Six Months Worth of Crazy Holidays and Potential Programs

Happy Holidays everyone! We hope that the season is treating you well and that you've had a bit of time to relax. As you ease out of the food and sugar coma you've been enjoying the last several weeks, it's time to start thinking about programs for 2010.

This post is going to focus on interesting or wacky holidays happening over the next six months. These are the holidays you might not get a reminder from ALA about or might not consider for a potential program!

January - aka National Thank You Month
January 23 - National Handwriting Day
January 23 - National Pie Day
January 26 - Australia Day

February - aka American Heart Month
February 2 - Groundhog Day
February 4 - National Girls and Women in Sport Day
February 8 - Boy Scouts Day
February 21 - Single-Tasking Day
February 22 - Academy Awards
We're ready for our close-up, Mr. Deville!
February 26 - For Pete's Sake Day
A day dedicated to wondering "Who the heck is Pete, anyways?"
February 28 - Floral Design Day

March - aka National Nutrition Month
March 2 - Fun Facts About Names Day
March 7 - Genealogy Day
March 16 - Black Press Day
A great opportunity to learn about the impact of African-American writers in the media
March 19 - Absolutely Incredible Kid Day
March 20 - Great American MeatOut
A day focusing on the benefits of vegetarianism
March 24 - American Diabetes Association Alert Day
March 31 - Bunsen Burner Day
Not to knock the greatness of the Bunsen Burner, but I can't really imagine what
celebrating this holiday would involve.

April
April 2 - International Children's Book Day
April 7 - No Housework Day
I am a huge supporter of this particular day. This should be a national holiday.
April 11 - Baby Massage Day
April 16 - National High Five Day
April 18 - National Adult Autism Awareness Day
April 24 - Global Youth Services Day
April 29 - National Dance Day

May - aka National Egg Month
May 1 - Save the Rhino Day
May 4 - National Teachers Day
May 6 - Beverage Day
May 10 - Peace Day
May 12 - International Nurses Day
May 13 - International Librarians Day
Just kidding, but that would be really interesting, wouldn't it?
May 13 - Tulip Day
May 14 - National Chicken Dance Day
Because we all need a little more Chicken Dance in our lives...
May 15 - Armed Forces Day
May 20 - Flower Day
May 24 - National Escargot Day
May 30 - The Bucket's Got A Hole In It Day
Teach kids how to sing "There's a hole in the bucket..." as a program and then send them
home. Their parents will thank you, I'm quite certain.

June - Featuring National Shampoo Week, June 7-13
June 1 - International Children's Day
June 2 - National Day of Italy
June 6 - Doo-Dah Day
I have no clue what this day is about. I found it on a calendar. Let me know what you make
up!!!
June 8 - Upsy-Daisy Day
June 19 - World Sauntering Day
We just don't saunter like we used to, do we? A little relaxed, slow walking would be good
for us...
June 30 - Meteor Day

Let me know if you have any other fun ideas! And definitely let me know if you choose to build any programs for the days above!

Happy New Year -
Christine Ayar
Coordinator of Customer Experience
cayar@evancedsolutions.com

The "We Love Evanced" Video Competition

We get a lot of positive emails from customers telling us how much they love us and our products. We really appreciate it and all the kind words make us a very happy software company.

So, for the holidays (whatever holiday might be most important to you) we'd like to introduce:

The "We Love Evanced!" Video Competition!

Here's the short synopsis:
You, your library staff, or folks you know that use our products a lot and love them, create a 3-5 minute video using a free 30-day trial of Camtasia Studio from TechSmith. Use the video to tell what you love about Evanced, our products, our adorable staff, etc. etc. etc. Download it to YouTube and send us the link by March 1, 2010.

Three fabulous almost-celebrity librarian judges will deem which video is best based on creativity, content, and originality.

The winner receives (drumroll, please):

• A free copy of Camtasia Studio from Techsmith
• A free one year subscription for a new or existing Evanced product
• A $1000 scholarship to attend the American Library Association Annual Conference 2010 in Washington D.C.

Yeah, it's kind of a big deal.

But, here's the not so short version of the competition - which we recommend you read carefully!

CREATE a 3-5 minute video about why you love Evanced Solutions and/or our products. You might do a video about:

• you favorite product features
• things you like about our company
• a positive customer service experience
• descriptions of how Evanced products make scheduling, room reservations, or summer reading easier for you and your staff
• or a million other potential topics related to why you love us

DOWNLOAD the video release form by clicking here.

SIGN the release form (to be technical, a Director or Assistant Director with clearance to do so must sign it). Send the form in to our offices at: Evanced Solutions 7830 Rockville Road, Suite C. Indianapolis, Indiana 46214.

