Third Week

This week at Hattiesburg Public Library, I used the microfiche machine, trapped holds, shelved books and magazines, found e-holds, turned on computer lab computers, helped a patron use PowerPoint, discarded paperback books, worked the circulation desk, read shelves, weeded the paperback book collection, discharged books, put the new magazines into the computer system, and discarded old magazines.  During this past week, I got to experience the circulation desk more.  I was taught how to help patrons apply for a library card, how to find out if they are eligible for a card, how to check out books, to see if they fines, to see if they had items on hold, discharged the books the patrons returned, and renewed items that the patrons already had on loan. 

Second Week

This week I learned how to add magazines to the computer system, to change the magazine designation, and how to discard them in the computer system.  Also, for the new magazines that the library received I was taught how to set them up to be put on the shelf.  I had to put stickers on them and stick them in plastic covers.  This is good to learn for my future career in case I need to know how to do things like this in my career.

I read shelves again this week.  I feel that by reading the shelves not only helps with keeping them straight and in order, but it helps me to learn the different sections of the library.  I am in the middle of reading the 900's section (nonfiction).  This section is all about places, wars, travel, countries, etc.  By continuing to read shelves it will help me learn where the different types book are located.  This will help me when a patron asks me where a book is or where a type of book is located so that I can point them in the right direction. 

First Day

My first day as a library practicum student was great!  I helped finish weeding the Large Print Collection, I learned how to discard the weeded books in the computer system and how to mark the books discarded so that they wouldn't get mixed up with the circulating books.  Also, I learned how to fax, use the copy machine, check out patrons, shelf read, and to help patrons find books in the library.  Another thing that I learned was how to modify the books in the computer system from new to their regular classification.

When I started off, I knew how to weed a collection.  During one of my previous classes, there was an assignment on weeding.  However, at the library they gave me a print out of books that had not been checked in the past 18 months.  I then looked through the shelves, found the books listed, and then gave them to their Large Print expert to make sure they want to discard them.  After she looked at them, I was taught how to mark them for discarding in the computer and on the books themselves.  This was the part that I did not learn in class.  This new information will help me greatly in the field so that I know how to discard books in the computer system and how to mark the books discarded.