Title pretty much says it all. I found a camera that hadn’t been checked in when it was returned. So please be sure to double check. If you scan an item in twice it doesn’t hurt anything at all, so there is nothing to worry about there.
Front Desk
10/14/2016
Greetings all! Just a couple reminders this time around…
- Record OSU or NCSC for Group Study Rooms. Please remember to record either OSU or NC when signing students up for group study rooms (I forget this sometime too). Also, once in a while we might have a community member ask to use one. If that scenario happens write “com” or “community” on the reservation.
- Check barcode on paging slips. When pulling paging slips, remember to make sure the book’s barcode matches the one on the paging slip.
- When pulling paging slips, if you can’t find a book, make sure you’re looking in the right section. Most requested materials are from our regular stacks area, but occasionally there are AV and Juv items requested. Sometimes I find these slips in the NOS or missing bin (but they actually are on the shelf). Just a friendly reminder!
- Richland Pregnancy Services using Conard 101. If anyone comes in and ask for keys for Conard 101,the keys are on the bottom of the keybox with a tag that says “Conard 101” If you can’t find them , just ask Vanessa, Kay, or me–but I’m guessing you’ll be able find them pretty easily. Anyway, these folks are representatives of the Richland Pregnancy Services and offer pregnancy and STD testing for students.
In other news, the semester is about half over. Can you believe it? Anyway, thank you for all your hard work this semester. You guys are awesome 🙂
Weekly Update
Hi all…a couple reminders this week
- Unlock DVD cases (another reminder). Whenever you do paging slips and have a DVD–please unlock the DVD before placing it on the black shelf in the processing room. We are still having issues with DVD’s being sent out to patrons locked, which results in the DVDs being sent back to us (and then we have to resend it to the patron). Basically instead of the patron receiving the DVD in 2-3 days–it’s more like 7-10 days.
- Remember to do hourly counts. Please remember to do the hourly counts at the top of the hour when you are working. Also, take the time to push in chairs and straighten the computer areas up as you do the count–this will make me very happy!
- OSU students: Don’t come to work next Thursday or Friday (Oct 13 & 14). You are on Fall break! If you want to work you are more than welcome. However, I suspect you might want to head home for the long weekend 🙂
- Library computers now automatically turn themselves on and off. Thank to our wonderful IT gurus we no longer need to manually turn on (or off) the computers in the library at opening or closing. Staff computers still need to be done…however, all the other computers (group study rooms, classrooms, iMacs, PCs) are fully automated.
- Recording Studio Opening to Students. The recording studio in the library’s media center will be open for students to use soon (Vanessa and David are working out the details). Right now there is only one student who has been given access. If he asks to use the room, get either Vanessa, Kay, David, or Laura to unlock it. We will be getting a key for the keybox soon.
- Remember to record your reference questions. Whenever someone asks you a question, please remember to record it (this goes for me too). If you are uncertain how to record something just ask Vanessa or me–we will be happy to help.
That is all. Thank you for all your hard work. You are awesome 🙂
Calculators Batteries, Cash drawer key
A couple more things…
- Replacement batteries for graphing calculators. For OSU students (yellow graphing calculators): Send them to the math lab, AKA Conard Learning Center, down the hall from us. For NCSC students (dark blue graphing calculators): We will still replace the batteries here, recording the calculator number and date like usual.
- Don’t leave the cash drawer key in the lock or leave the cash drawer unlocked. The auditor will be be visiting us soon–and in general, we should always should be careful with the drawer (this goes for me too!)
- When pulling paging slips, always check the item’s barcode to make sure it matches. Sometimes items have similar call numbers to one another. Be sure the item’s barcode matches the number listed on the paging slip (hint: check the last four digits). If the correct item isn’t pulled, the request can’t be filled–it’s item number specific.
9/1/2016
Hi all…just a couple things to be aware of…
- Program 60 Patron. If a Mary Sue Edmiston (a Program 60 patron) comes in, I have a library card for her. It’s in the file cabinet that also has the cash drawer, except it’s in the middle drawer (not the cash drawer). It has her name on it. All she needs to do is sign it, and it’s ready to use. P.S. Program 60 is an OSU program that allows people 60 and over to take classes here for free. As a Program 60 participant, she has can check out up to 10 books (5 of which can be borrower through OhioLINK). The ID number she would use when requesting the books is the barcode number on the back of her library card).
- Calculators. As of right now, we are out of graphing calculators for both OSU and NCSC. However, the OSU math lab (AKA Conard Learning Center) might be providing us with more graphing calculators (for OSU students only) — but I don’t know when or how many we’ll be getting. More details to come! We do have some remaining scientific calculators, but these need to be limited to OSU STUDENTS ONLY since there are so few left.
Finals week, photo IDs, a Mouse etc
Hi all, just a couple updates as we close out the semester!
By the way, great job with the game of shelves–it’s getting really tough to pick the best section!!
Make sure to look at photo ID when checking out
I had a student admit to me that she used her friend’s student ID to check materials out from the library. Personally, I’m not always great at scrutinizing ID photos. But we should watch for this sort of thing. Lately instead of swiping a student’s ID card, I’ve been manually typing in his or her information (e.g. student ID number or name)–this way when I’m typing I can take a good look at the photo without being super-obvious.
In other words: 1) Always look at the photo on the ID 2) Use my technique if you need a little help in this area.
