Printer Upgrade Monday!

Good news! Library computer users will see a dramatic increase in printing speed sometime early next week when our new HP p4015x computer, purchased by the Friends of the Waterloo Public Library, comes on line.

The new printer is rated at 50+ monochrome pages per minute, much faster than the Kyocera, which will be retained for color prints. Patrons may choose to print in duplex, but the default is simplex (i.e., "single-sided). For now the price will stay at $00.05 per page.

Patrons will enjoy the speed and high quality; staff members will appreciate the 1,000 sheet paper capacity as well as the high-yield toner cartridges that should be good for more than 20,000 pages! Waits in line while harried librarians scurry around with toner cartridges will be much less common.

The bad news is that we'll have to reconfigure every public access computer to "see" the new printer. We'll then have to do some testing to make sure we've done our job correctly. This means that the public access computers will not be available Monday morning. We know that computer access means a lot to our patrons and we'll work as fast as we can to get them up and running again.

If you appreciate this great new service, consider expressing your thanks to the Friends of the Waterloo Public Library!

c 2009 Waterloo Public Library

ID Required November 15, 2009!

Beginning November 15, 2009, library patrons wishing to use Public Access Computers will be required to have library cards!

Starting November 15, 2009, the Waterloo Public Library will require all users of Public Access Computers (PACs) to have valid library cards or be able to prove, with photo identification, that they are not residents of Iowa. Residents of Iowa who are not from the Waterloo Public Library service area may be given Open Access cards. Patrons with sufficient proof that they are NOT Iowa residents may be given visitor passes.

Authentication Rules:

• No visitor passes for Iowa residents!
• Non-residents must show photo ID!
• Library cards may be obtained at any service desk.
• Lost cards may be replaced for $2.
• Fines will not prevent PAC access.
• Patrons with photo ID may have library card number looked up 1 time.
• Patrons without library cards or sufficient ID may obtain access to the Express Computer for one 20 minute session each day.

To avoid delays or loss of PAC access, get your library card today!

Patrons with questions or concerns should contact any staff member or Technical Systems Administrator, Mike Dargan: dargan@wplwloo.lib.ia.us or 319 455 6722.


c 2009 Waterloo Public Library

Mac OS 10 X: Snow Leopard!

Macintosh's OS 10, after seven years of service, no longer "new," has a new version: Mac OS X Snow Leopard. We'll be adding a few Mac OS titles over the next fiscal year. If there's one in particular that you want, let us know and we'll try to get it for you.

For that matter, book requests for any operating system, are always welcome! You may submit requests directly to the Adult Print Non-Fiction selector by using this form: print non-fiction.

For a list of non-fiction that's currently on-order (or maybe already delivered), follow this link: WPL FY10 Non-Fiction Orders

c 2009 Waterloo Public Library

Youth Services Librarian

Shared Youth Services Librarian

The Cedar Falls and Waterloo Public Libraries are seeking a full-time Shared Youth Services Librarian. Position is salaried, and supervises the Youth Departments at both the Cedar Falls and Waterloo Public Libraries. Some evening and weekend work required. Salary range $47,301-70,252.

Qualifications include: understanding of child/adolescent development, strong knowledge of children’s literature and print/electronic reference sources appropriate for children, familiarity with children’s electronic media and general technology, strong written and oral communication skills, ability to plan and develop children’s programming relevant to two diverse communities; the ability to lead two departments with humor, integrity, fairness, and support a team-oriented constantly changing environment; possess a philosophy of youth services, and a management philosophy/model; possess grant writing skills, the courage to try new approaches, energy and creativity. Have knowledge of assessment and determining effective outreach venues. Spanish language preferred, but not required. ALA accredited Masters or comparable post-graduate degree required. Four years of increasingly responsible experience in a library setting, including two years of lead or supervisory experience. Position also requires the physical condition necessary for standing, sitting, or walking for prolonged periods of time; adequate speech, hearing, and eyesight required; may be required to lift moderately heavy objects. Post-offer, pre-employment physical and drug screen required.

For consideration, submit application (from Cedar Falls City Hall or www.cedarfalls.com/jobs ), resume, and cover letter with salary requirements to the City of Cedar Falls, Admin. Services-Youth Librarian, 220 Clay Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613. Deadline for application materials: October 23 at 4:30 p.m. EOE

Kenneth M Davenport Obituary

Obituary: Kenneth (Ken) Marvin Davenport

WATERLOO -- Kenneth (Ken) Marvin Davenport, 66, of Waterloo, died at the University of Iowa Hospitals on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 after a long illness. His body was cremated by the Cremation Society of Eastern, Central and Western Iowa.

