Good idea from Kelly!
Flash drives are now available for students to use when they need to transfer data from one computer to another. The flash drives will need to be signed out at the reference desk. They cannot go out of the library.
The Techs at the reference desk will have primary responsibility for the flash drives but of course, the librarians can assist a student with signing one out and/or using it.
Mary has updated the checkout sheet to add a column for the flashdrive checkout. Rather than a number, the flashdrives are identified as either "sushi" or "donuts."
When you see them, you will understand why.
Please let me know if you have any questions about the use of the flash drives.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Need Students to Make Video
We are making a video for our Mitigating Library Anxiety Grant. We plan to interview students to discover how they use the library and what we can do to improve the quality of their time spent in the library.
If you know of a student who would be interested in being filmed for this video, please let me know. We would especially like to have students who would be willing to comment in Spanish about their library experiences.
More information is also available on our public library blog:
http://pclwhatsnew.blogspot.com/
Please see the video below.
If you know of a student who would be interested in being filmed for this video, please let me know. We would especially like to have students who would be willing to comment in Spanish about their library experiences.
More information is also available on our public library blog:
http://pclwhatsnew.blogspot.com/
Please see the video below.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Excerpts from Manager's Musings 3-16-09
VITA & Tax Information
We are no longer a VITA Tax Assistance site and cannot provide income tax assistance. Most of you are aware of this. However, there are apparently some local referral agencies that have a list that still includes our name as a service-provider I have had several calls from folks who want help with their taxes. I have ascertained where they got their information and have called those agencies to ask them to remove our name from their list. However, you still may get the odd call from someone who has been given old information. Please advise them to go to the IRS website for federal tax information. For California tax info they can visit ftb.ca.gov or call 800.338.0505.
Japanese Literature:
Some of our recently processed books that are part of the Japanese Literature purchase were accompanied by a poster giving a thumbnail sketch of 5 of the books. Byung suggested displaying the poster & books together. They will replace the “Give Peace a Chance” display near the elevator”.
Escondido Public Library:
The Escondido Public Library has new programs and attractions, however, their hours have changed. Please be sure to note their new, curtailed open hours schedule.
We are no longer a VITA Tax Assistance site and cannot provide income tax assistance. Most of you are aware of this. However, there are apparently some local referral agencies that have a list that still includes our name as a service-provider I have had several calls from folks who want help with their taxes. I have ascertained where they got their information and have called those agencies to ask them to remove our name from their list. However, you still may get the odd call from someone who has been given old information. Please advise them to go to the IRS website for federal tax information. For California tax info they can visit ftb.ca.gov or call 800.338.0505.
Japanese Literature:
Some of our recently processed books that are part of the Japanese Literature purchase were accompanied by a poster giving a thumbnail sketch of 5 of the books. Byung suggested displaying the poster & books together. They will replace the “Give Peace a Chance” display near the elevator”.
Escondido Public Library:
The Escondido Public Library has new programs and attractions, however, their hours have changed. Please be sure to note their new, curtailed open hours schedule.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Highlights from the Public Services Meeting Held 3/12/09
Many of you have used the hand-held scanner recently to scan barcodes on library materials that were not checked out to patrons, but were used in the library. Thank you for helping with the testing and development of this procedure. It has proven to be very worthwhile in the high statistics that it gives us. Please ask Pat for more details of exactly what you should scan when you are working at the Circ desk since this process has evolved since the meeting minutes below.
This spring and summer we will be making a big change in the location, call numbers and shelving of Instructor Reserve materials. First of all, the materials in the Rare Book room will be weeded and the ones we are going to keep will be moved to a small storage room in the NE corner of the 3rd floor. We will then move ALL Instructor Reserve materials into that room, with overflow or future growth of the collection going on the shelves behind the circ desk that currently house the closed IR materials. There will no longer be any IR materials in open stacks along the brick wall in the Reference area.
In addition to this change in location, the call numbers on all IRs will change. They will clearly state that the item is a reserve, it will have the course name and number as well as the first three letters of the instructor’s last name.
And the third change is that all of the IRs will be on the shelf in order of the course name rather than the instructor name.
n You will see the term “library anxiety” used in the minutes. Linda, Byung and Katherine received a grant to fund some training and activities for library staff this year with a goal of helping our patrons overcome their library anxiety. So it doesn’t refer to anxiety that any of us have about working here!
This spring and summer we will be making a big change in the location, call numbers and shelving of Instructor Reserve materials. First of all, the materials in the Rare Book room will be weeded and the ones we are going to keep will be moved to a small storage room in the NE corner of the 3rd floor. We will then move ALL Instructor Reserve materials into that room, with overflow or future growth of the collection going on the shelves behind the circ desk that currently house the closed IR materials. There will no longer be any IR materials in open stacks along the brick wall in the Reference area.
