I mean, we can't even make TLC print larger or bolder receipts! We can't search by call number, we can't click on
items in the Charges tab. And folks using self check are frustrated because TLC puts everything that's on Hold in
Transit, and when something is in Transit, patrons can't check it out.

I don't see how we can move to a self service model using TLC and I'm already advocating for a new ILS.
Everyone groans in meetings when I suggest we consider migrating, but self service is more important than
the headache of leaving TLC behind.

My two cents.

Thanks for all the info. I think you hit the nail on the head when you wrote that the group needs more publicity. I am a member of LAMA and SASS (joined this year) and have not heard about any of the programming the group does.

Sorry this response is so late; I suppose I should check the posts more regularly. LAMA SASS does have the Access Services Committee which does a lot of program planning. At ALA Annual 07, for instance, there was a program planned by this committee entitled, "Access Services: It's Not Just Circulation Anymore." this program looked at the changes in Access Services over the past 15 years. In my biased opinion (I was one of the presenters), the session was good; it was certainly well attended for a Monday afternoon at conference.

LAMA SASS also has the Circulation/Access Services Discussion Group. This group usually mets on Sunday mornings at the conference. This is a more open forum for information sharing and the topics vary as widely as the tasks we all perform in access services.

You are correct that this is the only committee (well, there is now a joint LAMA/RUSA committee that deals with Access issues) that is specifically for access services practitioners. Perhaps the group needs to do more publicity on the activities and programs and if you all don't mind, I'll share this discussion with the current chair (once I figure out who that is)!

Trevor

I am in agreement with your assessment. So I wonder if we need to start so big? Why not try something on a regional level first? When I was working in NY, the Nassau and Suffolk County library associations hosted an "All Island Circ-Heads Meeting." It was one of the best half day affairs I have ever attended. It was open to anyone who was a circulation head, not just librarians, and all types of libraries. I wonder if we could do something regionally like a South East circ heads meeting, or something of that ilk. I really believe that if we got some face time, it would help invigorate the movement. All I know is that I am DYING to discuss all things ADS with people who can feel my pain and pride first hand.

I am toying with a blog post that will be sort of an open letter to Jim Rettig (ALA preseident elect) about how ALA really needs an ADS/Circulation SIG or committee because I feel that our needs are not being met. Before I post something like that I wanted to know if anyone has any info about any of the exisiting ALA avenues that sort of address ADS and circulation.

Do they work? Do they meet our needs? I am inclined to say no since I don't ever hear anyone speaking or writing about them.

Any thoughts?

http://brickandclick.org

At NCSU, I am using our ADS wiki much the same way. I have a small group of staff who are working on building our department wiki which will contain all of our training manuals, emergency procedures, contact information, etc. Once we have it built and seeded, we are going to have wiki training so that everyone feels comfortable editing and contributing content.

I wrote an article about this that is coming out later this year.

It details the HSL experience and some tips and ideas for using wikis in libraries. Email me if you want a rough draft.

I wish I could go, but my husband and I have family coming in for that entire week. Bad timing!

We just got a new Wiki for our Access Services. I just found about your page and am really excited to learn more about your experience….

Jennifer

I do and I am going a bit crazy!!!!!!!!!!!! I would be interested in knowing how strictly does you building adhere to it's building use policy and in what times of incidents do you see shades of gray rather than black and white?

Can we have a forum topic that is for Circ problems, issues or venting?

I have a post brewing and I have no where to put it.

Thanks!

______

I started working in Circulation/Library Services in 1996 as a shelver when I was just 16 years old. After college I worked for two years at a public library in Indiana (where I'm originally from) where I started as a Circulation Assistant, and was promoted to Circulation Supervisor after a year. My husband and I wanted to move so I applied for a Circulation Coordinator position on the east-coast and we've been east-coast transplants here in Massachusetts since 2005 Last fall I started earning my MLS and will graduate in June of 2008.

As a Circulation Coordinator I'm in charge of supervising and training almost 30 student assistants as well as organizing all stack maintenace activities (shelving, range reading, binding, periodical maintenance, etc). While motivation and training seems to be the biggest obstacles where the students are concerned, being just 25 I do have the advantage of increased communication between myself and the students. I really enjoy my job and hope to be a Circulation/Library Services department head/manager.

I am happy to meet you all, and hope this forum gets a lot of use!

Ami

Dianna

Dianna

As a Circulation Coordinator I'm in charge of supervising and training almost 30 student assistants as well as organizing all stack maintenace activities (shelving, range reading, binding, periodical maintenance, etc). While motivation and training seems to be the biggest obstacles where the students are concerned, being just 25 I do have the advantage of increased communication between myself and the students. I really enjoy my job and hope to be a Circulation/Library Services department head/manager.

I am happy to meet you all, and hope this forum gets a lot of use!

Ami

I am the Access Services Librarian at Honolulu Community College (HCC). I began working in the library as a Library Assistant III on a short contract in 1987, left to work at the Hawaii Supreme Court Library for a while and returned in 1990. Soon after I decided to enroll in the University of Hawaii School of Library and Information Services and graduated with my MLIS in 1992.

After working in the Hawaii State Public Library system for a couple of months, a position opened at HCC and I applied and got the job!! I have been there every since.

I am currently in Virginia on sabbatical leave and was very fortunate to be able to attend the Computers in Libraries conference in Washington D.C. April 16-18. I will be forwarding the information about this wiki and hope other librarians from Hawaii will join. Often it is nearly impossible to receive funding to attend conferences since the air fare alone is astronomical but having a forum such as this will help us stay current with new and exciting technologies.

I will be attending the ALA conference in Washington D.C. in June and hope to meet some of the other librarians on this forum.

Aloha,
Janet

My name is Martha Yancey. I am the Access Services Librarian at West Virginia University's Evansdale
Library. I was pleasantly surprise to see the Wiki message in my email. I have worked at Evansdale for
10 years. Evansdale Access Services has 6 staff members, and works with approximately 35 students
during the year. I am responsible for all activities in the unit. We have embarked on our own unit wiki, but, decided
to restrict it to IP addresses at least for now. I also have reference desk responsibilities.
I look forward to this experience.