Newsletter for Reference Student Assistants

GLEESON LIBRARY / GESCHKE CENTER

YOU ARE INVITED TO A

HOLIDAY

STUDENT ASSISTANTS APPRECIATION PARTY

THURSDAY DECEMBER 10^TH

12:00 TO 2:00pm

DONOHUE RARE BOOK ROOM

@AT YOUR LIBRARY

1. As you probably noticed, the new USF website--including the new Library Homepage--is now Live! All the same information should be available, it's just arranged differently. Check it out and comment here with your opinions. Personally I think it looks great and can't wait to start using it.

http://web.usfca.edu/library/

One question you might have is where is the link to create guest user accounts. It's in the main menu under the large photo, on the right: "Gateways" --> "Library Staff"

2. I think ya'll have registered for Spring 2010 classes, so please fill out this availability form and email it to me / leave it in my mailbox by Dec 3, 2009.

3. As you saw in your email, on Wednesdays I will be working 9:30 - 5:30 indefinitely. This is only on Wednesdays, not any other day of the week. If it changes I will let you know. Thanks!

Hi everyone! As you all know, you can release print jobs for patrons by logging into the GoPrint admin site.



What qualifies as a job it's OK to release?

• A job that the person paid for but got messed up somehow (ran out of toner, paper jam, etc.) There is also a Dons Print refund form in the drawer that you can issue instead.
• A person who asks nicely, lost their card/doesn't have a card, and only has a few pages to print

Jobs that require more investigation:

• Disappearing print jobs. The patron paid but it never came out. Check their computer and see what the default printer is. Sometimes they send their job to Periodicals. Have the patron check the printer up there. If it's not up there, offer to pay for the job
• A person who has a large print job they need printed for free -- usually we want to keep free jobs down to a couple pages -- if the person gives a reasonable explanation, doesn't seem to have expectations, or otherwise seems like s/he deserves to have their job released, then consider releasing it
• A person you know asks regularly to have their jobs printed for them or who routinely "forgets" their card -- let them know we're on to them and deny them if necessary

A hypothetical scenario:

A middle aged patron somewhat rudely demands you release their print jobs, saying it's for their class, their card is broken, and that a worker has released their jobs in the past. When you log in to GoPrint, you see it's 7 jobs equaling over 100 pages

What Kelci Would Do

• I would inform the person that by releasing the jobs in the past, the library worker was doing the patron a courtesy, and that free printing is not guaranteed under any circumstances
• I would inform the patron s/he needs to get a new card at OneCard
• I would inform the patron that if s/he is faculty, they can get a print card from their program office and neither s/he or the library will have to pay
• If I'm feeling nice, I would release the jobs and tell the person this is the last time we will do this for them, and not to expect it in the future
• If I am not feeling nice, I would tell the person I will not release their print jobs and s/he needs to get their card fixed, especially since this is a problem s/he was previously aware of (broken card, having to request we release print jobs in the past)

What You Can Do

• If you are uncomfortable making this call, or cannot get a word in edgewise since the person seems to be in a hurry, defer the query to the librarian you are working with
• Tell the person, "Sorry, I do not have the authorization to release your print jobs"
• Then turn to the librarian and say, "Excuse me, this patron wants us to release their 100 page print job for free. Can you please help him/her."

It is important that you inform the librarian what the problem is when you ask for their help (i.e. "100 page print job"). If you don't they will assume you don't know how to release the job. They may not understand you are having a hard time dealing with the patron unless you specify.


Have you encountered a particularly challenging GoPrint scenario? How did you deal with it?

Hello!

Have you ever tried to print to GoPrint with your laptop or have you helped someone trying to do this? If you're like me you tried and failed many times.

Well the instructions for Macs have been updated and they supposedly work now (the instructions for PC/Windows supposedly always worked). I've stocked the kiosk on the East side of the reference desk with the updated instructions. The can also be found here (PC) or here (Mac).

The queue names you can use are GL_REF2, GL_REF3, or GL_REF_COLOR. Apparently you may have to install the print drivers as well. If you need to do this, you can access the print driver CD in the key cabinet (the cabinet where we keep the department keys).

Ahhh printers... can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em...







QUESTION: If you've tried this, did you have success? Keep us all updated on your efforts.

To everyone who works after dark:

Your safety is important to us here at the library. I want to remind you there is a shuttle you can take home, which is nice especially if you live off campus. Information about that shuttle can be found by clicking here.

Also, if somehow the shuttle service will not work for you, you can have a public safety escort. Information about that can be found by clicking here.

Please do not hesitate to use these services. Also, if you know someone who works late during the same shift as you, perhaps you can arrange walking home together.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Hey everyone,

Most of you are familiar with the old ILL interface, which is a simple form filled out through the main interlibrary loan website. Using the old system there was no way to check on your ILL requests or look up past requests because that information is not accessible through your library record like Link+ information is.

