INFOcus November 2007
www.LYPonline.com
	Ideas You Can Use
Place Your Book Discussion Schedule on the Web
For the last year or so I've been posting our library's book discussion schedule on a website called Readers' Circle. It's a nicely designed site that lets people search for existing book groups by ZIP code and get in touch with other people who want to start a club. I usually enter the whole year's schedule at once rather than updating it every month. I just wanted to give it a boost and suggest that if you don't have your public library's book group listed there yet, it's a nice way to connect with readers. Anne Killheffer, Stratford, CT
Computer & Internet Instruction for Seniors
We buy computer and internet instructional DVDs designed for older people from a company called "Web Wise Seniors" (www.webwiseseniors.com) and find them VERY popular. I suspect lots of younger folks borrow them too! Susanne Sullivan, Burlington, MA
Library Design
I would suggest taking a look at two books on this topic that review library buildings nicely designed: · The New Downtown Library: Designing with Communities by Shannon Mattern (© 2007) · Heart of the Community: The Libraries We Love edited by Karen Christensen and David Levinson (© 2007) more of a love affair with great libraries but also includes some newer facilities with great design features. Fred Beisser, Elbert County, CO
Patron Self-Check Machines
I think the real selling points to self-check is the privacy, the speed (we timed it, it was faster), and the increased productivity. The reality is self check allows a library to increase circulation without adding staff or expanding the circulation desk, and I'm not talking about replacing staff. Not every library can expand their circ desk to add more checkout computers and/or staff. Self check can allow a library to add more service points quickly and easily, and at less cost and space. In the face of other limitations, self check can make alot of sense. I see it as a way of expanding options and services for our patrons, not eliminating staff or service. Katharine Pryma, Caledon, ON
Multi-Function, Coin-Operated Copiers
We use a Xerox Workcenter Pro 2128 color copier/printer/emailer (can do faxes if you get the attachment & also network scanning too). It is coin-op, has 4 paper trays & a bypass feed. We are leasing our unit, and all repairs and consumables (except paper) are provided under the lease agreement. It is networkable, and we are finding that people with Vista laptops can in fact see the printer across the wireless network and are therefore able to print to it. Terry, Madisonville, TN
Notifying Patrons of New Releases
Our library subscribes to an online book club http://www.supportlibrary.com/su/su.cfm?x=332929 http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/nl_rview.cfm?x=577 that sends sample chapters and links to the library holdings, where the patron can click on the [request] button and have the book put on hold for them to pick up. Cindy Rosser, Waco, TX
Telephone Directories Online and in Print
Two helpful resources: The Directory Store Who Can Find People?
Photo Organizing Software
We have TLC and the photo component is part of the library system, so we scan and enter a MARC record with as many subject entries as we want. We can then search by subject or keyword and limit by the collection. You can do a keyword search for SMHC photo or a browse search by the subject SMHC photo collection and see what we have loaded so far. This is a work in progress and we are adding photos all the time. Diane Insley, San Marcos, TX
Fundraising Software
Take a look at TechSoup. They are all about matching up non-profits with technology.  Janet Griffing, Wadsworth, OH