Monthly Report for September 2012

Access Services Department
Monthly Report
September 2012

Access Services Activities

We had a fairly typical month.  Student assistant management remained busy – both with timesheets, needed updates to our Blackboard training site, getting their pictures in so that we can learn who is who, and their day to day task management.

Study room requests were heavy this month, and seemed higher than normal, which means we could be in for a very busy exam season.

Additionally, I updated reserves policy to reflect the change in the access point from the Library to Blackboard, and dealt with numerous student fee issues.


Library Activities

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

September 19th – Information Literacy session for Beth Froeba’s Freshman Seminar class
September 25th – Goodreads book club meeting
September 27th – Liaison Luncheon
September 27th – Second Life book club reading from George Orwell’s 1984

See pictures here

Additionally, I worked on SACS Assessment reports and spent quite a bit more time than usual on duty at the reference desk, including my scheduled weekend.

I planned, gathered materials, and with the help of my student assistant Brittany, assembled the Library’s annual Banned Books Week Display.  Jean and I are both posting on Facebook this week about our favorite banned books to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week.  I am also participating in the Banned Books Week virtual read out on YouTube later in Banned Books Week.

See pictures here

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

September 6th and 24th – FOL meetings – Chris Bowyer
September 24th – Staff Development meeting – Chris Bowyer
September 26th – Pembroke Day – Chris helped with selling hot dogs for FOL and Penny and
Tela worked at the Library’s Pembroke Day Table.
September 28th – FOL Calendar Sale at the football game – Chris Bowyer

University Activities

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

September 4th and 20th – SAGA meetings
September 5th – Faculty Senate meeting
September 10th – SPARC meeting and reception
September 12th – Town Hall meeting
September 20th – FIAC meeting

Professional Development

Tela Brooks participated in an OCLC webinar “Document Delivery using OCLC Article Exchange.”

Community Service

I am volunteering with Girl Scouts again this year, and attended the first meeting of the year for Daisy Troop 498 on September 20th.

Respectfully submitted,

June L. Power
Access Services/Reference Librarian
October 3, 2012

Kicking Off Banned Books Week

It's my favorite week of the year as a librarian.  Welcome to the 30th anniversary of the American Library Association's Banned Books Week, presided over by the Office of Intellectual Freedom. Libraries are at the forefront of many censorship battles, not solely because we are a provider o

f many banned and censored works, but because our code of professional ethics requires us to stand up for peoples' right to read without judgement or censorship. Does this mean that we agree with all viewpoints for which we argue a voice be heard? Not at all. However, we will defend its right to exist, because it may be the right work for somebody and that person deserves access to that work. You don't have to agree with the sentiment to disagree with its censorship.

"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

In celebration of Banned Books Week, myself and another library will share this week with our patrons on the library's Facebook page, some of our favorite banned books.  The following is my share for today: 

 In 2011, the popular Hunger Games made the list of challenged books kept by the Office of Intellectual Freedom. Some people claimed it was anti-ethnic, anti-family, insensitive, satanic, and contained offensive language and violence. Celebrate Banned Books Week by reading a banned or challenged book. Read the book or watch the movie - the Library has both.

http://uncclc.coast.uncwil.edu/record=b2104353~S3

More information:

BBW 2012: Most Challenged Books of 2011http://
wp.me/piNYx-1HU 

It's Banned Books Week Sept.30-Oct.6th: follow#BannedBooksWeek hashtag & see http://bannedbooksweek.org/  for more info.

PS - Band practice outside the library?  Why? 

PPS - I updated contract spending spreadsheets, worked on student worker paperwork, dealt with reserves issues back and forth all day, and still am behind on everything.  Hate being so productive yet feeling that I am not accomplishing anything.

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.