Banned Books Week Display

Always excited every year to get my banned books week display done.  My thanks this year to my student Brittany, who helped assemble the display.

Banned Books in Second Life

More reference - mostly spent it preparing for book club.  This was followed by a quick breeze through the library liaison luncheon, held every year.  This is a chance for the department liaisons from the academic areas on campus to meet their library liaison, learn about their materials budget, and ask other general information questions.

Later on I did my Banned Books Week themed book club.  Book Club was in Second Life today, and I read from Chapter 1 of George Orwell's 1984.  Scary how that book still seems so relevant. This is my avatar reading to the book club attendees in world.

Might be hard to see, but my avatar is wearing one of her Banned Books Week outfits - my black t-shirt with "Censored" across the front.   I wore this as I thought the black censor bar bikini might be pushing it a bit. 

Randomosity

Still working on my Banned Books Week display for this year, my student assistant Brittany is going to help me assemble the display this year.  I gave her a list of books to choose from to highlight in the display, can't wait to see which she will pick.  Should have it up soon and will post pictures.  

Follow Banned Books Week on Twitter with the following hashtags: #bannedbooksweek #bbw#censorship

Today was also the rain date for Pembroke Day, which got postponed last week.  It is an event with the University and larger town of Pembroke community.  Interest groups, student groups, vendors, academic departments and more set up tables all over the quad and there is music, food, and door prizes.  The library, for the second year, sold hot dogs to benefit the Friends of the Library.  I really don't like going out in the crowd, but I did see that my student group got their table set up and I bought a couple hot dogs for the FOL before retreating back to the peace of my office.  Thankfully, I was on reference for most of it and so had a reason to avoid the chaos.


Reference was per usual today.  Helped someone look up articles in Hispanic American Review and answered some questions about ILLiad requesting.  Also overheard patrons talking - "my sister murried a furrener" - typical for this area.  Le sigh.

Goodreads Book Club

After my morning at reference and working on assessment statistics and reports, today I hosted the monthly meeting of the library Goodreads Book Club.  For any not familiar with Goodreads.com - it's a reader's dream.  A way to record books you have read and want to read, see what your friends are reading, find online book clubs, and oh so much more. Our first book club was being held in Second Life, a virtual world, and we had a number of requests from people interested in a face to face book club.  However, as anyone that has run a book club can tell you, getting everyone to read the same book and show up to book club ready to discuss said book is often much more difficult than one would think.  Instead, we modeled ours on the Goodreads web site, and set up a corresponding Goodreads group in order to facilitate sharing among group members.

http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/69970-uncp-library-goodreads-book-club

We haven't had many member discussions yet, but I hope to get that part rolling soon.  In the meantime, we meet once a month, bring lunch, and discuss whatever books the attendees are currently reading or have recently read.  We add these to our group list on Goodreads so that anyone that missed can look up what was discussed, and so that members can add group books to their personal Goodreads lists.  So far it has been a moderate success, with anywhere from 1-8 members attending meetings.  I hope to see an increase in activity, but book clubs are like the lottery sometimes.  Doesn't help that the other two members in the library that were really active have resigned, but I am determined to try to carry it on.  Luckily the format makes that easy, little prep needed for me and little needed on the part of participants.  Definitely takes the pressure off.

Randomosity

Reference, reference, and more reference.  It's my night at the desk again, so after rushing through student time approval I made my way to desk duty.

The first person to approach was one of the maintenance guys working on the library's HVAC system, which is completely FUBAR, in my opinion.  They needed the key to get into Special Collections and work.  Since my specialty in library school was archives and special collections, this made me nervous.  I hate letting people in that room.  What if they touch things?  Mini-librarian stroke out.

Then I had the joy of helping a student access and print from microfilm, since full-text on JAMA was down.  I hate microfilm - the screen nauseates me.  Luckily, it was a short article.  Nothing much else happened, other than helping some students find documentaries.  The nerd in me loves this, as I watch this stuff for fun.  Our students sometimes act as if documentaries are a foreign world, so it's nice for me to see them get something other than films just for entertainment.  Not that the latter is wrong, but mixing it up is a good thing.

