1. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. Find in NExpress
2. American Boy by Larry Watson. Find in NExpress
3. The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach. Find in NExpress
4. Broken Irish by Edward J. Delaney. Find in NExpress
5. Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks. Find in NExpress
6. The Cat’s Table by Michael Ondaatje. Find in NExpress
7. Chango’s Beads and Two-Tone Shoes by William Kennedy. Find in NExpress
8. Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland. Find in NExpress
9. Conquistadora by Esmeralda Santiago. Find in NExpress
10. Emily, Alone by Stewart O’Nan. Find in NExpress
11. The Empty Family by Colm Toibin. Find in NExpress
12. The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore by Benjamin Hale. Find in NExpress
13. Faith by Jennifer Haigh. Find in NExpress
14. **The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright. Find in NExpress
• “The vicissitudes of extramarital love and the obstructions to its smooth flow–including spouses, children, and the very clandestineness of the relationship–are tracked by Enright with a raw clarity expressed in magnetically precise prose. A stunning novel.” –Brad Cooper, Booklist, July 2011
15. The Glass Demon by Helen Grant. Find in NExpress
16. Lost Memory of Skin by Russell Banks. Find in NExpress
17. Luminarium by Alex Shakar. Find in NExpress
18. The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides. Find in NExpress
19. The Matchmaker of Kenmare by Frank Delaney. Find in NExpress
20. Millennium Peole by J. G. Ballard. Find in NExpress
21. Saints and Sinners by Edna O’Brien. Find in NExpress
22. The Secret History of Costaguana by Juan Gabriel Vasquez. Find in NExpress
23. The Time in Between by Maria Duenas. Tr. by Daniel Hahn. Find in NExpress
24. To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNeal. Find in NExpress
25. Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante. Find in NExpress
26. West of Here by Jonathan Evison. Find in NExpress
27. When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman. Find in NExpress
28. When She Woke by Hillary Jordan. Find in NExpress
29. The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak. Not available in NExpress at this time.
30. The Year We Left Home by Jean Thompson. Find in NExpress

The Full List of the 2011 Booklist Editor’s Choice

Here’s what’s been ordered, including the release dates:

1. Private, # 1 suspect (January 2, 2012) by James Patterson (5 copies)
2. Private, #1 suspect : a novel (January 2, 2012) [Large Print] by James Patterson (2 copies)
3. Love in a nutshell (January 3, 2012) by Janet Evanovich (4 copies)
4. Love in a nutshell : a novel (January 3, 2012) [Large Print] by Janet Evanovich (1 copy)
5. A devil is waiting (January 3, 2012) by Jack Higgins (1 copy)
6. Gun games (January 3, 2012) by Faye Kellerman (1 copy)
7. The hunter : a novel (January 3, 2012) by John T. Lescroart (1 copy)
8. Breakdown (January 3, 2012) by Sara Paretsky (1 copy)
9. The jaguar (January 10, 2012) by T. Jefferson Parker (1 copy)
10. Gideon’s corpse (January 10, 2012) by Douglas J. Preston (1 copy)
11. The rope : an Anna Pigeon novel (January 17, 2012) by Nevada Barr (1 copy)
12. Shadows in flight (January 17, 2012) by Orson Scott Card (1 copy)
13. Look of love : a Piper Donovan mystery (January 17, 2012) by Mary Jane Behrends Clark (1 copy)
14. The fear index (January 31, 2012) by Robert Harris (1 copy)
15. Kill shot (February 7, 2012) by Vince Flynn (2 copies)
16. Catch me (February 7, 2012) by Lisa Gardner (1 copy)
17. Left for dead : a novel (February 7, 2012) by Judith A. Jance (1 copy)
18. Private games : a novel (February 13, 2012) by James Patterson (5 copies)
19. Private games : a novel (February 13, 2012) [Large Print] by James Patterson (2 copies)
20. Oath of office (February 14, 2012) by Michael Palmer (1 copy)
21. Perfect blood (February 21, 2012) by Kim Harrison (1 copy)
22. Celebrity in death (February 21, 2012) by J.D. Robb (2 copies)
23. Victims : an Alex Delaware novel (February 28, 2012) by Jonathan Kellerman (1 copy)
24. Lone wolf : a novel (February 28, 2012) by Jodi Picoult (4 copies)
25. Fair game (March 6, 2012) by Patricia Briggs (1 copy)
26. The thief (March 6, 2012) by Clive Cussler (2 copies)
27. Phantom : an Alex Hawke novel (March 20, 2012) by Ted Bell (1 copy)
28. Stay close (March 20, 2012) by Harlan Coben (3 copies)
29. Fall from grace : a novel (March 20, 2012) by Richard North Patterson (1 copy)
30. Guilty wives (March 26, 2012) by James Patterson (5 copies)
31. Guilty wives (March 26, 2012) [Large Print] by James Patterson (2 copies)
32. Betrayal : a novel (March 27, 2012) by Danielle Steel (2 copies)
33. Gypped (April 3, 2012) by Carol Higgins Clark (1 copy)
34. The lost years (April 3, 2012) by Mary Higgins Clark (3 copies)
35. Letter from a stranger (April 10, 2012) by Barbara Taylor Bradford (1 copy)
36. Come home (April 10, 2012) by Lisa Scottoline (2 copies)
37. The Innocent (April 17, 2012) by David Baldacci (3 copies)
38. The innocent (April 17, 2012) [Large Print] by David Baldacci (1 copy)
39. Witness (April 17, 2012) by Nora Roberts (2 copies)
40. Witness (April 17, 2012) [Large Print] by Nora Roberts (1 copy)
41. The wind through the keyhole : a dark tower novel (April 24, 2012) by Stephen King (1 copy)

