getting to google and amazon from prospector screen

If you are trying to find an item title a patron is looking for but is not sure of the title or we do not have it in our catalog when you  go to the prospector screen there is a button on the right side of the prospector screen that says Find More Resources.You can access Worldcat, google and amazon as well as many more sites.

Using QR Codes in Books

Have you noticed many newer books now include QR codes on the back cover or inside flap? And almost all new YA titles feature a QR code somewhere on the cover. When scanned, these QR codes take the reader to a website where they can watch the book trailer, listen to author interviews, and find many more extras. Pretty cool! Some books now feature QR codes within the text. It's a whole new, interactive way of reading!

Desktop is "off line"

If a public desktop says "offline" and won't boot up with the usual things we try, make sure the blue ethernet cable is tightly seated in the back of the computer. This usually works and is a good thing to try before submitting a ticket.

Excel Gridlines

Do you have a patron who has been working on an Excel spreadsheet and is now wanting to add gridlines? Not a problem. From the Windows emblem in the top left hand corner, go into print, then Print Preview. Click on "Page Setup". Click on the "Sheet" tab. Check the box for Gridlines, and click Ok. You can then print the document from the Print Preview page. Page Setup can also be used for other things like setting margins, headers and footers, etc.

how to eject a cd

The easiest way to eject a disc from a patron P.C. is to use the eject key in the upper right-hand corner of the Mac keyboard (above the delete button). Another way is howAnnette showed me: click on the Windows icon in the bottom left-hand corner--then select Computer--then right-click on DVD RW Drive ( E:)--and then choose Eject.

When will that DVD be out?

A website I use very often is VideoETA.com for patrons that are curious when a movie or TV series is due out on DVD. It's a real quick and easy search by title. It also has news of stars, upcoming movies, and other interesting tidbits for those that like to be in the know. I suggest to serious DVD watchers that they take a look on their own, you can get reminders of when a DVD you're waiting for will be released.

My Mom can't find the pointer!!!

My Mom, age 83 got a new laptop and insisted on using the touchpad instead of the external mouse. But she kept losing the pointer. I went into Settings from her Start button and clicked on pointer options. From there I selected the function to make her pointer "glow" or "ripple" when she touches the control key. She hasn't lost her cursor since. And I made it bold and big so she can't miss it. Some of our patron's might find this useful and we can set it up for them on our patron computers during their session.

Patron does not have their library card number....

This is not so new and clever, but I continue to find that patrons love this tip. When you need to give a patron their library card number, suggest that they store it in their phone. Adults as well as teens always say "Wow! that's a great idea!"

Access this blog from home using Safari

Are you having trouble accessing our new CK TechTalk blog from home using Safari? Try this: Go to your Google account. In the top left hand corner is a selection of Google products like mail, documents, calendar, more. Click on more. Scroll down to blogger. Click on that and it opens up this CL TechTalk blog.

Prescription Drug Discount Card

Today's Hub (August 25, 2011) had an article in it about the prescription drug discount card provided by Arapahoe County to metro-area residents.  In the past, a lot of people came into the library looking for these cards, which we did not physically have.  So know that we will be able to print a card for them from an online website.  Go into http://www2.caremark.com/naco/ and they will have the card to present to a local pharmacist to see if a discount can be applied.  There is no enrollment fee and no limit to how many times the cards can be used.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Great Local Web Site

A patron informed me of a great web site with all sorts of free or cheap local items on it, and I just wanted to pass it along.  It is www.milehighonthecheap.com .  Such things as free movie tickets, inexpensive  local events, and even cheap school supplies ($.29 at Rite Aid) and restaurant discounts can be found here.  I think it is well  worth checking out and passing on to patrons as the opportunity arises!

Checkout Software Problems

Have you ever experienced problems signing on to the Checkout system after rebooting it in the mornings? Ever received the error "local server not found" or "memory block?" The cash register computer has a built in memory to recognize whether or not there is a Mac keyboard attached, and if there isn't, it causes the computer's memory to be blocked, preventing the Checkout software from starting properly. To avoid this problem, always make sure a Mac keyboard is attached. You may occasionally need to reset the keyboard and clear the memory issues by following these simple steps.

Sketchup.com

I don't know if anyone has had a question about  building plans for an addition, patio or landscaping  but I ran across this web site in a magazine and I thought it was great since
I would love to have an addition on my patio. I asked my husband to see if he could draw up plans for an addition. We are working with it. It is Google's Sketchup.com and it is free.

Laptop Security

This tip is from an article I saw in the Denver Post on keeping your electronic devices and ID safe. While most of the tips were common sense regarding keeping anything of value safe, the one tip that caught my eye was "Using bells & whistles" with the security for laptops, especially one that has been taken(stolen) from you. It's a "lo-jack" for your laptop: a program that reports the location of your stolen laptop once it's connected to the Internet.

How to "Print Screen" on ALD patron computers

Gadwin Print Screen is the program to use to "print screen" on ALD patron computers. The "hot key" assigned to this function is F6, at the top of the keyboard. When you have the screen you want to print, hit the F6 key.

First "Destination does not exist. Create it?" may pop up - click yes.
Then a new window will open with the screen to be printed, and commands on the right side. Be sure to make the appropriate selections under "change Destination" to either send the screen to the clipboard, printer, email or file (probably printer). Then click "Continue Output" to send the image where you want it to go, and voila!

This will not work on staff computers, as the Gadwin program is not installed.

A couple of ways to make text size larger when there is no desktop icon to do so...

One way:
- Right click on an empty portion of the desktop
- From the pop-up menu select "screen resolution"
- Select a LOWER resolution for LARGER text

Another way:
- If the attached mouse has a scroll wheel, roll it up while
- holding the CONTROL key down

- To make the text smaller, do the reverse - roll the scroll wheel toward you while pressing the control key

And yet another:
Check to see where the slide bar in the lower right of Microsoft Word and other programs is set... Should be in the middle for best application of font size changes, but can also be "slid" back and forth to make the page larger or smaller.

What To Do When Patron Print Job Won't Display on P&TM

Many of you will be familiar with how to handle this scenario: patron sends print job to the printer but when the patron puts in their card #, the P&TM console shows no job available to print. This happens randomly for various patrons. I helped a patron with this earlier this week and another staff member was not aware of the solution, so thought this would be a good reminder tip for all. After the "Release a Print Job" prompt, type in "staff", a second box will open directly below. Type in the current password. That will allow all of the pending Print jobs to display. Select just the one/s for the patron you are assisting. From this point the patron can use the "Pay from Vending Device" option, if they have money, or you can continue assisting by overriding, again with the current password. After the patron has finished printing it is good practice to close all the pending Print jobs with the "Done" button, rather than letting the seconds countdown close the window. That ensures that another patron could not come up and inadvertently select a Print job that was not theirs.

Google docs

Many patrons use Google docs and get frustrated when things don't work well. Just google "Known Issues with Google docs" and learn such things like cut and paste doesn't work in Google docs. (Not being able to use these features is a bit like operating without thumbs!) Current fixes are also listed.

Playing movies on patron laptop

Movie won't play on laptop? No problem. Open up the VLC Media player in the start-program menu. Voila! Movie plays. Don't try REalPlayer or Windows Media Player. This tip came courtesy of Jay at the Help Desk. I had spent quite some time trying to get a movie to play for a patron. I had never heard of, nor noticed VLC!