Listen Up! Vermont

OverDrive Training Handouts

2009-11-15T13:14:00.003-05:00

Thanks to our friends next door in New Hampshire, who sent along two links to training documents Bobbi Slossar from the New Hampshire State Library created. Take a look:

mp3 Audiobooks for Mac Users (Scribd)
mp3 Audiobooks for Mac Users (PDF)

Training Handout (Scribd)
Training Handout (Microsoft Word)

The website might look a little different, but the principle is the same. Thanks, Bobbi!

One Click Additions

2009-11-12T15:50:00.003-05:00

If you'd like to see the newest additions to the One Click downloadable audio book program through Recorded Books, take a look at the newest list of titles:

Adult Collection Additions, October through December (PDF)
Children's & YA Collection Additions, October through December (PDF)

Four Things You Can Do... to get started with One Click Audio

2009-11-10T17:53:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Joe Levy for coming around the state once again in October to re-acquaint us with the Recorded Books One Click Audio program. If you're currently participating, here are his suggestions for getting going:

Get an icon on your home page. You can choose icons from the Box.net widget.
Link the icon -- and any links off your website -- directly to your login page. You can get the URL for your login page by going to the list of libraries on the GMLC site, finding your library in the list, and clicking on it. When you see the page that is blank except for a little box asking you to log in, copy the URL in the address bar (it will start kite.middlebury.edu). This way, patrons can avoid that GMLC page and go directly to login.
Link to the help page and the list of supported devices on your website. The help page is at http://gmlc.wordpress.com/recorded-books/recorded-books-help/ and the list of supported devices at http://www.oclc.org/audiobooks/techspecs/devices.htm.
Advertise, advertise, advertise. Let people know through

newspaper articles
blog posts
email newsletters
posters and bookmarks (you can contact Recorded Books directly at oneclickaudio[at]recordedbooks.com for promotional materials)
your library's Facebook site or Twitter feed
business cards in audio book on cd cases
shelf talkers on your audio book shelves
on your SLIP printer receipts
offering patron training sessions (and why not tape it for your public access channel while you're at it?)
catchy phrases ("You can now download audio books at 3 am in your underwear!")
on your overdue notices ("Next time, return it on time -- try downloadable audio!")
don't forget posters in places around town where people might be listening to audio -- the local gym, the teacher's room at the school, coffee shops, bus stops...
downloading the MARC records into your online catalog (I'm working on getting these downloaded into the Box.net Recorded Books folder for all of you)

All of these ideas are great for Listen Up! Vermont too!

For more information on using One Click Audio, see the post from the August trainings, and look for the help page to be updated.

Statistics for Standards

2009-11-09T13:54:00.002-05:00

Hello all --

here are the numbers you need for your standards reports:

Listen Up! subscribers: 848 adult titles, 250 children's/YA

Recorded Books subscribers: 1990 adult titles, 821 children's/YA

Best of luck with your standards reports.

MARC records updated

2009-11-01T13:14:00.002-05:00

I spent a little time this morning compiling the many MARC record files for Listen Up! Vermont into chunks by year, broken up by season. Hopefully, this will help ease the process of getting all those MARC records into your system!

Here's a link to the reorganized folder: http://www.box.net/shared/kyo801kt0o. They can also be accessed, as always, through the Box.net widget in the left hand menu panel here on the Listen Up! blog.

I also re-organized the exisiting MARC records by year.

Downloading the MARC records for the Recorded Books collection is a bit more of an undertaking -- I will get to work on that soon, hopefully this week.

Upcoming Trainings

2009-10-20T10:54:00.002-04:00

Don't forget!

We have two new Digital Library 101 trainings for Listen Up! Vermont scheduled for

Wednesday October 21st at 3pm EDT. Access Code: email Stephanie for code
Thursday October 22nd at 10am EDT. Access Code: email Stephanie for code

Simply go to http://www.readytalk.com and log in using the access code. You will need a phone or VoIP to listen to the audio portion. The phone number is 1.866.740.1260 -- log in with the same access code for the audio. We recommend every participating library try to have one of their staff attend one of these trainings, which are a wonderful refresher and help you with 95% of the questions you will get from patrons.

