Circulation Training for Greg



Again, Greg at Open Stacks details his library system orientation.

He writes:

After the meetings concluded Tuesday, I participated in a circulation training session. Now, unlike the other person receiving this training with me, I've already had ample opportunity to work the circ desk. Much of this information proved redundant and some of it only applied to the way things are done at Main (reinforcing my perception that every branch operates differently and has a different interpretation of the "way things are/ought to be"). The class was taught by a girl significantly younger than the two people in the class (and I'm only 27) and though she was quite competent and knew her job well, I couldn't help but wish that our teacher would be more sagely on the topic of circulation.

Here's what strikes me:

some of it only applied to the way things are done at Main (reinforcing my perception that every branch operates differently and has a different interpretation of the "way things are/ought to be").

Yup, I've been on the same bandwagon of late. I'd like to know that the training my department provides insures that circ stuff and tech stuff is done consistently across the system from Main to our branches and back again. I think this goes for using the tools of technology as well as library policies and procedures. It irks me to hear that such-and-such branch "has never done it that way before..." or no one at Blah-Blah Branch "knew how to center the text in Word or attach an image to an e-mail in Yahoo..." We are not doing our jobs correctly when this happens...

I try to send Adam, my Circ Trainer who I think is pretty darn "sagely" for a young fellow (25) to the branches to work with the circ staff as much as possible as well as his training for new employees at Main.

Here's what he does:

60 minutes of hands on training in the circulation module of Innovative followed by 30-60 minutes of hands on up at the desk at Main training with him overseeing how the person does. it works...

What could work better is making sure once the employees are back at their branches they have people who are trained just as well to answer questions, etc.

Posted: Sun - June 8, 2003 at 10:15 AM      

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