My First Screencast

View it here. The announcement on our blog was Dec 15th.

Feedback wanted, solicited, encouraged!!!

#1 I didn't use audio on this... did you miss it?
Should it have an audio explanation too, or would that be too distracting as you read the screen?

#2 for those of you NOT familiar with the suspend holds function of Horizon, did this make everything clear?

#3 I anticipate making screencasts of :
how to renew items online
how to search (basic)
how to find a list of the new DVDs/audiobooks/CDs
how to search (intermediate: sorting results, limits, etc.)
how to place a title level hold
and how to place an item specific hold.

any other immediate ideas/suggestions?

Once I get those done, I think I'll do some basic ones to promote resources such as NoveList, NewsBank, Ebsco. It seems once people have seen one search in those, they can pretty much handle a basic search on their own, once the fear and apprehension has been removed. Hey if they can't come to an actual class, maybe they will download the screencast and then use the resource.

How to make your own screencast:

Paul Pival's Sirsi Dynix Institute presentation on screencasting is in the archive.

I used Wink to create this screencast.
Small learning curve if you've used any application that uses text boxes and the ability to draw shapes (publisher). Of course, the how-to-use wink file is actually a screencast. The PDF manual is quite brief but had everything I needed.

As usual... this was free software.

Five Things You May Not Know About Me

Jenny tagged me. :)

1. I like to cook. I'm pretty good at it.

Despite this, I actually made a recipe that forced the evacuation of our house this summer. The recipe: homemade habanero hot sauce. The recipe required blanching of the peppers. If you've never tried this at home...DON'T! The peppers began to release vapors which quickly filled the house. Before we knew it we were coughing uncontrollably, our sinuses were draining, and eyes were watering. In short, it was like I had tear gassed & pepper-sprayed the entire house. I've been told the resulting sauce was very good though. (I'm allergic to peppers, and don't like hot spicy food, so I never actually eat the hot sauces I make.) Next time, I'll boil a pot of water on the grill to blanch the peppers outside.

2. I used to collect stamps. My grandmother worked for a cleaning service for a while, and one of their clients was a rectory. The priest there used to correspond frequently with people overseas, so she was always giving me stamps from foreign countries. I don't collect stamps anymore.

Now I collect patches from fire departments, but everyone assumes it's my husband's collection. (Although it is much easier to get patches when he's involved.) If you've got a connection to somebody on a fire dept., hook me up!

3. I was Underdog for halloween when I was in kindergarden.

4. I've been to a cocktail reception in Vegas where Charo also attended. (ask me sometime about what someone I'm married to said during that party) During that same Vegas trip, I saw Jerry Lewis being wheeled through the lobby & casino of Mandalay Bay on a luggage cart, like the bellhops use. I also met Mattie Stepanek on that trip, and got his autograph.
All of this was prior to 'what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas' so I think it's ok to blog it. ;)

5. When I attended Columbia College, I was on the design team for the book Memory Effects by nobel-prize winner Roald Hoffmann, published by Calhoun Press. I've got one of the limited-edition hardcover copies of the book. At one point, I thought I'd go into book design or typography. I still miss using QuarkXPress instead of MS Publisher, and I still think Robin Williams rocks.

Hmm. Who's left to tag?
Ivan, John Blyberg and Andrea

2007 Brings a Change in Daylight Savings Time

Due to the Energy Policy of 2005, changes in Daylight Savings Time will go into effect in 2007. We'll change the clocks in March & November instead of April & October.

Think about all those scheduled tasks, computerized timekeeping applications, and appointment applications you depend on. Here's what you need for a stress free March 11 & 12, 2007.

Microsoft has a hotfix you can download & install that will update your computer's settings so you can continue to use the 'automatically adjust for daylight savings time' option. New machines shipping with Vista will not need the hotfix.

Beat the rush. Do it now! :)
It was quite slow today, so it was a great time to install the hotfix, and I got a lot of the machines updated. Details and links for XP2, and servers can be located at Microsoft Knowledge Base KB928388

Mobile device users will want to read KB923953 too.

Info on editing the registry, using scripts, and visual basic to adjust the time settings are in KB914387

Procrastinators take note: the clocks change March 11, 2007 @ 2 a.m.
[updated with mac link]