Randomosity

RT @fakelibstats: On average librarians say "Why don't we try Firefox instead of Internet Explorer" 5 times per day

Can't tell you how many times having the patron switch browsers fixes the problem.  Of course, you often have to explain to them what a browser is first.  

Randomosity

Busy day today.  I finished yesterday with student mediation, sometimes because I am a campus safe zone students will drop by to discuss problems.  I don't do official counseling, but i do recommend to many that they seek it.  Mostly though I just provide a friendly ear and a place to vent.  

Today ordering signage for the library, working on SAGA minutes, and finishing book club event postings.  

Afterwards more - you guessed it - reference.  I detest our printing and copying system.  It is frustrating to no end.  Not only is it overly complicated, but often just doesn't work altogether.  We have no way to bypass the system, and another campus department controls the copying/printing system and all we can do is call them and hope the problems get fixed quickly. On an up note, a faculty member recommended a Rachel Maddow book to me, which brought a smile to my face.  And a student got lucky and we actually had her textbook.  We normally don't have textbooks for courses, as keeping up with new editions for all courses is the realm of the campus bookstore, with which we are often confused.  Sometimes though, a copy is donated to the library and the student lucks out.  I know textbooks are exorbitantly priced, and I feel bad for the students, but this is one need we can't fill in many cases.  I was left wondering though, why was the student getting her textbook only now, with mid-terms looming? 

Randomosity

Aaaarrrr! 'tis International speak Like a scurvy pirate Day. 

I be probably far more excited 'bout that than I be, but avast, thar I be still sick 'n I needed a grog-filled. 

Started th' day doin' me once a semester required installment 'o teachin' Freshman Seminar. I truly detest 'tis part 'o th' semester. I lust bein' a librarian, but hate classroom teachin'. I used to be a teacher, then I became a librarian. I always feel like freshman seminar be a reversion. At any rate, I don't feel it does much jolly. Information literacy be 'tis own one credit course, 'n be a required tavern session fer all courses requirin' research. Without such context, our how-to wit' th' opac 'n Academic Search be not relevant 'n before I sail out forgotten. I got extremely lucky though, wit' another librarian takin' over me second session 'o th' day in light 'o me continued bout wit' th' plague. Which only left me a short stint at th' refdesk, whar me only queries were fer some city directories we didn't have 'n showin' a patron how to request items via ILLiad when they be not held by our library.

Randomosity

Days when we are short staff both at circulation and reference are incredibly long, as I work in both areas.  As the Access Services Librarian, I have to cover any staff shortages at the circulation desk when those I supervise are out.  It is nice thought to work on the front lines, though I wish it was less laptops and TV series, and more interesting works.  I love to see what others are reading and watching when it is something interesting.  Also worked on book club planning, reserves issues, time sheets, student group paperwork, and updating spreadsheets for contract spending. Had the additional fun of having a student call and berate me for his irresponsibility regarding his very minor library fine.  He called me unprofessional and said if it was so minor a charge I could pay it.  Being sick I was less patient than I usually am and let him know he was free to take it up with the dean, but that he would have to pay the fine.  End of conversation.

Then I took my sick self to reference, where I tried not to breathe on too many things so that the person following me had less to de-germify at shift change.  Lots of students in for study materials on the GRE and MAT today.  Some other interesting queries came up, which always makes working reference enjoyable.  This is why I became a librarian. well that and free access to all the books I want.  One professor was looking up our CD collection on teaching music through performance and a student was looking for articles on the politics behind the foundation of the Appalachian trail.  Would have been far easier to assist the latter had his butt not been hanging out of his pants, but we ended up finding some sources that would help him with his research. Helped another student find juvenile books in the catalog - she was pleased to learn that she could limit her search from the beginning rather than wading through a bunch of irrelevant results.

Controversy

Oh goodie.  I am so excited about my first controversial post on the library page. I love to stir up controversy and discussion, simply because it makes people think.  I highlighted a recent acquisition and was accused of political partisanship.  It was especially funny as it was an accusation that I was advocating for the right when all of my friends know that I am a bleeding heart liberal.  But without getting into politics here, let's say that just because I disagree with a work doesn't mean I won't include it in posts that represent the library in general.  The library's page is not my page, and therefore must sometimes represent views that are not my own in order to be fair to all patrons of varying beliefs.  To the patron who commented, I gently replied that partisanship was not meant by the post and that I was only trying to highlight the importance of the day (Constitution Day), a new library acquisition, and we have many works on the topic that represent various points of view.  A good lesson to remember with Banned Books Week coming up.  

