Enhanced Catalog

We recently updated our public catalog computers by replacing our default Enterprise screen with an enhanced version created in-house.  The enhanced version takes elements from out website including program registration, promoting materials and more.  See are adult or kid/teen versions.

I am going  to try and use site for for my class assignment 3 using Google Analytics and Google Tag manager.  Creating a tag to track searches, links, and forms.

GA & GTM Week 3

I am not sure if I am doing tags correctly because they are not working in preview mode.  I am moving on to week three where I can practice creating more event tags and  customizing Google Analytics (GA) and Google Tag manager on a specific site.  For testing purposes I am going to use my own blog.  I enabled the site search in Google Analytics features that tracks the use of a website's search box and reports the number of searches, the search terms entered, and other search related data from my site.

You can find these settings in the Admin area of GA in the view settings option.

Rokus & Streaming Content

In 2013 we launched a new service at the library by offering newly released movies to stream on a device you can checkout.  The device was the Roku and by redeeming digital movie codes using the service Vudu.  This idea came about when I was cataloging DVDs and asked, "What do we do with these digital movie codes?"  The response "We throw them out".   At that time I was not sure when or how we were going to use them, but I said to give them to me.  I was just starting to get into streaming and with my own Roku starting researching and testing Apps that would work with these codes, that would support simultaneous users, and easy to use.  My library was featured in the article "Libraries Stream toward Roku Lending" in American Libraries Magazine January 30, 2015,  page 20. Today we have seven devices for adults with access to over 300 movies and Netflix and HuluPlus and five devices with family related movies and Channels.

The video on connecting your Roku to the TV is our most popular YouTube video created by Dave.

Google Tag Manager

I am taking an ALA class on Customizing Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager.  This is my 2nd week and I have learned a lot.  This weeks lesson is on enhancing Google Analytics data.  I look forward to posting about my class progress and share my library experiences.  This weeks reading "Using Google Tag Manager in Your Library".  Google Tag Manager (GTM) article notes:

• GTM- what data gets tracked and how
• Event tracking- An event is a user action that can not be automatically tracked in Google Analytics
• What you want to track and when you want to track it
• 1st tag you should create is a Google Analytics tag
• Triggers- tell the GTM tag when to fire and collect the data

I had trouble with adding the tag manager script to the blog.  The post response on this site worked.

Introduction

Hi, I am Ann Stovall and welcome to my blog thezenbrarian.  I created this blog for a class and plan to continue to post to share my experiences as a librarian.  I have worked in public libraries for 31 years.  I started as a page shelving materials and creating displays for the Children's department.  I held several library jobs including Technical Services Clerk, Inter-library Loan/Adult Services Assistant, Head of Technical Services until I received my MLS from Indian University. I started my career as a Periodical & Homebound Services Librarian. I currently the Head of Technology & Technical Services at Indian Prairie Public Library District in Darien, IL.