be updated:

*Page 25  Waupaca Area Public Library - Staff Updated