COSUGI 2010 | official live blog

Staying on Strategy in Difficult Economic Times

2010-03-05T21:55:00.004-05:00

While not "technically" not a live blog post since this session was Thursday morning, I thought Kitty's message was to good not to share. Thanks Kitty! Ann Hutton

A year ago, On a + Note, popped up in my email box. Now my path and Kitty Pope’s cross regularly at conferences and most often at SirsiDynix functions as the Alliance Library System is a Symphony site and ours is a Horizon installation. Both SELCO and the Alliance are library consortia serving a diverse multitype library membership. So I read with interest my colleague’s comments and have come to appreciate her email message each week. As part of the COSUGI Executive Track sponsored by SirsiDynix, Kitty shared her thoughts about Staying on Strategy in Difficult Economic Times, as well as the impetus for On a + Note.

She started writing a year ago while trying to stay focused and as a way to, in Kitty’s words, “push back the fear.” Her first message focused on sticking to the facts and stressed:

Communicate with folks more than ever
Use your team
Be patient and flexible
Use your passion to sustain the dream.

Her staff suggested putting the article on the Alliance Library System website (and they are posted there) but Kitty opted for older technology and pushed her positive message via email so that it was in people’s mailboxes.

Each article has a candid photo and bits of personal information so that you feel an armchair familiarity with Kitty even if you’ve never met her. During the time she has been doing this weekly article there have been reoccurring themes and she’s tracked those that resonate with her readers in these trying times.

Customer service
Defining leadership
Sustaining the dream
Personal stories
Humor
Talking about the passion.

On the topic of fear, she has lead by example, taken advantage of distance learning, as well as assumed clerical tasks previously done by her administrative assistant prior to staffing reductions. Her advice for how to control fear includes:

Surround your self with the + (positive energy)
Rely on your team
Be kind to yourself
Build in laughter.

Kitty evaluates everything and strives to appreciate the new ways of doing things. Everything is linked to the mission. She recommends identifying 3-4 similar but stellar organizations and using them as organizational benchmarks. Keep track of what they are doing, what’s new, what’s being discontinued and how do your stats compare. When changes need to be made, accept the fact and proceed with grace while being honest with yourself and those involved. On a + Note, budget reductions are an opportunity to keep the best staff, right size a department, restructure or consolidate. Kitty defined three types of cuts:

A strategic cuts
A political statement
The least visible cut.

With a passion for libraries and the work of regional library systems, she has a vision for the next three years, however hard they may be.

Survive … for the next 6 months
Strive … move forward for the next 12 -14 months
Thrive … the ideal virture in 2-3 years.

And I am sure the Alliance Library System and central Illinois libraries will do just that with her leadership and On a + Note.

Cross posted to SELCO Librarian.

Advanced Training Technologies

2010-03-05T14:58:00.001-05:00

In Tomorrow’s Training Technologies Today, Judith Tigner, SirsiDynix Implementations Director, gave the COSUGI Executive Track a preview of their new Learning Management System (LMS). This is the marriage of the best of onsite training and distance learning. From years of experience, onsite provides the trainer with context and a real connection to the site and the particulars of a specific installation but offers too much content in too short a period of time. The result - you simply cannot reach everyone. Distance learning allows students to take classes as many times as needed working around schedules and with less expense but without the personal touch.

SirsiDynix will continue to offer direct, onsite training and will expand their instruction packet for Symphony (and eventually to Horizon) customers to include a hands-on lab, self paced sessions with practice time and study halls all under the LMS umbrella.

The Hands-On Lab enables the participant hands-on use of the software while the instructor observes each student’s screen as a window on a large monitor. There is no web-cam interface for facial expressions, but the instructor can see who is doing what and who might be encountering difficulties.

Self-paced training is created using Captivate and allows for interactive online training, as well as assessment and even a final score or grade for the session. Currently there are 86 self-paced sessions in the SirsiDynix training library available 24/7.

Symphony customers can also signup for a Practice Session using their own ILS with a SirsiDynix instructor knowledgeable about a topic and letting participants “play” in their own environment with offsite support. The Study Hall approach lets a customer “rent” time on a test server for independent study but with technical support on stand by to assist with any questions or difficulties.

