I will have instructions at both desks. You can also access instructions here and in the Student Worker Guide.

Please post a comment with your initials to indicate you've read the post.

Thanks,
Emily

First, there will be a training session that you are strongly encouraged to attend:

Friday August 8
2:30-3:30 pm
120 Andersen Library

You will be paid for your time! Elmer L. Andersen Library is located here: http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/maps/EALib/ . You will be paid, so plan on going unless you have a conflict. Please speak with me if that's the case.

Second, you must complete an online tutorial that you'll find under Bio-Medical Library Online Training on the blog. Look under Training under the Links section on the blog if you need to return to it later.

We may also do a hands on class sometime later on. Let me know if you have questions or concerns!

Thanks,
Emily

Hold onto your hats - we're going to start tracking desk statistics!

But it shouldn't be too, too onerous. After each interaction with a patron, either in person or by phone, click on the Track Your Transaction button on the blog. Complete the form, and you're done! The form will default to the most common types of interactions (for example, it defaults to "in person" rather than "phone" and the 2nd Floor rather than the 3rd floor). The intention is to gather the data we need, but make the entry as fast and straightforward as possible.

Here are the definitions for the Transaction Types. Know these definitions and use them properly! If you have a transaction that involves multiple Transaction Types, you can and ought to check more than one entry. Questions? You know where to find us. Please comment, so we know you've read this post, and start trackin' ASAP!

Thanks,
Emily

Transaction Types
Located an Item/Verifed Holdings - Use for looking up a specific (or known) item for a patron in Aleph/MNCAT.
Borrowing/Circulation Assistance - Use for checking out an item, looking up a patron's record, or taking a fine.
Accepted Payment - Use this for accepting any kind of payment - cash, check, U Card, EFS number, etc.
Directional - Use for questions about the building or campus - hours, location of bathrooms, directions to Magrath.
Citation Clarification - Use for looking up a full citation or correcting a bad citation.
How to Use a Resource - For any type of library resource instruction, including how to use MNCAT, how to place an ILL, how to use PubMed, how to use RefWorks, etc.
Eresources Access Troubleshooting - Use when assisting patrons with e-journals and online resource problems.
Technical/Computer Issue - Use for computer hardware/software/network issues of a non-library nature (how do I view a PDF, why is my screen frozen, etc.).
Referral* - Use when referring to another staff person or library department. Don't forget to fill in Referral information below.
Ready Reference - Use when providing factual, at-hand knowledge in response to a question. Examples of this type of question includes definitions of words, populations of a state, or name of an organism.
In-depth Reference - Use when answering a question involves research beyond Ready Reference.
Other - You guessed it. Use this for other types of transactions.

Please put sheets in Melissa's box when they are filled.

Please post your initials in a comment to indicate you've read this post.

Thanks,
Melissa

Thanks,
Emily

So how will you know which books are ONLY for Medical Students and who can check them out? The books will have a yellow sticker on the back by the barcode and there will also be a popup in Aleph when you try to check the book out that says 'Verify Med School Rotation'. If you see this message you need to ASK the person if they are a Medical Student. If they say 'YES' they are a Medical Student continue to check the book out, but if they are NOT a Medical Student please tell them that "Unfortunately these books are for Medical Students only and they will NOT be allowed to checkout the book." The Medical Student's will not have any special ID, just take their word for it (plus they are the only people that will know about these books). The Medical School Students are paying for the books and that's why they are the only ones allowed to check the books out. If a patron has any questions please refer them to Melissa, Pat, or David.

If we run out of a title and students are still asking for it, please tell them that we have purchased all the copies for this fiscal year and that we hope to buy more copies when the funds become available.

So the Medical School Student Books:
-will be able to be checked out for 4 or 6 weeks (depending on the title)
-will have both a yellow sticker on the back of the book below the barcode and will have a popup in Aleph
-will have normal fines
-will NOT be eligible for renewal
-will NOT be eligible for 'Get It'
-these items will NOT be listed in MNCAT (the record will be suppressed, so make sure that you are aware of the titles and where they are located in Reserve).