In addition to this change in location, the call numbers on all IRs will change. They will clearly state that the item is a reserve, it will have the course name and number as well as the first three letters of the instructor’s last name.
And the third change is that all of the IRs will be on the shelf in order of the course name rather than the instructor name.
n You will see the term “library anxiety” used in the minutes. Linda, Byung and Katherine received a grant to fund some training and activities for library staff this year with a goal of helping our patrons overcome their library anxiety. So it doesn’t refer to anxiety that any of us have about working here!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Student Use of Fax Machine and other Changes
At the Librarians and Supervisors Meeting on Tuesday, March 3, the following decisions were made.
Fax Machine Policy for Students
Is there a fax machine in the library for student faxing? Is there a policy regarding student faxing? These questions arose at the last Public Services meeting and Linda asked for clarification regarding these issues.
After much discussion it was decided that the fax machine currently located behind the circulation desk would be removed. We do not offer fax service for students at the library. A list of local fax resources will be compiled.
Jay will look into the possibility of moving the fax machine into Dennis' office. He will look into whether or not there is a phone line in that office that can accommodate it. The fax machine was originally meant to be located in that office for Isabel's use with ILLs.
Scanner Attached to DPSP Computer
Students are allowed to use the scanner in the DSPS area. They must give up that computer if a disabled student needs to use it.
Librarians at Circ Desk in Search of Reserve Items
Issues associated with some librarians accompanying students to the Circulation Desk to retrieve reserve materials were discussed. It was decided that the librarian is to simply send students seeking reserves to the Circulation Desk for help - or if they must accompany them, hand them over to Circ staff rather than go behind the desk. This should eliminate the problem of students returning to the Circ Desk and going back to retrieve books themselves.
If you have any questions about these items, please see your supervisor.
Fax Machine Policy for Students
Is there a fax machine in the library for student faxing? Is there a policy regarding student faxing? These questions arose at the last Public Services meeting and Linda asked for clarification regarding these issues.
After much discussion it was decided that the fax machine currently located behind the circulation desk would be removed. We do not offer fax service for students at the library. A list of local fax resources will be compiled.
Jay will look into the possibility of moving the fax machine into Dennis' office. He will look into whether or not there is a phone line in that office that can accommodate it. The fax machine was originally meant to be located in that office for Isabel's use with ILLs.
Scanner Attached to DPSP Computer
Students are allowed to use the scanner in the DSPS area. They must give up that computer if a disabled student needs to use it.
Librarians at Circ Desk in Search of Reserve Items
Issues associated with some librarians accompanying students to the Circulation Desk to retrieve reserve materials were discussed. It was decided that the librarian is to simply send students seeking reserves to the Circulation Desk for help - or if they must accompany them, hand them over to Circ staff rather than go behind the desk. This should eliminate the problem of students returning to the Circ Desk and going back to retrieve books themselves.
If you have any questions about these items, please see your supervisor.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Public Services Meeting Highlights
Thursday 02/26/09
RESERVE RESULTS
Pat shared that the working committee met and have devised the following suggestions:
1. All reserves will be 2 hours unless the instructor has approved a different time limit.
2. Reserves will be on the shelves by course name and number: personal copies will still include the instructor's name.
3. Open reserves will now be closed reserves and will be kept behind the desk.
4. Request that the Rare Book Room be used to accommodate the added reserves.
These suggestions were brought before the librarians who approved them unanimously.
The new policies will start in the fall 2009 semester. Preparations will take place during the summer months. Mary will need help editing records and Pat is asking for qualified volunteers.
Shortly before the end of each semester a letter will be sent to instructors asking if they want their books to remain on reserve for the upcoming semester. If they fail to reply their personal books will be returned to them via their departments and all others will be moved back into the stacks. Judy will be sending a letter to all departments notifying of the new procedure.
ILL FORM
Isabel discussed the ILL forms and asked that all staff take extra care to make sure every line of each form is filled out and initialed by the person accepting it. It is especially important that they specify if they are willing to pay, and if so, how much they are willing to pay. Also their phone/contact information and the expiration date of the ILL request is very important.
ILLs should start at the Reference Desk, get the required librarian's signature and then come to the Circulation Desk.
3rd FLOOR - FOOD and TALKING
Pat shared that since the new policy started there is much more evidence of drink cups and cans, especially in 3rd floor carrels and foot-long sandwich wrappers, napkins, general trash from students eating and drinking upstairs. In the evening especially there is much more clean up required. Linda will take this issue back to the Librarian's and Supervisor's meeting for further clarification.
