PC Reservation Software Part II

The library has put all of the public computers down on "Computer Maintenance" beginning today and lasts through Friday, perhaps even Saturday...or sooner...it depends. It is eerily quiet in the library today. I hope this is not a bad sign. It just goes to show how important computers are to the library.

So the question is popping in my mind about how to maximize the benefits of public computers in the library. So for the next few days I am tasking myself to brainstorm ideas about how to capitalize on having a somewhat "captive" audience in the library.

PC Reservation Software

Last Thursday (6/4/09) I received training on our new PC Reservation Software. I'm sure many of you have heard about it. Basically the patron comes in to use a computer, goes to the reservation terminal, scans their card, and gets a printed confirmation of the time and place when they can use the computer. I admit that there could be some problems at first, especially when patrons don't read the instructions thoroughly. But after we work the bugs out, I think our patrons are going to like the new system.

Marketing yourself and the Library

There is a great article over at Tame the Web about marketing yourself and your library. I bring this up because I am finding myself in the midst of having to market myself and my library. This is something that was not even a thought in my mind while I was in Library School. In fact, when I re-visited my alma matter's website, I was surprised to find that such a class was offered. Did they offer this when I attended?

That doesn't really matter now. What does matter is that I have to learn this as I go. I have already made a number of mistakes and I imagine there will be a few more as I go. I'm starting to see that one of the most important things to develop is your network. I was lucky to recently meet a community member with strong ties to the media. I think developing this kind of contact is key to your marketing program.

I'm still learning....I will report back as I learn so that I can share....

Computers and Library Cards

I was off this last weekend which was the first day for a new computer use policy implemented by my library. The old system was complicated to say the least. The way it worked was that patrons had three areas by which they could access an Internet computer. Down stairs we had fifteen minute terminals and upstairs there were one hour guest stations and one hour patron stations in the computer lab. At the fifteen minute and guest stations a library card was not needed. Needless to say, the system was often abused and often gridlocked.

The new system requires all patrons to have a library card or web surf card in order to access the Internet. This is in preparation of a new automated computer reservation service that is coming in June. So while I was sitting at the reference desk, which is near the former guest stations, I noticed something....it was abnormally peaceful. I am hoping that this is due to the new system. I guess a few more days will tell......

Hiatus

Wow! has it really been seven months since my last post? That's what I get for being busy. Well I plan to change that. No, not the busy part, rather, the not posting part.

So now I'm considering the role of social networking in libraries. As such I have started to use twitter and blogger (yes, I have yet another blog) at work. At my library I am noticing two distinct groups of users. On one hand we have the baby boomers and on the other we have what Guy Hamel calls "Generation F" aka the Facebook generation. With the baby boomers there seems to be some hesitancy in using the various social networking sites. Obviously, this is not the case for the Gen F'ers (no pun intended!).

So I guess the trick is to incorporate social networking in a way that will attract the boomers while at the same time keep the attention of the Gen F'ers. I'm have to give this more thought. Any ideas????