Easy access to all features and functions within KLAS has been integral to all phases of the design process since the first version of KLAS, and continues through our ongoing work developing the next generation of the program.

From our first library customer, North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Keystone has had a commitment to develop library software and provide support services for all of our users. Now that KLAS is installed and being used by nearly 2/3 of the network libraries that are part of the Library of Congress' National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped as well as a number of Instructional Resource / Materials Centers, we have a multitude of staff (as well as public catalog users) performing a multitude of tasks and requiring varying levels and types of accessibility. To help support the needs of our users, Keystone offers some different support and services. Examples include:

• Keyboard shortcut access to KLAS
• Testing and troubleshooting of assistive technology software in conjunction with KLAS
• Customized accessibility training for the workflow and AT used by a specific staff member
• Keeping accessibility in the forefront of design as we move toward the next generation of KLAS

Keyboard Shortcuts

KLAS is fully navigable both by a mouse and by a keyboard. In fact, we have seen that it's faster to use a keyboard than a mouse when performing tasks such as entering a new patron or entering multiple subject codes to an item.

To help users learn KLAS-specific keyboard commands and shortcuts, we created a KLAS Keyboard Shortcuts Quick Reference Document which Katy recently updated. You can download it in either Word or .pdf format from the "KLAS Keyboard Shortcuts" article.

AT Testing and Troubleshooting

We do ongoing testing of various types of assistive technologies (AT) and their interaction with KLAS. For example, John C is currently trying to track down an issue with the new JAWS / Zoomtext Fusion software and KLAS. If you are using AT with KLAS and find you are having trouble, please contact both your IT as well as our customer support staff. We may have seen the problem before with another user and already have a solution, or we may be able to help you figure out what's going on at least from the KLAS side.

Accessibility Training

Another service we offer is assistive technology user training and workstation configuration. This service is for any staff member(s) that use assistive technology such as Jaws, ZoomText, WindowEyes, etc. It is a 5-day intensive one-on-one training session done at your staff person's workstation based on their job responsibilities and the adaptive technologies or software they use with KLAS. Please note, your staff member should already be familiar with and using the latest version of their preferred AT software, this training is specifically to configure it and KLAS to your users' specific workflow and needs. Please review the Keystone Training Pricing document for more information.

Designed for All from the Beginning

Accessibility is a core part of our design process. As we look toward creating the new web-based KLAS, our commitment to accessibility from the beginning continues. The consideration of how to make all of KLAS' screens easily navigable and all its features intuitively presented will benefit those both those who use AT as well as those who do not. We already began these discussions with the user interface testing of the new version of KLAS that took place at our 2018 Users' Conference. We will continue to provide feedback opportunities and focused user testing as we move forward.

How are you training your new staff to use KLAS—and how can we help?

We will continue to post Key Note blog posts and weekly tips, tricks, and questions on the discussion forum, and we hope these posts will be both a resource for you and a jumping-off point for you to share and collaborate on resources and methods with each other. But there’s more coming!

I have a lot of ideas about different materials and resources that I could create, but I want to make sure that I’m putting my time into the projects that will benefit you. A few of the possibilities are listed below, but I’m very interested to hear your ides as well! Have a look through the list, then please chime in on the forums.

How do you train your staff? What materials do you already use or what materials would you like to have? What are your needs or wants in terms of evaluation, continuing education, certification?

Idea 1: Video Series relaunch

KLAS staff have created instructional videos before, but there are a lot of challenges for this kind of project. It takes a lot of time and work to create even a short instructional video, and they aren’t easily customizable for different libraries the way a text How-to document is. Every library and other institution that uses KLAS is unique, and has unique settings, workflows, and standards—this is a strength of the software, but it makes it hard to provide generalized instruction.

Because of these challenges, a renewed effort to provide an instructional video series would probably keep a high-level view (i.e. “What is in this module” and “How to use the screen” but not step-by-step instructions for specific tasks or processes such as “How to check out a book”) meant to introduce staff to the different parts of KLAS and how to use basic controls standard throughout the system.

Idea 2: Assemble-your-own KLAS Scavenger Hunts

The KLAS Scavenger Hunt is a skill evaluation method we have used in the past. As context, the 2014 Scavenger Hunt and answers are available for download at the end of this post.

Because these are text documents, I could create various sections addressing different common set-ups and procedures. Then, from the “Master Test,” individual libraries could pick and choose the questions that apply to their situation. This would help to share the work of customization and would hopefully be flexible enough to meet many needs and remain sustainable through upgrades.

Idea 3: Online Evaluations

These would face many of the same challenges as the Video Series. Depending on what platform I find to help me create them, some customization would hopefully be possible, but a significant re-do for each interested library and IRC would be unlikely except as part of the subscription below.

These would essentially be an augmented, self-contained version of the Scavenger Hunt, though they would need to remain at least a little more general. They would facilitate evaluation of staff skills, and potentially even a certification if such a thing is of use, without needing a supervisor to grade the test themselves.

Idea 4: Training Subscription

Finally, this is an idea that Drea has been mulling over. A training subscription would be a paid, annual service which would allow us to provide customized training targeted directly to your needs. The subscription could potentially include a series of webinars (either quarterly or scheduled as needed), which would be recorded and available to your staff from then on, as well as one or more custom Online Evaluations.

