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June 27, 2007

So many exhibits, so little time

I had only six hours to visit the 4000+ exhibits at the trade show of the American Library Association (ALA) last weekend, so I had to use my time wisely. I glanced wistfully at the book exhibits as we headed for the booths that were showcasing things we need for the new library. We will have self-check machines and a materials handling system, so we looked at the new versions of this equipment.

We want to digitize our back files of the local newspapers, and other local, historical documents (in cooperation with the Darien Historical Society), so stops at the vendors with high tech scanners was a must.

We are really, really looking for a solution for displaying and securing our DVD and CD collections; one that allows easy browsing and prevents theft. No one has quite what we're looking for yet.

We'll have digital and conventional signs in the new library, and it's fun to visit these booths.

And new furniture. Fred Eustis is one of my favorite people to visit at ALA. His chairs are beautiful and comfortable.

It was exciting to see the Encore catalog being demonstrated. Innovative Interfaces, our integrated library system, has developed a new online catalog, that is the closest thing to Google in the library field. We will begin testing this catalog this summer. I can't wait!

And what a treat to see Elizabeth Anderson at the Economist Intelligence Unit! A Darien High School ( and Columbia University) graduate, she clearly has the "intelligence" part down pat.

Posted by louise at 10:38 AM | Comments (0)