DOWNLOAD a free 30 day trial of Techsmith's Camtasia Studio software at http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.asp. (or use the video editting software of your choice)

CREATE a video in any format you wish. It can be funny, it can be serious, it can be a PowerPoint or claymation or pictures or whatever else you prefer. Work your creative mojo - there are no limits on your creativity! We just want you to tell us what you love about Evanced.

UPLOAD your video to YouTube and send the link to Christine Ayar, our Coordinator of Customer Experience at cayar@evancedsolutions.com

WAIT while our almost-celebrity librarian judges view, laugh, cry and enjoy the ultimate in cinematic self-expression and creativity.

DO A HAPPY DANCE if you find out you're the winner when your name is announced at the Public Library Association Annual Conference March 23-27, 2010 in Portland, Oregon.

Here's some of the fine print.

• Videos are not accepted for competition without receipt of the signed release form.
• Videos deemed inappropriate or containing lewd content will be disqualified. And we'll tell your mama on you.
• Videos can be submitted by an individual or as a team.
• Library consortiums are not eligible as a whole, however, individual libraries within a consortium may submit a video and win software for their library only.
• States participating in state-wide Summer Reader are not eligible (i.e. an individual library within one of the states may win, but that will not qualify the entire state for free software!)

Have questions? Email Christine Ayar at cayar@evancedsolutions.com

Tool Set for Events Integration

We got a lot of comments to our post about Worthington's Drupal integration. Suggestions about additional CMS systems and such. While we certainly will look at what we can do to assist in those areas we are not likely to be deploying any new such CMS integration widgets ourselves in the next 6 - 9 months. However we are certainly open to supporting customers and other integration partners who want to do their own integration with our systems.

Here is a link to information on our Knowledge base explaining how our XML tool set works. This is the same tool set that libraries such as Worthington (OH), Howard County(MD), Orange County (FL), and King County (WA) have used to create their custom integrations. Support for the use of these tool sets is included in the support of your software so our team can help if you get stuck or have some trouble with any of those features.

Bug Hunt is BACK!

It’s that time of year. It’s cold outside, the holidays are in full swing, and
Evanced Solutions is releasing the newest version of Summer Reader in
Beta.

We’ve been working diligently to incorporate your suggestions for making
Summer Reader even better.

The new version of Summer Reader (V8/2010) will be releasing to Beta in
the 1st week of January. In addition we will be registering library teams for a
Summer Reader 2010 bug hunt. Just like with our previous contests, the
team that collects the most points for submitting bugs, omissions, etc. will
receive prizes.

Here are the rules:
- When you contact Support, we will create a new site for your team based
on an upgraded copy of your live site.
- Each Site can be an individual or team (1 Team per Customer)
- We will have a special place on our Support Forum where bugs will be
reported (a basic format for the bug reporting will be listed there).
- The points system is as follows:
- 1 Point Bug – A bug that is more a suggestion for operation. An “It
Really should work like this!” comment. These are not really classified
as bugs, but we felt they are important enough to include in the list.
- 2 Point Bug – A bug that is an inconvenience or nuisance. Not a
major failure but a problem none-the-less.
- 4 Point Bug – This is a doozey! This is a bug that stops a significant
portion of the program from running correctly. Just about any kind of
error message or screen would fall into this category.

The first site/team/library to report each bug will be given credit. The bugs
will be posted to the support forum so you'll know what has already been
submitted.

The teams that get the most points (earned by finding and reporting bugs)
will receive prizes:
- 1st Prize: $300 in Amazon gift certificates (broken down for teams)
- 2nd Prize: $150 in Amazon gift certificates (broken down for teams)
- 3rd Prize: $60 in Amazon gift certificates

To register your library/team for this contest visit our Events Calendar at:
http://wwwtheurlgoeshere. Please sign up for the January 6, 2010 event.
Please note this is not a webinar, but the registration for the contest
itself.

A couple of clarifications on the contest:

This contest will be in addition to our own internal testing. Our testers will
submit bugs into the same forum in order to prevent overlap. All
participants’ Beta systems will be updated on a regular basis and all systems
will be updated at once.

We'll notify participants when updates are posted. Contest will begin January 6th, 2010 by which time everyone’s system will be upgraded and posted (we’ll do these as close together as possible).

Contest will end at Midnight on January 31, 2010, where the final counts and
winners will be posted. We’ll try to post updates on progress and standing
about once a week through the contest.

