Anonymous (131.95.194.110) 1213656167|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
Does anyone use a Fine Appeal Committee totally outside of the library? We currently have one that is half and half but are thinking about moving to just outside faculty. I believe this will remove the circulation staff from some of the complaints about fines that have to be paid after an appeal.
Elizabeth 2 1213646014|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
I am looking forward to seeing this potential fulfilled.
Anonymous (140.211.8.16) 1194374964|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
If you're like me, you'd like to dump TLC yesterday. We've had a wish list of features for a long time and we keep
hearing how things will improve in the next release, but that's been pushed back so long no one remembers when
the original release date was supposed to be.
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.
Mary Carmen 1188218396|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
Hi Trevor,
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.
tadawes 1188170823|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
Greetings,
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
Barb 1183156319|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
Hi there. My name is Barb and I am the branch manager at the Carbon Valley Library in Frederick, CO. We are part of the Weld Library District.
As a small library, I wear many hats and have worked circulation for 18 years. I also serve as the lead for "library materials" for my library district.
Currently, I have a staff of 7. But, we are building a new library that is 10 times bigger than my current library, so I will be hiring staff!
Mary Carmen 1182890542|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
So anyone back yet? How was it? Anyone go to the Access Services presentation? Reviews, please!!!!
kglover 1180972606|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
I can give some advise on policies: keep it simple. The more complicated, the longer it takes at the desk. We give 4 hour checkouts with 1 renewal, based on availability (inside the building). Not too many complaints. I think 4 hours is a good amount of time. It is a little difficult to keep up with when items should come back and such so we have a white board where we write down when they were checked out. Also, we used to ask the student to sign a policy form. We determined that it was too time consuming. We had our systems person add a popup note that they have to agree to before using the laptop. So far, so good. We do have a systems department that services the machines. I don't know your current situation but you might want to make sure that the machines are checked on a regular basis (files deleted, checking for viruses, deleted programs, etc.). Hope this is helpful
maywhite 1180739005|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
We have recieved a grant for circulating laptops in a community college library. We are a Millennium library. I would appreciate any advice about models, polcies, or procedures from someone who has experience with this type of service. Thanks in advance.
Mary Carmen 1180644728|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
Karen,
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.
kglover 1180634041|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
I am also very disappointed in the activity (or lack of) in LAMA and SASS. I do not see too much going on. I am on a list and I read the blog but there is never anything remotely applicable to Circulation. I have toyed with the idea of trying to start a new ALA committee or group or whatever dedicated solely to our Access Services but am clueless as to how to go about it. I think the issue is apparent in this wiki. We have so many individuals who say "yeah, what I do matters" but when it comes down to it, do not participate. I am not sure what the factors are that prevent participation but I am very curious about it. One of the article links has an article from the editor of Reference and User Services Quarterly and she mentions that those in Access Services are not active enough with publishing. It might be a self-esteem issue or a time-management issue but whatever it is, I think we need to find a way to get out there and advertise for our field. I also think that many Access Services departments are flooded with individuals who are in a job and not a career. Many do not see Access Services as a career choice and administrators do not require an MLS for most positions. Is it worth having a group if no one is willing to participate and make it something truely effective? I am willing to fight with you for the cause though.
Mary Carmen 1180463031|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
Is anyone here a member of LAMA or more specifically the Systems and Services Section? I am asking because I just joined ALA a month ago after not being a member since library school, and I chose to join LAMA because I am in management, and because I read that SASS is supossed to be the ADS component of the group, but it seems very inactive or at least quiet.
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?
Mary Carmen 1180462759|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
I have decided to save my money and pass on ALA this year, since I would prefer to go to Brick & Click Libraries this fall. Based on the program, I feel that there is a lot more related to access services at B&C than at ALA. Is anyone else planning on going?
I am the interlibrary loan coordinator and a member of circulation and access services at a small academic library in Georgia. I look forward to sharing experiences with others on the front line of library services.
ekoss 1178565350|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
I am the Circulation Librarian for a consortium in Wisconsin, and am putting together a suggested practices document for our member libraries about collection maintenance. I would like to include suggested policies for weeding, inventory, etc. Does anyone out there have anything like this that they would be willing to share? Any suggestions on what you would include?
Mary Carmen 1178548163|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
Our library holds a student worker appreciation day each semester. They have a breakfast and a dinner that the students can choose to go to. We provide pizza, bagels, goodies, etc. as a way to thank them and we also have raffles and give awards to outstanding student workers. Training is conducted on a department by department basis. We have no formal training sessions.
Mary Carmen 1178547987|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
When I worked at the Health Sciences Library I used our wiki as both a staff training and a resource tool. I placed all of our circulation, reserves, holds management, policy, etc. documents and manuals on the wiki so that staff could have immediate and searchable access to them. The library as a whole used the wiki to share common documents and to help communication with a number of projects that involved many different departments.
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.
kglover 1178486867|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
How are you using your wiki? Is it for training, resource sharing, etc?
srfe 1178481529|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
I will be attending from THursday thru Tuesday and look forward to meet circ/access librarian enthusiasts!
srfe 1178481276|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
I would be VERY interested in participating in such a committee/working group!
LAMA and PLA have not been the most inspiring groups to work with… and I agree with Mary that LITA has been very welcoming and informative.
