The Ambassadors

The Millennium Ambassadors

of

Cook Memorial Public Library District

What are Millennium Ambassadors? The Ambassadors are staff members from each department.

Why are there Millennium Ambassadors? These fellow workers are here to make sure everyone in each department has access to and understands all the Millennium info. The Ambassadors can also bring concerns and questions to the ILS committee.

Who are these wonderful Millennium Ambassadors?

Carol Hubert

Cindy Ugaste

Gail Finegan

Gail Tanimura

Jan Hastings

Jeanne Lamz

Libby Heumann

Sandy Kline

Connie Regan

Mary Andrew

Erin Maassen

Ask them about Millennium!

Core Training Essentials: The Windows Taskbar

A new Core Training Essentials tutorial is ready to go. This newest module is on the Windows Taskbar, an important element of Windows that you use each time you use a computer. It lets you open programs, manage all your open windows, and even displays the current time and date.

These Core Training Essentials tutorials are a great way to review and hone your basic Windows skills and will help Millennium training go more smoothly.




Feel free to take the tutorial and take the quiz later. The Quizzes are working now!



There will be 12 Core Technology Essentials tutorials in all. Three are already available if you're feeling ambitious...

Give Me An M!

Give me an M! Give me an I! Give me an L-L-E-N-N-I-U-M! What’s that spell?

The first meeting of the ILS Cheerleaders took place yesterday, and let me tell you, this is group has spirit! Our fearless cheerleaders have lots of fun things planned for the ILS transition.

First up? Snacktacular. A celebration of all things snacks. You heard it here first--we're planning a snack-inspired party on October 17. Bring your best snack and appetite, because we will be voting for the best salty snack, best chocolate snack, best healthy snack, best dip, sweetest snack, prettiest snack, and most fun snack.

Snacktacular signifies three things:

1. Innovative is shipping our new server to Cook the next day and training with Innovative will be starting. It's really coming!
2. The kick-off of a contest, details to be disclosed later, that will span the entire ILS transition.
3. Our undying love for all things snackable.

Watch out, Cook. Snacktacular is coming!

The ILS training is off and running!

Over 40 staff members attended the 1st training session!

You could hear a pin drop as staff listened to trainer Jason's every word.

Highlights:

• Overview of our new system; both technical and practical.


• Sure, we had seen his photo and found out where he was born, but we finally got to hear Jason's voice!


• Continual references to the CS Direct and Getting Started manuals. These manuals can easily be accessed on the I Luv Snacks blog, just scroll down a little and look on the right hand info bar!


• Staff members at Cook are the testers of our database info! Cook staff has the control (and the blame) over how we will access data in the new system.
• Staff prize winners:

Nancy Hart - Highsmith Eagle

Pam Strain - Windows Live Search water bottle

Leonor Abreu - tote bag

Fran David - Fran "won" the patriotic lap blanket. Ask her about it!

Staff who missed this session, GOOD NEWS!, Andy taped Getting to Know Millennium! Copies will be available for viewing. WARNING: There will be a quiz after you view the tape.

Here is a little exercise to let everyone practice taking online quizzes!

Click on the link and test your knowledge!

http://www.ccsd.edu/bardonia/learninggames/libraryskills/

Keeping up on Millennium happenings can be overwhelming!

All the training sessions, meetings, parties, and all those emails with dates and times.

What's a Cook employee to do!!!

The new Millennium Planner Calendar to the rescue!!

Anything Millennium is posted on a handy, one stop shopping, calendar. As an added bonus, the calendar can be easily accessed from any Internet computer!

• Find out when and what kind of training session is coming up!


• Look and see when a queen will be on vacation!


• See when the next blog entry will be posted!


• Check to see when the Cheerleaders will be meeting!

No more looking for old emails!

No more missed parties!

No more wondering when and where the IDT committee will be meeting!

Go to: http://www.airset.com/

use the email address: cook@cooklib.org

Use the password provided by your departmental ambassador or any IDT or ILS committee team member.

Extra Credit Opportunity: CSDirect

I know you're probably one of the many people who are really excited about the new ILS and you're chomping at the bit to get more than a preview of Millennium. Yes, the Getting to Know Millennium Training Session is next week (9/12 from 2-4 in the Program Room sign up to attend!). That will be a great preview of Millennium and Web CAT, but you want more.

We now have access to CSDirect, the customer service web site for Millennium. There is a lot of great information on this site including FAQs (frequently asked questions), news, user guides and manuals, but what sparked my interest was the Tutorials section.

You'll need the username and password to access this, but just ask your friendly departmental ILS Ambassador or IDT member and you'll be on your way to teacher's pet heaven because I'm betting Jason Boland, our Millennium Trainer from Innovative, will give extra credit to anyone who is extra prepared for the training later this year.

Feel free to go through any of these tutorials when time permits. Basic Millennium will be required for everyone attending the October 23-25 training session which covers WebPAC searching, Database Evaluation, Systems Administration, Web PAC Administration, Circulation Parameters, and Aquisition Parameters. There are also tutorials for WebPAC, Millennium Serials, and Millennium Circulation, which are among the modules we purchased, so you may want to check those out too.

The IDT wants you to have every opportunity to be prepared for the new system. Checking out CSDirect is one way you can start getting to know our new Integrated Library System.

Do you know the name of the Disney cartoon character below? He is from a Disney animated television series about a dog with a dream to go to school. Click on comments below to post your answer and you'll be entered for the Snacker of the Month drawing!

Snacker of the Month

Ladies and Gentlemen, start your mice! The race for Snacker of the Month begins again today!


Congratulations to Laura Hadjimitsos, September's Snacker of the Month!

Laura's name was randomly chosen from all those who left comments last month on the I Luv Snacks blog! Laura has chosen a chocolate snack, which will be delivered to her desk fresh from the oven later this week.

You, too, could win a homemade snack. Click below to leave a comment. The more comments you make this month, the more chances you'll have to win. I hope you're hungry!