The new released version of Summer Reader will be made available on or after February 15th, 2010 We probably will still have some updates leading up into March (mostly non-core issues, some reporting enhancements, and add-on features like Facebook integration)

The upgrades in the beginning of January will be done primarily for libraries
who sign up to participate. You CAN request an upgrade to the Beta and
NOT participate in the contest; however these updates will not be completed
until later in January. Please email Support (support@evancedsolutions.com)
to request your upgrade.

The bug hunt is a great way to get a jump start on your community summer
reading program while also giving you chances to win prizes. Upon
completion of the Bug Hunt, you can export your bug hunt site so that you’ll
be ready for Summer Reader. Building it a little at a time while participating
in the contest is easy to do, and exporting your program takes only minutes.
We aren’t setting any rules on how you want to handle prizes on your end.
You can use the prize for your library or yourself but we leave compliance
with your own library’s policies up to you.

We’re sorry to say that state wide implementation participants,
unfortunately, are not eligible to participate in the Bug Hunt.

If you are a multi-branch system you can have more than one
location/branch participating though as a part of a single team. We realize
that this gives a somewhat more inherent advantage to bigger libraries. We
are keeping a close eye on the contest to make sure that this doesn’t
happen. In previous Bug Hunts, it seems that the winnings have been fairly
even across library size and type.

Please click here to sign up your team or yourself for the Bug Hunt.

Warm Up With Winter Reading!

Did you hear about our Fall Reading Program? Ninety-four librarians from across the country read books, magazines, websites and more and tracked their minutes and hours using Evanced Solutions’ Summer Reader product. At the end of the three months, great prizes were offered including Amazon gift cards, book marks, and pens!

Have you wanted to try Summer Reader? Want to win great prizes just for doing what you love to do - read? Then join us for Winter Reading! Sign-up December 21,2009 through January 8, 2010**. Reading logs are open on January 9 and close March 12. The theme is “On a beach somewhere…” so join us as we imagine warm places during these cold months!

**Edit: Sign up begins now and runs through February!

Read for 1500 minutes (25 hours) to qualify for a fun prize! If you read 2400 minutes (40 hours) or more, you'll qualify for the prize plus be put into a drawing for more prizes. We'll be announcing the drawing prizes after January 9.

We had a lot of positive feedback from our last reading program. Kim Drake from the Quincy Public Library (IL) summed it up best saying, "The best part of the program was the hundreds of fabulous reviews. I found a number of new books to read and enjoyed the comments made by those who read the same book or author as I did. I sincerely hope that as many (or even more!) people participate in the winter program."

So what are you waiting for??? You can sign up by clicking here.

Sacramento Public Library Offers A Unique Spin on Events

If you've been considering other ways library users can interact with the Events calendar on a branch-by-branch basis, take a look at the Sacramento Public Library's website.

Visit www.saclibrary.org

Instead of clicking "Events" (which takes you directly to their Events calendar), click on "Locations".

After selecting a library branch, you'll see a series of menus at the top. Click "Programs" in that menu.

From that spot, any branch program list can be accessed simpy by clicking a library branch name and then clicking "Programs".

Events that require signup provide a link directly to the event sign up form.

To learn more about how to implement a similar concept for you library Events calendar, contact Suppot at support@evancedsolutions.com

Going Paperless with Evanced

Information about “going green” and taking steps to help the environment is everywhere right now. More and more, we’ve seen and heard from our customers that using Events, Room Reserve and Summer Reader helps to reduce the amount of paper used in libraries. Over time, minimizing paper usage saves time, money, and people power.

So, why go paperless and how can Evanced help?
In the case of libraries, going paperless can reduce confusion. How many of you have or have had “the binder”. It’s that big binder that you use to manage your meeting rooms, your events sign up lists or your summer reading forms. Have you ever LOST that binder? It creates sheer chaos – people run around as if the building is on fire!

Customers have reported that Evanced’s Events software has helped to manage program registration, but also assists with the administration of wait lists and reminder notifications. And when the program is completed, instead of worrying about a paper attendance sheet, attendance can be tracked online.

Room Reserve reduces the amount of forms that library staff members must keep track of and reduces the documentation that the public must fill out in order to request a room. Paper-based room reservation processes often involve making several copies for library users, staff members, and management. If the original or copies are lost, it can create frustration and confusion, not to mention that a valued library user may accidentally lose the reservation they wanted! Room Reserve manages all documentation and makes it available online, allowing for easy access for staff from virtually anywhere.

Henderson (NV) Public Libraries noticed a reduction in the quantity of paper they used after switching to Events, Room Reserve and Summer Reader. The change helped make their processes more efficient, benefiting their staff, the public and the environment. You can read more on our blog, which featured the Henderson Public Library in September 2009.

Summer Reading, the Paperless Way
The transition to a web-based summer reading program can not only reduce paper usage, but also improve the opportunities of busy library users to participate in summer reading.