Noise issues on the 3rd floor are being made worse by group study tables located in the stairwell area of the 2nd floor. Noise from study groups at these tables is being drawn up through the opening between the two floors and causing excessive noise in the quiet study areas of the 3rd floor.
CELL PHONE USAGE
Cell phone usage is already banned on the 1st and 3rd floors. The issue will be brought up at the next Librarian's and Supervisor's meeting. In the meantime a sign or signs should be put up asking that all cell phones be set to vibrate while inside the building. It was further decided that people speaking loudly on their phones in the 2nd floor foyer would be asked to go outside while talking.
TECHS AT REFERENCE DESK
Techs working at the reference desk were asked to be more mindful during busy times and make more of an effort to encourage students/patrons to use their services.
EQUIPMENT
Linda announced that there was money available for equipment and asked for ideas and suggestions.
Michael suggested quiet pencil sharpeners - Linda felt that would fall under the category of Supplies and not Equipment. A scanner for student use was suggested as were a couple of backup keypads and a new fax machine. Pat also suggested a cash register.
OTHER
1. Pat asked that when checking out material techs be sure to tear off all receipts and either give them to the student or destroy them.
2. Discussion took place regarding proper reserve procedures behind the circulation desk. Adjunct librarians have been bringing students behind the desk, finding the material they need, handing it to the student and instructing the student to take it back around the desk and check it out. This creates problems when students do not carry through and properly check material out. And, it leads to students thinking that they can come behind the desk and retrieve their own reserve material - which is definitely a no-no. It was suggested that adjuncts be notified that this isn't the correct procedure and in fact they don't need to accompany the student to the circulation desk. Instead they should send students directly to the circulation desk for help with reserves. It was further suggested that a blog with updated information for adjunct librarians be instituted.
3. Another subject for the next librarian's and supervisor's meeting was suggested - catalog changes with location of display has caused major havoc with circulation - would like this issue brought to the librarian's attention.
4. A change in boom-boxes/audio CD players in study carrels will be made. From now on only two will be left in carrels; all others will be moved into a storage area to be determined, in order to free up more space for study needs.
Meeting adjourned: 12:40 pm
Many thanks to Chris Bundy for taking the minutes of the meeting.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Library Manager's Musings - by Katherine Gannett
Loading Dock Parking:
The Campus Police have begun to ticket cars parked in the library loading dock area. I can verify for you that they are $35.00 offense citations. So…..be forewarned.
Palomar Library Items May Achieve Fame!
In the upcoming theatre production, Boy Gets Girl, (beginning February 27) the books used in the stage sets are discards from the library. Some of them are items that were mended in the most recent LT 197 class.
At the Pink Zone women’s basketball match being played against Southwestern College on February 14, the lobby display will be mounted on the library’s display board—the one that has been residing most recently behind our new information desk on the second floor.
Need boxes?
There are a number of small to medium-sized boxes available for anyone who would like them. They are available in Jean Young’s workspace in Technical Services. You needn’t let Jean know, just help yourself.
We have been notified by the Student Affairs Director that a student who has been asked to leave the library in the past has ended his probationary period of six months and is now free to return to the library. This student has in the past viewed porn on our computers and was escorted from the building by police the last time this occurred. The Student Affairs Office has informed this student that he is at the zero-tolerance point and if a repeat of the behavior occurs, he will be banned from the library for good. This student has often come to the library wearing a fedora-style hat.
Fragrance reminder
The library strives to maintain a fragrance-free work atmosphere in deference to our employees here who have fragrance sensitivities. Please do not wear fragrance to work in the library.
Back entrance
The back entrance to the library is a workspace for some of us, and I am one of those people. If you are not Katherine or have not spoken with Katherine please do not disturb or mess with items there. Projects have had to be scuttled recently due to an unknown helpful hand taking things related to the project.
Please do not bring broken, outdated, no-good, weak, weary, shopworn or otherwise unlovely items to the back entrance and leave them there with no explanation or arrangement. I will be happy to surplus or dispose of items as appropriate, but a heads-up is helpful and appreciated.
Battery recycling
The battery recycling bin has gone missing. If you have any knowledge of its whereabouts, please contact Katherine
Rear door security
In the past we have had the habit of locking the back door between 5:30 and 6:00 PM as Tutoring staff leaves for the day. On most days, this works well. However, if you are leaving through the back door and find it unlocked after 5:30 PM, please lock it on your way out.
