hiring, training and supervising library shelvers: part 2
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Training ShelversHelp for busy supervisors
Competent shelvers
Confident employees who know their role in the library
Individuals who can be trusted to work on their own
Effective Training Makes your Job Easier Because the Results Are
Job description
Tax forms
Employment Eligibility Verification
Workplace Policies
Dress Code
Schedule
First Things FirstHave a folder ready
Take your trainee on a tour of the building
Explain the check in, check out process
Let them know their work matters
Introduce them to as many staff as possible
Give them permission to ask you questions, lots of questions
Getting to Know You
TRAINING SLIP
Shelver in Training
This book can be checked out
Circulation staff: please return this slip to the shelving supervisor
Booktown library
Read for your life!
Training SlipsOn a par with sliced bread
I can see three mistakes on this cart already
You’re not being very careful are you?
You did much better than this on your test
What not to say
It looks as if you have nearly everything in the right place
Some of these long Dewey numbers can be tricky to begin with
This one catches most people out at first
What to say instead
Where to put the cart
Straighten and tidy ‘as you go’
Check ends and beginnings of shelves
Shift books to other shelves as needed
Pull damaged or mislabeled items
No detail is too small
Patrons are allowed to take the books you have just put away
They can take them off your cart too
You are new, you know nothing, so send patrons with questions to the reference desk
You did really well on your test and I know you are going to do a good job
A word before you leave them
Ask them if they notice anything about the book that still has the training slip in it.
Allow them to put it right
Congratulate them for having seen what the problem was
Explain any uncorrected errors with a minimum of fuss
How to handle errorsTake my advice and be nice
Take your trainee aside and ask them nicely how they think they are doing
Tell them how they are really doing
Explain how this affects you and your workload
Give one more chance
Let them go
What to do if they don’t improve
Visits from friends and family
Talkative patrons
Browsing or reading while shelving
Chatting at length with other shelvers
Distractions in the stacks
Tell the patron they are being inappropriate
Alert at least one other staff member
Take refuge in a non-public area of the library
Shout ‘get away from me’ very loudly
Call the police
Danger in the stacksGive them permission to act
Materials are constantly being added or weeded
Shelves can get tightly packed or empty out
Overcrowded shelves are hard to work with
An un-shifted collection looks bad
The longer you leave it the worse it gets
Why do we need to shift?
Patrons often put books back in the wrong place
We can identify items that are damaged or need cleaning
Tidy shelves in good order are inviting to patrons
Our goal is to make sure items are findable
Why do we need to shelf read?
Touch each book as you check the spine label
Re-shelve as needed
Pull items that need cleaning, mending or new labels
Move books to the left and push in book ends
Stop after thirty minutes
Write down what you have done
How to shelf read
Put away any unattended piles of books
Straighten and tidy shelves as time permits
Check study carrels and rooms for library material
Put magazines away
Hand in any stray belongings
Closing time routines
It will save you time
Your experienced shelvers will enjoy the responsibility
Your trainees will have more mentors
Delegate!
Name: Start date:First Dayforms tour scheduling work logsFirst Floorboard books picture books easy readersyouth fiction young adult fiction new booksmovies cd’s tv dvd’s games comicsSecond Flooradult fiction large print paperbacksaudio books biography reference
The Training LogKeep track of who did what when
The staff at the reference desk can help you with that. It’s this way
If you come with me I’m sure they’ll be able to find that information for you at the desk
Would you like to follow me over to the desk? They will be happy to help you with that
Let me find you an expert
Shelvers don’t do reference!
They do not feel pressured into offering help outside their skill set
Patrons don’t waste time speaking to the wrong person
The reference staff get the chance to meet the needs of the patrons
Patrons will be impressed by your helpful shelvers
Shelvers can feel good about how they handle these situations
When shelvers know their role everyone benefits
Does the patron know if the library owns the book?Fiction or non-fiction? Print, audio or download?Title and author correct? If they found it in the catalog is it checked in? Is this the book they really want or need?Do we have something else that will do?Do we need to get it from another library?
ReferenceHow complicated can it be?
Where do I check out?
Is there an elevator?
Where are the restrooms?
Have you read this book?
Shelvers, ready to help
Public computers
Public copiers/ fax machines
Filling in a form
Complaints
Can you help me with…..?
Anyone who seems to need help (such as a lost child)
Possible damage to library property
Theft of library property
Unattended property (such a patron’s laptops)
Rowdy behavior
Pornography being viewed in the presence of children
Things to look out for
An employee who can do everything you ask of them
An employee you can rely on
An employee who will need a minimum of supervision
An employee who will feel they are a vital part of the library
What will all this training achieve?
PatTunstall Indian Trails Public Library 355 Schoenbeck Road Wheeling, IL 60090
Phone: 847 279 2207 E mail: [email protected]
Contact information