Import Libary catalog reading historty into GoodReads

This info is out of date for HHPL users, also at one point it stopped working.

If your library uses the same catalog WebApp as me you can export your "reading history" and import it into GoodReads. Now I found this easy but I think non-technically people, might not find it, as easy. The software my library uses is called "Encore", you can tell cause it says in the URL:

Click the images on this blog to make them bigger 

Step 1. log in and  click "My Account".(after logged in) 

Step 2. Click "Reading History" 

Sorry about the minor graphical glitch here, I don't know offhand how to fix it.

Step 3. Click "Export Reading History" 

Step 4. Set the "Radio buttons" to match these

Step 5 hit submit and you will download a file

That was the easy part! next you need either "LibreOffice"(it's free) or Microsoft Office for these next steps. You also need to know where the file you downloaded is, These instructions  will tell you how to find  the file. 

Step 6. Open Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Calc and hit "file" and "open".

Step 7 Make sure this dropdown is set to "All Files(*.*)

Step 8 open the "export.txt" in the folder Where you Downloaded it.

Step 9. Hit ok to the next dialog and hit "file" and then "save as", choose "CSV" as the file type(where you picked "All files")

Step 10. I'm not sure if it's needed but I got rid of all records that where not books. You can click on the column number to delete it. 

Step 11. I also got rid of a lot of the data I did not need. You need ISBN(column "AR"? before you remove any), probably the title and author. 

Step 12. Import your list here. If it does not work try another brewer. 

Good luck and let me know how it turns out! 

Oh and by the way I figured this out on my own :). 

iPad review

So the library now lets users borrow iPads! They are "iPad Pro Model number A1701". A few notes before I begin:

• The store is off limits - you are not allowed to download any apps onto it, you're stuck with what you got. You do get a good selection of apps(not just the default ones) and I will talk more about that in the "apps" section of this review.
• Internet Usage restriction - I think you are restected to the libary's Internet Usage Policy(available in the Library Board Policy Manual) *. I think this is because they own the device and their are laws they must abide by. In my opinion, you should not concern yourself with this policy, it should be fine for day to day tasks. 
• You must be 18+ to borrow one - Also if you break it you buy it and it's not cheap. 
• I recommend a guest network - The staff are supposed to remove all your stuff from the iPad when you're done with it. If done correctly, this should protect you from viruses, but I don't know enough about iPads to say for sure. A guest network is a feature of most new wireless routers, it makes a new access point(thing to connect your device too), this new access point can only access the internet and no other devices. (keeping your other devices virus free). You can do some Googling to find out more info and if you want me to talk about this more comment on this post(or do this if you can't). 
• A message that you signed into anouther device - You may get one of these, don't worry, all the libraries ipads are "owned" by the same person and it tells you when someone is signed in to another one of "your" devices. (these things were not designed for borrowing) 
• Singing into apps - I did try some of the social media apps(and nobody took over my social media) but now that I have thought of it, I probably won't next time if I borrow it. For one thing, viruses, for another if the staff forget to "clear" those apps, I don't want the next person gaining access to my account. 
• Note about viruses -  I've read the iPad is very secure against viruses but I am still hesitant to use a device I don't have complete controller over for things of a "sensitive" nature. 
• Use of Instagram - If you want ot use "Instagram" then you will need to change your password to make sure other people can't sign in with it. The other servies I tried had easy ways to forget my account.  

SIDENOTES FOR THIS SECTION

* Yes this is available to the public, so are board meeting minutes, I think that if more companies made this stuff available to the public, there would be fewer scandals. (companies would be on their toes)

My problem with a lot of reviews is what I think is "good" you may think is "bad", so I am going to talk about the iPad and give my opinions on it but I am not going to "rate it", you will have to make your own decision if you want your own or to borrow one yourself. 

The display - Well the advertisements say these things look nice and they do. I don't have another modern tablet to compare it too but I am impressed with what I see.   

Sound - It's decent, they seem to have "pumped up" the base to make it sound "better". The bad news is, there are no headphone jacks, so if you want better audio you need to use Bluetooth(wireless audio), I don't like this, it's not environmentally friendly(need to power the receiver) and I don't have a usable* Bluetooth speaker.  I don't care for the sound too much. 

