Venting

I need to vent a little here.

Microfilm ordering at the Family History Center (known henceforth as the FHC) has undergone some major changes as of last week. Previous to last week when a patron ordered a film they filled out an order card, paid their $5.50 to cover postage from and to SLC and then they had the use of the film (at the FHC only) for 30 days. When ordered I would call in the order to the Global Service Center and the film is then shipped to me, when received I log the film into our database (which is accessable by SLC) and when returned I so note in the database.

As of Sept. 21 patrons now order the films on-line and pay the $5.50 using their credit card. The patron receives an e-mail when it is shipped, when it arrives here, etc. etc.

Now when I receive a film I log into the on-line database and make all the necessary notations.

Sounds easy, right? Nay!! Of course some of the problem I encountered was my own doing because I needed to enter about 15 films manually but in doing so I entered the wrong film number for each film.

Now the problem: I called SLC yesterday to remedy the situation (because after meticulously following printed directions it wasn't working). I spent 90 minutes on the phone - well part of the 90 minutes was redialing after being disconnected several times - and explaining my problem to various elderly, part-time missionaries, no solution was found but everyone kept telling me to go to the Users Guide (which I was looking at right in front of my face) and follow the directions.

So again this morning I tried to brave the "help desk" again and spoke to a very nice sister and SHE COULDN'T MAKE IT WORK EITHER!!

So she took down the wrong film numbers (supplied by me) and said she would git 'er done (she didn't actually say "git 'er done) but to give her a few hours.

Techinally speaking it should all work well but sometimes technology gets in the way.