We were recently researching PC and Print Management systems in hopes of finding that one, great low-cost, open-source solution. We didn’t find it, but remain optimistic that someone, somewhere is working on this for librarians everywhere!
Until then, I thought I would share what we did discover and what some of the other libraries in NEKLS are using for PC and print management.
We have libraries in our system who use the following proprietary solutions for print and pc management:
Ottawa uses the lower-cost version of Envisonware, Bonner Springs uses Vendprint and Tonganoxie uses Cybrarian. If asked, they will tell you how much each solution is costing their library.
Mickey shared another lead from a company he spoke with at ALA - ALPS.
I also stumbled upon a pertinent TechSoup article, Recipes for a 5-Star Library – Meal Plan 5: ‘We’re Booked Through January’ PC Reservation/Time Management Software (.pdf). Our very own Brenda hosted the online discussion in July 2008.
PC and print management is an underdeveloped area in the Open Source world, as far as we can tell. Userful has apparently released an open source product for PC reservations called Pre-Book, that you can read more about in this article from networkworld.com. Unfortunately, it doesn’t include print management.
Amy Begg De Groff told us about Groovix in Howard County, but this solution would be a radical shift from Microsoft to Linux.
Additional Open source solutions for libraries (everything from pc management to koha) can be found at this libsuccess.org wiki.
So, what solution have you found? Share!
-Sharon
I will be giving a “Social Media Introduction” presentation at the Lawrence Public Library later today for the Lawrence Arts Rountable meeting. It’s very similar to the presentation I gave a few months ago at the SWKLS Tech Day. Resources for the presentation will be posted here.
Or, view the presentation:
Tech Training Made Simple with Online Videos
Register at: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?udc=p6rixijtm47b
Wednesday, November 18, 11:00 a.m. Pacific time (1 p.m. Central)
Wouldn’t it be great if complicated technology concepts were explained in a simple way that’s easy to understand? Imagine how something like this could assist you in training sessions for patrons or staff. Well look no further, Common Craft creates explanatory videos “In Plain English” that cover topics like green, money, society and technology.
In this free webinar, Stephanie Gerding from TechSoup for Libraries will interview Lee LeFever, from Common Craft to learn more about their videos and how they are created. We will also hear how librarians are using these videos to support the needs of their community.
Hope to see you there,
Stephanie
–
http://stephaniegerding.com
Common Craft has some very good videos that truly put Technology (and other complicated ideas) in Plain English. A sampling:
Brenda organized a series of online training sessions for everyone needing to update their Technology Plan, needed for e-rate funding purposes. In the first session, we discussed what needs to be included ina tech plan, sample technology plans that meet e-rate requirements, tips and advice from a technology planning expert (Kendra) and TechAtlas as a possible tool for writing your tech plan. Brenda recorded this first OPAL session and you can listen to it here: sound file (.mp3)
She also shared some valuable links and follow-up information that I wanted to share:
Thank you to everyone who attended today’s NEKLS technology planning
session. I hope it was useful to you as you write your new plan.Here are some resources that may be helpful.
State Library of Kansas e-rate information
http://www.kslib.info/erate/
Great resources from the state library.
Mail new plans to (keep a copy for your files) :Jeff Hixon
State Library of Kansas
300 SW Tenth Avenue-Rm 343N
Topeka, KS 66612-1593
Jeff’s email address is: jeffh@kslib.infoTechAtlas Information
http://ks.webjunction.org/techatlas
If you are thinking about using TechAtlas, there are a number of useful things here (including links to informational webinars about TechAtlas)
(see also recent NEKLS blog post: http://blog.nekls.org/index.php/archives/452)
Not sure if you have a TechAtlas acct? Have other questions about TechAtlas? Email Kendra techatlas@webjunction.orgI am attaching several sample technology plans:
- Osawatomie (used TechAtlas)
- Richmond (I would add a cover page and more specific dates to this one – like the style though)
- McLouth
- Holton
- Linwood (used TechAtlas)
- Williamsburg
If you want the sound file (.mp3) from today’s session, let me know (it’s big and I don’t want to clog your in-box unnecessarily).
