BUG-Bibliostat Users Group

2007-01-31T08:18:00.001-08:00

We FSCSers are being requested constantly to get libraries to complete surveys other than our public library reports. I opine this dilutes my effectiveness to impress upon the libraries the importance of the FSCS report. The FSCS report becomes one of many that they hear me asking that the library complete. My ideal solution would be to merge these other surveys into the FSCS survey. However, this is impractical because of the three year process we have for vetting new data elements. Instead, I suggest that those of use who use Bibliostat Collect incorporate these various survey data elements into our FSCS data collection effort via Bibliostat Collect. We render onto FSCS the data that are FSCS’s and unto the others the data that are for the others.

This data collection would not be universal because of the states that do not use Bibliostat Collect. However, enough of us do use Bibliostat Collect so that the data would provide a sufficient national sampling, which is what all these other surveys aim for. The benefit to us Bibliostat Collect licensees is that the numbers we collect for our respective states provide a state universal collection that we can use against the national compilation. As it stands now, the return rate from Minnesota is so small that I cannot use the data on a state basis, even if it is sufficient for the national survey. I suspect this is true for most of us.

To achieve this compilation via Bibliostat Collect, we need an ad hoc committee that decides which surveys merit inclusion. I propose that the committee comprise Denise Davis and the chair and vice chairs of the FSCS steering committee and the COSLA research and statistics committee.

Bruce Pomerantz - F28
State Library Services
Minnesota Department of Education
1500 Highway 36 W.

Problem with Collect - FYI

2007-01-30T10:45:00.000-08:00

On behalf of Gerry Rowland:

I recently found 38 instances (Administrative Entities) in which one or
more fields in Collect had incorrect calculated totals.

According to Bibliostat, in each case the library changed a number in
Collect, then submitted data without first updating. The result was that
the changes were saved but the totals were not updated.

Webplus caught the ones (7) that had totals that did not match the sum
of the parts for FSCS. I found the rest with "manual" calculations. I
audited every calculated field in Collect. Every calculated total had
at least 1 problem, some had 5 or 6 incorrect instances (82 total).

I talked with the key people at Bibliostat, they know that this was a
Collect problem and they are working to:

>Fix the program

>Provide a new final spreadsheet for us (done as of 1/25/06)

>Fix the numbers in Connect

>Check other states

Bibliostat libraries, you might want to check your totals. It has taken
me a week to correct the problems in our Public Library Statistics and
in WebPlus.

Gerry Rowland, Consultant
State Library of Iowa
E. 12th and Grand
Des Moines, IA 50319
Gerry.Rowland@lib.state.ia.us
Ph: 800-248-4483; 515-281-7573
Fax: 515-281-6191
www.statelibraryofiowa.org

December Meeting Results Coming Soon

2007-01-09T09:53:00.000-08:00

Results from the BUG meeting in December 2006 coming soon!
Older posts have been removed from the front page but are available in the previous posts section below.

Posting Reorganization

2006-07-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

This post will begin a reorganization of Michael Ervin's response into an individual post for each issue. I'll re-post any comments made in the same way. This way it should be much easier to follow and respond to discussions. The * symbol indicates Michael Ervin's remarks. Thanks to Juan Tomás Lee for the suggestion. - Ira

Eliminate or Improve PDF report

2006-06-12T11:20:00.002-07:00

* The PDF is not a mandatory report. Users can choose to print via the Web Report. We would like additional information from Collect Users on why the PDF report is not useful. How can we improve the PDF report?

Ability to Not See “Add Groups” for Branches, etc.

2006-06-12T11:20:00.001-07:00

* The way Collect is currently programmed, repeating groups are necessary when dealing with Outlets, etc (even though there is only one outlet). We can work with each individual state to pre-fill N/A so the user won’t have to populate unnecessary groups.

Flash Tutorial

2006-06-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

* Both Collect and Connect have help documents already available. We welcome feedback on those documents and what can be done to improve them. In what areas would a Flash Tutorial benefit the current help documents?

Ability to Include Narrative Text

2006-06-12T11:19:00.000-07:00

* This option is currently available. If you have needs for Narrative Text, please contact your Customer Support Representative and they can discuss the options available for your survey.

Clear Timelines in Formation of Next Year’s Survey

2006-06-12T11:18:00.001-07:00

* Each state is assigned a Bibliostat Customer Support Representative. A few weeks prior to the beginning of the current year’s survey, each SDC will receive a letter of intent from their Support Representative outlining the dates and requirements to complete the coming year’s survey. We will work with each state to adjust those timelines as necessary. Keep in mind the standard development window is 90 days.

