TFML Staff Exchange

I had occasion today to offer our crayons and a coloring page to a toddler so her mom could look for something. Worked out great!

We edged out last January for our busiest January, in spite of our snow day. The virtual reference, emails, and instant messaging made the difference. Otherwise, we would have been a little lower.

Reference Statistics for January 2005

Walk-Ins 515
Telephone 246
Instruction 75
Other help 298

Virtual reference 38
Instant message reference 18
Email reference 14

Total adult reference 1204
(1198 in 2004)

The first half of the reproducible federal tax forms arrived and is on the shelf behind the reference desk.

2.2.05
Rick was absent due to illness. Nevertheless, we carried on.

Nancy reported on the Big Read. The color brochure with a calendar of all events is available for distribution. Several copies have already been placed around the library. The Thomas Ford Library events include a slide talk featuring Jane Clarke that will take place on Saturday, March 19. Our library’s discussion of The Devil in the White City will take place on Wednesday, March 23 and will be led by Rick. Erik Larson will appear at Ashton Place in Willowbrook on May 5. Reserved tickets will be available by calling the Downers Grove library, but will be picked up here by our patrons. All Big Read programs will be free of charge. A link to the web site is on the TFML home page.

midt
Thomas Ford Library

Hey all, comments are working now, as are all of the archives on the side. Hurrah! Comment away.

Ok, we have two timepieces for display in the Adult Services area. I think there's been some debate about the proposed locations for them. Maybe we'll make a decision about where they belong before too long, but why not get people's input here?

So comment below where you think they would do best. Don't be shy!

There were 13 at Wednesday's Book Discussion of "The Secret Life of Bees." Several new faces. A good time was had by all.

Does anyone have some ideas for new displays? The ones on the wooden book rack are looking tired.

Shannon has arranged a loan of school textbooks k-5, which are kept in the youth services department. She can ask for 6-8 grades if we want or see a need. If you get a request, note it in the What We Didn't Have File.

Thanks.

Rick

Can anyone bring in the unclaimed property list from February 6 Chicago Tribune? We've had inquiries at the reference desk. We seemed to have lost the library copy.

The Unclaimed Property section from Sunday's Trib is behind the Reference Desk with the Suburban Life classifieds. Susan Fry brought in another copy, and it is in the file under "Unclaimed Property."

At one point this afternoon, I had had 3 walkup, 3 phone, and 3 IM reference questions, as well as work to repair a door.

I will be off on Monday and back Tuesday at 1:00 p.m.

Rick

The Xerox machine is dead and Anne and Kris are working on getting another photocopier. Until then, there is the copier downstairs and the Konica Minolta in Circ.

If you make copies for someone using the Konica Minolta, please remember that the access code for public copying is 1000.

The photocopier in the youth services department is not working well. Kris has called for repairs. You may have to copy things for people using the Konica in the circ area.

We are running low on federal 1040 schedule A&B. I have reordered, but it may be 10 days before we receive the new shipment, according to the IRS. Everything else seems in good supply.

The second half of the reproducible federal tax forms arrived. So all the forms that will be in the binder are in the binder. We will have to go to the IRS website for anything that is not there.

The last volume of publications arrived. So there are now 4 paperbound volumes, 2 for individual taxpayers and 2 for business taxpayers.

If you haven't heard, my daughter Laura had an accident coming out of the parking lot of the Secretary of State's driver's license facility in Lombard, minutes after getting her drivers license. No one was hurt. Laura was pretty upset, but as I write, her boyfriend has shown up with ice cream and she seems much better. She was driving my car and it is pretty banged up according to reports; I haven't seen it. I may be on the train tomorrow.

The good news is the tickets for the seniors big band concert came. The bad news is that there are only 15 of them and we can not get any more.

The senior center is distribting them through nine locations, which are on the poster on the bulletin board. No one has very many, as there are only 300 seats in the theater. A block are being reserved for the Seniors meeting at the end of the month. So, anyone wanting a ticket is going to have to run around town to the many sites.

A limited number of tickets that were not given out at the Seniors meeting will be available at the Theatre of Western Springs April 4.

So, give them out. They are in the second drawer at the reference desk. Limit of two.

Anne has ordered a new photocopier for the adult services area. It will be coming from Konica Minolta and should be here soon, date not set.