Southwest Michigan Library Cooperative
Technology Advisory Group
Minutes of February 28, 2007
The meeting was held at Cass District Library. The following people were present:
Wanda Maston, Kristina Knezic, Linda Koch, Paula Stakeley, Julie Somers, Evelyn Holzwarth, Ann Flora, Sharon Holloway, Tim Wiggins.
Also Present : Gail Powers-Schaub
The meeting was called to order by Chair Tim Wiggins. This meeting is sponsored by ProInfo.
Niles is holding a series of computer classes that coop members are welcome to register for. The list is on their website. The question of how to let all coop members know that events are available was raised by Niles. After discussion, the TAG suggests that member libraries use the two statewide calendars on the Library of Michigan website to publicize their classes and events. The calendar called “Statewide Conferences and Workshops” is for library staff, trustees and friends. Events can be added at the site. “Activities, Events & Exhibits at Libraries around the state” is for the general public. Events can only be added by obtaining a login from the state - click on instructions for adding an event just under the calendar title. The box that opens gives the guest name and password for the login & then you just add your event.
Statewide events for librarians
Woodlands members have created an online blank OCLC form that will serve as the last library resource for ILL requests that cannot be filled on MeLCat. It is currently in the testing stage. Gail will arrange for someone from Woodlands to demonstrate this form and the database behind it at the next TAG meeting.
A newly renamed internet product, TheStreet.com, provides stock information in free and subscription formats. After discussion, the group felt that libraries would not benefit from this website’s materials. However, some library patrons might want to use the free section to monitor up to 250 stocks.
Tim has been attending the MLC workshop series “Libraries Rebooted” and demonstrated Meebo.com that he learned about at a recent workshop. This product will all you to aggregate multiple instant messaging formats into one login that combines you buddies lists from the various IMs. Cass District Library used Meebo.com to provide IM reference service from their website by clicking on the “Ask a librarian” logo at the top of the main screen.
Evelyn described Dowagiac’s experiences since August with PC Cop, sharing with the group tips on how to create and maintain logins, how to block computer access (change the patron’s password), and how to “outsmart” the kids who try their best to get more than their allotted time each day. After the first month, 80% of public computer use was unmediated, 10% was Guest passes, and 10% was sessions that required staff assistance. PC Cop has excellent reporting capability so that it is easy to see copies made, mediated and unmediated sessions and detail on each session if needed/wanted.
Mel.org has been completely revamped. Tim demonstrated some of the features of the reworked site and walked us through a patron ILL request on MeLCat. After the session those who could stay looked at the administrative module of MeLCat on the staff computers.
Evelyn asked if the “Library worth” calculator could be made accessible to all libraries in the coop as it is a useful tool to point out to patrons how valuable their library service is. Gail will look into the details of getting the calculator on the SMLC website.