SCLS Technology News

Thunderbird E-mail Software Upgrade coming your way

In the next couple of weeks, SCLS is preparing to upgrade the Thunderbird e-mail client from the current version (2.x) to the most recent Extended Release Support Version (10.0.4 ESR).

Here are some quick facts regarding the upgrade:

What is happening right now in terms of the process?

SCLS Staff have done considerable testing behind the scenes in preparation for this upgrade, first using the installations here at SCLS HQ.  A second round of pilot testing will occur at 3 libraries tonight (May 23).  Over the course of a week, we'll be checking in with the pilot libraries to see what issues, concerns and helpful hints they may offer before the upgrade is released to all participating SCLS-supported staff PCs.

What happens next?

If all goes well with the pilot, we plan on performing upgrades system-wide the week of June 4.  More details will be forthcoming when we get closer to that date.  Information will be sent via e-mail.

What has changed in this new version of Thunderbird?

If you'd like to get a sense of what's new and different with the newer version of Thunderbird, you can take a peek here (http://www.scls.info/technology/email/tb_whatsnew.html).

How often will SCLS upgrade Thunderbird?

Unlike our plans for upgrading Firefox, we will be using the Extended Release Support versions provided by Mozilla.  The changes to Thunderbird--even from version 2 to version 10--have been minimal.  Using the ERS version, along with any needed security updates along the way, will give us a good balance of regularly scheduled upgrades with the time needed for testing more business-critical software.

That said, the next slated ESR release will be version 17, released in late November, 2012.  Testing will commence some time soon after that.

I don't use Thunderbird for e-mail anymore. Do I need to be concerned about this?

If you are using e-mail provided by another support organization (your municipality, personal account, G-mail localized to your library, etc.), you do not need to be concerned with this software upgrade.  It only affects the daily users of Thunderbird.

 

If you have any other questions, comments or concerns, post them below, or send them on to Jon Mark directly.

 

SCLS Partnership Program

What is the Partnership Program?

Through the Partnership Program, library staff that have been designated by the library director will be able to make changes to SCLS-supported staff PCs (we hope to expand this to patron PCs in the future).   A complete description of the service can be found here:
http://www.scls.info/committees/tc/documents/PartnershipProgram.pdf

The program was introduced in December 2011, and 2 libraries have since participated in pilot testing.

What do I need to know?

SCLS has a webpage that details the steps to participate in the Partnership Program: http://www.scls.info/technology/partner/index.html.  

After the Library Director and interested participants review the information, the main steps are:

1. The Library Director will sign the Partnership Program Memorandum of Understanding and return it to SCLS.
2. The Library Director will indicate which staff members and which library PCs will participate in the Partnership Program.
3. A training session will be scheduled between new participants and SCLS staff.
4. Partnership Program user accounts will be distributed to participants.

If you think your library might be interested in the Partnership Program, please review all of the available documentation on the Partnership Program webpage.

How do I sign up to participate?

1. Review the documentation on the SCLS Partnership Program page and make sure it is a good fit for your library.
2. Print and sign the Memorandum of Understanding and send it to SCA: Attn Jon Mark.
3. Express your interest in the program by calling the Help Desk.
4. SCLS staff will contact you to schedule training when the appropriate systems are in place here at HQ.

What’s the timeline?

SCLS staff will work through the list of interested libraries as time permits over upcoming months.  Things will probably start slow and then pick up speed as we learn from our experiences and streamline the rollout process.