ASC and SC positions

February 23, 2011

To All NCC Library Services Student Assistants,

It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment, effective Summer Term 2011, of Angie Negrete as Student Coordinator. I am also pleased to announce that Obaid Khurram and Delaney Fluker have accepted the position of Assistant Student Coordinator beginning Spring Term 2011.

Please join me in extending best wishes to Angie, Obaid, and Delaney in their new positions.

Belinda L. Cheek

Coordinator of the Student Assistant Program

Student with anticipated graduation this spring or summer

Any students that are anticipating to graduate this spring or summer please contact me and let me know what your major(s) and minor(s) are. Please let me know by Thursday, February 24th by 5pm!

Thanks!
Heidi

Review Week 5: Customer Service

Hello! This week's review is short and simple, be friendly to people!. You should be constantly looking up and around to see if anyone needs help. I know that at the information services desk it is sometimes hard to notice when people walk but you shouldn't be so engrossed in what you are doing to not be looking up. When someone walks up or calls, speak clearly and loud enough for the person to hear you, make the person feel welcome. It is never good to make a person feel bad for asking for help.

Please tell me the answer to the following two questions by next Tuesday, March 1st at 5pm.

1. What is the telephone greeting?
2. How do you transfer a call?

Thanks!

End of Term Matters

TO: Oesterle Library Student Assistants

FROM: Belinda Cheek, Coordinator of the Student Assistant Program

RE: End of Term Matters

DATE: February 16, 2011

It is time to complete the scheduling process for finals week and for Spring Term:

1. All student assistants are required to work their regular Winter Term schedule through Saturday, March 12^th. ALL student assistants must sign up to work a minimum of 4 hours during finals week (March 13-16). Please see Heidi by 5:00 pm on Thursday, February 24^th to sign up for your finals week hours.

2. Please complete your appropriate schedule at this page and return to Heidi either by email (hkkaul@noctrl.edu) or physically by 5:00 pm on Thursday, February 24^th. Please fill this out thoughtfully, and remember that any schedules that are too full for us to work with will be returned for revision!! If for any reason you are not able to work Spring Term, please let Heidi know ASAP.

Review Week 4: Periodicals Desk

Hello! It's week 4 of the reviews! There are quite a few of you that have not answered my questions from week 3, please do that by 5pm today. Again, you should be checking this blog and the website every time you work.

The periodicals desk is what most consider to be the easiest shift when working at the library but I think I should review what you need to be doing while on the desk. Every person that works that desk is expected to keep an eye on the people in that room to make sure they are keeping their sound levels down, not talking on their cell phones and that there isn't any suspicious behavior. Another task you are required to do during every periodicals desk shift is to walk around the room, pick up any periodicals laying around, take stats on them, and shelve them properly. This includes microfiche! While you are walking around you should go out into the lobby area and straighten all the periodicals that are laying on those tables so they look nice and organized.

Sometimes you are going to get questions for help on finding a particular article. You can help someone only if they have the title of the article, the year, issue number and the journal name. If they are missing one of those things they should go up to get help from the reference librarian. One way you can find an article is to click the tab that says "articles," then click the link that says "browse journal, magazine and newspaper holdings." There you can search for the journal name, if it comes up with online databases click on one with the appropriate date range, find the year/issue number and then click the article title. If the only option is "North Central College print journals," click on that link, look for the appropriate year and see what format it will be in downstairs. From there you can direct where the item will be located, either in current or bound periodicals or the microfiche. There are many ways you can search for an article, I personally find that the easiest, but it is up to you.

Any other questions other than directional questions, "does NCC have this item," "where is this article or journal" "can I check out this periodical" should be directed to the reference librarian. Please don't try to answer any other questions than that.

Ok, here are your review questions of the week, they are due Tuesday, February 22 at 5pm, please email me (hkkaul@noctrl.edu).

