Winnefox Technology Update May 15,
2003
A summary
report prepared for the Wisconsin System Technology meeting sponsored by the
Wisconsin Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning.
Of the 30 Winnefox libraries, 24 are now on the shared
automation system. One more will be
coming online in June.
We are migrating from the Sirsi/DRA Classic software to the
Sirsi Unicorn software in spring of 2004.
Fond du Lac Public Library will be joining the shared system at that
time, migrating from a Dynix system.
http://webcat.winnefox.org
The webcat software we currently use will work with the new
Sirsi database structure—we will not be switching to the IBistro
catalog. We have enhanced the catalog
with content (cover art, tables of content, reviews, etc.) from Syndetics.
Booklists
with Links to the Catalog
We use
report writer software against the database to generate monthly new book lists
for all the libraries that are on the shared system. These lists include an HTML link for each title that goes
directly into the online catalog so that patrons can see the status of the
item. Each list is then tailored so
that it fits in with the look and feel of the rest of the library's website.
We
maintaining twelve Intel servers running Windows NT/2000 and Linux which house
everything from e-mail to web services to online databases. We also have HP server for the circulation
system. (The Sirsi Unicorn system will
use a Sun server.) There is also a test
server/environment for almost all of the applications we run.
We manage the network that connects the 28 Winnefox
libraries that are on it. This includes
configuring and trouble-shooting routers and maintaining a firewall.
PCs, Printers, Scanners, etc.
We support
the approximately 400 PCs on our network, running a variety of operating
systems. Public Web Brower, Fortres,
and occasionally Deep Freeze or a similar product are used to provide security
on most public stations. Virtual
Network Computing (VNC) is used to remotely work on staff and public PCs when
necessary. We recently installed 47
Gates PCS at 20 libraries. We also
provide PC support to the two libraries that are not on our network.
We
configure, order, and set up PCs for the libraries, and also handle printers,
scanners, barcode scanners, and other peripheral equipment.
We've set
up two wireless labs—at Oshkosh and Green Lake. They can be used to train staff or the public. Some of the PCs were new laptops, the others
were existing laptops that were updated using wireless PC cards. Other uses include staff use for meetings,
or for performing circulation functions among the stacks. The Oshkosh setup includes laptop cart to
make storage and recharging easier.
We
purchased two Dell Axims (one base model and a faster model) to try out and see
how they would work for staff.
Primarily they would be used to synchronize with Microsoft Outlook, so
staff could have their calendar, contacts, and some email on hand when away
from their desks. The Axims also come
with MS Word, MS Excel, and Internet Explorer.
Because we already have a wireless network established in the building,
it would be possible to connect these devices to our network with the use of an
optional wireless NIC card. This would
mean that staff could update email, contacts, documents, and appointments in
real time, instead of having to connect to a PC.
www.pharos.com
Pharos
SignUp is a program we use in our larger libraries (Oshkosh, Neenah and
Menasha) to help regulate Internet usage by patrons. A patron simply needs to enter the number found on their library
cards and a four-digit pin and they can use the computer for up to an
hour. If all of the PCS are in use,
they can enter their information in a separate registration computer, and it
will assign that patron to the next available computer. Patrons that owe more than $5.00 (library
policy) in fines are blocked from using the Internet stations, as are patrons
that have been banned by the libraries.
The
current version of the software has a web interface that any authorized staff
can use to lengthen or shorten sessions, add patrons to the database, and
monitor a patron's past use of the Internet.
The system does not track sites patrons have visited—that
information is not part of the system and is wiped from the PC and reboot. The PC reboots between each logon.
We run an
Exchange 5.5 server and are testing Exchange 2000. We have a server using Mailscanner and Spamassassin that scans
incoming mail for viruses and marks suspected spam as such. We manage the email accounts for approximate
200 users and about 20 email lists.
