October Team Meeting Notes

In attendance: Naomi, Hank, Jan, Patricia, Jody, Angie, Christy, Gerald, Suzanne, Doug, Angela, Margeaux, Pam, Cathy, John, Kenneth, Travis (please let me know if your name was mistakenly left out)
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Comings and Goings: Introduce Nick Kontax as our new weekend staff member, say goodbye to Melody who is heading up to the 3rd floor, see if anyone can move to Melody's shift (Wednesdays 2-4pm) and Angela will take their old shift.
• LeiLani said Melody may still be able to work the same shift, or may have to move shifts but very well might keep some shift on the Infopoint. She’ll check on this and let Angela know.
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Statistics from August and September: share the September stats, and the comparisons to August. (handout)
• Naomi volunteered to print color copies next month for everyone.
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Feedback on the new statistics forms & new maps: ask how the new stats forms are working and get feedback on the new maps (examples)
• No questions on the statistics forms, although we discussed how some questions may be categorized differently by folks (e.g. I have a reference question. Referred to Reference or Directional; Can I check out a laptop? Equipment, Policy or Referred to Circulation; How do I print? Equipment vs. Directional)
• One patron asking many questions counts as multiple questions. Also, if you activate a card and then they check out a laptop that would be two circulation transactions (or one transaction and one referred to circ if you referred it).
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Recruiting for Spring: get folks to start thinking about the spring, whether they'll need to change their schedules, if there are others in the library who have expressed interest, good times for trainings, etc.
• Cathy may need to arrange coverage for her shift later in the spring semester.
• Suzanne may have two new recruits contacting Angela soon.
• Hank is getting a lot of admiration from co-workers for working the infopoint.
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Suggestions to improve the service:
• Infopoint staff would like to see more feedback from the Access Services staff to see if they are annoyed by our help. (Angela assures us they are greatful, but folks have experienced some friction and are concerned.) Angela encouraged all infopoint staff to let her know privately about any particular issues that arise at the desk with Access Services staff.
• Naomi noticed that some A-D Judaica books and West books are being mis-shelved in each section. Meaning sometime a West book is in call number order, but in the Judaica section and vice versa. Angela will bring this up with Ben Walker and Emily Madden to see if the area can be shelf read more often. Also suggested was that we have the Judaica call number range cards printed on a different color paper (blue was suggested, please do not choose yellow). Colored stickers were discussed, but due to practicality and cultural sensitivity the group decided not to suggest it.
• We would like the following supplies at the Information Point, perhaps in a basket hidden on the lower shelves to our left:
o Stapler
o Tape
o Scissors
o Paperclips
o Whiteout
o Golf pencils
o Non-pink scratch paper
o Hole-punch
• We would like a recycle box placed near the printer.
• Sometimes the due date slips don’t have the sticky tab on them. Angela will check into this to see if they should always be pre-stickified or if we need access to the tabs.
• The BBS might be a good addition to our communication tools along with the website, blog and email list. Angela will see what needs to happen to get a topic heading on the BBS and will put the info on the blog and a link on the website.
• The food and drink policy is not as strictly enforced as we’d initially hoped. At this point, circulation staff are accepting any lid as an acceptable drink container. We have no written policy to follow, but Angela is sending folks with food to the first floor and if a drink is uncovered (a hand over the cup doesn’t count!) then they must take that downstairs also.
• October statistics should be available on the website sometime in the next two weeks.

We have Coffee!

Starbucks is open! I met with the managers last week and they have travel mugs they sell in different sizes. If someone buys one then all refills are 25 cents off in their mug.

If they have the disposable cups (even though they all will have lids) we are to send them downstairs to the cafe. To bring their coffee up they must have it in a travel mug or some kind of container with a screw-on lid. So far everyone has been pretty accommodating when we redirect them downstairs. Let me know if you have any problems. (Also we can talk more about this on Friday at our meeting.)

Printing should be back up

It's supposed to be working, and working on the new server! Let's all hope things go smoothly over the weekend!

Database issues reported

We've had several reports about library databases being unavailable. Some services (e.g. EBSCO) are available (at least to me), but others (e.g FirstSearch) are not.

The numerous database outages point to a network ISP problem not a problem with a particular vendor. The appropriate UF people are aware of the problem and the issues have been reported.

I'll keep you posted, but in the meantime if you have issues with one database, please try to guide students to another database. Also, this might be a great time to use the Research Gateway to do a cross search!

Printing going down at 10am Friday!

It's going down right now. They're going to attempt to connect the new server again. Wish them luck!

Printing should be up, but...

But they were unable to get the new server working. We're still on the old server, but printing should be working. Report any problems to Syshelp.

Printing will be down from 12-2pm today

Xerox is trying to install the new server. They'll have an expert on hand to help configure it and either it will be up and working by 2pm or we'll have the old server re-attached by 2pm. I'll keep you posted.

Passenger elevators should all be working now

The two passenger elevators should be working now. The staff elevator should be fixed soon.

If there are any other problems with the elevators, please notify Angela or one of the Circulation staff members.

And we're back UP

Printing is back up as of last night. We're still on the old server though. If you hear any problems about public printing, please notify Systems.

Printing back DOWN again

Xerox is working on the server again. Printing is down in all the libraries. Refer patrons to CIRCA labs on campus. Here is a link to thier schedules.

We also have a work-order in to have the western-most elevator looked at (the one on the right as you face them). It doesn't seem to be working right now.

Research Gateway

Looking for something to do tomorrow?

Tomorrow (Tuesday, October 17th) from 11-12 in Library West 419 Tom Minton is going to be taking questions about the Research Gateway. The Research Gateway is replacing the Database Locator. (The current "Database Locator" is on the WebLuis platform which will be eliminated this summer.)