Our current price list for our current training services is attached below; several of you have been taking advantage of these options, and they are still available. However, we recognize that training is often an ongoing need, rather than a one-time event. Our thinking is that an annual subscription could help you build training into your annual budget, while also helping us to plan out what we will need to provide through the year.

Wrap-up

Remembering that these are ideas for brainstorming and not formal offerings: which would you most like to see? Do you have your own ideas? Would you be interested in a paid training subscription, and if so, what would you like to be included?

We also want to hear what you are doing for training now—and we know your peers will be interested as well! So whatever your situation, drop on by the forum and join the conversation.

Please Note: The scavenger hunt questions and answers are included for context purposes, and are not considered "ready to use" at this time.

ASCLA / KLAS / NOD Award

Did you know that Keystone Systems has sponsored the ASCLA / KLAS / NOD Award annually since 2004?

Actually, your first question is probably, "What is the ASCLA / KLAS / NOD Award?"

In 2000 the Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) and the National Organization on Disability (NOD) began providing a $1000 award and certificate of recognition for a library organization that developed or expanded its services for patrons with disabilities, specifically through a specific project or change in physical and / or attitudinal barriers to an effort to make their library services more accessible and inclusive. Originally sponsored by Aetna Healthcare, Keystone Systems assumed sponsorship in 2004.

Each year a Keystone representative attends the ASCLA Awards reception at the ALA Annual Conference in support of the recipient and to help present the award. This year the Gwinnett County Public Library in Georgia will be honored for its Removing Barriers Project.

From the American Library Association's press release:

The Removing Barriers Project mission is to strategically identify and address issues that might cause a person to hesitate using their public library. Library staff were charged with identifying who was not currently coming through their doors and then reaching out to area organizations to understand their barriers and actively work to remove them. Project results include a thoroughly updated Accessibility Center, sensory storytimes in each branch, an early opening day and time for families with children on the autism spectrum, and dedicated programs offering a social and educational experience for community members who are developmentally disabled.

The Library’s Strategic Plan for 2015 through 2018 calls for engagement of all segments of Gwinnett’s population and set the organization on a course to actively remove barriers and expand partnerships with community-minded groups and organizations. A major activity to address this goal was the complete renovation of assistive technologies housed in the Lawrenceville Branch. Adjustable height tables, JAWS software, a Prodigi reader that allows a customer to select reading with magnification or listening, an Intel Reader that converts text to digital text, then reads it aloud, high contrast keyboards, and a braille reader highlight the equipment added to the Assistive Technology Center.

The Gwinnett County Public Library’s Removing Barriers Project will be honored at the ASCLA Achievement Awards Ceremony on Saturday, June 23, 2018 from 8:30-10:00am at the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans.

Congratulations to the Gwinnett County Public Library! You can see a list of all award recipients on the ASCLA Achievement Awards Page.

Francis Joseph Campbell Award

While Keystone does not sponsor this award, we do feel we have a special connection to it. Our annual Julie Klauber Award is named after the 2002 honoree who was the Librarian at Talking Books Plus Outreach Services a part of the Suffolk Cooperative Library System in New York. The Francis Joseph Campbell Award is given annually to "a person or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of library service for people with physical disabilities and/or physical impairments".

The 2018 recipient is Pat Herndon, Director of Georgia Library for Statewide Accessible Services (GLASS), who was selected for her leadership in library service for patrons who need accessible books and media. We are proud to say that GLASS is a KLAS library and was the local host of the 2017 KLAS Users' Conference.

From ALA's 2018 Francis Joseph Campbell Award press release:

“Patricia has led a reorganization of the GLASS’s statewide service and implemented a new strategic plan, but it is her leadership and vision in developing an innovative training event for library staff that has done the most to advance library service for the blind and physically handicapped in Georgia”, said nominator Julie Walker.

“While awards are often given for innovative and/or new projects that garner accolades and attention (and Pat has several of those to her credit), the dedicated professionals at the Center for the Visually Impaired (CVI) who serve and train individuals who are blind or visually impaired want to recognize Pat for her leadership, strategic vision, and hard work to make library services available to all who need them regardless of geographic location in the state”, said Fontaine M. Huey, President, Center for the Visually Impaired.

Pat will also be honored at the 2018 KLAS Achievement Awards Ceremony at ALA Annual on June 23.

Other past Francis Joseph Campbell Award recipients who were staff at KLAS libraries include:

• 2013 Jill Lewis, former director, Maryland State Library for the Blind and People with Physical Disabilities
• 2012 Carole Rose, Indiana Talking Book and Braille Library (retired)
• 2010 Daniel W. Boyd, former director of the South Dakota Braille and Talking Book Library
• 2002 Julie Klauber, librarian, Talking Books Plus, Outreach Services, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, Bellport, NY
• 2001 Barbara Mates, head of the Library for the Blind and People with Physical Disabilities at the Cleveland Public Library

Below are the presentations and handouts our presenters and moderators have sent us to date from the 2018 KLAS Users' Conference. Please feel free to download, print, and / or electronically access these presentations and handouts at your convenience.

Whew! Are you all caught up from the Users’ Conference yet?

