Ahoy Mateys,
this is going to be one of those short posts sos we can all enjoy our Memorial Day weekend without overtaxing our brains, and hopefully by the time you read this you will be nice and rested for the post holiday week!
In honor of the end of school, which is just around the bend, I am going to switch out the kid's May garden display with a new display honoring vacation and vacationy things, like camp, and the beach, and summer adventures, so if you are looking for any of these titles, either check the huge stack I have set aside in front of my desk, or if there aren't any there, that means I actually got the display up, so check the small table leading into the kids' area.
Galina is in charge of the adult displays so I will let her tackle that when she recovers from her own vacation, later in the week. She is due back on Thursday afternoon but we will give her a couple of days to fall back into the routine and then see what she comes up with. In the meantime, the Adult Gardening display can continue growing where it is. Replenish as necessary.
Richard has sent a few important emails to all about various evergreen issues and I am printing them out and keeping them on a clipboard on the back counter, so when things are slow, be sure and give those a look see or refer to them should you need a refresher.
Kathleen has asked me to remind y'all to go easy on filling the crates: don't fill any higher than the bottom of the handle openings on the side, and if you have a lot of oversize books or an inordinate amount of children's picture books, fill the crates a little less, as these add a huge amount of weight.
Thanks again for keeping our branch looking so beautiful and a special thanks to Carolyn for all the gorgeous plants and the bouquets from your garden and to Barbara for keeping us "sweet" with the wonderful cookies.
Happy Holiday and also Happy Post Holiday Week!!
Cappy Dick
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
EVEN SHIP-SHAPER!!
Ahoy Mateys,
If you are reading this on Monday or after, we have made it through our "typical stats" week, although frankly, I think there is no such thing as a typical week at this branch as its seems we have more rogue waves than predictable tides, and this last week we almost got swamped a couple of times but thanks to my dedicated staff and some great subs (thank you LIZ!) we stayed afloat. Ok, ok, enough of the sea-faring references....Cappy Dick's brain is still soggy from this last week!
So, on Monday the rugs are being cleaned (have been cleaned?) so it will be interesting to see what color our carpets REALLY are! Things might be out of place at the start of the week, but we will get them back asap. If you notice something amiss or missing, do let me know. And speaking of things out of place, well, really just things moved to a different place, by now you have probably noticed that ALL the newspapers have been moved next to the periodicals.
Also, because so many people are coming in with laptops and because this branch is so outlet challenged, Lit has installed a nice new power strip on the computer round table between internet stations 1& 2, so if someone is looking for a place to plug in, you can direct them to the space we have provided there, as well, of course to the long table behind the PACS. There is a chair at this station now and we have moved the big dictionary to the long table to make space. The internet sign up sheet is now to the left of internet station #1.
We have gotten two important reference titles that the public may ask for: The Proposed Sea Water Desalination project and the SCPL facilities master plan. It looks like the master plan for Capitola isn't going to change much for awhile, until some funding comes in, but at any rate, should a patron ask to see either of these document they are here: The Desalination project is in two volumes and is on the shelf above the cash register to the far right. The SCPL facilities master plan is nearby on the counter in the standup display next to where we put the completed registrations. Give it a gander in case anyone asks.(The Capitola 2013 city budget is also there, in the basket next to the City Council agendas).
Tails to Tales, which was briefly scheduled for EVERY Wednesday at Capitola has been "cur-tailed" to the first and third Wednesdays again, despite what the new handout says. Seems that one of the "therapy" dogs wasn't actually certified to sit around listening to readers and so until another dog with a longer attention span can be found, we are back to twice a month plus the first Saturday of the month. I am sure, now that I have
informed you all of this, the schedule will change by next week!
Well, our evening aide Riley is off on a grand graduation adventure, traveling across the U.S. by train and by thumb until August so he is being replaced by Sharon Borrege and Peggy Stone. When you see them please give them a big welcome. Both of them are familiar with our branch and do great work so I am happy to have them on our staff for awhile.
The story hour theme this week is the pigeon books by Mo Willems, but I don't think we have any of those at our branch so no need to search for them at my desk. I will let Val, who is doing the story hour for Kari this week, take care of her own display.
We do still have our May Gardening display for both the kidlets and adults so if you are shelving books that might be appropriate for either of those displays do feel free to refresh them, and remember to check the displays if you are looking for gardening books on the pulls list.
The summer reading program does not start until June 10th, although we are already getting patron queries about it. I am sure there will be much information available as it gets closer so you can direct the patrons to our website where it will be posted as it gets closer. We do have a calendar on one of the clipboards but already it has been revised twice so i would use it only as a guideline should someone inquire as to what kind of programs we will have, not as gospel set in stone. I do know that we will be having an children's craft time on Friday afternoons, but again that won't start until the week of June 10th. For now, we are still having our regular story hours on Friday mornings at 10:30.
Well enough of this blarney, let's pray for smooth sailing this week.