Pricing for any of these services varies depending on what is needed and ranges from one-off class prices to a subscription that allows for a smorgasbord selection based on a library’s or consortium’s training needs.

The SirsiDynix LMS will serve as the training hub offering a variety of training modes and is in beta testing at this time. LMS is self-paced and lets students stop and re-join where they left off. Students will be able to print certificate and even get a transcript. The Manager Console enables supervisors to work with staff to set training goals and monitor individual progress, even link dates and goals.

Cross posted to SELCO Librarian

Off to work we go...

2010-03-05T13:21:00.005-05:00

Once again there is energy in the air for Horizon customers at COSUGI. (Think 7 Dwarfs – off to work we go, hi-ho, hi-ho…) Unlike the past few years when the mix of Horizon and COSUGI felt more like the being the step sister relegated to sweeping the hearth without any hope of attending the ball, I am feeling the workhorse that is Horizon is more appreciated. (Yes, I know I am mixing fairy tales – but I’m at Walt Disney World and the cartoon characters are all around.) While Symphony continues to be their primary software platform, SirsiDynix is responding with Horizon developments for a group that constitutes a significant client (and financial) base. A quick glance at COSUGI’s program offers a practical reflection with 65 of the 117 breakout sessions offering content for Horizon clients. When I head home tomorrow, I do so with a slightly lighter step. Hi-ho, hi-ho…

Cross posted to SELCO Librararian

What you don't know about your library operations, but could learn with Director's State and Web Reporter

2010-03-05T10:23:00.003-05:00

Nathan Guinn, SD

How do we find out what our patrons are really doing? How do we justify the funding we are requesting? Using data from system can justify needs and personnel. Future plans. Library intelligence - who, how, when, why, where & what?

SD provides 3 sourses for reports to generate reports to provide this information
* Reports built into ILS
* Director's Station
* Web Reporter

Director's Station -- works with Unicorn and Symphony. Ease drag and drop, point and click

Web Reporter - web and desktop client narrowcast

why chose one over another - Director's station - results quick, full function with no client installation

why choose Web reporter - schedule to run, formatting flexibility, use prompts for data and filters.

Success is the smiles of those we serve

Need to increase success to dollar ration

Use reports to show value, need, success

Guinn showed screen shots of reporting tools with features of both tools.

Web Reporter can be used to simplify, personalize, calculations, etc.

Guinn asked for input on what people need for the next version

QUESTIONS:
Are the products are more silod, how can we cross domain - between modules like Circulation and Acquisitions? That has been heard this week. They are early enough in the design to that this to development. Maybe not the first release but next cycle

Looking to bring Web Reporter and Director's Station into one product.

Is there ability in the current software to combine modules? Not currently

Director's Station available for Horizon? No, reason for 5.0

Is there a preferred brower? posted on Client Care. IE 8 not supported; Firefox 3.0 dramatically better for one version that I missed. Firefox 3.5 has trouble with scroll bars so recomend Firefox 3.0

Can SD host the browsers for download? SD will put a link on their site so users don't have to go search for versions. Audience LOVED that idea.

With the next upgrade to Director's Station could templates be retained? Wouldn't that be nice. Sounds like that is recognized as an issue and they'll look into it to me. Continue to provide this as input. Perceived as a "migration" from one platform to another. Goal is not to make it painful for you.

Is Version 5.0 the same products? Looking to merge two products and create one that has the best of both and work on Horizon and Symphony.

Holds wrappers, e-Library, reports, and inventory demystified

2010-03-05T09:11:00.009-05:00

Some highlights from the presentations:

