Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with circulation

Small library circulation system?

those are my balloons — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:59:25 -0800

What's the best way to create a circulation database for a small-medium music score library? I direct a high school vocal music program.

We have a music library of about 700 choral pieces in box files based on ID number. For most titles, we have between 20-50 copies. We also have several music collection books containing several pieces each. The database is stored in an old FileMaker file that was imported from a CSV from some proprietary library program we used previously. None of this is connected to our school's media circulation system in any way.

Currently it's pretty much a simple approach, one record per title; composer, arranger, voicing, etc. indicated. However I would like to go further and have full circulation capability, which seems like it would necessitate individual records for each single copy. I would like a system where our student librarian can easily check-out music to the singers, as well as check it back in... barcodes may be used... as well providing lists of checked out materials... and essentially keeping library patron records. should be easy to determine at the end of the year what music was not returned, and how much money students owe for it.

I looked at the more common GPLed integrated library systems like Koha and Evergreen but they both seem to be overkill for what I'm doing. Plus I don't have MARC data on individual scores or anything like that. I also don't know if I'm skilled enough to create the db relationships or anything like that. I'm a teacher, not a DBA! But I don't mind putting a little effort into it.

I also looked at OpenBiblio, but it seems like it's barely maintained(?) or at least, I don't know, slightly unsettling.

How can I warm or otherwise mitigate my cold dead hands vs. my loved ones?

cavalier — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:54:30 -0800

My long, thin, bony fingers do not retain heat. Quite conversely, they could be considered 10 deceivingly flesh covered dry ice appendages. With a baby rapidly on the way, does the hive mind have any suggestions or advice on how I might hold the baby without making him miserable? It's never been enough to bother me, in fact I rarely notice it, but boy, my wife has! After peeling her off the ceiling on more than one occasion, I've tried rubbing, running hot water over, breathing into, etc. Can't help it. I must moonlight as the angel of death while I'm sleeping.

Anyhoo, I wouldn't fret much about it, except I've just realized that while I can soothe and apologize to adults, the baby's not going to be too happy about it. Short of limiting interaction to a thick blanket betwixt us, y'all have any ideas?

Blood for Every Limb!

EatTheWeak — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 10:17:02 -0800

I'm looking for advice on how to improve my circulation. Hi AskMe! I'm interested in improving my circulation, and I'm hoping the hivemind might have some guidance for me in this matter. I know it is best to consult medical professionals in such matters, but doctors cost a damn sight more than a $5 lifetime membership charge.

Now, with my complete lack of medical knowledge, I reckon the most obvious answer is to increase my cardiovascular exercise. If that's the case, are there any workouts better than others for promoting a strong, healthy blood flow to every part of my body? Like, is jumproping better than cycling or what? I'm looking for specific exercises, if possible.

Are there any supplements or dietary changes that I might try to boost my circulation? How significant a role does hydration play? Any and all information you might have on how to get my blood pumping better is of great interest to me.

Thank you very much.

Librarians, help me out!

bad grammar — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:14:28 -0800

What is a normal rate for losing books from a school or public library? I've had trouble finding information about this because libraries seem reluctant to admit it. I work in a school library where the budget, and my own employment, are precarious. I have to justify a non-return rate of about 25-30%. In short, a quarter of the students who check out books never return them. I have not had much success with various inducements and threats with this 25% (conduct rewards, billing letters).

Given that the school takes economically disadvantaged and troubled students, I suppose that I'm lucky they haven't walked off with the entire library.

But if I could show to my supervisor that losses of this sort are normal (e.g. in public libraries in poor areas), I might feel happier about my job. I'm new as a librarian and not fully trained (I'm working on my MLS.)

How can I cultivate ruddy cheeks?

boy detective — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:53:33 -0800

How can I cultivate ruddy cheeks? I find ruddy cheeks to be impossibly attractive. When I see someone with them, I think that person must be vigorously healthy; playing soccer and having sex constantly. I understand that it is a stereotypically British trait, and that it occurs more frequently in men, which sucks, because I'm neither. Can I, pale as the driven snow (Michigan-American with Polish/Swiss decent), make my cheeks look like that? I'll become flush for a brief period after running, and sometimes when I'm tipsy, but would prefer an abiding luster.

Mind that your spanking jokes are kept to a minimum. A bare minimum.