Cappy Dick
If you are reading this on Monday or after, we have made it through our "typical stats" week, although frankly, I think there is no such thing as a typical week at this branch as its seems we have more rogue waves than predictable tides, and this last week we almost got swamped a couple of times but thanks to my dedicated staff and some great subs (thank you LIZ!) we stayed afloat. Ok, ok, enough of the sea-faring references....Cappy Dick's brain is still soggy from this last week!
So, on Monday the rugs are being cleaned (have been cleaned?) so it will be interesting to see what color our carpets REALLY are! Things might be out of place at the start of the week, but we will get them back asap. If you notice something amiss or missing, do let me know. And speaking of things out of place, well, really just things moved to a different place, by now you have probably noticed that ALL the newspapers have been moved next to the periodicals.
Also, because so many people are coming in with laptops and because this branch is so outlet challenged, Lit has installed a nice new power strip on the computer round table between internet stations 1& 2, so if someone is looking for a place to plug in, you can direct them to the space we have provided there, as well, of course to the long table behind the PACS. There is a chair at this station now and we have moved the big dictionary to the long table to make space. The internet sign up sheet is now to the left of internet station #1.
We have gotten two important reference titles that the public may ask for: The Proposed Sea Water Desalination project and the SCPL facilities master plan. It looks like the master plan for Capitola isn't going to change much for awhile, until some funding comes in, but at any rate, should a patron ask to see either of these document they are here: The Desalination project is in two volumes and is on the shelf above the cash register to the far right. The SCPL facilities master plan is nearby on the counter in the standup display next to where we put the completed registrations. Give it a gander in case anyone asks.(The Capitola 2013 city budget is also there, in the basket next to the City Council agendas).
Tails to Tales, which was briefly scheduled for EVERY Wednesday at Capitola has been "cur-tailed" to the first and third Wednesdays again, despite what the new handout says. Seems that one of the "therapy" dogs wasn't actually certified to sit around listening to readers and so until another dog with a longer attention span can be found, we are back to twice a month plus the first Saturday of the month. I am sure, now that I have
informed you all of this, the schedule will change by next week!
Well, our evening aide Riley is off on a grand graduation adventure, traveling across the U.S. by train and by thumb until August so he is being replaced by Sharon Borrege and Peggy Stone. When you see them please give them a big welcome. Both of them are familiar with our branch and do great work so I am happy to have them on our staff for awhile.
The story hour theme this week is the pigeon books by Mo Willems, but I don't think we have any of those at our branch so no need to search for them at my desk. I will let Val, who is doing the story hour for Kari this week, take care of her own display.
We do still have our May Gardening display for both the kidlets and adults so if you are shelving books that might be appropriate for either of those displays do feel free to refresh them, and remember to check the displays if you are looking for gardening books on the pulls list.
The summer reading program does not start until June 10th, although we are already getting patron queries about it. I am sure there will be much information available as it gets closer so you can direct the patrons to our website where it will be posted as it gets closer. We do have a calendar on one of the clipboards but already it has been revised twice so i would use it only as a guideline should someone inquire as to what kind of programs we will have, not as gospel set in stone. I do know that we will be having an children's craft time on Friday afternoons, but again that won't start until the week of June 10th. For now, we are still having our regular story hours on Friday mornings at 10:30.
Well enough of this blarney, let's pray for smooth sailing this week.
Cappy Dick
Saturday, May 11, 2013
THIS BRANCH IS LOOKING IN SHIP SHAPE!
Ahoy Mateys,
I hope you read the addendum (in red) on the last post as that should help you navigate all the shelving changes at the branch, but just to keep you on your toes, a couple of decorating elves have snuck aboard and also changed around a few other pieces of furniture, so look for the newspapers now near the periodicals and a longer low table in the kids room that will accommodate all of our puzzles. Also, the J non-fiction audio cassettes are now next to the J fiction cassettes rather than on top of the revolving blue J media display.
This week is typical stats week, which includes keeping track of the number of items to be shelved each day as compared to the number of items actually shelved, so remember if you are shelving to please make sure all the items on a cart are counted and marked on a dated post-it and attached to the cart before you roll it out on the floor and if you are shelving and you empty a cart, please remove the post-it and put it on my desk.
I have to keep a running tally each day. This also means, that for those of us who walk things out to the new shelf, or displays, keep track of those numbers too. You can just jot the number down with the date and leave that on my desk as well.
And of course we have to keep track of all our desk transactions. I will put out typical stats sheets so you can make your hash marks each day. Please try and remember to do so as we want to get full credit for all of our hard work. Note: Anything beyond a simple check out is a reference question and each thing you look up for a patron counts as a separate question.
In an effort to make our searches a little easier, I have consolidated all of our monthly missing lists into one Capitola Missing Bucket, so you no longer have to search months of buckets to remove a missing item if you find it. We do still have multiple months of Claims returns buckets as these have to stay separated out so they can be added to the system wide list at the end of each month, so be sure to add any claims returns to the current month's bucket.