Image Credit: “the future “coming soon”” by Flickr user Scott Nolan under a Creative Commons license.

How exactly?  Watch this 3 minute Online Tutorial, or follow the instructions below.

1. Log into the NExpress Catalog (http://catalog.nexpresslibrary.org) using your username and password.  If you do not have one, your local library, participating in NExpress, can set this up for you.
2. From the My Account screen, find the “Kansas EZ Library” tab (the wording may change).
   
3. Click on the Kansas EZ Library tab to open the Registration Page for OneClick Digital.
4. Complete the online form.
1. By accessing this form from within your Library Account, you are authorized to be a OneClick Digital subscriber.
2. Choose whether or not to use the OneClickdigital Media Manager as your default player. This is the preferred method and it allows for the easiest download experience.
1. Mac users or users that wish to download manually should select “no”.
3. Next you select a Default Device.
1. If you are an iPod, iPhone, iPad or iTouch user select “iTunes” as your Default Device.
2. Users with a non-Apple device select “Other”.
5. Select the “Create an Account” button to complete the process.

You are now registered for the service and can find, download and enjoy digital audiobooks courtesy of the State Library of Kansas and your NExpress Shared Regional Library!

From the Release Notes, I see that we already have most of these new features, but I will be looking more closely at these this week:

ADMINISTRATION and CATALOGING

• New permission for overdues report
• Z3950 results highlighting
• And a whole bunch of stuff that will make Heather dance for joy…

Welcome to NExpress

Welcome, Introduction and ‘What is NExpress?’

• NExpress Shared Catalog Overview (.pdf)
• Vision and Values Statement (.pdf)

The Public Catalog Tour

Part I – An Introduction to the NExpress Patron Catalog (.pdf)

• Catalog Overview Tutorial (Updated 11/11/11)

Part II - About Your Account (.pdf w/ older illustrations)

• My Account Overview Tutorial (Updated 11/11/11)

Part III – Explore Additional Patron Training Tutorial Videos

Notes and Discussion

• Purchase Suggestions – Post and ByWater Tutorial
• Promotions on Go Live! page
• NExpress Patron Confidentiality Statement (.d0c) and other Orientation Packet Documents (post)

Questions and Answers so far…

Staff Client Tour

Part 1 – Checking items in:

• Video – Checking Items In (11/11/11 in Koha 3.6)
• Video – Checking Items In with Holds (8/10 in Harley)

Part 2 – Checking items out:

• Video – Checking Items Out (8/10)
• Homework Video – Patron Account features in Staff Client, with Checking out demonstrated (11/09)

Part 3 – Issuing new cards and editing patron records:

