Day Number Three

My major achievement today was looking like an idiot in front of the Baker and Taylor rep. I had noticed that there may have been some correlation between the number of MARC records ordered and the number of books that did not have spine labels. I was informed that the books without spine labels did not have available cataloging, and the college ordered them anyway.

Pro Tip #1 - If you start a library with a core collection and some books arrive with spine labels, check first to see if the books did not have available cataloging.

I wasn't accusatory, at least. Then, I asked about the book that I thought they failed to send us. I mean, surely a workbook doesn't cost over $70, so they must have just not sent the main book, right?

Pro Tip #2 - yes, workbooks can cost over $70, so you/they may have just ordered the workbook instead of the actual book.

I have no idea why they did that. I'll have to order the main book now, which is over $300. This was all after leaving the rep a message with the wrong phone number. At least I now know what my phone number is. I later e-mailed her and apologized for the wrong number and questions, and she responded that I could contact her at any time with my questions.

My other main achievements today were 1) figuring up and letting the dean know my estimate for conference spending next year (one national and two state conferences is EXPENSIVE!), 2)setting up the twitter account for my library, and 3) designing a daily statistics log sheet for the library. I've already started getting a couple of patrons in the library, so I figured it would be good to start collecting statistics even though I have other tasks that are probably more pressing.

I also had my first patron come in and use materials! A potential student was killing time waiting for an admissions rep and wandered in the library. He zeroed in on a book about symbols (the very first book on the shelves), and sat down to read for about 45 minutes. We then spent the next 20 minutes trying to figure out how to get the copier to copy from a book. After the Dean fooled with it for a while, he advised us to just try downstairs. The copier in admissions worked. The potential student was very excited, and I have a feeling I'll be seeing more of him if he gets in.

Pro Tip #3 - if you can't find the operations manual for a new copier, check in one of the paper trays.

Seriously. I didn't have a chance to look through it before I left, but I did happen to look in one of the paper trays and found a box. Upon opening the box, I found several possible manuals and a CD with software(?).

First thing tomorrow I'm going to have to develop a short bibliographic instruction module, as I've been asked to speak to one of the classes tomorrow morning.