Lambuth Library Assistant Training

Public Services/Circulation Desk Duties and Guidelines 

 

Check out items from the library’s circulating collection to UofM students, faculty, and staff. 

1. Ask for UofM ID card. If the UofM patron does not have an ID card, ask for a driver’s license to verify identity.  
2. Upper right under Function, choose Check Out (Circulation Desk). In upper left box, scan ID card. Student’s information should appear. If using a driver’s license, use the “search” button to look him/her up. Explain that looking up their information in this way is an exception and a UofM ID card will be needed in the future. Explain that a card may be obtained in the business office. 
3. Scan item(s) to be checked out. 
4. If prompted, choose to print receipt to the “local printer” and make sure that the receipt printer, Star TSP 6500II Cutter (TSP654II), is selected. The receipt will print when you close the transaction.  Press “feed” on the printer to advance the receipt, and tear it off.  
5. Desensitize books.  DO NOT DESENSITIZE MEDIA ITEMS. 
6. Hand the patron the item, the due date receipt, and his/her ID card. 
7. Explain that email notifications will be sent as the due date nears.  Also mention that renewals can be made online by choosing “My Library Account” on the library web page. 

If the student does not have an ID card, direct the student to the appropriate office to obtain one. (You may look them up one time using their driver's license to verify their identity, but be sure you are selecting the correct account.)

If an “Override” or other message pops up, call a library staff member to assist or, if a staff member is not available, do not check item out to patron. Apologize to the patron for the inconvenience and email Mrs. Reilly with the name of the patron and the details of the problem. 

 

Check out items that are on Reserve. 

• Checkout using the same method as checking out regular books but do not desensitize.
• Most Reserve items are on Strict Reserve, which means they may be checked out for 2 hours and are limited to use in the library.  (Each Reserve item will be labeled indicating its type of Reserve.) 
• Usually, the patron will either make notes, use the scanner to scan pages, or photocopy the material well before the 2 hours are up. 
• The item may be checked out for an additional 2 hours if needed and if no other patron is waiting for it.  (A student should always return the item and have it checked in before it is given to another student.  The student using the item should be the one that has checked it out.) 

 

Check out items from the library’s circulating collection to returning community users (people 18 years or older who are not UofM faculty, students, or staff that have checked out books from the library before).

1. Ask for the patron's community user card. If the patron does not have the community user card, ask for a driver’s license to verify identity. [If this is the first time a community member is checking out a book from the library follow the steps for "Community Patron Cards."  
2. Upper right under Function, choose Check Out (Circulation Desk). In upper left box, type in all numbers on the community user card. The patron's information should appear. If using a driver’s license, use the “search” button to look him/her up by name. Explain that looking up their information in this way is an exception and a community user card will be needed in the future. If the card was lost, provide a new one from the community user file by writing in the user's name and barcode number on a new card.  
3. Scan item(s) to be checked out.  
4.  If prompted, choose to print receipt to the “local printer” and make sure that the receipt printer, Star TSP 6500II Cutter (TSP654II), is selected.  The receipt will print when  you close the transaction.  Press “feed” on the printer to advance the receipt, and  tear it off.   
5. Desensitize books.  DO NOT DESENSITIZE MEDIA ITEMS.  
6. Hand the patron the item, the due date receipt, and his/her ID card.  
7. Explain that email notifications will be sent as the due date nears and that renewals may be made in person or by calling the library and speaking with a staff member. 

  

If an “Override” or other message pops up, call a library staff member to assist, or if a staff member is not available, do not check item out to patron. Apologize to the patron for the inconvenience and email Mrs. Reilly with the name of the patron and the details of the problem. 

 

Check in items from the library’s circulating collection. 

1. From list on left of screen, choose Check-In.  Scan item(s). 
2. Resensitize books.  DO NOT DO THIS WITH MEDIA ITEMS. 
3. Organize returned items by format and Collection (Juvenile, Young Adult, Leisure, or General Collection) and then by shelf order, so they are ready to shelve.     

 

Check in items on Reserve. 

1. Choose Check-In.  Scan item.  
2. Return item to proper place on Reserve shelves.    

 

Renew items. 

1. Scan ID card. 
2. From list on left of screen, choose Checked Out. 
3. On resulting list, choose items to be renewed. 
4. Choose Renew 
5. Print new due date receipt. 

 

Shelve books.     

              See instructions for re-shelving books.

 

Use the Teams App to record stats each hour.

1. Walkthrough the building and record all patrons using the library in various areas. 
2. Record the number of people that have entered the library in the past hour (this does not include those who just went to the classroom).Be sure to include any patrons in the study rooms on the second level. 
3. Straighten chairs and pick up trash found on tables and floors. 
4. Pick up any books left on tables and take them to the Circulation desk and for check in.  In Sierra, upper right under Function, in drop-down menu, choose: Count Use – Internal Use.  On the resulting screen, in the Search box at upper left, scan the item’s barcode.* (There is no need to resensitize since the item has not left the building.)  Close the screen and return to the Check-Out function.  Then go to Function drop-down menu and under Circulation, choose Check Out (Circulation Desk).  If the item is a circulating item, place it on the shelf area under the counter to be reshelved.  If the item is a Reference item, reshelve it as soon as you can.   

 

Record the details of any questions and answers in the Lambuth Help Desk program on the Circulation computer. 

See instructions for community users.

 

Process Library Study Room Requests.  

1. Only U of M students may use Group Study Rooms. Dual enrollment students may use them with the permission of the campus librarian.

2. Room 208 is locked and must be unlocked by the front desk staff. 

3. The other three rooms are unlocked. Patrons are encouraged to sign up online to use the room, but if rooms are vacant, they may be used on a walk-in basis. However, if a group shows up who has booked online, the non-booked group will need to vacate the room. 

4. Any disputes should be referred to the front desk staff. 

5. Limits on people in rooms 

6. Food & Drink policies 

Study Room Procedures

1. Students can book any of the 4 rooms online. If students ask us to book for them, walk them over to the OPAC and show them how to book. 

2. Keep LibCal pulled up and refresh periodically to see new bookings. 

3. Unlock & lock 208. 

4. No desk sign-in is needed for any of the rooms. 

 

Other duties:

• Answer library main phone line if library staff member is not available to do so.  Follow the script posted in the binder by the phone. 

• Provide directions and assistance in finding materials on the shelves.   

• Provide directions to patrons to restrooms, computers, scanners, etc. 

• Assist with the KIC scanner (directions posted near it).

• Replenish staples in staplers as needed. 

• Replenish paper in computer area as needed.

• The photocopier requires a code to use it. Encourage students to scan with the KIC scanner, email it to themselves, and print from the computers. If a student really wants to use the copier refer them to library staff. The photocopier is not available to the public.

• Assist patrons with catalog and database searches.  If you do not feel confident with this, ask a library staff member to assist. 

 

During the day, student assistants should refer the following to library staff: 

1. Problems concerning the computer lab printer that you cannot handle. 
2. Reference/research questions. 
3. Presentations to tour groups. 
4. Instructors wishing to place an item on Reserve. 
5. Community patrons wishing to apply for a library card or to use a computer. 
6. Any question you cannot answer or are not sure of. 

  

Security issues? Call Security – 731-425-1942.  

Security can be reached at all times at the number above.  If you are calling from a library phone, you need dial only 1942. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revised 1/22/2020