Holds pick list made up of routing slips: Jennifer Falkowski and David Paul showed how their Maryland library system streamlined handling of holds with software that prints holds wrappers on sticky-notes labels. Staff use the pages of labels to find onshelf holds, then apply the info-rich labels on items as they are found. Leftover labels have barcodes that can be scanned to mark those items as missing. Once the label is on the item, there's no need for printing transit slips or a holds slip. Result: They cut from printing for holds three times -- pick list, transit slips, holds slip -- to only once, and they cut the process from 12 steps to eight. Check out the presentation slides if you missed the session (Title: Improve Materials Handling Efficiencies By Producing Custom “Pull On-Shelf Hold”). Info is also available from exhibitors J. Huber and Associates and Rasmussen Software.
e-Library and CSS: The pre-conference on customizing e-Library and a presentation by Jeremy Newville of SirsiDynix provided a much-needed bump in my understanding of these topics. One common mantra: Only do customizations in custom files, so you don't lose your work at the next upgrade. I've only used Firebug but I might give IE Web Developer Tools a try after seeing Jeremy demo it. It seems to be easier to use for someone who's at beginner or intermediate level.
Standard Reports in SirsiDynix Symphony: This presentation proved that introductory-level session can be valuable to an old pro. Next week, I happen to be scheduled to train a new Tech Services specialist on running weeding lists, and I'll be able to borrow from Lisa Witteman's slides. When you've been immersed in reports for a few years, it can be hard to remember how to dial it back to the basics when training someone new. Thanks, Lisa.
Inventory: It's complicated. But Matthew Phillips made it look a little easier. He provided an excellent outline of all the steps used in running Symphony reports for inventory, both online and offline. His PowerPoint slides might be a good Cliffs Notes for inventory even if you missed the presentation. One good question involved how to handle floating collections. There didn't seem to be an easy answer. There might be a couple of ways to go. Our library plans an inventory soon, and if we figure out an innovative method for floating collections, who knows... I might just be presenting next year.

Tomorrow's Training Technologies Today : Advances in SirsiDynix Training Programs

2010-03-05T08:31:00.003-05:00

Judith Tigner, SirsiDynix

Tigner went over training programs of the past. On-site to Distance Training

New training styles
*on-site training
*instructor-led distance
*hands-on lab -- Instructor is sitting at a large monitor with each "students" screen on their monitor
*self-paced training - 24/7, 86 session and growing, interactive prerequiste for program there is a "essential skills" class open to anyone Symphony and Horizon
*Practice sessions - hands-on lab technology, with instructor knowledgeable about topic to ask questions as you "play" , assigned subjects Symphony only
*Study Hall -- like renting a test server for a few hours, training there is have technical issues. for you to play without messing up your databawse

Question - where available? sirsidynix.webex.com
cost? vary in price based on length. Self paces learning subscription option

Future plans:
Learning management system. Tigner showed screen shots. May/June timeframe. 'Anyone buying training from us with have access to this" Currently Symphony but will add Horizon soon. 9 customers beta testing. 2 customers in implementation using this.

SD would set up logins for all library staff that will be using training. Personalized for each person.

Question:
Under a consortium, can I deposit $10,000 and say whoever needs it takes training? Yes, it would be a decreasing balance.
Can we create our own accounts for our library? That is being looked at as an option

If you start and class but have to leave, the system will remember where you were.

Certificates of completion printable when complete

Transcript to show all classes taken, printable

Manager mode: This person, in your library, can see who has taken what. Can drill down to individual progress in each course and dump into Excel spreadsheet.

Question:
For a consortium, can it be sorted library by library? That is being tested at this time.

Courses presented in your time zone, reminders, etc.

You can your own development plans such as for new student assistant - not everything has be SD training. This is a way to keep track of these things. Including due dates on the training.
Looking into being able to upload library's own videos etc - building the library's own curriculm

Future -
training with variety of elements and ease of tracking

Provides need for continuing education for new hires, new releases, etc.

Questions:
Talk about online documentation and online help? In Symphony there are FAQs. Even if don't attend classes you have access to training guides. SD has put effort to make online help more helpful. Release notes for new releases

Training help for previous versions? Do have some self paced trainings for older releases? Some customers stay a couple of releases behind but have new staff or don't remember things.
Response: better to have trainer, training is fairly new so not always available. Real discussion in the room - people want the training from the older version. Documentation is also removed. Tigner will take this back to SD.

Is all training Java training or C-client? not building self paced training for c-client.

To use your own library's policies and data, on site trainning or using your training db

Is there an ability to "test drive" before purchasing? Essential skills is available to everyone.

Does this website list all 86 courses? This is being developed now

Modules? Circulation, cataloging, system administration. Serials under development. Acquisition is hard since everyone does this differently.

What does Essential Skills cover? It's how to use the navigating the system, not a "pretest"

To got the Essential skills class - just go onton Webex site

Timeframe for LMS for loading library specific items: Still a yes or no, is yes then end of year.

