Bio-Med Library Access Services Blog

Hi everyone, Don't get the wrong idea -- there's still lots of summer left -- but I need to start planning the Fall Semester schedule. Please create a new entry with your fall schedule in the Desk Availability database and drop me an email once you've done so. (There are shortcuts located on the Circ computer desktops.) I'll need to know when you're scheduled for classes or other commitments and how many hours you're interested in working. I'll also do my best to accommodate your scheduling preferences, though I can't guarantee anything. (Though I will say, the sooner you get your schedules in, the better....)

Thanks,
Emily

Posted by Emily Reimer at 04:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hi. I just wanted to let everyone know that if a patron says that they have printed from computer Green 11, it will probably be under the coversheet Blue 1.

-- AJB

Posted by Amy Bergsbaken at 09:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

From now on, could we please keep the lost and found locked at all times? I attached a key to the 2nd floor keys.

Thanks,

KMP

Posted by Katie Pilarski at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

By now, you may have noticed signs around the library announcing new loan periods for journals. Although we don't have a firm start date, August 1st is likely when we will implement this change. Here's the deal: Unbound journals will continue to circulate exactly as they are now - available after 3:30PM and due back before 8:30AM. ALL bound journals will circulate for one day (or 24 hours). Patrons may renew loans of bound journals up to three times for a total of a four day loan period. There may be cases in which we need to make an exception, since we are effectively reducing the loan period for many items. You have the authority to do this, just make certain to let a supervisor know (email's fine) when and why you made the decision you did. That way we can keep track of how the new system is working and gauge whether our users are experiencing any inconvenience.

Questions? Comments? Post them here, and I will respond ASAP. Please also read Ben's post below and leave any feedback you might have.

Thanks,
Emily

Posted by Emily Reimer at 04:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hello all. I just wanted to comment on our current headphone situation. While I think that the kids who come in the library to use our headphones and computers are generally well behaved and have a right to be here, a new system may be necessary. I just lent out all of our headphones, large and small, and received another complaint about noise level in the pit. Again, they have never been a problem with me but I think those doing research have been irritated a few times. The patron who complained said that she rarely comes to the library anymore because she struggles focusing due to the noise. Just thought I would throw a comment out there.

Ben

Posted by Benjamin Pothen at 07:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Staff meeting for Pages & Shelvers on Tuesday. 3 p.m. Room 555. Probably between 1 hour and 1.5 hours, but I've reserved the room for 2 hours. See your email for a slightly longer reminder with some directions.

I'd like to talk about our ongoing projects, some plans for the fall, and the pagelog, and anything else you'd like to bring up. If you have any questions or would like to talk about something, it might be nice for me to have some advance notice, so please reply to this memo with such. Any other staff who'd like to suggest topics or have issues to bring to pages' attention, e-mail me or note here.

Thanks, David

Posted by David Lenander at 07:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

To thank you for all of your hard work so far this summer, we've decided to say it in bagels. They're in the break room on the 2nd floor -- enjoy!

Bagel Fun Fact

Wikipedia says about the bagel, "[It] was invented in Central Europe, probably in Poland. A 1610 document from Kraków mentions beygls given as a gift to women in childbirth. This is cited as the earliest known reference to the bagel, but the document is not absolutely clear about what a beygl is." Hmmm.... Who knew?

Emily

Posted by Emily Reimer at 03:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Working at Bio-Med means being part of an organization that is committed to great customer service. As a result, it's important to make sure we're providing a consistent level of service. Though we are already doing a good job, it's doesn't hurt to review some basic expectations: - Make eye contact and smile when users approach the service desk. - Greet approaching users (“Hello, how may I help you?”). - When explaining policies and procedures, provide enough detail so the user fully understands. (e.g. borrowing options, MLAC, ILL). - Ask if users found everything they needed. - If unable to assist a patron, call in a co-worker for assistance or refer to a supervisor.

- When giving directions to other locations, supply a campus or library map.

- If possible, offer to walk patrons to nearby locations in the building. It can also be as simple as going with the person to get them started in the right direction ("Let me show where the Reference section is located").

- Respect users and treat them accordingly.

- When users appear in need of assistance, offer to help ("Is there something I can help you find?").

- Wear your name tag.

Your efforts have made our library known for its helpfulness -- keep up the good work!

Thanks,
Emily

All student workers must comment to indicate they have read this.

Posted by Emily Reimer at 10:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Hello! Someone is making photocopies for the photocopy request forms, but are not stapling them. When you make the copies could you please staple the articles and then circle if you have entered the cuffs number into the system or not? Thanks! ~Tiffanie

Posted by Tiffanie Clark at 01:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Periodic Hourly Counts will run all week -- Sunday, July 8th - Saturday, July 14th. Remember to check the gate count at both desks and record it on the sheet every hour on the hour, open to close! Please post your initials in a comment to indicate you've read this post.

Do you have questions, comments, feedback? I'd love to hear it!

Thanks,
Emily

Posted by Emily Reimer at 04:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

The University provides us with some groovy online tools. Here are a few to check out:

Online file storage -- 5 GB of space!

Never email a paper to yourself again! NetFiles allows you to upload content, manage it in folders and share it with others. Very, very handy! Follow this link to activate your account: http://www1.umn.edu/netfiles/about.html.

More structured than NetFiles -- Another 5GB!

Portfolio can be thought of as an electronic file cabinet in which you can store multiple types of information by and about yourself, such as writing samples, photographs or design samples, video clips, music clips, resumes, internship experiences or mentors. Creating a Portfolio encourages you to think critically about and document your thoughts and experiences related to personal information, education, career, skills, professional practices and recognition. Create your Portfolio at: https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/.

Start your own blog -- it takes less than a minute!

UThink blogs are available to the faculty, staff, and students of the University of Minnesota, and are intended to support teaching and learning, scholarly communication, and individual expression for the U of M community. Create your own blog at: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/uthink/start.phtml.

Posted by Emily Reimer at 07:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)