Week 3: Technology Literacy

Printing and making copies continues to create problems for many patrons. However, solutions are easily explained and remembered by patrons. Other technology issues are not so easily fixed.

I had heard stories about patrons who had never used a computer before, but I had never personally encountered someone who was unfamiliar with typing until this week. While I was not surprised to be helping someone set up an email account for the first time, I was caught off guard when the patron kept asking where each letter was to be found. I was briefly worried that the patron might be illiterate, but she spelled her words correctly, she just couldn't keep track of where they were. Her technology illiteracy became worrisome when she told me she needed to verify her email with a correspondent. She thought she needed to send both her email address and her password to this organization. I cautioned her that her email address and a quick note was all anyone should need to verify an email address and told her to never give out her password to others. That sort of naivety is what leads to identity theft.

My English major served me well in two other technology issues this week. Two patrons needed help formatting and proofreading, one with a resume and one with a poem. While both were familiar with Microsoft Word, neither were familiar with MS Word 2010. I was able to help them because I had experience with the 2010 version.

Tip of the Week: Know your software! With technology changing so fast, librarians need to be familiar with older and newer software, and especially whatever software the library has on their computers.

Article Annotation and Abstract Area

Balas, Janet L. "Information Literacy And Technology--They Work Best When They Work Together." Computers In Libraries 26.5 (2006): 26-29. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 May 2012.

This article discusses how the use of a library requires patrons to be literate in both technology and information. The author proposes that senior citizens may have good research skills, but be unable to apply them on technology they are unfamiliar with. Conversely, students and younger patrons are comfortable with technology, but lack research skills. The author suggests various resources for librarians to refer to in assisting patrons of all ages with their information/technology literacy needs.

Week 2: Learning the Ropes (of Printing)

I began this week shadowing at the reference desk and getting accustomed to helping with common issues. So far, printing from the library computers seems to compete with quick reference queries for the most asked question award. To print a page, a patron must submit the print job, then go over to the printing computers and release the print job. If the patron has a library card, they receive 3 free prints per day, otherwise each page costs $0.10. A lot of people don't realize they pay at the printer, not at their original computer. These problems usually have an easy fix, and can be prevented by walking the patron through each step, so that they can print without help next time.

The quick reference questions that I've been getting asked depend on whether it is a phone call or an in-person questions. Patrons calling in have tended to ask for phone numbers and addresses for businesses. I use a mixture of Reference USA and Google searches to answer these questions. My favorite call was a patron looking for the phone number for Peapod Groceries because he wanted to notify them that one of their drivers was tailgating him. Creative problem solving to call the library.

Patrons in the library generally want to know where to find a certain book or subject. Doing a bibliographic record keyword search in the Polaris catalog is the best way to answer these questions. I'm still learning to look at the entire record before trying to show a patron where the book they are looking for is. Our new arrivals are shelved separately from the rest of our collection. When I went to find a 2012 GRE book for a patron, I didn't see that it was a new arrival, so I couldn't find it to begin with. But luckily one of the librarians was able to help me locate it.

Tip of the Week: To avoid looking like a fool check the status and location of a book before going to look for it. In, out, recently returned, lost, fiction, science-fiction/fantasy, mystery, non-fiction, new arrivals, the list goes on.

Article Annotation and Abstract Area

Pace, Andrew K. "Printing In The Library." American Libraries 38.9 (2007): 47-48. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 May 2012.

This article discusses some of the problems libraries and their patrons face with printing. In order to serve patron needs, libraries must choose one of the printing systems and equipment to coordinate with the library system. These systems can be complicated, both in integration with the library, as well as in common use by patrons. The author posits that printing will continue to be a common library service, as print-on-demand ebooks are gaining popularity.

Week 1: Ready, Set, Intern!

First the facts: I am interning at the Monroe County Public Library in the Adult and Teen Services Department. I will be mainly splitting my time between the reference desk, the AV desk, and assisting with programming. I will update this blog at least weekly, and perhaps more than that if something noteworthy occurs during a particular shift.

My internship began on May 8th with the first week mainly consisting of training and getting familiarized with the library. Some highlights include learning how to access the library intranet and email, learning how to use Polaris (the staff catalog software), and taking a tour of all the areas in the library. I still love seeing what goes on behind the scenes in libraries, even though I've worked there now, it continues to hold a bit of magic for me. I was especially intrigued by the automatic hold-pulling conveyor belt machine. It was much more high tech than I had been used to. At my former library, I was that machine, checking books in and sorting holds, so it was a bit disconcerting to see a machine doing the same sort of job I used to. I did notice there were still plenty of circulation clerks transporting those holds and sorting newly checked in items, so the machines still have a ways to go before they complete their take over.

Tip of the Week: Check 3 things everyday at the beginning of your shift, your email, the ATS blog, and the library calendar. This makes sure your personal, departmental, and general communication stays up-to-date.

Article Annotation and Abstract Area

Chalmers, Mardi, Theresa Liedtka, and Carol Bednar. "A Library Communication Audit For The Twenty-First Century." Portal: Libraries & The Academy 6.2 (2006): 185-195. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 May 2012.

This study looked at the communication patterns and problems existing in a large academic library.The study was conducted by a staff task force which created an electronic questionnaire for all staff members to fill out. Focus groups addressed the problems discovered during the study and suggested solutions to improve communication channels within the library. These recommendations were approved by the library director and to be implemented within specific time frames over the next two years.