Congratulations to Brooke!

Our heartfelt congratulations go to Brooke, who is graduating this semester with a telecommunications major and a music minor. She joined us at the BSIC three and a half years ago and has been a much valued and appreciated member of our staff since her first shift. She reports she has greatly enjoyed her time here because of the wonderful people she has had the opportunity to work with and get to know. (That’s YOU!)

In January, Brooke will be moving to northeast Pennsylvania to work in the digital production team for Highlights for Children magazine. She anticipates missing the city of Bloomington because its rich and diverse culture is hard to find in so many other places.  It goes without saying that she will miss all the friends she’s made here.  She knows she will also miss all the great restaurants.

Brooke is looking forward to being independent and living completely on her own. (No roommates in her immediate future!) She is understandably a little nervous about moving so far from home and not knowing anyone in her new locale, but she’s also excited to explore, meet new people, and pick up some new hobbies.

As she leaves us, she advises us to use the resources available here at IU.  She firmly believes that our connections can be our most valuable asset. She welcomes this opportunity to say “thank you” to all the good people at the BSIC for always making her feel welcome and allowing her to be herself.

Brooke, we want to say thank you to you! We’re so very glad we had the pleasure of working with you and getting to know you. Do be aware that you won’t be totally alone when you arrive in Pennsylvania because our best wishes are traveling there right along beside you. We are so proud of you and your accomplishments and foresee nothing but a bright and beautiful future ahead of you. Shine on!

Thein Caught in the Act

Rooms were in high demand yesterday, so we were working full speed ahead at the desk. Thein was in the IC, but since her shift wasn't set to begin for some time, she wasn't even clocked in when she noticed a guest waiting at our service desk. Rather than attend to her own affairs, she took it upon herself to step up to our side of the desk and help the waiting guest.

Thank you, Thein, for being so observant and acting upon what you saw. Your attention to our guests' needs and your willingness to help out fellow staff members has been noted.  You have been Caught in the Act!

Core Value:  People Focused - dedicated to personal, staff, and community needs

Our Guests' Personal Belongings

We're decent people and we want to make our guests happy, right? But sometimes "no" is the answer that serves the greater good, and when that is the case we have to say it.

Yesterday a guest who was returning to campus from the airport wanted to leave his suitcase with us behind the service desk while he went to class. We couldn't honor that request. Nor should we ever accept any personal item any guest wants to give us for safekeeping. We just can't be responsible for their stuff. It's too risky for them and for us. With all our shift changes, it's so easy for personal belongings to get lost. And in the case of the luggage...well, it posed a security risk to everyone in the I.C.

So here is what you do if someone wants to leave their notebook, backpack, business suit, or first-born son with you at the desk:  Say NO.  In a firm but still gentle way, of course. Especially if they want to leave their first-born son.  We don't want to scare the baby.

Room Reservations

Can't find the red Room Reservation notebook?  No worries.  It's missing from the desk because we will no longer be taking reservations from now until the end of the semester.  All rooms are currently on a first-come, first-served basis.  We halt reservations for the last three weeks of each semester because of the high use of the rooms during I-Core and finals times.

Space for Phone Interview

Ever have a desperate looking guest standing in front of you who was trying to find a quiet space for a phone interview?  It definitely happens!  If we have open group rooms, get your supervisor to get his/her take on checking out a room to the individual.  We may be able to make an exception to our "2 or more" rule for group room use.

If all our rooms are full or if an exception can't be made, do tell the person about this space in the Wells Library.  It's set up just for people participating in phone or video interviews. It will be ready for use later on this week.

Semester/Holiday Break

Welcome back!  I hope you had a great Thanksgiving break. With its end, we've now entered this semester's final stretch.  Know that you are responsible for your shifts through the last day of finals week (Dec. 16).  Please post sub notices several days ahead of time for any shifts you need to miss.

During the break, the IC will be open the weeks of Dec. 19-23 and Jan. 3-6.  If you plan to be around and would like to work some during the break, please let me know (treynold@indiana.edu).

Natalie Caught in the Act

When the instructions detailing how to use our scanner disappeared, Natalie volunteered to make new ones.  Thank you, Natalie!  Your expertise with our scanner and your initiative in taking steps to make sure our guests can comfortably use it are gratefully appreciated.  You have been Caught in the Act!

