PAC Deployment Update

Two more of the Gates-granted Public Access Computers will be deployed tomorrow morning to AuGres and Whittemore. As for Standish Library, I don't have a date for its deployment due to one stumbling block: space.

Anyone who has been to Mary Johnston Memorial Library in Standish will realize that space for anything is at a premium. When you add in the requirements that it has to be in plain view of the staff (the equipment, not the screen), and be hooked into power and network, and the fact that we can't rearrange the shelving or run new electrical outlets, you begin to understand our problem. Once we solve this problem, I'll deploy the computer.

Starting next week, I'm going to schedule the software updates for all our equipment. As with the last update, it will take place via remote and after business hours.

New Printer at Robert J. Parks Library

After yet another problem with print quality with the printer at our Oscoda branch, which was eating up expensive supplies, the Director and I decided it would be best to replace the printer rather than repair it. A new Ricoh CL3500N was ordered earlier in the week, was delivered to our office today and was installed at the library an hour later.

In light of the really heavy use this printer will receive, and the issues we had with its predecessor, I opted to purchase a 3-year warranty plan in addition to the 1-year warranty--which totals four years. This will cover any repair or parts replacement, plus full product replacement if the printer turns out to be a dud.

Also, and this is a reminder to anyone who uses our printers. Our printers use heat to bond toner to printed media. Therefore the following types of media CAN NOT BE USED OR DAMAGE WILL RESULT:

According to the Ricoh Manual:

❒ Do not use ink-jet printer paper because it may stick to the fusing unit and
cause a paper misfeed.
❒ Set the paper as described below
• Tray 1, Paper Feed Unit (Tray 2, Tray 3): Print side facing up
• Bypass Tray: Print side facing down
❒ Print quality cannot be guaranteed if paper other than the ones recommended
is used. For more information about recommended paper, contact your sales
or service representative.
❒ Do not use paper that has already been printed onto by other printers.

In addition, the following is not supported, and DAMAGE MAY RESULT:
Paper not supported by this printer
Avoid using the following paper as they are not supported by this printer.
• Paper meant for an ink-jet printer
• Bent, folded, or creased paper
• Curled or twisted paper
• Torn paper
• Wrinkled paper
• Damp paper
• Paper that is dry enough to emit static electricity
• Paper that has already been printed onto, except a preprinted letterhead.
Malfunctions are especially likely when using paper printed on by other than
a laser printer (e.g. monochrome and color copiers, ink-jet printers, etc.)
• Special paper, such as thermal paper, aluminum foil, carbon paper and conductive
paper
• Paper whose weight is heavier or lighter than the limitation
• Paper with windows, holes, perforations, cutouts, or embossing
• Adhesive label paper on which glue or base paper is exposed
• Paper with clips or staples
• Do not use the following envelopes:
• Envelopes with multiple flaps
• Envelopes with a peel-off adhesive strip
• Envelopes with windows or clasps

Currently, we only allow plain white paper to be used, but we may be able to accommodate special requests, please speak to your librarian.

There will also be a sign posted next to the printer to remind our patrons.

New Year, New Public Access Computers

Now in 2008, I am happy to announce that we will be adding a total of five additional computers to our library district. Robert J. Parks will receive... um... where's my notebook? There it is, under a stack of papers and anti-static wrappers.

AuGres will receive two, one of which is provided by the Grant, the other a redeployed computer. Their total number of public access computers will increase from five to six.

Robert J. Parks Library will receive two; one of which is provided by the Gates grant, the other one we purchased on our own. That brings their total PACs from six to eight (seven with Internet access, one that's Children's only).

Whittemore already has four PCs, one of which is the new PC we purchased on our own. But, since they also are supposed to receive a Gates Grant PC, we'll be redploying their oldest, an Optiplex GX280, to AuGres, which will give them four up-to-date PACs.

Finally, Mary Johnston Memorial Library will receive a new Gates computer, bringing their total number of PACs from three to four. Though, I'm not sure where we'll find space for it.

The computers are all Dell Optiplex 745 PCs with Intel dual-core processors, 2GB of RAM, 256MB 3D cards, 160GB hard disk drives, 17" LCD monitors, wired optical mice and keyboards. The two differences between the Gates and our own out-of-pocket versions are the Gates have DVD burners and in a full tower case while ours have DVD/CDRW combo drives and comes in a small form factor case. Otherwise, the software and configuration will be identical (in fact, the Ghost image on our 745 works perfectly on the Gates 745).

Naturally, they will also come with cable locks to protect the chassis from tampering and Sennheiser HD201 headphones with inline volume controls.

Expect deployment to take place in the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, I am almost done deploying all our new APC UPS units, with four branches remaining. The router at our district headquarters is finally equipped with its own UPS, so momentary power-failures will not interrupt Public Internet and Wifi access for our patrons.

The units we upgraded too are APC RS series 500VA for router-only duty and RS series 800VA for our staff. The units themselves are so much easier to work with, either neatly fitting next to the computer or on top of it. Setup was a breeze, with swapping taking mere minutes. Our old units will be packed up and shipped back to APC.