[Circulation] STAFFING THE DESK AND JOB EXPECTATIONS

[Suzanne Karanikis]

Hello All,

This email will lay out expectations for students working at the  
circulation desk, addressing both behavior while staffing the desk and  
what we would like to accomplish this semester.  Please read this  
through and contact me if you have questions.

BEHAVIOR AT THE DESK

When you are staffing the desk, you are representing the whole Library
staff.  It is important that you act in a professional and courteous
manner to all patrons.  Please be present and aware of who is in the
Library while you are working at the desk.  Avoid getting buried in your
reading.  Look up and acknowledge patrons as they enter the building.
This is for security and customer service purposes.

IN ORDER TO REMAIN WELCOMING AND PROFESSIONAL I ASK THAT YOU DO NOT DO  
THE FOLLOWING THINGS WHILE STAFFING THE DESK:

  - Wear headphones or earbuds.

  - Engage in long conversations with friends or classmates.  This makes
  patrons feel that you are busy and they will not want to approach.  You
  are responsible for discouraging your friends from lingering at the
desk.  Likewise, they should not be sitting at the InfoBar stools during your
  whole shift, nor should they ever be behind the circulation desk.

  -Eat a full meal at the front counter.  If there is another student on
  duty and you must eat during your shift, eat quickly in the circulation
  office or at one of the study tables.  If you are the only person on duty
  ask me, Bev, or Courtney to watch the desk while you have your meal.
When
  you are the absolutely only person on duty, like on the weekends, eat at
  one of the small tables next to the desk, or if those are being used, move
  to the counter beyond the InfoBar so that you have a view of the desk but
  are not using the main part of the counter.

  -Sit slouched over and/or with your feet in the return bin.

  -Use your cell phone.  This means no talking AND no texting while at
  the desk.  Please silence your phone when your shift begins.  If you
must  make or accept an important call during your shift please tell me,
Courtney, or Bev ahead of time and then go outside of the Library for  
your  call.

  WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING WHILE WORKING:

  In addition to the basic library functions of circulating and reshelving
Library materials you may also be asked to assist with Library projects
such as weeding books from the collection and shifting areas of the
collection.  During the summer a major shift of the M - P section was
started but not completed so we will pick up with that again soon.
Courtney and I will be coordinating the majority of the work that
  you will be doing away from the circulation desk, but at times you may be
  asked to help with projects directed by other library staff.

  Our focus this semester is to evaluate the operation of the Library in
  order to make our patrons and staff better educated about the services
that we offer.  You will be asked to contribute to this effort in several
  ways, and these are the things that you should be doing in your downtime
in between patrons.  Our goal is to publicize the Library via our Facebook
page and to institute a Library blog where we will post things such as
staff picks .  All student workers are asked to write a brief bio  
about themselves so that we can feature you all on Facebook throughout  
the year.   You may also choose materials from the collection  
(anything, magazines, newspapers, books, CD?s, a database) and write  
blog posts about what drew you to them.   Likewise, you can pick a  
collection such as the BBC Sound Effects or the Kael Collection and  
write a "did you know" type description that we could post.   More  
will come about blogging soon.

Example blog posts:
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/library-pick-of-the-week


http://wvlibrarycommission.blogspot.com/2012/04/staff-pick-of-week_16.html


http://wakebookaday.wordpress.com/


http://pinterest.com/biblioecstasy/fiction-pick-of-the-day/


http://www.odysseybks.com/staff-picks

  During your downtime I would also like you to explore the Library webpage
to become as knowledgable about the Library as possible.  In particular,
view the Subject Guides so that you know where to direct patrons when a
Reference Librarian is not available.  Also, please become familiar with
the main college website.

Schoolwork:
While I will not  tell you at this time that you cannot do your school  
work while staffing the desk, I will reiterate that you are here to do  
Library work, and should not arrive for your shift with the  
expectation that you will be able to do your work.  You may do your  
schoolwork only if all Library work is
completed and with the approval of your supervisor, with the expectation
that you will be attentive to patrons and put it aside as soon as  
someone  approaches.  This policy may change at any time.

Thank you for your cooperation and you will hear more about the Library's
goals for the future from our director, Jennifer King, at the All  
Student/All Staff Orientation next week.

Suzanne
-- 
Suzanne Karanikis
Circulation Supervisor
Harold F. Johnson Library
Hampshire College
893 West Street
Amherst, MA 01002
ph:  413-559-5762
fax: 413-559-5419

Follow the Library on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/hamplibrary