We have a new library directory for the phones. It is in a white binder next to our printer. Please toss any other system phone books you have laying around as they are not accurate. I have put a cheat-sheet bookmark on your desks or in your boxes with vital system phone numbers, but if you would like a copy of the phone book you may print one out off the intranet under staff databases. If you see any mistakes in the directory, please e-mail Sheila or subfinders and they will make the necessary changes.
Richard sent out a very detailed message about our latest Evergreen glitch and I have printed it and left it on one of the clipboards behind the service desk. Please familiarize yourself with the steps should you encounter it. Remember, if a patron comes in and says that they have returned an item and you look at "checked out" items and you see that there is no record attached to the item they say they have returned, please check it in in their account and forgive any fines they might've accrued. You will not be able to mark these items claims returned.
Liz Pollack who is taking a lot of Galina's shifts had the brilliant idea to request contact info to hand out to our patron's who are signing up as homebound., and Jeane O'Grady, who is handling the homebound accounts has graciously complied, so there are now homebound handouts on the clipboard at the sit down reference station. Do remember, if a patron comes in who might benefit from a book buddy or homebound services, to let them know it is available, and if they opt in, mark them as homebound in their account (they can still walk in and use any library, but this gives them a little more leeway and the option of a book buddy, should they be unable to come to a branch) and leave their account # and name with Jonell. I will forward the information to programming who will make contact with the patron and find out how to best meet their library needs.
There was a recent reminder that we were asked to pass along to staff, as this has been a recurring problem throughout the branches. The policy on staff use of cell phones at the desk is: staff may keep their cell phones on vibrate and they may be checked IF it is not interfering with the public but only for work related reasons unless there are extenuating circumstances such as impending emergencies (ill family members, etc.) I would like to add that I would like my staff to step away from the service desk and into the workroom to check their phones.
The Friday story hour subject this week is Dogs. I will pull a few books but since we also have Tales to Tails on Wednesday and they also use books about dogs, and since we have such a huge selection of dog books in our collection, it is not necessary for you to add to whatever I find. Do however feel free to take any books from my desk that might appear on the pulls list.
Ok, off to swab the decks (and maybe move more furniture!)
Happy week,
Cappy Dick
I hope you read the addendum (in red) on the last post as that should help you navigate all the shelving changes at the branch, but just to keep you on your toes, a couple of decorating elves have snuck aboard and also changed around a few other pieces of furniture, so look for the newspapers now near the periodicals and a longer low table in the kids room that will accommodate all of our puzzles. Also, the J non-fiction audio cassettes are now next to the J fiction cassettes rather than on top of the revolving blue J media display.
This week is typical stats week, which includes keeping track of the number of items to be shelved each day as compared to the number of items actually shelved, so remember if you are shelving to please make sure all the items on a cart are counted and marked on a dated post-it and attached to the cart before you roll it out on the floor and if you are shelving and you empty a cart, please remove the post-it and put it on my desk.
I have to keep a running tally each day. This also means, that for those of us who walk things out to the new shelf, or displays, keep track of those numbers too. You can just jot the number down with the date and leave that on my desk as well.
And of course we have to keep track of all our desk transactions. I will put out typical stats sheets so you can make your hash marks each day. Please try and remember to do so as we want to get full credit for all of our hard work. Note: Anything beyond a simple check out is a reference question and each thing you look up for a patron counts as a separate question.
In an effort to make our searches a little easier, I have consolidated all of our monthly missing lists into one Capitola Missing Bucket, so you no longer have to search months of buckets to remove a missing item if you find it. We do still have multiple months of Claims returns buckets as these have to stay separated out so they can be added to the system wide list at the end of each month, so be sure to add any claims returns to the current month's bucket.
We have a new library directory for the phones. It is in a white binder next to our printer. Please toss any other system phone books you have laying around as they are not accurate. I have put a cheat-sheet bookmark on your desks or in your boxes with vital system phone numbers, but if you would like a copy of the phone book you may print one out off the intranet under staff databases. If you see any mistakes in the directory, please e-mail Sheila or subfinders and they will make the necessary changes.
Richard sent out a very detailed message about our latest Evergreen glitch and I have printed it and left it on one of the clipboards behind the service desk. Please familiarize yourself with the steps should you encounter it. Remember, if a patron comes in and says that they have returned an item and you look at "checked out" items and you see that there is no record attached to the item they say they have returned, please check it in in their account and forgive any fines they might've accrued. You will not be able to mark these items claims returned.
Liz Pollack who is taking a lot of Galina's shifts had the brilliant idea to request contact info to hand out to our patron's who are signing up as homebound., and Jeane O'Grady, who is handling the homebound accounts has graciously complied, so there are now homebound handouts on the clipboard at the sit down reference station. Do remember, if a patron comes in who might benefit from a book buddy or homebound services, to let them know it is available, and if they opt in, mark them as homebound in their account (they can still walk in and use any library, but this gives them a little more leeway and the option of a book buddy, should they be unable to come to a branch) and leave their account # and name with Jonell. I will forward the information to programming who will make contact with the patron and find out how to best meet their library needs.
