Reader's Corner

I have added a feed from the Reader's Corner Reviews to the Reader's Corner website. So when you visit Reader's Corner you will see the latest reviews added to the Reader's Corner Reviews blog appearing in a colum on the right.

The reviews are from staff and visitors to the site, so if you've read something interesting why not send us a quick review. We've already had feedback from members that they've borrowed some of the books reviewed and have loved them.

Now I'm on leave for a couple of weeks so Paul will be stepping into my blogging shoes. Thank-you Paul.

Cheers, Maryanne

New labels on My Account

I've just been adjusting the new labels on My Account. You should find them appearing on Saturday. Some of the changes I've made:

Review My Account will become View items/holds on card
Renew My Materials will become Renew items on card
User PIN Change will become Change your PIN
Change My Address will become Change your address
I have added Get your PIN via email

I have also added a link to the online resources that will appear on Saturday as well.

Cheers, Maryanne

iBistro changes

The IT department have been busy this week upgrading all of the staff computers to the new Symphony software. I anticipate the changes to iBistro will appear in the next day or so. You'll know when it's changed because the catalogue will go from blue to black and green. However it is more than a colour change, as I outlined in last Wednesday's article Software upgrade on Sunday. I imagine most of you will be delighted about the increase in the font size.

Cheers, Maryanne

Boronia Library update

Boronia Library has power but no heating. They will be opening at 3pm today (Wednesday). Bring a warm jacket just in case :-D .

Cheers, Maryanne

Software upgrade on Sunday

On Sunday 22nd June Eastern Regional Libraries will be undertaking a major upgrade to the new Symphony Software with SirsiDynix.

As a result of the upgrade:

• the 5 branches open on Sunday will be working offline


• the iBistro catalogue will be unavailable from Sunday AM - Monday AM


• 10-minute Internet PCs will be unavailable on Sunday, possibly Monday AM (the regular bookable Internet PCs will be available)
  

Apologies for an inconvenience.

I've made quite a few changes to iBistro, including:

• the addition of the new logo and change of colours to fit in with the website


• increasing the font size of text and links


• addition of an Online Resources page - encyclopedias, newspaper/magazine articles and reference books available 24/7 for free with your library card


• a change of the wording for the options in My Account. Feedback has been that some of these options were unclear. Review My Account will be View items/holds on card. Renew My Materials will be Renew items on card. I have also added a link to get a PIN via email if you do not know it.
  


• the addition of the times renewed to the View items and Renew screens.


• advising members of new titles by their favorite author or subject. Members have been saving authors and subjects as favorites and as yet haven't received any emails. Firstly I will be removing the favorites added through borrowing so you might see a couple of authors etc disappear. Don't worry though the favorites you have been manually adding though will still be there. If you have an email address set up on your card you should be receiving notification soon of any new titles added to our collection that match your favorites.
  

Some sneak peeks of the new iBistro catalogue:

The overall front page (enlarged catalogue view with login)





Closeup of the front page




Changes to wording on My Account menu




You can see the number of times an item has been renewed



You will be able to see all of the changes next week once the upgrade has finished. Thanks to all of the members who have given me feedback over the the last year and a bit. I have been able to use that to make some of the changes. There are still a few things that people have suggested that we need to work on - namely being able to see the items on your card belonging to other consortium libraries and being able to view the issue details of magazines in the View My Items screen.

Phew! Can't rest now, we still have work to do for the upgrade.

Cheers, Maryanne

Boronia Library update

Boronia Library is still closed at the moment until power is restored. We apologise for any inconvenience. I will advise through the blog and website as soon as it re-opens (fingers crossed that it is today).

Cheers, Maryanne

Update on Boronia Library

Unfortunately the Boronia Library will not be opening at all today. We have been advised that the problem will be fixed tomorrow but are not sure at what time so the library will remain closed until the power has been restored. We apologise for any inconvenience. Items may be returned to other branches of Eastern Regional Libraries or renewed online through our website if you know your PIN.

Cheers, Maryanne

Discovery Workshop

Join local research scientist, Ken Simpson, for some cool lessons in classifying wildlife and dating objects.

Morning session is on observing and classifying, using shells and shell grit.
Afternoon session on methods used to date material such as rocks, coins and plants, with hands on activities.

Aged 10+

Starts at 11:30am finishing at 2pm with a BYO lunch between.

When: Wednesday 2nd July 11:30am-2pm
Where: Yarra Junction Library, Hoddle Street, Yarra Junction
Cost: Free
Bookings essential phone 5967 1588

Cheers, Maryanne