Help with hot summer nights.

carsonb — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:17:07 -0800

Why is my bedroom consistently 10 degrees warmer than the rest of the house, and what can I do to cool it off? Here's a rough diagram of my apartment's layout. There are 4 vents for the AC, and the one intake is in the ceiling of the living room. I have vertical blinds on my south-facing window that I keep closed all day, and an oscillating fan that blows into my room from near the door. Trees block the morning sun onto my window, but noon to sundown I get direct sunlight. The vent in my room blows cold, and is not blocked at all as far as I can tell. The problem persists throughout the night. What can I do?

Sitting Like a Pretzel

skyper — Mon, 26 May 2008 20:15:50 -0800

Will my lifelong habit of crossing my legs cause problems, like circulation, down the road? No matter where I'm sitting, on upholstered cushions or in a dining chair at a restaurant or on the ground at a picnic, I *always* feel this urge to cross my legs. Not exactly "indian-style," more like folded arms in a way.
I try to remind myself to sit with legs stretched out/feet on the floor often as possible, then before I know it I look and find I've crossed them again, without even thinking.
Aside from avoiding this in formal gatherings etc., help me decide if it's a habit I need to fix due to possible problems developing eventually with blood circulation in my legs, or is that not even something to worry about?

Rudolph the Red Footed Raynaud's Victim?

Phalene — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:55:08 -0800

Circulation woes: Why do my feet turn red when I get warm or exert? And why do they freeze so easily? And what's with the red nose?! Whenever I exercise or on a hot day, my feet turn red as blood pools in them, and the veins stand out such that I can feel them through the skin. In winter I have the reverse problem, pain from the cold to the point that I sometimes do situps before I sleep to warm up. They also start to freeze quickly, meaning I have to be particular about bundling up in winter.

Meanwhile, my nose is red year round. It’s not bulbously inflamed, but pink like I have wind or sunburn and I’m known for icy hands even in the middle of summer. Elevation and/or massage typically normalize the problem in my extremities, but it distresses me that my protruding bits seem poorly serviced.

To make matters worse, squats or other rapid up and down motions make me dizzy and faint. I’ve never fainted, but I have had a few disoriented moments when I got up too quickly.

I’m trying to figure out how I can fix this. I know low blood pressure runs in my family, but the others don’t seem to have my hand and foot problems to the same degree. Is it possible it’s because I’m in terrible shape? What exercises rouse a sluggish circulation system? Should I wear diabetic socks? Could poor circulation be why I take so long to heal as far as cuts and bruises too?

Is this a possible major medical condition I should observe? I can’t find anything about red feet online, except for a snarky, racist comment that white women shouldn’t wear red polish because their feet turn red in sandals.

why am I (almost) blacking out?

krautland — Wed, 30 May 2007 19:14:11 -0800

why am I (almost) blacking out? perhaps you know these moments: you look into the sun and for a few seconds you see these dark spots everywhere, your head hurts, your balance is thrown off, you have to stand still and close your eyes. it feels a bit as if the blood has rushed out of your head. this has been happening to me on and off for about a week now, sans sun. it takes very little to trigger this - I get up from the couch and it happens.

I know this feeling from that one time I ran a 10k in 85F and got dehydrated. I run 5k daily, consider myself in decent shape (6"4, 29, 215) and I am certain I drank plenty yesterday, the day this happened last. I just walked up a flight of stairs and when I grabbed the door handle it hit me like a ton of bricks. I literally had to stop right there for close to a minute.

obviously something is wrong and I should see a doctor. if you are in chicago, please also do feel free to recommend one, but the more important question is what this might be. it's certainly freaking me out.

Numb toe

Arcaz Ino — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 18:54:05 -0800

The tip of my left big toe* sometimes gets numb, down to the point about half-way down the nail, all around the toe. I can't see any cause for this. It's not injured or gangrenous. "What's up with that?" * someone else's left big toe

Why can't I sit with both my feet on the floor?

nylon — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 13:33:38 -0800

I can't bear to sit with both my feet on the floor for long. I either end up sitting cross-legged, or with one or both feet tucked up underneath me in some half-baked lotus position, or getting a box or something to rest them on. What's going on? Is it likely a circulation thing, or a psychological disorder? Anyone else have this?

On Pins and Needles

Monster_Zero — Sun, 28 Mar 2004 16:44:12 -0800

Occasionally, when I sleep, I stick my arm under my pillow and rest my head on it (a leftover habit from having it in a cast years ago). I've gotten used to the confusion of having a numb, dead arm for a few minutes in the morning, but what's bothering me lately is something I remembered hearing a while back - which is that if you cut off circulation to a limb (put it to 'sleep') for long enough it can 'fall off' or suffer a similarly nasty fate.

So, can any sort of permanent, horrible damage result from what I'm doing, or is this just bunk?