An exploration of how we are using macros in our current system, contrasted with what we're getting pitched by vendors. We want to: enter consistent data, avoid typos, improve system design, add conditional logic, and generally save the user repetitive, mindless work. Right now, that seems to require macros.
Library workers have an age-old complaint: if anything distracts you while checking in/discharging materials, it's easy to miss informative popups. Even worse, the next item you scan clears the popup screen while not getting checked in itself. Recently another library blog shared cute documentation that represents an even older solution -- audio cues which alert the worker that they need to perform specific actions on the item.
I manage this site and several of my others using Hugo, a static site generator based on the “Go” language. I’ve learned a little bit about Hugo themes over time, not as much as I used to know about Wordpress, but enough to whip up a few mini site themes from scratch and heavily modify the academic theme I use on this one.
A little knowledge is, of course, dangerous. As I posted on the 15th, I’ve added a quilt module to the site. These publish to the main RSS as well as their own local RSS (thanks Trip K. for suggesting I put the main RSS link in the nav bar). But the metadata fields I’d built to describe the quilts weren’t showing up in the RSS feeds.
After last week's talk on making use of the period between now and fundamental shifts in cataloging, regular expressions (regex) came up during the Q&A as one of the things I think it's helpful for catalogers to learn. Afterward, one of the attendees emailed me asking for more specific recommendations on how to learn them. I'm sharing the resources I pulled together, since I think they could be of use to more folks.
A revision of a post about Mastodon with some introductory information, definitions, and tips for how to jump in and get started. I pull from 5 years of mastodon experience and will create a second post with some information to help you become a more skilled user.
An overview of the challenges in assigning field weights in a library catalog. This uses the example of a book about Hillbilly Elegy to explain demonstrate where challenges arise.
Reflections on the occasion of a Code4Lib Journal article which deals with non-deidentified patron data. I consider my own time as an editor, why I stepped back, and what might be useful in the future.
A reflection on what I learned from my father about automation. His early programs taught me what was possible and gave me confidence to do what I do today.