If purchase training now, will it convert to the LMS? Still working on that, don't know at this moment

COSUGI business session 3/4

2010-03-04T16:28:00.002-05:00

Chair Chris Hauser thanked SirsiDynix for AWESOME reception last night.

New website - COSUGI.org

New listserv - COSUGI-L not a technical or answer site, for COSUGI members to discuss COSUGI issues, cross platforms.

Board terms end June 30th. Global password change will occur at that time for members in good standing.

Registration 650-660 about half of expected attendees. Will not meet contractual agreements with hotel in room, etc. Will be a loss but will not affect operating costs.

90-100 for preconference events

Breakdown of attendees by ILS given Symphony had the majority. Library type: public libraries are the most. First time attendees, over 100. 71 from SirsiDynix.

Post conference survey will be emailed on Monday

Treasurer's report given

Election results:
Chair elect - Brian Sherman
Secreeaty Sean Farrell
Conference chair election : Laurie England
Membership & Communications chair: Ester Blood
SIG/RUG coordinator: Andy Gallotte

SIG/RUG coordinator reported

No new business

RAFFLE time!

SOPAC : How & Why it was selected and got connected with Symphony - Thursday 3/4

2010-03-04T14:57:00.004-05:00

Laurie Lessner, SAILS, Inc., Sean Robinson, Allen County Public Library

Lessner have history of how SOPAC came about. They did a needs assessment with over 5600 responses. What was wanted most was facets, 90% had high speed internet, and the public was knowledgable.

They tested Primo, Zoom, Enterprise, Aquabrowser, Endeca, WorldCatLocal, Vectors. This was a couple of years ago and Lessner mentioned that the field has changed some since this occured.

Evaluation requirements were shown, they did not believe they could not take away any current services and wanted to add others.

Evaluted specific vendors in RFI survey. Invitations sent to 6 companies. Three vendors were invited in to demo. Survey Monkey was used for staff input. Focus groups was used with patrons. Found that despite 6 sessions at libraries throughout their network and a community college, their needs were similar. Simple entry box.

SOPAC was selected. Open source product was also good for the public funded institutions since this was grant funded. CraftySpace was hired as a part of the grant. CraftySpace is a Drupal site which SOPAC is written on.

Issues - patron authentication - 2 logins DRUPAL account (SOPAC) and ILS (Symphony)

SOPAC - Social OPAC
Robinson covered this history of SOPAC and how he developed the connector to Symphony
John Blyberg developer was present.

Used XMPAPI to get data.

Used DRUPAL for flexibility in future

3 connector pieces needed
Sirsi_patronapi.php -- gets patron information
Sirsitools_3125.php -- renew, cancel hold, place hold
Locum_sirsi_3125.php -- bibliographic info (cat key not item key), item status

Robinson showed screen shots of the Allen County Public Library

Robinson's blog www.tscrobinson.com with information/code there.

Audience comments:
Is this live yet? no alpha at this time.
is API training from SirsiDynix needed? yes
What version of Drupal is SOPAC on? 7 developed at 5 and beyond

Reducing Headaches and Saving Money in the Public Comptuing Lab

2010-03-04T13:47:00.002-05:00

Sean Ferrell, Library to Hattiesburg Petal and Forrest County

Ferrell spoke about using SteadyState to help clean "junk", mulitple icons, porn, etc off the desktop. SteadyState is supported for XP and Vista.

SteadyState has a forum where users post issues and solutions. Microsoft also reads this forum and responds.

Ferrell went over preparing a machine to install SteadyState and then how to set user setting for daily use. He did step by step instructions for those who need to start from the beginning.

SteadyState does not work with Windows7 and Microsoft has no plans to come up with compatible version.

SteadyState forum:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowssteadystate/threads

Audience comments:
using Deep Freeze for years
not using a virus protection could open machines up to problems

Training and Consulting

2010-03-04T06:12:00.001-05:00

It's old home week at the SirsiDynix Education Services and Consulting booth in the Exhibit Hall! Kim Granquist Battles, Ken Bonney, Matthew Phillips, Jeremy Newville, and I have been catching up with our customers, folks we have visited at their library or worked with via distance. We have also been talking with customers who have new staff that need training or want to know more about API. We love to hear how customers are staying current and educating their staff.

