Experiences on borrowing ebooks

I would imagine different people would find different readers as easiest. I haven’t tried all the different ebook readers that work with SD Titles To Go but here are my experiences with borrowing library ebooks…



I have a Kindle Fire (got it a couple weeks ago). It has been very easy to check out books from Titles To Go. I haven’t had to connect to a computer to download any of the books – everything done on the Kindle using wifi. Even for the books that said download via computer usb only, I still didn’t have to connect to a computer – worked fine using wifi. For me it is much easier to not have to connect to a computer to download a book before I can read it.
I haven’t tried to get Titles To Go audiobooks on the Kindle Fire yet -- would probably have to use the computer for that or I have seen that there is a way to get the Overdrive app or media console on the Fire so that the MP3 audiobooks could be downloaded directly (without using a computer) but I haven’t tried that yet. I haven’t yet gone beyond trying the easy & immediately available options with this new gadget.


I also have the Overdrive app on an iPod Touch which should be pretty similar to using the iPad, only a whole lot smaller. This works pretty easy once you get the app setup. You do have to get an Adobe ID (free) first in order to set up the overdrive app, but once that is done you’re ready to go. You can get EPUB books and MP3 audiobooks without using a computer. The last time I tried the WMA audiobooks, though they are compatible, I did have to use a computer to download & transfer the file. I don’t know if that has changed, it’s been a few months.


I also have an iPod classic that I have used for MP3 & WMA audiobooks in Titles To Go. You definitely have to use a computer to download & transfer the books using the Overdrive Media Console that you download on to your computer. It’s been awhile since the last time I did this.


I believe that for Nook Readers you have to connect to a computer to download books from Titles To Go and also have Adobe Digital Editions (free) on your computer.

I also have the Nook app & Kindle app on the Touch. Haven’t used them a whole lot.

You can probably see a trend going here… what I personally find easiest (of the options I have tried) are the ones I use most frequently – the options where I don’t have to connect to a computer. It may not be what others find easiest.


The Get Started With… page is useful to see what steps are involved in using each of the various compatible devices     http://help.overdrive.com/?Sup=http://southdakota.lib.overdrive.com/Support.htm

old library days musings

Sometimes I sure miss "my" old library,

what with all their online resources...  tons of databases (should see all the databases just for music, art and dance), and website guides, tons of cool programing, and of course the tons and tons of books, videos and such so handy. (I say tons is the word of the day.) And, a lot has changed since I lived and worked there.

Now there's this neat looking Library-To-Go setup (an automated system away from the library branches), ...

...library by mail, downloadable audiobooks and videos....

They even have an author's podcast now... (though my branch's manager had started with newspaper topic articles and had even began radio interviews while I was still there)

Wow, they have even taken the summer reading program online with links, lists, reading log and the kids can write book reviews to share. ...

Every once in a while I have to check out their website just to see what might be new.

Aw, and I never got to see the new genealogy center...

 maybe someday if I make it back to Independence/KCMO for a visit.

It's only been, what... 6 years.

MCPL The Mid-Continent Public Library consists of 30 branches serving Clay, Jackson, and Platte Counties in Western Missouri. It was established in 1965 (though its roots go back further to 1892) and is now one of the largest library systems in the United States.

Hmmm... I wonder how the old libraries in Illinois are doing? Elgin's Gail Borden (that I barely remember since I was so young) and Springfield's Lincoln Library.

Marian the Cybrarian from the Chronicle of Higher Education

Luxury Libraries in Europe

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Librarians are important to student success

Young Learners Need Librarians, Not Just Google The ubiquity and ease of Google searches could make kids' minds go soft without the ability to critique or contextualize the answers.
from Forbes by Mark Moran

Lion Statues under a Mantle of Snow

 

Lion Statues under a Mantle of Snow

 Lion Statues under a Mantle of Snow

Taken in December, 1948, the caption of this photograph states: "The lion statues at the New York Public Library, with a mantle of snow during the record December 1948 snowfall..."

Hhmmm....

Library ban for 'pungent body odour' man

Library officials in Leicestershire have banned a regular reader from their building following complaints about his "pungent" body odour. more

hmmm...

Man charged for hitting, kicking librarian
A Houston librarian is recovering from an attack after investigators say she told a man he was being too loud.

Oh dear!

Oh Dear!

Typos

I thought this blog of note was interesting.
http://librarytypos.blogspot.com/  Typo of the Day for Librarians: "a group of librarians from all over the world with a common interest - keeping our online catalogs free of errors". What a unique idea for a blog.

What a parking garage

Pushing the Bounds of Sanity: Strange and Bizarre Structures from abcNews

An awesome parking garage is almost an oxymoron, but the unusual facade of the Kansas City, Mo., Public Library's garage remains a distinct symbol of artistic architecture. Featuring popular books like "Huckleberry Finn," " The Lord of the Rings" and "Romeo and Juliet," each book spine prominently displays a title in a 9-by-25-foot rectangle on the exterior wall. The garage is the highlight of the Kansas City's library district and sits across from the Central Library. The entire complex was opened in 2004 and cost nearly $50 million.

(Courtesy Kansas City Public Library)

That's the year I moved away and I never got to see this neat parking garage. It's got to be one of the most interesting looking parking garage in the KC area.

A Code of Conduct for Staff & Supervisors

Sent to you by Sarah via Google Reader:

A Code of Conduct for Staff & Supervisors
via Tame The Web by Michael on 9/8/09

Kate Sheehan's post on kindness has had some good comments, including this one by Tasha Saecker, Director of the Menasha Public Library:

At our library, we did a code of conduct that every employee had to sign. It was about how we treat one another in the library. Our staff had gotten into the habit of being quite toxic with one another. Refusing to reply when greeted, ignoring staff who worked at lower levels in the hierarchy, making caustic remarks both to people's face and behind their backs, etc.

