End of Semester Stuff...

Remember that you are responsible for your BUSP shifts until the end of finals week. That's 6:00 on Friday, Dec. 19. Please post sub notices for any shifts you can't cover. If you are scheduled to work on Thursday, but you're leaving town on Tuesday, you'll need a sub. Post a notice. If you need to take a final during a shift, post a sub notice for this also. Time away to take a final will not be deducted from your time bank, even if no one signs up to sub for you. Please write the word "final" on your posted sub notice.

A couple of you have agreed to work some hours during the break. Your supervisors are grateful for this because we get lonely around here when everyone is gone! If anyone else would like to work over the break, your help could be used at the Wells Library. They are looking for current employees (that's you!) to shelve Google project books. Please note that your payrate for this special project will be minimum wage, and not the wage you currently earn at BUSP. If you are interested in this, contact Terry.

Finally, good luck with your finals. If you are traveling over the break, do so safely. Happy trails to you, happy holidays to all, and to all a good night.

Thank you very much!

Thank you very much for making this a successful semester at BUSP. This place definitely could not take care of its patrons without you! To show our appreciation, and to help you make it through finals week, a goody bag has been prepared for you. You'll find the the one with your name on it in the cubicle next to Matt's office in the reserve room. Enjoy!

Early Paydate

Because of the holiday, your next direct deposit will arrive in your bank account on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Now that is something to be thankful for! If you're leaving Bloomington, please travel safely. And HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Magic number

At least five people must be standing in front of you in order for you to check out a room key to one of them. We're entering the season where room keys are checked out as fast as keys come in. This makes it very important that we adhere to our policy of only checking out keys to groups of five or more.

Plan ahead for Thanksgiving break.

Please note that BUSP is open on Tuesday, Nov. 25th until 6:00. You are responsible for your scheduled hours until that time. You are not responsible for your hours from the 26th (Wed.) through the 29th (Sat.), even though BUSP is open part of that time. BUSP is open, and you are responsible for any scheduled hours on Sunday, Nov. 30. Please put up sub notices for any shifts you won't be able to cover.

Anyone subbing on Sunday, Nov. 30, will receive one hour in their time bank for every hour worked, instead of the usual half hour for every hour worked. If your time bank is low, this would be a good time to give it some padding.

YOU'VE VOTED, RIGHT?

If not, Tuesday is your last chance.

Let your voice be heard.

Moved Print Release Station & What This Means For You

Earlier this week, one of our two print release stations was moved next to BUSP's large computer cluster. In the past, the printers were maintained by our reference department, but because the circulation desk is now closest to the moved printer, patrons will most likely be coming to you for help when they need it. If the printer needs paper, please refill it for the patron using the paper stacked on the shelves along the east wall of the reserve room. It is important that we do not use the paper kept under the circulation desk to refill the printer. If a patron reports that the printer is jammed or not working properly, please call the reference desk (5-1958) and report the patron's need to the desk attendant there.

The printer move was in response to a patron's suggestion written on our new white board across from the circulation desk. Another suggestion written there was that BUSP needs more cute puppies. It has been suggested to Terry that we honor that patron's request and teach the puppies to put paper in the printers. Hmmm...something to think about?

Customer Service Mantras

Pick one and repeat it over and over to yourself during your shift today:

*I will smile and greet everyone I come in contact with.

*I will ask everyone approaching the desk if I can help them.

*I will give everyone the benefit of the doubt.

*I will try to go the extra mile with the patron as often as I can.

Where in the world...

...can you find the reserve that patron just requested? Try following this simple rule of thumb:

If the call number begins with a course number (ex: V502, X201, A202), you'll find it along the row of shelves facing Matt's office space. All reserves beginning with course numbers are property of a professor. They may be books, readings in folders, discs, videos, etc.

If the call number sounds like a Library of Congress call number (ex: HF5504.3 .C44 2001 or BF30 .G63 2005), you'll find it on the opposite side of the shelves or on the next set of shelves. These reserves belong to the I.U. Libraries, and they too may be books, videos, CDs, etc. Books belonging to the libraries are filed separately from videos, CDs, etc. belonging to the library.

Does this still seem as clear as mud, and you still aren't sure where to shelve the reserve item the patron just returned? If so, you know what to do, right? That's it exactly...Check with your supervisor.

Jeri's view of what it's like to wait for a BUSP group study room...

