Of course! "Notify me when the schedule changes." That's a must-have.
Publishing to a public website is a little problematic. Some of my
co-workers are a little squeamish about patrons having their full
names. The reasons are lost in the mists of time. If and when we have
a staff intranet, that would definitely be the place for the
scheduler.
On 9/5/07, Joe Atzberger <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> You might consider RSS syndication as a third possible means of publishing a
> schedule, or rather, as an alternative to directly dumping HTML. Clearly it
> would take more work than just generating a printout, but the
> interoperability is sweet.
> --Joe
>
> On 9/5/07, Helen Chu <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > By "publish" I would like to be able to do one or more of the following:
> >
> > 1. publish a public version to a public web site so we can see who (which
> > person with which specific skills) will staff the desk
> >
> > 2. print out on paper
> >
> > The shift swapping would be great so that our schedule coordinator doesn't
> > have to spend his/her time juggling students' midterms schedules. We've got
> > more complex work for our staff!
> >
> > Helen
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> > Sharon Foster
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 2:18 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] [Web4lib] Library Staff Scheduler
> >
> > By "publish," do you mean print to hard-copy, or something more?
> >
> > A swap board is an excellent feature. It beats leaving a note on the staff
> > bulletin board: "Can anyone swap with me for the week of November 7th?"
> >
> >
> > On 9/5/07, Helen Chu <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > > Hi All,
> > >
> > > Been looking for a staff scheduling program too. I need additional
> > functionality:
> > >
> > > - students should be able to trade shifts with each other
> > > - we can easily publish the schedule of who's working
> > >
> > > Anyone had any success with this?
> > >
> > > BTW, Deb, do you know Barron Koralesky? Good friend of mine.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Helen
> > >
> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > > Helen Chu
> > > Director, Library Information Technology California Polytechnic
> > > University San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 [log in to unmask]
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> > > Of Deb Bergeron
> > > Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 9:19 AM
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] [Web4lib] Library Staff Scheduler
> > >
> > > Sharon,
> > >
> > > Thank you. While our application may be different, I am interested in
> > what you develop. Are looking at starting development immediately?
> > >
> > > Please let me know your progress or if I can help in any way.
> > >
> > > Deb
> > >
> > > Sharon Foster wrote:
> > > > Gotcha! My library is in a consortium as well, and there is a
> > > > courier service, although since we are such a small state, it is
> > > > actually a state-wide service, not just for our consortium.
> > > >
> > > > My initial reaction is that the application I have in mind *could*
> > > > be used to set up a courier schedule, but instead of one desk and
> > > > several people staffing it over the course of a day, you have one
> > > > person moving to different "desks" (libraries) over the course of a
> > > > day. I think that's a different enough pattern, along with the "is
> > > > it on time?" requirement, to warrant its own application.
> > > >
> > > > The question I was asking was directed to public and academic
> > > > library systems with more than one location or branch. Do you ever
> > > > move people around among the branches? If so, then I want the
> > > > scheduler to incorporate that.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On 9/5/07, Deb Bergeron <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> Sharon,
> > > >>
> > > >> I think I need to clarify. We are an academic consortium of 14
> > > >> completely different libraries who share a common ILS, consequently
> > > >> we have no 'branches;' each library is independent. Some of the
> > > >> libraries have their own branches or locations, however, and could
> > > >> use your scheduler application in their own library. So your
> > > >> question about staff being assigned to another branch does not
> > > >> apply in our case. What does apply is knowing the library hours and
> > academic calendar.
> > > >>
> > > >> Our office manages the ILS and all of its components. One of
> > > >> those components is the courier. The courier picks up and delivers
> > > >> items to all of the consortial libraries as well as our state-wide
> > ILL system (MINITEX).
> > > >> The courier schedule changes throughout the year and sometimes daily
> > (i.e.
> > > >> storm, accident, traffic, etc.). It would be great to have an
> > > >> online application indicating:
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> Courier's schedule
> > > >> Is he on time?
> > > >> Issues
> > > >> If a library requests an additional pick-up Our goal is 24 hour
> > > >> turn-around and often-times it's less than that.
> > > >>
> > > >> For both applications, it would be fabulous to have an online tool
> > > >> that provides all the information I've described.
> > > >>
> > > >> I hope this clarifies the lay of our land for you.
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> Thanks,
> > > >>
> > > >> Deb
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> Sharon Foster wrote:
> > > >> Indeed! I hadn't even thought of multiple libraries in a system,
> > > >> since I haven't yet worked in a system with branch libraries.