• Issuing Library Cards Handout (step-by-step, updated 11/11)
• Editing Patrons Handout (full color, updated 11/11)

Part 4 – Managing Holds

• Managing Holds in NExpress (July 2011) (.pdf) – Complete instructions
• Run and Pull Holds Queue Report (Pick List) (video 9/10)
• Check in and Confirm Holds (9/10) – for more examples, see the Checking Items with Holds tutorial

Part 5 – Searching

• Overview of the keyword and advanced search features of the Staff Client
• Keyword searching hints -
  • add “donitroy” or “doniwath” or “wathena” to improve results
  • Look for and use UNIQUE terms.  Is the author’s last name unusual, like “Evanovich”? Is there a term like “playaway” that will improve results?
  • As in Google, use a combination of keywords from the title, series and author name, including dates
  • Keyword searching looks at All fields of All attached items, even mis-cataloged ones
• Advanced searching hints
  • Non-keyword searches are EXACT, so spelling counts but you get faster results
  • Look for unique or unusual subject headings to help narrow your search – “cookery for two”
  • Koha can’t find what is NOT in the record.  If a series title isn’t in the record, no amount of searching will find the book.
• Use specialized external sites to find ISBNs and other unique identifiers AND correct spelling:
• Amazon
• What’s Next ™: Books in Series database
• Fantastic Fiction
• Internet Movie Database

Part 6 – Placing  a Hold:

• Placing a hold in the OPAC (older version of Koha)
• Placing holds in the Staff Client (new tutorials from 11/11)
  • Placing hold from the Search results
  • Placing a hold from the Details page using an Advanced Search
  • Search to Hold feature (new)
  • Placing multiple holds using Search results and Cart feature (new)

Workflows, Troubleshooting and Questions

DONE!
Welcome and enjoy access to 850,000 items, including books, movies, videogames, audiobooks and cake pans.

Advanced Training and Homework Posts:

• Training Materials from September 2010 and May 2010
• Managing Suggestions for Purchase - overview video 9/10
  • Must be logged in as TECH or DIRECTOR
  • Step-by-step instructions post, with a video from Royce Kitts, formerly at Tonganoxie Public Library
  • Patrons are alerted the next time they log into their account of your decision
  • Currently 225 Pending Suggestions!!!

• Searching and Search Training and Search-related Bugs and Barcode Searching-  These (older) posts may be of interest.
  NOTE: Do not include the special characters ( ! ? & ) in searches, it may skew results.
• What to do with Agent Interlibrary Loans – Best practices
• Tags and the Tag Cloud – Ideas from Susan at Hiawatha
• Handling Patron Accounts and Fines – Best practices
• NExpress Users Group Notes, meetings, etc.

Let us know how you like it!  The home page is  ’work in progress’ and we are open to ideas.  The goal is to have a useful and professional looking Web catalog for you and your patrons.

Liz is also the Web master for the Koha Community Web site, as well as Network administrator here at the Northeast Kansas Library System offices.

Starting a video game collection doesn’t need to cost a lot of money. The Nortonville Public Library’s collection started with a car wash done by a group of teens and tweens that raised $140.00. When the Teen Advisory Group gathered to decide how to spend these funds, we gave them two options. They could choose to get three of the latest video games OR they could choose to get on amazon.com and stretch that money buying used games. They opted to purchase used games and were able to get approximately 30 games.

How did we make $140.00 go so far? Amazon.com offers a plethora of used games for as low as .01 each. Shipping on video games is $3.99. That made the cost of most of them $4.00. We were sure to check the ratings on vendors and only purchased from vendors with 95% or better. It was our preference to have instructions and original artwork, so we only ordered items with those included. We also checked the users ratings and picked games with 3 stars or better. …

Find the full, 3-page article on the Collection Development page (or download the PDF version - Starting a Videogame Collection).  Diane covers finding, reviewing AND cataloging this new and popular format.

