Printer Alternatives

If you've been at the desk for very long, you've no doubt had a guest complain about our printers. Unfortunately, our printers just aren't working for some people. We're working on the problem, and hope it will be resolved soon. In the meantime, you can help out our guests with printer woes, by directing them to other printers in our building:

PV199 - Area right outside the IC
P199 - Glassed area outside the UCSO (sits between UCSO and the SPEA construction)
HH 1st floor - A printer is located in Hodge Hall just past the elevators near the lobby area
HH4055 - Hodge Hall computer lab on the 4th floor

This information is on the second page of the Directional Information section of the red PSA Handbook.

Why is it so cold in here?

Good question!  We don't have an exact answer for you, but we can tell you our cool temperature has to do with the construction. It won't be this way forever, but it will be this way for a while.  Think of it as an extension of the plastic and buckets we have dotted around the IC. And do be kind to yourself by tossing a sweater into your backpack on days when you work.

This is a test post.  E-mail me (treynold@indiana.edu) to let me know that you are reading the blog.

Professionalism

Guess what? When you're clocked in at the Business/SPEA Information Commons, you are a professional! Our guests count on you to provide them with the services and resources they need.

You are learning, or already possess, the skills and knowledge to do a professional job. Behavior counts too, and that means a professional appearance is necessary on our side of the service desk. That doesn't mean you need to wear a suit to work, but it does mean no food at the desk. (How can you greet a guest properly with your mouth full?) It also means no phones or laptops. (How can you see a guest and give them your undivided attention when you're looking down or are so engrossed in your own device?) We also need to make sure we have room on our service desk for our guests' needs. We just don't have extra space for laptops. Likewise for drinks. Since it is easy for drinks to be spilled, please keep your covered drinks under the counter where they are safe.

From one professional to another, I thank you for the good work you do at BUSP. We've got this semester off to a fantastic start!

Labor Day Holiday

BUSP will be closed on Monday, September 5, for the Labor Day Holiday.  No classes, no work, Happy Labor Day to you!

Do note that we will be open the Saturday and Sunday before the holiday, so if you are scheduled to work those days but can't, send out a notice to the listserv.

Reference Portal

Are you using the Reference Interaction Reporting Form, commonly known as the Reference Portal? I sure hope so, because the money BUSP receives to pay you is determined by the amount of work we're doing here. Answering questions is work! This makes the Reference Portal your ticket to job security.

A notation should be made on the Portal each time a question is asked that does not result in a check-out. This means that if someone asks for the V450 textbook and you check it out to them, you do not need to record the question in the Portal.Why? Because the interaction you just had with the guest was automatically noted in our statistics when you checked the item out.

All questions that do not result in a checkout should be noted. If five people ask you where the restroom is, you should note the question in the Portal five times. You don't need to be elaborate...just noting "Restroom?" as the question will do. And please don't get all hung up on the categories (directional, tech services/equipment, reference). The most important thing is that the question be logged in the Portal. A question such as, "Where are your printers?" could be logged as a directional question or a tech services/equipment question. Record it either way; just be sure to record it!

Do you have questions about the Portal? Not sure where to find it or how to use it? Let your supervisor know. We'll be glad to show you. We want you to know how to use the Portal because we want to keep you here with us!

Birthday Celebration!

Here at BUSP we have a habit of celebrating birthdays on the last Wednesday of the month for everyone on staff who has a birthday within that month.  We'll be celebrating Gary's birthday (August 17) next Wednesday with cupcakes and hopefully Matt's famous chocolate chip cookies.  BUSP's doors are open until midnight on Wednesdays, so stop by anytime that day and get your goody...or two...or three...

Happy birthday, Gary!

Our Core Values

Some time ago at one of our All-Staff Meetings, the BUSP staff generated and agreed on five core values.  These values are still in place, and serve as our guide in our work and interactions at the IC.  At our All-Staff Meeting on Sept. 9, you will be asked to place your signature on our Core Values statement.

These are our Core Values:

Service:  Positive, friendly, and respectful interactions

Integrity:  Honest and conscientious in what we do

People Focused:  Dedicated to personal, staff, and community needs

Teamwork:  Having fun and working together for the good of the library and the community

Knowledge:  Committed to learning more and being better

Where is...?

This time of year, you're going to get a LOT of "where is...?" questions.  Thanks to Jeri, the Directional Information section of the PSA Handbook (red notebook) will give you the answers, so you can pass them on to the guests asking the questions.  She has written up not only where things are, but how to get to them.  It's all very helpful information, especially during this time of construction.  Take a look at it so you'll have all the answers!

Getting Started

WELCOME to the 2016-2017 school year and welcome or welcome back to BUSP!  The staff is so glad you're here with us.  Most of the plastic covering the IC this summer has been removed, so the place isn't as scary looking as it was.  And your presence definitely dresses the place up!  With your help, we're ready for the challenge of the new year.  Here are a few things to know/remember:

--29 Hour Rule:  You cannot work more than 29 hours each week without getting into serious trouble with the Mighty University Powers.  So don't do it, OK?  If you work two (or more) jobs on campus, your total hours worked at all positions added together cannot be more than 29 per week.

--Curious about when you will be paid?  Pick up one of the little purple cards in the wooden box on our break tables.

--Our All Staff Meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 9.  We'll begin at 6:00 after we shoo all of our guests out of here and lock our doors behind them.  We won't keep you past 7:30.  If you eat pizza fast, you can probably be out of here before 7:30.  This is a mandatory meeting for everyone on our staff.  If you cannot be at this meeting because of another job commitment, a serious illness, etc., you must clear this with me (treynold@indiana.edu) prior to the beginning of the meeting.

--Do you have questions?  See your supervisor.  Do guests have questions you can't answer? See your supervisor. Helpful correct answers are what we want to pass out here.  How else can we see everybody smile?

OK, get on your mark...get set...GO!