For those of you who were at the conference, make sure to fill out our feedback form! Every year, the conference planning committees comb through your responses to find out what worked, what didn’t, and what people want from the Users’ Conference. Every voice matters—so please share yours!

For our part, we’re very happy with how the conference went. We came back with a ton of great feedback about what we’ve been working on, and what you want to see from us in the future. I hope y'all were able to learn as much as we did!

We want to keep that energy up and the conversation going, so if you are new to the KLASusers’ website, or if there are others at your library that aren’t on board yet—go right ahead and Create an Account. This is also a great time to let us know if there's anyone at your library that needs to be added to the email list. You don't need to be an admin to participate! Reader Advisors, circulation staff, machine wranglers, records managers, and everyone else who uses KLAS is invited to join in.

If you didn’t get to join us in Boise, want to look over sessions you didn’t make it to, or have a look back at something you maybe, sorta, kinda, remember, Drea has put together an article linking to all of the presentations and handouts: Check it out!

It was wonderful to see so many of you; and we hope you will all be able to attend next year's conference! Read on for a few of my favorite highlights:

The 2018 KLAS Users' Conference is next week. Yeah, you probably have, but we thought we'd mention it anyway.

f you aren't able to attend, but you want to follow along at home be sure to tune into Keystone's social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for pictures and posts from the conference. Or, you can search for the hashtag "#KLASUC2018" which we will be using and encouraging all our conference attendees to use as well.

 Also, please note that the Key Notes blog will be on hiatus next week while Katy and I are at the conference. But, we hope to come back with a ton of ideas for new posts, features for KLAS, and a ton of new information and tips and trick with you.

The 2018 KLAS Users' Conference finalized Agenda and Daily Schedule documents are now available for your planning convenience in MS Word and .pdf formats. Register online now for the 2018 KLAS Users' Conference and join us in Boise, ID May 8-10.

Also, don't forget to register for your choice of breakout sessions including birds-of-a-feather, seminar, workshop, and hands-on opportunities.

Note: You must be logged into klasusers.com to access these documents.

Finalized Conference Agenda Published: 4/30/18

• 2018 KLAS Users' Conference Agenda - MS Word
• 2018 KLAS Users' Conference Agenda - PDF

Finalized Conference Daily Schedule Published: 4/24/18

• 2018 KLAS Users' Conference Daily Schedule - MS Word
• 2018 KLAS Users' Conference Daily Schedule - PDF

You probably know that you can move and sort columns in basically any browse table in KLAS; however, did you know that it is also possible to add or remove columns as well?

When you export a browse table, you have the option of exporting either Visible or All Fields. As that suggests, each browse table includes many columns that are usually hidden. KLAS Customer Support can adjust your library’s configuration, hiding or revealing these columns. While simply moving columns is sufficient for most situations, it affects only the specific user that made the change. A customized browse, on the other hand, affects all users at that branch.

If there are columns that are never needed by your library, you could save the time and confusion of having every reader advisor move them to the far end of the table. For example, columns for the “local branch,” “main branch,” and “all branches” are useful for multi-branch systems, but single-branch systems only need one of the three.

Even better than removing columns is the option to add columns. If there is a column in the “export all fields” results which you would like to be included in the table (for all users at your branch), Customer Support can make it visible. A few columns that libraries have requested are:

Email Address in Patron Find

If you send your newsletter by email or want to alert all patrons in a certain city to an event, you can make exporting the email list faster and easier by including patrons’ Email contact in the Patron Find.

Title Status in Book Search

If your Reader Advisors want quicker access to whether a book is Active, In-Process, or BARD Only, the Title Status column can be added to the Book Search Results.

Have you noticed any columns in the “export all fields” results that your library would like to see in the visible fields? Have any visible columns been confusing your staff, and ought to be tucked away? Contact Ks7 to request a customized browse table—make sure to specify which browse you are working with, the column you need, and where you would like its default location to be. A screen cap is always helpful!

And if a customized browse table is too much commitment (or hasn’t been approved by your supervisor), brush up on how to move and sort columns to make the best of what’s already there.

Did you know we've been posting new Key Notes blog posts for 10 weeks straight? In celebration of this and in anticipation of the upcoming 2018 KLAS Users' Conference, Katy and I decided to share our Top Ten list of what we're looking forward to at the conference.

10. The once a year opportunity to see many of our customers / friends in person.

9. Hearing Gary Eller's program and music at the Tuesday evening Welcome Reception.

8. Getting together with our Instructional Resource Customers in IRC focused sessions to discuss their specialized workflows and features designed specifically for them.

7. Hearing the creative ways you use KLAS to help you provide the books, magazines, and equipment your patrons want / need.

6. Touring the Idaho Commission for Libraries, Talking Books Service on Wednesday evening.

5. Getting ideas and suggestions from users for better KLASusers content.

4. Listening to our Keynote Speaker, Ramona Walhof.

3. The chance to do in-person training, helping you use KLAS better!

2. Honoring Nancy Reese, this year's Julie Klauber Award Recipient, during our Opening General Session on Tuesday morning.

1. Unveiling all of the exciting things we've been working on for the future of KLAS -- from PCC to the Browser-based UI, and a few surprises too!