Export Admin File Interactively

2006-06-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

* The creation of the ADMIN file can (depending on the size of the survey and the number of libraries) take hours to process. This processing time if done interactively could affect performance. We currently process these in batch and run them overnight. We do, however, understand emergencies and can request the file interactively on behalf of the SDC. Again, it could take a few minutes to a few hours to process depending on the size.

SDC View – Ability to View All or Print All

2006-06-12T11:16:00.001-07:00

* Need additional clarification on this requirement. There are current options available to view all libraries and printing options are also available.

Ability to Minimize Screen Instead of Logout

2006-06-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

* Depending on how updated your service packs are (Internet Explorer related), you might have already noticed that you can minimize the Collect Screen. We have been testing a version of Collect that allows for minimization. Keep in mind if you can currently minimize your Collect screen, it will not save your data if you accidentally hit the X and close your browser. Collect was originally developed to take up the entire screen without navigation to prevent the accidental closing of the browser. Again, we need the help of users to prioritize development efforts.

Read-only Access for Libraries When Their Survey Is Done

2006-06-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

* This functionality can be added to Collect. We need the help of Collect users to prioritize development efforts.

Change Software To Avoid Pop-Up Blocker Problem

2006-06-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

* We are currently testing new code to overcome the pop-up blocker issue.

Some Way to Batch Update

2006-06-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

* With the new WEBPLUS format, we can take an updated spreadsheet back (for federal elements) and update Collect. We now include instructions on this option when delivering your WEBPLUS files.

Ease in Adding New Federal Elements and Definition Changes.

2006-06-12T11:10:00.000-07:00

* We take guidance from each state before implementing new elements/changes. Some states prefer to wait until the next survey year to implement any new elements or changes. We can, however, implement them in the current survey if an individual state wants.

Draw Attention to New Items or Changes

2006-06-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

Some way to draw attention to new items or changes
* We currently work with each state on individual surveys. However, we could incorporate a consistent method (decided upon by all states) to reflect changes.

State and Federal Notes Could Be Different Colors

2006-06-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

Collect

* This is currently possible. We would need consensus and feedback from all Collect Users on the colors.

Default Settings with the Password

2006-06-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

Connect (Possible Collect as well?? - Ira)
* The assumption is that this statement refers to automatically remembering who you were so you don’t have to enter a User ID/Password? If this is a correct interpretation, we will look at code changes to automatically remember User Names/Passwords.

Graph Function – Is There an Alternative to Active X?

2006-06-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

* Development Team has looked at alternate graphing tools that would not require an Active X download. At this time, however, we feel that our current application provides the best features/functionality. We will continue to monitor outside development efforts for a comparable solution.
See Attachment B (Active X.doc) – Handout on dealing with Active X (posted at the end of original response - Ira)

Baker & Taylor Site link to Bibliostat

2006-06-12T09:13:00.000-07:00

Encourage Baker & Taylor site to make link to Bibliostat easier to find
See Attachment A (B&T Site) (posted at the end of the original response - Ira)

* Bibliostat Development Team will work with B&T Web Administrator to add additional links to B&T’s Corporate Website.

Response from Michael Ervin

2006-06-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

(See post below from December meeting for reference, - Ira)

Encourage Baker & Taylor site to make link to Bibliostat easier to find
See Attachment A (B&T Site) (posted at the end of this response - Ira)
* Bibliostat Development Team will work with B&T Web Administrator to add additional links to B&T’s Corporate Website.

Connect

Graph Function – Is there an alternative to Active X?
* Development Team has looked at alternate graphing tools that would not require an Active X download. At this time, however, we feel that our current application provides the best features/functionality. We will continue to monitor outside development efforts for a comparable solution.
See Attachment B (Active X.doc) – Handout on dealing with Active X (posted at the end of this response - Ira)

Default Settings with the Password
* The assumption is that this statement refers to automatically remembering who you were so you don’t have to enter a User ID/Password? If this is a correct interpretation, we will look at code changes to automatically remember User Names/Passwords.

Collect

State and Federal Notes could be different colors
* This is currently possible. We would need consensus and feedback from all Collect Users on the colors.

Some way to draw attention to new items or changes
* We currently work with each state on individual surveys. However, we could incorporate a consistent method (decided upon by all states) to reflect changes.

Ease in adding new federal elements and definition changes.
* We take guidance from each state before implementing new elements/changes. Some states prefer to wait until the next survey year to implement any new elements or changes. We can, however, implement them in the current survey if an individual state wants.

Some way to batch update
* With the new WEBPLUS format, we can take an updated spreadsheet back (for federal elements) and update Collect. We now include instructions on this option when delivering your WEBPLUS files.

Can software change to avoid pop up blocker problem
* We are currently testing new code to overcome the pop-up blocker issue.