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." 

- Beatrice Hall, The Friends of Voltaire, 1906

Randomosity

More observations from my weekend at the reference desk.

Worked on my Banned Books Week display despite feeling the plague coming on.

Was provided much entertainment from two ComSci majors who are regular patrons.  I don't know if people realize that librarians will listen in on their conversations.

What would give a patron the idea that adjusting himself while seeing help at the refdesk is a good thing?  Please don't.  Thank you.

Felt so bad for a student today.  Her test in Blackboard is getting ready to time out and the lab tech couldn't help, we can't help - le sigh.

All library computers are in use I think - including laptops. Wonder how many are doing academic work.

Damn it - I hate it when I have to shush. Makes me feel old and uptight, but sheesh people, this is a library not the great outdoors.

Managed to be productive despite the busy day at reference.  Updated patron records, read some professional articles, and helped a patron with APA citations.  SAGA forms were filled out, Blackboard was updated, and I also updated the reserves policy for the library manual.

Randomosity

Every couple of months I have to work reference on the weekend.  It's not that frequent, and the Saturdays at least are usually fairly quiet.  I can usually be fairly productive.  This weekend I worked on that pile of papers that seemingly multiplies like gremlins when I'm not looking, and managed to get 2/3 of the way through it today.  

Other than that had my usual random stream of thoughts while assisting patrons today.

Helping UNCP faculty member at FSU library with Proquest Dissertations My Research having never used it before over the phone. #likeaboss  Finally figured it out, but it is always weird assisting with a resource you are unfamiliar with.

Me: Please mute your sound unless you intend on using headphones. Patron: Huh? Me: Thought that was pretty self-explanatory.

Sometimes I wonder how much easier I can make this for them and still be surprised that they don't get it.

Now watching two desks for the price of one...there are only two of us on Saturdays instead of three like on Sundays, so when the staff person takes a break the reference person covers both desks.  However, being in the library all by myself with just patrons and no other staff is freaky.

Oh research assistant - I will show you how, but I won't do for you. You are being paid to learn how to search yourself.

Ohhhh just helped someone find books by one of my favorite authors Jean Auel. #librariansquee

Field trip to the stacks successful!

If I have to tell those three boys to be quiet one more time - I might not be my usual pleasant self. #whyidonotworkinapubliclibrary

Randomosity

Another day of random referencey thoughts.  Has been a monotonous week.  But it was busy today at the refdesk - had students researching the enlightenment, criminal justice, and theology.

And while I enjoy helping people, and it's part of my job, I don't see that as any reason that common courtesy should go out the window.  

Really nice student to hang up on me when I finished helping you rather than say thanks or bye or anything.

OMG - A student I helped came back from upstairs just to thank me for the help. Maybe manners do exist after all. Someone's mama did good.  It's so nice to be appreciated from time to time for what I do.

Not all students are annoying - some are funny.  Student was complaining about a 5 page paper she had due this semester.  Student - one 5 page paper for the semester is nothing! My Reunification of Germany class - 5 page paper due 3 times a week.  And that was an easy class.  

When not complaining about assignments, I get fine complaints.  Ummmm no I haven't reviewed your appeal yet.  You kind of have to submit the form first like we told you yesterday.  

And now a fun library fact from @omgfacts: Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.  Eww! Library headsets must be worse!  Ours are used by everybody and never get cleaned.

Randomosity

With all of the extra reference shifts my thinking is even more random than usual, as my brain thing is taxed to the max.  Having a hard time stringing thoughts into a coherent paragraph, so here are some random thoughts I had while working reference today. 

Students - if you have headphones in and I can still sing along to your music, the headphones are kind of pointless.

Dear student who has iPad that was due last month - bring it back and save me the headache of tracking you down.

What is so hard about this concept - no you can't pick up materials for another person?

Students giving each other actual tattoos in the stacks - that's a new one on me. (Heard from another librarian - as far as I am aware has not happened in our library yet.)

