Comments on: Making sense of events http://remainingrelevant.net/remaining/250 Why stop dreaming when you wake up? Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:57:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Hannah http://remainingrelevant.net/remaining/250/comment-page-1#comment-7654 Hannah Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:21:19 +0000 http://remainingrelevant.net/remaining/250#comment-7654 I wanted to make sure you were aware of the "Maine Libraries: Something for Everyone" campaign that launched a few years back. As part of this effort, Maine libraries work together to create a single website that listed all of the library events in the state. I think it is worth looking at as a best practice: www.mainelibraries.com. The campaign focused on how libraries WERE relevant. You can go here to see the campaign materials: www.shoestringgroup.com/MaineLibraries I wanted to make sure you were aware of the “Maine Libraries: Something for Everyone” campaign that launched a few years back. As part of this effort, Maine libraries work together to create a single website that listed all of the library events in the state. I think it is worth looking at as a best practice: http://www.mainelibraries.com. The campaign focused on how libraries WERE relevant. You can go here to see the campaign materials: http://www.shoestringgroup.com/MaineLibraries

]]> By: herzogbr http://remainingrelevant.net/remaining/250/comment-page-1#comment-7594 herzogbr Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:38:54 +0000 http://remainingrelevant.net/remaining/250#comment-7594 Although my library is progressive and fairly well-staffed, we aren't quite to the point (neither technological-knowledge nor confidence -wise) in not using a traditional vendor product for front-line applications like this. That's why we went with a vendor rather than look for an open source option. As for the ILS, ours (Horizon) I don't think can handle date-specific reserves. Yes, we can check passes in and out, but there wouldn't be a way for a patron to reserve a pass for a given date (and then another patron for a different date, etc). For that functionality, which I believe to be quite complex, we went with an off-the-shelf package. I've never been great and programming calendar software, so using a vendor proved the easiest and quickest solution (for now, anyway). Although my library is progressive and fairly well-staffed, we aren’t quite to the point (neither technological-knowledge nor confidence -wise) in not using a traditional vendor product for front-line applications like this. That’s why we went with a vendor rather than look for an open source option.

As for the ILS, ours (Horizon) I don’t think can handle date-specific reserves. Yes, we can check passes in and out, but there wouldn’t be a way for a patron to reserve a pass for a given date (and then another patron for a different date, etc). For that functionality, which I believe to be quite complex, we went with an off-the-shelf package. I’ve never been great and programming calendar software, so using a vendor proved the easiest and quickest solution (for now, anyway).

]]> By: Heather Myers http://remainingrelevant.net/remaining/250/comment-page-1#comment-7581 Heather Myers Mon, 31 Dec 2007 17:54:58 +0000 http://remainingrelevant.net/remaining/250#comment-7581 I looked into the Events Calendar plugin when redesigning the Capital Area Library District web site, but we wanted to be able to categorize the events. As far as I know EC only allows for one events category. I decided on the RS Event plugin which allows you to make any post in any category an event. Although this plugin is no longer updated by the author, several users have banded together in the plugin author's forum to make updates as needed. Templates and RSS feeds may need to be slightly modified, but overall it is another easy event calendar solution. See it in action on the CALD site on the home page (all events) and the events calendar page (categorized lists). I looked into the Events Calendar plugin when redesigning the Capital Area Library District web site, but we wanted to be able to categorize the events. As far as I know EC only allows for one events category. I decided on the RS Event plugin which allows you to make any post in any category an event.

Although this plugin is no longer updated by the author, several users have banded together in the plugin author’s forum to make updates as needed. Templates and RSS feeds may need to be slightly modified, but overall it is another easy event calendar solution. See it in action on the CALD site on the home page (all events) and the events calendar page (categorized lists).

]]> By: Lichen Rancourt http://remainingrelevant.net/remaining/250/comment-page-1#comment-7580 Lichen Rancourt Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:13:22 +0000 http://remainingrelevant.net/remaining/250#comment-7580 Brian - Thanks for the tip. Out of curiosity, why did you find it necessary to purchase anything? Could you not have used some kind of free solution? Why can't you manage museum passes and room bookings within your ILS and then the calendar simply to display events? I'm asking because I'm wanting to separate the administrative functions from the public calendar view and I'm not quite clear if the administrative functions actually require their own, specialized piece of software. Thanks! LJR Brian – Thanks for the tip. Out of curiosity, why did you find it necessary to purchase anything? Could you not have used some kind of free solution? Why can’t you manage museum passes and room bookings within your ILS and then the calendar simply to display events?

I’m asking because I’m wanting to separate the administrative functions from the public calendar view and I’m not quite clear if the administrative functions actually require their own, specialized piece of software.

Thanks! LJR

]]> By: herzogbr http://remainingrelevant.net/remaining/250/comment-page-1#comment-7573 herzogbr Sun, 30 Dec 2007 04:26:24 +0000 http://remainingrelevant.net/remaining/250#comment-7573 Although this gets off your main Wordpress thread, here's something about calendar providers: you mentioned your library used LibraryInsight. Mine did, too, until about eight months ago. Although their interface was relatively simple and clean, we found them expensive, difficult to work with, and, as you say, the data was all locked up in their system. We switched from them to <a href="http://www.plymouthrocket.com" rel="nofollow">Plymouth Rocket</a>, and use their TixKeeper software for our museum passes. We're looking at their calendar and meeting room booking systems, but haven't picked them up yet (my town is also looking at them for a town-wide calendar of events). They are great to work with, made many modifications to their software to fit our needs, and are much, much cheaper. Plus, their data is available as rss, so it's easy to play with. Please pardon the sales pitch - I just wanted to share our experience. Although this gets off your main WordPress thread, here’s something about calendar providers: you mentioned your library used LibraryInsight. Mine did, too, until about eight months ago. Although their interface was relatively simple and clean, we found them expensive, difficult to work with, and, as you say, the data was all locked up in their system.

We switched from them to Plymouth Rocket, and use their TixKeeper software for our museum passes. We’re looking at their calendar and meeting room booking systems, but haven’t picked them up yet (my town is also looking at them for a town-wide calendar of events).

They are great to work with, made many modifications to their software to fit our needs, and are much, much cheaper. Plus, their data is available as rss, so it’s easy to play with.

Please pardon the sales pitch – I just wanted to share our experience.

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