End of Winter Intersession

Well, I have been so overwhelmed with teaching and running the circulation desk, that I have had no time to write in my blog. I made it to the 3 different conferences and am learning more every day. As to work at the library, I have hired two new student workers for the circulation desk, promoted a worker to a supervisory position, and will complete teaching Library 10A tonight with the Final Exam.
Diana and I are ramping up in preparation for the Spring Semester starting next Tuesday, and this keeps us both very, very busy being down one Library Technician. We are still waiting to see if we will be given the funds to re-hire for Ken's position. I have recently finished the new work schedule, have been adding items to our reserve lists, and with Diana's help am training our two new workers and our new supervisor.
As I stated, tonight I will finish teaching Library 10A and unfortuneatly will not have much time to evaluate my work before I start teaching it again next Thursday. I will have to grade the final exams and final projects in order to get grades turned in on time. It appears that using a Wiki for the web page portion of the class is working. More on that when I am certain. If you would like to see, you can check it out at http://library10ahanson.pbwiki.com/ .
Hopefully I will get back to regular updates. My work as a new librarian really took off after the first semester. I realize how much help I was receiving to ease me into the position. Now, I am quite busy and feeling the pressures of my position. I still enjoy it though, most of the time.

Back from the Holidays and settling in.

I made it back from Rome, and was able to prepare myself for the LIB 10A class I am teaching. The first class was rough because I was still jetlagged, but the second class went much better. I have also taken on much more resposibility with the circulation desk. Ken has moved on to his position as a Librarian at a La Canada library, and I have taken on all of his past duties in addition to my other work and teaching preparation. The first two weeks have been difficult, but I think things will settle down this week. There have been no major problems, and we are preparing to hire some new people to help us out in the Spring.
In other news, I will also be attending 3 different conferences/meetings with professional organizations this semester. I will be attending the SCIL works conference put on by CARL, the CARL south meeting, and a user group meeting for Voyager. In addition to this, I am planning on attending the ALA conference for the first time in June.

Constant Changes

Well, the library tech. who has been running circulation here at our library has accepted a job and will be leaving us. So, I have been trying to spend as much time with him as possible to learn the ins and outs of what he does each day. Upon his departure, I will be taking on all of the tasks and duties that he is currently responsible for. I have been fortunate to have his help up until this point, freeing me to concentrate on other aspects of my job. I will now turn more of my attention to directing the circulation department.
I have also decided to focus more of my attention on Facebook, rather than Myspace, when it comes to Social Networking sites. I think that it looks more professional and many students seem to be migrating toward Facebook. I should be ready to go live with the Facebook page and our self check-out starting at the beginning of our winter inter-session.

Holidays

In preparation for the end of the semester and the Holidays, I have worked with the circulation staff to clean up our reserves. We have sent notices to all instructors with reserves and have heard back from most about what materials to keep and what to return to them. We have also been preparing for the various holiday parties that will take place next week. All of which should be fun.
As I finish the semester, I have been working hard to plan for the Library 10A course that I will teach during the Winter intersession and during Spring semester. I have written my syllabus and created a web page with links to all assignments and readings. I have also created a wiki that I intend to use with the class. Things are going well as the semester comes to an end, and I am finding myself wiped out at the end of each day. Im looking forward to the break.

Update

So, I have been negligent in paying attention to my blog. But I have returned.
The new signs for "Quiet" are up and seem to be working. I am also currently working with Ken and Jeff to get our self check-out system up and running. After talking with some people at UCLA, I believe we have addressed most of the problems that were occurring and I think that the self check-out should definetly be up and running by the Winter Inter-Session.
I have also been given the Library 10A class to teach during Winter and have begun my preparation. I must have at least my syllabus and first two weeks lessons prepared before leaving for Italy in December, because I teach almost immediately when I return.
Finally, I have also sent out letters to faculty members to have them review what materials they have placed on reserve so that I can remove and return unnecessary items in order to save space and in order to update the reserves for the Spring semester.

MySpace and Shatford Library

Well, today I will unveil the MySpace page that I have created for the library. It is a work in progress, and I already see changes that must be made. Some of the circulation staff are already becoming friends of the library, and hopefully students will also. I am now seeing this page as more of an information provider than a communication tool, but hope that students will use the email features to ask questions of the library staff. I also hope that the pictures will allow students to identify who works in the library for when they do need assistance. I have included the URL, and would love comments from you the reader and invite you to become a friend of the Shatford Library if you have a MySpace page.
myspace.com/shatfordlibrary

New signs to help keep the Peace (and Quiet)

The new "Quiet" signs and bookmarks have arrived and are now placed at the entrances to the library. I have received very positive feedback about how professional they look and that they seem to be working. Now it is important that the staff and I enforce the silence we are requesting so that students take it seriously. Here are some pictures of the new signs.