[Publib] RE:roaming librarians

Tue Apr 8 17:22:24 EDT 2008

It is all meant to prepare us for the replacement robots:

http://tinyurl.com/6eeee2

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Robert L. Balliot

Skype: RBalliot

Bristol, Rhode Island

http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm

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From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Hammock, Shannon
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2008 1:34 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Publib] RE:roaming librarians

I appreciate the overall theme of LaRue's essay. However, I have a question
about one section of it. LaRue writes:

"It begins with our adoption of new technologies: self-check, automated
returns. These technologies haven't been cheap: but they are cheaper than
people. And they do the mechanical, repetitive tasks that machines are good
at, but take a steep toll on human beings in cumulative injuries.
Using machines to do such tasks is sensible: it frees up people to do what
machines can't do -- use intelligence, provide direct service to other human
beings.
But what did we do with the people who no longer had to stand behind
circulation desks? We gave them additional training (and pay), and put them
out where they could provide that service."

Unless the machine replaces a person, how can it be cheaper? If you have the
person already doing the job, and add the machine as well, it is an
additional cost. There can only be a cost savings (that is, be cheaper) if
the machine replaces a staff person. 

As well, but perhaps LaRue's institution is different from mine, if we were
to get additional self-check out machines (or any other technology for that
matter), I doubt our funding body is just going to allow us to give all
those replaced by the machine a promotion. (Effectively, that's what would
happen as they would need to move into a new classification to get the
additional pay that LaRue mentions). Notwithstanding the question of whether
the displaced staff would qualify for the new classification, (Human
Resources might have something to say about education or experience
qualifications), but I believe it would be hard to justify the need to a
funding body for that much more additional staff at the higher pay rate. 

I do appreciate new technology, and I use the self-checkout machine myself
in many places. However,  I don't think we are being completely honest with
ourselves if we don't recognize that with shrinking budgets, if the time
comes to make some hard decisions, a director is probably going to lay-off a
staff person (or allow there to be unfilled positions)before they unplug the
self-check out machine. At that point, the machine has replaced a person,
and that has been the fear I have seen expressed both on and off this list. 

Shannon Hammock

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From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Fred Beisser
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2008 3:39 PM
To: Joseph.Gasparro at boontonholmeslibrary.org
Cc: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Publib] RE:roaming librarians

And for another professional view on the evolving role of reference
librarians, self check-in/out and more eficient use of staff, see the
following essay by Jamie LaRue, district director of Douglas County
Libraries in Colorado:

http://www.libraryleadership.net/LaRue031708.asp

Fred Beisser
Trustee
www.elbertcountylibrary.org
(Colorado)

Joseph Gasparro wrote: 

When we implemented a similar system, there was a bit of opposition, I think
the problem became that people were just used to sitting around waiting.
We've found though, that the number of people we help has increased when you
actually ask if they need help.  I think if we were able to measure the
amount of people who did not use the reference desk because they were
hesitent to ask for help, that number would be quite large.

Joe 
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Christopher F. Bowen"  <mailto:cbowen at downersgrovelibrary.org>
<cbowen at downersgrovelibrary.org>
Date:  Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:29:24 -0500

When I became the director of the Downers Grove Public Library in 1989
we decided to try "roaming reference". Only then we called it "getting
out of our chairs and going into the stacks to see if patrons needed
help finding stuff on the shelves." Of course the Department Heads were
horrified when I first raised the idea. Patrons won't want us to bother
them while they are browsing, and talking in the stacks will bother
other patrons. (Remember the old days when libraries were quiet places!)
So I asked just the three department heads (Reference, Readers Advisory,
and Children's Services) to try it for a few weeks and promised that we
would drop it if it turned out to be a bad idea. Low and behold, while
patrons were surprised at first, no one got mad when they were
approached and asked for help. The DH's agreed that they were reaching
patrons who would never have come to the desk on their own. With the
DH's enthusiastic support we asked all of the staff to try it. Again,
much horror at the idea, but I promised we would evaluate after three
months. One of the staff who was the most resistant to the idea at first
summarized the reaction perfectly when she said, "The first time I
approached a patron she looked at me like I was crazy and said she
didn't need any help; but when I came down the aisle a little later, the
same patron stopped me and said that she couldn't find what she was
looking for and maybe she did need some help."

At the three month evaluation everyone agreed that this was a good idea
and it has become routine for service desk staff. Every quarter hour or
so one of staff at each service desk makes a circuit of the department
and asks patrons who are browsing if they can help them find something.
If it is really busy and patrons are stacked up at the desk waiting for
help, staff may not have time to make the rounds; but when they are on
the way back to the desks after taking a patron into the stacks to find
materials, they check in with other patrons. The  process has helped to
train our patrons that library staff is actually here to help them, and
it is OK to seek help if one needs it.

I know of a neighboring library that is experimenting with roaming
reference using notebook computers so they can check the catalog or
databases on the fly. We haven't tried that, but when we did our
building project nine years ago, staff was adamant about wanting OPACs
in the stacks so they could easily get to the on-line catalog to help
patrons there. A few years ago we added access to our on-line databases
and library-selected websites on the OPACs, so staff can do full service
reference back in the stacks, as well.

A resounding yes to getting-out-of-your-chair-and-going-into-stacks
reference.

Christopher F. Bowen
Library Director
Downers Grove Public Library
1050 Curtiss Street
Downers Grove, IL 60515-4606
630-963-2595

-----Original Message-----
Subject: [Publib] Roaming librarians
To:  <mailto:publib at webjunction.org> <publib at webjunction.org>
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I work at a fairly large downtown public library, and we are just
beginning to study the use of "roaming" librarians, as opposed to
librarians chained to a desk. 

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