Ability of local libraries for read-only access when their survey is done
* This functionality can be added to Collect. We need the help of Collect users to prioritize development efforts.

Ability to minimize screen instead of logout
* Depending on how updated your service packs are (Internet Explorer related), you might have already noticed that you can minimize the Collect Screen. We have been testing a version of Collect that allows for minimization. Keep in mind if you can currently minimize your Collect screen, it will not save your data if you accidentally hit the X and close your browser. Collect was originally developed to take up the entire screen without navigation to prevent the accidental closing of the browser. Again, we need the help of users to prioritize development efforts.

SDC View – ability to view all or print all
* Need additional clarification on this requirement. There are current options available to view all libraries and printing options are also available.

Export Admin file interactively
* The creation of the ADMIN file can (depending on the size of the survey and the number of libraries) take hours to process. This processing time if done interactively could affect performance. We currently process these in batch and run them overnight. We do, however, understand emergencies and can request the file interactively on behalf of the SDC. Again, it could take a few minutes to a few hours to process depending on the size.

Clear Timelines in formation of next year’s survey
* Each state is assigned a Bibliostat Customer Support Representative. A few weeks prior to the beginning of the current year’s survey, each SDC will receive a letter of intent from their Support Representative outlining the dates and requirements to complete the coming year’s survey. We will work with each state to adjust those timelines as necessary. Keep in mind the standard development window is 90 days.

Ability to include Narrative Text
* This option is currently available. If you have needs for Narrative Text, please contact your Customer Support Representative and they can discuss the options available for your survey.

Flash Tutorial
* Both Collect and Connect have help documents already available. We welcome feedback on those documents and what can be done to improve them. In what areas would a Flash Tutorial benefit the current help documents?

Ability to not see “Add Groups” for branches, etc.
* The way Collect is currently programmed, repeating groups are necessary when dealing with Outlets, etc (even though there is only one outlet). We can work with each individual state to pre-fill N/A so the user won’t have to populate unnecessary groups.

Eliminate or improve PDF report
* The PDF is not a mandatory report. Users can choose to print via the Web Report. We would like additional information from Collect Users on why the PDF report is not useful. How can we improve the PDF report?

BUG Meeting Notes

2006-01-24T06:18:00.000-08:00

Here are the notes from the December BUG meeting courtesy of Ann Reed!

Minutes from Bibliostat User's Group
December, 2005

Ira Bray, Facilitator

This was the first meeting of the Bibliostat User's Group, or BUG. The founding purpose of BUG is to share ideas for designing public library statistical surveys, coordinating solutions to common problems, and providing suggestions to improve Bibliostat products for all users.

Ideas for the BUG members to work on:
• Bug Blog

Connect
• Share local training issues / teaching approaches / conceptual
• Identify common "packaged" queries (PLA measures?)

Collect
• Talk about inputs and outputs (with lists of what's available)(e.g. field characteristics and handling)
• Share problems and solutions
• Work towards a standardization among states on look and feel - esp. with federal and new data elements
• Problem solving - with forms and Excel
• Having input on improvements (feedback / prioritization)

The item of most interest was working with Bibliostat to improve import/export options (21), followed by working together on training or collaboration (17).

Applause
The group expressed great appreciation to Bibliostat for the preservation of past data, and noted that seeing last year's data on surveys was very helpful for many local libraries. The group was also pleased that Bibliostat now attends Data Collection subcommittee meetings and readily incorporates new edit checks.

Some ideas to improve the products were:

High-level
Encourage Baker and Taylor site to make link to Bibliostat easier to find. It was noted that SDCs can refer people directly to Connect or Collect (http://www.bibliostat.com/) through links in their websites and through their announcements.

Product Level – Connect
• Graph function – Is there an alternative to ActiveX? Some problems with firewalls, etc.
• Default settings [to a particular state?] with the password?

Product Level – Collect
• state and federal notes could be different colors
• some way to draw attention to new items or changes
• ease in adding new federal elements and definition changes (see above)
• some way to batch update
• can software change to avoid pop-up blocker problem
• ability of local libraries for read-only access when their survey is done
• ability to minimize screen instead of logout
• for SDC view – ability to view all or print all
• export admin file interactively
• clear timelines in formation of next year's survey
• ability to include narrative text
• Flash tutorial
• ability to not see "Add Groups" for branches, bookmobiles, etc. for single outlet institutions
• eliminate or improve PDF report

BUG Poll

Welcome

2005-12-23T11:35:00.000-08:00

Hi There,

This is the location of the BUG (Bibliostat Users Group) Blog. Soon we will populate the Blog with information from the December 2005 FSCS meeting in Washington D.C. Stay tuned!