Embedded Files
January 16, 2017 (Monday). 10-5: Day 1
Hours completed: 7
Total Hours: 7
Today I began my internship at the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library. I was excited and a little nervous especially about getting there on time due to slow traffic. I arrived on time and went to look for Amy Garrett my supervisor for the internship. I met Amy at the reference desk and she introduced me to the different staff members at the library and took me back to a general workroom to discuss library procedures, such as how the library works, the catalog system they utilize and how the library processes materials. The catalog that the library uses is an open source catalog system known as KOHA with Search Ohio serving as an external catalog. I was then given a tour of the building and learned how it was organized and the various services that the library has. After the tour, I worked on some basic exercises within KOHA to orient myself within the system and was able to complete everything outside of an outdated task. After I finished this task I went out onto the reference desk to gain some experience interacting with the public. It was a slow day due to it being Martin Luther King Day so there were not many patrons in the library. During this time, there was a test of the fire alarm that took place while I was at the desk. This test taught me a lot about how politics work within the library and how it really is a team effort as the librarians and the director worked together to perfect the alarm so that patrons would fully react to it in case of a fire. I continued to orient myself to the library and explored the stacks and began to form a general idea of where everything was. I could help some patrons that came to the desk asking for directions, a search regarding a confusing chronology of films and a patron who was looking for a book on Abraham Lincoln. I finished at five and had a good first day.
I will be rearranging my schedule a bit to work with some changes that were made to it as I will be working on various days to get a wide breath of experience.
January 19, 2017 (Thursday). 1-5: Day 2
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours: 11
Today was an active day. I was there from 1-5 and first came in to discuss my schedule. I will be working through March and have finalized some work dates and altered a few that needed to be changed. After this I went and worked at the reference desk which was active today. I gave directions to places in the library and discussed with my coworkers as to why the bathroom sign was obscured due to the number of questions we receive about its location. Today I began to answer the phone. I helped a patron find information about how to complete their taxes, found a Book on CD for an outreach patron in addition to a Search Ohio request, found information on a specific poet and helped answer some questions about them. I was told that this patron frequently calls the library with questions about small pieces of information. I continued to help patrons by finding information about a specific book that they were looking for and its location and I placed a hold for an item. At 3 I went to a meeting about a Harry Potter night that the library is preparing to throw. I was able to help with it by telling the event organizers about a shop that has Harry Potter candy that will be used as a prize for a trivia event. We discussed how it would be run and the planning necessary for it to be successful. More help will be required at the event itself which I am scheduled to work at. After the meeting, I went back to the desk and answered a patron’s question about our coffee service and then spend the rest of the day registering patrons for a popular author visit and learned how the events calendar on the libraries web page functions.
January 20, 2017 (Friday). 10-6: Day 3
Hours Completed: 8
Total Hours: 19
I began by taking a more detailed tour of the children’s department and learned more about the specific items held within such as the playaway system which contains both interactive tablets and small playback devices with pre-installed software. I learned more about the way a children’s department is run and how various programs interact with it. Then I went back to the reference desk and helped a patron log onto a computer and find a database on cars and how to repair them. This was a slow day at the reference desk. As such I talked with my supervisor and learned more about the passport program that the library runs and how to help others with it. I may not be able to do much as I am not certified but I learned how it was done and several questions that people ask about it. After learning about the passport program, I learned about the library’s collection development policy. I found it to be interesting and more involved than other libraries development policies but it was important to learn how libraries can keep newer materials circulating with different budgets. I then tried to help another library with a request but it was something I could not help with as it involved the libraries special items and the local history librarian was not here today. After this I then placed a hold for a patron, gave directions, helped a patron logon to a computer and was reminded of how the library lets people access the computer. I then helped a patron answer a difficult question about Washington D.C. While I was at the desk there were two calls relating to passports and then helped a patron place numerous holds on various materials over the phone including helping to expand a search for new items. I answered a minor computer question, gave direction, helped another patron find a book in the stacks, helped a patron over the phone place a large number of reserves and then put them near the pickup window. At 3:30 I went up to an event this was a teen centered event that another practicum student organized that involved the works of Hayo Miyazaki. Here I learned more about how teen events are run and saw some of the software that the library utilizes specifically a software called Kahoot! Which allows the user to create quizzes that people can then answer utilizing their smartphones. I found this event to have a low attendance but this was acceptable as several teens have after school events that occupied their time and do not always have the time to visit the library. The organization of this event felt familiar as I had worked on several like this during my college years through a local coffee house. It was small but well done and gave a positive experience to everyone who was involved. (it also taught me that apple products are very temperamental at times.) We held a quiz/ designed costumes and had My Neighbor Totoro playing in the background. For many programs their success depends largely on the content and the timing of the event. After the event ended I went back to the reference desk and helped staple a document, answered another computer question, learned how the scanning machines work at the library and then waited for the end of the day. Today I learned how the library shuts down. We make announcements, get the computers ready for closing, help patrons finish their searches and go to the circulation desk, check the bathrooms and turn off the lights in the library. During this process I was shown where the staff parking was and that I should park there from now on. I gained a lot of experience today and learned a lot about various library technology’s and how it is organized.
