HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: trumpins@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu (Barbara Trumpinski)
Subject: Re: Reserve Room
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1992 01:43:56 GMT

In <CIRCPLUS%92092111415443@IDBSU.BITNET> kendall <KSIMMONS%UKANVM.bitnet@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU> writes:

>We attempt to place deadlines on the receipt of reserve items if they should
>be on reserve by the time classes start.  Ah, what a dream world we live in.
>We (the main library reserve) DO require faculty to bring us what they want on
>reserve; smaller branches (e.g. Art) will page.   This dealine and an
>information sheet are sent out to all faculty and is also available on the
>online catalog.  The fall deadline is August 1, with the warning that it
>can take up to a week for available items to be processed, with recalls taking
>even longer.  We still, of course, have those professors who sent their
>students over before we've even gotten the books.  We extend our sincere
>sympathies to the students and tell them to shoot their instructors.  If
>evnough people come in asking for non-available items, we'll call profs. on
>the phone and shout polite obscenities at them.  Well, maybe we aren't quite
>that drastic, but we do make the instructor aware that there is a problem and
>it's not that we aren't gods.  However, we DO allow items to be placed on
>reserve at any time during the semester but with the same caveat that it
>might take a while.

>Kendall Simmons
>Home of the 24th ranked Jayhawks (I've always wanted to be in Miami on Jan 1!)

i am always glad to hear that i am NOT the only one who threatens people....

:)

barbara trumpinski
agriculture library--uiuc
--
***************************************************************************
conan the librarian a.k.a. kitten           /\ /\  barbara ann 
"my life's a soap opera, isn't yours?"      {=.=}
                                              ~   trumpins@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu 
"perhaps _any_ universe becomes real in proportion 
to the number of people who believe in it and spend time there." s. robinson

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Date:         Tue, 29 Sep 1992 17:25:13 EST
              <CIRCPLUS@IDBSU.BITNET>
From:         Nancy Orth <LIBADM6@UCONNVM.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Community user fees revisited

On January 2, 1992, the University of Connecticut Storrs Campus Libraries
implented an annual $25 a year charge for our Community Borrowers, after
20 years of offering free borrowing privileges (We charge Friends of the
University Libraries $20.).  The only exceptions are to students at publicly
supported institutions of higher education in the state of Connecticut (per
mandate of the Board of Trustees), to members of the Board of Trustees,
and to faculty at a neighboring state university.  We are currently
working on a plan to provide alumni with "somethin in addition" to borrowing
privileges for which they pay.  Community Borrowers must be at least 18 years
of age and residents of the state of Connecticut (except for Friends and the
fee exempt students noted above, although most are actually residents).  We
issue borrowing privileges to the fee exempt students on a semester basis only.
The loan period is 30 days; Community Borrowers are not allowed to recall
materials.  We also suspend privileges (for everyone actually) upon generation
of a third overdue notice; we suspend privileges for Community Borrowers only
when they exceed $15 in past due library charges.  At present there is no
charged book limit but we will be implementing  a 25 book limit next year with
 a new system.  We have always issued free borrowing privileges to visiting
scholars and university retirees.  For participants in short-term non-credit
programs and institutes we charge a $10 registration fee for borrowing
privileges which is generally coordinated through the program/institute
administrative assistant and our Patron Services Unit.

Nancy M. Orth                     BITNET: LIBADM6@UCONNVM
Head, Circulation/Reserve         FAX:    (203) 486-3593
Homer Babbidge Library            VOICE:  (203) 486-3990
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06269-0005
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.circplus
From: trumpins@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu (Barbara Trumpinski)
Subject: Re: Reserve Room
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1992 01:42:22 GMT

In <CIRCPLUS%92092108511969@IDBSU.BITNET> LEWIS@MOREKYPR.BITNET writes:

>This one is for Reserve Folks!


>Does anyone have a set period of time for items to be put on
>reserve during the academic term? Understaffing and increased usage
>of reserve room by faculty is prompting us to change our policy of
>"any time during the semester".

>Also, is there a length of time the materials must be in library,
>in the hands of the reserve person, before the items will be
>checked out to students?  Our faculty must think we're gods because
>they sometimes tell students to pick up items on reserve before the
>items reach the library.

