000 Computer Science, Knowledge & Systems, Part 7

I have been reading a book for my professional development that happens to be classed at 004.16. It is part of Neal-Schuman Publishers' How-To-Do-It Manuals series and is written by Colleen Cuddy titled Using PDAs in Libraries.

PDAs are personal digital assistants, which are small, handheld devices that are used for organizing one's information and a whole host of other applications. This book highlights the applications that can be useful in a library setting and tells how libraries have been adapting their programs for use with patron's PDAs.

Part of the reason for me selecting this book was that I have recently begun using a PDA. I really wish I had done so earlier. I have found I prefer the calendar and to-do-list functions on the PDA to any other method of keeping a calendar or dayplanner. The device is very portable, which makes the alarm function work very nicely. The contacts function acts as a good address book. I can view PDF, Word, and Excel files on the PDA. The interface is a touchscreen that I tap with a stylus. It even recognizes my handwriting! Finally, the feature that seals the deal with PDAs is that they "sync" with your PC, or in my case my two work PCs and my home PC.

There are also some very cool add-on items I can pair with the PDA to perform more specialized tasks. One such add-on is Socket Scanner. It is a laser barcode scanner that plugs into the memory card slot on the PDA. In a library environment, this device can be used to perform an inventory of the collection or to perform circulation beyond the circ desk. At the other library where I am director, we use this device for inventory.

At the Emmetsburg Public Library, another employee, Donna, also has her own PDA. She even has the same model, the Palm Tungsten E2. We can "beam" files to one another through the infrared ports on the PDAs--very cool!

The most exciting thing I learned from the book was that I could take advantage of the Bluetooth chip in the device to sync with my PCs and even share an Internet connection with them wirelessly. The USB adapters to enable PCs to this appears to be very inexpensive and I have sent away for some. I am excited to see what browsing the Internet via the PDA is like, particularly how browse-able our libraries' online catalogs on the web are now that I have read this book. If the Bluetooth fails, a wireless adapter card is available for the PDA, though not as cheaply (Donna already has one).

At any rate, patrons of the Emmetsburg Public Library should look to see more PDAs and PDA-inspired ideas in use at the library in the near future!