January 23, 2017 (Monday). 10-5: Day 4
Hours Completed: 7
Total Hours :26
Today was busy at different times. I was first out on the reference desk and answered patron’s questions about tax forms and helped people learn more about what tax help is available this year and where it is available. We will be getting the tax books in soon and it’s obvious that tax season is coming up quickly. It was slow when I first arrived and I went to the circulation desk and learned more about how it worked and what people did. A lot of it I already knew from using library resources in the past but it was surprising to learn about how libraries keep gate counts with security machines and that with media items the security is relatively light and requires little work to open the items but this is kept secret from patrons for security reasons. Also, several items though search Ohio are not loaned out due to the items costing too much for the library to lose. The library also takes donations but most of them are utilized for friends of the library book sales. Unlike a lot of libraries, the Stow library separates their materials by genre as this is what most patrons like to browse by the fact that the library forgives fines though canned food donations on Friday is just icing on the cake. After my tour of the circulation department (adequately named) I went back to the reference desk and learned about the libraries faxing polices and that we cannot help patrons preform faxes as it requires credit card information. I then worked at the desk where I passed along two passport questions, check an event for a patron that was filled, tried to help a temperamental family with a passport request, helped place a lot of holds for someone over the phone including a complicated hold that involved a rarely heard of author. I then renewed a patron’s card answered a question about a database the library did not subscribe to, helped a patron on the phone find another library offered some tax help, passed off a passport question, passed off another passport question and answered multiple tax questions. More passports, placed a hold for a patron and put an item at the pick-up window for them, passed on another passport question, helped a patron with a hold and then answered an outreach patrons question. Then it became very dull and I asked my supervisor what I could do and she directed me towards several materials that librarians use to keep current in their jobs mainly Publishers Weekly and Library Journal. They may not seem like a lot but Library Journal has numerous articles about what is important and current within librarianship and Publishers Weekly has numerous book and media reviews that allow librarians to make consistent decisions about which materials should be added to the collection. This is vital to the profession as people want what is new and as libraries provide these items and updated services, providing these items and services is one of the most important things that I realized libraries must offer people while working at the library. To do this libraries need to look for consistent trends, new programs that will be in demand and a strong grasp on the needs of the community so that it may provide those needs in the most efficient manner as is possible. As I was reading though this and thinking about it I remembered a great quote for use during banned books week “I don’t want to censor myself that’s how creativity dies”- Clancy Wiggum After I finished thinking about this I passed on another passport question, renewed a patron’s library card, checked to see what a patron had signed up for and helped a patron find a DVD that was held in the outreach library collection. Things slowed down by 4:30 and I left at five. The main reason that passports have been so successful for the library is that they are convenient, it’s in a central location that is easy to get to and provides a necessary service that can be hard to navigate by yourself.
January 26, 2017 (Thursday). 1-5: Day 5
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours: 30
Today I started at the reference desk helping patrons. I helped a patron place a hold and answered a pass port question. Then I answered two tax questions. It’s important to remember that we do not have the state tax forms. I learned how to give people more time on the computer when a patron came to me asking for some. I then helped a patron find a number for an oral surgeon. It was a complicated search but I could find it right before the person hung up on me. Then I helped another patron find items over the phone. I then had an early meeting with Amy and Jess about my practicum. We discussed where it was going and finding a project for me other than the harry potter night which I had little involvement in fully planning. I was told that this practicum was a little unusual from others as I was given more flexibility than other practicum students and was told that this is not how libraries work with full time employees. I did not expect special treatment as a full-time employee but understood what Amy was saying. The practicum has been going over well and there was little to talk about regarding behavior. So most of it was spent talking about what I wanted from librarianship and my project. I have not fully decided what I want as far as a long-term position and want to give myself flexibility as where I end up depends largely on who is currently highring and where I can get highered so I’m being as flexible as possible. My skills are varied enough that I can reasonably work anywhere the answer to that is unknown. We talked about what type of project I should undertake and my digitization skills came up and we talked about setting up a possible digitization work shop when the issue of local history came up and I asked about talking with the local history librarian. We discussed creating a database for local history and a digitization work shop when she showed me some items she needed digitized. Seeing these items and remembering some connections I had I decided that for my project I am going to work to digitize some old films and vhs tapes relating to the local history of Stow. Excited about this project I sent out numerous emails to some people I knew and placed a phone call to the digitization area to try and schedule and appointment to digitize some of our items. After this I went back to the reference desk and continued to work there while I was working I overheard an issue with a patron and learned that it’s possible to be banned for life from a library. At the desk, I helped someone figure out where a phone number had come from, sent another email, placed a hold for a patron in circulation, answered a tax form question, helped someone find a book, gave information about tax forms, talked with Beth about materials in the Local History Collection and helped a patron with some tax info.
