Week 5

This week at Oak Grove Library, I was allowed to work in collection development. Oak Grove receives many donated books so this week I spent some time looking up donated books in the catalog. My on site practicum advisor said that he usually decides to ether offer the books to other libraries in the system or put them in the Friends of the Library ongoing used book sale. In my post-it note reports, I put whether or not the book was in the catalog and some other details, I tried to be give all the information I thought would be important.

Also this week, on Thursday, there were a lot more kids at story time.(which I am NOT used to) I read books about leaves changing color which was a little odd since it was still so hot last week and the leaves have not changed yet. But, it was okay because I had fun and the kids seemed to be enjoying themselves. Afterwards the children made leaf people with silk leaves and glue.

On Friday, Oak Grove library is close for ‘maintenance’. Because they do not have regularly scheduled clean up, the staff at Oak Grove clean up every last Friday of the month. I helped out by dusting all the shelves.

Randomness: Next week my practicum advisor said that I could work with ILL’s, not sure what is in store yet.

Week 4

This week at Oak Grove was a little slow but I was more active with the craft for family story time.  The children’s librarian and I kind of hacked together a craft. I wanted to do squirrel headbands (our books were fall books that were connected by squirrels) but the card stock paper curled up so we had to do something different.  I helped cut out the squirrels on the Tuesday before story time.  I have been given more responsibility with the story time that is on Thursday. I am not sure how I feel about this because this week the kids were a little inattentive.

This week, the Library Director introduced me to the board member that represents Oak Grove Library for the entire Lamar County Library System. ( that I read about in the library policy) It was nice to see a face rather than imagine a mythical Library god/goddess. (which I tend to do along with imagine people as cartoons.)

Apparently, on Wednesday a rush of people came in because the books to be re-shelved ran over. I helped some but I only had to stay for two hours on Thursday so I think the real librarians had to do most of the work. There were also many books that needed new labels and I helped with that on Friday.

Randomness: I am starting to recognize some of the recurring patrons at Oak Grove and I finally gave someone a library card all by myself!!



Week 3

This week at Oak Grove was a little different because the Labor Day holiday threw me off a little bit and I did not go in on the days that I usually do. This week I went in on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. (I normally go on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.)

On Wednesdays, the library has story time too but I did not get to read because I came in after class at eleven and it starts at ten thirty. Another volunteer for the library read the stories instead and I came in time to help cleanup. The theme for that day was farms and/or farm animals. For the craft, the children use cotton balls to make a sheep and finger-painted scenery around it.

On Thursday I did read at story time which I am starting to really enjoy. Apparently I am pretty decent at it; I got a compliment that day. I thought I was getting more familiar with the Oak Grove software system but it seems like every time I ask someone “Can I help you?” , I cannot because I actually don’t know how to yet.

On Friday, I did a lot of shelving because the YA books were starting to overflow. As a result, I learned how to shelve the graphic novels. Oak Grove has a nice section for graphic novels. Also for the first time, I helped with the transit books and receiving ILL’s. (I hope I do not forget when I go back.) It was interesting checking in books that were in transit and/or on hold because OG has a different system than Brandon Public Library. The entire system of libraries that Oak Grove is a part of is smaller so there were not as many books. At Brandon it took hours to check in all the books and you had to do it in a small area in the back of the staff room, it was a nice change.

I recently discovered that the one downside to working in a library is that you find so many different things that you want to read! I have to tell myself that there are only so many things I can read and not to keep checking stuff out.

 

This week at Oak Grove was very interesting. The library implemented a new system for printing and signing on for the computers. By the time I got back, Tuesday, the old system was out and the new system was in. (I guess I now know what it is really like to be a librarian.) I think it speaks volumes about the way libraries are starting to implement more computerized systems.

On Thursday I brought my bubbles to story time and they were a big hit but, only for a few moments. When I tried to put them up the same child I was trying to console just got madder. I guess there is no foolproof system when it comes to the little ones. I am beginning to be more interested in becoming a children’s librarian because, so far, it has been a lot of fun volunteering within the Oak Grove Public Library children’s department. I feel like Children’s librarians get to be a bit more creative at the library. At the same time, children’s librarians get a bit of a challenge because they don’t always know what will interest their readers. (Bubbles?)

On Friday, I stayed longer than I have before. Last week I accidentally forgot my schedule and came back to campus for a class I did not have. I did a horrible job decorating with the children’s librarian and some circulation work. I think I am getting used to the circulation software but I am still waiting to become a cutter guru, one can only hope.

Randomness: I am excited because the library may participate in a contest called Pimp My Book cart.
More information at: http://www.unshelved.com/pimpmybookcart