Now that the One Click downloadable audio service through Recorded Books is up and running, Joe Levy is ready to give us all a refresher training. We have one scheduled for Wednesday, 10/28 at 11am in Stowe, and will be scheduling one in Brattleboro. Following these in-person trainings, we will talk to Joe about setting up some webinars, if there is interest; Joe can also possibly come to your library to see you.

Be sure to mark your attendance at http://gmlc.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/training-options/ -- that way, we can cancel any sessions without participants.

Update your records... x2

2009-10-13T13:28:00.003-04:00

It's time for two quick updates:

1. Please review your barcode and patron number ranges and ensure they will still cover your newest patrons. Need to update? Please send an email with the new range end to vtaudiobooks[at]gmail.com.

2. Please also be sure your finance department/accountant/etc has the correct address on file for the GMLC: it is no longer PO Box 1029 in Stowe, but is PO Box 264 in Middlebury, 05753.

Thanks!

Recently Acquired Audiobooks (new & forthcoming)

2009-10-10T11:43:00.008-04:00

2666 by Roberto Bolaño (MP3)
Al Capone Does My Shirts byGennifer Choldenko
Born Round by Frank Bruni (MP3)
Chronic City by Jonathan Lethem
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
The Healing of America by Marianne Williamson
Homer & Langley by E.L. Doctorow
Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
My Life in France by Julia Child
Official Book Club Selection by Kathy Griffin
The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry
Precious by Sapphire
Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan
The Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwell
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen & Ben Winters
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew B. Crawford
South of Broad by Pat Conroy
Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder
That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson (youth edition) (MP3)
Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro
True Compass by Edward M. Kennedy
U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton
Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer
The Wild Things by Maurice Sendak & Dave Eggers (MP3)

News You Can Use

2009-10-07T15:42:00.003-04:00

Well, many apologies to all of you who are waiting to get an email from me; mid-September, we migrated here in Stowe from Follett (yuck) to Koha (yay!), and while it has gone well, I am behind.

So:

I know many of you, like me, are in the throes of planning your FY11 budgets. Your 2010 agreements are going in the mail tomorrow with your calendar year 2010 fees on it. Listen Up! only participants are being charged a fee of 3.25% of your materials budget; Listen Up! and Recorded Books, 4.75%. There are a variety of discounts for libraries (due to budget size, 2009 RB participation, signing a 2-year agreement, etc), so, while you can use the above percentages to get an idea, be sure to be on the lookout for your 2010 agreement. I wanted to get these out before I migrated, but, alas...
Speaking of those agreements, please sign and return them as soon as possible!
If you missed Chris Kirby's email, Recorded Books is up and running for our patrons. Hurrah! Are folks feeling like they would like another training session? Leave a comment below and, if we get a group of people who would like to have additional trainings, I will schedule them with Joe Levy.
Listen Up! dropped holds. You should have received an email back in September detailing the issue we were having with holds being dropped. We believe we have fixed the issue, but it is important that you let us know at droppedholds@gmail.com if you have a patron that received an email that a hold they placed after September 15 is ready, but it is not there to pick up when they log in. Holds before September 15 will likely suffer from this issue, and all we can ask our patrons to do, as detailed in that email, is re-place the hold. Email me at schase[at]stowelibrary.org if you need to see the email again.

Thanks, as always, to all of our volunteers that make this project go (and go, and go!).

Troubleshooting: transfering to an iPod

2009-09-10T12:06:00.002-04:00

With the new ability to transfer WMA format audio books to an iPod using a PC, it can get a little tricky! If you have a patron who is having trouble getting a WMA file onto an iPod using a PC (and there is no Mac involved!), they might want to try the following steps:

We believe it may be helpful to uninstall the OverDrive Media Console. Please ask your patron to
complete the following steps to do so.

To remove your existing installation of OverDrive Media Console:

- Go to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301
- Near the bottom of the page, download the installation package for the
'Windows Install Cleanup Utility'.
- Once you download the .EXE file, run it to install the utility.
- Then, run the utility from the programs list in the Start Menu.
- Select the OverDrive Media Console and click 'Remove'.
- Close the utility.