January 30, 2017 (Monday). 10-5: Day 7
Hours Completed: 7
Total Hours: 45
I began today at the reference desk where I talked about tax forms with the other librarians to learn what we held and what I should say to patrons when they ask about them. I was then introduced to the reflog where notes between the reference department outside of the reports were cataloged and I began to read through it. I answered a question about taxes, redirected a pass port question, helped a patron print out some materials, redirected a passport, learned a new word for the white out effect in a blizzard, scheduled tome in the quiet study room, answered another tax question and then had some down time. I talked with others about library school and getting an M.LI.S. Turns out that librarians are very hard working people as the other student is holding down a practicum, job and three classes. I then talked with Beth about the digitization project I’m working on and some of the responses I have received. I then sent an e-mail out about the project and began to set it up through appointments and gathering resources. I then answered a tax questions, a basic passport question, placed a hold and talked with Beth again about some new information I had received. I then inspected some DVDs for replacement, helped a patron find a specific section within the stacks and tried to help replace an ink cartridge but went to lunch after watching the clock. I then went to tech services to learn more about how it worked within a public library. It was straight forward and I knew a lot about what they were talking about (I’ve even done more advanced work then what they were doing for lesser pay if you can believe it) but I learned that they receive items for processing, order items for both lease/ regular purchase. Reference selects the items and tech services purchases and receives them. They are no able to order items as the budget has become unfrozen as last year the digital budget went over. Most items are purchased from a handful of main vendors with video games being an oddity as they are purchased from an outsider vendor. These vendors vary but are standard ones with baker and tailor and Midwest tape being the most popular. Most of the items are just proceed through the libraries own catalog with minor cataloging work being performed. I helped to process a book which was mainly just working with tape and creating the proper labels for it. One of the bigger catalog jobs is to create a proper Dewey number with a cutter unique to the library’s catalog based on the author or title. Before sending it out the march sections are double checked and the stickers are placed on with tape. It turns out that a lot of the identification labels I enjoyed as a child are standard labels from a company called Demco. After the tour, I realized that I have a lot of skills to offer the library world but I am a big tech services guy at heart and most happy when I can work with tech services materials or in a position that works with it. I then talked with the technology department and was able to reserve a hard drive for my digitization project. I then went back to the desk and answered a tax question and a passport question, helped someone find the various game of thrones series, answered another passport question, answered a question about a DVD’s location, placed a Search Ohio hold for a book, did another passport question, schedule time for the quiet study room, answered a tax question, answered a patrons question about various times on their accounts and the holds that they had, found information on western reserve hospital, answered a passport question and then had some down time where I learned more about the tally system which the library utilizes in order to track patrons via the reference desk and learned more about other librarians who I work with. I then answered a tax form question, placed a hold and changed a patron’s phone number and ended my day by answering part of a passport question.
February 2, 2017 (Thursday). 5-9: Day 8
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours: 49
I started today at the reference desk. It was Harry Potter night so I was excited to stare helping with the event. I stated by giving some harry potter prize candy to Gretchen the teen librarian who utilized it for some of the prizes. I stated as the reference desk where I tried to help a patron find a series of books ay an author, helped a kid find a book on Mesopotamia, gave a patron more time on the computer, placed a Search Ohio hold and then began helping with the event. I was first placed in charge of the common room where we had several games set up. I worked to help run the game room and play scene it. A game I have no experience with. So, I tried to help with that and told people about the games and introduced them to what we had in the room. It was up and down but I was relived and I looked around at the different events. It was pretty fun and reminded me of when I worked in common grounds and some of the events we would hold. I walked around and enjoyed the night but by the end things were winding down and I helped to tear things down and put items away such as some of the snacks we had at the beginning of the night. After the event, I went back to the reference desk and did a search for a patron, redirected patrons looking for the circulation desk and closed the library. I did not have as active a roll as other people did but it was fun and I learned how libraries run events like this.
Febuary 4, 2017 (Saturday). 8:45-1 Day 9
Hours completed: 4
Total Hours: 53
Today I opened the library. It was about the same as closing the library instead you did the opposite and turned things on and made sure everything was running properly. I replaced some passport documents that needed to be updated and then worked at the reference desk. I scheduled time for the quiet study room, helped a patron print out a document, learned more about booking a room for people including how to do overflow. Note when helping a patron print a document make sure that the printer is out of sleep mode. I did a passport question and then talked with about my digitization project and the progress that was being made with it. I then scheduled an appointment for someone, scheduled time for people in the quiet study room, helped reach patron place holds, placed a hold for a patron. Transferred where a meeting was to take placed, helped a patron print something out however this print job became complicated due to wide margins. Gave extra computer time, answered a tax question, passport question , computer question. I had a cool question about what kind of whisky James bond drinks and could answer it. Answered a question about a DVD and gave more time on the computer. I then pulled items for a patron, answered a question about a local church, tried to register a patron for an event answered a question about the quiet study/connect zone and pulled a book for a patron.
