WML Tech Updates

At the Technology & Training Support Coordinators meeting today, we talked about many things. I was a few minutes late, so I missed the first part of meeting, but still heard some updates on the first item on the agenda.

1) As you know (hopefully), users can now use their VUnet ID and password for authentication into Acorn to renew books, set up Acorn notes, etc.. There has been some confusion among users in that some are using their VUnet ID and instead of using their VUnet password, they are still using their Acorn Pin as their password. This, of course, doesn’t work. There are also users that don’t have a VUnet ID. They can still use their Social Security Number and Acorn Pin to log in. But soon (a few weeks?) users that don’t have a VUnet ID can use the same login information that they use when they sign in to use VUprint.

This means that for a while, there will be 3 different ways users can log into Acorn (all options are not necessarily available to each individual user). I just thought that I should point this out. They are 1) VUnet ID/password, 2) SSN/Acorn PIN, and 3) VUprint login/password.

Also, the good news is that plans for the development for a more universal unique ID will be starting this fall. More info on this to come later.

2) Jim Webb is replacing Flo Wilson as the TTSC representative for the Office of the University Librarian.

3) Patch Cluster 5. It’s the highly descriptive name for Sirsi’s new enhancements. The upgrade starts Wednesday evening at midnight, and folks will be required to update Thursday morning. While you are more than likely sleeping, the system will be down anywhere between 15 -60 minutes (as Dale Poulter predicts). An email has already been sent about this.

4) Judy Carter was happy to announce that LITS’s workstation deployment project is almost done. (And then the fun starts all over again at the beginning of the next fiscal year!) LITS is also working on a life-cycle management and replacement policy for circulating laptops.

5) It’s patch Tuesday. Upgrades to your computers are out! Please remember to run your Windows updates on your home computers -for your own sanity.

6) Daylight Saving Time. Yes, it’s that topic again. LITS did all their patching, and Acorn and most things on the Heard Network seem fine. People’s PDA’s are probably still struggling with the time change thing, and Exchange servers, and the clients that connect to them (for Microsoft Outlook) are still unhappy (as we here in WML know quite well!) For tips on dealing with this murky stuff, please see my previous post.

7) Exodus, the internal IM client that LITS has been beta testing for what seems like forever now, was just upgraded. I haven’t played with it yet to see exactly what the new additions are, but from a quick glance, it doesn’t look like much. In WML, Laura and Rachel are the only ones using it. There are several other folks within the library system using it, too. If you are interested in trying it out, just let Rachel know! She can send you all the info you need to get it set up, and can stop by for a quick demo if needed.

8) Jody talked briefly about the 2 new Primo Project Teams currently being formed. He only has about 8 volunteers out of the entire library system, and they need more. If you are at all interested or know of someone who might be interested (and haven’t already volunteered or are already on a Primo development team), please contact Jody Combs as soon as possible. They want to get these teams started next week.