If you can attend, this should be a very helpful informal session. There will also be a formal training later this fall also.

Printing back up in Library West

I just received word that printing in Library West is back up. (Apparently there were some printing issues over the weekend.) I'll let you know if things change.

Statistics for September

As promised I have the September statistics up on the webpage. I find them pretty telling! By far our greatest number of questions are directional and circulation related. If you haven't noticed already, starting in October the statistics sheets have a separate row for Circulation transactions that you are doing yourselves and those you are referring to the Circulation staff. Please try to remember to start marking them separately on the stats form. (I even MADE the form and I STILL forgot to separate them the first day.)

I presented our statistics and an update on how we're doing to the Joint CM, PS, TS meeting this morning. (And I saw plenty of your friendly faces there too!) I hope I conveyed how much I appreciate you volunteering your time on the Information Point. I think you're all doing a fabulous job providing a valuable service to our patrons. Thank you!

Printing is back up

Xerox didn't tell us exactly when it happened this afternoon, but printing is back online and should be working fine. Please report any trouble to Xerox or Systems.

Printing in Library West

Please be advised that all Xerox printing will be down today from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Xerox will be putting the new server online during this time.

Hopefully this means printing will start working reliably again this afternoon!

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UPDATE 1:50pm

The technicians are still working to replace the Xerox server. The downtime may extend beyond 2:00 p.m. today. Further information will be passed on as it becomes available.
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UPDATE 3:14pm

Xerox technicians are still working on the configuration of the Print Release Stations and the new server. Printing will be down until further notice.

New Stats Sheets

We have new statistics sheets at the Information Point. Due to popular demand {and an interest in compiling new data :)) I've put in a separate field for Circulation transactions that you do yourself and then the old Referred to Circulation for those transactions you refer to circ staff. It's not exactly the first of October, but it's pretty close, so this will give us some interesting data on October.

Speaking of Data, I should have the September stats ready for everyone to look at early next week. They're pretty impressive so far!

Homecoming

Tomorrow is Friday and the library is closed. Enjoy your weekend!

Answers to questions on Statistics Sheets

While compiling stats today I've noticed a few of the "other" questions you've recorded and thought it would be good to answer those here:

Q: What is the procedure for a real fire? Do we leave the desk or try to help evacuate the building? What about if it's a fire drill or a false alarm?
A: Lock your computer and leave the building through the front door. You are not obligated to help clear the building.

Q: What to do about gift books?
A: When a patron has a question about gifting the library with a book (or anything) we refer them to Gifts and Exchange. According to their website the main person there is Steve Carrico.

Q: Where do I record circualation transactions that I do (instead of referring to circ)?
A: Since we're only recording the types of questions and it's up to the individual Information Specialist what circulation transactions they feel comfortable doing and what ones they refer just put all circ transactions or referrals under the "Refer to Circ" heading.

Q: People ask for Library Tours?
A: Lots of people asking for the Library Tour are actually referring to the General Orientations going on in Rooms 211 and 212. Here is the schedule.

Q: Pencil Sharpener?
A: We have an electric pencil sharpener at the Reference desk on the 3rd floor, along with an industrial strength stapler and hole punch.

Q: Can someone leave a notebook or other item with us to have someone pick it up later?
A: Because we trade shifts so often this really isn't a good idea. You can refer these folks over to circulation since they have longer shifts. Perhaps they might be willing to do that, but can you imagine if that was considered a service we offer? Yikes!

Q: Where is quiet study?
A: The 4th floor is the official quiet study floor. Often the 1st floor has few folks, and there are lots of seats around the stacks on all 3 floors that are usually quiet (but not officially so).

Q: When no group study rooms are available, where can our group study and talk?
A: Any of the tables on the 2nd floor can be group study (we can't possibly expect this floor to be quiet with the noise coming up from the cafe and starbucks). Anywhere on the 1st - 3rd floor is fine for group study. Of course this means within reason, even the group study rooms are not sound proof.

Q: When will Starbucks open?
A: October 23rd is still the expected date.

Q: A student from another college (not in Florida) wants a card here.
A: Refer them to circulation. They can get a special borrower card from them.

Q: Some lights are off somewhere.
A: Get as much specific information as you can. You can even have them circle it on the map. Then let me know so I can pass the word to the appropriate folks.

Q: Is Library West a "Green Building?"
A: All I could find was that we expected (back before the building was finished) to receive recognition of being a "green building" from whatever entity bestows that title. I haven't heard anything official though since the move. Anyone know?

Q: How much is it to print?
A: According to the Xerox Page, it costs 13 cents a page to print. They have to buy a copy card, which costs 35 cents. They can buy a card with a 1$, 5$, 10$, or $20 bill. They CAN'T get change back though! If they put in $20 they'll get a copy card with $19.35 on it to make copies. The machines only take bills, no coins. (By the way, phone number for Xerox is: 336-4407.)

Q: How long can I wait to print out my print job?
A: Xerox reports that they believe the server is set for 2 hours. After that the job may be deleted.

Q: Can I park in those spaces to the East of the Building? (near the loading dock)
A: Those spots are all either Handicapped or Reserved and so you are at high risk for towing/ticketing 24/7. Parking at Flint or Criser would be a better choice.

Great questions!

UPDATE: DVDs will only play in the high-end computers!

I just verified today that DVDs will not play in the regular computers in the library. They WILL play in the 18 high-end computers with dual-monitors on the East side of the 3rd floor so you can send folks there. Systems is aware of this and I'll let you know if and when the other computers can play DVDs.

New Maps!

I have the new maps of the 1st and 2nd floors showing the updated call number ranges. They are double-sided so each one has both the 1st and 2nd floor (the entire floor) back to back. I've replaced the old folders with the separate maps with this new one. Comments are welcome!