Well that's all changing!!!

ILLiad is the name of a product the library purchased that is a one-stop-shop for all your ILL needs and it will be announced shortly to the University community.

If you haven't taken a look at the library newsletter, GLOBAL UPDATE (shameless self promotion), please do. There is a very informative article about ILLiad featured in the new issue.

Check it out!


After you read that, take time to set up your ILLiad account and play around with it. Try submitting some ILL requests (make sure you put $0 for max price unless you are really serious about the request). Note the differences. Eventually patrons will ask you questions about ILLiad, so you should be prepared.

To set up your account, go to this webpage and click "First Time Users Click Here" at the bottom.

Questions: What's the biggest improvement in the ILL service that ILLiad provides? What are the differences? How would you describe ILLiad to a patron who doesn't know anything about it?

Sample screen shot of the new ILLiad interface

In the wake of the international threat and terror of swine flu (H1N1) and seasonal colds, we want to protect our patrons and staff.

For this reason I recommend using PDI Sani Cloths on the keyboard, mouse, and other surfaces you touch at work. A good tip might be to wipe down everything when you arrive to your shift.



ALSO, to everyone who works a CLOSING SHIFT:

Effective immediately, you are required to clean the keyboards and mice of all the public computers, including the GoPrint stations, with the Sani Cloths.

As you're going around turning off the computers, give them a once over. You can use the same cloth on many keyboards/mice, but once it starts getting dirty, swap it for a new one.

Lastly, don't forget to close the canister! Otherwise they'll dry out.


~~ Thanks!

Hi everyone. This post is about our favorite task -- shelf reading.

Let me remind you of a few things:

• EVERYONE is responsible for shelf reading. If you are at work, you are not alone, and it is not busy, you should shelf read for 15-30 minutes. I will be checking to make sure everyone is pitching in.

• Shelf reading is not solely about reading the call numbers. You should also:

• Straighten up the books so they're flush with the edge of the shelf

• Push in books and tidy them with book ends and princeton files

• Look for damaged/broken books (write the call number down and give it to Kelci -- leave the book on the shelf)

• Look for books that do not belong in Reference

• Dust the shelves (you don't have to remove all the books; dust around the books)

When you are done working your magic, the shelf should look great and also be in the correct order. Now that's a score!

An example of a properly shelf-read shelf:

^^ Before

^^ After

Any questions? I'm all ears :)

While you are at work, look around...


• is someone hovering near the reference desk?

• is someone staring at the printer, looking confused?

• is someone wandering through the stacks aimlessly?


Ask these people if they need help. To help a patron you do not need to be asked a question. We make the library a great place to be when we are pro-active and helpful.

Do not get so sucked into your homework or the internet that you are unaware of your surroundings or ignorant of what's going on around you.

Many times patrons are shy or think they can figure it out themselves. You are paid to help them. Please speak up and give a smile!

~

Hi everyone,

You know that annoying problem we've been having when a computer says it doesn't have any printers installed? Well, we can fix it by manually installing a printer!

--> START menu
--> Run
--> \\goprint
(that's the slash above the "enter" key)
--> pick appropriate printer
(either GL_REF2 or GL_REF3... make sure it says "REF" in there)
--> double click and you're done!

No more telling a patron to switch over to Mac! Yay!

The draw back is this won't permanently fix the problem. You may have to do this again on the same machine once a new person logs-in.

Hello!

Here are some updates for the beginning of the semester

• We got new black and white printers! Hopefully they will solve a lot of the printing problems we were having last semester. Some words about the new printers:

• Currently the default on some of the computers calls for "label paper" instead of regular paper which the printers use. If someone is waiting for a print job and the red light is flashing, press "OK" 2 times to tell the printer to use the normal paper.
• Some of the computers (when in Windows) will say no printers are installed when someone tries to print. We are working on this but you have to tell the patron to use a different computer, preferably not a windows machine. For sure using Mac OS works.
• Fill up both trays all the way. You no longer have to let one run out

• Log-in problems: If a student cannot log-in, make sure they are trying to log-in to the domain "accounts." If they still cannot log-in, you can make a guest account for them (Library homepage --> Information --> Staff Only --> Guest Account General). You should also recommend they reset their password (USFConnect --> Change Your Password --> Students and alumni Reset your password) because that usually fixes the problem.

• We now have designated areas or "zones" for silent study, quiet study, and conversation study. Check out this webpage and this map for more details. How this affects you: if a person complains someone is being noisy, if they are in a conversational area, it is ok to talk, so you could suggest the complainer move to a silent or quiet area. If they are already in a silent or quiet area, go to the person who is making noise and suggest they move to a conversation area where it is OK to make noise. Just because we call it "conversation" does not mean it's a party area. Patrons must still use "library voices" and we do not allow music played through speakers. What do you guys think about this?