Acknowledgement of a job well done
At last night’s governing board meeting, Trustee Nelson expressed her awe and appreciation for the job done by Palomar College staff in getting everything up and ready for second semester this year. There are probably fewer places on campus where the size of the job was greater, the time line less reasonable, or the atmosphere less conducive than here in the library as we had to work around the unknown construction schedule and piled up furniture for the office project in Technical Services with people relocated in far flung corners of the building. Everyone who contributed to the President’s Associates textbook acquisition, transportation, cataloging, physical prep, and housing deserves kudos for this job and Trustee Nelson acknowledged that in a general way last evening. Thank you.
The Campus Police have begun to ticket cars parked in the library loading dock area. I can verify for you that they are $35.00 offense citations. So…..be forewarned.
Palomar Library Items May Achieve Fame!
In the upcoming theatre production, Boy Gets Girl, (beginning February 27) the books used in the stage sets are discards from the library. Some of them are items that were mended in the most recent LT 197 class.
At the Pink Zone women’s basketball match being played against Southwestern College on February 14, the lobby display will be mounted on the library’s display board—the one that has been residing most recently behind our new information desk on the second floor.
Need boxes?
There are a number of small to medium-sized boxes available for anyone who would like them. They are available in Jean Young’s workspace in Technical Services. You needn’t let Jean know, just help yourself.
We have been notified by the Student Affairs Director that a student who has been asked to leave the library in the past has ended his probationary period of six months and is now free to return to the library. This student has in the past viewed porn on our computers and was escorted from the building by police the last time this occurred. The Student Affairs Office has informed this student that he is at the zero-tolerance point and if a repeat of the behavior occurs, he will be banned from the library for good. This student has often come to the library wearing a fedora-style hat.
Fragrance reminder
The library strives to maintain a fragrance-free work atmosphere in deference to our employees here who have fragrance sensitivities. Please do not wear fragrance to work in the library.
Back entrance
The back entrance to the library is a workspace for some of us, and I am one of those people. If you are not Katherine or have not spoken with Katherine please do not disturb or mess with items there. Projects have had to be scuttled recently due to an unknown helpful hand taking things related to the project.
Please do not bring broken, outdated, no-good, weak, weary, shopworn or otherwise unlovely items to the back entrance and leave them there with no explanation or arrangement. I will be happy to surplus or dispose of items as appropriate, but a heads-up is helpful and appreciated.
Battery recycling
The battery recycling bin has gone missing. If you have any knowledge of its whereabouts, please contact Katherine
Rear door security
In the past we have had the habit of locking the back door between 5:30 and 6:00 PM as Tutoring staff leaves for the day. On most days, this works well. However, if you are leaving through the back door and find it unlocked after 5:30 PM, please lock it on your way out.
Acknowledgement of a job well done
At last night’s governing board meeting, Trustee Nelson expressed her awe and appreciation for the job done by Palomar College staff in getting everything up and ready for second semester this year. There are probably fewer places on campus where the size of the job was greater, the time line less reasonable, or the atmosphere less conducive than here in the library as we had to work around the unknown construction schedule and piled up furniture for the office project in Technical Services with people relocated in far flung corners of the building. Everyone who contributed to the President’s Associates textbook acquisition, transportation, cataloging, physical prep, and housing deserves kudos for this job and Trustee Nelson acknowledged that in a general way last evening. Thank you.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Public Services Meetings
Public Services staff will be meeting on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. Please put this meeting on your calendar. The first meeting will be Februrary 5 in the Library Conference Room, LL-112. More information about the meetings will be distributed soon. If you have any questions about this meeting schedule please contact Linda, Peggy or Pat.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Go Print and Customer Service
As we begin a new semester, there may be more changes with the operation of Go Print. Each new implementation can cause frustration and anxiety for students as well as library staff. Please remember that when you are on a public service desk, your one and only function is to serve the public. Everything else is secondary.
This may come as quite a shock to some of you. We sometimes carefully plan the kinds of projects we bring to the public service desk in hopes that we can get various tasks accomplished. That's great. What we must keep in mind is that the lasting impression our students and faculty have of our service is how they are treated when they approach a staff member.
We are all working hard to streamline the operation of Go Print. Sometimes it is through trial and error, and error prevails. Nevertheless, our goal remains the same - to provide excellent public service.
If you have any suggestions for improving our services, including Go Print, please let Judy, Peggy, Pat or me know. You can also just make a comment on this blog. We are listening and will try to make whatever changes we can.
Change in Policy for Making Change
Our policy of not changing $20 bills is a very old one, adopted at least 20 or more years ago when $20 was a lot more money than it is now. This is a barrier to helping our students with print or other issues. We will now make change for bills up to and including $20.00 at the San Marcos campus. At EJA in the Escondido Center, we will continue to have students go to Admissions for change.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Our Students Under Pressure
On January 13, Vice President Berta Cuaron was interviewed about the current budget crisis and how this is impacting our students. Click here to see the video.
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