Thank you...

THANK YOU for making the ICs first full fall semester such a successful one. What would this place be without you?

Travel safely, and enjoy every minute of your well-deserved break. Happy holidays to you!

End of the Semester Stuff

I'm happy to report that each and every one of us lived through I-Core! As the end of the semester is nearly upon us, here are a few reminders: Please remember that you are responsible for each of your shifts until the end of finals week. Be sure to post sub notices for any shifts you will miss. Remember too that to be an employee in good standing and to be eligible for employment next semester, you must have a zero or above balance in your time bank. Not sure what your balance is? Check with Matt or Terry.

By the way, during I-Core week, we served nearly 5000 people each day. You deserve your upcoming break! But if I-Core didn't completely wipe you out, and you're interested in working over the break, talk to Terry.

Spring semester schedules begin the first day of classes, January 9. See Terry if you don't remember your hours.

Congratulations, Kyle!

Kyle Keller will be leaving BUSP and Bloomington for the Big Wide World after his graduation at the end of this semester. A Kelley Marketing & Management major from Indianapolis, Kyle has been a valued BUSP staff member since spring semester, 2009. He holds the distinction of being the only employee in BUSP's history to be paid to have a bucket of ping pong balls dropped on his head. (Watch out for those "miscellaneous duties as assigned.") He states he has enjoyed the close-knit staff at BUSP, as well as the convenience of being able to work in the same place where he spends time studying. He credits his employment here for teaching him how to find books in the stacks, a skill that has served him well. After he leaves us, Kyle will be working in management for Kohl's. While we miss him, he will be missing the company of the many friends he leaves behind. He knows he will also miss the laid back and relaxed Bloomington community, as well as the school pride he knows at IU. As he prepares for his graduation, he gives you this advice, "Take advantage of every opportunity you see, and make the most out of every day because it goes by faster than you realize."

Our heartfelt congratulations to you, Kyle! May Life bring you its very best.

Are there any job openings?

This is a time of year when you'll hear that question. Please encourage all who ask it to fill out an application. You'll find the applications in a folder marked "applications" (appropriate, right?) on the bottom shelf of the telephone cart by the course reserves. When applicants turn in their completed forms, you can either bring them to me or put them in my mailbox. (That's the form, not the applicant. Please do not try to stuff an applicant into my mailbox.)

So are there any job openings for next semester? I'm not sure yet, but I'm getting close to knowing.

--Terry

How good to see you!

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving break and are feeling ready to face the I-Core crowd. This will be a busy and noisy week at BUSP!

To make our lives a little simpler, there are no room reservations this week. All keys, with red tape and without red tape, can be checked out on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Ready to eat something besides turkey and cranberry sauce? We'll be celebrating our November and December birthdays this Wednesday (Nov. 30). Stop by BUSP any time that day to pick up your celebratory cupcake.

Got any guesses?

Chances are, you cannot identify this object. It's a piece from one of the chairs in one of our study rooms. We've found three of these objects in the last few days in various places in the IC. If you find one, please pick it up and either give it to Terry or place it in her mailbox.

Can't find the key for Room 188?

There's a good reason: The key has been taken out of circulation because the room is currently suffering from water leaks. Once the room dries out, the key will appear in the key box again.

Red Tub or Gray Tub or No Tub At All?

Checking a book in that belongs to a location other than BUSP? Here's what to do with it:

If it reads "ALF" on the spine above the call number, put it in the gray tub after discharging it.

Interlibrary loan books do not go into a tub at all. Give them to Jeri or put them in her mailbox. Know how you can you tell that a book is an interlibrary loan? It's easy...you won't be able to find a barcode or the barcode won't scan.

Books belonging to all other libraries can go into the red tub after being discharged.

You know where the tubs are, right? They're on the floor between the staff entrance door and the counter with the microwave.

Spring Semester Scheduling

I will begin scheduling for spring semester at 8:30 a.m. next Monday, Nov. 14. See me or give me a call (812-855-8552) to schedule your hours. I cannot schedule hours by e-mail. Remember that the sooner you schedule, the greater your chances of getting the hours that are perfect for you.