• Statistics tally: as you know, we tally the questions we answer on the statistic sheet next to the phone. For the next month or so, also tally a question you receive that is about government information. This includes any question you answer with information about our collection of government documents, government websites, statistics that come from a government source (like the census), etc.



• I know you are all good at your jobs, but please review the student manual, especially the yellow tab called "student duties." Refresh your memory on what you should do every shift. I will check in on this.



• Lastly, all returning student workers received raises because you guys rock. You can see your current wage on your e-timesheet. Please keep up the good work.

Hi everyone!

Just want to say welcome back to USF! Summer seemed to go by so fast but here we are, embarking on fall 2009.

We have two new student assistants, Stephanie and Lupita. Also Eva has returned from studying abroad. Yay!

Not a lot has been going on here this summer, but I will post updates soon.

Hi everyone,

Sometime soon, probably over the summer, a new design for the USF Website will be released. Included is the library homepage. To tide us over until then, Randy has made some changes that went into affect today.




Check it out! What do you think? What's the most useful improvement you noticed? Do you have any criticisms?

Student Assistant Appreciation Party

Friday, May 15, 2009
Rare Book Room (3rd floor)
12 noon - 1:30 pm


Join us for pizza and a chance to hang out with some of your coworkers you probably never see!

Unfortunately Kelci probably won't be there, but you guys should make sure to have a good time!

Courtesy of Locke -- Make sure you have some headphones in to get the full effect



"On April 30th, 2009 in order to break up the stresses of spring semester exam week, UNC students flash raved the Walter Royal Davis Library. Without warning to those that were unaware, an estimated 3,000 students packed the library lobby and brought it hardcore for over 8 minutes."

So while here in Gleeson we were having a poetry reading, UNC Chapel Hill was raving hardcore. HAH!

Hello!

Since you guys are so good at coming up with link names, I have another question to pose.

What's another good name for Journal Finder?

As you know Journal Finder is the tool we use to find where the fulltext of a journal is located by typing in the name of the journal.

As you also probably know, people confuse this and think they can type keywords into Journal Finder to get articles on their topic, like they would use a database. Another misuse is typing in the name of an article, author, or discipline and expecting to get articles.

So, what would you call Journal Finder to make every one's life a little easier?

Howdy! It's registration time! Which means I want your availability for Fall 2009.

Please fill out THIS FORM and return it to me by Monday, May 4 (e-copy or hardcopy are good).

Of course schedules always change, so I'll check in with ya'll come August, but I need a gist of what's going on with your schedule before you depart for summer.




Thanks!

We have a couple of databases that are special -- that is, there are special instructions on how to access them. In general someone will ask you for a password. Then just remember this: GO TO MANUAL.

1. USA Trade Online

This is a gov docs database with only 2 "seats" for users. The two designated computers for this are in the gov docs room, facing South. There is a shortcut to the database on the desk top. You need a password, which is in the big black Reference manual (next to your student manual), as well as the Gov Docs manual, which is on the same shelf. DO NOT GIVE THE PASSWORD TO THE PATRON. Log the patron in yourself using the password.

Note: If these two computers are in use, politely tell one of the patrons they must move. Gov docs users are always given priority at the computers in the gov docs room.



2. NTIS / DARTS

Maybe you remember an old blog post about this database. It also requires a password that you are not to give to the patron. Log them in yourself. For this database, the patron can use any computer in the Reference or Gov Docs rooms.

This password, along with many more, is also in the big black Reference Manual.

Any Questions? Please ask!

Hi everyone! Welcome back from Spring Break. I hope you had a good one.

You guys are so good at shelf reading you've completed the whole reference collection this semester!

On the other hand, the dusting project has been slow going.


For the rest of the semester do not shelf read, but devote 30-60 minutes/shift to dusting. If you're going to dust more than 30 minutes, break it up so you don't leave the librarian alone for too long, or at least check in with s/he to see how things are going.

As usual, don't bother to dust if you're working alone.

Thanks!

Hi everyone!

You have an assignment: a fun quiz! Please download the quiz by clicking here and answer the questions. Work on it when you're here at work and have a spare moment.

Treat the questions as if you were actually helping a patron -- don't tell me what you would do, tell me what you did do to find the answer. E.g. Actually go into the database and do and search and tell me about the process, tell me what kind of articles you found, or give me the citation of the best article you found.

If you don’t know an answer DO NOT ask the librarian for help. You can fill it out electronically or manually. Return it to me when you are done. It is due on Sun. March 15, 2009.




The aim of this is to help me identify areas you need training and give me some talking points.


~~~~Thanks!