If I could save time in a bottle...

I thought another blog entry would be the best way to answer everyone's questions. (And a good opportunity to stick my tongue out at Ian. :-Þ)

I have no beef with the patron/user end of Evanced. Well, maybe a little one-- if you're looking at all agencies' programs at the same time, as I imagine many patrons will try to do, it's messy and overwhelming. I don't expect the average patron to brave the learning curve to use it to its full effect.

It's the staff/admin part I'm not thrilled with, for reasons both general and specific.

Generally, it's one more task that I HAVE to have a computer to do, along with selecting books and filling out my time card. I used to be able to knock out part of a book order on paper while waiting for a meeting to start. Not any more. And before someone suggests that I take the laptop with me everywhere so I can do it, the branch laptop has already been commandeered for the entire summer by the SRP folks. (I can guarantee you a future post on that topic.)

More specifically, we used to be able to (and frequently DID) knock out program outlines in under 15 minutes on the last day possible, stuff them in an envelope, and were done with them. My first effort at using the Evanced calendar, entering an average number of programs for 8 weeks, took over three hours. Part of that was because I missed the introductory session at the branch managers meeting, and I understand that it will take less time than that as I get used to it. But I can't see it ever taking less than 15 minutes, like using paper did. I can see it saving CMR tons and tons of time, and I'm happy for them, really, but very very sad for me.

If the time savings are supposed to be realized in being able to set up a whole year of storytimes at once, for example, well... if you're happy with a generic notice that says "STORYTIME!" you can, but if you'd like to put a little info in about what's actually going on during that specific session, each individual date has to be typed up separately, even though the event is recurring. The only event I can think of that could be entered as recurring with no additional work to change the description is tax help.

Perhaps this was covered at the meeting I missed, but... how do we know when to publish? We got a reminder the first time. Will those keep coming? While fishing for answers on this issue today, it was suggested that we could publish immediately-- type it up, and bam, put it out there for the patrons. Uh... is anyone approving these programs? What if we put something out there and our purchase request for supplies is denied? We publish a retraction? (And if literally no one is approving them, I have endless ideas for much more fun programming than we're currently doing. Torchwood/Doctor Who marathon, anyone? Peter Davison Film Festival? Catty Librarians' Gossip Fest and Sewing Circle?)

There's also the issue of events which are added centrally, like one person adding all the SRP programs systemwide. Evidently, I still have to publish those for my branch, however. So how many times per week do I need to look to see if there's an event awaiting publication?

Another specific concern was the broad event categories that we're forced to select from. Maybe my YA person is just unusually inventive, but half her programs don't fit in any of the categories. I wasn't overly worried about that while I was entering the info on the admin side, but today, when I finally took a moment to look at what the patrons see, I noticed that list of categories is one of the main ways that a patron can limit their search. We're a diverse lot at ACPL, and I can imagine three different agencies categorizing the same program in three different categories, which is going to confuse the heck out of the patrons.

There's also a proofreading issue. If we absent mindedly wrote down 10 pm for a program on a paper form, chances are someone in the pipeline would see that and correct it. It took no time at all to find multiple errors on the patron version of the calendar--errors some of our patrons might not be savvy enough to realize are mistakes. Yes, I know errors creep through with a paper system, too, but with evanced, it's possible that only one person sees the info before it's published, and that practically guarantees more errors. On the bright side, if we catch the errors, we can correct them, and then when patrons come in at the wrong time, we can Gaslight them. "No, Mrs. Smith, the calendar never said this program was at 8 p.m. Are you feeling all right?"

I just can't see this ever being easier or taking less time than paper. (On my end, that is. I understand the benefits for the people who aren't getting 500 pieces of paper any more.) I'm gaining nothing from the switch, and that makes all the extra time it takes difficult to swallow.

P.S. Composed at home, posted at work.

Can I have a show of hands, please?

Who thinks evanced is saving them a lot of time and effort?

My hand is not up.