After you have completed these steps please perform the following to reinstall the OverDrive Media Console:

1. Copy this URL:
http://www.overdrive.com/files/odmediaconsolesetup.msi
and paste it in your web browser's address field.

2. Press 'Enter' to begin the download.

3. When the .msi has finished downloading, attempt to install it.

Once these steps have been completed, can you please ask your patron to ensure that the setting 'Manually Manage Music' has been adjusted on their iPod? If needed, we've included steps to accomplish this.

A. Connect your device to your computer.
B. If it does not launch automatically, open iTunes (v7.6.2.9 or newer).
C. In iTunes, locate your device in the left vertical navigation panel
(under heading 'DEVICES'), and click your device.
The 'Summary' screen is displayed.
D. If it is not already checked, place a checkmark next to option
'Manually manage music…'.
E. Click the 'Apply' button.
The iTunes 'Summary' screen refreshes, and your changes are saved.
F. If desired, close iTunes.

After the setting 'Manually Manage Music' has been adjusted (or confirmed that it's set) can you please ask your patron to attempt to transfer a title to their iPod by using the OverDrive Media Console Transfer Wizard?

Troubleshooting: Downloads

2009-09-10T11:59:00.002-04:00

If a patron asks you about error code 80040812, the message the patron received should have read:

"Failed call to fulfill the title - the fulfillment limit for requested title has been reached"

It simply means they've had their three downloads, and that they will need the downloads reset. Each library should be able to do this by logging in to Content Reserve and looking down towards the end of the reports list for the reset downloads report. You will need the title.

Help with mp3 files

2009-08-24T12:11:00.002-04:00

Thanks to our colleagues in NH, we have access to two tutorials perfect for sharing with patrons about accessing the WMA downloadable audio book files on an iPod:

http://tech.nhlibrary.org/2009/08/omc-pcs-wma-audiobooks-ipods/

and using the OverDrive Media Console on a Mac:

http://tech.nhlibrary.org/2009/03/tutorial-installing-omc-on-macs/.

Enjoy!

Trouble with Holds, again

2009-08-11T14:43:00.003-04:00

Please let me know if you have gotten reports from patrons that their holds are missing when they go to retrieve them online after receiving an email and you've ruled out the points in the previous post.

I have had a crop of these this week, and I will be contacting OverDrive about it -- I would like to know if the scope of the issue is larger than I'm currently aware of.

Thanks!

Troubleshooting: Missing Holds

2009-08-10T17:21:00.000-04:00

Do you have a patron who received notification that a hold is in for them, but when they log in to their account, the hold isn't there to pick up?

OverDrive says the two most common reasons for this are:

The patron is looking under the wrong library card number, either because they've gotten a new card since they placed a hold, or because they have more than one card, or because they are looking under someone else's number (perhaps a spouse, or on a shared computer, the account of whomever used Listen Up! last and didn't log out properly)
The hold was placed, perhaps inadvertently, into the basket to be checked out, but was not checked out within the 30 minute time frame (you don't need to have downloaded the title, just completed the checkout process).

Notes from the Recorded Books training on 8/4

2009-08-06T08:15:00.002-04:00

For those of you participating in the Recorded Books (RB) downloadable audio book project, here are my notes from the Tuesday training with Joe Levy.

The collection:

has 2,000 titles exclusive to RB
all titles are always available/multi-user, which means no holds
contains two core collections: adult, which includes Modern Scholar titles, and contains about 1900 titles; and children's and YA, which includes almost 800 titles
830 of the adult titles are iPod-compatible; just over 250 of the children's/YA titles are iPod compatible
every month, 15 new adult titles and 5 new children's titles are added at no charge; these titles are of course multi-user, but are not iPod compatible
the GMLC will have to purchase additional iPod compatible titles for the available pool to grow (ie, the cost of purchasing these titles is not included in your 2009 fee)
titles in the RB collection cannot be burned to cd
titles are segmented into one hour parts to aid those downloading on dial-up (although a high speed connection is recommended)
patrons may check out up to 10 titles at a time, and these titles remain useable for 3 weeks. During those three weeks, you may renew the title. Unlike Listen Up! Vermont, the audio book will no longer play after three weeks regardless of whether it is on your computer or you have transferred it to a portable mp3 player.