"Don't gobblefunk around with words."  

http://bit.ly/Q6cmj8 #quoteoftheday

Randomosity

Today I had surprise reference duty.  I normally work Tuesday and Thursday mornings, every other Monday night, and the occasional Friday.  Now I have extra Monday and Wednesday shifts thrown in, and hadn't paid attention to that change on the schedule.

It was fairly busy, but I did manage to work on some interlibrary loan issues despite several patrons trying to kill me with their perfume.  How do other librarians handle this?  It literally made me ill to inhale, and you can't get away from it when trapped at the desk.  

Did have a funny though when I read the latest library newsletter.  I support FOL - but "Friends with Benefits? Ummm somebody needs to read the Urban Dictionary. Can't stop laughing.

If only that funny could have carried me through the Town Hall meeting in the afternoon, which was sparsely attended and rather dry.  It's hard for me to pay attention in auditorium seats, I do better at conference tables.

*PS of the day - I don't usually promote products but I have to put in a plug for the Scribble Press app.  My little one loves being able to make and publish her own books.  If you have a child in elementary or middle school - definitely check it out.

Randomosity with a side of Extra Reference

Today another reference librarian was out sick and two others had a lot of beginning of the year information literacy classes to pick up, so I had to cover some extra reference time.  Since I worked reference through my lunch break and only had a short time before and after being on reference to work on anything else, it was a less productive day than I had hoped.  Here are a few of the inner thoughts I had today while working the desk:

• Students looking for materials for a quiz due at 2 pm - and one of the three discs is checked out. Sorry I can't help your lack of planning.
• Copier and printer issues are so frustrating when you have little control over their operation. (Business Services on campus controls all copying/printing.)
• Student looking for books and movies on Alexander the Great - sadly the rest of her class got here first. You can always tell when a class has a project when all the materials are suddenly gone.
• Students asking how to search instead of asking me to search for them...librarian warm fuzzy.
• Finally - substantive research - statistics and articles about the local syphilis epidemic.

Randomosity

Working second shift today.  I have to work an evening at the reference desk every two weeks.  To be honest, I prefer it.  Just seems easier to work when there aren't constant interruptions, which is pretty much what happens to me when I work during the day.

The only problem I have with night shift, is that my students must submit their time sheets online for approval every two weeks.  I have to have them approved on the Monday following the due date by 5 pm, which coincides with when I work my reference nights.  Which means, I have four hours to get all assistant time sheets approved.  This isn't a problem if they are all submitted and there are no errors, but those instances are rare.  Luckily, I didn't run into too many problems today.

Before my reference shift this evening, I also have a SPARC meeting.  SPARC is the Strategic Planning and Resource Council on campus, and I have been a part of the group since SPARC 1 (we are now on SPARC 2).  The committee seeks to guide planning according to the mission of the University, system-wide goals, our Chancellor's vision, and our available budget.  Because of the length of time it often takes to accomplish change in academia, this type of group is important in getting the ball rolling on change.  A lot of people may shake their heads and ask what good it does and what good will come of it, but I see this as one of those you are part of the solution or part of the problem type of things.  I would rather try to be part of the solution, for even if we fail to accomplish what we would like, at least we have worked on the attempt.

After the three hour SPARC meeting, I finally got to reference and was shushed by a student for helping someone too loudly.  It made me laugh since I was the one being shushed and not being the shusher.  I did try to be quieter after that, but it's hard when you are helping at the desk and students are studying right in front of you.  Especially when you are happy that you actually received a substantive request for a change.

Randomosity

Well the library is down not only a reference assistant now, but we are also down a reference librarian position.  (Not to mention several in technical services, but the reference positions affect me more.) This means lots of extra time for me at the reference desk.  Today was a fairly quiet day.  Other than the usual looking up of items (call number locations, media on critical care, full text articles), I had the other usual queries for which there is little I can do.  Yes we do have study rooms.  No there are none available.  Check back when we get a new building.  They are almost always full and are first come first serve.  Also, I can tell you how to search the database, but I can't tell you if the results are relevant to your topic.  You have to determine that on your own, especially when the subject is business, about which I know less than nothing.

Randomosity

While at the refdesk today I  finished editing and publishing the newsletter for my student group SAGA.  As part of our focus on advocacy and awareness, we're going to publish a monthly newsletter to the campus community.  It's a couple of days late, but we'll hopefully be on schedule by the next issue.  I was glad to get it published before the SAGA meeting this afternoon though.    