Today I will be presenting Tomorrow's Training Technologies Today at 8:30am in Coronado J. A lot of the time will be spent discussing the new Learning Management System (LMS) which will change the way we deliver training. I hope to see you there. If you cannot make the session but want to know more, come by our booth. As we roll out this new system having customer feedback is the key!

Large Scale Deployment of PocketCirc

2010-03-03T17:55:00.003-05:00

The successful implementation of PocketCirc at the County of Los Angeles Public Library demonstrates effectiveness on a broad scale and with diverse possibilities. I first fell in love with PocketCirc in January 2007 but alas it was not available on our integrated library system. A year later at ALA Midwinter, SirsiDynix announced this upgraded service for its Horizon clients and since that time, SELCO has both tested and used this handy device. Today’s session offered expanded potential.

PocketCirc incorporates a ruggedized PDA with a barcode scanner that transforms inventory from labor with a cart, laptop and barcode scanner and maybe even a long power cord into a sci-fi-like mobile task. (Think interstellar travel with Captain Kirk or Commander Data using their tricorders.)

Migell Acosta, Head, ILS Operations at the County of Los Angeles Public Library discussed the technology at play – Windows CE, Active Sync, scanner drivers – and the need for sys admin and network managers to work together for the effective use this tool both offline and online. He candidly shared that the devices (which are complicated) are slightly more prone to problems than the average laptop so if buying quantities (and he counts anything more than 12 as a quantity) to definitely buy backups. Likewise, when considering quantities, the library or library consortium should also implement management tools for remote diagnosis and performing upgrades. Acosta recommends, MobiControl from SOTI.net, which like Active Directory enables remote authentication, as well as security and asset management.

As an inventory tool, it not only checks shelf items with holdings data but catches, mis-shelved items, holds, lost titles, or out-of-order volumes. If working online, all this happens in real time without needing to shuffle books back to the workroom or perform uploads at a later time. Of course the choice of online or offline is just that --- the choice of the user depending on workflow, timing, etc. But the tasks PocketCirc can handle don’t stop with inventory. Consider:

Back–up check outs when circ stations are full. What a boom to moving kids in and out of the library after a class visit. Or (thinking outside the circ box) replacing circ stations so staff can check out items while roaming the library helping users.

Circulation on the bookmobile and even “back room” tasks for those rare times when things are slow on the road.

Using PocketCirc offsite at infrequent satellite locations such as a visit to a classroom or with outreach work during a regular trip to the assisted living center.

Real time patron registration although a bit clunky this could be useful in a pinch.

The Library even used PocketCirc to match new acquisitions for an opening day collection with accounting records.

For whatever task might need a list of barcodes, there is probably a way to use PocketCirc to save valuable staff time and provide improved customer service.

Cross posted to SELCO Librarian

PlasmaGlass – very cool

2010-03-03T16:42:00.004-05:00

I discovered this rear projection screen at the recent Association of Minnesota Counties annual conference but the vendor who had one didn’t have any product info. So it was cool to find one at COSUGI in the Backstage Library Works booth. The Minnesota regional library system directors are working on a redesign of our vendor display for city, county and school meetings and this would be inexpensive, light weight and convey the message that libraries are techie..

Cross posted to SELCO Librarian

First Session: StaffWeb- It's not just for K12 Libraries Anymore

2010-03-03T14:09:00.002-05:00

Laurie Porter is showcasing this pared-down interface in Coronado M

Staff Web is a webbased client that allows circ, catalogin, reports and admin- offers streamlined, easy, short learning curve ideal for K12 libraries but with 3.3 it was opened up for all library types

Policy setup is done through the Symphony client by a system administrator, so someone in the organization needs a java workflows client- there's a separate tab for StaffWeb configuraiton in the User Access policies where the selections for StaffWeb functions can be checked or unchecked for access. In the screenshot it looks super-easy to configure.

The user environment is very simple and clean, with basic tabs and few selections. It would probably be entirely suitable for most circ staff in larger public libraries. The screenshot on display had only circulation and reports available, but an administration tab is available amongst others..

