Barcode Scanner Tip

I heard late last week that some folks have had the barcode scanner stop working during their shifts. I actually had this happen to me today and found out from Brett (thanks Brett!) that all you need to do is unplug it from the back of the computer and then plug it back in. You don't have to restart the computer or anything. If you find this doesn't fix the problem, please let me know and I'll have our systems liaison take a closer look.

January Team Meeting (barely!)

I would like to meet with everyone for January Team Meeting before January is actually over. I've found a time that seems to be available for most of us (even though it is right on the heels of PSC). So our January meeting will be:

Wednesday, January 31, 2007 from 11-12pm in West 253 (in Access Services)

Agenda:
Introducing our newest Information Specialists to the group
Getting answers for some of the crazy questions you're getting on the desk
Look at the November and December statistics
There will be a survey later this spring in order to pick your brains anonymously
I'll be meeting again with the Library West Building Group to finalize future plans for the Information Point, and I'd like your input.

See you soon!

Lecture Series in Library West

There is a lecture series organized by two UF history professors and all four lectures will be held in Room 212 Library West. One was just yesterday and it seems the person who will let them into the room and set up the projector is Paul McDonough. If he's not there to meet them when they arrive (they come early it seems) just give him a call and let him know they're ready.

There ended up being standing room only yesterday so these might be very well attended. Expect lots of questions about "where is the conference room" if you're on the desk during these lectures.

The next lectures are:

On the Muslim Question by Gil Anidjar, Columbia University, Feb 20th at 4:30pm

Politics and Religious Identities in Pre-Modern Europe: Case Studies in Poland and Spain by Benjamin Ehlers, University of Georgia, and Pawel Kras, University of Lublin, March 1st at 4:00pm

Reproducing the West: The History and Politics of Population Growth and Movement by Matthew Connelly, Columbia University and Woodrow Wilson Center, April 5th at 4:30pm

Pink, Blue or Green?

There's a new label color in ILL. We already knew that Pink labels stay in the library only and Blue labels can be taken out of the library, but now there are Green labels too.

The Green labels indicate that this is book that we have purchased for the UF collection. The program is called Books on Demand. When books are requested via ILL and they meet certain criteria, ILl will purchase the books, lend them first to the ILL patron and then upon return they will send them to be cataloged. In each of these books is a bookmark survey that ILL staff would like us to point out to the patron.

So basically, the Green labeled books are handled by Circulation exactly as we now handle the Blue labled books. Please refer any questions to the ILL staff. You can reach them quickly by phone at 3-2535.

Do you have a reservation?

While we do not reserve the group study rooms on the 1st, 2nd or 4th floors, there are two study rooms on the 3rd floor that the Reference Desk manages. These are rooms 335 & 336 on the East side of the building. These are the rooms that have assistive technology and multimedia equipment. They are not used as regular group study rooms and they can be reserved in advance. There is a website that explains the reservation policies for these rooms.

I'll add this link to the "Useful Links" page of the Information Point. If you haven't been to this page lately it's worth taking a look. I've tried to put links to most everything you'd need while on the Information Point.

Guest passwords for personal laptops

If you have a patron who does not have a Gatorlink account and they want to use the wireless network anywhere on campus they must set up a temporary Gatorlink account with CIRCA.

You have several options:

1. There is a page in the circulation manual that explains the procedure. But only a few members who work the West Circulation Desk that have the ability to set up a guest account for the patron. These folks are: Jim Stevens, Matthew Daley, Brett Diaz, Missy Shoop, Kenny Herniman, Chris McHale. So if any of these folks are on the desk you can refer the patron to them for wireless help.

2. You can give them CIRCA's phone number so that they can use their own cell phone to call CIRCA and set up an account with them. The number is: 392-4357.

3. You can call 2-HELP and allow them to talk with CIRCA on our phone at the desk.

4. Or you can suggest they stop by the CIRCA help desk in the CSE building.

Remember, this only applies to patrons who are non-UF patrons. They do not already have a Gatorlink account of their own. The password will expire in two weeks and they will have to reapply if they need it after that.

Also, having a Gatorlink guest account does not mean they have access to our online databases. If they want access to our library resources online they will need to use one of the library's desktop computers.

Judaica has a broken area of shelving

Please be aware that there is a section in the Judaica area that is malfunctioning. The section has no power (no lights on the controls), but will open with the use of a battery pack. However, if while opening it with a battery pack, you stop (or even if you open it fully) the shelving will automatically retract (and fairly quickly). While the safety features are functioning, it seems unsafe. There is a sign on that area, and library administration has been informed of the problem. The company has been contacted for repair also. I just want everyone to be aware of the problem.

I would recommend that if a patron requires a book from this area they fill out the Item Not on Shelf form and just include a note that it is in that area of the shelves. Then our staff can see if they can access it, or at least notify the patron when the shelving is fixed.

The area is on the 1st floor, Judaica, from PN3035 to the just before the Oversize area.

Spring is about to begin!

Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday break!
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Monday, January 8th is the first day of our new Spring schedule. While we have usually held a general orientation meeting before the new semester began I felt we just have too much going on this week (and next week) to try to fit in one more meeting. So instead I'll be meeting with each of the new volunteers individually before or during their first shifts. I did want to introduce our 5 new volunteers to everyone though, so here they are:

Cindy Frey will be working the 2-4 shift on Thursdays
Enrico Gumbayan will be working the 11-12 shift on Mondays
Dee Hawes will be working the 8-10 shift on Wednesdays
Michael Jay will be working the 2-4 shift on Wednesdays
Marilyn Ochoa will be working the 12-1 shift on Wednesdays

Welcome to the Information Point!
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While December was short and hectic, we didn't have our Team Meeting that month. I'd like to go ahead and schedule the January Team meeting now, before everyone's calendars fill up. I'll be checking outlook calendars and sending out an invitation to the meeting soon. Everyone should have a few Spring shifts under their belts by the time of the meeting, and we can all share how the semester is beginning and look back at our Fall statistics. I look forward to seeing you all there and hearing how things are going.

TVs and Carrels

We now have all 6 of the media boothes on the 2nd floor working to play VCR tapes and DVD movies. Patrons do have to supply their own headphones or check-out one of the few pairs we have at the circulation desk.

The graduate carrels have all been assigned! If anyone has a question about the carrel assignments, please refer them to Lori Driscoll. If someone has a technical or maintenance complaint about their carrel, please have them fill out the the "Library West Carrel Problem Report Form" for Lori. (Ask a circ staff member to show you where the forms are.) We do not have any estimated date for repairs.

Two more scheduled trainings

As you've seen from your Outlook invitations, I've been scheduling trainings for the spring. We have two more now and only two more left to schedule.

The two new ones are:

Aleph Web OPAC Information
Date: Thursday, January 4th 10:00 - 11:00 am in West 211
Trainer: Denise Bennett
Trainees will be able to:

• Explore the functions and features for navigating around the public catalog
• Manage search results with short-term and long-term saving options
• Explain which patron empowerment features are only available to signed-in patrons

Basic Online Library Resources
Date: Thursday, January 4th 3:00 - 4:00 pm in West 211
Trainer: Paul Victor
Trainees will be able to:

• Use the library webpage.
• Search the UF catalog for all kinds of materials and interpret status and locations of items.
• Use the Database Locator.
• Use the Databases by Subject page.
• Use the Subject Guides and Specialist pages.
• Use the Project Starters Databases.
• Find full text availability.
• Explain the difference between popular, trade and scholarly periodicals, and explain when to use each.
• Demonstrate how to view, save, print or email search results.