Joe recommends doing the following three things to ensure success for the collection:

Put the MARC records into your ILS (if automated) -- these are available in the Box.net widget (connect to the folder directly at http://www.box.net/shared/4u74hy4w8w)
Get your staff on board with the service -- make sure everyone has tried downloading a title
Promote, promote, promote. Hang up posters, hand out bookmarks, put an icon on your home page, put a press release in the paper... Listen Up! subscribers should make sure to let their downloadable audio patrons know about both services. Promotional materials are available in the Box.net widget at http://www.box.net/shared/yc7mlchi8d and directly on the RB site. Those who attended trainings should have received some posters and bookmarks.

The main point of access through at least the end of 2009 is at http://gmlc.wordpress.com/recorded-books/. Scroll down, and you will see a link for each participating library. Each library has a unique referrer URL as part of the patron authentication piece; copy this URL and put up an icon on your library home page and a listing in your online resources to bring your patrons directly to where they sign in.

Patrons will have to enter their library barcode or patron ID -- this was the range of numbers you reported to Chris Kirby.

In January 2010, when the two downloadable audio services are bundled, we will likely have one main page for patrons to access both services easily. Stay tuned!

There are two ways to download:

Directly off the web site. Once your patron has put in their patron number, they will be taken to the main One Click page. From here, they can choose "eAudiobooks" and can browse by subject or search by keyword, title, author, etc as well as by the length of the audiobook (handy for folks going on trips!) and by format (WMA = not iPod, mp3 = all players, including iPod).
Using the new media center. Please let your patrons know that downloading and setting up the media center can take up to 45 minutes, depending on the number of Windows operating system updates that need to be done. The new player is compatible only with Windows, XP and above. Joe expects a Mac version sometime in the near future (6 months?). Once the media center is downloaded, patrons can go directly to that piece of software on their computer, skipping the website.

In the media center, patrons can manage their experience using the "My Stuff" menu, where they can store favorites (ie, create a list of things they would like to listen to) and see what's out.

As with anything, the key to success for your patrons is the comfort level of your own staff. Practice!

I will also draw up in the next week or so a small handout for staff and patrons on the differences between OverDrive and Recorded Books. I will post it at the blog when done.

Does anyone have other tips they picked up at their training? Be sure to post them in the comments below. And give a hearty thanks to Joe Levy and Chris Kirby at the Ilsley Public Library for all of their hard work, and to David Clark at Ilsley and Jerry Carbone at the Brooks Memorial for hosting trainings.

Welcome, new members and iPod news!

2009-08-04T16:19:00.002-04:00

It's official: our Round Four folks are live! Welcome to:

Arvin A Brown Library
Baxter Memorial Library
Bennington Free Library
Groton Free Public Library
Highgate Public Library
Lawrence Memorial Library
Lincoln Library
Royalton Memorial Library
S. Burlington Community Library
Weathersfield Elementary School

I also want to remind people that with an upgrade to the new OverDrive Media Console, all of the titles in our collection become iPod compatible when they are transferred to an iPod using a PC. Mac-iPod users are still limited to the titles in the mp3 collection only. Confusing? Check out the two new items in the Box.net widget, under Promotional Materials:

iPod-compatibility press release
WMA to iPod icon for your web page

Be sure to take a look through the Promotional Materials; you might find something you like!

Recorded Books Promotional Materials

2009-07-17T13:55:00.002-04:00

Are you a Recorded Books project participant? Be sure to bookmark this post to access the Box.net widget with logos, MARC records, and more. And don't forget to note below which training you will attend!

Recorded Books trainings

2009-07-17T12:59:00.002-04:00

No need to RSVP -- but please let our host libraries know how many people might be coming:

Cannot make a training? Please let us know by posting a comment below.

New MARC records available

2009-07-17T12:47:00.003-04:00

See the Box widget to the left (RSS and email readers, visit the http://vtaudiobooks.blogspot.com) for the newest batch of MARC records. You will have to scroll to the bottom of the widget; the file is named grmlc-20090701a.mrc.