Thanks for all.

--Terry

Top Secret Information

Did you know you handle secret information every time you clock in at BUSP? It's against federal law to disclose what someone has borrowed from a library or information commons. Every check out we make, from books to room keys, is private information. This means we can't tell Sally who has checked out the reserve book she needs. It means we can't tell Joe what room his group is using. (We can tell him he's welcome to peek in all the room windows to find his group.) It even means we should keep our reservation book to ourselves. Got someone standing in front of you begging for information you can't give them? Tell your supervisor. He/she will reinforce your stand on privacy.

Happenings in November

Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6.

Scheduling for spring semester hours at BUSP will begin on Nov. 14. You'll be reminded of this as the time draws closer.

Thanksgiving break:You are responsible for your shifts until we close at 6:00 on Tuesday, Nov. 22. BUSP will resume its usual hours on Sunday, Nov. 27. Please remember to post sub notices for any shifts you will miss. Anyone subbing on Sunday, the 27th, will receive one hour added to his/her timebank for each hour worked, instead of the usual half hour added for each hour worked. If your time bank is low in hours, this is a good opportunity to beef it up.

I-Core: Be sure to rest up over Thanksgiving as I-Core case groups will be flooding BUSP when we return.

Thanks for all.

Reminder to All First Mates

If you are occupying the First Mate's chair (the one closest to the drinking fountain), it's your job to check in all returned books and PUT THEM IN CALL NUMBER ORDER ON THE SHELVES UNDER THE DESK. Please don't shirk your duty. The books come in a few at a time, so the job is easy when done right away. If you're not familiar with Library of Congress call numbers, let your supervisor know. He/she will be happy to tell you all you need to know about putting books in order.

Such a deal!

Want to earn a bit of extra money? Time bank balance looking a little low? The sub board abounds with notices right now. Take a look at them, and sign up for the shifts that work for you. You can feel good about helping out a co-worker and BUSP, while padding your own pocket.

Trees!

No doubt you've noticed the beauty of the trees as you've been walking to class and to BUSP. If it's a slow day at the desk, and you'd like to be dazzled by more than just their leaves, click here to view a publication put out by SPEA regarding the trees on our campus.

What if...

What if someone walks up to the desk and hands you a lost ID? Or what do you do when you find someone's ID while you're at BUSP? Give it to your supervisor, please. He/she will contact the person to let them know their ID has been found.

New Reserves

"I need this put on reserve, please." What do you do when someone walks up the service desk, hands you a pile of materials, and utters these words? In this case, your job is as easy as 1, 2, 3:

1) Make sure you get a course number.
2) Make sure you get a professor's name.
3) Place the materials in Matt's mailbox or on his desk.

If the guest has any questions about the reserve process, refer them to your supervisor. Easy as pumpkin pie.

Mark your calendar!

Oh boy! Put "Cupcake at BUSP" on your calendar for Wednesday, Oct. 26. Stop by any time that day to get your cupcake as we honor these birthdays:

Terry (Sept. 1)
Carol (Sept. 9)
Matt F. (Oct. 5)
Kayla (Oct. 6)
Justin (Oct. 20)
Matt B. (Oct. 29)

If you'd like your special day celebrated, but haven't yet given Terry your birthdate, you can do that right now by e-mailing her at treynold@indiana.edu.

Hungry?

Please don't be. If you need to eat a bite while you're on the clock at BUSP,let your desk partner know, then enjoy your snack or sandwich in the break area next to the sink and fridge. If it's a busy time, let your supervisor know too so he/she can help out at the desk while you chow down.

Good Things to Come

Let's celebrate each other! If you haven't given Terry your birthdate, please do so now (treynold@indiana.edu). On the last Wednesday of each month, we'll celebrate everyone who was born that month. Cupcakes will abound! Is your birthdate during the summer or already past? Don't worry, we'll squeeze in a celebration for you.

You can also mark December 7th on your calendar. That's the day we'll celebrate all the hard work we've done this semester by enjoying a pizza lunch together.

You're Going to Need a #2 Pencil.