There was a recent reminder that we were asked to pass along to staff, as this has been a recurring problem throughout the branches. The policy on staff use of cell phones at the desk is: staff may keep their cell phones on vibrate and they may be checked IF it is not interfering with the public but only for work related reasons unless there are extenuating circumstances such as impending emergencies (ill family members, etc.) I would like to add that I would like my staff to step away from the service desk and into the workroom to check their phones.
The Friday story hour subject this week is Dogs. I will pull a few books but since we also have Tales to Tails on Wednesday and they also use books about dogs, and since we have such a huge selection of dog books in our collection, it is not necessary for you to add to whatever I find. Do however feel free to take any books from my desk that might appear on the pulls list.
Ok, off to swab the decks (and maybe move more furniture!)
Happy week,
Cappy Dick
Saturday, May 4, 2013
A FINE KETTLE OF FISH!!
Ahoy Mateys,
Special Thanks for April Zilber for providing this week's blog title. I am thinking of having a weekly contest to take suggestions for sea faring post titles as my brain certainly feels like a fine kettle of Boiled fish by the end of the week when I am supposed to write the next post. Do feel free to email any suggestions!
So, this was our first week sans Galina, who is off in the wild steppes of Russia, and we hope, having a wonderful time. Donna is filling her shoes, doing a fine job dealing with our myriad damaged and missing pieces returns, so do continue to leave those items on her desk.
Carolyn is off to New York for the week and a little, so various subs will be taking her opening shifts, so be aware if you find things mis-shelved, since not everyone is as familiar with our shelves as we are. Also we should try not to kill all the plants she has looking so nice around the branch, in her absence.
Speaking of shelving, a couple of things have come up: firstly the DVDs. Please shelve all the 791.43s including those that have more numerals after the .43 as if they were only 791.43's.. Just shelve them alphabetically as 791.43. We often can't read the rest of the numerals on the spine so its pointless to separate them out. The same is true of the 460's. If the DVD says 460. just shelve it as a 460, again ignoring any numerals after the decimal point. These are all spanish language titles and should be shelved together.
If this is all too complex to understand, Barbara, or myself will walk you through it.
Also speaking of shelving, special thanks to Riley for his excellent shift of the mysteries. There should be plenty of room for a little while for any new titles we are getting. And do let me know, you who shelve, if you see areas that are particularly tight and I will attempt to get some weeding done.
Currently I am waiting for a weeds list for biographies and large print. because I know these are two areas that need attention and room for new incoming titles.
Barbara and I have reconfigured the children's room by splitting up the tables and rearranging the rug and furniture a bit, just for a change of pace since we can't expand the building
This will also allow parents with laptops to use the outlet under the graphic novel shelving if they have children in the play area.
I have also placed a request with Lit to get another power strip between the internet stations 1 and 2 to allow a patron to sit there with a laptop, since our branch is so outlet challenged and we are seeing more and more patrons looking for somewhere to plug in. If we do get that powerstrip, I will move the large dictionary and the sign up sheet elsewhere but for now it will stay where it is.
Evidently our plan to add shelving to the tops of the J fiction and YA shelves has fallen through due to stability issues, so we will have to try and get even more creative with our use of space. We have eliminated one shelf of NEW YA display to make more room for that collection and we seem to be ok for the moment.
Whoops! Addendum: Cappy Dick was misinformed (big surprise!) I came in the branch on Tuesday and VOILA! We have at least 3 1/4 new display shelving installed on top of the YA AND J Fiction shelves that we CAN use for display purposes (not for regular shelving because its not strong enough), so Barbara shifted some things on both sides to allow us to make the best use of our new space.
The New J Fiction is now above the regular J fiction (instead of on the New books shelving) and the New J NON-Fiction display is on the lower shelving at the far end of the same row. (we aren't sure if the shelving is going to be finished on that end, so for now we are using the dropped down shelving for display purposes...this may change if they add the last piece to our topper.)
The YA non-fiction has been moved next to the YA Honor system books (near the YA media), to allow for more space for the adult playaways on the opposite end of the shelving.
Adult Graphic novels are now on top of the shelving as are the YA New titles.
The most important change is that we have finally separated out the fairy tales (J398.2s) like most of the other branches. This is an area that was getting overlooked so this new section should highlight some of our really good titles. All the fairy tales are now housed in their own section BEFORE the J non-fiction.
Go take a walk around the branch and give it a gander, sos you know where things have moved too.
Signage is on the way!
Both of this month's displays for children and adults is Gardening so do feel free to replenish those displays as you find appropriate materials.
The story hour theme this week is Mothers and Mother's days (HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY all you MOMs and also to those of you who have Mom's) so look for those titles near my desk.
New starting this week, we have added Tales to Tails on All Wednesdays now, as well as the first Saturday of the month.
Janice also sent out a list of summer reading programs starting in June throughout the branches and I have printed it and highlighted events at Capitola. It is posted on a clipboard on the back desk as well as at the sit down reference station should patrons have questions. I am sure there will be an on-line calendar as well as print copies when the dates get closer.
ok, enough of this blarney. I've got to go back out and swab the desks!
