Illinois - Technology

Re: Can't connect to internet with centurion guard unlocked

2008-03-12T03:41:15Z

Sounds like maybe a proxy server settings issue?

Do you use a proxy server, maybe for filtering? Proxy settings are at the profile level, so if for instance the all profile has the settings correct, but exec doesn't, that could cause this.

You can check exec's settings through IE, by going to the Tools menu and Internet Options.
Choose the Connections tab and then LAN Settings.

If you need to take a look at the all settings, that is a little different. Follow these instructions to get to where the proxy server settings are for the public accounts:
http://pacomputing.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=7438

Dale

Can't connect to internet with centurion guard unlocked

2008-03-11T21:03:26Z

It's a beautiful day here in western Nebraska except for one small matter. While trying to do maintenance on one of our Gateway computers,in "exec" and Centurion Guard unlocked, I can not connect to the internet. Norton will do it's thing but to get Windows updates or go to PAComputing, or webjunction or any other internet page, I can not connect. I have tried pinging my DNS Server, Ip address etc, to no avail.
But when I an in "all" users the internet pops right up with no problems. Where do I start to fix this stormcloud on a sunny day???

Re: Library 2.0

2007-11-29T19:48:06Z

This rant from Cory Doctorow in Information Week seems apropos here:

http://informationweek.com/shared/printableArticle.jhtml?articleID=204203573

The title is "How Your Creepy Ex-Co-Workers Will Kill Facebook." The skinny is ... because you can't keep it private when you need it to be.

Re: Library 2.0

2007-10-25T23:55:46Z

I can share some specific examples of the things small libraries here in northeastern Kansas are doing!

MySpace:
Carbondale City Library
http://www.myspace.com/carbondalecitylibrary

Flickr:
Richmond Public Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93431113@N00
Tonganoxie Public Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonganoxiepl

Blogs:
Corning City Library
http://corning.mykansaslibrary.org/
Seneca Free Library
http://www.senecafreelibrary.org/
Mary Cotton Library (Sabetha)
http://www.sabethalibrary.org/
Williamsburg Community Library
http://www.williamsburgcommunitylibrary.org/

IM/Chat Reference:
Tonganoxie Public Library
http://www.tonganoxielibrary.org/

Hope that helps! I'll try to think of more, too.

Brenda

Re: Library 2.0

2007-10-25T19:54:46Z

This is a big question! But a fun one. A few things pop quickly to mind. First, I'd scour facebook for library groups started by small libraries (there are some good ones for sure!). MySpace has lots of them too, though they are used less and less there imo (the YA groups seem most relevant there now in many respects imo).

I'd also check out the Libraries and Librarians Group on flickr, which has thousands of fascinating shots of small libs:
http://flickr.com/groups/librariesandlibrarians/

And the 365 Library Days Project on flickr which is being used by a slew of small libs as an ongoing advocacy program:
http://flickr.com/groups/365libs/

You've looked at YouTube for videos from small libraries?

Finally, I just love these guys:
http://www.fordlibrary.org/
and these guys:
http://nplibrary.org/
(both sites run by the fab Aaron Schmidt who is the director of NPL)

Hope these are helpful!

-Michael

Library 2.0

2007-10-25T14:56:16Z

I am co-presenting a workshop next week on Library 2.0. We have everything we need for it, except we'd like to include a "best practices" type slide. Our focus is strictly on what small libraries with no dedicated technology staffs can do, and it would be nice to showcase a few more libraries than the four we've gotten so far. If anyone has a site that they'd really like to have shown off that uses any Library 2.0 items, I'd love to include it.

Thanks!

Kansas State Library to Host Rural Broadband Summit

2007-09-13T16:48:52Z

What a great idea!
Check out this [url http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/september2007/KSbroadbandsummit.htm]press release[/url] about the event A Whole New Mind: Providing Accessible Broadband Internet for Kansas set to take place at the International Grains Executive Conference Center in Manhattan, Kansas, and its goal is to encourage communities to establish strategies for broadband access and to propose actions or policies at the state level to support these community strategies.

Certainly a model to follow!

TechAtlas resources

2007-08-01T20:54:39Z

Wanted to be sure folks are aware of the great resources and tools made available to you for free through [url /do/Navigation?category=13408]TechAtlas[/url], WebJunction's technology planning tool. One component of Tech Atlas is [url /do/DisplayContent?id=16810]Event Tracker[/url] which allows you to create an online "help desk" so you can track all of the requests and solutions to computer troubles in the library. Last month Yvonne Ricker presented a webinar on [url http://www.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=17537] Using Event Tracker[/url], and the session has been archived!

