The 2009 Innovative Users Group Annual Conference was held in Anaheim, California, May 18-20, 2009. I attended a number of interesting sessions over three days. We went live with Millennium circulation and cataloging in July 2008 and had been working in acquisitions for about six months at the time of the conference. Liz Evans and I were able to attend sessions relative to our needs at Medaille.
The keynote speaker at the opening session was Dr. Michael B. Johnson, head of the Moving Pictures Group at Pixar Animation Studios. He gave a very entertaining and informative talk.
The sessions I attended:
Smooth Sailing with Floating Collections
Presenters:
Aimee Fifarek, Technologies & Content Manager, Scottsdale Public Library
Kathy Schoepe, Technology Supervisor, Scottsdale Public Library
John Goodyear, ILS Analyst, Multnomah County Library
Jennifer Steward, Circulation Analyst, Multnomah County Library
Session Number: D03
Published Program Description: Multnomah County Library started floating items in their 17 libraries in 2005. Scottsdale Public Library started floating its entire collection among four libraries on July 1, 2008. Come and hear from the expert and newbie project leads how they prepared for their projects and made the whole thing come together successfully, and why floating is still working today in both systems. This program will include tips, tricks, and a discussion of the philosophies underlying the project, making it perfect for anyone trying to decide whether to consider a floating collection for their institution. The most interesting point about this spirited presentation was that the staff at the library systems experienced a shift in thinking--they now thought at the system level, not at the branch level!
EDIFACT Ordering and Invoicing Presenters:
Debbie Turner, Senior Library Training Consultant, Innovative Interfaces
Session Number: G10
Published Program Description: There are two sides to the EDIFACT process and the library can feel stuck in the middle some times -- between Millennium and the vendors. This session will investigate how to make this process as painless as possible and make sure that you get the most out of the automation. This was a good information session about a process we are thinking about using at Medaille.
RFID -- It's not as scary as you think
Presenters:
Judy Humphreys, Library Services Manager, Mountain View Public Library
Janice Painter, Manager, Access Services, Princeton Public Library
Susan Darkhosh, Manager, Lending Services, Princeton Public Library
Eric Leckbee, Product Manager, Innovative Interfaces
Session Number: H05
Published Program Description: The panel will describe the experiences of two public libraries that are using RFID for checkout, checkin, self-service checkout, and self-service checkin using an automated materials handling system. We will focus on changes in staffing and workflow and provide practical tips for successful use of RFID with Innovative's Item Status API, 3rd party self-checkout, and with an AMH system. This is an introductory level presentation for librarians considering implementing RFID. I attended sessions about RFID to learn more about it and to identify what is needed to implement this security, circulation, and inventory product. RFID enables self-checkout.
Converting our Collection to RFID: Goals Accomplished and Lessons Learned
Presenters:
Carol Gyger, Systems Administrator, Poudre River Public Library District
Carson Block, IT Director, Poudre River Public Library District
Session Number: J04
Published Program Description: The Poudre River Public Library District recently retro-converted its collection to RFID. Come learn why they chose RFID, who helped them, how they organized the real work involved (including funding, project design, weeding, retro-conversion and more), what worked well (and what didn't), and what they think of RFID now. This presentation added to what I learned at the previous session--very helpful.
Encore Implementation: One Academic Library's Experience
Presenters:
Christopher Brown, Reference Technology Integration Librarian, University of Denver, Penrose Library
Elizabeth Meagher, Metadata & Materials Processing Librarian, University of Denver, Penrose Library
Sandra Macke, Catalog Librarian, University of Denver, Penrose Library
Session Number: K05
Published Program Description: Encore leverages complex library collections in exciting ways. One reference librarian and two catalog librarians from the University of Denver present a panel discussion touching on data cleanup before and after implementation, increasing access by amending format icons, leveraging scopings and locations, interfacing with the ERM, providing effective discovery with facets, and more. Hear how an academic library's experiences with Encore has created greater exposure to rich collections. Encore enables data cleanup. This is a very sophisticated product.
Electronic Resource Management Systems: Where is the Value?