The Julie Klauber Award Committee and Keystone Systems are excited to announce Nancy Reese, Idaho Commission for Libraries, Talking Books Service, as our 2018 Julie Klauber Award Honoree. Congratulations Nancy! Your dedicated service to your patrons, staff, and community are an example of leadership and make you an incredible asset to your library. We look forward to honoring you and your work at the 2018 KLAS Users' Conference in Boise! On Tuesday, May 8, Nancy will be presented with the award during the Opening General Session of the conference. An official press release will be published prior to the conference on www.klas.com.

Sue Walker, Library Consultant, Idaho Commission for Libraries, Talking Books Service, nominated Nancy. This is the nomination Sue submitted:

Reason for Nomination

Nancy has been the KLAS administrator for almost ten years. During that time she has helped to implement several new KLAS services such as DOD and the PIMMS transition. Most recently, she was instrumental in implementing the most recent iteration of Patron Centric Cartridge (PCC) that allows staff to assign multiple titles to users' cartridges remotely. Nancy worked intensively with Keystone staff to troubleshoot the software and with staff to train them to successfully use it. As a result, Idaho is one of the few libraries who are using this version of PCC. During the summer of 2017, three of Idaho's four Reader's Advisors retired. Nancy provided training to the new staff as well as ongoing support to maintain quality customer service during the transition period. She routinely provides reader's advisory as a backup to staff. Nancy has been an active member of the KLAS conference planning committee and readily shares her knowledge at annual conferences and individually as requested. Recognizing the importance of having the conference available regionally Nancy advocated to host the conference in Boise for several years and is working on the logistics committee to make the 2018 conference a success.

Effect on Library

Quality customer service is one of the Idaho Talking Book Service’s highest priorities. As a result, remaining on the cutting edge of technology that will improve user access to resources is very important. Nancy’s willingness to learn the capabilities of new technology and work to successfully implement it ensures Idaho residents’ access to resources will increase. In addition, helping Keystone successfully pilot new technology in one library makes it easier to implement in other libraries.

Job Responsibilities

As the KLAS administrator, Nancy works daily with KLAS to troubleshoot any issues, train staff, maintain quality customer service, and access to resources.

For KLAS-to-KLAS patron transfers, a patron’s reading history (HasHads or HHs) automatically transfer with the rest of the record. Thanks to PIMMS, more and more libraries will be able to automatically transfer records, even if one of the libraries uses WebReads or another system. Eventually, even BARD HHs will be automatically imported into the system right away.

In the meantime, however, at least some out-of-system patron transfers will come with a paper or .pdf list of HHs to enter manually, and BARD HHs are only created when the BARD Circulation Stats are manually uploaded. So: should you spend valuable staff time adding these HHs?

Here’s some information to help you make that choice:

How to do it

For transfer patrons: In the Patron Module, open the patron record in question, then press Alt + H on your keyboard or use the menu to select Functions > Items > Add Has Had.

In the Add Has Had window, you will be able to enter KLAS IDs exactly as you do in Quick Requests.

For BARD downloads: Use the Administration page in BARD to download the statistics for your branch for each month. You will need to save the .cscv files; do not open them, as this will re-format the information and keep it from loading properly.

In the Patron Module, use the menu to select Tools > Load BARD Circs. Browse to find the saved stats file, and either Load Now or select Load via Batch Manager. Depending on the size of the file, it may take a while to load.

For help addressing BARD load errors, once the batch has loaded, use Export – Load Errors and save the file. Send it to Ks7 and we will help you identify patron errors and load missing catalog records.

What does it affect?

Nightly Autoselect: For most libraries, the Nightly processes are set up not to re-send HasHads based on author or subject. Generally, your patrons should only receive books they have had before if they specifically request them.

Series: If a patron requests a series, KLAS will prompt you to ask whether HHs in that series should be sent again or if they patron wants to pick up right where they’ve left off previously. If the HHs are on file, it puts this choice right in the patron’s hands (or in the hands of the contact person or RA helping them). If they were never added, the patron will receive “repeat” books whether they wanted them or not.

Book Search: When RAs use Book Search, the results page lists any exclusions the patron has against that title, including HHs. Again, having this information on-screen empowers your RAs and your Patrons.

Request List: If a patron downloads a title from BARD after it was added to their request list, KLAS will automatically remove the request or reserve. This is great for patrons who request a book, then change their minds and download it instead, or for patron who have a series preference, but download the latest book before your library gets a hardcopy.

The Bottom Line

HasHads are an important part of the Patron record and having an accurate history for a patron improves service.

It does take time to enter this information, especially if you are far behind on your BARD stats or if a patron comes in with an extensive reading history. That said, having full and accurate HasHad records improves automatic picks, provides valuable information to your RAs, and helps answer patron questions (What was that book I read three years ago? I think the love interest was a doctor. . . )

So, chime in: Do you enter all of your HasHads? What about just recent HasHads, that are otherwise more likely to be assigned by Nightly?
Has leaving them off ever caused trouble for you?

Head over to the Entering HasHads forum thread and let us know!

We welcome all 2018 KLAS Users' Conference attendees to join us for the Welcome Reception hosted by Keystone Systems on Tuesday, May 8 from 5:30-8:30 PM at the Boise Depot. A buffet dinner will be provided followed by a special program.