Febuary 6,2017 (Monday). 5-9 Day 10
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours: 57
Today I started at the reference desk but I couldn’t access the OPAC due to a password malfunction. Today is Jessica’s book club I was interested in learning more about it and was looking forward to it. I was put at the reference desk for a bit but it was a slow evening. I helped an outreach patron find a book and placed it aside for here. Through this search I learned more about how the outreach process works and what needs to be done for it. I helped a patron find a DVD and helped a patron find two Search Ohio times. I attempted to help a patron over the phone with a search a playway but it couldn’t provide as the playway had been stolen. I then answered a passport question and helped with the book discussion. I learned more about how book discussions work at this library and that it’s not everyone’s strong point. I then talked with Jess about library school to kill some time and learned that the book discussion is a mixture of people but is mostly women in their 40’s to 60’s. We talked about the book and it became a mixture of book discussion and various tangents throughout the night. I also learned that large print books have a lot more pages then regular books due to the type face. The book was not very good and we discussed this. The book discussion worked like any type of discussion but was more organized and slightly formal when planning events. The book talked about a lesser known part of history and form the discussion I learned the books mean different things to different people based on their contents thus its important to respect them as your dealing with a part of people’s thoughts and ideas manifested into a collection of paper that has been glued together. The discussion went on but I needed to take my dinner break so I left for a bit and when I got back the discussion was over but the second half was mostly planning future discussions and talking about the books effects. It was a slow night so not much happened and we closed a bit early. Since there was nothing to do I went through some DVDs we received as gifts and marked them for replacement or mending. Then I helped to close the library.
February 9, 2017 (Thursday) 8-12 Day 11
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours: 61
Today started off very bad due to a snow storm that would not let up and became a little dangerous due to a hidden layer of ice on my car. It took a bit but I was finally able to get to the library and went to a meeting. At the meeting, I learned more about how the library works regarding its reference department mainly on how passports are to be dealt with and what needs to occur when they are processed. We also talked about how materials are to be purchased this year, given an update on some technology in the conference room, what filler tasks are required of librarians when there is nothing to do at the desk and then talked around the table. Amy gave me her number in case of emergency and I began my time at the desk. I felt embarrassed but was told by another librarian that things like this happen and I was OK. It was slow due to the storm so I talked with another librarian about a DVD that would become unavailable soon due to a rights issue. I then edited a pamphlet, and discussed hot it could be improved. I passed on two passport questions, helped a patron print something and then learned more about how materials are retrieved when they go missing in the collection. I then helped a patron with a reference material and learned about some of the economic materials we have that do not circulate much. I answered another passport question, helped a patron find workout videos, answered a tax form question, passport question, came up with an idea for a winter item display and answered a question about how PDFs work.
February 13, 2017 (Monday) 9-5 Day 12
Hours Completed: 8
Total Hours: 69
Today I started at the reference desk and answered a passport question, helped a patron with a tax form question, and answered a strange call about a jimmy johns’ delivery before 10am. During a slow period I learned that the library will be undergoing a lot of construction this late spring/summer to fix the parking lot and replace the roof. The library also has the potential to expand its property in the next few years. After reading this I answered a question about the greyhound bus station in Akron, helped a patron logon to a computer and print something, tried to help with a complicated tax question, learned about some nasty tax politics that were occurring due to people being petty and then attended Christy’s book discussion. The book discussion structurally was the same as jess’s. The women at this discussion were much older but it followed the same principle. The book they read was not very intense as they read a very intense book the night before. They read a touch of stardust. Discussion of the book turned mildly academic and was not as scattered as Jess’s discussion. Segregation was discussed and I learned that at the time segregation existed many people accepted it not because they were racist but because they wanted to be paid and going against it meant forgoing a paycheck. Even before world war II most people did not know what Hitler was doing and it wasn’t until after the war that people wanted to prevent something like that from happening again. Also, Clark gable was at time rather unhygienic for some reason. The books characters were not very complex and there was a large discussion about changes in how news is delivered to people and what sponsored content is. The book was easy to read but not written very well. Good writing depends largely on a person’s personal opinion and attitude when they are writing something. The discussion ended after an hour, the lays at the discussion were nice and I felt like I learned a lot about how people view and discuss different issues. I then went back to the desk where I referred a call for Christiana the teen librarian, learned more about how the top shelf program works when I tried to place a hold on an item. I helped a patron print a document, told Amy that the printer was low on toner, did two passport questions, answered a question about cars, took a call for Amy, helped a patron find 3 DVDs with vague information, learned about past library events, placed a hold for a patron and learned more about how the notary system works at the library. I also tried to see if a printing app would work and learned that it would not. I then directed a patron to the quest study area, gave a patron some passport forms, directed a passport question, refilled some displays, helped a patron find information on an event and gave out some office supplies. I tried to help with a phone call but was unable. I then answered a patron’s question about a weird pop up add, gave out some paper, answered a question about a library card and placed a hold. When placing a hold I need to stay on the line until I have the item in hand. I then passed on another passport question, gave a patron their library card number for the computer, helped a patron print some tax forms and placed a Search Ohio request.
