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You got a second cashier at Jo-Ann's? That's amazing! On Thu, Feb 21, 2013 at 11:17 AM, Greenspun, Cindy <[log in to unmask] > wrote: > Thank you for your warm welcome, encouragement and ideas. I'd like to > respond to some of the suggestions while this topic is still fresh, so to > speak. > > Walkie-talkies, we did try this route. Not as easy and straight-forward > as one would wish. There were battery problems (needed coverage from > 8:30a-12mid), staff putting them down and losing them, sound interference, > even disability (I am deaf, me + walkie talkie = bad idea), and reluctance > to have to carry one around. > > Intercom, we do have one and have considered a ping only to encounter > complaints from readers. It is a library that is supposedly quiet after > all... we only use this to announce that the library will close in 15 > minutes, then 5, then.. closed! > > We even scheduled backups to the backup. Staffed a person to sit at a > desk behind the service points. > > But there's always work that takes folks back to their main workstations. > Now about the workstations -- we're a large staff, about 50/60 so they're > seated broadly in two different libraries which means they are away from > service points. So, we can't holler for help like a cashier did when I was > in Joann's Fabrics yesterday. I was impressed at how easily it was for her > to just yell, "need second cashier!" when a lined formed. I do wish it was > that simple for us. > > So, I started thinking -- why can't we create some sort of floating > message 'ping' -- like those 'netflix' ads that somehow open as a second > page when you're surfing the web. and how likely would it be that there > are 50 staff members away from their computers/workstations when someone > 'pings' for help electronically? Right? > > I'm so happy and encouraged to see such responses. Thank you!! > > Cindy > > -----Original Message----- > From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of > Karen Coyle > Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2013 11:33 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] A newbie seeking input/suggestions > > Cindy, > > Welcome! > > I think your situation in your library is a very common one, most likely > more common than being a "coder" in the sense of creating new software or > adding functionality to existing software. In fact, in every office I have > been in, including ones not in libraries, many people who didn't start > their careers with computer science in mind are the ones maintaining > systems, creating reports, running queries. > > In the library world I think we have an obligation to provide as much > support and encouragement as possible for library employees who perform > these tasks. As you imply, oftentimes these employees (librarians by MLS or > not) have been kind of thrown into the job and have few places where they > can go to ask questions, get needed training, or have a shoulder to cry on. > > The code4lib list and the two related IRC channels (both on the freenode > network), #code4lib and #libtechwomen are good places to start. If you need > help setting up IRC, contact me off-list and I will do my best to walk you > through it. Also, there may be similar lists specifically addressing the > library management software in your institution, and the experts in that > particular system probably hang out there. > > kc > > > > On 2/21/13 7:57 AM, Greenspun, Cindy wrote: > > Hello - > > > > I'm a newbie to this listserv. I'm not a librarian, nor am I a coder. > I primarily do systems related work with our library management system, run > SQL reports as needed and project management. I also work for Access > Services and even though I'm considered IT, I'm not in the library IT > department. This is a new position in my department and we're still > figuring things out as we go along. > > > > I work in one of the many libraries at Yale University. In the > department I work in, we have three busy service points - two circulation > desks and a privileges/registration office. There are about 50/60 staff > members and roughly 50+ student employees who rotate at these service > points. There are times when there are students who are late reporting to > a service point, no-shows, or suddenly there's a long line and only one > person at a staffed service desk. At a meeting recently, I was listening > to a work leader lament how, if she is the only person there, she is just > too busy to make a phone call or send an email asking for help - a common > occurrence. After I heard her, I wondered how possible it would be to > create some sort of desktop 'app'. One that requires only one click and is > smart enough to know its service desk location and is sent to the right > folks who could come assist right away, upon demand. These would be on > Windows workstations. > > > > Recently, I've seen many encouraging responses to the latest 'getting > > started...' emails and feel motivated to write to this listserv as I'm > > eager to learn and to try to do this myself. I hope that this will be > > a simple enough project for me but I'm just not sure where to start or > > what I should be looking at. So, here I am, not a librarian, nor a > > coder. I write to this listserv seeking suggestions, ideas and > > encouragement. :) > > > > Thank you - > > Cindy > > -- > Karen Coyle > [log in to unmask] http://kcoyle.net > ph: 1-510-540-7596 > m: 1-510-435-8234 > skype: kcoylenet > -- Ellen Knowlton Wilson Instructional Services Librarian Room 250, University Library University of South Alabama 5901 USA Drive North Mobile, AL 36688 (251) 460-6045 Please note new email address: [log in to unmask]