UPDATE: New Reservation System

Hello,

As of today, everyone on staff has interacted with the new reservation system. Below are a few reminders, followed by a list of issues we have been encountering and tracking:

Reminders:

1. The express computer is no longer displayed on the reservation screen. Customers sign in at the express computer.
2. Customers should be directed to the reservation kiosk FIRST to sign up for a computer. DO NOT use the reservation software at the staff desk to sign customers into the system. Reserve such action for extraordinary circumstances.
• If you have to use the reservation software at the desk, remember that you have to extend the time for the reservation. It automatically makes the reservation for 15 minutes, and we have to extend the session an additional 45 minutes in order to ensure the customer receives a full hour.
• Remember that reservations have to be made below the yellow line. They cannot be made on the yellow line or above it.
3. Remember to refresh the reservation calendar. It is not always displaying the most recent, accurate reservation/use information.
4. Library cards and the new computer cards seem to work. That said:
• DO NOT create new computer cards for customers.
• DO NOT renew and/or extend computer cards for customers. 
• If a customer needs to get on a computer but does not have a computer card or library card (and cannot or does not want to sign up for the latter), print out a guest pass.
• Expired and/or blocked library cards no longer work. Customers will have to either get a guest pass or unblock their card by paying down their fines or renewing their card.
5. Customers do not need to use a password or PIN to 1) make a reservation and 2) sign onto their reserved computer. The reservation screen displays only the last four digits/letters of the card/guest pass, not the full number.
6. Reservations that have been assigned a computer cannot be deleted in the new system. (The ones made by staff at the CSD can be.) 

Issues:

1. The system is double-booking (sometimes triple-booking) reservations.
2. The reservation software at the desk freezes intermittently, forcing staff to close it out and restart the program.
3. We cannot print guest passes in batches, and we can only print guest passes at one terminal.
4. We do not yet have a scanner for the kiosk.
5. Sometimes, the reservation kiosk will say that some library cards are not valid even when they are. 
• Logging off/restarting the kiosk seems to resolve that issue temporarily.
6. In the morning, the kiosk says "Library closed for holiday and you cannot sign on." 
• Restarting the kiosk resolves this issue temporarily.

Here is the handout provided by IT: Reservation System Handout. It can also be found on the group blog under "Staff Resources."

Thank you.

MR

UPDATE: Lynda.com and ReferenceUSA

Hello,

Please be advised that if staff or customers have an issue with Lynda.com and/or ReferenceUSA (such as they are not working), please advise them that these resources do have glitches but they do not last long.  Encourage them to try them to try the resource again in a few hours.

Please be sure to report those issues to Marianne Lorio and the IT Help Desk.

MR