No worries, you don't have to take a test. It's just that we've discovered our guests change their minds about their room reservations sometimes, and when they do, you'll need that pencil with the handy-dandy eraser on it. Please record all room reservations in pencil. No pens allowed near the reservation book, please.

All the rooms are full. Would you like your name added to the waiting list or would you like to make a reservation?

A group stands before you with hope-filled eyes. You know all the room keys are out, so what do you do? After giving them the dreaded news that no rooms are available, you give them a choice: "Would you like me to add your name to the waiting list? Or would you like to make a reservation for later on?"

Supervisor = Bouncer

With the group rooms being used heavily by the USCO, more guests than usual will need group space to work in the IC. If a group comes to the desk and tells you that they can't find a group table, go get your supervisor. If we see a table with just one person sitting at it, we'll flex our muscles and bounce them out of the space so the group can use it. (We'll do this gently and kindly, of course.)

More Important News about Rooms

This week you have said over and over again, "The stapler is over there." Prepare to next say "I'm sorry, but all the rooms are checked out."

From today and until mid-November, the USCO will be using our group rooms for interviews Mondays-Fridays, 8:00-5:30. The number of rooms they will use will differ day to day. On some days, they may be using all of our rooms.

Because of some close calls, Terry and Matt will be going over policies and procedures with you regarding the reservable rooms (154, 156, 158, and 160). Most importantly: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS CHECK THE RED NOTEBOOK BEFORE RESERVING, CHECKING OUT, OR RENEWING A RESERVABLE ROOM (154, 156, 158, AND 160). IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT CHECKING OUT THESE ROOMS, GET YOUR SUPERVISOR. WE WILL BE MOST HAPPY TO HELP YOU AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

Room 188

The key for Room 188 has been placed in the box with keys for the reservable rooms (154, 156, 158, 160). However, room 188 is not reservable! Its key is in the box with the reservable rooms only because it should be checked out as a last resort. Room 188 has water leaks which have necessitated the removal of the big screen monitor. On dry days, the room can be used by groups with the understanding that there is no monitor available. On wet days, the key will be pulled by Jeri, and she will hold it until the room is dry enough to be used again.

Got questions about this or anything else? Ask your supervisor, of course.

3 Hole Punch

To keep it safe, the three hole punch has been moved from the new supply table to under our service counter. Guests will need to ask you to use it, just like they do the heavy-duty stapler.

We know you're probably getting tired of saying, "The stapler is over there on the table." Hang in there, our guests will have the new location figured out soon. They're university students. They're smart, right?

Where did the stapler and stuff go?

This is the question you will be answering for the next couple of weeks. The office supplies that were on the service counter are now on a table between the pillar and printer #2 next to the glass windows. The only exception is the heavy-duty orange and black stapler which remains under the service counter. Please give it to guests to use at the desk as they ask for it.

So why did we move everything? Having the supplies next to the printer should be more convenient for our guests. It should also cut back on some of the chaos at the service desk when multiple groups are looking for rooms and multiple people need to staple papers together for their next class.

Do you have an idea that might make our work more efficient and help us better serve our guests? Please share it with Terry or another staff member.

Renewals for Keys & Reserves

Ah, it's that time of year already! Time to talk about renewals for room keys and reserve items. Here's the scoop:

*Room keys may be renewed as long as we do not have names on a wait list. If guests are waiting for a room, a key cannot be renewed.

*A reserve item may be renewed as long as a duplicate item is on our shelf. If the reserve is one-of-a-kind, it can be renewed as long as no one else has asked for it. (If you have just come on duty, check with your co-worker or a supervisor to see if the item has been requested by someone else.)

Got questions about renewal policies? I know you know who to ask.

Thanks for all the renewing, checking out, picking up, putting away, answering questions, smiling at guests, etc. that you do while you're on the clock at BUSP.

