Sutlib Reader

Universal Library Membership +

2009-10-22T21:12:00.003+01:00

While a good idea in theory this is already causing a few problems such as items returned to them from other authorities - where's the money for transporting them back from whence they came?
Also seen within just a few days is at least one user from another authority "borrowing" c.£300 worth of items that have still not been returned having reached an Cost of Replacement Account stage and the user is not answering phone calls.
How long are council tax payers going to accept what must be seen as potential theft?

As for Ms. Hodge's suggestion of an Amazon style postal book service - great idea - but that's going to cost c.£5 a book. Subscription of £50 for 10 books then, or is the library service expected to fork out for that as well, and if so, again where's the money come from?
I just wish the strategic thinkers would at least consider the consequences before announcing new ideas.

ChiliFresh update

2009-10-10T19:30:00.007+01:00

It is now possible to read and write reviews for non-book material on
Sutton's Library Catalogue provided an up-to-date browser is used.
At the moment the reviews do not appear on IE6.

OWLs arrive in Sutton

2009-10-10T19:23:00.004+01:00

Not the feathered type but wireless energy monitors. A small number (10) are now available for loan from Media Too in Sutton Library.

An initiative in partnership with the Energy Trust, these monitors display the amount of electricity used in either cost, CO2 emissions or Kilowatts.

They are free to borrow for a week.

All 10 were on loan by lunchtime today!

ChiliFresh trial

2009-02-09T19:21:00.007Z

Long time, nothing added, but this one is to announce the fact that Sutton Libraries are working through a trial period using the ChiliFresh reader review option for their iBistro online catalogue. Sutton Libraries are first in the UK to implement this service.
A decision on signing up will be taken soon, but for now the software is up and running as part of the enhancements packages for the catalogue.
Reading and adding reviews is simple - just click on the "Write a review" or "Reviews" link.
Reviews are not just local - they include all reviews added to titles from across the world.
Take a look at the library catalogue.

Big Lottery Funding - New Library

2007-12-14T12:33:00.000Z

The Big Lottery Fund has provided the wherewithall to completely rebuild Middleton Circle Library.. The existing Library is 40+ years old and is badly in need of some TLC and this has been like a shot in the arm for the local community.

The target date for opening is the second half of 2010.

Further postings on progress will be placed when time permits.

Library Elf - how to keep control of your library account

2007-09-25T19:04:00.000+01:00

... and just like buses two at the same time!!!

Something that's been around for a little while in the States and discovered with a mail list post from a UK library - Library Elf.

Library Elf is a website that helps you to keep control of your library account, or accounts as it will let you look at an entire family's accounts in one go although I haven't tried this bit out. You simply sign up to the service by registering your Library ID and PIN on the website and select your library from the list provided. If your library is not there you may request that it be added, and if it is compatible the service will work. It does appear to need a valid loan and a reservation on your account to get it to work fully if adding a new library authority.

Library Elf will automatically send you an e-mail 3 days before an item is overdue and also let you know when reserved items are available. The account page also provides a useful calendar and listing of your loans and will direct you to the login page of your OPAC.

Library Elf does state that the "Service provided "as is", "as available" and without warranties.
All library fines and charges are the responsibility of the cardholder.
Service is independent and not affiliated with any schools or libraries."

Please note that Sutton Libraries holds no responsibility if users decide to use this service and has no connection with libraryelf.com.
The website is based in the USA and it is your choice as to whther you wish to provide your User ID and PIN to sign up to it.

The bottom line is - it works!

Libraries on Holiday

2007-09-25T18:55:00.000+01:00

A long time since last posting due to a combination of no time, no imagination and also being on holiday in South-west France. Wonderful place, foothills of the Pyrennes, walled cities and Cathar castles in the clouds.

Libraries as well, well one anyway, in a quiet street in the new part of Carcassonne.

The Case of the Missing "t"

2007-07-12T14:29:00.000+01:00

Ashen* faces at the Central Library with the discover of a missing "t".

No-one saw it go and no-one knows how long it has been gone, and more to the point no-one seems to have noticed it, customers or staff!

Replacement on it's way!

(* with apologies for the terrible pun!)

New Fiction for August & September 2007

2007-07-08T18:17:00.000+01:00

Latest use of Flickr to promote new stock and other library related activities - these are fiction titles for August and September 2007 publication.

For details and the ability to reserve these items click here.

Bulk E-mail notice

2007-07-05T21:18:00.000+01:00

A few strange results from the first bulk e-mailing of a library notice. Choosing an announcement type notice the e-mail provided information for the antiques fair advertised in the previous posting.

Responses have so far ranged from "Why are you sending me this when I didn't ask for it?" - from a user who selected notifications from the library by e-mail, to those who have replied thanking the library, almost profusely, for the information. After all there is such a thing as a delete key if the topic is of no interest to you, and what's one e-mail in a while - probably about once a month!

OK, so we've got to be careful how we use this as it could easily become viewed as Spam. But, it's also provided us with another source of updating our user records. Several changes of address have been received along with requests to remove users from the database as they have moved away - responses so far from Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand!

Now to plan for the next one ...!

Super Summer Antiques Fair

2007-07-03T13:18:00.000+01:00

The Central Library in Sutton moves into the antiques world with a Super Summer Antiques Fair

Click here for further details.

Book film trailer

2007-06-26T23:02:00.000+01:00

This is the first film style trailer for a book I've seen - will it catch on, would you borrow (or buy) a book advertised this way? It certainly caught my imagination - and yes, I've reserved it!

Take a look at the YouTube video for Jo Nesbo's book, The Redbreast.

Click here for further details and availability at Sutton Libraries.

2007-06-12T15:56:00.000+01:00

Canadian author Mary Lawson visits Wallington Library as part of her UK tour promoting her new novel, The Other Side of the Bridge.

Click here to see the video.

Click here for further details and availability at Sutton Libraries.

New "Favourites" service

2007-06-10T21:58:00.000+01:00

The first "Favourites" e-mails were sent out early this morning. They work by checking if a user has set the "I want to be notified ... about new Tell Me When authors and subjects" option is set on their profile.
The report producing the e-mail looks at the new titles added in the past calendar month, and if an author or subject are on a user's list of favourites, an e-mail is sent.
This new service is only available via e-mail.

Joining the Library Blogset

2007-06-09T13:14:00.000+01:00

Well, here's the first attempt at a Sutton Libraries blog which hopefully will include lots of useful, and maybe not so useful information.

Work will continue to add information over the next few weeks until we have something worth looking at - then for the big promotional drive!!!