Circulation Do's & Don'ts

Don't change the homepage on the circulation workstations.
Do record all interactions with patrons on the reference portal.
Don't save anything to the circulation workstation desktops.
Do continue your friendly and helpful attitude toward our patrons.

What to do when...

What do you do when a parent calls and asks about a student's fines? Let them know that by law this information can only be disclosed to the person who generated the fine. Suggest they ask their son or daughter to contact us.

What do you do when a patron asks about fines? Do not give them any information. Refer them to Jeri or Terry. If neither Jeri or Terry is here, the patron may e-mail his/her question to libbus@indiana.edu.

Discharge!

Remember to discharge all returns as soon as they come in. This is especially important for reserve items and room keys, since large fines accumulate so quickly on these items. We want happy and satisfied patrons, right? They won't be happy if we send them bills for items they returned on time, but that we failed to mark returned on time.

Can't find a barcode on a returned item? Check with your supervisor.

Your Money

Not sure how to access your pay information? Like most everything else at I.U., you'll find that on OneStart. Click on "Employee Self Service," then click on "View Pay."

Having problems with this? See Terry.

Hmmm...Did you know...

...that sometimes the best way you can help patrons is by not helping them at all? Unless the person requesting your assistance is asking a directional question or a question regarding a circulation function, all you need do is refer them to the Reference Desk. (See sample directional and circulation questions below.) But what if you really do know how to look up the information the patron needs? That's great...but still refer them to the Reference Desk. Why? Well, when we refer them on, rather than take the time to look up detailed information ourselves, we are free to provide circulation service to those coming to our desk for that function. That means patrons who need a service only our desk can provide will not have to wait while we do reference work. Besides, reference assistants get paid a bit more than circulation assistants. Let's make them earn their money!

Sample directional questions: Where's 150J? Where's the restroom?
Sample circulation function questions: Can you tell me if this book is checked out? How do I place a recall?

Shelving and Shelf Reading

Sheets for recording your shelving and shelf reading have been posted on the bulletin board inside the Reserve Room. To end the semester as an employee in good standing, you must shelve 10 half carts of books and spend 10 half hours shelf reading. When you do this work is up to you, but do check with your supervisor before you leave the circulation desk. Also let your supervisor know each time you finish shelving or shelf reading, so he/she can record your work on the appropriate sheet. You can choose when you shelve and shelf read, but we recommend you do it on a weekly basis. Do be aware that if supervisors see shelving piling up around us all, or an area in the stacks greatly out of order, we will instruct you to go out to remedy the situation right away.

Got questions about shelving or shelf reading? See Terry or your supervisor. Feel like you need more training in order to shelve or shelf read properly? Again, see Terry or your supervisor. Head phones are permitted in the stacks. Have fun with it!

What do you and Harry Potter have in common?

You both work with portals. Harry's took him from here to there. So where does the Reference Portal take you? To job security, that's where. Administrators look at the number of entries we've made to determine how many people we're serving. How many people we're serving determines how much money they give us for staffing. How much money they give us for staffing determines...Well, you get the picture. The important thing is that you USE THE REFERENCE PORTAL to record each interaction you have with a patron that does not result in a check-out. I realize this extra step might be considered a pain in the-you-know-what. But really you're pretty lucky. Harry's portal took him to some pretty weird and scary places. The Reference Portal will never do that to you. You don't even need a special port key to use it. If you have any questions about using the Reference Portal, just ask your supervisor.

Welcome!

Welcome Colleen, Evgueni, Kyle, Rachel, Becca, David, Emily, Josslyn, Sarah, Morgan, Nick, Nathan, Ryan, Saniyyah, Jaimee, Haily, and Jessica to the 2008-2009 academic year at BUSP! (I hope I haven't forgotten anyone.)

Stuff to remember: See Terry for any schedule changes. If you can't clock in, be sure to send Terry (treynold@indiana.edu) an e-mail or leave a note in her mailbox showing your name, the date you worked, your beginning time, and your ending time. Be sure to check this blog and the bulletin board inside the reserve room for any pertinent information. Have questions? Ask Terry, Jeri, Matt, Lisa, or Amie. We're so glad you're here!

Yippee, break time is almost here!

The BUSP summer schedule ends with the end of Summer Session II, so you are not responsible for your scheduled hours after this Friday, August 8. If you are interested in working some hours over the break between Summer Sessions and Fall Semester, talk to Terry.

Dollar Signs!

You received a raise! Check your TIME record, and you'll see your new pay rate. If you can't find your new rate, Terry can help.