Adminsitration of staffweb allows customization of preferences for the circ station, the receipt printers, and also a template builder for simplified cataloging templates (see below). Admin setup can change defaults for lookups as well as the overall appearance and color scheme of the interface; miscellaneous configuration defaults for the Staffweb client are also available for customization in a more simplified interface.Preference files can be configured for either the user level, the station library level, or the system level.

Q: Can it support multiple schools/ districts each with different configurations and branding?
Looks like yes, using the station library preference configuration.

Circulation functioins available include the standards- checkout/in; user/item searches; display user; item status; placing holds. User information is configured the same way, and adding a new user looks relatively intuitive. Fields are available that allow a level of detail that is suitable for public library user records.

Ability to search user by typing last name into the user ID field is a nice feature- I wonder if this coujld be incorporated into Symphony in the future? It makes a lot of sense as a nice shortcut.

Cataloging options are sufficient for a lot of uses- especially with the ability to create and modify cataloging templates in addition to the delivered templates.

Report groups that are available: circulation, cataloging, user, and inventory. Mostly lists, counts, and labels (other than the inventory group). In user reports, for instance, there are 4 lists that are available- and the number of options are very limited (in a good way!) without multiple tabs- at least in the report that was on the screenshot. Output can be configured for html, csv or xml output in the basic options, which is a nice feature. It looks like it runs a good variety of browsers, and does require Adobe flash.

Keynote Q&A

2010-03-03T11:55:00.003-05:00

Question: how much time does it take to engage socially?
Answer: Topeka has a large staff and a lot of them are enthusiastic about these services and integrate them into their routine activities.

Question: How does Topeka use IM platforms?
Answer: Started out on Meebo, but transitioned to Library Help. Also use a Facebook widget and have IM messaging integrated into their catalog

Question: What advice would you give to SirsiDynix to improve their digital experience?
Answer: Looks like they're moving in the right direction, esp. with mobile platforms. Quality mobile presence is going to be increasingly key to the user experience. Easier to use tools on the customer side to implement customization would be nice.

Question: why did you stop using Meebo?
Answer: Meebo was a good quick way of getting started. LibraryH3lp was more fully-featured and better as an enterprise solution.

Question: Where do you find customization resources for the Topeka HIP
Answer: There are a lot of web-geeks at Topeka library who are given the institution's blessing to play!

Interested in Beta Testing?

2010-03-03T11:49:00.002-05:00

It's so great to see so many familiar faces this morning as COSUGI kicks off. I've already had some great questions about upcoming beta cycles, and wanted to post a quick note about these.

Upcoming beta cycles in 2010 will include:

Symphony 3.4

BookMyne

Horizon 7.5.1

If you are interested in finding out more come to Coronado H tomorrow morning at 11:30 am for "Let's Work Together; Beta Testing and Usability Testing with SirsiDynix."

Keynote

2010-03-03T11:09:00.003-05:00

Here's a quick recap of David Lee King's keynote, which just concluded:

David King of the Topeka public library is keynoting COSUGI on "Making the Digital Experience Sing!"

Today, there's an expectation of good customer service and consumer choice is ubiquitous (in America, perhaps). What is differentiating organizations now is customer experience. Experience is a set of services and activities that surround a purchase or other interaction with a product. American Girl stores are an example of a compelling customer experience where the purchase is only one facet of the consumer's interaction with the brand or service. Harley Davidson cited as another experience where the initial purchase is only the beginning of the consumer's relationship with the brand and other products or services that it might offer.

How to design a digital experience? DLK offers three paths:
Structural: creating a better expereience by improving ease of use of a website. Allows customers to focus on their own goals rather than figuring out how to interact with the website
Jessie James Garrett: Elements of User Experience a good intro to the topic. Charts how to create a user experience from the abstract to the concrete, with focuses on both business and customer needs. David Armano's approach to creating experiences is a more marketing oriented approach, from broad (uncover) through definition of what the experience should be, to immersion (designers using the service in all its aspects) before design. 37signals.com also a good (free) resource on the topic that offers simplified guidance- such as "writing a story" about what you want the experience to look like.