>Thanks for any help.

>Julie Lewis
>LEWIS@morekypr


i have said "3 working days"...but hardly ever take that long for
anything...i try to process items the same day they are received (this
applies only to items that come in after the first 2 weeks of the
semester)...sigh

barbara trumpinski
agriculture library--uiuc
--
***************************************************************************
conan the librarian a.k.a. kitten           /\ /\  barbara ann 
"my life's a soap opera, isn't yours?"      {=.=}
                                              ~   trumpins@alexia.lis.uiuc.edu 
"perhaps _any_ universe becomes real in proportion 
to the number of people who believe in it and spend time there." s. robinson

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Date:         Tue, 29 Sep 1992 15:01:00 EDT
              <CIRCPLUS@IDBSU.BITNET>
From:         JULIE MANGIN <jmangin@ASRR.ARSUSDA.GOV>
Subject:      Lost Book

From:	AS8250::WINS%"<ILL-L%UVMVM.BITNET@pucc.Princeton.EDU>" 29-SEP-1992
 13:35:18.25
To:	JMANGIN
CC:
Subj:	Lost Book

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Date:         Tue, 29 Sep 1992 12:04:00 EDT
Reply-To:     "ILL-L: Interlibrary Loan discussion group"
 <ILL-L%UVMVM.BITNET@pucc.Princeton.EDU>,
              MICHAEL THOMPSON <mthompson@ASRR.ARSUSDA.GOV>
 <ILL-L%UVMVM.BITNET@pucc.Princeton.EDU>
From:         MICHAEL THOMPSON <mthompson@ASRR.ARSUSDA.GOV>
Subject:      Lost Book
X-To:         ill-l <ill-l%uvmvm.bitnet@cunyvm.cuny.edu>
To:           Multiple recipients of list ILL-L
 <ILL-L%UVMVM.BITNET@pucc.Princeton.EDU>

Hello,

NAL recently received a copy of a work entitled
WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, 25th Report,
Technical Report Series No. 775, 1989, which does not
belong to us.  I would like to find the rightful owner.

There is no library identification on the piece,
but there is a white call number label with the words
Public Health in black letters.  The call number is
RA421.W93 No. 775 1989 c.2.  There is also a yellow
dot on the rather small spine (only 48 pages total).

In the back of the book there is a due slip (form 7808)
for faculty.  In the area for call number, there is a
number in red - 80354 (a slip number, I presume).  The
ID number (for patron?) is 29015 000 792 585, with ILL
filled in for name.  The due date was April 1, 1992.  Gasp!

Please respond directly to me.  Many thanks in advance
for your help!


Mike Thompson
Interlibrary Borrowing Section
USDA/NAL/Document Delivery Services Branch
Room 303, NAL Bldg.
10301 Baltimore Blvd.
Beltsville, MD  20705-2351

Voice:  (301) 504-6715
Fax:    (301) 504-5675

Internet:  MTHOMPSON@ASRR.ARSUSDA.GOV
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Date:         Fri, 2 Oct 1992 10:28:00 EST
              <CIRCPLUS@IDBSU.BITNET>
From:         "W.C. DIVENS" <N93774@PITTVMS.BITNET>
Subject:      Morale and Lost and Found.

There are some who may have gathered that I consider it
necessary to bring some degree of fun to a job...and Joanne
Leary's posting reminded me of one of the things we used
to do for fun in Circ at a library which will remain nameless.

Since the statute of limitations has expired on this one, I
suppose it is safe.

As any circie knows, the circ desk is the lost and found...and
it is here you accumulate all those things that have no use
whatsoever...even to Goodwill.  Things like ratty purses with
gum wrappers contained therein; 17 gloves, none of which
match; car keys that fit no vehicle...

Anyway, once a year, after donating all the unclaimed non-valuable
stuff to the appropriate charitable organizations, we would pack
up what was left, go the the American Library Directory,
close our eyes and point to a library.

That library became the lucky recipient of our package of
goodies...which were packed up and mailed off with no
identifying marks.

We never heard back from anybody....and once one of our
departmentals was the lucky winner...but it was one day
that was looked forward to.

So if anybody out there got anything like this...the mystery
is solved and you can cancel that call to Robert Stack.