BUSP's Carbon Footprint

Two members of BUSP (Steven and Terry) are members of the Libraries Sustainability Task Force. This group is looking at energy use and other topics, and will be submitting recommendations to Library Administration near the end of August. Do you have ideas on how to make BUSP and the other libraries on our campus more sustainable? If so, talk to Terry.

Did you know that in addition to paper and aluminum cans, BUSP also recycles plastic (numbers 1 and 2), steel cans, and cardboard? You'll find bins for these items in the storeroom near Mike's and Nels' offices.

Required: One Hour of Shelving per Day

Books waiting to be shelved at BUSP are about as plentiful as raindrops were in Indiana a week or so ago! It is important that we get our shelving done, so we can continue with our shifting and get other special projects for this summer underway. Until we are caught up, please plan on shelving for one hour each day you are working at BUSP. If you have any questions about this, please talk to your supervisor. And do check with him/her before you leave the desk, so we can keep the service point manned while you are away in the stacks.

A Fond Farewell

Hi, this is John--the evening supervisor. Starting June 2nd, I will working full-time across the street in Technical Services. Regrettably, this means I will be leaving my post here at BUSP. So I'd like to say goodbye and thank you to everyone who is working here over the summer, and also to all the student assistants returning in the fall who I've worked with over the years. It's been a pleasure to work with you all, and I wish you the best of luck in everything that you do.

Room Key Policy Change

Please be aware that overdue fines for our group study room keys have been raised to $10.00 per hour, with the fine accumulating when the room is one minute overdue. We hope this huge jump in the fine will encourage groups to return our keys on time, allowing more students to use the rooms.

Other policies concerning our study rooms remain the same: We still require a group to consist of five or more people, and all of them must be present to check out the key. Keys are checked out for a two hour period on a first-come, first-served basis. Keys cannot be renewed unless at least one group study room is empty at the time of the renewal request. When all rooms are in use, a group wishing to renew a key may do so after fifteen minutes have passed if no other group has come to request a room. Groups of five or more may also use the classroom (150J) when it is not being used for instruction.

If you have questions about our study room policies (or any other policy, for that matter), please check with your supervisor. Answering your questions makes us feel good!

NO, NO, NO!

At BUSP we try to answer our patrons' requests in a positive way, but there are times when we just have to reply in the negative. For instance, if a patron needs a book that is checked out by another user, we cannot tell that patron who has the book checked out. Even if the patron making the inquiry has a desperate look in their eyes, and says something like, "But I have to have it for a class assignment that's due tomorrow, and I'm pretty sure I already know who has the book, and they are a friend of mine, and they wouldn't mind sharing it with me..." (We have heard this story before.) It would be nice to help this person and replace their desperate look with a smile, but we cannot. The information they are asking for is considered private, and BY LAW, we simply are unable to give it to them. The best we can do is tell the patron no in a kind way, and explain that it is illegal for us to give them the information they want. Nor can we give it to anyone else. Now if it should happen to be a policeman or an FBI agent, with a badge to prove it, who comes to the desk and asks you who has a book checked out, get your supervisor. (And yes, this has happened at BUSP before also.)

Why Are You Here?

If you are in doubt, you can find this information on the student staff bulletin board located on the wall to your left as you enter the reserve room from the circulation desk. Our reason for being here is embedded in the Libraries' mission statement, which is posted there.

What else can you find on this bulletin board? Sub notices. Post one if you need to miss a shift, and check there if you'd like to pick up some extra hours/money. The BUSP summer schedule is also posted on this bulletin board, and from time to time, you'll find articles of interest tacked onto it.

Wow, so now you know why you are here. Would you also like to know the meaning of life? You're expecting a lot if you think a bulletin board can tell you that, but you might find some clues (or get a good chuckle) from the "quote of the week" that's posted there. So check it out, O.K.?

Hazardous Area - Hardhats Required?

Here at BUSP we do alot of hard work. We are shifting in our stacks right now, and let me tell you when Jaimie and I work together we need hardhats. In our hands, books sometimes become lethal weapons, a danger to heads, hands, and toes!

Look out below! Books are falling from the top shelves, landing right down on our heads making a hardhat a useful item.


Diana

Best wishes, Alyssa

Alyssa Peterson has not scheduled BUSP hours for fall semester, and for good reason. Sometime in September or October she'll be headed to Afghanistan. A sophomore, majoring in History and International Studies, Alyssa's formal education will be on hold for a year while she drives supplies during her National Guard tour of duty. While she won't be studying history, she will be watching it in the making and learning much during her time abroad. Alyssa feels some excitement for what's in store for her and is curious as to what the next year will bring. She looks forward to using her skills and doing the job that she has been trained to do.