Cappy Dick
Special Thanks for April Zilber for providing this week's blog title. I am thinking of having a weekly contest to take suggestions for sea faring post titles as my brain certainly feels like a fine kettle of Boiled fish by the end of the week when I am supposed to write the next post. Do feel free to email any suggestions!
So, this was our first week sans Galina, who is off in the wild steppes of Russia, and we hope, having a wonderful time. Donna is filling her shoes, doing a fine job dealing with our myriad damaged and missing pieces returns, so do continue to leave those items on her desk.
Carolyn is off to New York for the week and a little, so various subs will be taking her opening shifts, so be aware if you find things mis-shelved, since not everyone is as familiar with our shelves as we are. Also we should try not to kill all the plants she has looking so nice around the branch, in her absence.
Speaking of shelving, a couple of things have come up: firstly the DVDs. Please shelve all the 791.43s including those that have more numerals after the .43 as if they were only 791.43's.. Just shelve them alphabetically as 791.43. We often can't read the rest of the numerals on the spine so its pointless to separate them out. The same is true of the 460's. If the DVD says 460. just shelve it as a 460, again ignoring any numerals after the decimal point. These are all spanish language titles and should be shelved together.
If this is all too complex to understand, Barbara, or myself will walk you through it.
Also speaking of shelving, special thanks to Riley for his excellent shift of the mysteries. There should be plenty of room for a little while for any new titles we are getting. And do let me know, you who shelve, if you see areas that are particularly tight and I will attempt to get some weeding done.
Currently I am waiting for a weeds list for biographies and large print. because I know these are two areas that need attention and room for new incoming titles.
Barbara and I have reconfigured the children's room by splitting up the tables and rearranging the rug and furniture a bit, just for a change of pace since we can't expand the building
This will also allow parents with laptops to use the outlet under the graphic novel shelving if they have children in the play area.
I have also placed a request with Lit to get another power strip between the internet stations 1 and 2 to allow a patron to sit there with a laptop, since our branch is so outlet challenged and we are seeing more and more patrons looking for somewhere to plug in. If we do get that powerstrip, I will move the large dictionary and the sign up sheet elsewhere but for now it will stay where it is.
Evidently our plan to add shelving to the tops of the J fiction and YA shelves has fallen through due to stability issues, so we will have to try and get even more creative with our use of space. We have eliminated one shelf of NEW YA display to make more room for that collection and we seem to be ok for the moment.
Whoops! Addendum: Cappy Dick was misinformed (big surprise!) I came in the branch on Tuesday and VOILA! We have at least 3 1/4 new display shelving installed on top of the YA AND J Fiction shelves that we CAN use for display purposes (not for regular shelving because its not strong enough), so Barbara shifted some things on both sides to allow us to make the best use of our new space.
The New J Fiction is now above the regular J fiction (instead of on the New books shelving) and the New J NON-Fiction display is on the lower shelving at the far end of the same row. (we aren't sure if the shelving is going to be finished on that end, so for now we are using the dropped down shelving for display purposes...this may change if they add the last piece to our topper.)
The YA non-fiction has been moved next to the YA Honor system books (near the YA media), to allow for more space for the adult playaways on the opposite end of the shelving.
Adult Graphic novels are now on top of the shelving as are the YA New titles.
The most important change is that we have finally separated out the fairy tales (J398.2s) like most of the other branches. This is an area that was getting overlooked so this new section should highlight some of our really good titles. All the fairy tales are now housed in their own section BEFORE the J non-fiction.
Go take a walk around the branch and give it a gander, sos you know where things have moved too.
Signage is on the way!
Both of this month's displays for children and adults is Gardening so do feel free to replenish those displays as you find appropriate materials.
The story hour theme this week is Mothers and Mother's days (HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY all you MOMs and also to those of you who have Mom's) so look for those titles near my desk.
New starting this week, we have added Tales to Tails on All Wednesdays now, as well as the first Saturday of the month.
Janice also sent out a list of summer reading programs starting in June throughout the branches and I have printed it and highlighted events at Capitola. It is posted on a clipboard on the back desk as well as at the sit down reference station should patrons have questions. I am sure there will be an on-line calendar as well as print copies when the dates get closer.
ok, enough of this blarney. I've got to go back out and swab the desks!
Cappy Dick
Saturday, April 27, 2013
MAY DAY MAY DAY!
Ahoy Mateys,
Life was running so smoothly last week Cappy D. decided not to write a post at all, but I don't want y'all to get too complacent and assume that the Captain isn't on the job, so just to keep you on your toes, here's a post for the beginning of May. I realize that May doesn't start until Wednesday but I am going to be too busy then to write so you can have a head start.