Boise Depot, Reception Location

The Welcome Reception will be held at the Boise Depot a short .4 mile walk from our conference hotels. Dinner and our program will occur in the Depot's Great Hall. The Bell Tower will be accessible from 5:30-8:30 for those who may wish to ride the elevator up for an exceptional view of downtown Boise and the surrounding mountains.

From the City of Boise Parks & Recreation Department:

The Boise Depot is a beautiful historic Spanish-style structure operated by the Boise Parks and Recreation Department as a public ceremonial or meeting space and historic site. Designed by New York architects, the building opened in 1925 to elaborate fanfare in the capital city.

With a splendid panoramic view of the Boise Front, the building grounds include Platt Gardens, a lovely park with pathways, a gazebo and a koi pond.

Great Hall

Depot amenities include The Great Hall, a soaring 77 ft by 46 ft totalling 3,542-square-foot multi-story atrium that once served as the building's waiting room. Ten original benches line the walls of the Great Hall.

The original 1925 Barkalow Brothers Newsstand is featured on the west wall. The newsstand has been slightly restored but remains in its' original form. The Great Halls' ceiling is lined with Spanish trusses, each imprinted with antique locomotives.

Buffet Dinner Menu

Catering provided by Big Sky Catering

• Carved Brisket
• Breast of BBQ Chicken
• Big Sky's Awesome Baked Beans
• Build Your Own Baked Potatoes with Butter, Sour Cream, Cheese, Bacon and Chives
• Green Beans with Sea Salt & Butter
• Field Greens with Dressing Assortment
• Rolls and Butter
• Strawberry Shortcake
• Pink Lemonade and Water
• Vegetarian / Vegan Dinners will be provided as needed

Gary Eller, Reception Musician / Speaker

Gary Eller has played American roots music since childhood. He was born and raised in West Virginia but has lived most of his life in the American West. After a thirty year career in nuclear science and engineering at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, he retired to Pickles Butte near Nampa, Idaho in 2004.

Eller is the director of the Idaho Songs Project, whose primary mission is to find, document, interpret and preserve songs written before the radio era (before 1923) about early Idaho's people, places, and events. To date, he has documented over two hundred forgotten early Idaho songs. These songs form the basis for a dozen topically arranged interpretive booklets with audio CDs, including Ballads of the Owyhee Country, that he has published since 2006. As a member of the Idaho Humanities Council Speakers Bureau, he performs programs of songs based on the culture of early Idaho over all of Idaho.

Eller also is a board member of the National Old Time Fiddler's Contest and a member of three bands: Chicken Dinner Road, The Storytellers and Boise River

Many KLAS libraries are already wrestling with (or soon will be) the challenges of reduced space to house their collections and / or less circulation and support staff. With these issues and other in mind, we designed KLAS' Patron Centric Cartridge functionality to provide library staff with the ability to quickly select and reproduce a specific set of books onto a cartridge for a specific patron.

While this works well for many libraries, we know this is not the best option for ALL organizations.

In our discussions at Keystone, we have identified at least three different duplication on-demand workflow scenarios including two patron-centric and one title-centric:

1. A single cartridge tied to a single patron which is reloaded with books for that patron each time it is returned.
2. Cartridges that are loaded with titles based on a single patron's preferences but are not tied to one in particular. Rather, whichever cartridge is available at the time is loaded with the patron's books.
3. Cartridges loaded according to inventory (Examples: The Harry Potter Series, Nonfiction titles added in the last 30 days, 1 year of Southern Living)

Some questions we have as we prepare to move forward with providing additional duplication-on-demand functionality within KLAS are:

1. Do any of these options appeal to your organization and how it operates more than another?
2. What considerations do you think need to be made for each?
3. What specific challenges and / or benefits do you think you may see from operating under each?

Please share your answers / thoughts / feedback on the "Duplication on Demand: What works best for you?" klausers.com discussion forum thread.

Hey Instructional Resource Centers: Do you keep on top of your Temp Titles?

WebOrder has the ability to create a Temp Title, allowing requestors to quickly add items to a Material Request even though it is not in your catalog. However, users may sometimes add Temp Titles for items that already have a record, or for items you are not able to provide.

We recommend that you routinely review the Temp Titles attached to incoming Material Requests. The attached document has a suggested workflow for doing so.

You'll note that it refers to a saved query. If you don't know about saved queries yet, get in touch--they're a great feature! Already know about saved queries and just need a little help setting up this one? We can do that, too.

Have a look through the How-To and email or call Ks7 if you need help.

Then, sound off on the Managing Temp Titles thread: how do you handle your Temp Titles?

Process Overview:

1. Open the Material Requests module and query for Temp Title lines.
2. Open the Temporary Title Maintenance tool from the Catalogue Module, and FIND the Temp Title using the ID from the Material Request.
3. Check for existing records for the requested item or an equivalent version.
4. For any titles that you want to add to your regular catalog or merge with an existing record, click the MAKE PERM button.

• • If applicable, enter the existing KLAS ID and check the Merge option.
  • If it is a new record, select the Record Type and Medium Code.
  • Complete the Title Record in the Catalogue.

5. For any titles that you cannot provide, update the KLAS ID prefix to reflect that.
6. Advance the Material Request line as appropriate.

Full Instructions:

Have a look through the How-To and email or call Ks7 if you need help.

