In July of 2008, I broke my hand during a kayaking trip to Michigan. The bone had to be screwed back together, so I grudgingly scheduled myself for surgery. During the short time I was in the hospital, I quickly noticed how hospitals are using mobile technology to work more efficiently. Instead of taking me to a station to take blood pressure and vitals, that station was brought to me. Information was entered and transmitted over an internal wireless network. That got me thinking -- how might I use mobile technology to streamline our work processes and make the library more efficient?
Enter the Ergotrons! The Ergotrons are Ergotron Neo-Flex Mobile WorkSpace carts, with a Dell laptops and scanners attached to them:
The laptops are powered on their internal battery, and run for up to 5 hours. They connect to a secure internal wireless network, which allows staff access to their shared network files, as well as the automation system. They have a barcode scanner, which points downward so that items can be easily scanned.
Any number of uses have been found for this techology. In the past, staff would request large shelf lists to be printed off for the purpose of shelf reading. Of course, those lists were out of date the minute they were printed. Now, they can simply wheel an Ergotron out into the stacks and do the work there -- saving time and paper.
Mobile technology such as this can also be used for overflow circulation stations, program signup and registration, weeding the collection, presentations, etc.
We have been very happy with the Neo-Flex carts. They are easily height-adjustable, so that staff can adjust them for their height. They move easily on their wheels, which can also be locked in place. They have a handle on the back which makes them easy to push. They come with a built-in mouse tray and holder. This cart is really designed for hospital use, so there are many accessories which may be of use (chart holder?) in some environments. The cost for the cart is around $700, laptop and scanner prices vary widely.
Enter the Ergotrons! The Ergotrons are Ergotron Neo-Flex Mobile WorkSpace carts, with a Dell laptops and scanners attached to them:
The laptops are powered on their internal battery, and run for up to 5 hours. They connect to a secure internal wireless network, which allows staff access to their shared network files, as well as the automation system. They have a barcode scanner, which points downward so that items can be easily scanned.Any number of uses have been found for this techology. In the past, staff would request large shelf lists to be printed off for the purpose of shelf reading. Of course, those lists were out of date the minute they were printed. Now, they can simply wheel an Ergotron out into the stacks and do the work there -- saving time and paper.
Mobile technology such as this can also be used for overflow circulation stations, program signup and registration, weeding the collection, presentations, etc.
We have been very happy with the Neo-Flex carts. They are easily height-adjustable, so that staff can adjust them for their height. They move easily on their wheels, which can also be locked in place. They have a handle on the back which makes them easy to push. They come with a built-in mouse tray and holder. This cart is really designed for hospital use, so there are many accessories which may be of use (chart holder?) in some environments. The cost for the cart is around $700, laptop and scanner prices vary widely.
Ergotron now offers a Neo-Flex cart specifically for laptop use, which is about $20 cheaper than the Neo-Flex Mobile Workspace, and includes a locking bar to hold the laptop to the cart. The Mobile Workspace cart can be used with a standard CPU, and has a monitor arm for an LCD monitor, so if versatility is the goal, the Mobile Workspace cart is propably the better choice.
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