- Be proactive about encouraging library users that have Internet access at home, work or school to use the Summer Reader program. Team up with area schools to have a Summer Reader sign up day, using media center computers and computer labs. Constant accessibility, access to great book reviews and the ability to build a reading list are just a few of the benefits.

- For those without computer access, encourage them to create a paper log. Use teen volunteers to help input the logs into Summer Reader, thus helping teens keep busy but also allowing anyone to participate in your program.

- If possible, have a “Summer Reader Log Only” station at your library – make that computer a quick stop for library users who may choose to stop by to log in their reading hours daily or weekly.

- Teens tend to adapt quickly to Summer Reader and love the ability to interact with their peers. Children love physical confirmation of their reading goal – certificates, stickers, small prizes and more. Use our certificate feature to build certificates that children and their families can instantly print when they reach a particular reading goal.

- The many prize management options available in Summer Reader make it easy to carefully manage prize distribution. Staff members can track, view, and distribute prizes without using any paper. Summer Reader manages prizes across branches, making it difficult for less scrupulous library users to visit multiple branches to collect multiple prizes if they are not deserved.

If you’d like to learn more about using Evanced Solutions’ products to reduce paper usage, contact our Coordinator of Customer Experience, Christine Ayar at cayar@evancedsolutions.com

Congratulations to the Novi Public Library

Evanced Solutions would like to congratulate the Novi Public Library in Novi, Michigan on their new library! The building is set to open in June 2010.

The bigger building features recycled materials, green-tinted reflective glass in windows, water-efficient fixtures, and energy efficient light fixtures among many other “green” offerings. Other highlights include landscaping that helps to conserve water and landscaping featuring local plants that thrive in Michigan's climate.

Novi Public Library uses Events, Room Reserve and Summer Reader. As their library grows, their ability to manage their new building using the products will grow and change as well. The library currently uses Events to manage five meeting rooms. The new library will have eight meeting rooms and spaces that will be managed in Events, in addition to many unmediated study areas.

If your library is set to expand and you’d like more information on ensuring your Evanced software helps you manage your new spaces, contact our Coordinator of Customer Experience at cayar@evancedsolutions.com."

Drupal and Evanced: A Money-Saving Combination

Increasingly we’re seeing emails that begin with “We’re a Drupal shop and want to use Evanced products too…” Here at Evanced we’re excited by the potential of Drupal and what libraries are doing with it.

The Worthington Libraries (Ohio) has integrated their Events calendar with their website which uses Drupal as its content management system. You can view their calendar at http://www.worthingtonlibraries.org/calendar. What you’ll see might surprise you. The front end is powered by Drupal, but the back end is Evanced Solutions’ Events product and uses all of the filtering, registration, and management features available.

For Kara Reuter, Digital Library Manager at Worthington Libraries, the choice to use both Drupal and Events was an easy one. “We chose Drupal because it’s a really powerful content management system and can be extended in almost any way you can imagine. Lots of other libraries are using Drupal these days, so there’s a good community we can turn to for ideas and support.”

Worthington Libraries wanted to keep the look and feel of their website, while taking advantage of the functionality Events has to offer. As Ms. Reuter explained, “We chose Events because every time we looked at a library’s online calendar that offered all the features we wanted, it was Events. And the ability to integrate Evanced Solutions’ Room Reservation [software] is essential for our library.”

The development team at Evanced is excited by the possibilities Drupal offers and is working closely with the Worthington Libraries. For Kara Reuter, this collaboration made the switch to a Drupal-driven website even easier. “We love that Evanced has been so open to our ideas and supportive of our efforts to create our Drupal+Events mashup.”

Worthington staff and patrons have given positive feedback on the calendar, which created a look and feel that was constant across both the website and calendar. “Our staff and patrons have definitely commented on the calendar. They’ve given us positive feedback about the pull down menus that allow you to specify just what kind of event you’re looking for,” she explained. “What I love is that the calendar is perfectly integrated in to our Web site in terms of look and feel – I think visual consistency is really important in terms of user experience. Plus, the power of Drupal allows us to create the “Today at the Library” block on the homepage – it’s completely dynamic and as the day progresses the events drop off so that you’re only seeing what’s coming up. We can also pull in event lists on other pages, such as on our Book sale page: http://www.worthingtonlibraries.org/visit/services/booksales (see right sidebar).”

Are you an Events customer that is using Drupal or considering Drupal? Worthington Libraries is seeking partner libraries to help them to prepare their Evanced Events Importer module for release at drupal.org. To learn more contact Kara Reuter at Worthington Libraries, kreuter@worthingtonlibraries.org.