SIDENOTES FOR THIS SECTION

* Some of you may heard I have experimented with using my Raspberry Pi(a credit card sized computer) as a Bluetooth speaker but you can get viruses over Bluetooth so I don't want to risk using it with the iPad.(kind of like the Wifi). 

User Interface(the way you interact with it) - I don't like that the icons in my "dock" don't have names and sometimes it feels "too easy to use". For example, when composing an email you either attach a document or insert an image. To me, images are "attachments" so I find this confusing. In other cases, it seems to be made easy to use but less powerful as a result. Not what I prefer as an I.T.  guy but maybe most computers are not easy enough to use. You can see what I mean about me thinking "this is bad" but you could love it. I do like all the "animations" apps make but it's only a matter of time before you become used to that, so it's not "worth much". 

Apps- Again I only have access to the apps the library has provided me with. They are some productivity apps, internet apps, some games, social media,  media apps and "library apps". "library apps" can be used to access the library's services, like Flipster, cloud library, etc. They are some iOS specific apps but they are nothing special. I think all of the apps I want to use I could install on my Android tablet. (that's important for the end of the review). 

Apple Penical - This comes with the device, it is powered and I don't t know why they don't just include a "normal" tablet stylus. Leave a comment below,(or do this if you can't) if I am missing something and I'll look into what that might be. 

Other thoughts - It looks nice, there is a protective case that comes with it, this makes it heavier but probably harder to damage. 

Responsiveness - It is responsive, that is apps start up and operate quickly. 

Closing thoughts - iPads are too pricey for me to buy one. It's about the same size as my Android tablet, since I can't use the store and most of the apps that come with it would run on my tablet I don't need to borrow it. It may be faster BUT I would not use it for anything serious because of the security concerns I prefixed this review with. So will I borrow it again, probably not but it was fun to try none the less. One of the great things about my library is giving me the Opportunity to try new things! (Their Vision statement is  "Your path to worlds of imagination, innovation and opportunity") 

I hope you found that review helpful, informative or fun! Thank you for reading it! 

Winter Reading Challenge

My first post with the new "library" theme, nice huh?


I have 100% completed the "Winter Reading Challange". If you don't know what the "Winter Reading Challange" is you can read More about it here.(this artiacle assumes you know what it is)., Today(March 17th) is the last day, whether or not I win or lose I would like to talk about my experience.  Firstly I saw the photo of the bingo card and that's what made me want to take the challenge. Before seeing it I rather foolishly assumed the challenge would be a bunch of books for you to read but that is not the case. The more interesting challenges are found below:

• Re-read your favourite book - One of my new favourite books(and graphic novels count) is "The Adventure Zone: Here There Be Gerblins": Amazon link, it's based on the first "chapter" of the podcast I listen to last year. That may sound strange bur the podcast was a DnD campaign and they basically translated the narrated content to a visual medium. I was very impressed and although they could not keep everything it's still very good. I am not the only one who thinks so, it got 4 and 5-star reviews on Amazon and like the podcast is worth enjoying!  It's also "the first book in a series" so I scored an extra point for that!
• Relax by the library's fireplace + Relax with a hot drink and read - So again I did these two together, getting a magazine, a hot drink and sitting by the fireplace*, very relaxing and I will do it again.  
• John Goodreads and track your reading - Not something I wanted to do at first but it was the last square so I decided to try it. Now I just started so I am not sure how much I like it but offhand, it's cool. They already recommended what looks to be a good book based on the 20 items I input. 
• Donate a book to the Friends of the Libary bookfair - Had a spare one lying around, you can't donate to the library directly now cause of this.(a picture is truly worth 1000 words here).
  UPDATE: You can now donate to the library again. 
• [Use Freegal, cloud library, flipster] - They are some online services the library has to offer, your library(if yours is not mine), may have them too. All you need is a library card to access them. Now they all use their own login, so keeping your card on your computer could be useful. I wrote a script which copies it to the clipboard when I hit "Windows key + N". I did not know about these till I did the challange. 
• Join us for family day- Noteworthy cause it was my OTAM for February
• Pick up a copy of your Wordsworth program guide - So I gave up going to a library program(VR) to go to the naturalist club potluck. So we finished our meals and are getting ready for the photo presentations, too people are coming around and one says  "want another deviled egg!" and I'm like "ok sure" The other one says "want a Wordsworth?" and I'm thinking "I gave up a library program to be here and I still end up with a Wordsworth!" LOL, the irony of the situation is really memorable to this day.
• Read a book by a real person - I read "I work in a public library", it's great, I recommend it. So long as the library has a copy you can read my review of it here.(click "see all reviews"), either read the book or check out her blog here.

