RE: Programmable Keyboard Modules for less mouse clicks

["Dillie, Thomas" <TDillie@xxxxxxxxxx>]

John,
   Before buying a bunch of new keyboards, I wonder if it might be worth looking more closely at the keystroke combinations already available in Millennium.  We were a DRA library that migrated to Millennium last April.  The DRA circ module was character based and staff didn't need to touch a mouse.  When we trained staff on Milcirc we emphasized using the mouse at first in order to get everyone to slow down and pay attention to how the system worked.  After Millennium was  up for several months we started some re-training in the branches that emphasized the keystroke combinations already available in they system.
	For example, other than clicking on the New icon to bring up a template menu from which I then hit Enter to select the New Patron template, I can register a new borrow without ever touching the mouse.  Likewise, it's possible to handle most patron transactions in Circulation Desk by using the function keys, the Alt + letter key combinations, CTRL SHIFT E to open the patron records, as well as CTRL S to save and Alt Q to close.  As far as responding to prompts, our circ people have been very happy with Y for "yes" and N for "no."  And we all were pleased to find out that the space bar would work for "OK" as well as apparently accepting the default response for all prompts.   Check-in without a patron present, e.g. the book return,  should require no mouse at all--F2 opens Check-in without patron and you can respond to all prompts using the keyboard. 
	Staff might of course be able to go even faster with a programed keyboard, but if the basic complaint involves having to switch back and forth between the mouse and the keyboard, you might think about some retraining using the features available in Milcirc already.

Tom Dillie, Head Librarian
Cedarville and Jamestown Community Libraries
Greene County Public Library
P.O. Box 26
Cedarville OH 45314
tdillie@xxxxxxxxxx
 


  
-----Original Message-----
From: innopac-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:innopac-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of John Kenny
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 5:55 PM
To: innopac@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Programmable Keyboard Modules for less mouse clicks


I am getting a lot of complaints from users that there are just too many
mouse clicks required at the circulation counter.  A vendor as loaned me
a USB 20 key programmable keypad.  I'm now looking for the most useful
key combinations to program into it.  Does anyone out there have a list
of keyboard shortcuts specifically designed for the circulation counter?
I'm especially looking for combinations for check out, check in and
borrower registration. 

 

 

 

John Kenny

Millennium Implementation Coordinator

Assistant Chief of the Main Library

San Francisco Public Library

100 Larkin Street, SF CA 94102

(415) 557-4210  fax (415) 557-4205

 



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