Ahh....for the old days....

Rusty
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Date:         Tue, 29 Sep 1992 13:16:38 MST
              <CIRCPLUS@IDBSU.BITNET>
From:         Dan Lester <ALILESTE@IDBSU.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: IDs

On Tue, 29 Sep 1992 15:01:17 -0400 <EADWML@RITVAX> said:
>My question:  are there any other libraries that use a ss# as a
>library ID barcode/number and what problems have you had with this?
>Or insights?

We have used SS at last three places I've worked, including here.  No
problems as long as they have at least one extra digit for indication
of replacement cards.  That way you will be able to invialidate card 1
when it is lost and validate card two, etc.  Of course if this is the
campuswide ID system they have probably already planned for this....
but I never assume.

I would also expect that they would allow for "non US student numbers"
(starting with 9, or 8, perhaps) and for "jerk numbers" (for the folks
who refuse to give their SS number).

Please do NOT start a flame war, anybody, on whether you can or can't
use SS number for general identification....that is NOT OUR PROBLEM,
at least on this list.   8-)    Thanks.

dan (putting on listowner hat for one whole three-line-paragraph)

*****************************************************************************
* Dan Lester                          Bitnet:   alileste@idbsu              *
* Associate University Librarian      Internet: alileste@idbsu.idbsu.edu    *
* Boise State University                                                    *
* Boise, Idaho  83725                 BSU and I have a deal: I don't speak  *
* 208-385-1234                        for them and they don't speak for me. *
*****************************************************************************
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Date:         Mon, 5 Oct 1992 15:10:00 EST
              <CIRCPLUS@IDBSU.BITNET>
From:         "W.C. DIVENS" <N93774@PITTVMS.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Circ Desks and Battleground Metaphors

>At its very worst, its never as bad as, say, late shift at a fast-food
>restaurant.  On our best days, its like a tennis game, lots of quick,
>efficient lobbing back and forth.

Sounds like a real Ivy League scenario to me!  TENNIS?  Yeah...
maybe...like a match between Connors and McEnroe.  Plenty of
flying debris, hollering and cursing.

I would submit that like anything else, it depends on where you
are and when you are there.  An inner city library late night
shift might just make you wish you were slapping burgers at
McD's.

But that's why we have this list....we can share 'war stories' :^).

Rusty
From: LIBADM6@UCONNVM.BITNET (Nancy Orth)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.circplus
Subject: Re: Just curious???
Date: 5 Oct 92 21:39:18 GMT
              <CIRCPLUS@IDBSU.BITNET>
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU

Indeed people do thank us - but probably not as often as we wish.  Just
this year a departing couple (faculty and post doc) brought 10 pounds of the ar
ea's best candy to the library staff lounge in appreciation of the work of the
library staff on their behalf during their long tenure here.  They were both
heavy borrowers and knew circulation staff by first name. They came to the
department to take pictures of the circulation staff on the day they left.
Well something similar may not happen in circ for quite a while but thought
you might enjoy this one - we certainly did!

Nancy M. Orth                     BITNET: LIBADM6@UCONNVM
Head, Circulation/Reserve         FAX:    (203) 486-3593
Homer Babbidge Library            VOICE:  (203) 486-3990
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06269-0005
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Date:         Mon, 28 Sep 1992 09:54:37 EDT
              <CIRCPLUS@IDBSU.BITNET>
From:         Carol Goodson/West GA College <CGOODSON@UGA.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Reserve Room
              27 Sep 1992 01:42:22 GMT from <trumpins@ALEXIA.LIS.UIUC.EDU>

On Sun, 27 Sep 1992 01:42:22 GMT Barbara Trumpinski said:
>>This one is for Reserve Folks!
>
>>Does anyone have a set period of time for items to be put on
>>reserve during the academic term? Understaffing and increased usage
>>of reserve room by faculty is prompting us to change our policy of
>>"any time during the semester".
>
****many years ago, my first professional position was as head of a Reserve
Library at a large university....we had the same problems you described, but
got good results by changing our policies to include a deadline for reserve
list requests, set about 6 weeks before the beginning of the semester...in
return for compliance, we GUARANTEED that we would have at least 90% of the
of the items on the list ready for use by the first day of classes.  If the
professor did not get the list to us by the deadline, we made no promises
whatsoever, but just said we would do our best....the 6 weeks was necessary
because so many titles had to be ordered, cataloged, processed, etc.
Prior to this, our unit was much maligned on campus....after this, we were
no longer viewed so negatively by faculty.  When we introduced this change,
we also announced it to faculty at an Open House...although not many actually
attended, it had the effect of a press conference, and was covered in the
campus paper, thus giving us an opportunity to explain our side of the problem.

