Bernardsville Library Staff Information Blog

A student borrowed the flash drive to download his homework. He assured me he would return the drive to the library tomorrow. The student does have a library card, so if by chance he forgets, we can call to remind.

MC

2/28 5PM patron called. WPU 2/29. In cubby drawer. gerry

Starting this Sunday March 2 we will put a 3rd person on to work from 1-5. The past two Sunday's have been very busy so I think with papers due soon we need the third person. Karen V will take this Sunday coming up, Annette will do the next one and then finally Shelley will work the 16th. I do not plan to put a person on the 30th usually 3 weeks is all it takes to cover reports.

Thank you everyone who offered to work. If we find we need to do this again I will get back to those who volunteered but I did not use.

Pat

A patron requested an Asian authors bookmark, so - voila, it was done! It can be found among the other 15 bookmarks at the front desk. This new one is printed on pale green paper and is entitled "Across Asia."

The guy who is overseeing Bob's move called and said Bob had received another packet of stock information. He reiterated that we do not need to process nor send that information. I know you know that already, but per instructions I'm passing that to you again.

Shelley

The circ staff only has to check in the DVDs and the CDs. That includes the night staff as well as the day staff. A volunteer will put the DVDs and CDs away sometime during the day. They may be out of circulation for 24 hours but patrons can access information about them in PAC and if they want a DVD or CD that is waiting to be reshelved you can get it for them from the bin. I have labeled the bins for the DVDs to make it easier.

If you have any other questions please feel free to ask.

Pat

Hi All,
I have added a program to the website, "Physical Activity and Arthritis," which does not appear in the latest newsletter. It will take place on Monday, March 17 at 10 am, and is a follow-on program to the current Tai Chi classes which will end on Monday, March 3. It's open to anyone, even if they haven't been attending the tai chi classes.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Thanks, M.E.

In reorganizing the computer class envelopes, Kathy and I came across an envelope labeled: "Julie Garber $5.00 pd." Does anyone remember which class Julie signed up for? She is not listed for any of the current classes and she already paid for the one class she has taken.

Right now I have read and re read all the suggestions on the construction blog that have to do with the DVDs and CDs. There have been some excellent suggestions but nothing that is a quick fix and most are still in discussion. Each soultion must be evaluated for cost, use of staff time and loss potential. This seems to be a problem that has no easy answer that will work for everyone. It is very difficult to find more than 2 people to agree on the right solution. Be assured just because I haven't blogged to share information it is still on the front burner and will stay there until a decision is made on how to proceed.

After meetings I had with some of you today I have decided that we should try this for now, the circ staff should leave all the returned DVDs and CDs in the bins and they can be put away by Zoltan or volunteers once per day. We have a new volunteer coming in on Wednesday for the express purpose of putting away DVDs and I will try to arrange for other people to help, possibly some of the teen volunteers who will be looking for community service time. This does not help with filling the cases but it will alleviate 1/2 the job.

So here is the scenario - When a DVD or CD is returned then all you have to do is check it in, and put it in the bins under the books. Sometime during the day a volunteer will put away the disks that have collected. The most any item will be out of circulation is an additional day. If a patron wants a DVD or CD and the catalog availability is shelving you will find in one of the bins. If possible I will number the bins so you will only have to go through one bin looking for a DVD or CD the patron wants.

This is not a solution but a stop gap measure to help with one side of the problem. Please continue to make suggestions if you can think of anything else we can do. I would also like people to revisit the construction blog and give me any ideas they might have to improve the circ area. I will have to turn ideas over to Karen shortly and I would like to be able to include things you feel are necessary.

Pat

Shelley, Susan and Anne should note that the class they are signed up for tomorrow, Publisher I, has been cancelled. HRLC will call them to re-schedule. HRLC said they would notify Susan since she's not in the library, and I said I would let Anne and Shelley know, which I will do.

Today was extremely busy, both with dvd's (one patron checked out 20!!) and reference questions from the school projects. A third person would have been very helpful today because of the research & programs going on. The patrons attending the program seemed to enjoy it, and the woman in charge of it brought us cheese & cookies afterwards, so that was nice. Nothing out of the ordinary today, just lots of people.

Sarah & Gerry :)

Hi All,
In April we will host the 8th annual juried art show. Forms and flyers for artists who wish to enter are at the Circ. Desk (in the drawer under the cash register). If questions arise, see M.E. Thanks.

The Library is closed today Friday February 22. If you were scheduled to work today please make sure to put your regular hours on your time sheet with the notation snow so that you get credit for the day.