Tangental note from refdesk duty - is this a public vs. academic libraries thing?  Why do patrons think we offer technical support? No I can't (read won't) help you install Office on your Mac but I can tell you where to find the help desk.  

While I planned on working from home on updating Blackboard and maybe getting some work done on my never-ending article, alas it was not to be.

Randomosity

Beginning of the month always means reports.  Running statistical reports, writing and submitting my monthly report, eating lunch while I work on reports, the usual.  Today also got to add assessment reporting to the mix, but at least a very kind colleague brought me a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, which made it far more enjoyable to work on.

In addition to the regular beginning of the month fare, today I had my first faculty senate meeting. I was elected to my three year term at the end of the last academic year and begin my term this fall.  It ought to be interesting to experience, especially learning to strike the balance between speaking as an effective agent for representing faculty interests and not getting drawn into the politics of academia.  I was told not to say a word for an entire year and to just listen and get the lay of the political land, but it's really not who I am and will definitely be a challenge.  I did ask one question during the senate meeting today, which I hope was innocuous enough not to cause any issues.  Our campus health committee is investigating our policies regarding smoking on campus and emphasizing the problem with compliance with the policy.  I asked if any smokers were on the policy making committee, as I thought that might increase compliance with the policy.  Let's see how long that one takes to come back to haunt me.  Academia is like a courtroom at times - "any thing you say can and will be used against you."

Monthly Report for August 2012

Monthly Report

August 2012

Access Services Activities

August was an extremely busy month, as the first few weeks of the academic year always are.  Just prior to the beginning of the semester, our Ares server received a major update as did all the client machines in the Library.  Rob Wolf and Jess Karpel helped with the upgrading of staff machines.  In other reserves news I have been paying close attention to the judge’s rulings in the GA reserves case, as it has implications for all university e-reserves systems.  Sam has been working diligently to process all the reserves that came in at the beginning of the semester and has done a wonderful job of getting things done in a timely manner and communicating with faculty regarding their reserves.  I assisted with some reserves issue for faculty, namely fixing any connections between Blackboard and Ares lost due to course cross-listings or a faculty member cloning the same class more than once.  I also assisted in finding a few obscure ILL items for Sharon Matilla.  Penny and Tela have been excellent about assisting at the Circulation Desk in the absence of Julious and in light of Sam’s need to focus on course reserves. 

The staff have been excellent in helping the student assistants get settled into the semester as well, setting them up on the biometric time clock, getting them started in training, and supervising them on a day to day basis.  Eric also supervises their stacks activities and makes their stacks maintenance assignments.  Student assistant administration took up the bulk of my month.  I had several meetings with library staff regarding student worker needs for their areas and available students.  I posted all the library jobs in the Career Center’s Brave Opportunities program, and responded to all job queries – both in the system and by e-mail.  I completed contracts for those students hired, conducted interviews, scheduled students, updated Blackboard, and approved time sheets for the first two weeks.  Other than one Hawk Assistantship and the always available work study option, all student library positions have been filled as of the last week of August.  In addition, since Melanie is leaving, I am taking over the supervision of the Hawk Assistant for which she applied for reference/instruction.  In order to stay true to the application, this student will not work circulation but will assist with making video tutorials for reference/instruction, and is available to the other librarians providing instruction on Wednesday and Friday afternoons if needed.

Fee appeals and account queries made up the other main part of my work this month.  When the last time to add/drop classes comes, students come in large numbers to clear their accounts.  Often these fees are not recent and take some time to resolve – talking with staff, checking Millennium, searching the stacks – making each query very time consuming.  This necessitating diffusing a few vociferous situations with students who wanted immediate action, though most I feel were satisfied with the resolution of their fees issues and all were handled as timely as possible in light of the need to expedite their ability to register.

In the rest of my available time I completed the Circulation desk schedule for fall, worked on

SACS assessment reports, and met with both of the new circulation weekend assistants.  Dan’elle and Kara have both worked at the Library for a number of years, so they only needed a quick overview of closing duties, and have been doing a great job so far.