At Topeka, there is a current redesign plan that involves a LOT of planning and focus groups. DLK is meeting with different groups within the library organization to ask what their desired features would be, will meet with consumers later- with a focus on ease-of-use. Want the website to be "as easy to use as a light switch"- a service that requires almost no insight or knowledge to use, but immediately gives the desired result.

The second path: the Community Path is a way of seeking input in a relatively informal way from users, and will harvest a tremendous amount of useful input. In the digital context, this can be emulated via blog commenting, offering easy feedback, review, and integrations to various third party and social media where conversations can easily happen. Consumers should be able to connect with the library AND each other. Libraries can use "content enablers" such as open questions posed in various media to kick off a conversation and solicit a relationship with patrons, using web tools and website features.

Tools lead to participation- without participation there is not a community. Offer services to enable users to participate and encourage them to do so- and follow up on the input that they do have. Users and consumers also want to feel like they are an active part in developing the institutional story. Topeka library uses twitter among other services to extend its reach into the community- telling stories about what is going on at the library as well as answering questions about library services and also questions in general where library input is appropriate.

Sportsclips is a barbershop for men that creates a user experience focused on watching sports while getting a haircut. Webkins is a company where the initial purchase, which is not a huge amount of money, is a portal into a brand extension that comes into the home through a feature-rich online presence.

What do Webkins, Harley-Davidson, and Starbucks have in common? Focusing on the staging experience to extend the brand into the home and the consumer's everyday life. The "post-show" is where most of the activity happens. In libraries, the post-show can be an ongoing book discussion group that occurs online, for instance with a "big-read" program. When people go online they don't necessarily want to interact with information, they want to interact with people with a confluence of interests that are indicated by the meaning of the purchase.

Customer Journey Mapping: people who buy a car don't usually start out at the showroom. First there's an indication that a car needs to be purchased! CJM investigates where the "touchpoints" are between a customer and product or service and how to make those interactions work in the customer's best interest and with the best most compelling experience.

In a catalog search, the example could be like this:

Where is the customer?
What platform are they using?
Where can they find the desired service on your online presence
Do the elements that you present to them make sense, or are they explained adequately?

Libraries can do a variety of simple customizations to help with the user experience, and can look for ways to "improve the ordinary" (the redesign of WD-40 is an example). For websites, figure out what the "ordinary" and the touchpoints are, and look at them with fresh eyes- most of us know how to work the systems and platforms- and how to work around the limitations. Because we've incorporated them into our daily routines we no longer see how frustrating some of these features are to use. Library users are having digital experiences with Amazon, Yahoo, Facebook and other services that are far more friendly than a typical catalog search.

Connecting the customer to the full scope of library services AND to other customers. The Work/Play/Experience blog is a useful source for information and ideas in how to create an Experience "Stage" online- and with conversations online becoming a pre-eminent tool in marketing, libraries need to learn the new language of online connection and conversation. Having a mediocre or at least adequate web presence is going to be increasingly unsatisfactory to the emerging generation.

Cirque du Soleil and Disney Transportation

2010-03-03T00:22:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone, just wanted to take a moment before the conference kicks off to share my quick review of Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba... In a word it was amazing. The performers really make things look so easy. The music was incredible, and the every act was superb. Interestingly, they replaced a chair balancing act with a juggling act - bringing in Anthony Gatto (sp?) from one of the company's other touring shows (I saw him in Kooza). The aerial silk was perfect, and the music complemented it well. I won't give away details, to avoid spoiling any surprises but in general this is a great show to see, especially if you have yet to attend a Cirque show. You won't be dissapointed.

Now about transportation... It's really easy here in Disney. Resorts owned by Disney have various methods for getting people to different areas and attractions. Some use boats, monorails, buses or any combination of these methods. The Coronado Springs Resort happens to use buses. If your idea of mass transportation consists of the occasional limo, fear not! Simply head to one of the several bus locations on the Coronado property and wait for a bus that has the name of the attraction or destination that you want. This evening, I hopped on the "Downtown Disney" bus to head to dinner and the show. The trip only took 10-15 minutes and it was as easy as could be.

When returning to the hotel, simply head to the bus area where you were dropped off and wait for a bus labeled with the Coronado Springs on front -- also, if your not certain you could always ask the driver. Everyone in Disney is very friendly and helpful.

