We are a small university (only 6500ish FTE). We just moved into our new library last year, with staffing 'til 2am most nights. Student workers and training them is such a headache, I proposed combining our desks (I technically oversee them both). Circ on first floor; media/reserves on the 2nd floor. The idea was not only to combine student workforce and save money, but also to combine the two public services staffs a bit (those who worked with the Circ counter supervision and Reserves on the first floor/others who deal with shelvers, media ordering, cataloging on second floor)....A great idea I thought, however due to the fact that the building is brand new, it was deemed not appropriate to already change things around and take down a counter area that had just been built....
Timing is everything, and unfortunately, it didn't occur to me 2-3 years ago when planning the building that it should be done..... Alas and alack.....maybe in a couple more years.... :) Rhonda Rhonda Rosen| Head, Media & Access Services William H. Hannon Library | Loyola Marymount University One LMU Drive, MS 8200 | Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659 rhonda.ro...@lmu.edu| 310/338-4584| http://library.lmu.edu "You see, I don't believe that libraries should be drab places where people sit in silence, and that's been the main reason for our policy of employing wild animals as librarians." --Monty Python -----Original Message----- From: videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto:videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Maureen Tripp Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 7:43 AM To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu Subject: [Videolib] media circulation at same desk as regular circ? There's talk here of getting rid of the media desk, and merging it with the regular circulation desk, in an attempt to same money on the staff budget. I don't like this, but I'm not sure why. We have two collections--one which circulates to students, and I'm sure that could be handled at the circ desk. But we also have a teaching collection, which is booked for faculty in advance--or, which happens often, faculty can call us and book titles on the spot. These videos don't circulate outside of the Library, except for use by faculty in classes, or for faculty preview. It seems to me that having two service desks is a good idea, to relieve stress and congestion. But I don't have any evidence for this, and I'm a committee of one, the only Media Librarian here, and thus, I have a vested interest in keeping a separate media desk. Has anyone gone through this? Does anyone have any ideas pro or con for merging media operations with the print circulation desk? Any help/feedback would be much appreciated! VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors. VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.