2.2.05
Rick was absent due to illness. Nevertheless, we carried on.
Nancy reported on the Big Read. The color brochure with a calendar of all events is available for distribution. Several copies have already been placed around the library. The Thomas Ford Library events include a slide talk featuring Jane Clarke that will take place on Saturday, March 19. Our library’s discussion of The Devil in the White City will take place on Wednesday, March 23 and will be led by Rick. Erik Larson will appear at Ashton Place in Willowbrook on May 5. Reserved tickets will be available by calling the Downers Grove library, but will be picked up here by our patrons. All Big Read programs will be free of charge. A link to the web site is on the TFML home page.
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Thomas Ford Library
The historic house digitization project is finally able to move forward, after about 1-1/2 weeks of a downed server. The information will be placed in a statewide database and will be available online at westernspringshistory.org. A link will be on the TFML home page.
The reference computer has been giving a lot of headaches to the staff. On spyware and pop-ups, the spyware we use does not have pop-ups, so if you see a pop-up on this topic it probably is not legitimate. Spywarewarrior.com lists spyware, what’s good and what’s bad. On "old virus definition" messages, Aaron and Rick will take care of keeping it updated. The rest of us can just close the message. Aaron is going to start doing computer maintenance on Tuesdays. He is also considering having a class for the staff on spyware.
UPDATE: Reference computer’s issues abated.
Betty spoke about the Union List. She has updated the folders on our holdings. She pointed out that a keyword search can be done on the Union List titles. A list of the TFML periodicals can be found on our home page. Aaron mentioned that if you click on a title in the Union List, it will tell you if full text is available in our databases.
Not all the Illinois tax forms are in. The reproducible federal forms are not in. We wondered whether the federal CD-ROM was in; it is not installed in computer #4, though there is an icon for it.
Aaron reported that he had 17 virtual reference requests on Sunday.
Julie said someone she knows says she placed a hold on an MP3 player but was never called. We discussed the procedures for reserving them and suggested she try again, or talk to Aaron. Aaron said that currently only he and Rick know how to load the players. Susan R. suggested that she would like to learn how.
Several people thought it would be a good idea to put up a more visible clock on a wall or pillar. Many patrons are frustrated when they can’t easily tell what time it is. A battery-operated clock would be inexpensive and easy to install.
UPDATE: Kris went to the hardware store and got us two clocks.
Kris volunteered to work Rick’s evening hours today.
Nancy J. Long & Aaron Sch