A great picture of the Access Services staff and student worker looking great on school colors day!

The campus body conducting the event recognized our circulation staff for their school spirit.

Library Activities

I participated in/attended the following Library events in the month of August:

August 6^th – Met with librarians and staff from NCCU

August 7^th – Put up display on lobby board – “Books – Get HBO Programming 10 Years Before

Everyone Else” highlighting books that have been produced as HBO series or movies

August 7^th – Met with Beth Froeba to consult on copyright for freshman seminar materials in

Blackboard

August 8^th – Hot dog cook out

August 8^th – State of the Library

August 9^th – Overheard student at reference – "I love the smell of books."

August 10^th – Staff Development trip to Raleigh to NC Museums of History and Natural Science

August 13^th – Followed up with DSS regarding service animals in the Library after announcement

sent out by DSS – all service dogs wear identifying markers so that there is no confusion with other pets

August 15^th – Submitted updated manual pages for incident reporting per discussion regarding

University policy project

August 16^th – Library Hawk Assistantship meeting

August 17^th – Departmental libraries meeting and revision of cooperative agreement and training

guidelines

August 28^th – Study room occupancy meeting

August 28^th – Goodreads Book Club

August 31^st – Planning committee and Librarians’ meetings

August 31^st – Jess’s Farewell Party

Access Services staff participated in/attended the following Library events in the month of August:

August 8^th – State of the Library – Tela Brooks and Penny Locklear

August 9^th – Facts and Questions presentation – Tela Brooks and Sam Jacobs

August 10^th – Staff Development trip to Raleigh to NC Museums of History and Natural Science –

Chris Bowyer

August 29^th – FOL meeting – Chris Bowyer

August 30^th – Arts, Displays, and Exhibits committee meeting – Penny Locklear

August 30^th – National Library Week committee meeting – Sam Jacobs

University Activities

I participated in/attended the following University events in the month of August:

August 14^th – Chancellor’s Address

August 14^th – Financial Aid Work Study meeting

August 14^th – SAGA executive board meeting

August 14^th – Welcome Back reception at Chancellor’s

August 23^rd – Faculty meeting

August 23^rd – SAGA meeting

Access Services staff participated in/attended the following University events in the month of August:

August 13^th – Convocation – Chris Bowyer, Tela Brooks, and Penny Locklear

August 14^th – Chancellor’s Address – Eric Chavis

August 14^th – Health Sciences Building Dedication – Chris Bowyer, Tela Brooks, Eric Chavis,

and Penny Locklear

August 14^th – Welcome Back Reception at Chancellor’s – Eric Chavis

August 31^st – Jess’s Farewell reception

Professional Development

August 2^nd – I participated in a virtual field trip to the 2012 International Disability Rights

Affirmation Conference at Virtual Ability, Inc. Island in Second Life with the purpose of learning to make Second Life more accessible

August 9^th – Chris Bowyer presented Facts and Questions with Melanie Wood as part of staff

development week.

Community Service

Penny Locklear and I both attended the PTA Open Houses for our respective children’s schools.

Respectfully submitted,

June L. Power

Access Services/Reference Librarian

September 4, 2012

Randomosity

Coffee, student assistant contracts, time sheets for staff, monthly report for Access Services, refdesk, staff members out, and who knows what else - and that is just what was waiting when I walked in the door.  #goingtobealongday

But wow - finally some news on the budget that pertains to me.  The NC Legislature approved a 1.2% raise for EPA employees.  That means Exempt from the Personnel Act, which is where "non-teaching" faculty, such as myself, are classed.  (Though I dispute the designation non-teaching.)  That is about an extra $40 a month, our first raise in years.  If only the raise kept up with inflation it may have made a difference.  I much more appreciate the five days time off.  And I am grateful that they did something, but when it's been this long one tends to get a bit disgruntled.

Refdesk this am per usual.  I signed up for my fall instruction sessions, my least favorite part of the year.  I really am not a fan of instruction, especially freshman seminar.  I got out of teaching for a reason.  I also monitoring an EDN class turn in assignments for another librarian and helped a graduate student with business research.  My favorite question of the day was in literature research assistance - I always like looking this stuff up.

Other than that I spent the rest of the day finishing up the SACS accreditation reports that should have been done last week...enough said.