[WEB4LIB] How to do a menu for library workstations?

[Robin Hastings]

We are planning on doing the same sort of thing as the Park Ridge Public
Library.  We don't have the money in our budget for software, though, so I
have devised a workaround.  On our NT workstations for our new computer lab,
we are going to have the browser pop up upon login and have links to the
software that we offer from there.  We will also include in this default
home page a quick and dirty description of our Internet policies and some
suggested search links.  The way I have made the links to the software work
is by placing the .exe file in a folder by itself and linking to that local
folder.  The user then clicks on the .exe file link and the program is
launched.  We are doing this mostly for statistical purposes, although we
haven't figured that part out completely yet.  Any ideas or tales of your
experiences doing this sort of thing would be appreciated!!

Robin Hastings
Computer Services Assistant
Missouri River Regional Library
(573) 634-6064 x242
fmt008 at mail.connect.more.net

-----Original Message-----
From:	web4lib at sunsite.Berkeley.EDU [mailto:web4lib at sunsite.Berkeley.EDU] On
Behalf Of lkleckner at park-ridge.lib.il.us
Sent:	Thursday, May 06, 1999 3:43 PM
To:	Multiple recipients of list
Subject:	[WEB4LIB] How to do a menu for library workstations?

We use "CD NET" from Meridian Data Systems (www.meridian-data.com) on our CD
ROM server, this product includes an optional product called slingshot which
allows you to launch your CD ROM based applications from a browser. Create
an html page with the descriptions, add the link and you now have a great
menu system. Use the policy editor to take all of the icons off the desktop,
and use fortres to lock the PC and your done. We have converted all of our
patron stations to combination Internet/CD ROM stations, and all the patron
sees and is the browser.


Larry Kleckner
Access Services Manager
Park Ridge Public Library
lkleckner at park-ridge.lib.il.us
847-825-3123


-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib at sunsite.Berkeley.EDU [mailto:web4lib at sunsite.Berkeley.EDU]
On Behalf Of Gary E. Masters
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 1999 10:17 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] How to do a menu for library workstations?
Our Director of Public Services, wants a menu system for our reference area
workstations. Right now, we have icons in a Windows environment (protected
by Fortres) with extended descriptions under the icons. I tried one with
the HP Desktop Administrator (formerly Norton Desktop Administrator) but it
would not load every time without problems. Now we are testing a version
using the Novell Applications Launcher. It loadw with NetWare and if you
connect you already have the ZEN connection. It will map and unmap drives
and that is a bit plus with more database directories than letters in the
alphabet. However, it is not pure text and is more like the Windows
environment that we have now. Both Internet sources and server based
sresources are on the menu.
Does anyone know of a text based system that can be run over NetWare? I
have been unable to locate one, and want to know that I have covered all of
the options. If not a text based system, what can be made to look like a
text based system? One very close would do. We want lots of information
on screen to tell people what they have and how to use it.
What do you do for reference workstations? We need to know what the world
is doing.
Thanks,
Gary Masters

Gary E. Masters
Automated Services Librarian
Texas A&M International University
(956) 326-2137 (voice)
(956) 326-2399 (fax)