Presenters:
Bob McQuillan, Senior Product Manager, Innovative Interfaces
Diane Grover, Electronic Resources Coordinator, University of Washington
Janet Crum, Head, Library Systems & Cataloging, Oregon Health Sciences University
Rae Ann Stahl, Technical Services Manager, San Jose State University
Session Number: L11
Published Program Description: Understanding the value and effectiveness of electronic management systems (ERMS) is becoming more critical as library expenditures increase for electronic resource collections. For many libraries struggling to manage growing electronic resource collections without the benefit of an ERMS, the underlying issue can often focus on how to justify the purchase and implementation of such a system. This is a joint session with representative libraries who share their insights on the value of an ERMS. Topics to include workflow strategies, library staffing, patron experiences, harvesting of usage statistics and how an ERMS fits into the long-term objectives of the library. Managing electronic resources, making them discoverable and accessible, and abiding by licenses is very time consuming. The ERMS has many benefits beyond technical services.
Enhancing your OPAC with Third-Party Applications
Presenters: Carrie Volk, Coordinator of Interlibrary Loan, Winthrop University
Session Number: L08
Published Program Description: This session will examine how ColdFusion (or any web programming language) and a little JavaScript can be used to embed the Meebo chat program throughout your OPAC. This method of implementation gives librarians control over the Meebo chat widget displaying only during chat services hours and provides an offline contact method. It will also examine a ColdFusion application developed in-house called DacusMaps that gives patrons an interactive interface that assists the user how to locate materials in the stacks all from within the OPAC. Finally, several user-requested customizations to the library's OPAC will be demonstrated.
I got so many great ideas from this presentation--how to add a "chat button" in the online catalog, using multiple sign-ons for Meebo, and creating location maps within the catalog. Collaborative Efforts in Setting Up an Approval Plan for Univ. Press Books
Presenters:
Susan Broome, Associate Director for Technical Services, Mercer University Jack Tarver Library
Linda Chen, Library Systems Coordinator, Mercer University Jack Tarver Library
Theresa Preuit Rhodes, Associate Director for Public Services, Mercer University Jack Tarver Library
Debbie Turner, Senior Library Training Consultant, Innovative Interfaces
Session Number: D01
Published Program Description: A popular country song opines, "I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then! I wish I could start this whole thing over again." NOT! Approval plans are a practical means of acquiring library materials if there are more funds than employees at your library. Working with Innovative, Midwest Library Service, and PromptCat, we now receive cataloged and processed books weekly with catalog records available and a single lump-sum payment to be made on arrival. Do we wish we had known some things earlier? Certainly. Would we want to start over again? Decidedly not! This session was not what I expected it to be. I did learn that creating profiles for approval plans takes time. At this time, we don't need to set up this type of program.
Web 2.0 Made Easy: Our Implementation of LibraryThing for Libraries
Presenters:
Candace Lebel, Innopac Coordinator, Claremont Colleges Libraries
Alexandra Chappell, Reference Librarian, Claremont Colleges Libraries
Session Number: K09
Published Program Description: Looking for a way to improve the catalog and make it more social, the Claremont Colleges partnered with LibraryThing to quickly and easily incorporate a folksonomy and book suggestion feature into their WebPAC. LibraryThing For Libraries matches the ISBNs of books in Claremont's WebPAC with ISBNs for books in LibraryThing and then inserts tags and similar books suggestions into the display of the bibliographic record. For all user levels, this presentation will show you just how easy it is to add Web 2.0 features to your WebPAC with LibraryThing for Libraries. I am always interested in new Web 2.0 applications to serve as discovery tools for patrons. This was an interesting application, but not one I think we will use.
Digitization with Millennium and CONTENTdm
Presenters:
Stuart Hunt, Data Services Manager, University of Warwick Library
Session Number: D05
Published Program Description: This presentation will provide an overview of the digitization of a special collection of rare textual materials. The use of Millennium Media Management will be discussed in contrast to the use of CONTENTdm. Workflows for the digitization process will be discussed, including deriving metadata from Millennium and its use in CONTENTdm. The possible different methods for achieving this will be highlighted, including the use of Create Lists and XML Harvester. Techniques for linking Millennium to CONTENTdm to enhance discovery will be illustrated. Since I have worked with a committee at WNYLRC to develop the regional digital collection using CONTENTdm, I just had to hear this presentation. I found it very interesting--especially the innovative way that the University of Warwick librarians used to choose which collections to digitize first: they worked with undergraduates to make the selections! Millennium and CONTENTdm work well together.
The conference wasn't as well attended as last year's, but the sessions were excellent.