Then, sound off on the Managing Temp Titles thread: how do you handle your Temp Titles?

From Merriam-Webster.com:

Definition of FOMO
plural FOMOs
informal : fear of missing out : fear of not being included in something (such as an interesting or enjoyable activity) that others are experiencing

Do you have klasusers.com FOMO?

Well, here are some tips to make sure you see all the latest articles and posts...

All the latest Key Notes

To see all the latest Key Notes blog articles click on "Key Notes" under the Main Menu. The page sorts the newest post to the top.

A link to "More / Older Articles" is available at the bottom of the page. You can also navigate through older posts using the page navigation links (Page 1, Next, End, etc.) also located at the bottom of the page.

Keeping up with Discussion Forum posts

Subscribing to Specific Discussion Forum Threads

At the top and the bottom of every discussion forum thread, you will find the 'Subscribe' button. Pressing this button subscribes you to that topic so that any responses to that topic will generate an email notification to your email address stating that a new post has been made along with a link directly to said post for your convenience. You will notice the button now reads 'Unsubscribe' indicating that you are subscribed and pressing the button again will remove your subscription to that thread. Remember that you can also manage your subscriptions in your profile.

Favouring a Discussion Forum Thread

Another way of gaining visibility of threads you want to keep an eye on is set them as your 'Favorite'. This will place an obvious indicator, such as a star, beside the topic name of the thread so that it will stand out in the forum list of topics. After you "Favorite" a post, you will notice the button now reads 'Unfavorite' indicating that the post is already one of your favorites and pressing the button again will remove it from your favorites. This is a great way to get visibility on multiple topics that you wish to watch without getting spammed by email subscriptions. Remember that you can also manage your favorites in your profile.

Finding all the most Recent Discussion Forum Topics

If you quickly want to find ALL the latest discussion forum posts, you can navigate to the "Recent Topics Tab". This is the second available tab on the forums whether you are logged in or not. Here, you will see all of the most recently posted topics with the newest available first.

Subscribe to a Discussion Forum Category via RSS Feed

From Lifewire:

Instead of checking back every day to any particular site to see if it's been updated, RSS feeds give users the ability to simply subscribe to the RSS feed, much like you would subscribe to a newspaper, and then read the updates from the site, delivered via RSS feeds, in what's called a "feed reader."

Check out their "What Everyone Should Know about RSS Feeds" article to learn more about what an RSS feed it, how to subscribe to one, and suggestions for different RSS readers.

Now, use the RSS Feed button to subscribe to the Discussion Forum Index Page to have ALL the newest posts sent to you in your RSS Reader.

OR, use the RSS Feed button at the bottom of a community, category, or thread to subscribe to those that interest you most.

 So, there's no reason suffer from klasusers.com FOMO by employing just a few of the above tools.

A couple weeks ago, we took a look at the WebOrder Help page, so this week I’m putting the WebOPAC Browse page in the spotlight.

Anything that you can search for in the catalog can be listed on the Browse page as a pre-defined search, and while the Recent and Popular titles are a good start, there are a lot more options! These pre-defined searches can help patrons who aren’t sure what to search for or where to start, draw attention to lesser-used parts of your catalog, or host a “Staff Picks” search—allowing your reader advisors to easily share their favorite reads.

The Browse page is a great way to help your patrons any time day or night, without them needing to call for suggestions.

So have a look, and don’t forget to visit the WebOPAC Browse forum thread to share what your library uses, ask questions, or show off your OPAC!

A few pre-defined searches to consider:

• All Large Print Titles by Author
• All Print/Braille Titles
• Book Club Picks
• Described Videos and DVDs
• Local Recordings
• Newbery Award Winners
• Popular Nonfiction
• SHELF Titles
• Staff Picks
• Uncontracted Braille
• Young Adult Titles

If there’s something you want to see on your Browse page, email ks7 and let us know what to add, what order the different searches should appear in, and specifically what items should be included (such as DBs only, Adult Reading Level, or only recent titles).

Keystone Systems and the 2018 Julie Klauber Award Committee are pleased to announce the two finalists for this year's Julie Klauber Award:

• Janie Stanley, North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
• Nancy Reese, Idaho Commission for Libraries, Talking Book Service

Congratulations to of each of you! You are a valuable asset to your library and your community. Also, thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a nomination.

The recipient of the 2018 Julie Klauber Award will be announced in the near future.

To register for breakout sessions:

1. If you have not already, register for the 2018 KLAS Users' Conference.
2. Review the scheduling and descriptions of breakout sessions in this article and / or in the 2018 KLAS Users' Conference Agenda & Daily Schedule and decide which ones you wish to attend.
3. Complete and submit the 2018 KLAS Users' Conference Breakout Sessions Registration form.

Breakout Sessions Scheduling:

Birds of a Feather (BoaF), Workshop, and Hands-on Training sessions run concurrently.

Birds-of-a-Feather (BoaF) sessions give participants the opportunity to exchange ideas in a group discussion setting. Topics range from making the most of KLAS features to exploring broader service-related ideas. These sessions are not formal presentations with slides or software demonstrations. Instead, the format is casual and open. Moderators launch the discussion and keep the conversation on topic. Participants are asked to come prepared to share and learn.