Re: Technology Connections Brainstorm

2007-04-28T19:33:33Z

I was at the PA Rural Library Sustainability session and I mentioned that this library has a good web hosting person who also helps with other issues. I was asked to make a post about whom I use. This person is in the Harrisburg PA area but it is the web and he can help from anywhere. He is very good. This is a side line since his 9 to 5 job is also tech oriented. The contact info is: Spidell Tech Solutions, email: don@spidellech.com and website is www.spidelltech.com. I hope this helps people. His webhosting is cheaper than others and the website is so easy to update. He is very good and helpful.
Jean ( fdcampbell)

Re: Ongoing Technical Support - Partnerships

2007-04-28T19:06:33Z

Hi I was at the Rural Libraries Sustainability seminar in PA and can offer someone who can webhost and also make a website. On the card, it says,"Web design, technical support and e-commerce solutions". The email is don@spidelltech.com and the website is www.spidelltech.com. He is in the Harrisburg, PA area, but it is the web so he can access and help from anywhere. I hope this helps. He makes updating this library's website easy and is knowledgeable.
This is a side line, but his 9 to 5 job is also techie, fixing computer/computing problems for the company. Our county system pays for the webhosting, so I can't quote a price, but I know he was cheaper than other companies and more user friendly.
Jean (me) or fdcampbell (the library)

Re: Ongoing Technical Support - Partnerships

2007-04-24T19:18:20Z

Here at Springvale Public Library in Springvale, Maine our director spearheaded a new technology plan called "Future Access" in which we invited local businesses and organizations to 'subscribe' to our program for new computers. So far, it has worked out well and we're still going. See attached doc.

Re: Ongoing Technical Support - Partnerships

2007-01-10T22:32:25Z

Some Community Colleges are happy to help as well. A great way to find a partner for multiple programs too, even beyond this specific problem/issue (assuming local CC programs, profs and politics all mesh in this regard). Still, I've seen it turn into a relationship that was mutually beneficial and worth pursuing.

Re: Ongoing Technical Support - Partnerships

2007-01-09T22:22:49Z

I arranged with the tech support person at our local school district to be our tech person. She wants a good library for her family so she agreed to work at a much lower rate. She was going to volunteer her time but I would not go that route. Her time is valuable and it also prevents abuse by anyone in the library. She will work on an as needed basis. I am going to try and get her to hold some training classes for staff so we don't call on her for the little stuff. That way she won't cringe when she sees our name on caller ID.

Re: Technology Connections Brainstorm

2006-08-15T19:03:19Z

Local Schools Systems generally have folks on staff with lots of expertise and in our instance are willing to help out their local libraries with technology problems. It helps if you standardize on the same software and equipment they have if at all possible. Since most schools and public libraries buy from state contracts this usually isn't a problem. It never hurts of ask for help, you may be pleasantly surprised and best of all save some money.

Re: Upgrade and Maintenance Brainstorm

2006-07-31T19:32:36Z

Definitely. I would expect that software (application) decisions should be mostly driven by patron demand.

As far as the MS program - the main thing you need to understand about it is the ordering limitations. In a nutshell, these are the most important ones:

- 6 titles every 2 years
- 50 seat licenses (copies) per title every 2 years
- 1 order per year

These restrictions mean you need to plan carefully. I think the one order per year is the most critical restriction for most smaller libraries. You can get more details about the program from their FAQ:
http://www.techsoup.org/stock/libraries/microsoft/faq.asp

Dale

Re: Upgrade and Maintenance Brainstorm

2006-07-31T19:09:53Z

As a less technical response to your question, you may also want to be sure that you have a thorough understanding of what your patrons (a) use the PA computers for and (b) what they expect of them. This will at least narrow your software needs down a bit, and thus inform your hardware needs.

Re: Upgrade and Maintenance Brainstorm

2006-07-27T15:59:18Z

I think the first place to look when considering hardware upgrades is at your software. What do you run now, and what would you like to run in the future? Are you thinking of getting new versions of say Office, or Windows?
 
If you look at the system requirements of the software, I would consider those to be bare minimums - often not really adequate to run well. If you have computers that are just barely meeting them, think about upgrading those components.
 
This is something you can keep track of with <a href="http://webjunction.techatlas.org/tools/">TechAtlas</a>. If you use it's automated tools to inventory your computers, you can then easily create a report where you plug in the system requirements and get a list of all the computers that don't meet them, and it will highlight the specific components that need upgrading. If you want to get a better idea about what techAtlas can do, take a look at our <a href="/do/Navigation?category=442#ManagingPublicAccessComputing04125">free TechAtlas course</a>.
 
As a general rule of thumb, I look first at memory. It is almost always the best bang for your buck with old pc's, and is more important than processor speed. If you are running Windows XP, then 256MB of RAM is a bare minimum, especially once you start running multiple applications at once. 512 MB is better, and in most cases you can see noticeable speed improvements up to about 1 GB.
 
There is a good introductory article to the topic <a href="/do/DisplayContent?id=8512">here</a>.But I would also be interested to hear if anyone else has any favorite sites with good and up to date (up to date is the hard part) advice at a novice or intermediate user level.

Re: Upgrade and Maintenance Brainstorm

2006-07-27T15:43:23Z

I just checked out the donation site of software upgrades. We were looking at adding some of these to our computers. I did not realize that we could get some of this software for a minimal price. Now I need to figure out how to use this program to our Libraries advantage. I am not real certain on how to go about ordering these upgrades or the limit. Can you explain more on this program?

Re: Upgrade and Maintenance Brainstorm

2006-07-27T15:22:21Z

How do we know what upgrades should definitely be done and which ones we could let slide? Is there a site that explains what we should be looking for in our technology upgrades? It is hard to keep up with all the new technology plus the cost is not always in our budget. How do we decide which priority should be first when upgrading or replacing our computers?

Re: Upgrade and Maintenance Brainstorm

2006-07-18T16:35:23Z

Thanks dalem. I've added them to the brainstorm list!