How long have the cams been running?
Since mid-October 1999. The first cam was installed in the Special Collections Dept. (Research Room) and was intended to be a 2-week thing. After several million hits by the first week of November, 1999 and so many hits on Halloween night that it crashed all internet service for Evansville Online; we knew that it was popular. When we started getting phone calls from Associated Press, CNN, ZD-TV, and BBC-America; we knew that this couldn't be a 2-week proposition. The second cam was installed in the Children's Dept. in 2000, along with the advent of a special website focused around the cams, this website would include a chat room so that people could chat about the Grey Lady, a way to show-off captured images, and a number of other ways to have fun. The cams remain extremely popular, just last week I had a call from the Sally Jesse Raphael Show asking me to appear on their show. Unfortunately, they were talking to me late Thursday and wanted me in NYC the following Monday morning- unfortunately, I already had scheduled a meeting with the Willard Board of Trustees for that day (these are 7 very influential people who also happen to be my supervisors). The Sally show said that would probably approach this subject again and give more advance notice, so stay tuned!
Is there any news yet on the 3rd cam?
The 3rd cam was installed in 2001 and working just fine, but only from the library's network-- the cam image angle, which is able to be controlled by the viewer was not allowing access through the Courier & Press's firewall. This problem was fixed last week, but the cam needs a few final adjustments. The 3rd cam will be up soon, Jim is on it. (As you all know, this cam is now up and running).
Who checks and posts the proof pics, and do they get threatened :D?
I think both Brett and Amy handle posting the pix and yes, probably would receive more hate mail, but they are less accessible than I am-- hey, my picture is even right next to my e-mail address!
Is all the equipment for it at the library?
Yes, all of the cam equipment is at the library. The cams are very self-contained units, needing only a cat-5 cable connection to our network hub. This connection enables each cam to have access to the internet, captured images are then uploaded to the Scripps-Howard Webserver located in Knoxville, TN, a portion of which is the Courier & Press's libraryghost.com. So when, you are viewing cam images, you are actually accessing a server in Tennesse.
How exactly is Courierpress involved? That is: aside from financing/sponsoring the cams?
Well, they also fix the cams, install the cams, maintain the website, advertise the site, etc. The Courier & Press owns the website and the cam equipment. Willard Library owns the network and the IP (internet protocol) addresses that the cams are currently using for access to the internet. Willard Library also, by virtue of intellectual property laws, owns the right to Willard Library's Grey Lady/ Lady in Grey legends, etc. In short, the Courier & Press provides the funding and we provide the famous ghost.
Is the site still sponsored by the CP?
Yes, in fact the website where the cams are located is actually owned by
Scripps-Howard, which owns the Courier.
To what extent are you/other Library personnel involved in the site or the cams, if at all?
We make funny faces at the cams sometimes <it's true! I've seen them do it!>. In seriousness, if there is a particular problem that can be easily and simply addressed in-house, I usually take care of it. For example, the cam wasn't refreshing recently. To fix that problem involved about 1 minute of my time and consisted of me unplugging the cam and plugging it back in. If the cams need new ip addresses that are part of our network array, I assign those.
How many people at the Courierpress are involved with it?
Off the top of my head, I'll say 4 in the New Media Department. And then several with sales & advertising and a private independent contractor who does install work, cabling, etc. None of these are full-time jobs just for the ghostcams, though.
Who moves the cams to a different angle?
Cam angles usually change only when the Courier & Press staff (usually Jim and Amy) do it. The library staff typically avoids touching expensive equipment because the result is usually bad--librarians are really lousy at fixing things. If the cam angle has changed recently--it was due to no human contact on the part of the library staff. There was one occassion last year when Amy called and asked me to move the cam slightly. Strangely enough, even when cam angles haven't changed in a year or so, we will receive not so nice e-mails from people demanding that the cam be "turned back to where it was!" Not from ghost chatters, your requests are always pleasant and upbeat; but I've gotten some hate mail from people who for some reason believe that the library is messing-up their lives if the cams aren't right, or don't work, whatever.
Who cleans the cam lenses? How often?
The last time we cleaned the lenses we used a 40-weight automotive oil
(Quaker State, I think) and 60-grit sand paper :) I think that the Children's cam was cleaned in early December, not sure about the Research Room. Jim Michels usually does this. When the lens gets cleaned, the cam will sometimes move slightly, get out of focus, etc. and then the death threats come (see question/ response 8)-- Jim Michels makes a much better target than me! Hey, anyone need his home address? I've also got his cell number; he likes to be called late, very late...
I have heard a story about the ghost being seen on one of the cams by a staff member. Is it true?
The story that you heard about the ghost being seen in the security camera did happen. In fact the employee who saw it is still employed here in our Children's Dept. (she won't say "ghost", she says a hazy figure). The security camera is only connected to a monitor screen so there is no videotape-- purpose of the security cameras was really to alert staff in the children's dept. when someone was in the downstairs hallways, not really for solving a possible crime (like at a convenience
store); sorry. <fix that, wouldja?????>
What do YOU know about the running of this thing? (that should have been the FIRST question, huh?)
-- Hmmmm, in summation, I guess very little. I don't post the captured pictures, I don't decide what gets added to or taken away from the site, I can't really fix any internal problems with the cam because I don't have the software or the administrative access to the website, if I have a good idea for the site I tell Jim and sometimes he uses it and sometimes he thinks I'm crazy. I do know that if a cam gets accidentally unplugged it keeps it's last image on the screen and lots of people send me e-mail (in fact, one night our custodian's rear-end was internationally famous!) I know that the web cam adds 10 pounds (not sure what this is in kg's, Maer) <that's about 4.5 kgs, there, Greg :)> and the webcam never blinks. I know that I've seen Jim Michels' and Amy Tate's job and I don't want it!! Finally, I'll say that the past 3 years have been educational for us and I think for the Courier, too. I've loved every minute of it (some of the death threats have even been highly creative!) and would like to thank the Evansville Courier & Press for making it all possible and for me, easy. And last, but certainly not least, thanks to you guys for being the loyal cam watchers that you are and for being such a fun group to work with <blush>. Oh yeah, and thanks to the Grey Lady, whether she actually exists or not, her spirit has certainly changed this small, Southern Indiana library! |