Please post to the blog.

Thanks,
Melissa

P.S. From David...
We have coded these books so that they can only circulate to grad students (including Med Students)--to help with keeping them from the grubby paws of undergrads and faculty and staff. If these people should chance to check one out, it will be due immediately, so if you notice that you'll know that either there's something wrong with the student's registration or (s)he isn't a med student like (s)he told you.

The time is this Wednesday or Thursday.

Focus Groups will be held as follows - they can just show up at:
314 Walter Library
4:15-5:15 pm
Wednesday, June 18 or
Thursday, June 19

This Thursday June 19 (or rain day Friday 20) is Turtle Derby Day!

From 10am-1pm

There will be music, food, clowns, t-shirts to buy and turtle races.

The HSL is sponsoring 6 turtles this year!

# Sponsor: Technical Services
* On the Marc
* Heat 1 / 10:30 - 10:45

# Sponsor: Health Sciences Libraries Staff
* Diehl-licious
* Heart 3 / 10:45 - 11:00

# Sponsor: Vet Med
* VetMed Veronica
* Heat 3 / 11:00 - 11:15

# Sponsor: Reference Services
* Aristurtle
* Heat 3 / 11:15-11:30

# Sponsor: Health Sciences Libraries Staff
* Diehl With It
* Heat 3 / 11:30-11:45

# Sponsor: Health Sciences Staff
* QL666.C5

You might have noticed that a certain non-U library patron leaves his unattended luggage in the library. If you find this happening or anyone else leaving bags unattended, please call 4-COPS (4-2677) and tell 4-COPS that there are 'unattended bags in the library'. Remember that this is a safety risk. Also remember that we do NOT hold items for anyone.

But remember that if you feel threatened or in danger - call 911. NEVER ENDANGER YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY.

Please post to the blog!

Thanks,
Melissa

***UPDATE*** I called 4-COPS today to have the unattended personal items removed. If a patron asks about their whereabouts, refer to a supervisor. If a supervisor is unavailable, inform the patron that he can retrieve the items from the University Police Station and the items were removed at the direction of the Library Director and the University Libraries' Safety Committee. Thanks, Emily

If you notice that they are being loud or disruptive, please let me, David, Emily, Pat, Steve or Randy know (or the security monitor). If its just you please feel free to give the students one warning. After that if they are still being loud or disruptive you can ask them to leave.

Thanks,
Melissa

This week I sent out overdue library fines (and billed to student accounts old library fines) and I noticed as I was billing, that a few books were not backdated correctly and the student was billed for them. Remember you MUST backdate books in the return bins and anything on the desk to the time we closed the night before. If you do not know how to backdate or have problems please see Me, Pat, David, Emily, Randy or Steve. Also if you notice that a student has been fined for something that was returned on time just let me know and I will clear it up. Either find me, write me an email or put a note on my desk/chair (don't forget to include the name, the book, fine, date, etc).

Also when someone returns a book to the Circulation desk STOP what you are doing and return that book! Its important that we correctly check items in on time, so that patrons are not charged.

If you close on Fridays or Saturdays and there is a new security monitor ask them if they have any questions and give them one of the closing sheets (they are at the back of the blue Security Monitor book--which is now next to the forms binder). Also remember that you need to lock both doors on 2nd and the handicap door at the end of the day. Remind the security monitor that they need to be the last one out of the building so that they can double check that the doors and the handicap door are locked.

One last thing. Please, please do NOT open change when its not needed or just because we are getting low. The last few weeks the register on 2nd has had more change then is needed and it takes a while to count out at the end of the night.

Please post to the blog.

Thanks,
Melissa

If you close the 3rd floor desk, please close the glass doors that separate the Circulation area from the stairs. Do NOT lock them, just close them. We are going to see if this helps keep people from leaving via the 3rd floor exit when we close down the desk and rope off the exit.

Thanks,
Melissa