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July 15, 2005
A camera and three new computers
I've been all sorts of tech happy at work lately.
My library needed a new digital camera, or, rather, a second digital camera. I did some research, taking into consideration the skills of the staff, price, size, useability, and decided on a model of the Kodak EasyShare. I must say, I didn't want to like the Kodak EasyShare (my second choice was a Canon PowerShot, nicer quality but not nearly as easy to use), but it really was the easiest one to use, and that was my primary concern. I barely need to train anyone on how to use it (the entire staff can borrow the cameras for use, so it needs to serve a wide user base), the print under the buttons is nice and large so that hardly anyone needs to take off their glasses to read it, and when you change the settings the LCD screen tells you what that setting does. The camera came in last week, and I think the staff will like it once they start using it (the necessary accessories are coming in a separate order). The quality of the pictures is just right for the web and for newsletters, which is really what the library needs.
The library also needed image editing software, which I researched at the same time as the camera, and decided on Ulead PhotoImpact. Not only are the features robust without being overwhelming (can't you imagine a digital imaging novice being overwhelmed by Photoshop?), it was significantly less expensive. The icing on the cake on this was the support, especially the Ulead Learning Center for the software, including video tutorials and tips and tricks, all in an English that a new user can understand. If any of the photos taken with the Kodak EasyShare need to be tweaked, it's easily done with this software. I'll still need to do some training on the software, but it's rather intuitive overall. I'm contemplating a copy for myself, since I can't afford to upgrade my copy of Photoshop.
But wait, there's more!
As part of the tech plan that I'm developing for the library, I'm making an effort to create more uniform computer configurations that allow for more freedom of use by the patron to make it as close to a "normal" computing environment as possible, but easy security and configuration control on the library end. I know, it sounds like a fairy tale. However, I did manage to coordinate something very close to library computer nirvana.
We started with a computer with a default install of Windows XP, as an "image" machine, a template configuration for all of the other computers. The first step in configuration consistency is operating system. The existing machines will be upgraded from Windows 95 to Windows XP, which is long overdue, and the new machines already have the newer operating system installed.
We chucked WinU, a Windows-based button interface program, in favor of an HTML page with similar buttons, supplemented with buttons in the Public Browser toolbar to Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. A newer version of Microsoft Office will be installed, and other software programs of use to patrons (IM clients, a good freeware HTML editor, Firefox with added extensions to supplement Public Browser, and some other stuff) will be installed. Access to the Control Panel is disabled for the public user, which will help prevent too much futzing with the configuration.
To keep everything functioning happily, and to make maintenance easier, we'll be installing a program called Deep Freeze on all of the machines. Basically, Deep Freeze allows you to reset the computer to it's initial configuration by restarting the machine. Someone download a virus? Or change the settings on something? Just restart the machine, and it's like it never happened.
After a host of other configuration changes were made, we installed this image configuration onto three public computers, and set them up in the wilds of the library, one in the computer lab, the other two in the Reference room. Eventually, all of the computers in the Computer Lab and in the Reference room will have the same configuration.
The computers have been up since yesterday, and from what I hear, the patrons find the new image inviting, and they really dig using them. The nice thing about such a small rollout is that these machines are essentially guinea pigs, so that we can troubleshoot any issues that patrons or staff have with the computers before launching the image on more machines.
Documentation of all this is another story for another post or two or five. Due to fiscal year fun and whatnot, some things need to happen before we have an official tech plan for the library, and while that's a little crazy and unorthodox, it's not like we're operating entirely without a net. We've got a plan, we're all on the same page logistically and philosophically, and the documentation is being worked on in tandem, which is better than nothing.
Overall, I'm very happy with things so far. OK, that's a serious understatement. I'm ecstatic. It's ridiculous how fabulously things are going, even as hectic as it all is. More to come!
July 15, 2005 4:40 PM