Staff use Outlook as their internal email client. Mail can be accessed remotely using the
webmail product SquirrelMail.
http://www.winnefox.org/er/
We provide
remote access to all of the electronic resources for which the system and our
libraries subscribe to if it is allowed under the licensing of the
resource. Users are authenticated using
EZProxy by entering their library barcode.
http://info.winnefox.org
This site
attempts to put online the information about the shared automation system. It uses Swish-E software as its search
engine.
http://info.winnefox.org/blogs
We are
also using blogs to communicate with member library staff, including the
monthly publication, Ides. We’ve worked
with one member library, Green Lake, to set up its own blog.
http://info.winnefox.org/phptest
We’ve
created an online training assessment for testing staff on the basics of PC
operation and windows. As part of the
automation upgrade, we wanted to make sure that staff has the needed skills to
work in a new environment that uses PCs instead of terminals.
Winnefox has a cooperative technical services program (WCTS)
for small libraries for the selection, ordering, cataloging and physical
processing of library material. We have
created a process for creating online ordering process for the libraries to
indicate what they want WCTS to order.
WCTS creates a master list for the bi-monthly order. The libraries can search it (on keywords,
genre, age, format) and mark the items they want to order. They may also add in titles not found on the
list. Once all the library orders are
in, the system tallies the orders up and the WCTS starts placing orders
(starting with the most popular items and holiday items). As items come in, they are checked in on the
system and processed. Invoices are also
produced by the system and sent out.
1) Fond du
Lac
http://www.fdlpl.org/vital/
This is an
index covers many of the obituaries, funeral notices and marriages published in
the Fond du Lac newspapers between 1846 and 1994. It is searchable by name, date, and record types. The staff has the ability to add new
records.
2) Oshkosh, 1920s-1960s
http://www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org/obituaryindex/Vital.html
This is a
joint project with the Winnebagoland Genealogical Society. The index covers obituaries, death notices
and funeral notices from the 1920s through the 1960s published in the Oshkosh
Daily Northwestern. It is searchable by
name and date.
3) Oshkosh, 1999 (In development)
This is a
database covering 2001-2003 obituaries, births, marriages, anniversaries and
milestone birthdays. Staff is inputting
records; no search interface has been developed yet.
4) Menasha
Newspaper Index
(In
development)
This will
be a selective index of articles about Menasha appearing in The Post-Crescent
and News Record newspapers. It will be
browseable by subject or time period or searchable on keyword or time.
1)
Old city directories
(Soon to
be live at: http://www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org/citydirs/)
Description:
Fourteen Oshkosh city directories dating from 1857 through 1893 have been
digitized by Northern Micrographics and are available for browsing or searching
in PDF (Adobe Acrobat Reader) format.
2)
Old books with photos of Oshkosh (In
development)
Twenty-four
local history books (mostly books of pictures) dating from approximately 1887
to 1919 have been digitized by Northern Microgaphics and are currently being
prepared for browsing or searching using both images and PDF format.
1)
Oshkosh Stories with input forms
http://www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org/oshkoshstories/welcome.html
This is a
program to solicit stories and reminiscences of life in Oshkosh by
"ordinary people" spanning the 1930s through the 1970s. An online input form is available for
patrons to be able to submit their own stories which are then reviewed and
posted on the site.
2)
Oshkosh Facts and Miscellaneous Information
http://www.oshkoshpubliclibrary.org/FAQ/OPLFAQ.html
This is a database compiled to answer common questions about
the City of Oshkosh and its history. It
is browseable and searchable on keyword, category, and time period.
All 30 Winnefox libraries have websites. We created and maintain 22 of them, and have
worked with most of the others on some aspects of their sites. We did the domain registrations for all of the
libraries (for example: menashalibrary.org).
We also train library staff to maintain web sites, and provide
consultation and usability testing on library web sites.
As part of separately funded work for the Oshkosh Public
Library web sites have been created for nonprofit agencies like the Winnebago
Interfaith Needs Response [http://www.winronline.org/], Winnebago County
Literacy Council [http://www.winlit.org], Information and Referral Providers of
Wisconsin [http://www.irpw.org/], and the Oshkosh Sesquicentennial 2003 web
site [http://www.oshkoshonthewater.com/150/].
As part of
Winnefox's web site hosting service for affiliated library agencies, we created
and maintain web sites for the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium
[http://www.winnefox.org/wplc/] and the WLA Interlibrary Loan Roundtable
[http://www.winnefox.org/illrt/].
Winnefox
has seven nearly full-time staff working on these various technology projects
and activities.
Karen
Boehning
Winnefox
Library System
920
426-2843