Withdraw lost and damaged items after the patron has paid for them. Do this by checking the item out to DELAVANWD.
Be sure to inspect all incoming items before taking any action to check them in – this includes items received on the van. If damaged items are received on the van, do not receive the in-transit item. Call the owning library and let them know the item was received damaged and that you are returning it to them. Use the gold form to transmit these items to the owning library. The computer will still show the item is in transit to us. I don’t think there is a way to change this to show where it is actually going, but we should investigate that by calling the system when we need to.
When damaged items are received in the book drop, do not check them in. If the item is owned by another library, contact the owning library and the patron to let them know of the damage. Fill out the gold form for lost or damaged materials, attached it to the item, and forward to the owning library. They will determine the amount of the fine and the disposition of the material.
If the item belongs to us, create a bill for the damage. Contact the patron and let them know how much it is. Also let them know that they can have the item when the fine is paid, and that we will hold it for 14 days. Check out the item to DELAVANWD and place it in the galley closet, place a label on the spine with the patron’s initials and the date it is to be discarded. We should send the patron a mailed copy of the bill in these situations to ensure they get the notice from the start.
2. Jean Dibble is retiring effective April 1. A new staff member, Mary Bieber, has been hired beginning that date. Jean will be teaching several people to process AV materials before she leaves.
3. All the hard work we’ve been doing and the changes we’ve made have had a significant impact on circ with a 60% increase over last year at this point. Programming, customer service, database additions, the website, weeding, the facility improvements, these all make a difference. Good job, everyone!
4. Something to think about: Do we want to require a library card for internet use? If we decide to do this, we will issue a restricted card that is good for internet use only to those people who now use their DLs or school IDs to sign up for a computer. Union Grove has a system like this now, and I will check with them for the details.
5. When checking materials out to patrons who did not bring their library card, be sure to see some ID unless you know the patron personally. The “20 questions” method of identification (where you ask them about stuff in their library record, like phone, date of birth, etc.) may be employed as a last resort, but generally should be avoided.
6. Some procedural items were discussed.
- Time cards: be accurate with our timecards. I have been making too many corrections on them and it’s the employee’s responsibility to accurately represent time worked. Thankfully the errors have been in the library’s favor and I’ve been kind enough to fix the issues, but now I will not fix sloppy work unless it is inaccurate for the employee’s benefit. Be sure to list the dates across the top in the S-M-T-W etc. boxes, look at the schedule when you fill out your time card, and use a calculator when adding the columns.
- Supplies: Ordering everyday supplies does not need my direct approval. These are things we need to run the library and can be regularly relied on as purchases. Inform me if we need something unusual.
- Beth has been assigned the holds ratio report.
- I may assign staff to review journals and recommend materials to buy.
7. Teen Tech Week is actually this week but we are celebrating it the last full week in March, 3/24-29 during spring break. There is a coupon in the newsletter that teens (age 12-19) can present with their library card to receive an additional hour of computer time – that’s in addition to the 2 hours they are already entitled to.
8. The next staff meeting will be on April 3 at 8 a.m. when we will be receiving training on the new copier.
Brian/seb
