It’s already 6:30 am, and Mary Beth isn’t quite sure how she’s going to do it.  She is due early on campus for a day-long faculty meeting, and her to-do list at home isn’t getting any shorter.  Today is the first day to sign up for “Paint like an Artist” at Schlow, and her Mom (an artist herself) is driving up from Columbus on Dec 14 to take Jake (2) and Hillary (9) for some bonding time together.  Jeremy has just reminded her that he wants to review Consumer Reports’ dishwasher ratings before he heads to the one-day sale at Sears on his way to work.  The library gremlins are conspiring, it seems, because she’s been waiting FOREVER to be able to download Notorious Nineteen to her iPad, and wouldn’t you know it, she got the email last night telling her it was ready, but will only be available for 3 days.

Realistically, she has just ten minutes to prove once again that she’s Super Mom/Daughter/Wife, and, with luck, get something enjoyable for herself in the process.  Mary Beth pulls out her iPad, and taps on the schlow.org launcher saved to her homescreen.  To her relief, without even scrolling, she sees exactly what she needs to do:

1. Right at the top of the screen, she’s astonished to see under “On Order–Request Today!” that Evanovich’s Takedown Twenty appears to already be in the library system.  She’ll remember that and come back to it if she has time.
2. In the library announcements area, is a clear graphic advertising the art program–there is a link to “Register Today!”  She clicks that and enters her Library Card# and PIN.  With a few taps, she chooses December 14, a time slot that will work for her family nap schedule, etc.  She didn’t have to enter her contact info or anything.  It was easy.
3. Back on the home page, Mary Beth taps on the search bar–maybe the “Research” button on the clean menu bar across the top can help with Consumer Reports, but she’s hoping to save some time.  Glancing at Jeremy slurping his cereal (I wish he would’ve done this last night…),  she keys “dishwasher reviews” into the search box taps “search.”  There’s only a couple of related books in the library collection, but she is delighted to see “Research” results just below that section.  Five relevant articles are listed (with a link to “more”), and one is labeled, “Consumer Reports 2013,” which she taps on. “I’m just going to email this article to your phone.” Using the “Share this search” feature, with 2 taps, the email is on its way.  It was easy.
4. She glances at her watch. Seven minutes left!  She taps her name under “My account” at the top of the page, and sees all the books they have checked out–one is due tomorrow!  She taps “Renew” before heading over to “My Requests”.  A single list displays the Eric Carle book for Jake that hasn’t come in yet, and there it is: Notorious Nineteen and a “Download Now” button.  She taps it, and her Overdrive app launches and downloads the book!  It was easy.
5. With five minutes to spare, she knows she has time to get on the list for Takedown Twenty.  Back on her browser, Mary Beth taps “Home,” sees the title, and with 2 more taps, adds her name to the waiting list.  It was easy.
6. Mary Beth is feeling really good about her Supermom powers right now.  She has a few minutes before having to pile everyone in the car.  She decides today is the day to click the “Donate” button on the site, and use some family funds to show Schlow how important they are to her family.  She pulls out her wallet.  In just 3 minutes, her $50 is on its way.  It was easy.

In 10 short minutes, Mary Beth registered for a program, shared research on a purchase, renewed a book, downloaded an eBook, requested another, and made a donation.  It was easy!