 The Library Anywhere mobile Web site and catalog works with:

• Android (free downloadable app also available through the Android Market, search for “Library Anywhere”)
• BlackBerry
• iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch (free downloadable app also available through the App Store, search for “Library Anywhere”)
• Any mobile phone or device with a Web browser
• On your Nook Color, you can access the mobile site for easy-NExpress browsing (http://www.libanywhere.com/la/351)

A reminder – we have the LIVE catalog (staff.nexpresslibrary.org) and a TEST catalog at staff-test.nexpresslibrary.org.  TEST is our play ground…you can’t hurt anything…it’s old data.  You can create new patrons, place holds, pretend to route holds, mark books lost – basically all of the things you do in the LIVE catalog…only for “does this still work right?” purposes.

If you could help us test circulation, label making, fine paying, hold placing, hold reordering (the arrows should work again) and book cataloging (including Fast Add that should work again)…we would be mighty grateful.  I would be, at least.  Feel free to use our fancy testing protocols.

Exciting new features and some much-anticipated bug fixes (in no particular order):

Bug 6871 – Reports – Link to a fancy new Database Schema page within the Reports module.  For those of you brave enough to write your own SQL reports, the table and field names are now readily available.  There is a link to this and the Reports Library also on the Reports front page under “Other.”  Contact me (Sharon) if you want assistance with reports or help building your own.

Bug 6801 – Patrons - Patrons with many checkouts was SLOW to load.  Well, this is what I call an “efficiency fix.” The developers worked with us to look at the code and identify where the slow down came from with some of our power-user patrons.  According to Chris on a “borrower with 286 checkouts the load time dropped from 108858ms to 4075ms.”  I’m guess that means microseconds, but still…from 108 to 4 seems good to me.  Note: The TEST server is on a slower machine than LIVE – so results will be even better on our live catalog.

Bug 6869 - Cataloging – Items with diacritics and special characters in the title can now be Batch Edited.  Had any of you who batch edit noticed this?

Bug 4298 – Holds – You will notice new wording in the Holdings Table for item-level holds.  This is another one of our ‘pet bugs.’

Bug 6901 – OPAC and Staff Client – We (Liz) can now customize how the Details page displays information in both the OPAC and the Staff Client.  As an example, for eBooks from Project Gutenberg in the OPAC we increased the font size and changed the the color to red to highlight the hyperlink.
What else would you like changed or improved? We can add bulleted lists (I think), change font sizes, font color, etc.

Bug 6870 – Patrons - This enhancement improves how Koha manages emailed messages, according to what we wrote in the original post…  Rather than using the Admin email address (nexpresshelp), the emails appear to come ‘from’ the patron.  Liz says, “This way, the library can respond directly to the patron’s information update, as an example, letting them know that the update has been completed.”

Acquisitions - Suggestions for Purchase work great!  You can sort, you can click on a title and Accept/Reject each individual record OR you can use the check boxes and accept/reject or delete many suggestions at once.

Bug 2534 – Cataloging - An old bug that finally has a partial-fix.  The sometimes unruly Items Table on the Edit Items page has been expanded and the scrolling from right to left has been improved.  Hard to explain, so here’s a Silent Video demonstration.  Interesting discussion about how to really fix this right (which I think would involve being able to hide empty columns…).  I just learned that our friends at Ottawa Library helped with this re-design! Go NExpress…

Bug 6360 – Circulation - New Sound Cues for transfers!  Again, I think this is one we asked for specifically.

Bug 6887 – Circulation/Patrons - New “Checked out from” column added on both the Patron Check out screen and the patron details screen showing WHERE an item was checked out…so those patrons who use multiple branches can be clearly identified and assisted.

Bug 3498 – Circulation/Fines - Enhancement pulled from ‘that other ILS’ allowing for payment of Partial Fines!  Woot.  Check out the [?] help file on the Pay Fines tab of a patron’s record for detailed instructions.  Well during this Silent Video demonstration, I found a bug…when you reverse payment on a partial fine it doesn’t work quite as expected!  I reported it.

Bug 6861 - Cataloging - Fast Add from Circulation spits you back into Circulation when you’re done with the Fast Add BUT if you are Fast Adding from Cataloging, you STAY in cataloging.  This is good, I think.  Associated bug 6853 is marked as Critica and is still being worked on (default to SET library from Cataloging Fast Add).

Bug 6687 – Holds - Fixes Arrows and Delete buttons on the Holds Priority List!  If you click an arrow, you can move someone up or down one place OR to the top or bottom of the holds priority list, you can also “toggle lowest priority” or delete a hold.  The help file for this page needs to be updated…badly.  Play around with this in TEST, but use with extreme caution once it’s in the LIVE environment.