1. What should you do if a patron is talking on their cell phone?
2. How do you take a stat on a journal?
   
3. Tell me in what databases can I find the following article: Creamer, Matthew. How Radiohead is rewriting the rules of online revenue. Advertising Age, 10/8/2007, Vol. 78 Issue 40, p4-48, 2p W
4. How should you help a patron that asks you for help on research for a paper about the stages of grief?
5. How long can a student check out a periodical for?

I know that I didn't answer these questions in the review, but everyone should know them. Although, if you do not know the answers, you can come ask for help. I look forward to your answers!

Heidi

ASC and SC Positions

Hello,

No one has applied for the ASC or SC positions. We are reopening the window for applicants. If you would like to apply, please take a look at the information on the blog post and send in your letters to Belinda (blcheek@noctrl.edu) by Thursday, February 15 by 5pm.

There are many of you that would be fantastic at these jobs so please reconsider!

Thanks,

Heidi

Review Week 3: Reserves

We are back into our reviews. Everyone has given me their assignments from the previous two postings, thank you. There are a number of you who have not responded to my email from yesterday, make sure you do that.

Our week 3 review is going to be about Reserves. When a patron comes up and asks for a reserve, the first step is to ask them what class or professor they have. Go to the library website, click on the tab that says "Books, Movies, and More," and click the link that says "Reserves for Classes." In that screen select the search items they give you and click "Find." That will pull up the list of reserves that patron should be interested in.

There are two types of reserves. Faculty owned items, which are the faculty's personal items that they have put on reserve for their students to use. Oesterle library items, which are items the library owns. The faculty owned items have very basic call numbers like f789 (book), v506 (video), c102 (CD), p102-A1 (Photocopies), etc. They have a purple band with the barcode on the band. All of these items are located on the right side of the reserve bookshelf, except for the photocopies which are located in the bins to the left of the bookcase.

The Oesterle library items have our normal Dewey Decimal call numbers, a green band, and the barcode is located where all of our barcodes are, on the back cover, top right hand side. All of these items are located on the left side of the reserve bookshelf.

There are 6 possible different check out times: 2, 3, 4 hours and 1, 2, 3 days. When you charge the item out to the patron the computer will tell you the exact time the item is due, make sure you tell the patron. If you missed the due time on the computer screen, you can just look at the band on the book and with that information figure out the due time. Hourly reserves should NEVER EVER leave the building, that means they can not be desensitized. Daily reserve should be desensitized, so please pay attention to the difference.

Once a reserve item is returned you need to discharge it right away in order to not accidentally give a patron a fine. If it is an hourly reserve you should put it on the reserve shelf, it should never go in the back room. If it is a daily reserve, you should resensitize it in the back and then put it on the reserve shelf. There should NEVER be a reserve book on a shelving cart or on the regular shelves, only on the reserve bookcase.

Here are your assignments for this week:

Do a search for the class GEN-PSY: Psychology Students and the professor is Kelley, Karl.

• How many items are on that list?
  
• How many items are faculty owned and how many items are Oesterle owned?
  
• What is the call number and the location of the GRE/GMAT math workbook?
• If I was a student, how long would I be able to check out Career paths in psychology?

This assignment is due by 5pm, Tuesday, February 15th. Please get this done!

Heidi

Reviews

I know I said we were going to have a week off from the reviews, which we are, but I was wondering if you have any suggestions of what I should review? Is there any areas you feel we need improvement? I have a few more things I have in mind but if you can think of anything else, please email me hkkaul@noctrl.edu

Thanks and have a great weekend!

Heidi

Applications for SC and ASC positions

TO: Oesterle Library Student Assistants
FROM: Belinda Cheek, Coordinator of the Student Assistant Program
RE: Applications for One Student Coordinator Position and Two Assistant Student Coordinator Positions
DATE: February 4, 2011

Two of our Assistant Student Coordinators will be unable to continue their positions for Spring Term. Brittany will be student teaching, and Melissa is graduating at the end of Winter Term. In addition, one of our Student Coordinators, Lisa, will be graduating at the end of Spring Term. Congratulations to all three!