Core Values: People Focused (dedicated to personal, staff, and community needs); and Knowledge (committed to learning more and being better

Jessica's Duties

Please know that effective this Friday (Nov. 18), Christina will be assuming Jessica's assigned duties until her replacement can be hired.  If you receive inquiries or questions for Jessica from guests, please direct them to Christina.

Good-by and Best Wishes, Jessica

We are both happy and sad to report that Jessica Huffman has accepted a position with the American Transportation Research Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota, her home town. Her final day will be Thursday, the 17^th, and while she is excited to be moving home, she knows she will deeply miss everyone at the BSIC. She reports that it has been a privilege to work with such dedicated, funny, spirited, and professional students and staff, and that she intends to take everything she’s learned with her into the next stage of her career. She is reachable via LinkedIn and is more than happy to connect via email. Ask Terry for contact info.

The Business/SPEA IC has been very fortunate to have Jessica on its staff. It's been our pleasure and privilege to work with her. Jessica, we will miss you like crazy!  Know that our best wishes travel with you to St. Paul.

Spring Scheduling

I've placed spring scheduling forms on the table in our break space.  Please pick one up and fill it out once you have your class schedule determined.  Then either give it to me or stick it in my mailbox. I'll do my very best to give you the hours you most want and to stay away from the hours you really don't want. I won't begin assigning hours until we get into December and everyone has had a chance to register for classes.

May 2017 bring you the class and work schedules of your dreams!

The Line

Thank goodness the lines at our service desk are not this long. I've noticed that we sometimes have lines when we shouldn't. People are funny...like sheep, they are often followers.  Here at the I.C. they have a tendency to form a line at our Captain's chair when our First Mate is sitting in plain sight and is also perfectly capable of helping. First Mates, pay attention and please keep an eye out for sheep-people forming a line at our Captain's chair. When they do, let them know that you can help them. That's good customer service (and good shepherding). And it's good teamwork. If you are a First Mate, don't let the Captain shoulder all the weight when a line forms. Get out your staff and help move those sheep along. Your attention and effort will be much appreciated by the bovine wannabes and by your co-worker.

UITS Printer: Out of Order

When a student lets us know that the UITS printer on the other side of our glass is not working, we call UITS (5-3802) to report it. Before the repairman arrives, many other students may also come to you to let you know it's down. Do you find this a bit bothersome? If you're human, probably so. And since the students trying to use that printer are human too, it is also bothersome to them when it doesn't work.

If you would like only one person to report the printer down, feel free to grab a marker and a piece of paper, make an OUT of ORDER sign, and place it on the printer. That way, subsequent people who walk up to it will know right away that it's not working. When the UITS representative comes to fix it, he/she can remove your sign. (Please do not put our ready-made laminated Out of Order signs on the UITS printer, because chances are, they will walk off and we will be left with none for our own equipment.)

With your personal sign on the printer, students will be forewarned that the printer is not working and you should have less people telling you something you already know but can do nothing more about. Sound like a good thing to you?

Room 188 and the Importance of Seeing Green

Room 188 is a bit different than our other group rooms because it is reserved primarily for Kelley & SPEA teaching assistants. Because it is used for this special purpose, we keep the key on the reference desk near the listing sheet for TA reservations. Several times lately, the key to Room 188 has been found in the basket with our other keys. Because of this, once this week it was checked out to a group during the hours of a TA's reservation. 1 student group + 1 TA = more than Room 188 can handle at a time. Luckily we had an open room that we could move the group into so the TA could hold office hours, but this was understandably an inconvenience and a bother to the group.  It was also an embarrassment to us.  (I wasn't there when this happened, but I envision the word "sorry" repeated over and over again.)

When all of our other rooms are full, it is quite alright to check out the key to Room 188 to student groups. Just be sure to do these three things:  1) Check the TA reservation sheet to make sure the checkout won't interfere with TA office hours. 2) Let the group know that there is no workstation or monitor in that room. 3) When the key is returned to the desk, make sure it is placed at the reference desk and not in the key basket.  It's too easy for us to check out the key to another group at a time that interferes with TA hours if we put it in the basket with our other keys.

To make the 188 key more noticeable to us all, I've marked it with green tape and put it on the soft key ring that was previously being used for 160.  When you see green,  that's your reminder to put the key on the reference desk, and not in the basket with the other keys. As long as we're diligent, we won't have to worry about bothering our guests and embarrassing ourselves again.

Have questions or concerns?  Do let me know.  And THANKS for all!