Here are the Photos!!

Looking from the Teen Section to the Library Office & Adult computers

From the Teen Section looking over in to middle grade/children's section. This is also where they have story time.

The seats for story time.

The teen computers

Close up of the printer/computer

From the back of the adult section looking out to the teen computers

The computers to search for books, same on the other side

Adult Audio and TV shows

Looking in to the children's area

The rest of the Adult Audio and movies

Circulation Desk

Young Adult advanced readers copies

The interview!

All right! This post will be about the interview I took with Meghan. I have met her before for another interview with ones of my classes last semester. So she remembered me a little bit and asked how it was going with my classes.

Meghan is the head librarian at the Milton Public Library. It also turns out that she is the person who is in charge of the technical systems at the library as well, something I did not know last time. So that was my first question was who is the head of the technical stuff at the library. 

            Did they have any acceptable use policies? I asked her. I said I didn’t see anything about it on their website. She said that it wasn’t on there. Meghan said that all it really was is the 30min time limit, basic policy rules that most other libraries have. No downloading anything on to the computers or harming them in anyway. 

The next question I asked what about their budget. How much of their money was spent on what. She had to take a moment to think about it. This is what she ended up telling me:
DVD’s about $38hundred

Audio Books - $4,000

Up keep for their computers systems and tech support - $4,000

Database Items - $4,000

This brought up another question. Do they take care of the tech support or do they get outside help? Turns out they get outside tech support help. She also noted that they only keep their computers for about five years then they upgrade them. That’s to make sure they are keeping up to date with the new technology. When she was talking about the computers I then thought who takes care of the website. The web site, if you have not visited it yet, is set up very nicely. Nothing cheesy like you would see for other Vermont libraries in the area. I asked who takes care of it. Meghan said they all take care of the website and do everything them selves. I was impressed by the fact they do it them selves.

            When looking around in the library I noted that I really didn’t see anything that would help disabled people. It was one of the questions on the sheet our teacher gave us and I was interested in knowing if there was really anything. So I asked Meghan. She thought about it and said there wasn’t anything. She her self I think was kind of surprised by that they didn’t have any of these assistive technologies. Never crossed her mind at all I don’t think.

            Is there any protection for the computers? Was the next question. She said they did. Sonic wall, a blocker and something called deep freeze they had on their computers. Deep Freeze from what I could understand is the program that erases everything that was saved on to the computer (word documents and such) when shut off. So anything saved to the computer by anyone would not be there the next day. The blocker I figured was to block unwanted pop up adds and Sonic wall is their virus protection.

            Is there any unique type of technologies that they give to their patrons? Meghan said yes there were a few. Unique type of service they have is Zinio, a online magazine subscription that is free to everyone in the library. People can read over 50 different kinds of magazines. Here is the link to Zinio for anyone wondering about it.

https://www.rbdigital.com/50emagazine/service/zinio/

            Meghan says they are also a part of the Vermont Online Library.  It is database like most schools have.  Listen Up! Vermont is a Audio book site where people can rent out audio books.

http://www.listenupvermont.org/AE1CA6F1-35A7-420F-B7D6-7EEAC184E5CC/10/50/en/Default.htm

For all of these you just need a library card number and a password. I believe the password is your last name.

            The last question I asked Meghan was if there was anything she would like to change at the library. She answered this quiet quickly. She said she wish there was a log in system on their computers so they could tell how long someone has been on the computer. Right now all they do is go over to the computers and ask who has been on the computer the longest.

            That was all the questions I asked Meghan about. I didn’t want to keep her away from her job any longer. So I said that’s it and thank you. She said no problem and good luck with my classes. I said I might be back for some other classes and she said that was fine. Oh and before I left I gave her my teachers email so she could contact her later on about the interview.

I thank Meghan for putting up with me coming in and asking so many questions! It was interesting to hear how many unique tech services they have. I’ve heard about them but not like she explained to me. Also all those services people have access to them at home not just at the library. What was nice to know was that if my work’s copy machine breaks down (happens often) or need color copies (many think we do color copies when we don’t) I can send people over to the library! Glad to give the library some business since it is right behind my work place.

 I am unable to get pictures at this time of the Library. When I do I will post them as soon as I can! 

Milton Public Library, located at the Milton Town Office.  Their Website is http://www.miltonlibraryvt.org.

I had some time to wait before Meghan was ready for me to talk to her. So I wondered around in the library to see what I could find. I have been here before many times but never to use their technology since I always brought mine. So there are three computers that are just for kids who are 7 to 16 years old.  There are 5 more computers for people 17 years old and older. They have a time limit of 30mins if people are waiting. If there is no one waiting for the computers then they isn’t a time limit. This goes for both sets of computers. There are also a couple of computers attached to the sides of bookcases. Those ones are so patrons can search for certain books in this library and other libraries in the state. (The OPAC computers Meghan called them.) Also helps locate them in this library. I have used them before to locate and search for books. Then I know there are a lot of wall plugs ins around the library for people to use to plug in their computers. There is also WIFI here. That is what I noticed when looking for their technology here. And of course they have their own computers at the front desk.

While I was waiting for Meghan, I had to look at their books, bad Idea. Now I have more books that I want to read… Ended up pulling my self away from the books to start typing up notes of what there was for tech.

Some of the questions I can answer my self because I can see them.

The furniture they had for the technology where tables that have plugs and cords all attached to them in the middle of the floor that hold the computers. There are two of them, the three teen computers then the other five for the adults like I was talking about before. The adult computers are by the circulation desk and the teen ones are in the middle of the library. There are printers that can be used for .20 per black and white copy then for color .50. Found out later on that they do have some scanning capabilities as well. That is about all I got from waiting. Surprisingly it was really busy when I came in that day. It took her about 15mins after the set time to come over and talk with me. When I told her I was there she was going to come right over but I told her to take her time that I would be fine. She said thank you and finished off her work and help some people before she came over. I forgot to take pictures of the library so hopefully my next post I will have some to show you guys! For now here is a picture I found on Google.com images of the front of the building.

Called the Library spoke with Meghan the head librarian. She said to come in at 2pm today so I can interview her. I've interviewed her before for another one of my Library Science Classes. She said she only has about 15min. for me to interview her. Unsure about how much I can get in that time. I know I can get my photos and layout stuff done though. Speaking of that I need to charge my camera...

I have figured out what Library I will be doing for this project of mine. It will be the Milton Public Library that sits a little bit behind my place of work. Will be calling them either today if I have time or Tuesday. Monday I work and Tuesday I have off. Hopefully I can talk to the head librarian again for this project.
http://www.miltonlibraryvt.org