To get you off on the right foot here's a fine May quote:
It's May! It's May! The lusty month of May! Those dreary vows that ev'ryone makes, Ev'ryone breaks. Ev'ryone makes divine mistakes! The lusty month of May!" - Lerner and Lowe
Firstly, Galina is off to Russia until the end of May so we will all have to work triple hard to fill her sandals!. We will have a variety of subs filling her shifts so those of us who are regular Capitola staff will need to be extra diligent in making sure that in the case of "divine mistakes" like the poem says, things get taken care of, check-ins put in the correct crates, displays kept up, etc. We have a pretty good crew of subs but they won't be as familiar with our branch as we are, so please keep an eye out for anomalies that you can take care of and help them if they are looking for supplies, etc. I will be around so let me know if you are seeing areas or issues that might need addressing.
Donna will be handling damages in Galina's absence so please put those on Donna's desk for the month of May.
I will take care of the unclaimed list and the displays.
For May the displays will be Gardens and gardening, both for the adults and children's areas. I will put those up on May 1st or 2nd, depending on the work flow, so feel free to add to them as you find appropriate materials. We have a lot of books on this subject so rather than clean out our shelves in the 635s I will just pull a few at a time and replenish the display as the month continues.
The story hour subject this week is also Flowers and gardening so rather then collect those books at my desk, I will keep them on the display. Therefore, look there after Tuesday if you are seeking gardening books for your pulls list.
The May pull date for new books is 11, so pull all the books with the spine sticker 11 this month.
Ok, I think that's all the news thats fit to print so off with you. Go out and enjoy the lusty month of May, but don't get arrested!
Cappy Dick
Life was running so smoothly last week Cappy D. decided not to write a post at all, but I don't want y'all to get too complacent and assume that the Captain isn't on the job, so just to keep you on your toes, here's a post for the beginning of May. I realize that May doesn't start until Wednesday but I am going to be too busy then to write so you can have a head start.
To get you off on the right foot here's a fine May quote:
It's May! It's May! The lusty month of May! Those dreary vows that ev'ryone makes, Ev'ryone breaks. Ev'ryone makes divine mistakes! The lusty month of May!" - Lerner and Lowe
Firstly, Galina is off to Russia until the end of May so we will all have to work triple hard to fill her sandals!. We will have a variety of subs filling her shifts so those of us who are regular Capitola staff will need to be extra diligent in making sure that in the case of "divine mistakes" like the poem says, things get taken care of, check-ins put in the correct crates, displays kept up, etc. We have a pretty good crew of subs but they won't be as familiar with our branch as we are, so please keep an eye out for anomalies that you can take care of and help them if they are looking for supplies, etc. I will be around so let me know if you are seeing areas or issues that might need addressing.
Donna will be handling damages in Galina's absence so please put those on Donna's desk for the month of May.
I will take care of the unclaimed list and the displays.
For May the displays will be Gardens and gardening, both for the adults and children's areas. I will put those up on May 1st or 2nd, depending on the work flow, so feel free to add to them as you find appropriate materials. We have a lot of books on this subject so rather than clean out our shelves in the 635s I will just pull a few at a time and replenish the display as the month continues.
The story hour subject this week is also Flowers and gardening so rather then collect those books at my desk, I will keep them on the display. Therefore, look there after Tuesday if you are seeking gardening books for your pulls list.
The May pull date for new books is 11, so pull all the books with the spine sticker 11 this month.
Ok, I think that's all the news thats fit to print so off with you. Go out and enjoy the lusty month of May, but don't get arrested!
Cappy Dick
Friday, April 12, 2013
NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK!
Ahoy Mateys,
So National Library Week runs April 14th to 20th to CELEBRATE our wonderful free lending system! Cappy Dick would like to declare the week a National Holiday but alas, the Captain has no pull with the bigger wigs who get to make such declarations manifest, so I guess we better all show up to work in case the public decides to celebrate by inundating us.
Especially because this is also Food for Fines Week (if you haven't read all the details, please do. They are posted on one of the back counter clipboards. The salient points are: $1.00 off of fines for 1 item of non-perishable food up to $20.00 (no damaged or lost fees, only overdue fines), and the same quotient if the patron has donated on line and comes in with the receipt and/or donation ticket printed out from the web. In the patron's account remember to choose payment type: GOODS and then put the amount to be 'waived' in payment received just as if you were recording a payment If the patron produces a receipt or ticket showing that they have donated on line, be SURE TO DATE AND INITIAL THE PAPERWORK before returning it to them. You will not have to touch our cash register for any of the food for fines exchanges..
Fortunately, we don't have to think about tallying the prints any more this month, what with all the other things we are supposed to remember, so breath a big sigh of relief and thank your higher powers for that blessing!
Galina is going to switch the adult poetry display to Take Off With A Good Book (in honor of her upcoming vacation to Russia!) which will feature some of our travel writing collection. We have quite a few good titles on this subject and I think they are often overlooked so I am sure this will be a hot display!
Our story hour subject this week is also honoring National Library Week so picture books about books? and libraries will be gathered near my desk if I can find any relevant titles. I know we have a few but I will have to snatch them up before the ravening public beats me to it.