The code reminded everyone what was expected of them. Professionalism, kindness, respect and care. Now a few years later, there is no need for the code because everyone just naturally follows it. No need to remind either. It's like working in a different library!

I had to email Tasha and ask about the codes. She sent me both versions – one for staff, one for supervisors – and gave me permission to publish them here. What do you think?

Tasha writes:

As a library director, I think that our internal conduct is just as important as our external conduct, meaning that we have to be kind to one another as library staff just as we are kind to our patrons. I expect a certain level of professionalism, but also kindness and consideration of one another. To address this issue in my current library, I created Agreements for our staff and supervisors to sign. Now, two years later, I would not see a need for them any longer. The issue has been solved, the culture changed. Here are our Agreements, inspired by the amazing Pat Wagner.

For staff:

I agree to follow the guidelines below to the best of my ability, understanding that these guidelines are an important part of service to my staff, my customers and my community.

I will be courteous at all times, meaning that I will greet everyone I encounter with a smile, knowing that I am representing the library not only in the way I deal with customers but the way I interact with my fellow staff members.

Everyone is treated like a peer by everyone else. Everyone will say good morning, please and thank you to everyone with good will, no matter what their relative position.

Everyone will get information at the same time regardless of his or her position in the library. Information hoarding is not acceptable.

Everyone has the opportunity to give input and receive feedback on their ideas. Keeping lines of communication open is a priority. Ideas and creativity are to be encouraged at all staff levels.

Communication will be my number one goal, so that everyone understands what decisions I am making.

I am expected to learn and grow. Accepting change and new ideas is a priority in the library.

Gossip about other staff members is not acceptable. If I have a complaint, I will not talk with other staff members but openly discuss it with my supervisor or the library director.

The library as a whole is my priority, from how the library looks to the community to how customers feel while they are here. Just as I view other staff as my peers, I will not hesitate to lend a hand where needed.

For supervisors:

I agree to follow the guidelines below to the best of my ability, understanding that these guidelines are an important part of service to my staff, my customers and my community.

I will be courteous at all times, meaning that I will greet everyone I encounter with a smile, knowing that I am representing the library not only in the way I deal with customers but the way I interact with my fellow staff members.

Everyone is treated like a peer by everyone else. Everyone will say good morning, please and thank you to everyone with good will, no matter what their relative position.

Everyone will get information at the same time regardless of his or her position in the library. Information hoarding is not acceptable. Minutes of staff meetings will be released within 48 hours.

Everyone has the opportunity to give input and receive feedback on their ideas. Keeping lines of communication open is a priority. Ideas and creativity are to be encouraged at all staff levels.

As a manager, I will not micromanage, but will allow employees to accomplish goals in their own way.

Communication will be my number one goal, so that everyone on staff understands who makes decisions, how decisions are made and what decisions they can make.

Everyone is expected to learn and grow. Accepting change and new ideas is a priority in the library.

I will focus on praising each one of my staff at least once a week.

Disagreements with staff will be addressed quickly with an emphasis on keeping staff informed on how the decision was made.

Gossip about other staff members is not acceptable. If you have a complaint, please do not talk with other staff members but openly discuss it with your supervisor.

The library as a whole is my priority, from how the library looks to the community to how customers feel while they are here. Just as I view other staff as my peers, I will not hesitate to lend a hand where needed.

Video games in the library

C.M. CO. LIBRARY WINS STATE VIDEO CONTEST
Corin Wilson ( news@nbc40.net ) - 8/17/09 05:54 pm
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE--The Cape May County Library is getting statewide recognition for winning a video contest. The library won the New Jersey State Library's video contest showing how a library can be beneficial in troubling times. The Cape May County Library staff chose to focus on how a family who couldn't afford a video game console for their child turned to game night at the library…a program they say their library has had a lot of success with, "It's just been booming and the numbers keep growing each week so we saw this as an opportunity to promote it and something easy to do because the kids really wanted to be a part of the video as well," said employee, Lisa Marie Alderfer. The video will be used in a tri-state campaign promoting usefulness of libraries in solving life's problems.

“Get Your Game On at your Library” by Cape May County Library



from Library Garden by Justin Hoenke 5 Reasons why you should be gaming in your Library
The video follows a timid young boy named Trevor whose family cannot afford to buy him the latest video game system. Instead, his family takes him to his local library where he quickly becomes a fan of the weekly game night program. In turn, Trevor and his family become regulars at the library. (So regular that Trevor now gets high fives from the librarians!) more here

Blogs for LIS students

100 Best Blogs for Library Science Students --you’ll find 100 of the best blogs a library science student can read. http://onlinedegreeprograms.org/blog/2009/100-best-blogs-for-library-science-students/

Public Library Blogs:

http://citesandinsights.info/civ9i10.pdf

EBSCO & library stories

EBSCO has put together a collection of their customers (including libraries) best practices & success stories in areas such as marketing initiatives, community outreach, fundraising, teacher collaboration...

Library Blogging Tips

Online College comes up with 100 Terrific Tips & Tools for Blogging Librarians.

Many tips in the following areas:
Basics
Readership and Traffic
Content
Branding and Marketing
Networking
Design
Blogging Platforms
Extra Services
Organization and Administrative Tips and Tools
Miscellaneous

Mobile Library Catalog and Website

neat!

OCLS Mobile (Orange County Florida Public Library System)
Take a look at the brand new OCLS Mobile, a breakthrough way to explore the Library using your iPhone or iPod Touch. Search the catalog, access your account, find Library locations and driving directions, learn about upcoming events, watch videos, and more!

Here is a YouTube video walk through:

Comics for Libraries

Broadband Data Caps Coming to Your Library? by Daniel A. Freeman