OPAC - OPAC Note versus Message.  During testing, we played with OPAC Notes (from the Patron Edit page) and compared that to the “Add a Message” feature on the Patron’s Circulation tab.  Both options create messages – either on the OPAC for the patron or on the Circulation tab for other librarians.   The nice thing about the Add a Message feature is that it puts a time stamp and Library tag on each message.

Persistent Bugs (that I keep re-discovering and Liz has to remind me that we already knew that…):

Bug Alert From April Upgrade Post:  Bug 6226 - Misrouted Holds.  Scenario:
Library A transferred a book to Library B, but accidentally sent it to Library C on the Courier (you “O” libraries know what we’re talking about…).
What happens when Library C checks in the item?  They get a reminder that there is a HOLD and to send the item to Library B.  That’s good.
However, if Library C happens to check in that item a second time the transfer Goes Away.  That’s bad.  Also, if Library C goofs up and sends the book to Library D, when they check it in the transfer Goes Away.  That’s bad, too.

• To Check the Status of an Item, use “Search the Catalog” not “Check In” to.  Look at the Status information in the Holdings Table.  
• If you accidentally make a Transfer Go Away, you can useCirculation > Transfer to re-add that transfer information!  Select the destination library and scan in the barcode to re-trigger the transfer.

Here’s what’s been ordered, including the release dates:

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett, additional copies (COPIES: 4)
2. The Help (large print) by Kathryn Stockett, additional copies (COPIES: 1)
3. Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Lee Dugard, additional copies (COPIES: 3)
4. Leftovers by Tom Perrotta, released August 30, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
5. Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, released September 13, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
6. Killing the Blues (A Robert Parker novel) by Michael Brandman, released September 13, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
7. Reamde by Neal Stephenson, released September 20, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
8. Son of Stone: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods, released September 20, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
9. Lethal by Sandra Brown, released September 20, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
10. 1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber, released September 27, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
11. Shock Wave by John Sandford, released October 4, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
12. Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides, released October 11, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
13. Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks, released October 11, 2011 (COPIES: 4)
14. Best of Me (large print) by Nicholas Sparks, released October 11, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
15. Christmas Wedding by James Patterson, released October 17, 2011 (COPIES 3)
16. Christmas Wedding (large print) by James Patterson, released October 17, 2011 (COPIES 1)
17. Bonnie by Iris Johansen, released October 18, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
18. Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Greogry, released October 18, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
19. Litigators by John Grisham, released October 25, 2011 (COPIES: 4)
20. Snow Angel by Glenn Beck, released October 25, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
21. Hotel Vendome by Danielle Steel, released November 1, 2011 (COPIES: 2)
22. Prince of Ravenscar by Catherine Coulter, released November 1, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
23. Kill Shot by Vince Flynn, released November 1, 2011 (COPIES: 2)
24. Lost December by Richard Paul Evans, released November 1, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
25. Zero Day by David Baldacci, released November 1, 2011 (COPIES: 4)
26. Zero Day (large print) by David Baldacci, released November 1, 2011 (COPIES: 2)
27. 11/22/63 by Stephen King, released November 8, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
28. Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson, released November 14, 2011 (COPIES: 4)
29. Kill Alex Cross (large print) by James Patterson, released November 14, 2011 (COPIES: 2)
30. V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton, released November 14, 2011 (COPIES: 3)
31. Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich, released November 22, 2011 (COPIES: 4)
32. Explosive Eighteen (large print) Janet Evanovich, released November 22, 2011 (COPIES 2)
33. Micro by Michael Crichton, released November 22, 2011 (COPIES: 2)
34. Micro (large print) by Michael Crichton, released November 22, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
35. Drop by Michael Connelly, released November 28, 2011 (COPIES: 2)
36. Drop (large print) by Michael Connelly, released November 28, 2011 (COPIES: 1)
37. Death Benefit by Robin Cook, released December 27, 2011 (COPIES 1)
38. 77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz, released December 27, 2011 (COPIES: 2)

Image Credit: “the future “coming soon”” by Flickr user Scott Nolan under a Creative Commons license.