The links to Craft & Hobby and Value Line have been deleted. I added a link to the BPL business resources page to help the few folks who were using Value Line.Please let me know if you get any questions!
Category: Technical Services
Aspen vs. Evergreen
You’ve probably heard about our new public catalog interface, Aspen, which is in “soft launch” right now, and will go live in September. In a nutshell, it is a software layer that sits on top of our Evergreen database. Staff searching and other functions in Evergreen are not affected, it’s strictly on the public-facing (OPAC) side.
The benefits to the patrons are:
- better and more flexible searching
- the ability to search and checkout Libby and Hoopla items without leaving the catalog
- it’s much prettier!
Put it through its paces and let me know what you find–feel free to try and break it so we can report back to NOBLE! The list-making function is not enabled yet, but otherwise it should be fully operational.
Two new online resources
We have two new online resources just starting: FamilySearch and Craft & Hobby. We’ll be promoting them in January, and we’d love some testimonials from staff, so if you get a chance, check them out! They will only work in the library at the moment, but the craft one will eventually work from home. FamilySearch is a very large collection of genealogical resources–you make a free account and then start searching for your family members. Jocelyn is very knowledgeable if you’re interested!
Staff Shout Outs!
Are you ready for some shout-outs? If you’d like to submit a shout-out, fill out the form on the Forms page. Don’t be shy! Shout it out!
Shout out to Tech Services for going above and beyond. Shout out to the Tech Services team for letting us buy all of our wish lists and then processing all those items….cause there were a lot. You’re a dream team of public servants and we cannot thank you enough! From Children’s.
Shout out to Meaghan Clemente for a great first two weeks! She jumped right in and is already organizing us. Thank you! From Michelle.
Shout out to Suzy for going above and beyond and exemplary customer service. Suzy recently helped one of our patrons who was having car trouble. She helped her call AAA (patron is hard of hearing) and made sure she had a ride home. And apparently, another patron noticed the exemplary customer service Suzy was providing because she told Reference “The people at the front desk are being so nice to that woman!” From Judy T.
Shout out to Cate for going above and beyond and coming up with a new idea. Cate’s passive programming ideas are always a hit. But her Chumley’s Flower Garden puts the rest to shame! So much wonderful pretend play is happening between children and with their engaged caregivers. Cate, your creativity never ceases to amaze! From Ashley.
Initials, please!
When you leave a ‘problem’ item on the snag cart or on the desk of someone in TS, please write a brief note and sign or initial it. Sometimes we have follow-up questions about these items and don’t know who to ask. Thanks for your help with this!
Staff Shout Outs
Are you ready for some shout-outs? If you’d like to submit a shout-out, fill out the form on the Forms page. Don’t be shy! Shout it out! And I KNOW there are more shout-outs from other departments. Let’s see them!
Shout out to Chris for keeping it positive. I look forward to her Irish soda bread every March 17th and it NEVER disappoints. Thanks for the tasty treat! From Michelle.
Shout out to the Borrower Services staff for exemplary customer service and keeping it positive. As we pass the 2nd anniversary of the pandemic, I want to give a shout-out to our Borrower Services staff who have consistently rolled with every pivot, all with good humor, kindness, and hard work. It does not go unnoticed. From Michelle.
Shout out to Cate for going above and beyond. Cate did a fantastic, fantabulous, wondrous, most lovely job putting together the March Gladness event! Thank you so much for getting us all together to try new things and have fun! From anonymous.
Shout out to Lyndsay for going above and beyond and helping a co-worker. Lyndsay loaned us her Beach umbrella for our play space in the Children’s Room and it added such a fun prop for the kids! Many thanks! From Cate.
Shout out to Andrea H for going above and beyond. Andrea was outside before we opened this morning with a spade, fertilizer, and fierce lipstick getting the pollinator garden ready for spring! She has a green thumb and golden spoon! From Cate.