SCLS Technology News

Progress: Updating old PCs, Windows 7 Update and Friday fun

Progress.  How do we define it?  Here are some quotes by famous Americans that I find inspiring.  (Oh and there is some important technology news in here too.)

"Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress."  Thomas A. Edison

In fall 2012 we encouraged all libraries to make sure to replace PCs older than 5 years as we will not be able to upgrade them. Restlessness and discontent will continue to rise for those using PCs that are older than 5 years that cannot be upgraded. This is a great time to review the blog post "Moving to Windows Vista & Windows XP" if you need a refresher on how to prepare your library for the upgrade. We have updated the PC Workstation Status Report that is referenced in this blog post (note: this report is up-to-date as of 4/1/2013, some libraries have had upgrades since then). Some of you will find that you are exactly where you need to be!

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” Benjamin Franklin

We frequently review the "progress" of a project.  For example, here is the progress of the Windows upgrade project:

• We are more than half way through the upgrades
• 445 PCs have been converted to Windows 7
• 55 PCs have been converted to Windows Vista
• Approximately half of these upgrades occurred in the last two months
• There are 434 PCs still on Windows XP

That is great progress! This progress surely brings improvement, achievement and success because the user experience will be so much better on these PCs.  Just look at all the cool stuff that is available on patron PCs with Windows 7 and Windows Vista.

"Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we're curious… and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." Walt Disney

 

The Carousel of Progress where you will find "There's a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day" (Richard and Robert Sherman)

<--Click for more on this great classic Disney Ride

Matt H. Wade

More on Drupal

It's been a little while since we wrote an update about SCLS' Drupal progress. As you may remember, Drupal is a free content management system used for publishing and managing websites. Using Drupal will make it possible to add modern website features member libraries have requested, including calendars and event listings, photo galleries and slideshows, RSS feeds, mobile websites, and more. It will also enable website updates to be made from any Internet-connected workstation with a web browser, without the need for additional software purchases.

Rose has been tucked away in her office working furiously on all things Drupal...  Drupal documentation both for libraries and SCLS staff, Drupal developer access for intermediate users to allow more self-guided progress, and migration of library sites to Drupal. She's been making some good progress, too!

Since our last update on Drupal, 5 sites have gone live: Kraemer Library in Plain, Rio Community Library, Spring Green Community Library, Marshall Community Library and Baraboo Public Library. Many other libraries are working hard to enter content and get ready.

Rose will be on leave in April and May. During that time, Drupal libraries can call the SCLS Help Desk for support.