Author Archives: Elin Waagen

Weekly Circ Report 3/17

User Services Weekly Report
Date: 17 March 2010
Workgroups(s); Circulation Services – Circulation, Reserves and Stacks
Stats
Circ Blog: Average views per month: 481
(Not included in this average – according to WordPress site stats we had 6,316 views in Nov ’09)
Highlights:
• Karin’s poetry reading at Chellis House; Happy Birthday, Karin!
march flowers
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Hold Shelf

holdshelf
A few tips to help keep the hold shelf accurate and in order:
At all branches:
Print a hold slip for every item to go on the shelf
If it is going on hold at another branch, select to set item in transit and print slip; place on shelf/in bin to transit to branch pick-up location (this is the only time you need to print a transit slip; the slip alerts staff at the other branches that it needs to go on the hold shelf)
Insert slip in item with borrowers name facing the back of the book (so it is easily seen when the borrower comes to pick it up)
Shelve on hold shelf by borrower’s LAST name (if you are in doubt about the spelling or if it is a hyphenated name, look the borrower up in Mill Circ)
At check-out, remove and recycle hold slips
Daily:
Check that all items on hold shelf are in alphabetical order
Weekly:
Check that all items are accounted for and on hold for the correct borrower
Check for “hold started” date on hold slips; remove if older than 8 days; scan barcode to be sure it is checked-in; re-shelve or if item generates a hold, print slip and place item back on hold shelf with a new hold-slip

In addition – at Main:
Daily:
Shelve arrivals from ILL and NExpress on hold shelf by borrowers last name
Weekly:
ILL – check for item with expired due date; remove from shelf, scan to be sure it is checked in; place on ILL return cart
NExpress – check for item with received date older than 8 days; scan barcode to be sure it is checked in; if the status changes to “received” it may mean that the borrower was never notified that it arrived; if so, email the borrower and ask if they still need it; other NExpress items may need to checked in via the Inn-Reach node (on a supervisor log-in) before being sent back

Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks for your help in ensuring an accurate hold-shelf for our borrowers.

It’s Gate Count Blitz Week!

counting
Note from Dan:
Starting today (Friday 3/12) we are celebrating GATE COUNT WEEK! (pause for applause) We are making a concentrated effort to get a full and accurate gate count for one full week, every hour. At each circ desk, there will be a sheet for recording. This should be pretty self-explanatory, but I will explain anyway: If you look at the sheet and the current hour of the current day is blank, put the gate count in it. At Main – look for the “P” before the number – indicates patron, not “A” for alarm count.
Any questions?
Now get out there and count those gates!

Newspapers etc.

newspaperPlease note a small change to newspaper procedure.
We no longer deliver copies of the New York Times to the Armstrong Library. A study of use indicated that the NYT was not being read at Armstrong. Copies of the daily NYT will continue to be available at the Music and Main Libraries. Please note that the Music Library copy may not always be available on the day it is published.

Thanks, Sarah!

snowstormSarah Bou-Rhodes is our student employee of the week. Thanks to Sarah for braving the snowstorm to arrive at work on time (without even having had her coffee!) on Wednesday and to help hold down the fort at the Main Library during the power outage. Many thanks, Sarah – your helpful and cheery presence brightened the darkness for many! Please stop by for your prize – a card for 11 cups of coffee! 🙂

So many (equipment) parts…so little time

equip
When equipment with multiple parts is returned, we have to check carefully for all parts.
At Main – refer check-in to the Circ supervisor
At Music and Armstrong – refer to a Circ supervisor if possible; if not, check carefully for all parts prior to check-in; refer re-imaging etc. to a supervisor

DO NOT check in if there are parts missing.
If parts are missing, LEAVE THE EQUIPMENT ON THE BORROWER’S ACCOUNT – DO NOT CHECK IN. Notify the next available Circ supervisor.

Please also check for parts, personal belongings and other library items that do not belong in the case – many things tend to get left in the equipment cases.

Refer equipment with missing parts or in need of repair to Steve at Main.

Q: Wondering what that cool new RED cart at Main Circ is for?
A: All equipment returns with multiple parts in cases! At Main – when equipment is returned, simply place cases on the Red Returns cart and a Circ supervisor will check in and process.
By moving the check-in procedures for equipment away from busy front desk check-out activity, we hope to reduce errors at check-in, reduce replacement costs for missing parts and also provide better maintenance of equipment – re-imaging, charging, deleting, checking parts for wear and tear, etc.
Thanks for the help!

Close accounts after check-in and check-out

Please remember to close accounts after check-in and check-out to eliminate “records-in-use” problems and to ensure that you do not check things out to the previous borrower up on the screen – all to easy to do if you don’t close the screen after each borrower.
Thanks! 🙂