February 16, 2017 (Thursday) 5-9 Day 13
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours: 73
Today was very exciting. Today I arrived early to work on my project with Beth the local history librarian. She had the materials ready to go and we went to a local archive. For my project, I am working to digitize some materials held by the library so they can be utilized again. I really wanted to do this project because to me digitization is exceedingly fun and rewarding when done properly. So after a lot of discussion and booking some appointments we were finally on our way to the University of Akron psychology archive to digitize some materials. There we met Jodi Kearns and discussed the project. It is entirely doable and will take about two weeks to complete due to the archives being backed up in digitization requests. But the materials should be digitized. As some paperwork was being processed we toured the archives and learned about some of the recent processes involved and looked at some of the digitization materials. This was a cool facility and had everything necessary for in-depth digitization work. Soon the material will be digitized and previously unavailable information will be made available to the public. When Beth and I returned to the library I talked with Amy and reformatted my schedule based on some changes from my practicum and the staffing schedule. Then I went and worked at the desk. At the desk, I transferred a passport question, took a message for Amy, helped answer a patron’s tax question but unfortunately, I had to transfer them to H & R Block. Then I tried to help a patron over the phone with a question regarding tech help while working at the desk Jess gave me a valentine to be nice, I appreciated it. During a dull period, I watched as some travel books were analyzed for withdrawal and I learned more about how certain sections are weeded in the library. I then placed holds for two different patrons and ended the day.
Note 75 Hours met on February 17th.
Febuary 23, 2017 (Thursday) 5-8 Day 16
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours: 85
Today was the staff meeting and I rushed to get there and could arrive on time. At the staff meeting everyone was there I also learned that the director hates it when people are late and this explains everything though it could just be regulated to the meeting. The meeting starts with a raffle/story and there are refreshments provided from a local establishment. Finance started the meeting and said that we received more tax money and that the parking lot project would have to be postponed for reasons that would be explained. A construction project for this room was approved the roof of the building is facing serious structural issues and needs to be replaced or else it could collapse. The roof was put on wrong and has bad insulation explaining a lot of the problems involved with it. The library was supposed to get more land but this did not happen. Since the roof requires such dire attention the other projects the library has have been put on hold. The new roof will be ecofriendly and will take 4-7 weeks to be completed h/vacs will be replaced as well. All of this will cost a lot of money but the new ones will be energy efficient and the library has some money put aside. The biggest problem is if a storm comes along and causes problems with the roof. When this is done, the library will need to close for a day to have this completed and apply for a loan to complete this and maintain financial reserves. There is no need for secrecy here at the library. There is paining occurring in the building and the library is replacing a door with possible sliding doors due to frequent damage from patrons. A large annual fundraiser is in the works and will happen after I leave. Circulation is down but ordering of new items is occurring with over 1,000 new items set to arrive. After the meeting, I talked with the director about including solar panels that could be used to help save money then I was assigned various projects I mainly worked on a weeding project where I weeded several CDs that had not circulated in a long time and focused on this for the rest of my time at the library. It was the same as what I do in Kent only less involved due to the system and required more time in the stacks gathering materials.
Febuary 25, 2017 (Saturday) 10-4 Day 17
Hours Completed: 6
Total Hours: 91
Today I was at the reference desk all day. By this time, I have been to all the various library departments aside form outreach and Amy’s book discussion. Thus I have been part of all of the different aspects of the library and I can thoroughly say that I love it but I am definitely tired from all of the work involved in being a full time librarian. So aside from that trip I will be working at the reference desk from now on. I started today by helping a patron with their tablet and I could install a bridge game on it for them. I tried to place a hold for a patron but I was not able to as the book they were looking for did not actually exist. I tried to offer tech help but I was unable to. I then passed on a passport question, helped a patron find two music CDs, gave a patron their card number, extended someone’s computer time, passed on a passport question, passed on another passport question, found and placed ahold for a patron, placed a hold and updated a patron’s info then learned that is something they do at the circ desk instead of reference. I then tried to help a patron find books using a Dewey number I could help them but it was muddled as the catalog system is not completely set up to search for Dewey numbers as it is for tags and keywords. I then gave a patron our new technology pamphlet, printed a tax form for a patron, reserved a room for a patron, helped a patron find a book. I was able to help someone checkout a yearbook and here I learned that most of our yearbooks were digitized by a prison librarian. I then helped a patron find two travel books. I then checked on a title for a patron but we did not have it, I then tried to find a book for a patron that did not exist anywhere in a physical format. I then tried to book a quiet study room but it was completely booked for the time they wanted to have. I then helped a patron place a hold, tried to help a patron find a DVD, extend a patrons computer time, checked out the value line reference book to a patron, redirected a call to Amy, helped a patron find a movie, registered a patron for and event, redirected someone to the circ desk for a new library card talked to a patron about how books are bound and what is needed for basic book binding and gave a patron an address to a dead friends home and told Amy about a patron who had passed away and needed to be removed from our system.