Unexpected Absences

Did you wake up with a sore throat? Have a emergency you need to tend to? Life is notorious for not always going exactly as we plan. If you find you need to miss a shift unexpectedly and there is no opportunity to post a sub notice, call 812-855-1957 and ask to speak to a supervisor. We ask that you call, rather than e-mail a supervisor, because an e-mail may not be read until after your shift has expired. (After all, it's entirely possible that the supervisor you e-mail is off tending to his/her own sore throat or emergency.) If you call and speak to a supervisor on duty, you know your absence will be recorded. Calling in does three things: 1) It allows us to plan the work load around your absence. 2) It means less time will be deducted from your time bank than if you are a "no-show." 3) And lastly, since we care about you, it keeps us from worrying too much.

So once again, the number to call when life throws you a whammy is 812-855-1957. Ask to speak to the supervisor on duty. Make a note of the number, OK? Thanks!

First Mate Duties

If you're not occupying the Captain's chair, you're sitting in the First Mate's chair. (That's the chair closest to the IC entrance and reserves.) Since our guests generally go to the person occupying the Captain's chair, the First Mate's position is a little less hectic. The First Mate is also closest to the book drop and the book shelves where we place returned books once they have been discharged. Because of these things, it makes sense for the First Mate's duties to include checking in all books placed in the book drop, putting them in call number order on the shelves under the desk, and transferring them to a book cart when the shelves are full. Not sure how to file books in Library of Congress call number order? Your supervisor will be most happy to teach you the rules.

Of course, people are more important than books, so be sure to give any guests who come to you at the desk your focused attention. And do be sure to help out your partner sitting in the Captain's chair by inspecting rooms when keys are returned.

Are you always stuck occupying the same chair when you work your shifts? By all means, ask your co-worker to switch places with you. He/she may very well be tired of occupying the same position too. Variety is the spice of life, right?

About Room Reservations...

Room reservations are catching on and have necessitated a tweaking of our checkout process. Rooms 154, 156, 158, and 160 may be reserved up to a week in advance for a TWO HOUR period. Groups of two or more may reserve one two hour time block per day, no more than seven days in advance. Reservations must be made in person, and the person making the reservation must present his/her IU ID to you. When you record a room reservation, you must follow these four steps: 1) Locate the page in the red reservation notebook and draw a box around the two hour time period for one of the four rooms, 2) using the guest's I.D., clearly write his/her name inside the box, 3) using the ID, write the guest's bar code number inside the box, and 4) write in the hours of the reservation inside the box. There is an example page and instructions in the front of the red notebook that may help you with this process.

At the time of checkout, the person who made the reservation must be the person checking out the room key. If the person with a reservation has not shown up within ten minutes of the beginning time of the reservation, the room becomes available to others on a first come, first serve basis.

Got questions? By all means, ask your supervisor.

Important Number: 5-3802

The number to call when people are experiencing problems with the computers or the printer just outside the I.C. is 5-3802. Report the problem (printer jam, out of paper, etc. to the person who answers and tell them the location is SPEA 199.

Got questions about this? You know who to ask, right? (Answer: your supervisor)

Hey, Who's That?

Have you met Christina Sheley, our new Interim Head? Before joining the BUSP staff, Christina was most recently a Reference/Instructional Librarian at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis. Prior to that, she worked for the IUB Libraries as the Visiting Librarian for Anthropology, Folklore, Social Work, and Sociology. In addition to her library experience, she has been employed by the Kelley School of Business as a Lab Instructor and Marketing Coordinator, and has served as the Creative Director for the IDS. Christina’s degrees include a Bachelor’s in Science in Telecommunications and Psychology and an MLS from the School of Library and Information Science. If you haven't already, take a minute and introduce yourself the next time you see her.

Shhh...

This is just a reminder to please be mindful of the loudness of your voice and also of your subject matter when chatting to your co-workers at the service desk. Our voices carry, and some conversations may just not be what our guests want to overhear while they're trying to work. (Take the intimate details of what you did on last night's hot date, for example.) Remember that you are a professional working in a public place when you are on the clock.

Thanks for all you do. --Terry

What is wrong with this picture?

Because our guests are drawn to it, someone should always be sitting in the "captain's chair." (It's the chair in the rounded area of the service desk.) If you happen to be the only assistant on duty, please be sure to occupy this chair and not the one closer to our exit. We want to make ourselves as available to our guests as we can. Besides, it's fun being the captain, right?