Kenneth Marvin Davenport was born February 18, 1943 in Harbor Beach, MI to Angus Marvin and Clarice Elaine (Dollman) Davenport. Ken graduated from high school in Tawas, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University where he earned a B. A. in Geography as well as a Master’s degree in Geography. He attended the University of Minnesota where he did postgraduate work in Library Science. He then attended Kent State University where he earned a Master of Library Science degree.

Ken married Diane Carter in 1966; they were later divorced. He later met Patricia Durfee; they married in 1996, but were together for many years before that.

Ken worked as a library consultant for the North East Iowa Service Area from 1991 until his recent passing; he worked with approximately 85 libraries, many of them smaller libraries located in small towns of Northeast Iowa. Ken became an expert on library governance as well as E-Rate, a federal program that helps schools and libraries get internet access. He was a tireless advocate for libraries in Iowa, and was a regular participant at local Legislative Forums, where his beard, suspenders, and dry sense of humor were all appreciated. He was a great story teller, and even when he became very ill, posted notes on his Facebook page about his most recent exciting ride by helicopter to Iowa City.

He was a long time member of the Iowa Library Association; he served on the Executive Board in the 1990s and was the long time Chair of the Credentials Committee for the annual conference. Ken was also a member of the Cedar Falls Supper Club.

His interests included reading, geography, Renaissance festivals, Celtic culture, fine food, and spending time on his computer, corresponding with friends, blogging, and getting into Web 2.0. Ken was on Facebook and Twitter, and used them not only to socialize but further his causes/passions.

Survived by: his mother, Clarice Davenport of Lansing, MI; brothers: Grant of Salsa, Alaska, Bruce (Rose Mary) of Lansing, MI; and sister, Patricia (Jack) Kirk of Preston, Maryland. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Ann (Frank) Carraro of Ottawa, Illinois; 16 nieces and nephews; and by many dear friends from the Iowa Library system.

Preceded in death by: his wife, Patricia (Pat) Ann (Durfee) Davenport on January 20, 2008 and his father, Marvin Davenport on May 24, 1983.

Ken’s body was cremated, but his spirit lives on. A celebration of his life is planned for Friday, October 16 at the Waverly Public Library. Friends wanting to contribute to a memorial fund are asked to do so in Ken’s name at small public libraries in their area.

Sympathy cards to Ken Davenport's family may be sent to his office, and will be shared with his family.

Ken Davenport

Northeast Iowa Library Service Area

415 Commercial Street

Waterloo, IA 50701

Condolences may be left at the Cremation Society Website,

c 2009 Waterloo Public Library

TutorVista Renewed!

Need help with your homework? Having trouble with chemistry? alegebra? physics? Want someone to talk you through your essay for Introduction to College Writing? If so, you're in luck: TutorVista has been renewed for another year!

Between the hours of 3 and 11:00 p.m., CDT, logon to TutorVista and get expert help from trained professionals! If you don't have home computer access, come to the Waterloo Public Library to use this great service. Or, if you have a home connection, use your WPL library card to take advantage of TutorVista.

Thanks to the Friends of the Waterloo Public Library for subsidizing TutorVista!

c 2009 Waterloo Public Library

Chat Any Place, Any Time, Any Computer

A few weeks ago, a librarian asked me if we could install Yahoo Messenger on our Public Access Computers. As it turns out, he had had a few queries from patrons who wanted to use instant messaging clients to chat with their buddies.

I'm not unsympathetic to IM users--I've done over a thousand chat sessions myself since 2007. However, I maintain four computers (one at each library, one in my home office, and the laptop in my living room that I am using to compose this blog), and trying to synchronize settings and buddies on all those boxes, plus my new iPhone, is problematic. (Don't forget my motto: If you don't think too good, don't think too much!) Installing proprietary IM clients on our Public Access Computers is not imminent.

So, when I feel the need to use Instant Messaging, I go to www.meebo.com. Once I'm on Meebo, I log in with whatever identity I need, and there's my list of chat buddies. When I'm through with the session, I log out, and nothing is left behind. When I land on another computer, I log in with Meebo, and my settings automagically reappear.

So, the next time you're on a foreign computer, and want to use Instant Messaging, surf to Meebo, log in and start chatting.

c 2009 Waterloo Public Library