Overall it was fun and I tried a lot of new things I did not know about! In the end I did not win but the important thing is I had fun!

My100% complete challenge card looks like this:

* Yeah they seem to allow this on the carpeted floors since the hot drinks are for sale nearby there and there is no sign up to say otherwise.

Why I love the library

My friend(who was on the board for years by the way) thought I might want to present my passion for the library to the board. Please don't' tell anyone on the board what you read here, I want the content to be a surprise. (I think all they know that I am going to be giving a positive speech). Here is what I will say:

As some of the staff know, my name is Jamie. When I am working, I usually do computer programming and other IT work. I have been a patron here for many years, but only recently have I had so much passion for the place!

A while ago, I discovered that, in order to balance my life, I need to "get out and do stuff," join clubs, play games like Dungeons and Dragons and card/board games, meet people, etc. I am now a member of many clubs, but there is still room in my life for more cool stuff!

So in 2018, I attended a number of thrilling library programs including: VR, Boardgame Nights, Murder Mystery Night and the historical Escape Room! In other words, more chances to "get out and do stuff", yes, that is the VERY THING I have looked for this whole time! For the record, all of those run extremely well. I am very happy with these library programs; keep up the amazing work! This library has become a sort of "central hub" or community centre and I LOVE IT!

Now, when a place gives you EXACTLY the kind of thing you are looking for, you start paying attention to it! There are a lot of things that have been here for years but I never thought of using them.  Like study rooms, microfilm, The Creativity Centre, etc. This process is "recursive"; every time I see something cool, it makes me think "what will be my next adventure?"

I also love how, unlike money-making corporations, all the free stuff here, is free with no strings attached! Money-making companies are like "come back and spend more money" and the library is like "come back and do more cool stuff!" and "spend all day here, we don't care!" Also, they won't sell your data to get you to buy things! THUMBS UP! It's very refreshing!

So now I am aware of how cool this place is! I use the library several times a week and for all sorts of reasons. My experience in this place these days is good to OUTSTANDING! I also talk about and promote the library all the time these days! One of my friends went to a VR booking with me and he has not been here since the renovation. (It's cool that I got him to come here). I also decided to play the role of a former librarian in the Pathfinder campaign I am playing at the local comic store. (Pathfinder is similar to DnD). Lastly, I am wearing this T-shirt (show "friends" shirt)

So thanks. this library is 11/10, 3-thumbs up, S Rank (better than A+)! That's not an easy thing to achieve and I don't say that lightly!

End of speech

Stats: 
Can be found at the bottom of this page.


UPDATE:
Letter from the board!

OTAM February

Another month, another OTAM, so here we go! Before we start, in case you are new, What is OTAM?


Thrill - Guess what, this months thrill exercises clause #2 "similar to something I do all the time if thrilling enough". If was the Library's(no surprise there) Family Day activities. I arrived and found the boardgames, we had four hours to play board games and used all of them. I was a bit a late so there was not a game I could admeditly join.

I decided to try the scavenger hunt while I waited and ended up going across most of the building looking for clues. It got my heart racing, they say climbing stairs are one of the most exhausting things you can do and I did a lot of it. The clues where not too hard to find, part of the thrill was seeing all the neat stuff, the library was doing and all the happy library goers! They had a couple of events exclusive to kids and for everyone, they had lego, board games and the scavenger hunt. I did not have time to for the Lego. After the hunt was complete I put my name in a prize draw, which was a nice bonus. All the walking around made me understand why the staff use radios, it sure is inconvenient to do all the "running" around. :)

When I was done with the hunt I played a cool game with Vikings with some other boardgame lovers. It was a lot of fun.


Tech - I did more work on my project from last month and some shell scripting. I also started borrowing some technical books through the library's Inter Libary Loan. It's not much but these projects are "ongoing".

BONUS - I attended a fascinating lecture held by the Libary. It was on DNA testing. I am a life-long learner, a lot of topics are interesting too me.