JENNIFER SUSAN LITZ: January 2008 Archives

I posted this on Monday, but it bears repeating:

Meeting Maker will be shut down at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30, to prepare the migration
file. It will be available again for reference beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Any meetings/activities added or proposed after 5:00 p.m. on January 30 will not be migrated
to the Oracle Calendar.

If you make any schedule changes before we get the new Oracle, you'll have to write it down to remind yourself!

The weather outside was frightful this morning.  Here is a link to a previous weather tips blog post from back in November.  Now would be a good time to review it.  You should also have a copy of the contact list at home in case you get stuck.  Be careful out there!

Oracle Reminder

This week is the start of the conversion from Meeting Maker to Oracle.  Please read this week's interview for more information.  Two important points:

Meeting Maker will be shut down at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30, to prepare the migration
file. It will be available again for reference beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Any meetings/activities added or proposed after 5:00 p.m. on January 30 will not be migrated
to the Oracle Calendar.

Please attend a training session to be ready for the migration.

Sorry no entry for yesterday.  Between desk, three meetings, and getting some on-time work finished, I ran out of time for blogging.

Timecards

I put a copy of the dates that your timecards are due in Human Resources in your mailboxes.  It is best to enter your time worked every shift you work.  That way, when they're due, they're done.  I am not supposed to enter your time worked for you, so stay on top of this if you want to get paid!!!

Shift Lists

Most of you got out of the habit of filling out a shift list when you work.  They're still out there by the desk, so please fill one out after each shift.  This helps us keep track of projects and assignment.

I'll be out tomorrow, so no more blog until Monday.

Closing Procedures Reminder

During your final rounds at closing, make sure the lights are off in Room 514, 513, 503, and the office area.  Also, make sure that the doors to 514, 503, and the office area are locked.

Lights in the Morning

Apparently there has been (or will be) a change in procedure for the folks who usually turn the lights on in the morning.  If the lights aren't on when you arrive, turn them on; they are located in the sorting area by the elevators.

For your Friday viewing pleasure (a tribute to the striking writers) Murder Unscripted.  I got nothin' else today.

Oracle Conversion

The comversion from Meeting Maker to Oracle is coming soon.  Here's the list of training sessions, both show and tell and hands-on.

Additional Spring Training Sessions

The library is offering a series of training sessions this spring.  Even if you've been to these, you may want a refresher.  I especially encourage you to attend the one on call numbers, which is the first one offered.  All will be in the Foster Auditorium and you will be paid for attending.  If there are sessions you want to take when you're scheduled to be on desk, let me know and I'll try to arrange to have your desk hours covered.

Call Numbers - Jan. 25   2:00 - 3:00
Privacy - Jan. 30   2:00 - 3:00
Overview of ILL - Feb. 5   3:00 - 4:00
Customer Service  - Feb. 15  10:00 - 11:00
Basic Workflows, Getting Started - Feb. 26   3:00 - 4:00
Workflows, Circulation Basics - March 7  10:00 - 11:00
The CAT - March 19   3:00 - 4:00
Overview of the Libraries - March 31   1:00 - 2:00
Library Services for Persons with Disabilities - April 9   11:00 - 12:00
Overview of Electronic Resources - April 17   9:30 - 10:30

Spring Training Sessions

Mark your calendars now for our Spring Training Sessions. Each is from 3:30 - 5:00.

Feb. 6 - Lit Map and call number order review
Mar. 5 - new calendar and new mail system (hopefully we'll actually have them both by then)
April 9 - possibly RSS feeds and summer schedule

Now, I'm going to tackle the new blog format. If all goes well, I can migrate the old into the new.

Mission Accomplished!

Blog Upgrade

Penn State has upgraded the software used to create blogs. You'll be seeing a new look, too. I don't have time to play around with it today, but you'll be seeing it later this week. I hope the archives don't disappear!

Friday's Blog Quiz

In your mailboxes you'll find a call number quiz. When you've completed it, put it in my mailbox.

And for your Friday viewing pleasure, A Bit of Fry & Laurie - Library Sketch (Laurie is Hugh Laurie, the wonderfully crabby Dr. House.)

New Meeting Maker Log-In

There's a new log-in name for EBSL in Meeting Maker. I've e-mailed you the changes, put a copy of the e-mail in your mailboxes, and put the log-in information by each PC at the desk (under the plastic at the circ terminal and the "tall" one.) If you tell me that you can't log in to meeting maker, I'll know you don't check your e-mail, this blog, or your mailboxes. Consider yourselves warned!! Bwa ha ha ha ha.

Not much to report today, but I thought I'd share this site for searching Pennsylvania Historical Markers. You can search by marker name, keyword, county, or by category. It's very interesting! And Alan found this for Pennsylvania Trivia .

Back to Reality (Sort Of) Next Week

The librarians will be at ALA at the end of this week and the beginning of the next. For the rest of us, the regular semester schedule will begin on Monday, January 14. Check meeting maker and let me know if there are any problems.

Read this week's Interview which includes a feature on the Pennsylvania Center for the Book's Literary and Cultural Heritage Map.

Hope to see you tomorrow at the In-Service Day!

Steven thought you might find this interesting: Digital Domain: How to Lose Your Job on Your Own Time

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday break. I'm looking forward to the coming year and hope it's the best yet.

If you want to attend Friday's In-Service day, it's not too late to register:
Late Registration is under way for Libraries' In-Service Day to be held this Friday, January 4th, 2008.

Please register as soon as possible via Tech Smart: ( http://www.libraries.psu.edu/itech/ ; click the "Tech-Smart Online Course Registration" link). For those who cannot register via Tech Smart, please email your name, preferred email address, department, phone number and list of sessions to Carrie Friday (clc2@psulias.psu.edu).