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.

Spring Trainings coming up fast

It's that time of year again! We have a full complement of trainings being scheduled for the upcoming spring semester. Undoubtedly many of you have already attended many of these, but we do have several new volunteers for the spring and if you feel like a refresher or have questions about a particular service these will be a great opportunity for you.

So far this spring we have the following trainings scheduled, with many more to come soon! Have a wonderful Holiday Break!

Reference Skills

Date: Wednesday, January 3^rd 2:00 - 3:00 pm in West 211

Trainer: Shaun Saxon

Trainees will be able to:

· Conduct a reference interview.

· Determine whether a question can be answered quickly or needs to be referred to the 3^rd floor Reference Desk or elsewhere.

· Make appropriate referrals to the Reference Desk or elsewhere.

Campus Knowledge

Date: Wednesday, January 3^rd 3:00 - 4:00 pm in West 211

Trainer: Missy Shoop

Trainees will be able to:

· Answer basic questions regarding where and how to access common student services, including: the registrar’s office, financial aid office, paying fees and fines, campus maps, computer labs, and bus routes.

· Direct patrons to online resources that show information on these services.

· Direct patrons to campus locations of these services using a campus map.

· Give patrons phone numbers and other contact information for these services.

Library West Building Information

Date: Friday, January 5^th 11:00 - 12:00 pm in West 211

Trainer: Lori Driscoll

Trainees will be able to:

· Explain how the Library West collections are arranged in the new library.

· Explain what services are available in Library West and how to utilize those services.

· Direct patrons to various staff offices.

· Communicate library hours (both regular hours and holiday hours).

· Communicate basic library policies regarding library usage and services.

· Computer services: software, equipment, areas, printing, etc.

Study carrels have finally been assigned!

Repairs have been completed on all but a few carrels, and the lucky individuals who were assigned a graduate study carrel have been emailed. The other 400+ applicants who did not receive a carrel were also sent an email notification. If anyone has questions about the assignments, please feel free to direct those to Lori Driscoll. Please remember that, in keeping with library privacy policies, the list of assignees is confidential.

Fires, Pagers and Parties

In case anyone was wondering, the procedure to follow when at the Information Point when the fire alarm goes off is to lock your computer, grab your stuff and leave the building. The circulation staff have their own procedures to follow which include locking the group study keys and laptop cart. Their instructions can be found in the Circ Manual online.

If anyone asks, in case of a fire alarm, patrons who have checked out an "in library use only" item should take it with them when they leave. This includes laptops! The items are checked out to them and they are responsible for them during the drill/emergency.

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On another note, the group study Gator Wait system has been working great! Students and staff alike really seem to appreciate the service. We have noticed that if patrons fill out the Gator Wait form on the clipboard it is usually filled out incorrectly. So to keep the service working smoothly we should all fill out the form ourselves using the patron's Gator 1 Card information.

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Finally, next week is our last week of staffing the desk. Friday December 15th will be the last Information Point staffing day of the Fall semester. I haven't gotten much feedback in the way of having a last meeting of the semester. Perhaps everyone would rather wait to have a Spring Orientation meeting when we return from the holidays? Please let me know via email or the Bulletin Board.

I hope to see many of you at the Holiday parties next week! We're having the evening party on Tuesday and the daytime potluck on Thursday. If you haven't RSVP'd please do email me and I'll make sure your name gets on the list! It's going to be a lot of fun!

Draft Schedule for Spring is ready

Please take a look at the draft schedule for Spring. Most folks seemed to want to keep their old shift, so I tried not to move too many folks around. Please let me know if you need to change your shift before the holidays begin.

Coming up next will be the Spring training schedule. I'll keep you posted.

I've noticed several folks have viewed the BBS page, but we haven't gotten any discussions going there yet. I have a question posted there now for us to discuss. Please come in and give your opinion.

Wednesday Nov 22nd we close at 6pm

I think that pretty much sums it up. ;)

We'll be back on the Information Point on Saturday November 25th.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Fall Schedule ends December 15th

The last day we will staff the Information Point is December 15th. An email calling for additional volunteers will be going out soon.

Spring trainings will be scheduled during January, and the Spring schedule will begin on January 8th.

Please take a look at the Fall Schedule and let Angela know if you would like to change your schedule for Spring. Several folks have expressed an interest in splitting their shifts to work a one hour shift twice a week rather than all at once. If you'd like to try something like that just let Angela know what days/hours would work best for you.

Non-UF patrons needing to access the Wireless Network

When a person who is a non-UF patron comes in and wants to use the Internet from a laptop (theirs or ours) we have a new procedure as to how they get a gatorlink guest login to access the wireless network.

The instructions can be found in the Circ manual online at: http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/ps/Circ/CircMan/guestgatorlink.html

Because this involves a PeopleSoft permission, only certain Circulation Staff members will have access to create accounts like this. So most of us will need to refer patrons over to circulation for these particular requests.

Laptops and Remote Access

If you have a non-UF patron who needs to access databases or other remote access features, they must use a library desktop computer. If they are using the guest wireless login on either their own laptop or one of the circulating laptops, they cannot gain access to the databases unless they log in through the proxy server (thus they must have a gatorlink account).

I suppose this is obvious when you think about it, but I hadn't thought about it this way before and I thought I'd share.

2nd copier on 2nd floor is working...sort of

I just spoke with the xerox repairman. He said that the 2nd copier on the 2nd floor IS working now, but only one tray is available until he gets another part for it. Patrons shouldn't have to do anything special to select the right tray though so as of now it's working. (It just might run out of paper faster.)

Checking out reference materials...or not

We will check out non-circulating Reference books only if they are accompanied by a completed orange slip. Otherwise you will need to refer the patron back to Reference to obtain one. Note that the study guides shelved at Reference actually are *circulating* items, so no slip is needed. The item status will help you identify these. If you have any questions about the orange slips or lack thereof feel free to refer them to the circulation staff or ask a circ staff member.