On a final note: in an effort to be consistent with all the other library branches in the system and thus to less boggle our poor patrons, if you are the opening aide, please only backdate the items that you pick up off the floor or are in the return bin when you start work. After that the incoming books can be checked in on the day you are working (unless of course you are working on a day we are closed, in which case do backdate them to our last day open). I am aware that some of the other branches have not been doing this and we have not been so consistent either but all the branches were asked to do the same thing and this was the consensus on when they should be checked in.
That means, for the rest of us, if a patron should ask, the items are checked in from the minute someone is in the building, not from when we open, so they will accrue fines if they return things after that. The safest thing is to tell them that if they return an item BEFORE 8 they will not be charged for that day. This covers all the early morning work shifts at ALL the branches.
Ok, Happy National Library Week. Be sure and read one great book or watch one great video or listen to one great CD this week and CELEBRATE the fact that you have a job here! I for one, am going to celebrate that I have such a great work team! Now go on and swab the decks!
Cappy Dick
So National Library Week runs April 14th to 20th to CELEBRATE our wonderful free lending system! Cappy Dick would like to declare the week a National Holiday but alas, the Captain has no pull with the bigger wigs who get to make such declarations manifest, so I guess we better all show up to work in case the public decides to celebrate by inundating us.
Especially because this is also Food for Fines Week (if you haven't read all the details, please do. They are posted on one of the back counter clipboards. The salient points are: $1.00 off of fines for 1 item of non-perishable food up to $20.00 (no damaged or lost fees, only overdue fines), and the same quotient if the patron has donated on line and comes in with the receipt and/or donation ticket printed out from the web. In the patron's account remember to choose payment type: GOODS and then put the amount to be 'waived' in payment received just as if you were recording a payment If the patron produces a receipt or ticket showing that they have donated on line, be SURE TO DATE AND INITIAL THE PAPERWORK before returning it to them. You will not have to touch our cash register for any of the food for fines exchanges..
Fortunately, we don't have to think about tallying the prints any more this month, what with all the other things we are supposed to remember, so breath a big sigh of relief and thank your higher powers for that blessing!
Galina is going to switch the adult poetry display to Take Off With A Good Book (in honor of her upcoming vacation to Russia!) which will feature some of our travel writing collection. We have quite a few good titles on this subject and I think they are often overlooked so I am sure this will be a hot display!
Our story hour subject this week is also honoring National Library Week so picture books about books? and libraries will be gathered near my desk if I can find any relevant titles. I know we have a few but I will have to snatch them up before the ravening public beats me to it.
On a final note: in an effort to be consistent with all the other library branches in the system and thus to less boggle our poor patrons, if you are the opening aide, please only backdate the items that you pick up off the floor or are in the return bin when you start work. After that the incoming books can be checked in on the day you are working (unless of course you are working on a day we are closed, in which case do backdate them to our last day open). I am aware that some of the other branches have not been doing this and we have not been so consistent either but all the branches were asked to do the same thing and this was the consensus on when they should be checked in.
That means, for the rest of us, if a patron should ask, the items are checked in from the minute someone is in the building, not from when we open, so they will accrue fines if they return things after that. The safest thing is to tell them that if they return an item BEFORE 8 they will not be charged for that day. This covers all the early morning work shifts at ALL the branches.
Ok, Happy National Library Week. Be sure and read one great book or watch one great video or listen to one great CD this week and CELEBRATE the fact that you have a job here! I for one, am going to celebrate that I have such a great work team! Now go on and swab the decks!
Cappy Dick
Saturday, April 6, 2013
APRIL SHOWERS??
Ahoy Mateys,
Well last weeks April showers might not have brought us flowers but it certainly brought us a slew of patrons! So much for a Spring BREAK! Personally, I hope this next week is a little slower so we have a respite before the following week which is FOOD FOR FINES week when I suspect things will get crazy.
If you have not yet done so, please read the FOOD FOR FINES information sheet on one of the clipboard on the circ desk back counter. I have highlighted important info on the second page which you should commit to memory. I will remind you at the beginning of the actual F4F week once again.
I have also printed out the Project Scout Calendar to hand out to patrons who are looking for tax help.
These handouts are on the back counter and there are two different pages so be sure and give them one of each. (One tells what they need to bring to their tax appointments and has vital phone numbers). As the tax date gets closer I imagine we will get more of these questions. You should also direct them to our website (which also has the Project Scout calendar as well as other tax tips and information).
Shelving Quirk Alert: we currently have only one of these titles but if you are looking for a Graphic Novel, non-fiction, that is exactly what it will say in the catalog, as opposed to a call number or Bio. The spine label will read GN Nonfiction and the first 3 letters of the authors last name, so if you are looking for or shelving GN non-fiction, please just handle it as if it were fiction and shelve it under the author's last name.
Also weirdly enough, I discovered that Curious George is shelved under JEASY CUR so I guess that little monkey wrote the books. This is how they are all cataloged so that is how they will show up in the database and on our shelves. Odd!
Ok, enough shelving anomolies for now. Do continue to open the books to make sure they actually belong in our branch, no matter where they are shelved, and remember to check the new books, the Poetry Month display and the April Fools J display for titles on our pulls list or search lists. We have been finding quite a few books that belong at other branches among our own.
