Sutherland Shire Libraries Staff News

This is an interesting approach to obtaining photo permissions in the library from Topeka Library in the US as reported by David King...
Photo Permissions at the Library

They re-wrote their policy to try and strike a balance between making it easier to take photos and video in the library (they also had amassed lots of photos of the backs of heads!) and still giving people the chance to opt out if they so desired.

I think it brings Topeka's policy more into line with how the world works.  If you're walking along the street and someone takes a photo with you in it, they don't ask your permission before they post it on Facebook or Flickr. At the same time, I think people expect to be asked for permission if someone intended to use a close up photo of them for a promotion.

Baker & Taylor has developed a new product called Title Source 3. (TS3)
It has a much more powerful filtering capability to the other version, (which is only evident after the first search!)
Have a look at it: -

http://publiclibrary.btol.com
Username: SUTHLIB13
Password; ROUTE66
Only one person can be logged in at a time.

If you get the message...
You are currently logged in on another computer, do you wish to log in on this one?
This means some else is currently using it (or has forgotten to log out!)

If this happens then give it a few minutes and try again. If you need it for a customer request answer YES, and do what you need to do and log out again. If you kicked someone else off, it is probably ref staff verifiying customer requests before passing them on to Collection Development.

Collection Development have their own passwords so do not worry that you are interrupting them in their ordering processes.

You would have seen in the email Anne sent that catalogue records are being downloaded directly from Libraries Australia now, with no changes. This changes how we search for fiction series.

I just thought I'd put the main points here, and the location of Anne's full explanation, so that when you are looking you can search for 'series' and find what you need quickly.

Use "NoveList" from our online databases check series volumes Another excellent online tool is "Fantastic fiction".

Author browse.
Nora Robert’s trilogy with each volume listed as per old practice. New series entries will not appear in Author browse.

Title browse.
Both new and old series entries are retrieved. New format does not include volume.

Keyword
Use general keyword to retrieve both old and new format series.

Series browse.
The new format is retrieved when searching by author, but not by title.

To find the full detail of this change go to DMS

• Corporate Management
• Procedures
• Unit Procedures Community and Recreation Library and Information Services Unit
• Cataloguing
• Fiction Cataloguing Libraries Australia Records and Series Tags

Scenario
Customer in a hurry, prefers books put aside for them as they dash through on way home from work.
3 books on ADD showing available at Sutherland Library, reserved online.
Arrives to collect books but informed they are not yet available. All three are showing"in transit".
Goes home and looks up catalogue to see that all three are still showing available at Sutherland.
Rings library and arranges for the Sutherland books to be put aside while they drive back to the library.
The reserves had all been filled by branches. Three books will now be transported by van to Sutherland, checked in, and sent back by van to the owning branches, where they will be checked in and reshelved.
Waste of staff time, unneccessary carting of goods by drivers, waste of customer's time, how can we improve this service?

NSW public libraries have an agreement to forward interlibrary loans requested directly by each others customers.
All NSW public libraries are registered as our customers and have library cards with us.
So if for example a Liverpool Library customer asks for an item which is available at any of our branches, use a Transfer Slip to fill in their details, and send it with the item to Interlibrary Loans.

Download Transfer slip.

If the item is at another branch, reserve it using Liverpool Library's card number, and send the transfer slip to Interlibrary Loans.

Unsure what parts of our collection are made available for interlending? Check our entry in the ILRS Directory.

Information Desk Opening Procedures

1. Turn on iPacs
2. Check paper and pen availability for the desk and customers.
3. Log out the phone from the previous night.
4. Replace the statistics sheet.
5. Tidy desk (ISO Wipes available for cleaning if required).
6. Fill the free publications stand.
7. Fill the membership application slot (at small desk to the right of Info. Desk).

Information Desk Duties
Nights 5pm – 9pm and/or Weekends 9am – 4pm

1. Log in the phone
   - press call button (green) then #56, hangup.
   - ring Ref to inform them to Log Out.(PM only)
2. Log the previous staff member off the PC and signin as yourself.
   - Casual sigons are in the drawer.
3. Pickup the Children’s desk phone when it is unattended.
   - Press call button (green) – then #68178
4. Take the phone with you whenever you are away from the desk.
5. Print and fill the Pull List throughout the shift.
   - print last copy just after 8pm or 3pm, & resolve/complete this list.
   - if there is time, check it again, but it is not expected to have a clear list before leaving.

Information Desk Closing Procedures

1. 10 minutes before closing
   - Turn off the Playstation (at the powerpoint)
   - Turn off the television (with the silver 'NEC' remote: in the cupboard at the front desk)
2. 5 minutes before closing
   - Shut down iPacs (check that Kids iPacs or off as well)
   - Start at back of library and tell all customers to make their way out.
   - Check the security beam on the northern wall has a clear path, move anything in it’s way
3. Last thing before the ‘all clear’
   - Check the toilets are empty
   - Re-check all areas on the ground floor to ensure library is clear of customers.

In the interest of quality customer service Reference staff would like to trial the following system:

• Reader Advisor’s are to keep the phone on them at all times.
• Anyone directing customers to the Reader Advisor’s desk, please check to see if anyone is there.
• IF NOT - please go to (or send someone else) to the RA Desk and press the ‘Find hs’ (find handset) button on the phone port, once.
• This will alert the Reader’s Advisor that someone is waiting for them at the desk.
• Reader Advisor’s please return to desk as soon as is practical, after hearing the handset ring, to assist the waiting customer.

This may help the general unease that staff feel about sending customers to an empty desk for service, while Reader Advisor’s are either attending other customers or locating items on the RHA list.

It would also limit the time the phone is ringing before it is answered, when staff are not at the desk.