In closing, I do have to mention how nice it is to be down in Florida/Disney. As I was telling a friend, it's such a relief that the biggest problem that I've had to deal with down here was a marshmellow getting stuck in the opening of the lid to my hot cocoa. Things are great.

...and it begins

2010-03-02T16:59:00.001-05:00

The weather turned out a lot nicer than the forecast. The registration desk just opened at 4pm and I plan to head down and get my welcome packet of goodies. Of course this year there should be a little something extra in there- a badge that says "presenter". I will be presenting three sessions this year, and it's going to be great.

Tonight I have tickets to go see Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba in Downtown Disney (9pm show) and there is a magic in the air that can only come from the start of the conference, the wonderful weather here in Florida and perhaps a little bit of pixie dust.

I'll provide a review of the show and some bus/transport information as soon as I learn the way of the land.

And We're Open!!

2010-03-02T16:19:00.002-05:00

Registration is now buzzing along, and the computer/printing area (courtesy of Envisionware) is open for business in Veracruz C. You can watch the vendors set up their booths while reading today's email!

No need for AC

2010-03-01T21:54:00.004-05:00

I've been here at the Coronado Springs Resort since about 2:30 this morning. The temp was in the 40s in the early morning but was pretty idyllic during the day. Not hot enough to require air conditioning, but just right to sit outside.

Now I'm sitting in shorts in my room working on a mobile strategy presentation for Wednesday afternoon. I'm trying to decide whether I really think mobile phones are really more common than indoor plumbing like my title suggests.

For those who like to drink a lot - a possible cost-saver

2010-03-01T16:47:00.003-05:00

If you're like me, you enjoy lots to drink - albeit coffee, tea, soft drinks. Disney Resorts has a refillable, yes refillable mug. For $12.99 you can get AS MANY REFILLS AS YOU WANT, for as long as you stay. You'll never guess what's sitting on the desk in front of me as I am writing this. For me it's a good deal; for you it's an FYI before you begin purchasing those off-hour drinks. Later.

The weather is great, room Internet access is working, and be on the lookout for green Mickeys..

2010-03-01T16:03:00.006-05:00

I arrived at the Coronado Springs a couple of hours ago. I'm a gal from up north and NEVER go sleeveless - that is until an hour ago. The weather is perfect

As for Internet access, IT WORKS. We have direct Ethernet hookups in our rooms. They even provide cables, in case you didn't bring one. Once your cables are hooked up, open your favorite browser, and click YES to the terms of agreement. Although it indicates that $9.95 (something like that) will be billed to your room, the conference is picking up the tab. And you're off.

And no, I am not colorblind. - there's even a sampling of the Epcot Garden Festival topiary on the grounds - funny-looking green Mickeys are lurking about.

Coupon for Coronado Springs Spa

2010-03-01T13:25:00.003-05:00

As you're planning your time at COSUGI 2010, you might be interested to see that the Coronado Springs resort has spa offerings. With a coupon to boot!

Getting around at COSUGI

2010-03-01T12:57:00.002-05:00

Having been here since Thursday for the API Training Workshop (which is incredible, by the way) I've picked up a few pointers on getting around, finding places to eat, etc. that may help with first time visitors.

First: buy the free refill mug. If you're here for any length of time it'll pay for itself.
Buses from the Coronado go to all of the parks and resorts extremely frequently. They leave from the front of the resort, outside the main entrance to guest registration and check-in, but also circuit the site and pick up at several stops closer to the various room and suite areas.
If you want to visit the parks, you can get a convention pass from guest services for reduced rate admission. You can't get these at the park gates- and you can choose any single park for either after 2pm or after 4pm admission.
Dining at the Coronado is a little limited, but getting the bus to Downtown Disney or the Boardwalk resort will really open up your options. If you don't eat meat, this will be critical!
It's a LONG walk from the far side of the resort to the main convention area! Leave an extra 10 minutes in the morning if your room is on the far side of the lake.

Live blogging from COSUGI

2010-02-19T15:32:00.002-05:00

The SirsiDynix staff is looking forward to an exciting 2010 COSUGI conference, and will be blogging about our experiences along the way. If you are blogging from the conference and would like your blog listed on our blog roll, email julianne.hancock@sirsidynix.com with your blog's URL.

See you in Orlando!