Libary Catalog Missing Manual Chapter 1:things along the side

This info is now out of date for HHPL users, if the new system does not have end user documentation and there is enough interest amonst friends I'll make a new one of these.

 
There is no manual for my libraries catalogue web app(maybe yours does not have one either), I don't mean I can't find it, I asked and they told me that, they don't have one. (well they probably is one for staff to view but not patrons). I thought I MIGHT write some documentation here from time to time, will start with this random article and see how it goes.

You will see this on the right when you log in but what does it mean? 

"Checkouts" should be rather self-explanatory, you can renew your items from there and see what dues and when, useful.  

"Holds" shows a list of holds you can cancel or freeze. Freezing a hold allows you to keep your hold(it probably puts you to the end of the line) but it will never come in for you. This sounds like a bad thing but this ensures you holds don't come in when you go on vacation. AFAIK it can not be done if something is on the hold shelf.  Also, it does not say this on the website but you can only have 50 holds. (not sure if eBooks count towards this) 

My eBooks - that is self-explanatory.

Fines/fees - You can see your fees, as you can see I have none! :) You can also pay larger fees($5.00?) off online. This is great for us enthusiastic patrons, who don't want the staff to know when we have late fees! 

Programs-  - The library is/or maybe has phased out needing a library card to partake in programs, so this page may always be blank. Removed since they don't use that feature anymore but they did when I took this screenshot. 

My lists - This video explains list much better then I can.  The video has been removed and will be remade on Facebook for later this year.

In the meantime, I will say this, lists are useful for tracking items in the catalogue.
I have a list of all the "missing" items(since you can't place a hold on these). Making a list is not easy since the button is only accessible* from an unlikely place. (From the "Libary Bag" screen which is found in "adding items" beside each item). If have questions about this please let me know and I'll try and make my explanation better.

* I've asked the staff and they confirmed that this odd location is the only place to make lists form, odd as it is.

Messages -Staff sometimes leave you messages here. They keep turning this fracture on and off.

My reviews - you can make reviews but that's a whole other topic, let me know if you want me to talk about that. 

I hope you found this useful. If you liked it let me know maybe I'll do more. 

VR games VS Normal video games

I still don't have that much experience with VR but since these are just for fun I decide to it anyway:

VR: 

• ALLWAYS uses motion controls(+ 5 points)
• Can make you feel sick(- 3 points) 
• Overall feels real thrilling(+ 5 points)
• Feels real(+ 10 points, in most cases*) 
• Is costly and takes space(- 0 points, cause it's worth it if you can pull it off) 

* I mean I don't want to have an evil dentist clean my teeth in VR, I'll have nightmares for weeks!

Normal video games:

• You can see your surroundings(+ 10 points )
• I think I could play a normal video game for longer but doctors say you should take at least a 15-minute break no matter what kind of digital gaming you enjoy. (+ 0 points, since neither has an advantage) 
• Normal games seem less buggy but the library has to use the VR setup for different people and in different rooms and I wonder how buggy it would be if you just left it set up and did not change anything. (-/+ 0 points cause I don't have enough data) 
• Can be easier to respond to emergencies(don't have to take off a helmet)(+? points, I don't know how fast this can be done. I only have played at the library and I trust my facilitators know how to do this in a pinch if needed, this will be the tie breaker though.) 

VR: 17

Normal: 10

VR wins! 

Board games VS Card games

By request of one of my readers, Dave, it's time to do something I have not done in a while a "vs". You can read the others here. I have decided before I get started to make it clear that these are just for fun and not a "serious" comparison and nor will it ever be. So with that in mind let us begin.

This time it's Card Games VS Board Games. Card Games being defined as games with dekes but no board like "Monopoly Deal, Exploding Kittens and Skippo".

Card games

• Can be easily taken with you to events(+ 5 points), I hardly take boardgames to "boardgame" events anymore but I do take cardgames. 
• Can be easier to deal with, sometimes boardgame pieces are harder to deal with(+ 2 points) 
• Like the feel of cards in my hand(+ .5 points) 
• Exploding Kittens is a card game and it's awesome(+ ? points but will be a "tie-breaker" when deciding a winner)  

Board games 

• Can be more complex(+ 10 points, complex in a good way)
• Game tokens often look more interesting then cards(+3 points) 
• I have played some neato boardgames but nothing as fun as the card games I have played*(+ 0 points)

SCORES:
Card games: 7.5
Board games: 13

Wow! I thought card games would win but with all "vs" I basically "improvised" this, so there you go!



* Off the top of my head

How did the speech go

I usually don't like to make short posts like this(I think Facebook is the better platform for such things) but I have to say the speech went really well.

Speech to the board

Tomorrow(Wednesday April 10th) I will be meeting with the library board to give my speech. I have been told that space is limited and not to invite any friends but don't worry, I'll tell you how it goes! Also, the gist of what I say will be in the publicly available meeting minutes :).

March OTAM

March was the last time I will do OTAM, it's no longer interesting to me!





APRIL FOOLS! The truth is, it's really fun and I really like it! It's neet to try and do new things and fun to reflect on the cool things I do each month.




Thrill - I did some VR last month, there was the  VR tournament I blogged about here. VR is still really thrilling(when it works), it's just a really neat way to "get into a game"! I also really love when this sort of thing happens. I also was lucky and go to do some drop in VR on  Friday(during "work hours"). It was in a different room where I and my tall friend had problems playing before but this time they fixed the issue :). I did not do anything new and if you want a full recap of my VR experience you can find it here.

Teach - I am still borrowing cool books from the library but those no longer count(I have done it "too much".) The one tech thing I would say I did this month was borrowing the ipad. Though this I learned 3 things:

• About "gues wifi", a safe way for outside devices to use your internet. 
• Basic experience with iPads(as I said in my review I could not install apps) but any experience is still useful. 
• How to write a technical review, even though I did not get another person to proofread it, I think it's still a useful skill to have. 

BONUS: Although I started it in January, finishing the winter reading challenge(100%) was also a thrill!

LASTLY: Oh man, the library IS making this easy! :)

Thanks for reading this!