[Web4lib] Library Staff Scheduler

[Deb Bergeron]

Sharon,

Thank you.  While our application may be different, I am interested in 
what you develop.  Are looking at starting development immediately?

Please let me know your progress or if I can help in any way.

Deb

Sharon Foster wrote:
> Gotcha! My library is in a consortium as well, and there is a courier
> service, although since we are such a small state, it is actually a
> state-wide service, not just for our consortium.
>
> My initial reaction is that the application I have in mind *could* be
> used to set up a courier schedule, but instead of one desk and several
> people staffing it over the course of a day, you have one person
> moving to different "desks" (libraries) over the course of a day. I
> think that's a different enough pattern, along with the "is it on
> time?" requirement, to warrant its own application.
>
> The question I was asking was directed to public and academic library
> systems with more than one location or branch. Do you ever move people
> around among the branches? If so, then I want the scheduler to
> incorporate that.
>
>
> On 9/5/07, Deb Bergeron <bergeron at macalester.edu> wrote:
>   
>>  Sharon,
>>
>>  I think I  need to clarify.  We are an academic consortium of 14 completely
>> different libraries who share a common ILS, consequently we have no
>> 'branches;' each library is independent.  Some of the libraries have their
>> own branches or locations, however, and could use your scheduler application
>> in their own library. So your  question about staff being assigned to
>> another branch does not apply in our case.  What does apply is knowing the
>> library hours and academic calendar.
>>
>>  Our  office manages the ILS and all of its components. One of those
>> components is the courier.  The courier picks up and delivers items to all
>> of the consortial libraries as well as our state-wide ILL system (MINITEX).
>> The courier schedule changes throughout the year and sometimes daily (i.e.
>> storm, accident, traffic, etc.).  It would be great to have an online
>> application indicating:
>>
>>
>> Courier's schedule
>> Is he on time?
>> Issues
>> If a library requests an additional pick-up Our goal is 24 hour turn-around
>> and often-times it's less than that.
>>
>>  For both applications, it would be fabulous to have an online tool that
>> provides all the information I've described.
>>
>>  I hope this clarifies the lay of our land for you.
>>
>>
>>  Thanks,
>>
>>  Deb
>>
>>
>>
>>  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
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> 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
>>
>>
>>
>>     
>
>
>   

-- 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 <mailto:bergeron at macalester.edu>
www.clic.edu <http://www.clic.edu>