February 28, 2017 (Tuesday) 7-9 Day 18
Hours Completed: 2
Total Hours: 93
Today was very short as I was only there to attend Amy’s book discussion. Before the discussion began we talked about the stickers and the pink cards in each of the books and I learned that the cards were used more but they switched to stickers as they were easier to use. Everyone then introduced themselves and I learned about their various interests and backgrounds. In the fall titles are brought in and then discussed and selected based on availability. The club meets January- November with December off for the holidays. The book for this month was My Grandmother asked me to tell you she’s sorry. It was not a well written book as the author’s use of a story within a story was confusing. The language the author utilized as surprising and did not help the story progress. The fantasy elements of the story were not very well realized as the serious parts of the book were much better. The book had a focus on how a young child needs a hero and this w as seen through her grandmother but it was an unrealistic relationship. The book would have been better if we knew more about the family members and the relationship between them. We then discussed the authors other book and concluded the it was a muddled book that had an anti-climactic ending. It then turned into a general discussion among friends with topics on kids and how women apricate chivalry despite what some people say. After the discussion, I went back to the reference desk. At the desk, I waited for the library to close and gave a patron more time on the computer. At the desk we discussed the book, its obvious flaws and how it could be improved. I then made a meeting room reservation, discussed reference strategies including roaming reference and changes in the building. I then placed a hold and helped to close the library.
March 2nd, 2017 (Thursday) 9-1 Day 19
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours: 97
Today I started by helping with outreach. After arriving for outreach I waited until we were ready when we were the outreach librarians loaded a van and we went to a retirement home in the Stow area. We went to two areas in the retirement home the Stow glen and birch seeder. We unloaded and prepared to help elderly patrons get materials. We put the books on some tables and opened some binds and a small tablet to allow for circulation. We waited for people to come and we took books back were circulation would check them in at the library. Outreach operates just like the rest of the library in a convenient to go package for patrons who live in nursing homes. While waiting for patrons I helped transport some book donations for the upcoming book sale. As patrons came in and browsed the materials I learned that if you are sick you cannot do outreach as a small cold could be fatal to some people. Normally outreach is comprised of Large Print materials with some selected AV and holds placed before the trip out. We also take holds at the nursing home. When outreach is done the outreach librarian gathers statistics for the library based on circulation. We first went to the birch seeder area to allow patrons to checkout and return materials but we then had to go to the Stow glen building as more patrons gather there due to an exercise class that happens when we are there. After most of the books had been checked out and the class was underway we packed up and went back to the library to complete outreach duties. From here I was at the reference desk where I placed a hold for a patron, helped a patron find a book that was in circ under new books. I also learned that when a patron is found to be viewing child porn the hard drive I taken away from the computer along with the person viewing said porn. I then tried to help a patron who registered for an event get into it but I was unsuccessful. I then helped a patron find some Irish music, helped another patron place a hold on an item gave out the stapler and helped another patron place a hold on an item.
March 6th, 2017 (Monday) 9-1 Day 21
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours: 108
Today I started at the reference desk where I learned that we used to have a career section but it was dropped due to low use. I started by passing on a passport question, gave some phone info to Amy, answered which movie is playing at the library on wends day, helped a patron place a hold, answered a question on the paperwork required for a passport application. Helped a patron with a passport question, tried to help a patron find information on where a person lived, tried to help a patron find a boon but was unsuccessful in completing it the first time as their phone died but they called back and finished the hold. When doing this I need to talk with patrons throughout the transaction as some can become inpatient while you are preforming a search for them. I then answered a question about tax forms, directed a patron to the mystery section and helped them find an author they were looking for. I the answered two passport questions, pulled an item for a patron and placed it at the drop off window, placed a hold for a patron, extended computer time, placed another hold for a patron, extended more computer time, helped a patron find an item ad another library and the placed a hold for a patron. I then helped a patron find tour collection of Nicholas parks novels, tried to help a patron find a novel but was unsuccessful as it had not been published in a physical format. I then booked the quiet study room for a patron, made a note for the authors list and what needed to be edited on it and then helped a patron print out a paper.
Today I also finished off my project. After my shift at Stow I went to the Akron psychology museum where I picked up the digitization materials. The process was successful and there was not a lot of restoration work that was required. In digitizing them we found that there was some sound on one of the films but it was inaccessible due to the format it was recorded on. After digitizing them we found that one film was a basic recording of a memorial that was presented in the 1970’s and the other was a compilation of various parades held during the 4th of July with a fully recorded closing speech and black and white fireworks. I also digitized two vhs tapes that held the opening of the library and a presentation of local history that was previously held in a poor format. I gathered all the materials and took them back to the library after I retrieved them from the arkon lab and a flash drive I had at my apartment. I was glad that I digitized the vhs tapes as they were beginning to deteriorate as the sound was becoming disjointed with the video telling me that now was the right time to digitize. This project was a complete success as I shared the videos with Beth when they were all on one hard drive and many people gathered and watched as I explained what I did and shared doing this made me exceedingly happy and told me that I had performed a successful project that could help many people including someone who was preforming original research on the area. After this the hard drive was saved and my work was completed. A thank you letter will be going out later this week and the videos will be utilized for future local history projects.