We anticipate opening on time tomorrow. I will call with any changes in the morning or you can check the message after 8am.

Have a safe day. Enjoy the snow!!!!!!!!!

Pat

Nothing of any real note today, just a reminder that we have ESL today and also a computer class with Karen V. Madelyn may be in this afternoon or late morning.

Megan has put up a great display across from the parenting corner with information about summer camps. The binder mentioned at the staff meeting is housed there not under the window of Michaele's office. If you need to refer to the camp binder take it from the display and then return it when done.

There will be photographer here today to take the picture of the young person who won the comic book challenge. We are very proud of our winner Courtney Wu.

Have a great day everyone.

Hi All,
We have developed a feedback form for people who take the 1:1 computer classes. John Rooney and Pete Thurlow will hand them out to students who will be asked to return them to the Circulation Desk. They are titled: "Please Help Us Improve Service: Computer Appointments at Bernardsville Library."

If you receive such a form, please put it in my mailbox.
Thanks, M.E.

FYI-

Please keep your eyes open for a missing YA reference book. We are missing the American Decades Primary Sources for 1920-1929.

Megan

FYI: Zoltan won't be back to shelve until Thurs., 2/21. - Anne

2/16 Betsy Blair stopped in this AM to check her schedule. We have no schedule pages available after this past week. Betsy left her schedule and we put it in Kathy Palmer's box. Betsy will be leaving February 27. I called Kathy and left a message about our need for a schedule page. Hope that was OK. Gerry

I received a call this morning from a man who is helping Bob Church move into Holly Manor in Mendham that Mr. Church no longer needs his stock reports from us.

Once again the video circuit has changed! It is circuit M, an arresting lime green. It was early this month, so I sent out the old boxes and received the new ones today. Not all the videos are here yet, but 3/5ths have arrived and are out for everyone's enjoyment.
RB & SK

Howard Lemburg is authorized to use the Director's Office on Sunday, Feb. 17 (probably college interviews). I have added this office to Room Reserve, so you can refer to that in the future.
Let me know if you have any questions.
M.E.

Feel better, Megan!

As of this morning--Feb.14th. The patron status screen is fixed. The font is smaller and everything is fixed on the left box. You can scroll on the right box.
RB

Hi All,
Please take a look. Adult programs, computer classes, book discussions, and exhibits for March and April are now on the website. If you see any mistakes, let me know--it's a lot of typing!
Thanks, M.E.

The program Foods that Heal and Foods that Hurt has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 11 at 7:00pm. All the people on the list have either been called or emailed, and some got both. Everyone was asked if they wished to stay on the list of attendees. Many people will be calling back with their answers. Madelyn will leave the list at the circ desk. Please mark off the people yes or no when they call back.

Thanks.

Pat

First off, the email overdue/reminders are now fixed as of Friday. Please let me know if anyone still is not receiving their overdues. Also recommend that they sign up for Library Elf-www.libraryelf.com as a backup. You can customize it more than our email notices. It's free, it's easy and you can have your computer yell at you more often than Polaris will.

Second: the large tape dispenser with the wide tape is missing from the volunteer desk in T.S.. If anyone knows of its whereabouts or sees it scuttling around the library, evading capture--throw a net over it and drag it back to the volunteer desk.
RB

Pete called to say that he is a bit under the weather. He had called his two students signed up for classes tomorrow at 10:15 and 11:15, but could only leave messages for them that he was not able to keep the appointments.

So, if they don't get these messages and do show up tomorrow, he asks that we please call him because he may feel like coming in afterall. Thank you.

Before I give you the reminders I want to ask everyone at circ, that could include Megan and Sarah too, to respond to this blog with a comment that you had a chance to read the info. Thanks.

1. If you are working on a reference question and have to leave it for someone else to finish please fill out the reference form. Make sure to date it and to put your name on it. Karen and Megan who usually pick up the questions left in the cubby reference rack also asked that you remember to check the level of material needed by the person. That will really help with their follow up.
2. When you take a full cart from the desk and put a new empty cart in its place please make sure there are enough book ends and that the sign is back on the cart. This really helps everyone when putting away books.
3. If books are returned for other libraries but are not interlibrary loans please pack them when they are checked in. Do not put them on the ILL return pile. If a nonILL is in the ILL return pile it creates confusion because the ILL people have to make sure there is no outstanding paper work etc. for all items and they assume everything in their pile is an ILL. If you check in the book then please package it for return. There are labels for most libraries on the ILL desk in the cubby. If you can't find a label for the library the item is going to you can find a label printer on the HRLC website. Very easy to do. If you need help please ask me or leave the book for me with a note and I will return it and also show you how to print the labels.

