9:00am-2:00 pm
5 hours
Total hours to date: 122
Internship completed!!!
Well, I have mixed feelings about working at the library today. I am elated to be finishing up the requirements of my degree, but I have truly enjoyed the work I have been able to do at the library and of course, I will miss the personal interaction with the staff. They have been wonderful in welcoming me and teaching me about the inner workings of the library. I will miss the work, I will miss the learning, and I will miss them. The good news is that I plan on using the library a lot more often, bringing my kids to programs, checking out books, and participating in the upcoming Summer Reading Programs. We have kids, a YA, and adults in our family, so we should be able to cover the whole range of library SRP!
I spent the entire day in the NC Room, finishing up a project I had started with Gale. I reorganized an Excel spreadsheet she had originally created several years ago and updated it with Dublin Core standard categories for bibliographic description, merging the standard categories with her originals. I deleted a few categories, as necessary, but kept additional categories that would be useful for her goals. Then, I created a new data entry sheet that would be used by library volunteers to record descriptive cataloging information on archival items. The form includes brief category descriptions which should help them as they record information, and the categories appear in the same order as those on the Excel spreadsheet, so it will be easier to input the data into the spreadsheet. I also created a new instruction sheet with details on each category and examples. I made both the instruction sheet and the data entry sheet fit on 2 pages so they could be printed front/back. I gave digital copies of all of these files to Gale so she can update, edit, and/or print as needed.
I know I will feel a void next week as I am no longer required to go to the library to serve as an intern. I am so glad that the Director and staff of the Burke County Public Library have let me serve there in my internship. I feel that they have given me a really good overall picture of library services, the challenges they face, and the creative ways they use to meet those challenges. I like the environment of a smaller library system, where the people have distinct roles and responsibilities, but where everyone is willing to pitch in and help out wherever there is a need. I have committed to help out next week, on Saturday May 12, at the Taste of Culture event, and I am looking forward to helping out. I can't believe this experience has come to a close, but I am sure to take advantage, personally, of more of the library's services in the near future. Special thanks to Mr. Wilson, Jeannie, Claudia, Nicole, Betty, Gale, Page, Cassie, Alicia, Ashleigh, Halee, Chesley, Kimberly, and Karen.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Book Repair, Patron research, Vertical files
9:00 am -11:30 am
2.5 hours
Total hours to date: 117
Still not feeling well, today I spent only the morning at the library. During that time, I repaired books then went upstairs to the NC room to help Gale. I located some land grants for a patron who had requested them by email, then made photocopies of those records. Then I researched his family name in the Heritage books relative to the area located in the land grants. I copied those pages that were relevant and gave them to Gale to send to the patron. I enjoy doing research in the NC room, but I have learned that it is really necessary to consider the amount of time and resources needed to complete research for someone who is requesting this research from outside the library. Gale is overrun with things to do, and she often has to spend time helping out at the front desk. Since she is the only person working in the NC room, she has to be mindful of her time. E-mail requests for research can be quick or they can take hours, depending upon the types of information requested and the amount of initial information that the patron gives.
When filing land grants and other vertical file items, Gale has prepared special place-holders made from laminated orange construction paper with a file tab. It is a simple, but effective method of marking a place to return the file materials. I'm sure it saves time when re-filing these materials and insures better accuracy as well.
2.5 hours
Total hours to date: 117
Still not feeling well, today I spent only the morning at the library. During that time, I repaired books then went upstairs to the NC room to help Gale. I located some land grants for a patron who had requested them by email, then made photocopies of those records. Then I researched his family name in the Heritage books relative to the area located in the land grants. I copied those pages that were relevant and gave them to Gale to send to the patron. I enjoy doing research in the NC room, but I have learned that it is really necessary to consider the amount of time and resources needed to complete research for someone who is requesting this research from outside the library. Gale is overrun with things to do, and she often has to spend time helping out at the front desk. Since she is the only person working in the NC room, she has to be mindful of her time. E-mail requests for research can be quick or they can take hours, depending upon the types of information requested and the amount of initial information that the patron gives.
When filing land grants and other vertical file items, Gale has prepared special place-holders made from laminated orange construction paper with a file tab. It is a simple, but effective method of marking a place to return the file materials. I'm sure it saves time when re-filing these materials and insures better accuracy as well.
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