Workshop sessions are presented by a Keystone and / or User presenter. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions throughout the session and may have limited opportunities to try the function or task on their own. These in-depth presentations of particular KLAS features and functions will demonstrate the cause and effect of employing different tools through the use of slides, live examples, and customer experiences.

To participate in BoaF and Workshop sessions registration is not required, but is recommended. Please indicate which sessions you are interested in attending to help us with space planning.

Hands-On Training sessions allow participants to use a workstation to explore a specific function, task, or feature in KLAS. After a brief introduction to the topic, participants will proceed through guided practice worksheets. Keystone trainers will be available to answer questions and provide feedback. Registration is required. Space in hands-on training is limited to 10 participants per session.

When you register for breakout sessions, please prioritize the Hands-on Training sessions you want to attend. We make every effort to place you in one or two of your top choices. If all 10 slots are filled, waiting list order is determined by your registration request date. Session confirmations will be sent out after Friday, April 6. If you are not placed in a hands-on training class, you may choose to attend the BoaF or Workshop session scheduled for the same time. For space planning purposes, we ask you to indicate your preferences for these sessions as well.

Birds of a Feather, Hands-on Training, and Workshop Session Descriptions:

Tuesday 10:50 AM-Noon

• KLAS Administrators BoaF
• KLAS 102 Hands-on Training - A "second semester class" for newer KLAS users. You've gotten your feet wet and learned the basics. Ready for the next step? Find out what common profile settings really mean, learn some tricks for doing common tasks faster, and get up to speed in time for the more advanced break-out sessions.
• Troubleshooting PCC Workshop - Has your library hit a roadblock in Patron Centric Cartridge implementation? Are you considering making the transition but need more information? Join us to delve more deeply into the work being done behind the scenes.

Tuesday 3:50-5:00 PM

• Equipment BoaF
• Analyzing Your Circ Stats Hands-on Training - Tracked vs Consumable? Why does it matter what range of KLAS IDs to use? Keystone staff will help explain the terms, conditions, and the ins and outs of circulation.
• New Features in KLAS Workshop - Want to learn more about one of the features Nancy quickly highlighted in the general session earlier? Come to this workshop to learn more details, see demonstrations and ask questions about the new features in KLAS since our last conference.

Wednesday 10:50 AM-Noon

• Instructional Resource / Materials Centers BoaF
• Circulation BoaF
• Wrangling Your NLS Data Hands-on Training - Tame your NLS data problems in this hands-on workshop. Round up missing MARC records to resolve BARD Load errors, and wrestle NLS subjects into local subject codes. Search PIMMS to find the source of those maverick patron transfers, and import herds of Has Hads(no re-keying required). Even if this isn’t your first rodeo, Nancy can show you how to save time and whip your database into shape.
• Using KLAS with Social Media Workshop - The how to’s and the why’s of social media. What makes for good social media posts? Come hear one library’s experience using certain channels to build on its presence and create a regular feature for outreach and library news. Those who attend are welcome to share their own experiences.

Wednesday 3:50-5:00 PM

• Readers Advisors BoaF
• Using the KLAS Batch Manager to Run Reports Hands-on Training Discover how easy it is to use KLAS’ Batch Manager to run reports when you need them and share them with others.
• Training Your Staff from the Ground Up Workshop - How do you help someone learn to work in an LBPH? Is it any easier with a seasoned pro vs. a recent MLS graduate? What training resources are available to teach staff about their position and the technology they will be using such as KLAS? Come and hear how one library does it, and share your thoughts and ideas.

Thursday 10:50 AM-Noon

• Outreach BoaF
• Un-Packing Your WebOPAC Hands-on Training - Perhaps your library is considering an upgrade to KLAS WebOPAC v4. Maybe you have made the switch, but you’re ready to spice it up with features like up-to-date news and staff picks. This session will guide you through the setup and configuration of your online catalog.
• While You Were Sleeping: The Nuts & Bolts of Nightly Workshop - Would you like to demystify the nightly processes that aid in book selection? In this workshop, you will learn how to customize your settings and make periodic adjustments to better serve your patrons and increase circulation.

Wednesday Afternoon Seminar Scheduling:

Seminar sessions are presented by a Keystone and / or User presenter in a small group setting. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions throughout the session but only the instructor has workstation access. These in-depth presentations of particular KLAS functions or topics make use of slides, live examples, and customer experiences to explore the defined topic.

To participate in these sessions registration is not required, but is recommended. Please indicate which sessions you are interested in attending to help us with space planning.

Seminar Descriptions:

Wednesday 1:30-2:25 PM

• Fundraising or "Show Me the Money!"- Join us for a panel discussion where we will explore essential tools necessary to break down the challenges you face finding funding for your library and creative budgeting tactics to survive on limited means.
• Creative Community Collaborations in Outreach & Social Media - Partnering with community organizations, libraries, and agencies to cross-market and expand your services can be fun, cost-effective, and beneficial. Learn about real examples of collaborative social media campaigns and outreach events. Share your experiences and brainstorm other ways to network and build partnerships in support of your library, your patrons, and your community.
• Queue Up! Maximizing Your RS Queue - The Reader Services Queue can be a valuable tool to find patrons who need service. For instance, automated messages can be sent when nightly processes did not find enough books to send. While this is a helpful feature, you don’t even have to wait for KLAS to put the words in your mouth! Find out how to use the RS Queue to both capture those who slipped through the cracks and to personalize service for patrons in a multitude of ways.

