LTDS August 11th – August 17th 2019

WOW!  Classes start on the 21st.  The team utilized a portion of the week confirming that user facing items were working as expected and making a few tweaks.  In addition,  the team starting planning training sessions and topics for LTDS update session during the fall.  If you have a topic you would like to have discussed,  please let us know!

 

  • Alma/Primo
    • New full display deplo4yed
    • Adding LibGuides to VE
  • Desktop/Application support
    • Resolving issues related to AirWatch deployment
    • AD renaming project
  • Digital Collections
    • Vireo development for ETDs
    • Gargoyle scanning
  • Web/Web applications
    • Pop-up survey evaluation/testing
  • Other
    • Scripting OCLC reports
    • Work with SSO for Vireo
    • work on/with various committees

 

AirWatch for Staff Macs

As many of our staff Mac users are aware, LTDS is in the process of deploying AirWatch, a mobile device management (MDM) solution that the University uses to administrate Macs around campus. Moving to AirWatch allows us to remotely manage our Mac computers through a central online console. Through this console, we’re able to:

  • See the current owner of a computer
  • Read information about the model to inform hardware replacements
  • View the OS version to ensure that everyone is using a currently supported macOS
  • Deploy applications
  • Assign profiles to computers that enforce specified policies, like FileVault encryption
  • Lock the device should it ever become lost or stolen
  • Provide an App Catalog in the Dock from which you can install on-demand applications as desired

If you have any questions about or issues with AirWatch, please let us know.

LTDS August 4th – August 10th 2019

Another busy week for the team.  Everyone work towards wrapping up projects before students return in 2 weeks!

 

  • Alma/Primo
    • Alma analytics lab sessions
    • 21North Re-barcoding project
    • Copying rules from the sandbox (sandbox was refreshed this weekend)
  • Desktop/Application support
    • Continued renaming project
    • deploy new laptops/desktops
  • Digital Collections
    • Catch up on ETDs
    • Continued work on new ETD system
  • Web/Web applications
    • ETANA Broken link checker
    • TVNews forgot password project
  • Other
    • Continued work on SSO/Ping
    • Continued to prepare for l.v.e. MX entry move

 

LTDS July 29th – August 3rd 2019

LTDS continued to work on various projects and resolving INFORM tickets.  The team also started to plan for upcoming monthly update sessions starting this month.  If you have a topic you would like to have covered during an upcoming session,  please let me know.

 

  • Alma/Primo
    • Hack-a-thon to split Acquisitions and Cataloging in Alma
    • Normalization rules for VE
    • Government Documents Work Order
  • Desktop/Application support
    • Started wide deployment of AirWatch /Workspace One
    • Processing orders for new machines — regular replacements
  • Digital Collections
    • WordCloud changes and improvements
    • Continued work on Vireo — the new ETD systems
    • working with the 3D camera
  • Web/Web applications
    • Converting web apps to mysqli
    • TVNews Password change form
  • Other
    • Learning Ruby and Rails
    • Planing for fall projects
    • Troubleshooting

 

 

LTDS July 21st – July 28th 2019

2 Comments on LTDS July 21st – July 28th 2019

All of the team was back from taking vacation!  Several team members spend time catching up on email and outstanding INFORM requests.  The team continued to work on various summer projects and start planning for fall project priorities.

 

  • Alma/Primo
    • Preparing for upcoming acquisitions/cataloging hack-a-thon
    • Work on Music library registration form
  • Desktop/Application support
    • Resolved several issues with systems at 21 North
    • Continued renaming project
  • Digital Collections
    • Continued to work on new ETD submission system
    • Answering questions from users concerning the current ETD system
    • Modifications to the current exhibits being displayed on the Central interactive screens
  • Web/Web applications
    • Created new WordPress site
    • Adding additional error checking for the Today’s hours script
  • Other
    • Development work for Wordcloud v.2
    • Continued professional development though web courses.
    • Documenting possible issues with the email Office 365 migration process.

 

 

 

 

Using Microsoft Planner to organize your projects

A few years ago, many of us in the library discovered Trello and began using it to help our projects stay on track and organized. It’s been a wonderful tool, but unfortunately for us, they recently went to a new pricing setup that prevents the library from using it going forward.

Fortunately, this happened just as the library was starting to move toward using the Office 365 suite of applications provided by the university. One of the applications in the suite is Microsoft Planner, a project planning tool that is very similar to Trello. LTDS is encouraging library staff to make the transition to Planner as you have new projects to track. Several library groups have already started using Planner, including LTDS (unit), ACE (unit), and the Revised Common Lectionary group (project). You might want to use it as a department, a committee/task force, a project group, or any other configuration of people. It’s up to you!

Don’t worry — we’re here to help you get started! Simply submit an Inform to get the process rolling. LTDS must do the initial setup for you at this time, and then you’ll have free reign to set up your tasks (cards) within your plan (board). LTDS is also available to provide a basic overview of the Planner interface.

LTDS July 14th – July 20th 2019

LTDS team members spend a great deal of time working on professional development opportunities including online courses on web accessibility, rails, and working with the library carpentry sessions. In addition to these items the team working on various issues including:

  • Alma/Primo
    • Fine issues
    • Never ending Alma user issues
    • Reviewing self-check policies in Divinity/Central
  • Desktop/Application support
    • continued to deploy meeScans
    • distributed mouse pads for the public computers
  • Digital Collections
    • ETD questions and assisting students
  • Web/Web applications
    • Completed audit for staff directory/organization chart
    • updated proxy server ssl certificate
  • Other
    • Installed JBOD and UPS for TVNews
    • Converted public website to use new campus calendar

 

Build Your Own Search Widget

Did you know that you can create your own search box, customized to included limits such as your Library or even a search query? It is readily available to anyone who would like to try it out and is found here:

https://apps.library.vanderbilt.edu/primo-search/

Where can you use this widget? If you have a Libguide and want to actually “guide” students to resources, you can do so by providing this search widget. This is just one of many tools we have available. Try it out and let us know what you think!

Your LTDS Team

LTDS July 7th – July 13th 2019

Another busy week for LTDS.  A couple of team members took well deserved vacations during the week but the rest of the team continued to work through summer projects and INFORMs.  A few of the items the team worked on are listed below.

  • Alma/Primo
    • Prepared for Sandbox refreshed scheduled for August
    • Worked with OCLC to get the Alma/OCLC sync to work as needed.
    • Deployed meeScan stations in Central and Divinity
  • Desktop/Application support
    • Worked on renaming systems and confirming SCCM availability
    • Continued to test AirWatch
    • Prepared for first hardware order in FY20
    • LTDS orientation meeting with LTDS for new staff
  • Digital Collections
    • Added “Forgot Password” feature to TVNews
    • Updated missing thumbnails for several Helguerra documents
  • Web/Web applications
    • Completed wordpress migration to google tag manager
    • Continued work on the staff directory/org chart audit program
  • Other
    • Continued working to convert servers to public key authentication instead of username/password.
    • Updated ArchivesSpace
    • Listserv Lists cleanup

LTDS June 30th – July 6th 2019

The LTDS was closed Thursday and Friday of this week resulting in a short week for the team.    LTDS utilized the first of the week to continue work on summer projects and resolve various INForm requests.  We hope everyone had a great 4th of July.

 

“Libraries are about Freedom. Freedom to read, freedom of ideas, freedom of communication. They are about education (which is not a process that finishes the day we leave school or university), about entertainment, about making safe spaces, and about access to information.”

― Neil Gaiman, The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction