[Circulation] Some IMPORTANT Reminders About Staffing the Desk

[Suzanne Karanikis]

Hello All,

I realize that you get a lot of emails from me but there are a lot of  
you and I can't reach all of you any other way.  Of all the  
correspondence I will send you this is one of the most important and  
should be read from beginning to end.  Here are some reminders about  
protocol and procedure while staffing the InfoBar:

KEY BOX: The code is 8537, turn the  knob all the way to the right to  
open.  Please hang the keys up - last week the box jammed because  
there were too many keys laying down and I just barely got the box open!

PHONE:  Only the phone on the counter works.  It accepts calls for  
both the Circulation Desk and InfoBar.  When it rings, one of the  
bottom right will flash.  Pick up the handset and press the button  
that is flashing to answer that line.  The library staff directory is  
on the front of the white binder under the sensitizer.  To transfer a  
call, press the Trans/Conf button and dial the extension of the staff  
person you are transferring the call to.  The phone has been now set  
to ring indefinitely instead of stopping at 3 rings.

CHATTING WITH FRIENDS AT THE INFOBAR:  Please discourage friends from  
visiting you at the InfoBar. Very brief conversations are ok, but  
anything longer makes you look unapproachable to patrons.  This rule  
is in effect when supervisors are in the building and when they are not!

LEAVING THE DESK UNATTENDED: This shouldn't happen!  You should remain  
at the desk until the person relieving you comes in.  If there is a  
staff person in the circulation office and you must leave, please tell  
us so that we can either put the bell out or come to staff the desk.   
If you are working with another student and you need to be away from  
the desk, communicate with each other so the desk is always covered.   
Likewise, if you are the one coming in and will be late, even by 5  
minutes, please be considerate and call the circulation desk  
(413-559-5440) so that the person on before you knows that you are on  
your way.

SMOKE BREAKS:  These should be brief!

BOOK RETURNS:  Please check in books as they are returned.  Do not let  
them pile up and then check them in at the end of your shift.

RESERVE BOOKS FROM OTHER LIBRARIES:  Lately some Amherst Reserve items  
have been returned to our library by our students.  These items do not  
need to come to Bev, they may be placed on the Amherst return shelves  
to be packed for five college delivery.  It is ok for patrons to  
return 5C reserves here, but ideally they should return them to the  
library they borrowed them from so they are then available immediately.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS LEFT BY PATRONS:  If a patron has left behind  
something that has their name in/on it, their ID, a flash drive...  
please email the patron to tell them the item is here.  There is an  
easy way to do this in Aleph.  Find their record in the check out tab.  
  On the far right of the screen is a yellow envelope, click this to  
generate an email to the patron.  All you have to do is type the  
subject and body of the message.  The email is addressed to the  
patron, and the reply to address is the generic library account.  If  
the patron replies to the message it comes to me.  Important items  
like keys and phones should not be kept.  Please call Campus Police,  
the non-emergency number X-5424, to ask for an officer to pick up the  
item.

Thank you and please contact me if you have questions, comments, or  
concerns about this email.

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

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