L-net goings-on

Hi everybody,
 
I hope you saw the news that we will start calling L-net "Answerland" again sometime over summer 2012. The next step for us is to choose a logo. The naming team is up to the task, but we could use some extra eyes and brains for this aspect. Do you have a previous, current or future life as a designer (graphic or otherwise)? Do you have a few hours per week this spring? Let me know, we'd love your help.
 
Talk to you soon,

Caleb
 
 
1. Save the date! - 2012 Oregon Virtual Reference Summit
2. Be a founding member of the L-net Technology team
3. Installing Spark on Windows 7 is just fine
4. Fascinating scheduling news and statistical analysis on the L-net blog
5. Planned parental leave
 
1. Save the date! - 2012 Oregon Virtual Reference Summit
 
The 2012 Oregon Virtual Reference Summit will be held May 25th, the Friday before Memorial Day weekend, on the Oregon Coast. More details are coming.
 
 
2. Be a founding member of the L-net Technology team
 
We'd like to get a small group of people to help L-net think about technology. I have always been comfortable in my role of keeping up with library technology, planning for and exploring new services and implementing technical improvements when necessary. But I also know I'm not the only one interested in this topic, and if you have an opinion about how the technology we use on L-net could be improved, you are invited to be a founding member of the L-net Technology team.
 
The immediate task is to advise us about what functionality a new website needs to provide.

For example one of the functional things our website does now is the answering of mail and chat followup reference questions. We could replicate or improve this functionality in a new website, but we could also switch to a commercial product. There are pros and cons to any scenario.
 
The secondary task is more general - to identify and prioritize technology-related tasks and improvements to the current systems. As we grow - in patrons, in partners and in L-net Local libraries - things get more complicated, and there is more and more of a need for your input in this area.
 
Let me know if you are interested. It should take a few hours a month in working meetings and a few hours a month of working in between. If you are thinking about taking a break from your regular shift, this would be a great way to contribute.
 
 
3. Installing Spark on Windows 7 is just fine
 
I made an announcement in this newsletter in September (http://www.oregonlibraries.net/node/278207) that there might be problems with installing Spark on Windows 7. After some testing, I have determined that actually it is just fine. Thanks to everyone who helped test and gave feedback.
 
Just in case you have trouble, the Spark download page, http://www.oregonlibraries.net/spark, has a link to instructions for installing the software on Windows 7.
 
 
4. Fascinating scheduling news and statistical analysis on the L-net blog
Sometimes I make posts on the L-net blog. Besides talking about the naming team's recent work, here are some things that might interest you:
 
Scheduling system changes!
http://www.oregonlibraries.net/staff/2011/12/16/scheduling_system_changes
Summary: You can now drop your shift even if you are the last one scheduled, and it may be easier to find your schedule.
 
Chat wait times have improved since last year!
http://www.oregonlibraries.net/staff/2011/12/20/chat_wait_times_have_imp...
Summary: Wait times on L-net in the past year average at 2 minutes, 8 seconds, and dropping.
 
 

5. Planned parental leave
 
I'd like to give you some advance knowledge that I'm planning parental leave for a few weeks starting in mid-January. I don't know the exact dates for my absence just yet. It's a girl.