Bio-Med Library Access Services Blog http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/ en Copyright 2008 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:53:49 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.33.uthink http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss We need help - Open shifts! help.jpg Open shifts!!

Thur Aug 21, 645am-9am
Thur Aug 21, 1-5
Fri Aug 22, 645am-10am
Sat Aug 23, 845-6pm
Sun Aug 24,1145-10pm

Mon Aug 25, 645am-11am
Tue Aug 26, 645am-9am
Thur Aug 28, 645am-9am
Thur Aug 28, 4pm-6pm
Fri Aug 29, 645am-10am
Fri Aug 29, 11am-6pm
Sat Aug 30, 9am-6pm
Sun Aug 31, 1145am-6pm

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/08/we_need_help_open_shifts.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/08/we_need_help_open_shifts.html Circulation Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:53:49 -0600 Aleph is going down Aleph will be updated to version 19 this weekend, which means:

1. After 4:00PM on Friday until further notice, use the Aleph Offline Circulation module (on the 2nd floor, left-side computer ONLY) to check out materials.

2. DO NOT check in items. Place all returned items on a cart and hold them behind the 2nd floor Circ desk.

3. DO NOT use the Offline module to check out Reserve materials. Make a photocopy of the patron's U Card and the title, barcode and call number of the item. Make sure that the copies are legible in case we need to follow up. Note the date and time of the loan. When the item is returned, destroy the photocopies.

4. Loan receipts, return receipts and loan periods can all be found in/on the red folder at the Offline computer for your convenience.

5. Note any requests for renewals and recall that come in by phone. We'll process them manually on Monday once we get the all clear.

6. During the migration, which is scheduled from 4:00PM Friday to Monday morning, GetIt and MyAccount will not be available. Aleph and Primo will also be down for approximately half an hour on both Friday and Monday.

Please let me know ASAP if any of this information is unclear!

Thanks,
Emily

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/08/aleph_is_going_down.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/08/aleph_is_going_down.html Aleph Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:58:31 -0600 Aleph Offline Aleph will be Offline the weekend of August 15-17 for the new version of Aleph. Number 19!

I have left packets of the "Stand Alone Offline Circulation" at each of the desks. Please read it over.

The upgrade will begin at 4:00 pm on Friday, August 15 and should be complete on Sunday, August 17.

During the upgrade:
--Primo will be available.
--The Aleph Web OPAC will be available except for a period of approximately 30 minutes at the beginning
of the upgrade and 30 minutes at the end. However, Your Account and GetIt will not be available.
--Circulation will be handled using the offline circulation client. Regular circulation procedures should
resume on Monday, after offline circ data is loaded and any errors resolved.
--Aleph ILL will be unavailable from 7:00 AM Friday until the upgrade is complete on Sunday. Partner libraries
will be notified. Other ILL systems will be available as usual.

Post to the blog that you have read this blog and the Stand Alone Offline Circulation.

If you have any questions please ask David, Emily, Pat, Steve or Randy.

Thanks,
Melissa

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/08/aleph_offline.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/08/aleph_offline.html Aleph Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:04:22 -0600 Periodic Hourly Counts Are BACK! Periodic Hourly Counts will run all week -- Sunday, August 10 - Saturday, August 16. Remember to check the gate count at both desks and record it on the sheet every hour on the hour, open to close!

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

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/08/periodic_hourly_counts_are_bac_8.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/08/periodic_hourly_counts_are_bac_8.html Gate Counts/Statistics Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:57:53 -0600 Aleph Email/Print Problems - Be Prepared to Answer Questions! angry baby.jpegBecause of a recent printing error, some patrons will be receiving Aleph emails twice, with the second email delayed by five days. Some patrons will be receiving print notices five days late - including recall notices. Please be prepared to encounter questions and concerns from patrons about the situation. We may need to be more liberal in forgiving recall overdue fines over the next few days. As always, be ready to provide excellent customer service.

If you have any difficulty or any questions, please ask a supervisor.

Thanks,
Emily

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/08/aleph_emailprint_problems_be_p.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/08/aleph_emailprint_problems_be_p.html Aleph Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:42:24 -0600 Children in the library As you know we have been receiving many complaints regarding kids in the library being loud, rude, running, looking at porn, etc. Well it has been decided that effective immediately ALL children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. If they do not have one with them please ask them to leave the library and offer them a handout of our new policy (handouts are on each of the Circ desks, at Reference and a link is also on our webpage). If they say that have someone with them in the library who is their legal guardian and is 18, but they do not look like they are 18, you may ask for ID.

Please be aware that there may be a person under 18 who is taking classes here at the U. If they mention this please ask for a UCard and once they show their UCard they can stay.

Also with the construction we will be locking down the computers and anyone who does not have a x500 account (so a non-U person) will need to be logged in (more on this later). These logins and passwords will be for people doing research. If someone files a complaint about a non-U person looking at porn or playing video games you may also ask them to leave as those are NOT research activities (this is also on the new handout).