Alyssa, while you're gone, please know that our thoughts and our hearts are with you. Take good care of yourself. We look very forward to hearing the many stories you'll have to tell when you return.

Goody bags!

O.K., your bag isn't quite as fancy looking as the one in this picture, but there is a bag of goodies waiting for you on the cart in the reserve room next to Matt's desk. Please accept this token as your supervisors' way of saying THANK YOU for all your hard work this semester. What would BUSP do without you? Find the bag with your name on it and dig in.

Just a reminder...

Please put up sub notices as soon as possible for any shifts you need to miss because of a scheduled final exam.

And may all your exams be easy!

Congratulations, Graduate! (Part III)

Our hats are off to Joe Rodonis, who is receiving his undergraduate degree in Finance from the Kelley School of Business. After donning his cap and gown, Joe will be working as a financial analyst with Cardinal Health, a Fortune 20 company. But this position is just a stepping stone for Joe, who plans to go into commercial banking or start his own business in the next few years. He really looks forward to applying his degree in a real world setting, and he looks forward to making money and finally being rewarded for all his hard work. Most of all, he looks forward to the freedom his degree offers him. With no set-in-stone plan for his life now, he feels ready and able to accept any opportunity he chooses.

Joe leaves his co-workers with these words of wisdom: "Never stress out about an assignment or a test. It's just not worth it. That's one test out of a thousand that you're going to take, and in the grand scheme of things, that test will not affect your life. Just enjoy your time here and never waste an opportunity. Just never have regrets. If there's something you think you'd enjoy doing here at I.U., do it...because you won't have that opportunity once you graduate. And early in your college career, make sure you take school seriously. Any down time you have...get your work done so that you can enjoy yourself when something comes up spur of the moment."

Joe admits that there is much he'll miss about I.U. He'll miss being able to see his closest friends whenever he wants, and he'll miss going to Kilroy's for a beer with good people. Although he plans to train for triathlons, he'll miss cycling with his frat team. He also points out (with a laugh) that he'll miss "the blatant irresponsibility that is college." Joe has had fun at I.U., and he's been here long enough to consider it home. He says it will be hard to leave.

And it will be hard for many of us to say good-by and see him go. Joe has been a valued member of the BUSP staff since his freshman year. Take care, Joe. Be sure to keep in touch. May life bring you the best it has to offer.

Congratulations, Graduate (Part II)

Congratulations are due to Ashley Hayden, who will receive her undergraduate degree in Health Administration from SPEA. After graduation, she plans to find an administrator-in-training position and work while studying for the GRE and LSAT. Knowing graduate school is eventually in her future, she doesn't think she will miss going to class and studying for exams, but she does expect to miss the time she spends at BUSP. (Aw, that's sweet!) Ashley says she finds herself looking very forward to having a grown-up job and making more money. She laughs when she says she also looks forward to becoming a future Indiana senator! But who knows, Hoosiers may some day be very well represented in Washington by Senator Hayden. Best wishes to you, Ashley. And thank you for all you've done for BUSP. Your presence here will be greatly missed.

Common Questions about Scheduling

Can I schedule if I haven't yet registered for classes? Yes, as long as you know what classes you plan to take. Schedule BUSP hours around the hours you hope to be in class. Later on, if your actual class schedule turns out to be in conflict with your work hours, your times at BUSP can be adjusted.

Can I schedule if I have a negative time bank balance? Yes, as long as you plan to be at zero or above by the end of the semester.

If you have other questions regarding scheduling, please let Terry know. Come see her, give her a call (855-8552), or send an e-mail (treynold@indiana.edu).

Congratulations, Graduate! (Part I)

At the end of this semester, we'll be bidding farewell to Chris Smith, who is receiving his B.A. in Anthropology and French. With his undergraduate degree squared away, he intends to fly west where he'll attend San Francisco State University to begin working on a master's degree in Museum Studies. While he'll miss the friends he's leaving behind at I.U., he's very excited about moving to California. He's also looking very forward to learning more about working in museums and seeing what comes next with his career.

Chris has a bit of advice for those still working on an undergraduate degree. Looking back on it all, he believes that "it's important to study hard, do your homework, and get good grades. But what is even more important is to try new things, have fun and adventure, build great friendships, fall in love, and do all those other things young adults tend to do." He stresses that if we're confident in who we are and what we're capable of, we'll be fine.

