From a KC Librarian

Just an average guy trying to make sense of his life in the library and beyond.....

Monday, July 30, 2007

Top 50 Movie Robots of all time

As according to the London Times Online. Click on the image below to see their entire list.


Personally, I felt the androids Bishop (Aliens) and Ash (Alien) should have ranked higher on the list, along with Maria from Metropolis.

Old George Brett 7Up commercial

I came across this video while looking for Denny Matthews' acceptance speech for his Baseball Hall of Fame induction. It was 27 years ago when this first aired.....

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

While out walking a couple a nights ago....

I heard a horse whinny. It sounded like a whinny of jealousy.

My walk route takes me past a horse farm in the Northland. When I walked past the farm, I heard the horse. As it turns out, three other horses had riders on them and I think this horse was whinnying because he was simple jealous that the riders chose other horses.

Hell hath not fury like a horsey scorned?

What's Good for One Library Branch.....

....is not necessarily good for my library branch.

This week I received an email from one of the supers at "another" library branch writing how they are addressing a flaw in the Access management software. I talked this issue over with my staff and my supervisor and we all agreed that their solution to this flaw is not exactly what we want to do for our computer lab. As our computer services department works out solutions with the vendor who sold us this software in the first place, I am thinking of different solutions for our branch. I think I have an idea that does not require us to collect and be responsible for a library card. After all, that's why we bought the software in the first place, isn't it? So that patrons could keep their library card????

Thursday, July 19, 2007

An observation while walking tonight....

Why is it that some teenage fool has to scream at the top of his lungs while riding shotgun in his buddy's car whenever he sees somebody walking for exercise at night?

Growing Pains with Access Management

I think I was the last library staff member to experience this, but I now have officially seen the quirk that occurs with our access management software, a full computer lab, and the transition of a YA or JUV library card number from the "Waiting" list to the "Reservation" list. I know this probably doesn't make sense for the library outsider. However, our public kiosk has trouble moving the young adult or juvenile library card from the waiting list to the reservation list whenever a computer opens up in the lab.
I'm thinking the problem lies with coding in the software itself that discriminates on these specific cards. To help with this problem, I've created a form for staff to fill out to document all occurrences when a library specifically doesn't work.
On the whole, the reservation system works swimmingly. However, with the kid cards this snag occurs. I am NOT looking forward to when school starts up and we get the rugs rats using the lab.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Treadmill is finally assembled

Putting aside my fears that I might put a hole in a wall in my basement, I put together my new treadmill last night. As with the tortoise, slow and steady gets the job done. The treadmill has a heavy engine and I was fearful that if I lost control of the treadmill while affixing the legs, a wayward handle would puncture a wall. None such thing happened.
Actually, the tough part of the assembly was attaching the control console to the upright handles. I ended up using a small blanket trunk to brace the console as I attached the electrical components and fastened the bolts to both the uprights and the console.
The treadmill now works perfectly. I did a quick fifteen minute workout on it before going to bed last night. I was very impressed with what the treadmill had to offer.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

In honor of a new treadmill...

This year's Fourth celebration was kept to simple barbecue and families going on bike rides or playing video games. Kind of incovenient that the holiday came on a Wednesday. Some of us had to work on Thursday.
Anyway, in honor of a new purchased treadmill combined with the fact I can't think of anything else to blog about, here's OK Go and their dancing number on treadmills.....

Monday, July 02, 2007

PC Access Management Up and Running

I was on vacation when they installed it; but, computer services did install the access management software on time. I spent the first couple of hours of my Monday in the lab watching the patrons logging in and watching my lab staff ably help those patrons who could not quite figure it out.

The software still has some kinks in it (like telling the difference in classes of library privileges and handling reservations when the lab is full) but, for the most part, it works.

In John McClane I Trust

Saw Live Free and Die Hard
Thought it was nice
Saw it twice.

As per the series, there were some preposterous scenes in this one. However, it was fun watching the analog McClane dealing with the digital criminals.