March 11. 2017 (Saturday) 1-5 Day 22
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours: 112
Today was a short but fun day as I went and helped with the anime club. It was basic but very nice. I helped stet up the area by putting out snacks and learning how it works. Basically, the club runs as follows. At the start of the school year everyone gets a mug they can use for the rest of the year and can decorated it with printouts or with their own drawings. The club is mostly comprised of middle and high school students and airs a different anime each time to help people get an introduction to the medium and check out the libraries anime materials increasing circulation numbers. No food can be served until 1:30 due to people monopolizing the pokey served at the club. People can have as much food as they want at the club and it normally starts with some announcements on future programs then three episodes are played, there is a break where the anime crate is opened. This crate is a box filled with Japanese snacks that the friends of the library provide through a service. Then more episodes are played and then people leave. At this meeting people came and talked most of the time we try to keep talking to a minimum and allow people to watch the anime and socialize. Before or afterwards the public performance rights are dealt with and paid for so the club can continue. It was once helped by other companies but these programs either become non-functional or too hard to maintain. At this session, it was pretty different as we aired Hetalia and had a rather mundane club meeting due to everyone knowing what it was an thus there was a lot of outside socializing and it was a little dull as a result. While a t the event I heard a cool saying “a teen librarians is a teenager in an old skin”. I like that as it says that you can still enjoy the types of materials you liked as a teenager just with an older body and mind. It has a nice ring to it and is comforting in a way. I also learned that anime can be an acquired taste for some people as not everyone will enjoy it. While observing, I read some of the magazine Otaku USA that the library holds and told the teen librarian more about the series we were watching and some seasons that were missing from the collection. I had to grab more Hetalia as we had finished what was checked out. The club finished up early and most people left after the anime crate was opened. (it has barbeque Cheetos in it) We then began to clean up by washing cups and putting away the materials. We were able to quickly clean up and put things away and that was Anime Club. I then went to the reference desk and observed until it was time to close the library. Then I helped to close the library which was fairly easy to do.
March 12, 2017 (Sunday) 1-5 Day 23
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours: 116
Today was a fun day as this was the first Sunday that I have worked at the Stow Library. By this point I have done everything for my practicum and now need to finish up my hours to be done. I started by helping a patron find two DVDs over the phone then I transferred a passport appointment. I reserved a book and directed a patron to the restroom. I tried to help a patron find a DVD through search Ohio but was unsuccessful. I then grabbed two items for a patron and put them at the window. I transferred another passport appointment and helped a patron find two DVDs one of which was for the patron but had been printed out. I then printed a tax form and learned that at the Stow library for some items you can print them for a patron for others they have to print them at the pay printer. I then passed on a passport appointment, helped a patron find a new book, answered a tax form question, placed two holds for a patron, wrote down a patron’s card number for them and directed a patron to the bathroom. I tried to help a patron with their tablet but was unsuccessful. I then took a book to the pick-up window, took some children’s materials upstairs, refilled the displays, refilled the tax forms, answered a question about a DVD, placed a hold for a patron, placed two search Ohio holds, helped a patron find a DVD and tried to help said patron find another DVD but was unsuccessful. I then closed the library.
March 16,2017 (Thursday) 9-2:45 Day 24
Hours Completed: 6
Total Hours: 122
Today I learned a hard but important lesion. Due to some ice on my windshield I was late to work and I mentioned it to Amy and we talked about it. The biggest problem with my practicum is that due to the winter weather I have been late a couple of times. In the public library world, this is unacceptable as it can lower moral and reflects poorly on you to the point that it can be called unprofessional. When first starting at a library I am on a probationary period and there is less leniency. An example if I am late two times at one library system I am fired. The reason that this has been a problem is due to the winter weather. When the weather is, nice this has not been an issue as there are few road blocks but snow and ice make travel more difficult and can impact how I get to places. I need to leave 30 minutes before I must be someplace. Thus, in the morning I need to wake up a full hour and a half to be there on time maybe even more if the commute is long. I felt guilty about this for a long time and this guilt told me how much I cared about this profession and that being a librarian was the right career choice for me due to how long I felt bad about this. After learning this lesson and processing it I was ready to work. I started by reserving the quiet study room and helped a patron find the nutrition books. I then signed a thank you note for the Akron psychology museum for digitizing our materials. I then learned how to make a guest pass for the computers and helped a patron check on a book that they wanted. I then took a call for Jessica, passed on a passport question, passed a phone call to Amy, passed on a notary appointments, register a patron for an event, tried to help a patron find two books and learned what happens when someone has a book with a coffee stain on it. (it’s either repaired or trashed) I then helped a patron find some CDs and cleaned up the displays. I then passed on a passport question, took a call for Gretchen, placed a hold for a patron, answered a question about a DVD series, gave out a pair of scissors and a ruler (learned we keep track of that so that people do not cut up books). I then passed on a passport question and tried to help a patron find a book but was successful.