Thank you everyone for help with these matters. When things get busy we sometimes forget that the little things we do, helps to smooth the way for the next person.

Pat

The Junior Gardener program scheduled for today at 4:15 is being rescheduled to Monday, 2/25 at 4:15 pm. Our expert gardener, Anastatia is ill.

mc

Baby its cold outside!! I think this one of the coldest mornings we have had all year. Make sure to keep the doors closed to the inside of the library. That will help maintain the heat in the circ area and keep everyone a little more comfortable.

Today we have Tai Chi going on and ESL at 3 and 7:15. VITA has started. I saw that Betsey Blair has already met her first appointment. If you have any questions about VITA please ask Madelyn or me.

Have a great day

Pat

OK guys here is the latest Polaris 3.3 rundown
1. Object locks: this should be fixed. Let me know if it is not.

2. Wierd patron status screen. This is a bug. They are going to fix it on Feb. 14th. Stay tuned.

3. Email overdue/reminders. This has been fixed for all patrons but att.net ones, as far as I can see. Let me know if people continue to not receive reminders. Since people have become so dependent on these email reminders--promote Library Elf as a backup--www.libraryelf.com. I just signed myself up, and it is way cool. It runs separately from our email server.
RB

Hi All,
Saturday's workshop for adults has been postponed due to the presenter's illness. I have rescheduled it for Saturday, February 23 at 10:30 am. I will email and call all the sign-ups.
Thanks, M.E.

You can't clear object locks presently. Rosalie knows about it. I already had to shut down/restart one computer, so that's the way to go until the locks are unlocked.

I checked out the World Book Online Reference Center and found that World Book does give you additional web sites about your search. These web sites are sources beyond the World Book. I believe the World Book Rep this morning told us the web site links were information within World Book. - Megan

For example, when I searched on Woodrow Wilson the World Book links suggested these two sources which are hotlinks.

Woodrow Wilson http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/ww28.html Official White House biography of Woodrow Wilson. Includes links to the Woodrow Wilson House and to biographies of Edith Bolling Wilson and Ellen Axson Wilson.
Woodrow Wilson: Prophet of Peace http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/14wilson/14wilson.htm This National Park Service lesson describes President Wilson's failure to achieve lasting world peace through the League of Nations.

I hope everyone enjoyed the World Book Training this morning. I really learned that even on line World Book is a great place to start looking for the answers to reference questions!

Please change your weekly calendar Gerry is back and will be working on Thursday night. Welcome back Gerry.

There is chess today from 4:15 -7, and the Somerset Hills Condo group will be in 7.

Remember when checking in the MP3 players please make sure to put all the items back in the bag before giving to Rosalie. On two occasions the printed instructions were missing. Rosalie did find them in a folder at the desk today so all is well. But please make sure after you take it out of the bag to check, make sure it goes back in the bag. Karen V suggested that Rosalie print the instructions on a colored paper so we don't confuse them with other papers at the desk. She likes that idea so that may help identify them.

As you know from Rosalie's email, the email overdue notification and reminders should be working again as of today. Thank you Rosalie. Again, if a patron complains and ask for remedy because they did not recieve a notice of reminder or overdue you can give them a waiver of fine per item for up to 7 days from last weeks upgrade on the 30th. Whenever we upgrade there are always some blips so keep it as painless for the patrons as possible.

When you read this blog please leave a comment just so I know that are still checking in and this way of giving information is working for everyone.

Pat

Megan Fletcher stopped in today looking for her cell phone. She checked around the NF cubbies where she was working over the weekend. It is a silver Samsung flip phone. If found, she can be reached at 908-766-1161.
Thanks!

I found an earring on Friday, 1/25. I left a note and the earring at the circulation desk. It was a silver pierced earring with marquesites and gemstones. The patron who lost the earring was in on Saturday, 2/2 and I could not find it anywhere. Did anyone see it? move it?

MC

Anne will work Thursday evening (2/7) instead of Wednesday evening this week.

mc

Just in case you missed the event in Punxsutawney, PA, Phil has spoken---6 more weeks of winter. To get all the facts about the rodent and Groundhog's Day check out this site!

Here is a link I created for the Oak Street Book Battle. Just in case you get requests!

Michaele