Digital Library 101 trainings

2009-07-15T11:46:00.001-04:00

Speaking of trainings... don't forget to mark your calendars! All Listen Up! Vermont libraries are welcome to attend a Digital Library 101 training (not just our newest members) -- it is a great training, and a wonderful refresher. Have all your staff sat in on a session?

Digital Library 101: Browse, Check Out, and Download!

Tuesday July 21^st at 10am EDT - Access Code: contact Stephanie

Wednesday July 22^nd at 3pm EDT - Access Code: contact Stephanie

Description: Learn how to browse, check out, and download OverDrive media. At the end of this course, staff should feel comfortable answering basic questions about your library's Virtual Branch.

Duration: 1.5 hours.

Who should attend: All staff.

Welcome Round Four Members!

2009-07-15T11:44:00.002-04:00

As we get ready to start Round Four trainings, please welcome our newest Listen Up! Vermont member libraries:

Arvin A Brown Library	Richford
Baxter Memorial Library	Sharon
Bennington Free Library	Bennington
Enosburg Falls Middle/High School	Enosburg Falls
Groton Free Public Library	Groton
Hartford Memorial Middle School	White River Junction
Highgate Public Library	Highgate Center
Lawrence Memorial Library	Bristol
Lincoln Library	Lincoln
Royalton Memorial Library	Royalton
S. Burlington Community Library	South Burlington
Weathersfield Elementary School	Weathersfield

New MARC records available

2009-07-07T21:30:00.002-04:00

New MARC records are available in the Box widget down to the left. The file is called grmlc-20090606.mrc.

Some statistics...

2009-07-06T12:18:00.002-04:00

We're inching ever closer to 20,000 checkouts on Listen Up! Vermont since we began last March. What an accomplishment! We'll celebrate again when we hit 25,000 checkouts... look for information on that to come.

In the meantime, we're at 18,370 checkouts, with June 2009 our busiest month yet, at 1,684 checkouts.

Open Training Month for OverDrive

2009-06-23T12:50:00.002-04:00

Once again, OverDrive will be offering "Open Training Month," where we can take online training on using OverDrive along with other librarians from around the country. Last year, they gave prizes based on registration and attendance... let's try to win it!

We'll post more information as it becomes available, but for now, here's what OverDrive has to say:

Registration opens July 1, and your staff can register and participate as an individual or group. Sessions will be offered five days a week throughout September.

Course List:

1. Browse, Check Out, and Download!

Join us as we demonstrate how to browse, check out, and download titles from a library's Virtual Branch website. Plus we'll cover required software, portable devices, help resources, and new features and formats for 2009.

2. Collection Checklist

With OverDrive's collection checklist you'll be quickly up to speed with online ordering. Best of all, you'll learn how to attract users to your Virtual Branch website by creating an exciting and easy to maintain download collection.

3. Community Outreach

In this session we'll share creative, easy, and cost-effective ideas for introducing new patrons to your OverDrive download library. We'll also feature prize winners from this year's Community Outreach Program contest.

4. Patron Assistance

We'll help take your understanding of OverDrive download media to the next level so you can share your knowledge through support and training. We'll review frequently asked questions, support tips, and online help resources.

5. Real-Time Reports

We'll showcase reports which best track circulation, new patrons, site traffic, and popular titles. Your team can then evaluate how your Virtual Branch is doing, and chart a path to future success.

6. OverDrive's 2009 Partner Update

OverDrive delivers the industry's leading features and formats to your library users. Learn what's new and coming soon for your OverDrive download library.

Ever wonder...

2009-06-05T14:47:00.003-04:00

What the most popular title on Listen Up! Vermont is?

The Kabul Beauty School, with 148 checkouts since March 2008. The most popular title that is not an Always Available title? It's a tie between Grisham's The appeal and, of course, Stephenie Meyer's Twilight with 99 checkouts each.

What the most popular poetry book is?

Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, with 23 checkouts.

What the most popular book for children is?

Mark Zuzak's The Book Thief with 81 checkouts.

What the most popular non-fiction book is?

After The Kabul Beauty School, it's Three Cups of Tea with 82 checkouts.

If there are titles that haven't gone out?

At this time, there are only 18 titles that have never been checked out... all of which have been purchased in only the last few weeks. I bet that will change quickly!