Training ShelversHelp for busy supervisors

Competent shelvers

Confident employees who know their role in the library

Individuals who can be trusted to work on their own

Effective Training Makes your Job Easier Because the Results Are

Job description

Tax forms

Employment Eligibility Verification

Workplace Policies

Dress Code

Schedule

First Things FirstHave a folder ready

Take your trainee on a tour of the building

Explain the check in, check out process

Let them know their work matters

Introduce them to as many staff as possible

Give them permission to ask you questions, lots of questions

Getting to Know You

TRAINING SLIP

Shelver in Training

This book can be checked out

Circulation staff: please return this slip to the shelving supervisor

Booktown library

Read for your life!

Training SlipsOn a par with sliced bread

I can see three mistakes on this cart already

You’re not being very careful are you?

You did much better than this on your test

What not to say

It looks as if you have nearly everything in the right place

Some of these long Dewey numbers can be tricky to begin with

This one catches most people out at first

What to say instead

Where to put the cart

Straighten and tidy ‘as you go’

Check ends and beginnings of shelves

Shift books to other shelves as needed

Pull damaged or mislabeled items

No detail is too small

Patrons are allowed to take the books you have just put away

They can take them off your cart too

You are new, you know nothing, so send patrons with questions to the reference desk

You did really well on your test and I know you are going to do a good job

A word before you leave them

Ask them if they notice anything about the book that still has the training slip in it.

Allow them to put it right

Congratulate them for having seen what the problem was

Explain any uncorrected errors with a minimum of fuss

How to handle errorsTake my advice and be nice

Take your trainee aside and ask them nicely how they think they are doing

Tell them how they are really doing

Explain how this affects you and your workload

Give one more chance

Let them go

What to do if they don’t improve

Visits from friends and family

Talkative patrons

Browsing or reading while shelving

Chatting at length with other shelvers

Distractions in the stacks

Tell the patron they are being inappropriate

Alert at least one other staff member

Take refuge in a non-public area of the library

Shout ‘get away from me’ very loudly

Call the police

Danger in the stacksGive them permission to act

Materials are constantly being added or weeded

Shelves can get tightly packed or empty out

Overcrowded shelves are hard to work with

An un-shifted collection looks bad

The longer you leave it the worse it gets

Why do we need to shift?

Patrons often put books back in the wrong place

We can identify items that are damaged or need cleaning

Tidy shelves in good order are inviting to patrons

Our goal is to make sure items are findable

Why do we need to shelf read?

Touch each book as you check the spine label

Re-shelve as needed

Pull items that need cleaning, mending or new labels

Move books to the left and push in book ends

Stop after thirty minutes

Write down what you have done

How to shelf read

Put away any unattended piles of books

Straighten and tidy shelves as time permits

Check study carrels and rooms for library material

Put magazines away

Hand in any stray belongings

Closing time routines

It will save you time

Your experienced shelvers will enjoy the responsibility

Your trainees will have more mentors

Delegate!

Name: Start date:First Dayforms tour scheduling work logsFirst Floorboard books picture books easy readersyouth fiction young adult fiction new booksmovies cd’s tv dvd’s games comicsSecond Flooradult fiction large print paperbacksaudio books biography reference

The Training LogKeep track of who did what when

The staff at the reference desk can help you with that. It’s this way

If you come with me I’m sure they’ll be able to find that information for you at the desk

Would you like to follow me over to the desk? They will be happy to help you with that

Let me find you an expert

Shelvers don’t do reference!

They do not feel pressured into offering help outside their skill set

Patrons don’t waste time speaking to the wrong person

The reference staff get the chance to meet the needs of the patrons

Patrons will be impressed by your helpful shelvers

Shelvers can feel good about how they handle these situations

When shelvers know their role everyone benefits

Does the patron know if the library owns the book?Fiction or non-fiction? Print, audio or download?Title and author correct? If they found it in the catalog is it checked in? Is this the book they really want or need?Do we have something else that will do?Do we need to get it from another library?

ReferenceHow complicated can it be?

Where do I check out?

Is there an elevator?

Where are the restrooms?

Have you read this book?

Shelvers, ready to help

Public computers

Public copiers/ fax machines

Filling in a form

Complaints

Can you help me with…..?

Anyone who seems to need help (such as a lost child)

Possible damage to library property

Theft of library property

Unattended property (such a patron’s laptops)

Rowdy behavior

Pornography being viewed in the presence of children

Things to look out for

An employee who can do everything you ask of them

An employee you can rely on

An employee who will need a minimum of supervision

An employee who will feel they are a vital part of the library

What will all this training achieve?

PatTunstall Indian Trails Public Library 355 Schoenbeck Road Wheeling, IL 60090

Phone: 847 279 2207 E mail: ptunstall@indiantrailslibrary.org

Contact information