We are now accepting applications for two Assistant Student Coordinator (ASC) positions with a start date of March 28th. We are also now accepting applications for one Student Coordinator positions with a start date of June 13th.

The SC and ASC positions have different responsibilities. These are outlined in the full position descriptions that are posted on the Student Assistant website under “Job Responsibilities.” Please be sure to read these descriptions carefully if you are considering applying for either of these positions! Minimally, a student assistant must have completed 3 terms of working at the library (as of the end of Winter Term) in order to be eligible to apply. All applicants must have a strong work record, be dependable, and have excellent customer services skills.

ASC Positions:

There is no increase in salary level for ASC positions. However, as these positions require additional responsibilities, they are a great addition to your resume! When asked to do letters of recommendations for students in these positions, we are always careful to indicate the additional responsibilities and the fact that the student was selected for one of just 3 positions. Please keep in mind that these positions require working 1-2 nights per week, a Saturday shift, and a 3 hour shift on Sunday. Assistant Student Coordinators are only allowed to work and sub for ASC hours. ASC positions do not require summer or December Term hours. Specific hours to be shared by the three ASCs include:

Academic Terms
Monday – Thursday: 5-9 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m.- 1 p.m., and 1-5:30 p.m.
Sunday: 12-3 p.m., 3-6 p.m., and 6-9 p.m.

SC Positions:

The salary level for an SC is $10.30 per hour. Please remember that SCs are expected to work very specific hours (which include both summer and December Term hours). Student Coordinators are only allowed to work and sub for SC hours. Specific hours to be shared by the two SCs include:

Academic Terms
Sunda – Thursday: 9-Midnight
Friday: 5-8 p.m.

December Term
Monday – Thursday: 5-9:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30-4 p.m.

Summer Term
Monday – Thursday: 5-9:30 p.m.
Friday: 5-8 p.m.
Saturday: 8:30-1 p.m. and 1-5:30 p.m.
Sunday: 5-9:30 p.m.

Anyone wishing to apply for an ASC or SC position should submit a letter of application to me that includes the position you are applying for, the number of terms you have worked, areas in which you have worked, and reasons you feel especially qualified for the position.

The deadline for applying is Noon on Monday, February 14. Interviews will be conducted shortly thereafter. The newly hired ASCs will begin their new schedule on Monday, March 28th. The newly hired SC will begin his/her new schedule at the beginning of Summer Term (June 13th).

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding these positions or the procedures for applying.

Reviews

Hello,

We are going to have a week off from the reviews because of the crazy weather, don't forget to check next week though. Just a little reminder to always be friendly, most of the time you are the first person a patron deals with and we want everyone to have the best experience possible here.

All of you who have answered the questions have candy waiting for them in their mailboxes.

Heidi

Thursday and Work

The library will be open by 10am tomorrow, Thursday, February 3rd. Please come for your regularly scheduled shifts after 10am. If you feel like it is not safe for you to come in just give the library a call (630)637-5715, I want everyone to BE SAFE!

Hope everyone enjoyed the snow!
Heidi

School and Library Closed

I am sure you have seen the following email and posting on the NCC website:

North Central College will be closed beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 through Wednesday, February 2, 2011. All classes and regularly scheduled activities are canceled, and only employees designated "essential" are required to report to work. A Blizzard Warning remains in effect from 3:00 p.m. today through 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 2, 2011. You are encouraged to get safely to your final destination for the evening and remain off the roads. A decision regarding classes for Thursday, February 3, 2011 will be made no later than 6:00 a.m. Thursday.

This means that we will be closed starting 4pm today and all day tomorrow. Do not come in today after 4 or anytime tomorrow. We will keep you up to date about Thursday.

Keep Warm! Keep Safe!

Weather and Information

Hello,

Please keep an eye on this blog and your email for updates on the weather, if we will be open, and if you will need to come into work. I will try to keep you as informed as possible, so check these places!

Thank you and stay safe today!

Heidi