Friday Mornings: A Busier Library Day

Friday, June 10, 2022, 9am-1pm

    Most of my day was spent shadowing Edward Young today. He commented that the first couple of weeks of the practicum would involve a lot of shadowing and then they would leave me to handle the desk on my own with another librarian nearby. Today was a lot of similar tasks to the first day. We spent time helping patrons with printing and making guest passes for patrons without library cards to access the computers. Ed also spent time showing me the ILS system that RRPL uses.

Today was busier in that there were a lot more phone calls that came through. I was able to see the process involved to cancel a hold for a book that had already been pulled for a patron. One phone call was from a patron that was concerned that she had received a due date reminder for books that she says she did not check out. Upon investigation in the ILS system, we were able to see that the eleven books in question had been checked out minutes after her library card had been created. We looked through the shelves and in the circulation room, but the books were not in the library. We discussed possible scenarios with other staff members as to how the error could occur. Ed informed the patron that he would renew the books on the account to give the books more time to locate and investigate the issue.

    Every Friday the library puts out a "Take and Make" activity for patrons. This week the theme was hiking. It was my task to put together the display with the activity and signage that had been previously made by another librarian. After COVID the library has not resumed its normal level of patron activity from before the pandemic. The "Take and Make" activity is strategically placed on the second floor, instead of the library's busier first floor, as a way to draw more visitors to the adult services area. Some patrons commented that they had no idea there was a second floor to the library. It was nice to be busier overall with patrons today.

Take a Hike Take and Make Activity.
The bags with hiking essentials and water bottles were taken quickly.

Sara Gandaría-Escamilla Geeta Halley, Site Supervisor Practicum Schedule