By the way, Angela was not out of line by not occuping the captain's chair when I took this picture. We had to ask Anastasia to vacate the captain's chair so I could snap the shot of the empty seat.

Thanks for all you do. --Terry

Hello! Who's Here and Who's Not

You're here, and that's important! In this photo you'll see some people you'll meet at BUSP. These folks are your resources when guests ask you questions that you can't answer. They are also the people you'll go to when you have questions of your own. In the photo from left to right: Justin Oliphant (alternate evening/weekend supervisor), Beth (former evening/weekend supervisor), Matt McGee (evening/weekend supervisor and reserves expert), Terry Reynolds (you've met me or you wouldn't be reading this), Jeri Anderson (day supervisor and circulation goddess), Melanie Groth (reference person extraordinaire), and Bob Freeman (evening/weekend supervisor). Missing from this picture is Michael Truran (evening/weekend supervisor). Those of you returning to the BUSP staff may be wondering why Steven isn't in this photo. Steven Sowell, our director, left BUSP this summer to accept a position with the Oregon State University Libraries. With both his son and his daughter living on the west coast, he just couldn't refuse Oregon's offer. Interviews have been conducted for an interim director for BUSP and someone should be in place soon. This photo, by the way, was taken at our celebration for Jeri's 25th anniversary of service at IU. Congratulate her big time when you see her!

Congratulations, Alli!

Our hats are off to Alli VanLue (hometown, St. Louis), another one of our graduating seniors. Alli has become a valued member of our staff (and sub person extraordinaire) in one short semester. When asked what she likes best about working at BUSP, her reply was, “All the wonderful and nice people who I had the privilege of meeting and working with.” She says she will miss “everything” when she leaves IU, but especially her closest friends, the restaurants, tailgating, and how the campus’ mood changes with the weather. In June, Alli will be moving to Madison, WI where she has secured a position as a project manager with Epic Solutions, a software company for healthcare organizations. She leaves you with this advice, “Spend less time stressing about classes/tests and focus that energy on building the relationships that will last the rest of your life!”

Congratulations, Alli! Best wishes with your new career.

Congratulations, Kyle!

Kyle Spanski, from Columbus, OH, will be graduating and leaving BUSP at the end of this semester. With a major in Business Economics and Public Policy, Kyle has been looking for employment in Chicago, New York, and the Columbus areas, and recently learned he has landed a position with State Farm in Chicago. A member of our staff since spring 2008, Kyle left BUSP for a period of study in Barcelona, Spain, then rejoined us. He says he loves the laid back and friendly attitude of his co-workers. He also appreciates the BUSP sub policy, which has come in handy for him. As he leaves IU for the work world, Kyle knows he will greatly miss the friends he has made, along with the college student lifestyle. His experience has taught him that there isn’t a need to take grades as seriously as people say, so he advises those he leaves behind to remember that there is a lot more to the college experience than just the classroom.

BUSP has indeed been fortunate to have Kyle on its staff, and his presence will be missed. Congratulations, Kyle! Our best wishes go with you to the Windy City.

Congratulations, Jaimie!

Our congratulations go to Jaimie Smith, a native Hoosier from Peru, who is graduating with a major in Public Financial Management and a Business minor. Jaimie, who has been chosen the BUSP Student Employee of the Year by the staff, joined the BUSP family at the beginning of her freshman year, and immediately became a much valued member of our team. She says she is grateful for her BUSP co-workers, who have watched her develop as a young adult. When she leaves, she will miss the Bloomington/IU atmosphere which she describes as enthusiastic, optimistic, and hopeful…a combination she considers a rarity in today’s world. Not ready to give up the books after wearing her cap and gown, Jaimie hopes to continue her education and earn an advanced degree in Higher Education Student Affairs. In fact, she may not be traveling far in the near future, as IU is one of her considerations for her graduate studies.

Carrying full course loads and working up to four jobs at the same time, Jaimie isn’t sure she lived a normal college life, but she is sure she has enjoyed every minute of it. She learned to take ups and downs in stride, and has become extremely proficient at time management, skills that will serve her well in the Wide World. She leaves her underclassmen at BUSP with these words of wisdom: “If you think you don’t have time to do everything you want, you would be fooling yourself…you just lost a good minute contemplating whether or not you had time to do it. Be an inspiration to others because they will inspire you.”

Jaimie certainly has inspired us. As she begins the next chapter in her life, whether she stays near or goes far, we wish her the very best life has to offer. She is definitely most deserving of it. Congratulations, Jaimie, on a job so very well done!

Congratulations, Josslyn!

Congratulations to Neenah, Wisconsin native, Josslyn Kennedy, who has been an important part of the BUSP staff since the beginning of her sophomore year. Graduating with a major in Marketing and Operations Management, Josslyn will be heading back to Wisconsin to work in operations at Schneider National in Green Bay. Her advice for underclassmen? “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” She borrowed these words (which she thinks are particularly fitting for operations majors) from Albert Einstein. What will she miss the most about IU & Bloomington? She says it will be $2 Tuesdays… and the friendships she made here. Some of those friendships are with co-workers, which makes the people of BUSP her favorite thing about working here.

We’re really glad Josslyn took a break from Wisconsin to spend some time with us in Indiana. Knowing her and having her on the staff has been a real pleasure. Good luck, Josslyn! Our best wishes will be going north with you!

Congratulations, Alex!

Congratulations are in order for Alex Evgueni, one of our graduating seniors. Originally from Odessa, Ukraine, a port city on the coast of the Black Sea, Alex came to the Kelley School to major in Finance, International Business, and Economics. Alex has been a valued member of the BUSP staff since the summer of 2008. He describes his time spent at BUSP as fun because of all the wonderful people he has had the pleasure of working with. (Are you one of them?)

He has this advice for his underclassmen, “Take advantage of your time here to focus on finding out what you really want to do in life. Try different things, explore the clubs and organizations, IU has a lot to offer. But also, don’t forget that those four years of your life are years you will never get back. After graduation, you are most likely going to find a job and you are going to settle down and work hard for quite some time. If you didn’t use these 4-5 years to have fun and meet some awesome people and enjoy your life as a young adult, you will likely regret it when the time comes to focus on your career and future. So have fun! Study hard and play hard, and focus on finding what you enjoy doing in life the most. “

After he leaves us, Alex anticipates missing his walks across campus and downtown Bloomington, so he hopes to have the opportunity to visit often. His future plans include working for a few years, and then pursuing either an MBA or a master’s degree in another field.

Wherever life takes you, Alex, our best wishes go with you. And by all means, do come back and visit often!

Fall Scheduling

Just a reminder that I'll begin scheduling fall semester hours on Monday morning (April 25). Call (855-8552) or come see me early that day to get your ideal hours. No e-mails, please.

Room Reservations

Since we're into I-Core and studying for finals time, we will no longer be taking group room reservations this semester.

Fall Scheduling

Terry will begin scheduling for fall semester at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, April 25. Call (855-8552) or come see her early that day to get your ideal work schedule. Scheduling cannot be done by e-mail.

Remember that in order to schedule, you must be an employee in good standing. That means your time bank will be at the zero or above level by the last day of finals week. Not sure of your time bank balance? Contact Matt (mtmcgee@indiana.edu). If you know your bank is at the dangerously low level, do take a good look at the sub board. There are lots of open shifts coming up.

E-mail Terry (treynold@indiana.edu)so she knows you've read this post.

Kinder, Gentler Room Renewal Policy

From now on, our group room renewal policy is as follows:

"Rooms may be renewed for another two hour period as long as no one is waiting for a room."

"Waiting for a room" means no one is on the wait list and there is no one at the desk inquiring about a room. If all rooms are full and there is a waiting list, the group returning the key may add one of their names to the wait list.

Gone away is the fifteen minute waiting period required when all rooms are full. We think this new and simpler policy will benefit our guests and make our lives easier. Hooray for simplicity!

Summer Work

Welcome back! We're glad you're here. If you are hoping to work at BUSP this summer, mark April 1 on your calendar. That's the day Terry will begin scheduling summer hours. Remember, the sooner you see or call (855-8552) Terry on that day, the greater your chances of getting that perfect work schedule. No scheduling will be done by e-mail.

Have a Great Break!

Whether spring break takes you to your hometown, a sunny beach, a snowy slope, or your favorite chair in Bloomington, ENJOY IT ALL! Happy and safe trails to you.

Terry needs to know...

Please send Terry (treynold@indiana.edu) an e-mail and let her know if either of the following is true for you:

1) You are graduating at the end of this semester. (Congratulations!)
2) You are hoping to continue working at BUSP this summer. (Indicate for 1st Session, 2nd Session, or both.)

Thanks!

They're Here!

Be prepared to tell our regular guests that group rooms are unavailable this week. Around 1,000 Kelley Direct students will be joining us and using almost all of our group study rooms almost all of the time, from BUSP's opening until closing. A member of each Kelley Direct group will be given a room key in the morning and will return it to us at the end of each day. To avoid fines, we will not check the keys out to them. A schedule of their group room assignments is at the service desk, and a check mark has been placed by each group leader's name. (This is the person who has our key.) You will need to use this list if a Kelley Direct student forgets which room he/she has been assigned. These long distance learning students are coming to us from near and far. Do smile and make them feel welcome!

Remember to let your supervisor know if you have any questions or concerns. And as always,thanks for all!

Hey, who's that?

If you work in the evening, Sunday-Thursday, you'll soon see someone wearing a red shirt sitting in the service desk chair that is nearest to the reserve shelves. This is a UITS student computer consultant here to answer technology questions and field the technology needs for BUSP's guests. The consultant will also be taking care of any workstation problems in our lab area. He/she is not here to do circulation work, check group study rooms, or answer the phone. That's your job, right? Please introduce yourself to the new consultant and give him/her a big BUSP welcome. Their presence here should make our lives easier and allow us to provide better service.

Got questions? Just ask.

Please Recycle

Help the planet and all of us living on it. New recycling containers for paper have been placed at the service desk and by the staff bulletin board. A new container for cans and plastics #1-7 has also been placed by the staff bulletin board. If your can or plastic container is messy, please rinse it off in the sink before giving it the old heave-ho into the recycling bin.

Your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc. will appreciate you doing this. (Me too.)

--Terry

Little 500 Scholarships

Information about the Little 500 Scholarship program is posted on the staff bulletin board. Thirty-four scholarships of $1000 each will be distributed. Applicants must be full-time undergraduates above the freshmen level, who have worked at least ten hours per week for spring and fall semesters, 2010. Do you fit these qualifications? Check out the bulletin board for more information and for applicant materials. The deadline is March 11.

Spring Break

Hooray and hallelujah, spring break is less than a month away! As you are making your plans, please remember that you are responsible for your work schedule up until we close at 5:00 on Friday, March 11, and your responsibility resumes when we reopen at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 20. If your plans will cause you to miss shifts, please use the sub board. Remember that putting sub notices up a week in advance allows all your co-workers to see your need and gives them a chance to help you (and BUSP).

If you sub for someone on Sunday, the 20th, you will receive full credit to your time bank account. For example, one hour will be added to your time bank for one hour worked, instead of the usual one-half hour added. If your time bank is low, subbing on this day is a good way to beef it up before the end of the semester arrives.

If your plans for the break include remaining in Bloomington, and you'd like to work, talk to Terry.

Thanks for all you do!

OOPS! Room Key Update

We've done it...we made a mistake. We checked out a room to a group when the room was reserved for a different group. In an effort to keep this from happening again, all keys for reservable rooms (#154-#166) have been placed in a box with the day's reservation schedule attached to the lid. Check out keys from this box only after all other rooms are in use. And always check the reservation schedule before checking out a key from the box. Please remember that until further notice, there will be no room reservations made before 6:00 p.m., Monday-Friday, since the Kelley School currently has a hold on these rooms for corporate interviews.

So we're not perfect...but if we're all careful, we can come really close. We're just that good!

Why bother with the Reference Portal?

a) It's your job.
b) It allows you to keep your job. Reference Portal statistics are used by the Library Administation to determine how busy (or not busy) the different libraries and the ICs on this campus are. Lots of questions recorded on the reference portal means they'll continue funding BUSP, so we can keep paying you to do your job. Few questions recorded on the reference portal may mean a decrease in the budget line that fuels your paycheck.

Each time a guest approaches you at the desk, one of three things should happen:
1) You check a book, room key, etc. out to them.
2) They hand you a book, room key, etc. to check back in.
3) They ask you a question, and you record it on the Reference Portal.

Not sure how to record a question on the portal? Ask a supervisor. We'll be very happy to show you. We want you to keep your job.

Send Terry an e-mail (treynold@indiana.edu) after you've read this blog post.

Bulletin Boards

There are two bulletin boards in the staff room behind the service desk area. You are probably (hopefully!) familiar with the one on the west wall, next to the staff door that leads to the hallway. Its intended use is for sub notices and other information and announcements pertinent to the BUSP IC and employment here.

The other bulletin board in that room is on the east wall by the refrigerator. This is our community bulletin board. Are you in a band that's playing somewhere on Friday night? Post a flyer on the bulletin board. Need sponsors for a charity walk you're participating in? Post a notice on the bulletin board. Want everyone to see the costume you wore on Halloween, and Facebook just isn't enough of an audience for you? You get it...post a picture on the bulletin board.

Kelley School Using Group Study Rooms

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On Mondays through Fridays,from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on February 1 until March 12, the Kelley School's Placement Office will be using all sixteen group study rooms for interviews. This means our group rooms will not be available for first-come, first-served guest check out, nor can they be reserved by our guests during this time period. From February 28 until March 1, the Kelley School will be using all our group study rooms from early morning until midnight.

Most of our guests will take this news with ease, but should someone show unhappiness with the unavailability of group rooms, do remind them that all of the BUSP IC space is for collaborative study, with the exception of our quiet glassed-in area. If this reminder doesn't restore good feelings, ask the guest if he/she would like to talk with your supervisor.

Got questions about this or anything else at BUSP? Please ask. Got concerns about this or anything else at BUSP? Inform your supervisor.

This is a test...

Send Terry (treynold@indiana.edu) an e-mail notifying her that you've read this post. She wants to know who is paying attention!

Room Reservation service

Your supervisor has probably told you that we'll be reserving rooms 154-166 this semester and outlined the policy and procedure for doing so with you. For simplicity's sake, always check out the other rooms before checking out keys to the reservable rooms. If all the other rooms are full, and you need to check out a room that is reservable, CHECK THE RED RESERVATION NOTEBOOK to be sure the room doesn't have an upcoming reservation on it. If it does, choose another room. If all other rooms are full or also have upcoming reservations on them, let the group standing in front of you know that they will not be able to use the room for the full two hours. Be sure to tell them when they'll need to vacate the room and return the key to allow the group with the reservation time to enter.

We're all getting used to this new service. Got a gazillion questions about it? Just ASK your supervisor.

So many changes...Whew!

Welcome back to BUSP! Hope you had a great break. A lot has changed in the short time you've been away! Take a walk around BUSP and you'll see what I mean. We now have a computer lab, and you'll see a scanner next to workstation #35. A third printer has been installed in the lab area. The tables have monitors in place, and walls with electricity have been erected between tables without monitors. For easier access, the current journals have been moved from the reserve area to the end of the book stacks. A new service counter is in place (well, at least most of it), and you'll find shelving units holding all our important stuff under it. On a trial basis, we'll be reserving some group study rooms this semester. Your supervisor will explain to you the policies pertaining to this.

An invisible change is that the timebank policy is back in place for this semester. I'm in the process of setting up a listserve for finding subs, and I'll let you know when it's ready for use. For now, please continue posting your sub notices on the staff bulletin board.

If you have questions about any of the new changes (or anything else, for that matter), please ask your supervisor. You do remember we supervisors get paid to answer your questions, don't you?

Here's hoping you have a great semester! Thanks for all you do.

--Terry