[Circulation] March 5 and circulation

[Emily Alling]

Hello,

Everyone probably saw Greg's recent memo re: the national moratorium 
concerning the Iraq situation on March 5. I'm writing to discuss how 
we should handle Circulation on that day.

The library will remain open all day, and we would greatly appreciate 
it if everyone could report to work as scheduled.

IF your shift conflicts with an event that day that you would like to 
attend, we would ask that you first try to find a sub to cover your 
shift.

IF you make a good-faith effort to try to find a sub (email, calls, 
note on bulletin board) and cannot get anyone to cover your shift, 
then you will be excused from your shift that day PROVIDED that you 
let us know well in advance--say, by noon on Tuesday--so that we can 
make arrangements to have a full-time staff person watch the desk. 
(Staff may want to attend some events that day as well, so it is 
important that we be able to coordinate desk coverage.)

The one exception to this is that we will absolutely need student 
staff late at night, when there is no one else to staff the desk. 
Suzanna and Kim, that means we'll be depending on you to show up for 
your night shifts or find a sub.

Philosophical discussion (optional): Whatever one's feelings about 
the moratorium and the issues underlying it, closing the library 
would, I believe, be the worst possible course of action for March 5. 
Information is crucial to any discussion of national policy, and even 
though it may not always feel very glamourous, you guys truly are on 
the front lines of allowing people access to information. (Sorry for 
the war terminology...not very apropos.) As one who vehemently 
opposes the prospect of war with Iraq, I nevertheless feel strongly 
that coming to work that day and keeping the library open is vital. 
Again, I hope that the above provisions allow those who feel 
differently to participate in the planned moratorium. This is just 
one circulation specialist's opinion.

Any/all comments welcome.

Thanks,
Emily
-- 


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Emily Alling
Circulation Specialist
Harold F. Johnson Library Center
Hampshire College
Amherst, MA  01002
(413) 559-5762
ealling at hampshire.edu                   
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