If you have any questions or are not comfortable asking someone to leave because they are underage please see me, Steve, David, Emily, Randy or Pat. Also you can ask one of the Reference Librarians - like Del, Martha, Lisa, etc.

Also if anyone gives you a hard time about this please get security or call 911.

On Saturdays you can have the Reference Librarian (for the summer its Lisa and in the fall its Katherine) on duty talk to the kids or others with inappropriate behavior.

Any questions please ask and dont forget to LOOK over the new policy handout.

Please post to the blog that you have read this.
Thanks,
Melissa


]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/children_in_the_library_1.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/children_in_the_library_1.html General Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:08:32 -0600 Construction Construction update from Steve:

The construction project on the 2nd floor of Bio-Med will begin on Monday, August 4 in the morning and is scheduled to last through Wednesday, August 13. Here are the changes you can expect as the project starts:

* All computers in the reference area will be removed
* All tables in the reference area will be removed
* Reference Desk will be removed, reference services will be provided out of room 274 (located directly behind the current desk)
* Public access around the construction zone in the middle of the room will be maintained by "alleyways" marked by caution tape & cones:
o along the east side to computers in the Pit
o along the west side to group study rooms and reference service in room 274

While computers will be limited during this time, here are what computers will remain available on the 2nd floor:

* 24 PC's in the Pit - authentication required
* 4 PC's at the stand-up stations in front of the Circulation Desk - open (no authentication required)
* 3 PC's & 1 Mac on the other side of the glass wall to stacks - open (no authentication required)

Oh yes, expect it to be noisy from time to time. Not constantly and not jackhammers, but we'll notice.

If anyone has questions about the construction please answer them the best you can or refer them to me, Steve, David, Emily, Pat or Randy.

-Thanks,
Melissa

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/construction.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/construction.html General Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:06:09 -0600 Group Study Room 220 Starting Sunday night (August 3) Group Study Room 220 will be closed due to library construction. I will be placing a large sign on the door and the door will remain locked. No sign up sheets will be available for this room. It will be closed for 2 week.

Thanks,
Melissa

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/group_study_room_220.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/group_study_room_220.html General Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:40:01 -0600 No more tracking of book check outs! yay-773135.jpg.gif Hi everyone -

Good news - we no longer need to record check outs in the Tracking database! Keep recording everything else. You're already doing a great job, but make sure that you keep it up! Please post so I know I've caught your attention.

Thanks,
Emily

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/no_more_statistical_reporting.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/no_more_statistical_reporting.html Gate Counts/Statistics Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:47:47 -0600 Extended hours The Bio-Med Library will start extended hours until 3am beginning on Friday, August 1, 2008.

So if you are closing remember to give the Security Monitor the two extra sheet: Group Study Room and User Demographic Survey (both are in the blue security book).

Thanks,
Melissa

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/extended_hours.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/extended_hours.html Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:50:03 -0600 Computer Authentication for 3rd & 4th Floors The entire University will soon be using Microsoft's Active Directory for networking and authentication purposes. What this means for you is that soon all of our computers (excluding the Macs) will require currently-affiliated U of MN students, staff and faculty to activate Active Directory in their online account in order to log onto a computer. (You may want to get a jump on things and do this for yourself, as well.) We will have guest accounts for unaffiliated users to use when the time comes. For now, computers on the 3rd and 4th floors are the only ones that require Active Directory authentication. The rest of the PCs will follow, post-construction (mid-August).

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

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/computer_authentication_for_3r.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/computer_authentication_for_3r.html Training Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:43:33 -0600 MNCAT Plus - New Catalog Search Interface At the end of the month, the University Libraries will be changing the default catalog from MNCAT (soon to be MNCAT Classic) to MNCAT Plus (currently known as both Library Search and Primo). This means that there's training in store for you!

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

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/mncat_plus.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/mncat_plus.html Aleph Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:49:21 -0600 Statistics! Research2.jpg

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.

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/statistics.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/statistics.html Circulation Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:12:44 -0600 ILL Circulation - Blocked Patrons With the new ILLiad Web Circulation, material can not be checked out to patrons who have a blocked ILLiad account. If you attempt to check an item out to a blocked patron under "Quick Tasks", the following error message will appear:

User (ILLiad Username) is currently blocked. Please direct (ILLiad Username) to the Interlibrary Loan Office.

If you receive this message, please put the item back on the hold shelf and ask the patron to contact our office.

Thanks!
Emily and Randy

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/ill_circulation_blocked_patron_2.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/ill_circulation_blocked_patron_2.html Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:34:52 -0600 Color Copies Color copy prices have dropped: $0.50/page - regular color copy, $1.00/page - color ledger and transparency.

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/color_copies.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/biomdoc/access_services/2008/07/color_copies.html Copy Services Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:17:04 -0600