TFML Staff Exchange

The YS staff had a meeting on Friday. These are brief notes about our topics. Please see Shannon with any questions about topics.

1. Registration begins on Monday. ONLY the parents may register for events. Every patron will get a confirmation discussing behavior and safety information, as well as problems we are working to correct. We will be requesting the patrons go over the information with alternate caregivers.

2. Fall is a roll of the dice with construction. We are planned lighter, and will notify patrons if there is an issue or closing. The web page would be the first place to check for updates. We will be closed during carpeting, dates aren't known yet.

3. Internet Clarification-we will be changing to doing a note on their Library record. I'll get trained from Sandy to do this. So far:
-11 and below must have adult sit with them, 12 and above does not. 12-17 may use the computers downstairs, but 18 and above must follow the rule about being in the presence of a child to use ours downstairs. (Adults may not use ours unless they are with a child). Kids may use the computers upstairs, but same rules apply.

4. Upcoming service day is December7.

5. Deadline for newsletter is first of November.

8. The YS department is making greater efforts to recycle. A paper recycling bin is in our staff area (and we need to get another can to replace the meeting room's), and small blue ones are throughout our floor for patrons. The closing shift will empty paper from floor bins into main binin YS at night, and any plastic collections will be taken to the main bin in the staff roomm..

9. Greener- We are working to reduce paper usage and waste print jobs. We'd also like to remember to keep lights off in areas when we aren't using them. (Storytime room).

10. Math Bags are now ready to be circulated. They will be circulated ONLY in YS, though twe do ILL them. Procedures were discussed.

11. Each staffer will be participating in the development of Subject Guides for our web page. Content and structure were discussed. Work is to begin immediately. In the event of a Department closing or conditions in which we cannot remain in the Department, staff will be able to research and work on this assignment remotely.

12. Genre sticker project in full swing. Need all hands on deck!

13. Jamie and Shannon are still working on the 500 animal project. We need to push this through and move it forward.

14. The YS Department is very upset about the Production issue. It was discussed extensively. We would like to talk to Anne and MLS further about this as Production is extremely fast, has better search algorithms, allows easy toggling between search and patron functions and does not necessitate the use of a cumbersome mouse. The text based interface is so much faster for reference......... We will be voicing concerns where appropriate.

15. We discussed the mold and pest issues downstairs.

16. We are all struggling with a lack of space issues among staff. To keep everybody on event keel we discussed solutions to space challenges as well as understanding that we all have to get along with different working styles.

17. Nannies and confirmations rounded up our talk. We will be working to a greater extent to convey behavior and safety information. Shannon requested that all staff please document any incidents right after seeing them so that records are accurate. We'd also like to make notes about traffic/busy conditions on a day to day basis. This can help determine if we are just simply busy.

Zone 1-4 Reference Librarians at the Elmhurst Public Library

As usually, we discussed numerous topics, not all really reference, at the Zone 1-4 Reference Librarian’s Meeting.

We started by discussing library friends groups. Several libraries that have inactive groups were inquiring how to get groups started. No one actually remembered the starting a group, but they thought administrators and board members might spark a group by inviting civic-minded people to volunteer to start new groups. Turning to Friends of Libraries USA was recommended. When we discussed what friends groups do, I realized that at Thomas Ford we have a much more active group than many other libraries.

Our second topic on the agenda dealt with the running of library programs in Spanish. The Melrose Park Library was interested in what other libraries are doing. Cicero Public was the only library of the attending group doing much. Cicero is running computer classes and story times in Spanish. Elmhurst tried Spanish story times, but both had few attendees. Cicero is also running lots of ESL classes. Both Melrose Park and Cicero tried Spanish language book discussions, but neither were well attended.

A discussion about meeting room demands arose spontaneously. It was not on the agenda. All of the libraries are getting increased demand for big meeting spaces and small study rooms. Policies differed as to whether non-card holders could use meeting rooms. Most of the libraries limit the use of meeting rooms to nonprofits, but Elmhurst will rent meeting rooms and the computer lab to Elmhurst businesses – the price is steep but some are willing to pay.

We followed with a discussion about the retention of print reference books when the titles are acquired as online databases. Everyone seemed to agree that there reference collections were shrinking. The big libraries were even getting rid of standard titles like Encyclopedia of Associations, the Congressional Quarterly Almanac, and Thomas Register. I found the conversation reassuring, as I have sometimes felt a bit bad about our canceling some titles. We are not alone.

One of the most surprising things I heard was that Elmhurst and Woodridge libraries feel they have enough databases. Neither have topics to add at this point. We discussed that the next wave of electronic tools are going to be instructional, such as language instruction (Rosetta Stone) and test preparation services.

The next Zone 1-4 Reference Librarians meeting will be December 12 at the Melrose Park Public Library.

Rick

I forgot to tell everyone that I discontinued the Morningstar Investor - the monthly advice publication. The last issue was April.

We do, of course, still get Morningstar Mutual Funds service still. Please let me know if an issue does not arrive.

By the way, I called Value Line about the missing September 7 issue. The September 14 issue arrived on September 19.

Everyone,

I have reworked the Google Calendar so it will be more accurate and useful. I am working on guidelines. Before you add something new, ask me about the revisions.

Thanks,

Rick

Everyone,

The staff at the Adult Services Department meeting decided for the sake of confidentiality and energy savings we would turn off the public Internet computers. This will insure that patrons will not return the next day and find their passwords and such still on web site logins.

Because the circulation staff is busy both at closing and in the morning, adult services staff will turn off the computers about ten minutes before library closing. Also, the first staff person on the reference desk in the morning will turn on the computers.

I will show everyone the process. Thanks.

Rick