We'll miss him, but we know Chris will be fine too. Our best wishes go with him as he ends one chapter in his life and begins the next. CONGRATULATIONS, CHRIS!

Fall Scheduling

SCHEDULING FOR FALL SEMESTER WILL BEGIN NEXT MONDAY, APRIL 14. Contact Terry in person or by phone (855-8552) to sign up for hours. Remember, the sooner you schedule on or after the 14th, the more likely you are to receive your first pick of hours. E-mail requests cannot be honored -- you must see Terry or give her a call to schedule.

Fall Scheduling

So NOW what do you do?

You need to shelve a cart of books, but there are no carts filled and ready for the stacks. How in the world can you keep your shelving bank balance in the black if there is nothing to be shelved? Don't worry; be happy! And check with your supervisor. He/she can give you an alternate task that will count toward your shelving bank total.

Confused about time bank balances?

If you've read your e-mail lately, you've probably seen a message from Terry regarding your time bank totals. Please know that there are two components to the stack maintenance total she reported to you: shelving and shelf reading. At the end of the semester, your shelving time bank should have a zero or above balance AND your shelf reading bank should also have a zero or above balance. If Terry reported a negative stack maintenance time bank total to you, check with a supervisor. Matt, Diana, John, Jeri, and Terry can let you know whether you're behind in shelf reading, or shelving, or both.

So altogether, there are THREE BALANCES that need to be at zero or above at the end of the semester: attendance, shelf reading, shelving. ONE WAY to remain an employee in good standing and to be eligible for employment next fall is to end the semester with a zero or above balance in each of the three time banks.

Is your confusion all gone now? Great! Still confused, or maybe even more confused? That's O.K., just see your supervisor. We're paid to make sure you understand the requirements of your position, so talk to us. There is no need to be shy about making sure we earn our salaries!

Note: If you have been helping move books in the stacks (shifting), that time counts toward your shelf reading balance.

Two Recognized for Their Outstanding Performance

Qun Wang will be one of four student employees recognized for outstanding performance at the I.U. Libraries Annual Recognition celebration on April 17 in theWells Library. A SPEA graduate student majoring in Public Affairs, Qun has been with BUSP since January, 2007. Qun was nominated for this award because of his outstanding work ethic and his impressive personal skills. He has been observed as always going the extra mile when providing service to our patrons. This effort, along with his reliability and initiative, have contributed greatly to the success of the I.C. this academic year, and the BUSP staff are delighted that he has been chosen for this award. At the recognition celebration, Pat Steele, Dean of the Libraries, will present Qun with a certificate and a monetary award of $100.

Ashley Hayden was chosen by your circulation supervisors as BUSP Student Employee of the Year. She may be an unfamiliar face to many of you because she does most of her work at the I.C. on Saturdays. Her positive work ethic, along with her ability and willingness to take on new tasks, such as opening and closing BUSP when Diana needs a deserved day away, has earned her this award. Ashley, who will be recognized in the April 1 edition of the IDS, will be graduating from SPEA this semester with a degree in Health Administration. She began her employment with us in December, 2004. BUSP is indeed fortunate to have had Ashley on its staff.

Earn While You Burn Calories

Low on cash? Worried about getting into that bikini this year? Is your only six-pack in the fridge? No worries, because it's true: BUSP WILL PAY YOU TO GET INTO SHAPE! The Stack Maintenance Method is an all-around fitness program that includes step aerobics, strength training, and flexibility training. You'll see results with just one hour or two a week, but you can increase your gain by doing more. See your supervisor if you need more details.

So why exactly are we moving nearly all the books in our stacks?

This is a good question! We're spending time and energy (and getting some exercise) moving the books to prepare ourselves for the major remodeling in store for BUSP. Phase I of the remodeling may begin as early as this summer. Take a few minutes to talk with your supervisor about the good things to come. And be sure to take a look at the plans posted on the hallway wall across from Terry's and Steven's offices.

A new habit!

No, BUSP isn't asking you to dress up like a nun. But we do want you to start checking this blog (our blog!) every time you clock in.

What's Up With BUSP has several purposes: 1) to give you information you need in order to perform your job, 2) stimulate and encourage communication between BUSP employees, and 3) allow us to have a little fun.

So remember: From now on, clock in to work at BUSP, then check the blog.

One more time now: Clock in to work at BUSP. Check blog. And do leave a comment as the need and mood strikes you.