..................................................................
| Carol Goodson, Coordinator/Off-Campus Library Services         |
| Ingram Library, West Georgia College                           |
| Carrollton  GA  30118                                          |
| PHONE: (706) 830-2360   FAX: (706) 836-6626                    |
| BITNET: cgoodson@uga    INTERNET: cgoodson@uga.cc.uga.edu      |
| COMPUSERVE: 70253,1146            cgoodson@sun.cc.westga.edu.  |
..................................................................
 The difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that
 while the Democrats remind you that life isn't fair, the
 Republicans make sure it isn't.
...................................................................
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Date:         Wed, 30 Sep 1992 08:39:08 CDT
              <CIRCPLUS@IDBSU.BITNET>
From:         "Virginia K. P. Rigby" <LIB_VKR@SHSU.BITNET>
Subject:      THANK YOU

All this talk about what constitutes a good... no, great Circ person reminds
me that Circ is no better and no worse than its administration. If Circulation
personnel are to be put on the front lines with NO BACK-UP from their
supervisors, they become cannon fodder for both sides of the Circulation
counter, they become Flanders during the European wars...Its not their battle,
they are following policy. If the administration continually wants Circulation
to play bad cop so it can play good cop, morale will plummet.

This past discussion about the apology is a perfect point. Here where I live,
we had a faculty member who was retiring. She was an old battle-axe of an
English professor who kept out some of our most expensive books out for YEARS.
And I DO MEAN YEARS! When she finally returned them, they were so filled with
mold, they were black on the edges. One could still wring water out of one of
the books. Well, we were required to send her a notice that she owed over
$1,000 to the library for the damaged books. I balked knowing that the
administration wasn't going to follow through and actually charge her with the
$1,000. Why should I add to the stigma of hard-nosed Circulation people so the
administration could look conciliatory, thus adding to the popular belief that
its not the library that is so hard to work with...just the Circulation people.

I steamed around for about two weeks before being ordered to write the letter.
When I did, I said that I had been ordered by the administration to send the
letter. She wrote back to the director stating that if the library was going to
charge her for the books, she was going to sue the library, and the director
asked me to remove the books from her account. Exactly the outcome I knew would
occur.

All the talk of what a supervisor should or should not do is wasted on us. We
know what should and even know what will happen. It is the supervisors that
will eventually handle the situation that need this discussion. I applaud the
work Circulation staff do. They are in my mind, doing the best job they can
under the most nebulous of conditions. (Sorry, this has just been bursting to
get out.)

Virginia at Sam
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Date:         Tue, 29 Sep 1992 10:28:21 EDT
              <CIRCPLUS@IDBSU.BITNET>
From:         Nancy Herrington <LIBNJH@SUVM.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Apology warranted

Julie is absolutely correct--STAFF MUST HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION
WHEN PERFORMIING THEIR JOBS!  Particularly during high-stress periods
when patrons and staff alike (many of whom are part-time students
themselves) are feeling overburdened, underpaid, and stressed.
During the past semester we had two instances where patrons were
extremely loud, abusive, and foul-mouthed--threatening in one case. I
have developed an "incident report form" which allows the staff member
to focus on the important information at the time the incident is
occuring.  Copies of this form can then be forwarded to security,
involved administrators, and the department head.  This at least
provides some written information if the patron storms into another
office complaining about our branch library.