Join us again next week (Wednesday, Nov 11 at 1 PM in OPAL) if you would like to follow-up.
Yesterday’s follow up included a discussion of Technology Plan ideas for libraries of all sizes. Please let Brenda or I know if you would like to add to this list or have questions about one of these possible new initiatives. Some of these ideas came from member libraries in the System and others came from informal brainstorming done by Heather, Liz and I.
The List:
I hope this gives you some assistance in discussing, revising, and updating your new Three-Year Technology Plan.
Feedback and additional ideas are welcome!
-Sharon
Reminder from our friend Jeff Hixon at the State Library:
Just one suggestion – … the library should keep “a copy” of the plan. The library’s copy plus the letter of approval constitutes the official document in the eyes of the FCC. I keep copies for backup and emergency, but my file is not considered official.
Governing magazine has posted a great article, “Online at the Library” about how libraries are helping patrons without computer or Internet access still connect to online-only government services. Check it out!
(Thanks to Bob Walter at Pittsburg State University for posting this to KAN-LIB.)
Here’s even more information on the phishing scam previously posted on this blog. Brig McCoy posted the following on the KANLIB listserv, from Slashdot, but as some of this blog’s readers are not in Kansas, I thought it was still a good idea to repost his email here. Please read this to the end.
“It seems as if the massive phishing campaign reported yesterday was not specific to Hotmail, as was initially believed. According to a report by the BBC, many Gmail and Yahoo Mail accounts have also been compromised. Earthlink, Comcast, and AOL were also affected. While the source of the latest attacks has not been determined, many are pointing to the same bug that claimed at least 10,000 passwords from Microsoft Windows Live Hotmail. Microsoft has done their part in blocking all known hijacked Hotmail accounts and created tools to help users who had lost control of their email. An analysis of the data from Hotmail showed the most common password among the compromised accounts to be ‘12345.’ On their end, Google responded to the attacks by forcing password resets on the affected accounts.”
Re-read that next-to-last sentence… a password of ‘12345′? Please use better passwords… take the first letters of a sentence, for instance.
Sigh. “
Remember the blog post several few months ago on the 500 worst passwords of all time and also mentioned at this year’s Tech Day during the Cloud Computing presentation? Now would be a very good time to check that list and if one or more of your passwords are found on that list, please change it/them now!
According BBC News, Lifehacker, and other sites, the password leakage may be more widespread than previously reported. Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, Comcast, and Earthlink email accounts may have had usernames and passwords posted online, also. I would highly recommend you change your passwords on all your sites and consider using a different password for each site.
Most of us use the same password over and over again (I’m right there with you), and if one account is ever compromised, you risk all your accounts being compromised.
How can your account become compromised? The most common way is through a phishing scam (pronounced fishing). Common Craft has created a “Phishing Scam in Plain English” video, so you can see how phishing works. Also, see if you can detect different phishing scams through this online phishing quiz. As always contact your friendly NEKLS Tech Staff if you have any questions.
Sometime over this past weekend, several thousand Hotmail/MSN/Windows Live passwords were leaked online through a third-party. If you have an email account at one of these places, I’d highly recommend you go ahead and change your password. It appears most of the usernames whose passwords were posted online were in the A and B range, but it’s good practice to change your passwords frequently, anyway.
Does your library game? Have you signed up for the National Gaming Day?
According to Jenny Levine, there are “about 300 free games left for National Gaming Day 2009. has your library registered? http://bit.ly/ngd2009 #ngd2009″
The above link takes you to a survey about National Gaming Day, Saturday, November 14, 2009, sponsored by ALA: “ALA is coordinating its second annual National Gaming Day @ your library on November 14, 2009. There will lots of fun activities again, including a national video game tournament in which your players can compete against those in other libraries across the country. We’d love to have your library participate in whatever way works best for you. Please fill out this survey to add your library to the national list and map of participating libraries and request free donations.”
Check out the National Gaming Day website for more information.
The PLS Blog also has additional links, information and notes from the day.
Visit and Add to your RSS reader…