TechBits

Conditional Formatting Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets can be used for so many things, and one of my favorite features is conditional formatting. Basically, you can tell the sheet to do something if something else is happening in the sheet. If you like to use spreadsheets but want to take your spreadsheet experience to the next level, try looking into conditional formatting. A search can bring back a lot of helpful results and ways to use it.

Some ways I've used conditional formatting in the past:

• Cross out an entire row once I've put "yes", "x", "y", etc. in a cell (my favorite!!! great for keeping track of tasks!!)
• Highlight entire rows with certain words or values
• Highlight individual cells with certain words or values

Check it out!

Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference - Tech Track

Since 2012, January means the Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference. I have the honor of being a part of the team that brings this conference to life. It also means two full days hosting or co-hosting webinars on lots of topics. This year's conference, held on January 22 and 23, featured topics in four tracks: Adult Services, Tech Trends, Library Management, and Small & Mighty. 

For this post, I want to tell you about the Tech Trends webinars. First up was Leah Gentry from the Menomonee Falls Public Library talking about how to Help Your Patrons Cut the Cable Cord. This is the third time I've seen Leah present this topic and I learn something new every time. If you're at all interested in learning more about Rokus, Netflix, Hulu, SlingTV, and more, check out this webinar. (Slides, Recording)

Next up was Laura Solomon from the Ohio Public Library Information Network presenting an "Introduction to Website Accessibility." If Laura's name sounds familiar, you're right. Laura has presented for Wild Wisconsin in past years and also at Tech Days a couple of years ago. She really knows her material and is an enthusiastic presenter. I learned a lot about why accessibility is important in the online world - something I hadn't thought much about before. (Slides, Recording)

And, the final session in the Tech Trends track was Kimberly Crowder teaching us how to "Level Up on Your Social Media Trends 2020." While I learned a lot in this session, I don't think I'll be signing up for Tiktok anytime soon! I believe there will be some future TechBits posts from ideas in this session, too. (Slides, Recording)

Have topics you'd like to see at Wild Wisconsin 2021? Let me know - we're always looking for new topics and ideas.

 

 

Web Browser Terminology

If you've used web browsers for any length of time you've heard the terms cache and cookies. Just what exactly are these and are they the same thing? Well, I'm here to explain these terms for you.

Cookies
No, I'm not talking about Chinese fortune cookies or chocolate chip cookies. I'm talking about the small files that your browser saves on your computer that contain information that the website you're visiting uses to enhance your experience. Every time you visit a website your browser looks for the cookie associated with that website and sends it to the website's server telling it what you did the last time you were there. Cookies will sometimes track information like how frequently you visit, what times of the day you visit, what you've clicked on, and other information that is used to customize your visit. So essentially, cookies are used to store different information about you, the user. Cookies also have an expiration date so they will expire after some time period.

Cache
This is pronounced just like the word for legal tender. When you visit a website your browser saves on your computer a copy of the HTML pages and images that you view. This is done for your benefit to reduce bandwidth usage, server load, and to make the website load quicker the next time you visit. So essentially, cache is used to store information about the website. Cache does not expire and is only removed if you manually remove it. To remove your cache you can follow these steps:

1. Open any browser
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+Del
3. Select cache
4. Click the appropriate button at the bottom of the window to delete or clear

Offload apps to quickly free up storage on your Apple device

If you’re like me, automatic updates to your Apple device are appreciated.  It’s one less thing for me to have to remember or worry about.  However, it has become more of a chore for me because my device storage is always too full.  I then have to choose individual files to delete to make room for the latest upgrade, which is often very time-consuming.  There are more long term solutions such as deleting unused apps and uploading files that take up a large amount of space to a cloud storage service (i.e. photos, videos).  

Offloading your files is an option that I find extremely useful and saves me a lot of time.  It allows you to temporarily disable an app without deleting the settings.  They will remain on your device’s home screen, but you will need to tap to re-download in order to use it.  You can do this by going to your device’s storage list, tap the app you wish you offload, and select Offload App.

You can also set up the automatic removal of apps you don't use often. Simply go to Settings > General > Device Storage > Offload Unused Apps and tap Enable.

 

Libby 6.0

In May, the Libby App from OverDrive will be three years old and is already on Version 6.0. I was looking back at my TechBits post from May 2017 when the announcement came out. While it took about a year, I finally became an avid user of Libby for audiobooks and my husband reads ebooks (on his phone!) constantly.

In anticipation of her third birthday, Libby had a big update in December that includes push notifications. Libby users can opt to be notified when:

• a hold becomes available
• a loan is about to expire
• a loan has expired

The notifications are device specific so if, like me, you and your partner or family share the same Libby account*, the notifications can be customized to each device. For example, I have mine set to mostly notify me by Menu Badges and a push notification when a hold is ready while my husband didn't want any notifications.

Libby's notifications will be helpful in the next big update - Hold Redelivery - which is coming sometime in early 2020. Hold Redelivery will help those patrons who place lots of holds that all come in at once by allowing them to suspend the hold even after it's made available to them. I'm looking forward to that change and I will let you know when it is available.

Happy Reading!

*Yes, my husband uses my library card in Libby :-)

Windows 10 Task View

For those of you using Windows 10 you may have noticed a new icon on the task bar.

This is the Task View icon. The Task View is a neat feature that, when pressed, shows the user every window they have open. Not only does it show you everything you have running currently but it also shows you files and programs that you have used in the recent past. Those of you familiar with the Alt+Tab keyboard shortcut to quickly change between windows may find some utility in this feature.

The keyboard shortcut for this is Windows Key + Tab

Reminder: Update BadgerLink URLs

Do you link to NoveList, HeritageQuest, Auto Repair Source, or any other BadgerLink resource on your website? As of September 30th, all BadgerLink authenticated URLs changed. Redirects currently in place will no longer work after March 2020.

Any library or school that places these authenticated URLs on a website (or within a proxy, or in another SSO application such as OpenAthens) will need to edit the URLs no later than early March 2020 in order to continue providing users access outside of the BadgerLink website. Find current URLs on the BadgerLink Resource URLs Google sheet. You can find all the details in this Badger Bulletin: https://badgerlink.dpi.wi.gov/bulletin/2019/12/school-library-staff-update-badgerlink-urls-march-2020

SCLS updated the links on the SCLS "System-wide Resources" web page, but if you also have links on your library's website please make sure they're updated before March!