<> Wilson Stacks Blog

May 06, 2008

Open-Toed Shoes + Books + Gravity

Hello Everyone,

This is just a reminder that open-toed shoes, including flip-flops are not allowed during your work shift. I'm the first to cast aside the socks and bulky shoes when the weather gets warmer, but it is a safety issue, and is included in the Protocols and Standards that everyone signs when beginning work here.

Please respond to this message so I know that you've read it.
Thanks!
Jackie

April 28, 2008

Great Service!!!

Hello Everyone,

During the month of April, Wilson Annex was 'secret shopped' four times. The service providers during those times provided great service, and consistently scored 9/10! They were each presented with a certificate, and entered into a prize drawing.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the great service that you provide to our users! Let's continue to make it our top priority to serve our users well so they feel good about the experiences they have here at Wilson Library.

Here are the points that everyone was evaluated on:
1. Acknowledged User
2. Greeted User
3. Wear Nametag
4. Appropriate Clothing
5. Appropriate Language
6. Respect
7. Ask if they Found Everything Ok
8. Gave clear explanations
9. Offered directions
10. Approach Users

We expect everyone to practice the above points during every user interaction; whether you are in the stacks or on the desk.

#7 is tricky, and not necessarily relevant to our desk situations (which is why our staffers scored 9/10) because you are the one looking for the item; it does apply in the stacks though.
I would like to suggest that you incorporate phrases like "Is there anything else that I can do for you today?" into user transactions so you can encourage them to ask for more help if they need it.

I would love to hear feedback about these points; any questions or thoughts?

Thanks!
Jackie

ICE CREAM COUNTDOWN: 3 MORE DAYS!

April 23, 2008

ICE CREAM!

You are all invited to an IADS Spring Semester ice cream social!

When: Thursday May 1
Time: Starts at 11am; continues through afternoon or as long as food lasts
What: Build your own sundaes; root beer floats; board games; door prizes
Where: On 1st Floor behind Circulation (near book return room)

(PS Don't forget to read the previous blog post)


April 21, 2008

Blank on the Schedule?

Hello Everyone,

Today I walked into the office to find four people waiting for assignments. It was ten after the hour, which adds up to, at the very least, 40 minutes of work lost for the day.

I apologize for not having tasks scheduled, but sometimes it happens; with Pat gone on vacation it's likely to happen again. We will try to do better, but if you have a blank on the schedule and a supervisor is not around, give yourself a TA and write it on the schedule. If we need to change your task, we will come and find you; and we will not be mad that you took the initiative to give yourself something to do.

Please comment so I know you've read this post.
Jackie


April 17, 2008

Shelving Check Results are In

Great Job Everyone!

You all did a great job, and helped get us our best shelving check score to date!

Here's a recap of how we've done over the years:

Spring 2006.....98.75
Fall 2006..........96.36
Spring 2007.....98.5
Fall 2007..........97.94
Spring 2008.....98.82

Individual results will be handed out soon, and the group results with more detail are posted on the bulletin board to the left of the schedule.

Keep up the good work!
Jackie

April 03, 2008

DeskTracker Changes

Due to a reorganization of DeskTracker, all IADS service points are now listed under the branch IADS. This has slightly changed the procedure for logging in. The new procedures including the new username and password are shown on four pages (screen by screen) in the red information notebook by the Annex desk. As some of you have discovered, the system allows you to go in with the old procedures but you end up at a blank screen. If you have any questions, be sure to ask.

Keep on Truckin'

*Update: Tyler's name was drawn and he won some chocolates! Thanks Everyone for the great movie quotes!

And in case you were wondering:
"We'll jump and we'll see. That's life." from Joe Vs the Volcano is one of Jackie's favorite movie quotes.
"What we have here is a failure to communicate" from Cool Hand Luke is a favorite of Pat's.

If you have any suggestions for future prize drawings on the blog please see Jackie.


Hello Everyone,

Just a heads up that we may see heavier trucks as we move towards the end of the semester. This is not something that we can change, so here are a few tips for moving the trucks around:

1. Push the trucks slowly, and only steer them using the end with the moveable wheels.
2. If you are moving trucks in and out of the elevators, use caution and don't ever try to force the truck to move a certain way. It helps to line the truck up perpindicularly to the elevator doors so you can push it in straight instead of having to turn it as you push it into the elevator.
3. If you feel a truck start to tip, get out of the way. Don't ever try to stop the truck from falling using your body. The books will be just fine, and we want you to be just fine too.

Please comment so we know you've read this post.
Thanks!
Jackie

PS I think it's time for a prize drawing. If you include a favorite movie quote, and what movie it's from in your comment by Friday April 11at noon, you will be entered to win a prize.

March 27, 2008

Survey!

Hello Everyone,

Please ask any users that you help at the Annex Desk if they would be willing to fill out a survey. We are trying to get an idea of how users view our services across the library system.

This survey runs through Sunday March 30th, so until then, please sell the survey.

As always, please be courteous and try to deliver the best service possible to all our users...they deserve it!

Thanks!
Jackie

March 12, 2008

Auto Pilot is great...for Airplanes!

Hey Everyone,
Things in the stacks seem to be going really well ...thank you for all the hard work that you are doing!

I would like to start a discussion here about things that we may overlook if we're on auto pilot, so please post comments with any thoughts on things you've caught yourself doing, or mistakes that you've seen while working in the stacks, and also: do you have any tips for compating the oh-so-tempting desire to zone out?

Here's something I would like people to be aware of:
* Wrong Sizes on the Call numbers:
Books might be too big for the shelf, but incorrectly classed. If you have to struggle to get a book onto a shelf, look to make sure you're shelving in the correct section. If you are, and the book is too big, give it to a supervisor to have it transferred into the proper section.

Here's a very useful tip: when you put a book away, take two seconds to look to either side of it. If something doesn't look right-check it out. I've caught myself putting things away in the wrong places doing this helpful step.

What are some other things?

March 07, 2008

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream!

Hello Everyone,
I'm working with a group of staff members to plan an event (sort of the like the Library Olympics/Pizza event last fall) that will center around ice cream. Here's the question for you:

Would you prefer a do-it-yourself ice cream sundae "bar" or would you prefer ice cream novelties such as Klondike Bars, ice cream sandwhiches, fudgsicles?

Thanks for your input! Also, feel free to give us any other suggestions to make the event more fun for you. We love suggestions!
Jackie

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