[yscon] kits/training materials

Thu Mar 1 15:51:00 PST 2018

Hi everybody, 

I'm the new YS consultant here in Oregon, and I'm so glad to be part of this group! I 've been meaning to respond to this thread for a bit, but had hoped to have more constructive options to suggest before sending. :) 

I have a different perspective on KitKeeper, as my most recent library system used it to circulate book group kits to patrons. I imagine if it were only being used internally, it could be useful, but I found the interface difficult to use and a bit cumbersome. I would not personally wish to use it on a regular basis. 

However, we used our ILS to circulate things like storytime items/STEM kits internally by hiding the public record of the item - if it's possible at all to do this, that's what I'd personally advocate for doing.  There's another system here that also does this, shadowing their public record to circulate baby board book kits for choral reading at storytimes. That's what I'd suggest if possible. 

Another county here actually uses a - wait for it - physical calendar! - to circulate their storytime kits, ipad kits, board book kits, puppets, and STEM kits. They have one person in charge of things - I attached their procedures above if that's helpful. They're circulating among multiple staff members at 15 member libraries in the Portland metro, so it's not huge but also not tiny, they do tons of programing with these items. 

Anyway, there's some ideas, I hope at least one is useful to you! :) 

 Happy Thursday, 

Greta B 

Greta Bergquist
Youth Services Consultant 
503-378-2528 | www.oregon.gov/osl 
Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Pinterest

-----Original Message-----
From: yscon [mailto:yscon-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Yates, Beth
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2018 6:22 AM
To: Antill, Rebecca <RAntill at statelibrary.sc.gov>; Carmack, Nan <nan.carmack at lva.virginia.gov>; Lancaster, Catherine (MDE) <LancasterC5 at michigan.gov>
Cc: YSCON (yscon at listsmart.osl.state.or.us) <yscon at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Subject: Re: [yscon] kits/training materials

Hi, Cathy and all!

We also use KitKeeper here at ISL to manage our book, storytime, LEGO, and DUPLO kits.  We've had it for about 9 months.  We circulate our kits using a statewide courier service.  (KitKeeper is a management/database system; it won't help you with the shipping of kits.)

I find KitKeeper to be fine.  It is very inexpensive and for that reason we are willing to overlook some of the drawbacks/less excellent qualities.  It's not very adaptive.  They can change things like loan periods, time between loans, etc.  However, they cannot make larger adaptations.  For instance, when someone reserves a kit there is one "Name" slot.  I'd like there to be two name slots (I won't go into details on why).  But they "can't" add a second Name line for me.  It seems like this would be very simple to code, but is a no-go.  I suspect they just have the one basic program and perhaps don't have the manpower to alter the structure for just one client.  Additionally, I find it difficult to get the statistics I need from the system as-is.  But then again, these are likely the reasons why it' so inexpensive.

Otherwise, they were accommodating and helpful as we set the system up.  They respond relatively quickly to questions.  

You can view our instance here:  http://www.eventkeeper.com/kitkeeper/index.cfm?curOrg=ingovhome

Let me know if you questions!

Best,

Beth Yates
Children's Consultant
Professional Development Office
Indiana State Library
140 N. Senate Ave
Indianapolis, IN  46204
byates at library.in.gov
Office:  317.234.5649 
Cell:  317.517.1738

-----Original Message-----
From: yscon [mailto:yscon-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Antill, Rebecca
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2018 7:47 AM
To: Carmack, Nan <nan.carmack at lva.virginia.gov>; Lancaster, Catherine (MDE) <LancasterC5 at michigan.gov>
Cc: YSCON (yscon at listsmart.osl.state.or.us) <yscon at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Subject: Re: [yscon] kits/training materials

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Hey Cathy!
We just started using KitKeeper about 6 months ago and we love them. They have been easy to work with, very responsive and very affordable for our budget.
We use our interagency courier service to transport our kits to the public libraries.

Cheers!
Rebecca

________________________________________
From: yscon [yscon-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] on behalf of Carmack, Nan [nan.carmack at lva.virginia.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2018 2:57 PM
To: Lancaster, Catherine (MDE)
Cc: YSCON (yscon at listsmart.osl.state.or.us)
Subject: Re: [yscon] kits/training materials

oohh--following!

Nan B. Carmack, Ed.D.
Director, Library Networking and Development Library of Virginia
800 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23219
804.6923792

http://vpl.virginia.gov/

On Tue, Feb 20, 2018 at 2:57 PM, Lancaster, Catherine (MDE) <LancasterC5 at michigan.gov<mailto:LancasterC5 at michigan.gov>> wrote:
Hi all,
Just wondering what you all use to send materials and any programming and/or training "kits" you circulate to public library staff? If so, how do you get it out?  I've just heard of "KitKeeper," does any one have feed back on that?

We're looking to circulate NASA at MyLibrary kits soon and cannot use our ILL method, as that's for public materials only.

Cathy Lancaster

Youth Services Coordinator
Library of Michigan
702 W. Kalamazoo St.
Lansing, MI 48915
LancasterC5 at michigan.gov<mailto:LancasterC5 at michigan.gov> | 517-335-8129<tel:(517)%20335-8129> | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan<http://www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan>
Follow us: Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/libraryofmichigan/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/libraryofmich> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/libraryofmichigan/>

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_______________________________________________
yscon mailing list
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Hosted by the State Library of Oregon. The Library is not responsible for content.

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Technical questions? Call 503-378-8800.
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