The Capitola branch is about to become the proud owner of a Police Communications Radio Transmitter. The transmitter will be housed inside the library near the back route in computer. There will be an atenna on the roof and also a diesel generator installed outside. Whether this will actually power our branch in the event of a black out, I have no idea. I guess we will find out if we ever have another big storm. At any rate, don't be alarmed if you see our "men and women in blue" traipsing around our office. I believe this is mostly for use during emergencies so perhaps we will be the first to know what is going down. After all, the libraries are supposed to be bastions of information so it would behoove us to be in the know. Anyway, I will let you know what I know if anyone ever tells me.
I don't think this has ever happened here, but in the unlikely event that someone wants to post non-library related information on our electronic bulletin board, please tell them that it is NOT our policy to do so, due to the amount of time and labor it takes to make a "flyer" and also because we have a limited amount of space to post our own events. You can also refer them to me or Diane at Virtual Services (through LIT).
Galina has discovered a nifty searching tip for foreign language films: If you type "motion pictures" and the language you are searching for (ex: motion pictures french") in the subject field you should get hits. Thank you Galina and if any of the rest of you discover wonderous tricks to make Evergreen do its proper work, please feel free to pass them on!
The story hour subject this week is Babies and Families so look for those titles near my desk and do remember to keep an eye out for poetry books (adult) and humorous books (childrens) to keep our two April displays replenished.
REMEMBER TO WRITE DOWN THE # OF ANY PRINTS YOU REMOVE FROM THE PRINTER
(for staff or patrons) on one of the handy tally sheets taped to the front desk by each of the computers. This will go on all month.
Thanks for your great work,
Cappy Dick
Well last weeks April showers might not have brought us flowers but it certainly brought us a slew of patrons! So much for a Spring BREAK! Personally, I hope this next week is a little slower so we have a respite before the following week which is FOOD FOR FINES week when I suspect things will get crazy.
If you have not yet done so, please read the FOOD FOR FINES information sheet on one of the clipboard on the circ desk back counter. I have highlighted important info on the second page which you should commit to memory. I will remind you at the beginning of the actual F4F week once again.
I have also printed out the Project Scout Calendar to hand out to patrons who are looking for tax help.
These handouts are on the back counter and there are two different pages so be sure and give them one of each. (One tells what they need to bring to their tax appointments and has vital phone numbers). As the tax date gets closer I imagine we will get more of these questions. You should also direct them to our website (which also has the Project Scout calendar as well as other tax tips and information).
Shelving Quirk Alert: we currently have only one of these titles but if you are looking for a Graphic Novel, non-fiction, that is exactly what it will say in the catalog, as opposed to a call number or Bio. The spine label will read GN Nonfiction and the first 3 letters of the authors last name, so if you are looking for or shelving GN non-fiction, please just handle it as if it were fiction and shelve it under the author's last name.
Also weirdly enough, I discovered that Curious George is shelved under JEASY CUR so I guess that little monkey wrote the books. This is how they are all cataloged so that is how they will show up in the database and on our shelves. Odd!
Ok, enough shelving anomolies for now. Do continue to open the books to make sure they actually belong in our branch, no matter where they are shelved, and remember to check the new books, the Poetry Month display and the April Fools J display for titles on our pulls list or search lists. We have been finding quite a few books that belong at other branches among our own.
The Capitola branch is about to become the proud owner of a Police Communications Radio Transmitter. The transmitter will be housed inside the library near the back route in computer. There will be an atenna on the roof and also a diesel generator installed outside. Whether this will actually power our branch in the event of a black out, I have no idea. I guess we will find out if we ever have another big storm. At any rate, don't be alarmed if you see our "men and women in blue" traipsing around our office. I believe this is mostly for use during emergencies so perhaps we will be the first to know what is going down. After all, the libraries are supposed to be bastions of information so it would behoove us to be in the know. Anyway, I will let you know what I know if anyone ever tells me.
I don't think this has ever happened here, but in the unlikely event that someone wants to post non-library related information on our electronic bulletin board, please tell them that it is NOT our policy to do so, due to the amount of time and labor it takes to make a "flyer" and also because we have a limited amount of space to post our own events. You can also refer them to me or Diane at Virtual Services (through LIT).
Galina has discovered a nifty searching tip for foreign language films: If you type "motion pictures" and the language you are searching for (ex: motion pictures french") in the subject field you should get hits. Thank you Galina and if any of the rest of you discover wonderous tricks to make Evergreen do its proper work, please feel free to pass them on!
The story hour subject this week is Babies and Families so look for those titles near my desk and do remember to keep an eye out for poetry books (adult) and humorous books (childrens) to keep our two April displays replenished.
REMEMBER TO WRITE DOWN THE # OF ANY PRINTS YOU REMOVE FROM THE PRINTER
(for staff or patrons) on one of the handy tally sheets taped to the front desk by each of the computers. This will go on all month.
Thanks for your great work,
Cappy Dick
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