An Interview with Joseph Umhauer

Technical Services Consultant, Nioga Library System

Reprinted with Permission

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askSam:  Tell us about your organization and your role within it.

Joseph Umhauer:   Nioga Library System is a public library consortium.  Our group at the headquarters is responsible for technical services and maintence of automated circulation system (Ameritech -Dynix).  I am the supervisor of the technical services department and a member of the circulation system support team.

askSam:   Which of our product(s) do you use and what  kind of information do you have in  your askSam database(s)?

Joseph Umhauer:  I use askSam 3.0+ for everything from memos to tracking system problems etc. Our office staff uses it for our mailing list and for printing labels.

We also use the askSam Web Publisher to maintain an e-mail directory, but hope to expand to more uses such as a ready reference database.

askSam: Why did you select askSam over other products?

Joseph Umhauer:   Price, ease of use and the flexibility.

askSam:  In what ways has askSam helped you in your daily routine?

Joseph Umhauer:  I keep a daily log of phone calls, system problems and things To-Do which really help me organize my tasks.

askSam:  How has askSam saved you time or money?

Joseph Umhauer: It has saved me time by allowing me to keep track of many tasks without a lot of paper work or filing.

askSam: What applications do you plan for askSam in the future?

Joseph Umhauer:   I plan to create a network based system trouble log that our whole team can access and update system problems and solutions.  I'll create a askSam file with our most needed info.  I also plan to use the askSam Web Publisher to publish local information databases online.

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Joseph Umhauer

Nioga Library System

Technical Services

6575 Wheeler Road.

Lockport, NY   14094

Email: jumha@nioga.org