It's the little things that count... (2022 Update)

 

It's the little things that count... (2022 Update)

Years ago we started using ID cards and a scanner for students to sign in and sign out of the library. Well, things have changed with Google (when do they not?) and I've had some requests to share, so here's an update of posts from way back:  2015 Original and 2018 Update.

The setup: at each entrance we have Chromebox (connected to the network) with a monitor and a scanner (scanner is on a stand). We don't even have a keyboard or mouse sitting out! This runs a Google form and students can walk up and scan their ID card completely HANDS FREE. Our students scan when they arrive and when they leave the library. The Keep Awake extension keeps the Chromebox running all day long. The box and Chrome account are ones my Tech Dept. created with limited capabilities....really, that user can only submit this form!

Here's the steps:

1. Create a form; The form is minimal, just a box for their ID number. We only collect the ID number that the student scans in from the bar code on their ID card. You could add formulas and upload student names to your result spreadsheet if you want names. Google automatically inputs the date and time. No one need log in as the form is always running on these dedicated scanner computers and shared with anyone.
   
2. Set your scanner to auto-read and then perform "enter" after the scan is finished. Ours sits in a stand and is always ready for students to scan. Check your scanner documentation, there's usually a "setting" scan that you perform to set your scanner to this function.
3. Run the "live form" in chrome. 
4. Add THREE scripts to your Chrome browser. I use Tamper Monkey to install the scripts, but you may need to check with your IT Dept. to get this loaded. You can get the three scripts you need from a kind soul named Melgior1 at Greasyfork: Here are his directions: https://goo.gl/NFvoNF.
5. The first script sets the cursor in the open box on the form so all is ready to scan. 
6. After the ID card is scanned, your scanner clicks enter which submits the form. You'll need a second script that allows "Enter" to submit your form; that isn't automatic anymore in Google Forms.
7. The third script clicks the "Submit another form" link to reset the form for the next user. The script is set to 5 seconds, but I found that wasn't fast enough for our students so I edited the script value to a smaller number.  
8. I would love to meet and thank Melgior1, the lovely person that created these scripts! 
9. The results sheet fills up quickly so I've added addtional tabs where I use formulas to lookup the Student Name and Grade to fill that information in AND another tab that puts the newest entry on top. 
1. To lookup the name of the students I used this formulat with Copy Down Addon: =ARRAYFORMULA(VLOOKUP(B2,'ID Names'!A1:B3001, 2, FALSE))
2. To put the newest entry on top I used this formula with Copy Down Addon: =query('Form Responses 1'!A1:AA, "select * order by A desc", 1)

This has been such a time saver for our students!!!!! I'm able to view the results on my phone so if we have to evacuate, I can carry the signin's with me. You can also share the results with Admin, Attendance, Study Hall, teachers, etc! I hope it works for you!

And did I mention, this is FREE?

Switching Gears - Physical collection to Virtual!

Just because the school building is closed, that doesn't mean the library is closed! We're open 24/7/365 really.

Some tasks that I've been working on:

1. Switch Destiny view to Discover and focus on the electronic collection.
2. Update the website to focus on electronic resources.
3. Promote Online Safety on the library website, Canvas, and Learn at Home site.
4. Up my Social Media Game! Trying to post to Twitter and Facebook at least a few times per week (primary focus is for students, but hoping parents and staff will follow as well).
5. Evaluate our database holdings. Consider increasing eBoook collection. Commit to promote those resources to staff and students.
6. To avoid email burnout-I've tried to limit emails to staff of 1-2/week. I've created a New Resources page for them on the library website that I refer to each week.
7. Secured a School Google Voice number (and advertise it) so students can call/text for help. 
8. Start creating video demonstrations for staff (asynchronous learning)!
9. Explore SORA and Public Library Connect.

More to follow....thanks for hearing my random thoughts!

Be well. Stay home. Stay safe.

Genrefying Fiction, Part 3.0

Our next step...the ginormous Realistic Fiction section. We've left this section white and it holds everything that is NOT Historical, Fantasy, Science, Horror, Sports, or Graphic Novel. Shelf-wise, it's about 138 of our 373 shelves (roughly 37% of the fiction section). When helping classes, I've heard requests for "action packed", "murder", "criminal", "who-done-it", and so on. Time to pull another section out!

Plan to repeat the steps from earlier pull-outs. Here's what we're doing:

1. Pick a color for the label protector. We decided Aqua for Action & Adventure and Tan for Mystery. Order has been placed!
2. Search Destiny catalog for anything with mystery, thriller, murder, detective, criminal, crime; action, adventure, survival, etc. keywords. I've struggled with this as there seems to be no way to exclude items sitting in another sublocation. I've tried searching sublocation=undefined, but that doesn't seem to block them all out.
3. I added these search results to a Resource List.
4. Pull these books on to carts, my initial estimates are about 300 books in each genre.
5. Look carefully at titles and descriptions to make sure this is the best genre. Then add label protectors, change sublocation and category in Destiny. We did this in bulk, pulled books onto a cart, added the colored label protector, then scanned books through Update Copies to add the category and sublocation.
6. Signage and promotion!
7. Continually check circulating books for these categories....that's a daily basis.

Challenges about this project: Cross genre. It never fails, the first book I look at is a Fantasy/Mystery/Adventure book. Ugh. When this happens, I ask the students that have read it where they would want it.

Of course, now that the heavy lifting is finished, no one can browse the shelves! Ready for fall and time to switch to virtual reading!