[Web4lib] Library Staff Scheduler

[Emele Dykes]

I absolutely agree.  (3 cheers for the human brain!)

Those tasked with the responsibility of scheduling at our library all 
cry in pain every time they have to make a new schedule.  They use a 
variety of aids (depending on their technical expertise)  from huge 
sheets of paper to excel spreadsheets to attempt to make order of the 
chaos.  Apparently there is some scheduling software out there that 
might help, BUT our library has never been prepared to spend the money.  
Although I've also always wondered if any scheduling software would be 
good enough to handle all the variables (likely not) but hopefully even 
some/most variables.  I admire anyone looking to attempt the task.  I've 
had way too much to do to even consider it myself, but if I can help you 
within reason I would love to.

Best of luck,
Emele

Sharon Foster wrote:
> It's pretty amazing that library administrators have been doing this
> complex algorithm in their heads for all this time! I'm beginning to
> wonder if a software application can ever take into account all the
> factors that the human brain can take into account, if only because we
> will probably not be able to identify them all. There will always have
> to be a "manual scheduling mode" to allow for tweaking.
>
> On 9/5/07, Emele Dykes <edykes at gvpl.ca> wrote:
>   
>> Sharon,
>>
>> Our library does have multiple branches and we definitely could use a
>> system like you are envisioning.
>> So while you should consider Deb's comments, I would like to speak for
>> libraries with branches.
>>
>> Yes staff often have a home branch.  Staff also move from branch to
>> branch on temporary or regularly planned shifts. Staff also go from our
>> main/central library out to branches and back and forth.  Branch heads
>> cover for each other over summer holidays and christmas so they even
>> switch too.
>>
>> Another issue is our part time and auxiliary librarians and clerks.
>> They might not have a home branch (but they might).  They often move
>> from library branch to library branch - sometimes splitting shifts as in
>> a morning here, and an afternoon there.  They have eradict availability
>> - every other tuesday afternoon, not available on specific calendar
>> dates, available for half a day here - etc.
>>
>> Hope this gives you some thoughts on a complex library and branch system.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Emele Dykes
>> Web & Database Administrator
>> Greater Victoria Public Library
>> http://www.gvpl.ca
>>
>>
>>
>> Sharon Foster wrote:
>>     
>>> Indeed! I hadn't even thought of multiple libraries in a system, since
>>> I haven't yet worked in a system with branch libraries.
>>>
>>> Is it ever the case that staff may be temporarily assigned to another
>>> branch, not their "home" branch?
>>>
>>> Are couriers thought of as assigned to a particular library, or are
>>> they part of the larger system?
>>>
>>> Thanks for your input!
>>>
>>> On 9/5/07, Deb Bergeron <bergeron at macalester.edu> wrote:
>>>
>>>       
>>>>  Sharon,
>>>>
>>>>  Kudos to you for taking this on!
>>>>
>>>>   In looking at your wiki and your requirements list, we could use this in a
>>>> completely different way.  We're an academic consortium with 14 libraries.
>>>> I can see this type of application working for us in two ways:
>>>>
>>>>  1. Manage our  courier schedule.
>>>>  2. Manage library hours.  With so many libraries, hours vary greatly.
>>>>
>>>>  Is this the type of 'unique requirements' you're looking for from other
>>>> libraries?
>>>>
>>>>  Thanks,
>>>>
>>>>  Deb
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  Sharon Foster wrote:
>>>>  I've set up a wiki to collect software requirements for a Library
>>>> Staff Scheduler. Initially it's intended for use by public libraries,
>>>> because that's what I'm most familiar with, but I'd also like to
>>>> incorporate any unique requirements from other kinds of libraries.
>>>>
>>>> I know there is at least one implementation of this type of
>>>> application at
>>>> http://sourceforge.net/projects/empscheduler/, and I
>>>> fully expect to use that project as the starting point for the
>>>> implementation of this one, but the demo page is missing or broken,
>>>> the project itself hasn't been updated since 12/2004, and it doesn't
>>>> particularly address the special requirements of library staffing.
>>>>
>>>> The wiki is at http://libstaff.pbwiki.com/ and the password is librarygeek.
>>>>
>>>> (aside: I started it with WetPaint, but there are so many ads on each
>>>> page that I thought it was too distracting. Free PBWiki may not have
>>>> the variety of themes that WetPaint has, but it also doesn't have all
>>>> those annoying ads.)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> Remember: Choose nutritious edible weeds for snacks!
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> Deb Bergeron
>>>> System Administrator User Support
>>>> CLIC
>>>> 1619 Dayton Ave. Suite 204A
>>>> Saint Paul, MN 55104
>>>>
>>>> T: 651.644.3878
>>>> C:651-487-7609
>>>> F:651.644.6258
>>>> bergeron at macalester.edu
>>>> www.clic.edu
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>         
>>>
>>>       
>> --
>> Emele Dykes, B.Comm.
>> Web & Database Administrator
>> Greater Victoria Public Library
>> http://www.gvpl.ca
>>
>> e-mail: edykes at gvpl.ca
>> phone:  (250) 413-0352 x261
>>
>> "Do not adjust you mind, it is reality that is malfunctioning."
>>
>>
>>     
>
>
>   

-- 
Emele Dykes, B.Comm.
Web & Database Administrator
Greater Victoria Public Library
http://www.gvpl.ca

e-mail: edykes at gvpl.ca
phone:  (250) 413-0352 x261

"Do not adjust you mind, it is reality that is malfunctioning."