----
   ^---^          Nancy Herrington
   (O O) hoot!    Science & Technology Library
   / v           Syracuse University
  /|   |         315/443-2160
   m m/          BITNET & INTERNET:  libnjh@suvm.acs.syr.edu
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Date:         Sat, 26 Sep 1992 19:25:11 CDT
              <CIRCPLUS@IDBSU.BITNET>
From:         kendall <KSIMMONS%UKANVM.bitnet@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Self-service checkout
              24 Sep 1992 15:57:01 -0400 from <batista@A1.RELAY.UPENN.EDU>

When I say online searches, I mean a patron placing a search on an item that
they allegedly couldn't find in the stacks...I wanted to make that clear.
From: SANDEE@GACVAX1.BITNET
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.circplus
Subject: Re: Staplers, Kleenex and Hole-Punchers
Date: 2 Oct 92 16:54:00 GMT
              <CIRCPLUS@IDBSU.BITNET>
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When we automated, among the first things I barcoded were the Circ Desk stapler
and scissors.  I used to "lose" 4 or 5 of each yearly.  It's been a year and
half and I still have them (they're on 2-hr Reserve).  I must admit I enjoy
explaining the fine notice for "Overdue Reserve Item - Stapler".

As for the three-hole punch, it's screwed down to a table by the photocopiers.
I got a 10 lb. Scotch tape dispenser and situated it in a spot near the Circ
desk where they can ask for refills, but don't need other assistance.

Kleenex is another matter - this is Minnesota and we're talking a high-demand
item here!  I had the box out where patrons could get at it, but they kept
taking it home.  I didn't want to "charge" any out - I certainly wouldn't want
to handle the "discharge" (!)...so this is the only thing kept at the Circ Desk
which patrons MUST ask for!  Ah, the myriad administrative detail of
Circulation.

Sandee Georgacarkos
Head, Circulation Services
Folke Bernadotte Memorial Library
St. Peter  MINNESOTA
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Date:         Mon, 5 Oct 1992 09:35:55 EDT
              <CIRCPLUS@IDBSU.BITNET>
From:         Pamela.I.Ploeger@DARTMOUTH.EDU
Subject:      Re: A READER COMMENTS

Prof. Pennell's comments are important reminders to all of us who staff or
supervise circulation desks.  If we allow ourselves to indulge at length in
the "combat" attitude, our service at the desk will clearly deteriorate.
However, to a degree circplus, like the library staff room, is a place where
circ staff can vocalize their frustrations, let off steam and return to the
desk prepared to smile at the next library patron.  I have heard much the
same conversations among medical staff, particularly nurses.  Some of the
things nurses say about their patients would shock outsiders, but they really
aren't intended to be heard by others than nurses, and in some ways those
comments enhance the camaraderie of the primary care staff and allow them to
be nicer to difficult patients than they would be if they couldn't "vent" in
the staff room.

This type of conversation certainly can get out of hand and degrade rather
than enhance the quality of service.  But what REALLY degrades the quality of
circulation service is the second point Prof. Pennell made.  When support
staff are not supported by administrative staff, they quickly become cynical
and discouraged in what is unquestionably a difficult job.  The situation
where "senior colleagues break the rules for their senior friends" is
altogether too common in libraries and does more to undermine staff morale
than any series of unreasonable, rude or pushy patrons.  Circulation staff
members are trained to be polite no matter how abusive patrons are (and also
learn when to call campus security for backup!) but they do need to go to the
back room and defuse afterwards, so they can politely assist the next person
who calls them a "jerk."  Unfortunately, you can't comfortably do when the
individual in question is your boss's boss.

Pam Ploeger
Circulation Services Librarian
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH 03755
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Date:         Mon, 28 Sep 1992 09:07:58 EDT
              <CIRCPLUS@IDBSU.BITNET>
From:         Tom Blakely <tfb@CORVAIR.UNF.EDU>
Subject:      Mastering Internet Tools
              26 Sep 1992 03:30:00 BSC <9209281213.AA18009@corvair.unf.edu>

Did you mean to repeat this note back to the mailing list?  Some of
the recipients may not take kindly to your comments about "south of
the border" :-)

I'm not sure what I can do to verify the legitimacy of this offer.
Send him five bucks and see what happens.  If its a rip-off, we can
then report him to the appropriate authorities, or just email him
and ask for more info.  I do find it suspicious that (a) it is his
home address, complete with apartment number, and (b) that he is
offering an internet course, but his email address is BITNET only.

Tom.
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