Strength in Reserve (and Periodicals too)

Starting August 6th, we will have new guidelines for student use of computers at the front desk. Since this is a shift from what has been our normal policy down here, we want to explain our reasons for doing this, which are twofold:

First, our location (behind the walls of the reserve area) makes accessibility difficult for patrons. Patrons are much more comfortable approaching an open desk where they can see a friendly, welcoming staff person. Already working at the disadvantaged position of being hard to see, your focus on the computer screen (while intently surfing or typing) becomes even more of a barrier as patrons are not likely to “bother” staff workers who exhibit “closed” behavior (such as looking busy at a terminal).

While university-related and other resource and research sites are okay for the casual browse, answering email, participating in chats, or engaging in discussion groups online ( FaceBook, MySpace-type blogging community), take attention away from your principal role at the desk: which is as a customer service representative for the library. Your primary goal is to appear welcoming and to make eye contact with each passing patron. This is an important role and you don’t want anything to distract you from it.

Secondly, this is simply a library wide-policy which has not, until now, been enforced properly. It’s our responsibility to bring ourselves in line with the rest of the library departments.

Students please comment that you have read this post.