Wednesday 2:35-3:30 PM

• KLAS PCC in Idaho - Experience the thrill of victory as the story of Idaho's PCC implementation is described and lessons learned are shared.
• Serving Underserved Populations - Discuss best practices as it relates to reaching out to the underserved populations such as rural, young adult, children, and foreign language patrons within the Talking Books community.
• KLAS KLEAN - Maintaining a Healthy Database - Could your database use some clean-up? Learn the best way to efficiently keep it accurate and accessible. How to purge old records, spot errors and other problems that could cause issues. A guideline for when to do things based on experience.

In the last two weeks, you may have noticed some new information about the 2018 KLAS Users' Conference available including:

• Our Conference Agenda
• A Daily Schedule
• Keynote Speaker Information
• Recommended Restaurants List
• Custom Google Map for the conference

And, there's more to come in the next few weeks including:

• Breakout Sessions Registration
• Welcome Reception Location & Entertainment Information
• Pricing and on the recommended restaurants list

The Conference Planning Committees, our local hosts, and the Keystone staff work hard to create a rich conference program and to provide our attendees all the information they need to making planning and participating in the conference as rewarding and easy as possible.

But, you may not be aware of the nitty gritty that goes into planning and sharing the information included in each of these pieces of information.

We usually try to start the planning process at least a year out. Our local hosts start contacting hotels, meeting, and reception venues. They call, we talk, we negotiate. They talk with me. They bounce dates, possibilities, and rates off the logistics committee. Then we call the hotel and venues back and start signing contracts. Then we can announce our conference location and accommodations information.

About nine months out, the conference committees review the conference feedback forms and follow-up surveys to take into account any specific requests or feedback as we move forward with planning sessions, creating a schedule and creating an overall plan for the conference content. Both the program committee and logistics committees meeting monthly for the first few months. As specific conference sessions are submitted / identified, the schedule begins to take a more finalized shape, and speakers volunteer or are recruited we meet on a twice-monthly basis.

At the same time, our logistics committee begins discussing possible caterers, reception entertainment options, transportation needs, etc. They keep meeting once a month until approximately 8-12 weeks before the conference. Then, it becomes every two weeks as well. That's because we start talking about what needs to be included in attendee packets, the conference app, where and when volunteers will be needed, and answer any final questions our local host has or ideas we may need feedback on.

As each of these pieces come together, we create articles, documents, and information that are reviewed by our planning committees, our local hosts, and Keystone staff before they are shared with our attendees. But, if you think we can add any additional information to make your at the conference experience better, please let us know!

Ramona Walhof, Author and Advocate

Ramona Walhof’s life journey has been a full and varied one.

She grew up in Iowa during the 1950's when there was no regional library for the blind. In 1960 the regional library opened at the Iowa Commission for the Blind and quickly became the largest in the nation. She majored in Russian and minored in French at Georgetown University and later received a certificate in education from Boise State University.

Ramona worked in rehab from 1972-1984 and then went into business from 1984 through 2007. Employment included teaching Braille, sewing, and managing food service operations, including a bakery.

Civic activities include president of National Federation of the Blind Idaho for over a decade, beginning Idaho’s BELL (Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning) program, serving on the United Way of Boise Board, and travelling to many states speaking about challenges for the blind and advocating for blind services, especially the National Library Service. A true advocate for Braille, Ramona has written articles and books, including editing The Power of Love, How Kenneth Jernigan Changed the World for the Blind, a compilation of articles by those who knew and worked with Kenneth Jernigan.

Ramona is trying to slow down in order to spend more time with her children and four grandchildren and of course, reading.

Have you updated your WebOrder Help page lately?

When we set up WebOrder for an Instructional Resource / Materials Center, we also create a Help page with a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section and room for downloadable documents (such as a How-To). However, it’s easy for the information on this page to fall out of date as changes are made to your WebOrder setup. Plus, we usually don’t know what questions your users are asking!

You can contact Keystone anytime to request updates to your help page, and I will be happy to put them in for you. In addition to adding and / or updating FAQs, we can also host any documents you want to add to the Help page as downloads. Users must be logged in to access the page, so this may be a good way for you to share forms, tutorials, or other information with them.

Below is a list of questions for which we already have answers.

Have a look through, review your Help page, and then email ks7 or visit the WebOrder Help Page forum thread to let us know what you need added to your WebOrder FAQ!

Ready-to-Go FAQs

You can certainly request questions not on this list, or request updates/customizations to any answer, but these are fast, ready-to-go additions I can quickly drop into your FAQ:

• How do I change my password?
• How do I add a new student?
• How do I add an Order?
• How do I search the Catalog?
• I can't find the product I am looking for. How can I add it to my request?
• It's hard to tell my addresses apart. They all say Primary or School Address. How do I change an address description?
• What does a specific Action Code mean?
• How can I tell which Braille Code an item uses?

What questions are we missing? Is there anything else you’d like to see on your WebOrder Help page? Have you written any instructions for your users that you want to share?

Head over to the WebOrder Help Page forum thread to join the discussion.

And finally, don’t forget to call us or email ks7 to request changes to your Help page!