[Libs-Or] digital display

Tue Mar 3 13:03:54 PST 2015

The PUBLIB archive use to be fairly easy to search but it is more difficult
now and I didn't really find the right terms to use.  I know that this
subject has been discussed there several times.  I did find some of a 2008
discussion but I think that with the current TV's an SD card or a thumb
drive can be used directly in the TV without the computer connection.  I am
posting part of the 2008 discussion that I found because parts of it still
might be useful:

Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:00:41 -0600

To: "Terry Wirick" <twirick at erielibrary.org>, "PUBLIB" <
publib at webjunction.org>

From: "Michael Golrick" <Michaelg at eauclaire.lib.wi.us>

Subject: Re: [Publib] Library informational displays

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Hi-

The L E Phillips Memorial Public Library has a large flat screen TV behind =

the reference desk plus several other smaller sets around the building. =

What we do is loop a Power Point presentation which promotes upcoming =

library programs as well as our current Capital Campaign. Our PR staff =

manages the content. Our web site includes some of the same information =

(provided by the same staff) as part of the banner at the top of the page. =

(See the link in my sig file.)

Email me privately if you need more and I will connect you with the staff =

who actually do the work.

Michael

Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2008 15:33:08 -0400

To: "publib at webjunction.org" <publib at webjunction.org>

From: Lisa Charbonnet <lisa at westbank.lib.tx.us>

Subject: [Publib] Electronic Displays in the Foyer

Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

Hi all,

I've been asking lots of questions of the great collective at publib lately=

 and I just thought I'd give some answers back!

We've been looking for a flexible electronic display format to make announc=

ements in our foyer. We wanted great graphic capability to capture patrons'=

 eyes with lots of photographs as well as the flexibility to change it at l=

east daily. I sent out a call to publib and we investigated several vendors=

. A couple of the vendors offered lovely displays- 37" monitors mounted on =

sturdy stands that could  be programmed with content from a flash drive. Th=

e price? Almost $5,000 and way beyond our budget.

So, we got inventive. New flat screen TVs have come way down in price. We f=

ound a sleek 32" model for $600 and mounted it on the inside foyer wall.  I=

t took special heavy brackets- you can usually pay to have the store you bo=

ught it from install it or you can get brackets from most any hardware stor=

e- and we mounted it high enough to be out of reach of little fingers. We p=

ulled the cord through the wall, conveniently next to a desk, and hooked it=

 up to both a plug and an old computer of ours. The computer does not have =

to be new or particularly powerful, it will only run one thing, the TV disp=

lay.

What about the display? We composed a simple Powerpoint to show upcoming pr=

ograms, news, and items of interest. We played with the timing, (for us 3 s=

econds a slide is just about right), the color and background (we loaded th=

e Master with a soft blue and our logo), and the graphics (photos are great=

, a 300 dpi resolution seems to work fine). Every now and then we insert so=

mething to jazz the eye further. Maybe a subliminal word? Read? We just lea=

ve it up, looping continually, all day long.

How to change it? With a real computer on the other end of the TV, we loade=

d VNC (Virtual Network Computing- open source under the GNU general public =

license) to connect that computer to our library's shared internal drive. W=

ith VNC and a password, we can control the display computer from any other =

connected computer, even from main to branch and back, and we can change th=

e display from minute to minute if we like.

Our display has been up and running for two weeks now and all is well. Mayb=

e we can cut down on some of the paper brochures. Maybe we should load the =

occasional You Tube video (though maybe the repetitive sound would drive th=

e Circulation folks crazy). Maybe we could have contests. Lots of fun thoug=

hts!

Best,

Lisa

We use an old PC with a looping Powerpoint presentation. It displays on

a 24" widescreen flat panel mounted behind the circ desk. Easy as pie,

gives the patrons something to look at while they wait in line

(including a lovely screen that asks them to have their card ready).

=20

Linda Cannon

Collection Development Librarian

Joplin Public Library

On Tue, Mar 3, 2015 at 11:11 AM, Ted Smith <t.smith at newportlibrary.org>
wrote:

>  I heard there was a thread on the list about digital displays for
> lobbies.  I’m very interested in purchasing a system and would love to hear
> from those of you who have done so.  How easy is it to implement and
> update.  Any major IT requirements – I have power and data outlets at the
> location in mind.  I’d like to have the ability to update from any staff pc
> so I suppose the software would have to be on a server accessible to
> selected staff?  These are all questions as well as needs.  What say you?
>
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-- 
*Diedre Conkling*

*Lincoln County Library DistrictP.O. Box 2027Newport, OR 97365Phone & Fax:
541-265-3066Work email**: **diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org*
<diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org>
*Home email: **diedre08 at gmail.com* <diedre08 at gmail.com>

 “If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change
your attitude.”―Maya Angelou
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