When you post that your library will be closed for a holiday, remind patrons that although the building will be closed, they can still access all your library's online resources 24x7 during the holidays. For those who receive an eBook reader or tablet as a gift on Christmas Day, they can begin to download free eBooks right away!
Just remember to link directly to your library's OverDrive collection (audiobooks, eBooks, music, videos & magazines), electronic resources / research tools / databases, catalog, and website in your post!
You can download free images (including the one at right) from OverDrive's Partner Portal of promotional resources and marketing materials. Here are direct links to ones you might find most useful:
Whether you're on Santa's "naughty" or "nice" list, you can use the NORAD Tracks Santa app to see where he is as he speeds around the globe delivering presents.
Watch the days count down to Santa's flight on Christmas Eve
Follow Santa's progress on December 24
Play the game "Thin Ice" to help Santa's elves deliver presents
When you want to make a large poster on your regular printer, try the free online service Block Posters. You can upload a graphic, then divide it into 8" x 12" chunks for printing. Print out each section and put them together on a poster board to make your own poster.
Note: if you've created your poster in Publisher, you'll want to follow these steps to save your document as an image first. Here's how:
If you don't like having Outlook 365 cluster email messages & their replies — but would rather see each email message on its own — here's how you can fix your view of email threads.
The screenshot below shows a set of email messages posted to the WisPubLib listserv as seen in Outlook 365, with Conversation View turned on (which is the default setting). I've circled in majenta (2) and red (4) the numbers that indicate there's multiple messages grouped together because they have the same subject line:
Nearly every computer has a couple of USB (Universal Serial Bus) jacks that let you connect printers, scanners, external drives, and other perhipherals.
This standardized USB "A" plug is meant to make connecting devices quick and easy. Except it can be frustrating — you can plug the jack in only one way, and there’s no obvious way to tell which side is up. (Sure, some USB jacks display the USB logo on one side of the plastic, but not all of them.)
Here's the simple way to never insert a USB plug the wrong way again:
Choosing a unique and interesting name for your rock band isn't always easy. Take for example the group named The The, who I'd wager are the bane of library catalogers everywhere. But sometimes band name inspiration can come from a bookshelf...
The upgrade to Office 365 is nearly complete; Pete and Jody are contacting Winnefox libraries to coordinate the process before a library's staff are moved to the new system.
If you want info on tech topics written by leaders in the library field, ALA Techsource is offering free access to their Library Technology Reports and Smart Libraries Newsletter from now through the end of June 2015.
Here's a sample of the reports and articles you can download: