Suggestions?

We have a new suggestion box positioned on the stapler table.  We're hoping our guests will use it to leave us comments.  When you refill the supplies at the table, please make sure there is paper available in the slot on the box.  Also, please make sure no one has walked off with the pen.  If the pen is gone, let Terry know.

While we're talking about suggestions...THANKS to all of you who have filled out the supervisor evaluation.  Your responses mean a lot.  If you haven't completed the survey yet, there is still time: https://iulibraries.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cSI10CWlxgxFtdj

Red Tub or Gray Tub?

There is a place for everything, right?  There seems to be some confusion as to where to put returned books that belong to libraries other than BUSP.  If you are checking in a returned book and it belongs to the Auxiliary Library Facility (ALF), it goes in the gray tub.  ONLY books belonging to the ALF go in the gray tub.  If a book belongs to a library other than the ALF, it goes in the red tub. 

Gray = ALF. 
Red = other libraries.

Got questions about this?  By all means, let us know. 
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Supervisor Survey

Your supervisors are curious, and we value your feedback.  We want to know how we're doing in our role of supervisor.    Please take a few minutes to complete this survey: https://iulibraries.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cSI10CWlxgxFtdj   Your answers will be anonymous, of course, so tell us the truth.  Please!

And thanks so much for your feedback. We appreciate your input.

Identify Yourself!

The IU Libraries have provided us with a way to identify ourselves as library employees while we're working.  You'll find lanyards with library assistant tags attached to them in the purple basket next to the 1st mate's printer.  Please put a lanyard around your neck when you begin your shift, and return it to the basket when you clock out.  You'll look snazzy while you're working, and guests will have no trouble identifying you as someone who can help them.

Paper Cutter

Have a guest at the desk who needs a paper cutter?  We keep our paper cutter on the tall table between the staff entrance door and our break room "kitchen counter."  Feel free to bring it out of the back room and place it on the service desk for a guest to use.  Kindly return it to its place in the back room when the guest is finished. 

A Reminder...

 

Are you listing every question that doesn't result in a checkout on the Portal each and every time one is asked?  Please do!  We bug you about this because it's very important to you and your job security.  And anything that is important to you and your job security is also important to your supervisors.

If you have questions about the Portal, let us hear from you.

Celebration Time!

Next Wednesday (Oct. 27) we'll be celebrating three important people.  Happy birthday to:

Suzy - Oct. 3
Tall Matt - Oct. 5
Kayla - Oct. 6

Everyone on the BUSP staff is invited to stop by anytime on Wednesday to get a celebratory cupcake. 

AM or PM?

When posting sub notices for morning and evening shifts, please add AM or PM to your sub request.  If you simply post a sub request for 9:00-11:00 (for example), your co-workers do not know if that is a morning shift or a night shift.  Night owls may not want to pick up a morning request, and those of us bursting with energy in the morning (yes, some of us are like that) will not want to pick up the evening request.  Adding AM or PM to your sub notice lets your co-workers know exactly what they're volunteering for and ensures that they will be here at the right time to cover your shift. We need to make it easy on each other, right? 

Friends

Your supervisors are very much aware of how lovable and caring you are, so it doesn't surprise us one bit that some of your friends stop by the desk to chat with you while you're working.  While it's perfectly fine for friends to say hi and talk for a minute or two, it is not OK for them to stick around and carry on long conversations across the service desk.  Why?  It intimidates some of our guests, and our guests are our first priority. We don't want anything to make them hesitate to come to the desk for our help. So how do you politely tell friends they can't hang around while you work?  Let them know your supervisors won't allow it.  It's OK to make us out to be the bad guys.  We're tough...we can take it. 

When Our Group Rooms Are Full...

Collaborative study space (group rooms) are now open in the newly remodeled West Tower of the Wells Library.  As of this writing, none of the rooms have technology installed yet, but if someone only needs a meeting space and our rooms are all in use, by all means, let them know group space is also available across the street.

One More Thing about Subbing...

You should know that it does your supervisors' hearts good to see how willing so many of you are to sub for others.  If you've helped out a co-worker (and our guests) by taking an additional shift, THANK YOU!  Your effort does not go unnoticed. 

By the way, Shaila currently holds the crown for subbing.  She has filled in for others (you, perhaps?) over ten times so far this semester.

 

Two Things about Finding a Sub...or Not

Thing #1: Please, please, please post your message to the listserv at least a day in advance if at all possible.  This is to your benefit since last minute sub requests can go unfilled.  It also keeps you from working future shifts with bald and bleeding supervisors who may resort to pulling out their hair and biting off their fingernails when we're missing people at the desk.

Thing #2: If you post a sub notice, no one takes you up on your offer, and you decide to cover the shift yourself, make sure Terry knows you worked so she doesn't deduct hours from your time bank.  You can tell her in person that you worked the shift, or you can send her an e-mail (treynold@indiana.edu), or you can reply to the listserv that you'll be working the shift after all.

Does all this make sense?  If not, do let your voice be heard. 

Anastasia Caught in the Act

Anastasia was Caught in the Act of passing on a guest's concerns about I.C. policy to her supervisors.  Thank you, Anastasia, for taking the time to keep your supervisors in the know about a guest's experience at BUSP.

Jelena Caught in the Act

Jelena was Caught in the Act of looking out for a guest's best interests.  While checking in a returned book, she noticed paperwork tucked inside it.  She made her best effort to ensure the guest knew his papers were safe here in our lost & found. 

In the same afternoon, she took precautions to shield our guests away from an area of the I.C. that needed custodial attention. 

Thanks, Jelena!  Your thoughtfulness toward our guests is greatly appreciated.

Shaila Caught in the Act

Shaila was Caught in the Act of being very conscientious when it comes to our guests and room reservations.  Out of her concern that reservations be recorded correctly so rooms are ready at the appropriate times, she contributed to the recent blog post regarding our reservation process. 

Thank you, Shaila!  Your thoughtfulness benefits both our guests and our staff and is much appreciated.

Making Room Reservations

Making your first few room reservations can be a bit scary.  Making your 20th room reservation is so simple you might feel you could do it in your sleep.  Whether you're new at making room reservations or an old pro at it, close attention must be paid to the process.  Our guests expect us to have a room ready for them at their reservation time.  If we do not because the reservation was written down incorrectly, you can bet they are going to be pretty upset with us.  And rightfully so, our guests deserve better service than that!

Here are the steps to successfully making a room reservation:

1) Ask for the guest's I.D. 

2) Find the appropriate page in the red notebook for the day of the requested reservation.  If the time the guest has requested is available in one of the four reservable rooms, draw a box around the two hour period with a pencil.  The box defines the reservation and makes it easier for all your co-workers and supervisors to understand. The pencil (rather than pen) allows us to erase the information later if the guest changes or cancels the appointment.

3) Inside the box record these four things:  1) the guest's name, 2) the guest's barcode number, 3) the hours of the reservation, and 4) your initials

4) Hand the I.D. back to the guest and let him/her know there is now a reservation for room (154, 156, 158, or 160) in their name for the date and time requested.

Your finished work should look like this:

Note that a box for a two hour reservation encompasses four lines on the page. 

Have questions or need help making a reservation?  By all means, get your supervisor.

Fall Break

Fall Break is nearly upon us.  (Have you been counting down the days?)  BUSP's deviation from its normal schedule during the break period is as follows:

October 9 (Thursday)  I.C. closes at 5:00 p.m.
October 10 & 11 (Friday & Saturday)  I.C. closed
October 12 (Sunday)  I.C. reopens at 5:00 p.m.

You are responsible for your shifts anytime the I.C. is open during this break period.  As always, if you need to miss a shift, post a sub notice on the listserv.  Anyone subbing on Sunday (Oct. 12) will receive one full hour of credit for each hour subbed instead of the usual 1/2 hour credit.

Thanks for all.  And by all means, enjoy every minute of your break!

Room Reservation Policies

With the UCSO using so many of our group rooms, more and more guests will want to make reservations for reservable rooms 154, 156, 158, and 160.  Here is a review of our reservation policies:

*Reservations can be made for groups of two or more for one 2-hour time block per day, no more than 7 days in advance. 

*Reservations must be made in person.

*Only the person who made the reservation can check out the key.  (Other members of the group cannot.)

*If the person with the reservation is more than ten minutes late, the reservation is forfeited.

Always, always, always check the red notebook before checking out rooms 154, 156, 158, and 160.

Always, always, always check the red notebook before renewing rooms 154, 156, 158, and 160.

Have questions about room reservations?  Ask your supervisor.