March 17, 2017 (Friday) 2-6 Day 25
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours: 126
Today I arrived early and it felt great ! I learned that even though it’s just a form I can’t give out passport renewal information as I may be giving out the wrong information by accident. I then passed on some information to Amy and answered a question about tech Tuesday. I then learned about some of the problems the new federal budget will have if not amended. I tried to help a patron find a book they were looking for I was able to find it and I put it at the window. I then helped a patron find some nonfiction DVDs, passed on a passport question and extended a patron’s time on the computer. I learned that there can be no notaries in the last hour of work. As some people came when I was really busy and I let them wait without knowing this. I the placed a hold for a patron, canceled a hold for another patron, answered a question about an item, placed multiple holds for a patron, tried to find a DVD for the same patron but I could find a Blu Ray for them but it was in a different place. I then tried to help a patron find a game but it was completely check out in every library. I then tried to help a patron find a DVD but was unsuccessful in doing so. An interesting occurrence happened while I was working today. I caught a patron viewing explicit material and learned the procedure for when people view inappropriate materials in the library. They are banned from the computer for the rest of the day. Note: inappropriate material includes nudity.
March 20, 2017 (Monday) 9-1 Day 27
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours: 134
Today was a good day for my library career. When I first arrived to work, I passed a call onto jess. Things were quiet today but next week was my last week at the library so I decided to ask for an informal evaluation. Since it was not busy we decided to have it today. At the evaluation, we talked about my work at Stow and some of the issues that came up while I was there. The biggest problem of my practicum was tardiness. This was an issue due to multiple things, occasionally I would overestimate how much time I had getting ready and the biggest contributor to me being late was the weather. The only time I have issues with transportation is when it is snowing outside and the snow blocks the roads or covers my car windshield with ice and makes it hard for me to get to work as I must scrape it off and this would occasionally make me late. I needed to learn this lesson because in the past I have had issues with getting to places on time and with work this can be fixed. The big thing is that I need a better game plan when it comes to the winter and getting to work on time. This was the biggest issue and is easily solvable. In addition to this I had problems with accepting criticism. It was perceived that I did not handle criticism well and it was mainly a misunderstanding as I do but it’s something I should be aware of. The final issue which came up was that I sometimes overestimate my skills. This is something I agree with but it’s mainly me showing what I can do. This does not really concern me as after I finish my practicum and move on I can maintain my skills through working and showing what I can do. It’s more of a sign that I really want to start working in the field instead of being a student but my eagerness could be interpreted as arrogance. It was noted that my passion is not really for reference work but more for electronic resources and cataloging and it showed. It would be best for me to work in a smaller library as that is where I can shine. Other than that, I do not really have any problems but I have a strong work ethic and can easily improve upon these issues by figuring out how to get to work on time in the winter, minimize misunderstandings and continue to work in libraries to fully define and refine all my skills.
After the meeting I went back to the reference desk. I helped a patron improve their tech skills, passed on a passport, registered a patron for an evet, canceled a reservation, passed on a passport question, helped a patron find an author and their books location on the shelf. I then answered a question about how a kindle works, helped a patron look for a notebook and watched an impressive tantrum of a child leaving the library. I finished the day by renewing a patron’s card number and giving it to them and helped a patron print out a document.
March 31, 2017 (Friday) 2-6 Day 30
Hours Completed: 4
Total Hours: 150
This was my last day at my practicum. Today I gave directions to the restroom, tried to answer a patron’s question but was unable to, helped a patron find a TV series, placed a book on hold for a patron, passed on two passport questions, helped a patron print out a document. I then worked with the IT department to help fix a computer which had received a blue screen of death due to a missing update. I then helped a patron log onto the computer and tried to help a patron with a secured document but I was completely unsuccessful with this and had to work with the IT department to help the patron. Note assessing secured documents here is unwise unless the library is you only option. I then gave a patron their card number, helped a patron find a TV show and placed it on hold using little information, I could do this as I knew exactly what the patron was looking for as I had seen the episode and remember the scene they were describing. I then showed a patron how to increase and decrease a computers font, told a person where the book sale was, passed on a phone call to Amy and led identify a patron’s question as a notary request. I then helped a patron find a book on CD's, helped a patron used an app the they did not have access too and then taught them about how smartphones work. I then told a patron about how printing works and helped a patron find a specific book in a series and if we had any copies of it on the shelf. I then helped a patron type out and then print a message they had written. This was a complicated request as they did not really know how to use a computer and had the renew their card and pay fines on it. I then retrieved a book on CD at the drive-up window, helped a patron place a hold through the Search Ohio wait list (holds list for people who won’t have access to Search Ohio until the next day) and I ended the day by helping a patron edit and pint out a paper. With that I finished my practicum at the Stow Munroe Falls Public Library.
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