Close the check out screen when you’re finished checking out
I recently had two different people report to me that there were books on their records that they didn’t remember checking out. I found the books filed in the back, but the patrons had no recollection about checking the books out in the first place. So here’s what I think happened. I think the patron’s record was left up in check out mode, AND I think the tag reader picked up on a book that was nearby by mistake.
Always make sure to close out of the check out screen when you’re finished with a transaction — check out screen shown below (feel free to ignore the fines on my record)
A mouse!
If a student would like a traditional mouse to go along with the wireless keyboard (occasionally people ask), we now have one in the equipment drawer along with the headphones and markers. It’s not barcoded, so the student is on the honor system.
Manual Checkout
In case Sierra ever goes down and you have someone who would like to check out, we have a manual checkout sheet you can use. It’s now located in the top drawer of the silver filing cabinet with the group study room sign up sheet on top. It’s in a manila envelope labelled “Manual Checkout” — pretty easy right? Just fill out the form and leave it on the circulation desk. When Sierra comes back up, we can enter theinformation. Also, when the computers are down, we need to see a University ID with current fees paid sticker (instead of just a driver’s license or student ID without sticker).
Buckeye Ambassador and Watch the Screen
The Buckeye Ambassador program needs new people, but please don’t leave us. Although if you’re interested, it is possible to do both 🙂 If you would like to be a BA or know of anyone who would make a good BA–here are the requirements and such:
Requirements
- 2.75 GPA
- 2nd semester Freshman or greater
Desired Qualities
- Involved on campus
- Charismatic/Personable
- Buckeye Pride!
- Responsible and dependable
Responsibilities
- Campus tours
- Student Panel participation
- Program and Recruitment assistance
Time Commitment
- Weekly: 2 hours a week for campus tours
- Mandatory admissions events throughout the year
- Campus partner assistance if available
- Orientation
Advantages to being a Buckeye Ambassador!
- $500 per semester scholarship (up to $1,500 annually)
- Professional development opportunities
- Team building and leadership experience
- Experience with collaborating with peers, staff, faculty, and members of the community
When checking in items from shipment, make sure the items actually belong here. I’ve found a number of items on the hold shelf that belong at other libraries (for example, I found 4 items the other day that were actually Lima’s requests). So as you’re checking in requested items from shipment, pay attention to the messages on the screen–it will tell you if the item belongs elsewhere. Of course someone made a mistake by sending these items to us, but we do need to make sure to catch the mistake and re-route them to the proper location.
Helpful hint: Materials that have been requested by us should have 521 written somewhere on the OhioLINK sticker. OSU items should have MAN written somewhere on the paging slip. But the best method as always is just to carefully watch the screen when checking in items 🙂
That is all…
ID requirements, shipment and such
Welcome the student memo blog! This is where I’ll post updates or instructions for you from time to time–things that I think are important enough to write down and share with everyone. Once you’ve read a post, if you could put your initials in the comments field below (e.g. “LA”) that would be most appreciated.
1) Make sure to ask everyone who checks out materials for a university ID/photo ID. Even if you know who they are, they must show a photo ID to check out. This is the major rule not to break.
If a faculty/staff member doesn’t have his or her university ID, we do try to be flexible. But please check with Vanessa or me (or Kay) to verify if you are not familiar with the faculty/staff person making the request.
2) For those of you who work on incoming shipment on a regular basis, I’d like to request that you wait until I arrive to work on it. There are a couple of things I’d like to go over:
- For now, if you see any Pickup Anywhere items with a bright green band/sticker and/or bright green slip inside the book, do NOT check these items in with Sierra. Please start giving them to me. If they get checked in incorrectly, the request gets deleted, I have to contact Columbus, and Columbus has to contact the lending library–this is a major pain(which I’ve had to do multiple times this week!)
- Remember to check the list of faculty/staff who want reserves sent to their offices before filing holds on the hold shelf
- When you send requested materials to a faculty/staff person’s office, remember to check the items out first
- Also, remember to address the envelopes before placing them in campus mail too
- Super important: Make sure everything is getting checked in with Sierra. I’ve found a number of books on the shelves that haven’t been properly checked in.
3) One last thing: thanks for being awesome! We’re over halfway through the semester, and you all have done such a wonderful job. If I don’t say it enough, I really do appreciate you guys 🙂
Click the picture –> It’s totally worth it 🙂 
NC State IDs
Greetings,
As you’re all probably aware, when we check out Ohio State students at the circulation desk we are able to swipe their student IDs on the card reader. This automatically brings their record up in Sierra.
Well now, thanks to the efforts of Kay Foltz, we will be able to do the same for North Central’s student IDs. Any new North Central IDs can now be read by the card reader. The only catch is–most North Central students won’t have new cards.
So…this is where those of us who work at the public service desk come in: If you check out any North Central students at the front desk, please be sure to tell them that they can get a free ID replacement at the Rec Center. Obviously it’s not a requirement for them to get new cards, but it’s helpful to us.
When talking to students you can say something like, “I noticed you have an older ID card. If you’re interested, the Rec Center is offering free ID replacements for North Central students. The newer cards can be swiped on our card reader, so it can speed up your check out process.” Obviously, you don’t have to use my example word for word, just convey the message in a helpful and positive way 🙂
As always, if you have any questions–please feel free to ask me!
Print Card/Cash Drawer
Hello all,
When Kay balanced the cash drawer today, she noticed we were one print card short. Basically this means someone got a print card without paying for it. So we need to be more careful with our print card transactions: Make sure to record transactions correctly, and make sure to give the correct amount of change.
Thanks!
Laura