Today began with more placement test set-up. Today the students were taking the math portion. It was only about 2 hours before I got to work in the library.
Library-wise, the best event today was receiving my computer log-in. I was afraid I would have to use the student computer labs for a week or so before I received my user name, but the development branch of our parent organization moves a bit more quickly than HR usually does. Thus, I was able to download the accreditation requirements for the library, transfer a couple of reference documents from library school, and write up my To Do list.
Currently, my To Do list contains three main facets: meeting accreditation requirements, writing up policy, and setting up routine library procedures. I now have the requirements, so I will look over those later this week. I also spoke to the other three instructors, so hopefully I will soon begin receiving requests for materials to order.
In terms of policy, I know I need to write up the mission and vision statements, collection development policy, challenged materials policy, disaster response policy, internet use policy, and deselection policy (which probably won't have an impact for a couple of years). I want to have a policy binder ready by the end of April. I also need to write up the acquisition and cataloging procedures, but those will have to wait until 1) I receive a Voyager log-in so I can use acquisitions and cataloging, and 2) I figure out precisely how to catalog. The reason I don't know precisely how to catalog is a story for another day. I am confident, however, that I can pick up the basics fairly quickly.
Routine procedures I need to set up are opening and closing procedures, methods for keeping track of library usage (including a daily stats sheet), actually cataloging our materials, figuring out the budget (such a small thing, heh), and so forth.
The other pressing matter before me is the Baker & Taylor order. I spent an hour or so looking at the invoices from the core collection shipments, and I think I finally figured out why some of the books don't have spine labels. At the end of each invoice is a list of treatments applied to the books, including due date sheet, laminated covers, etc. One entry that seems to correlate with the presence or absence of spine labels has something to do with the MARC record. I'll have to look into it further tomorrow. Regardless, I need to contact my sales rep about the book they didn't send us. Problematically, I have no idea who ordered these books, so I don't know if it's acceptable to contact my sales person since I didn't order these books. I will probably contact him/her anyway.
The President asked me to keep the library open late one day per week, so I'll work 9-6 four days per week and 11-8 one day per week. No problem here. I was struggling to to find a way to staff the library so that the night classes could have some support without making me completely exhausted. This is a good way.
I also got my first office supplies. I was ridiculously excited about the notepads, pens, and pen holder. I am such a nerd. AND I got my ID badge today, so I no longer have to rely on following students into the building.
... and I almost forgot. I got my first reference question today! The woman who works in the college store downstairs came up and asked me about our state virtual library. She is a student at [a local college] who is doing a research paper and was having trouble finding appropriate databases for her subject. I maneuvered through the state virtual library site (which is somewhat confusing, in my opinion). I pulled up a list of databases and pointed out several that would yield good results. I also showed her the search feature in Google News. She was very excited that I could help her and said she would let me know how her paper turned out. My first satisfied patron!
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