[308] in ad-lib
circ updates
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (perkins@MIT.EDU)
Mon Apr 10 13:34:09 1995
From: perkins@MIT.EDU
To: advancecirc-lib@MIT.EDU
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 1995 13:33:42 EDT
A few updates for today:
-The circ "brief records" group (Perkins, Baltimore, Mazor, Larson)
meets tomorrow to discuss how we'll be circulating uncat materials,
and the procedure for "conversion on the fly".
-Tanguay, Finigan and I met last week to work on testing "scripts."
We will generate a number of test forms to test system functions, and
then distribute them to the group. I regret that these forms are not
already out; however, as of right now there is still some parameters
work that needs to be done in Systems. So formal testing now would
likely reveal a number of problems or "bugs" which are just a result
of incomplete parameters work.
-This afternoon will be the first meeting of the "cross-functional
testing" group. As the name implies, we'll be discussing just what
needs to be tested which affects more than one module. Formal
cross-functional testing will (according to the current schedule)
commence on about 5/8 and continue for 3 weeks.
-The BOG minutes from last week will shortly be sent out; you'll see a
projected Advance timetable in those minutes. The current plan is for
the CIRC and ACQ offload to occur on May 30. Whether or not it occurs
on precisely that date, we can basically assume that late May is when
the current system will be closed down, and we start using the "Advance
Circ Backup" system for the interim period in between the old and new
systems. (I haven't seen this Backup system yet. Grant and I will be
looking at it as soon as we have a minute....)
Many circ staff are already being trained locally, which is good.
During the month of May, all circ staff should be trained on the new
system. I'd be happy to have your comments on how this should
proceed. We had an inconclusive discussion at the last full meeting
of our group two weeks ago. My own vision is that the Advance Circ
Group representative for each location would be in charge of training
staff in that location, or insuring that his/her staff are trained.
Right now, everyone on our group has had training and should be
practicing on the system. By May, each of us in the group should be
at approximately the same level. (Those people in our group who have
been receiving one-on-one training should continue to work with their
colleagues to the extent necessary.) We should try to help each other
out as much as possible; for example, if one of our members is
arranging a training session in the training room for his/her staff,
and wants the assistance of co-trainers, they should feel free to send
out a call to the rest of the group. (I.e., send out an e-mail to
advancecirc-lib, "I've booked the training room for a session for my
staff on [date], can anyone help out as co-trainer for that session?")
In the case of a location with a very small number of staff, training
might just as easily be done locally, if there's a place to work
without interruptions. But the training room CAN be booked, even for
only two people. Call Jos to book it. Call me if you need the
password to get in (it's a keypad door lock).
Student training in late summer and fall will still be run by Circ
Committee, as has been the practice in recent years. Student training
BEFORE the fall should, in my view, be done locally.
Comments on all this should be sent to the group. Thanks. -AP
