Greetings from Motueka Monday, Mar 2 2009

Motueka library has had an extremely busy summer. We have all managed to survive with our good humour still intact! The Summer Reading Programme was very successful with 100% completion. It is such a fantastic programme, not only is it rewarding for all those involved, children, parents and library, it really is lots of fun. The Super-Hero theme was great!

 Sue and I have started the school year with our running shoes on! We have 5 pre-schools we visit regularly, a local school sends a class once a week and another school we visit twice a term, with other schools planning to visit during the year.

 

The library has of course been inundated with Wifi and computer users, being peak tourist and apple season. We have been trialing various systems, with varying success. Having restricted areas available to only 12 laptops at any one time, and having users book in to use the tables has made marked improvement in the management of the library space.

Mary

One Response »

 

APN “killing business” Thursday, Jan 29 2009

You may find this article from The Marlborough Express interesting.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4831850a6008.html

Howie, C. (2009, January 28). Free Internet killing business. The Marlborough Express,p.1.

 

and the follow up story:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlboroughexpress/4836821a6563.html

(2009, February 29). Library’s internet to stay free to all. The Marlborough Express.

Louise

Leave a Response »

 

APN – Q & A & FAQ. Friday, Nov 7 2008

Hi, We’ve had a couple of customers ask some curly questions about using the APN machines. Tech Services will be establishing a “place” where staff can go for FAQ & staff Q & A. In the mean time I thought we could start a list here. If you’ve had any customers asking tricking questions or you know the answer to a question, please contribute.

Q: A customer had trouble printing his Hotmails as the printed page included the side panel and cut off the actual email message. Does anyone know how to print just the content of the message and not the rest of the page’s panels, advertising etc? (other than cutting and pasting the text into a word document which is tedious)? 

Louise 

 

Leave a Response »

 

Hamilton – APN – from the apn blog Thursday, Nov 6 2008

Comments from Hamilton City Libraries APN customers

Well over 500 people a day are using APN across our 6 libraries. Wifi use is also increasing.
Here’s a few customer comments:

Benjamin said.. “I came to the library without being aware that a free internet service was available. I have used this service in addition to reading in the library. I think it is an excellent service.”

Stefan .. “I’m new in Hamilton just flew in from Germany and have no internet available in the hostel. Using the library internet connection to talk to home makes the start in New Zealand much easier.”

Anil .. “The service provided by the Hamilton Library is excellent. I am currently doing an online course and I have been using the resource everyday, and it has helped me to a great extent saving lots of money. The staff are doing a great job with the newly introduced facility.”

Susan .. “Thanks for asking. When I arrived in Hamilton about 2 months ago I was looking for a place to read. I liked the message outside the library and while reading here I found out about the free internet and used it mainly to keep in touch with family and friends and also to look for advertisements. I like the discipline of using it for just half an hour and how friendly the staff are. I haven’t tried learning anything new. Didn’t know I could Skype. It has been helpful that it is free and a quiet place to email.”

---

Leave a Response »

 

Take a look at the APN blog for insights and comments Tuesday, Oct 28 2008

http://peoplesnetwork.wordpress.com/

One Response »

 

Aotearoa People’s Network Tuesday, Oct 28 2008

Richmond install of the APN is underway!  Hooray!  How exciting !!!- After 8 months of hoping and waiting it is all happening.  This new development is going to change the nature of our business in ways we can only imagine at this stage.  We will get new people into the libraries who haven’t used our services before.  We will all learn new things as we play around on the APN computers ourselves.

We are sure to have some fantastic experiences and observe the way that this connectivity can have a positive impact on the lives of our users like those that are mentioned in the APN blog by other libraries who are already on the APN.

We will have new challenges too and learn new skills.  Please take time in this first week or so and over the next month as well to sit down at the APN terminals and have a go.  The more familiar we all are with all the things these computers can do the better we will be able to serve our customers.

Not only that – but we should have fun too! playing with and interacting with the technology.

Lisa

Leave a Response »

 

AOTEAROA PEOPLE’S NETWORK Monday, Jul 28 2008

Great News  !

 Today I received the phone call to tell us that we are in!!  Hooray.  Margaret Garland – APN – said we are looking at an October Rollout!!  So watch this space  – as soon as I know more I’ll pass it on.

This is a fantastic development for us.  Free, highspeed, highquality internet for all of our customers.

At this stage we are looking at 2 computers in Murchison, 2 in Takaka, 4 in Motueka and 8 in Richmond.  I’ll be having discussions with APN in  the next few days to confirm that.  Please Tish, Janne and Karen let me know if you would like more or if that number is about right.

In other news,  the first meeting with the PCG (project control group) went well this morning.  We’ve identified some of the issues and constraints regarding the building.  We will have Nicki Moen with us for the next two days at Richmond to work with all the staff looking at the possibilities for the library  and thinking out 15 years into the future in our brainstorming.

All very exciting!

Motueka library is looking good.  The furniture has started to arrive and once it is all in it will be looking great.

One Response »

 

Ruth Miller and National Library Wednesday, Apr 23 2008

Today Ruth Miller from National Library came to show us all the new developments at TePuna. 

There were lots of interesting new developments especially the Publications New Zealand  which is the National Bibliography.  Have a play with this site by clicking the link and see the new developments

There were also lots of new developments on the Te Puna  sites. 

Other developments across the districts libraries.

Takaka – lots of people visiting Takaka -almost 5000 people since doors opened 2 weeks ago = to more visits than the number of people served by the library!!! in only 2 weeks!!!

Motueka – Nicki Moen a library consultant from Christchurch is coming up on 5th May to talk to Lisa and Karen and the team at Motueka.

Richmond – LTCCP presenation on Tuesday – fingers crossed we get  the thumbs up to pursue some positive developments in the libraries

Training and Professional development –

EPIC training at Nelson – 2 groups from TDC have been/are going to Nelson for training with Michelle Bryant the Lianza/Epic trainer. 

Marae visit – Lucy and Chrissie are off to the Whakatu Marae for a day and night

Workshop on the aging population – in Nelson with several experts on the changes in NZ demographics regarding aging.

The Next LTCCP project group will get underway soon and Helen McCubbin will be in this group.  Thanks Helen!!!!

Aotearoa People’s Network  – We are waitlisted for this – as you will all know.  However this week I’ve been invited to the Wellington Meeting of the APN 2nd intake so ….. watch this space – I’ll be going up on 8th May for an evening meeting to find out what new developments are happening.

Wishing everyone a restful and relaxing ANZAC day

Lisa

Leave a Response »