> > > >>
> > > >> Is it ever the case that staff may be temporarily assigned to
> > > >> another branch, not their "home" branch?
> > > >>
> > > >> Are couriers thought of as assigned to a particular library, or are
> > > >> they part of the larger system?
> > > >>
> > > >> Thanks for your input!
> > > >>
> > > >> On 9/5/07, Deb Bergeron <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> Sharon,
> > > >>
> > > >> Kudos to you for taking this on!
> > > >>
> > > >> In looking at your wiki and your requirements list, we could use
> > > >> this in a completely different way. We're an academic consortium with
> > 14 libraries.
> > > >> I can see this type of application working for us in two ways:
> > > >>
> > > >> 1. Manage our courier schedule.
> > > >> 2. Manage library hours. With so many libraries, hours vary greatly.
> > > >>
> > > >> Is this the type of 'unique requirements' you're looking for from
> > > >> other libraries?
> > > >>
> > > >> Thanks,
> > > >>
> > > >> Deb
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> Sharon Foster wrote:
> > > >> I've set up a wiki to collect software requirements for a Library
> > > >> Staff Scheduler. Initially it's intended for use by public
> > > >> libraries, because that's what I'm most familiar with, but I'd also
> > > >> like to incorporate any unique requirements from other kinds of
> > libraries.
> > > >>
> > > >> I know there is at least one implementation of this type of
> > > >> application at http://sourceforge.net/projects/empscheduler/, and I
> > > >> fully expect to use that project as the starting point for the
> > > >> implementation of this one, but the demo page is missing or broken,
> > > >> the project itself hasn't been updated since 12/2004, and it
> > > >> doesn't particularly address the special requirements of library
> > staffing.
> > > >>
> > > >> The wiki is at http://libstaff.pbwiki.com/ and the password is
> > librarygeek.
> > > >>
> > > >> (aside: I started it with WetPaint, but there are so many ads on
> > > >> each page that I thought it was too distracting. Free PBWiki may
> > > >> not have the variety of themes that WetPaint has, but it also
> > > >> doesn't have all those annoying ads.)
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> --
> > > >> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >> --
> > > >> ---------
> > > >> Remember: Choose nutritious edible weeds for snacks!
> > > >> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >> --
> > > >> ---------
> > > >> Deb Bergeron
> > > >> System Administrator User Support
> > > >> CLIC
> > > >> 1619 Dayton Ave. Suite 204A
> > > >> Saint Paul, MN 55104
> > > >>
> > > >> T: 651.644.3878
> > > >> C:651-487-7609
> > > >> F:651.644.6258
> > > >> [log in to unmask]
> > > >> www.clic.edu
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> --
> > > >> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >> --
> > > >> ---------
> > > >> Remember: Choose nutritious edible weeds for snacks!
> > > >> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >> --
> > > >> ---------
> > > >> Deb Bergeron
> > > >> System Administrator User Support
> > > >> CLIC
> > > >> 1619 Dayton Ave. Suite 204A
> > > >> Saint Paul, MN 55104
> > > >>
> > > >> T: 651.644.3878
> > > >> C:651-487-7609
> > > >> F:651.644.6258
> > > >> [log in to unmask]
> > > >> www.clic.edu
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > --------
> > > Remember: Choose nutritious edible weeds for snacks!
> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > --------
> > > Deb Bergeron
> > > System Administrator User Support
> > > CLIC
> > > 1619 Dayton Ave. Suite 204A
> > > Saint Paul, MN 55104
> > >
> > > T: 651.644.3878
> > > C:651-487-7609
> > > F:651.644.6258
> > > [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> www.clic.edu
> > > <http://www.clic.edu>
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Sharon M. Foster, B.S., J.D., 0.58 * (MLS) F/OSS Evangelist Cheshire
> > Public Library
> > 104 Main Street
> > Cheshire, CT 06410
> > http://www.cheshirelibrary.org
> > My library school portfolio: http://home.southernct.edu/~fosters4/
> > My final project for ILS655, Digital Libraries:
> > http://www.vsa-software.com/ils655
> >
> > Any opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
> >
>
--
Sharon M. Foster, B.S., J.D., 0.58 * (MLS)
F/OSS Evangelist
Cheshire Public Library
104 Main Street
Cheshire, CT 06410
http://www.cheshirelibrary.org
My library school portfolio: http://home.southernct.edu/~fosters4/
My final project for ILS655, Digital Libraries:
http://www.vsa-software.com/ils655
Any opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
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