Reflections on Conversations
Themes and Thoughts
Thanks!
Thanks for all of the great conversations over the past couple of weeks. Thanks also for your honesty, candor, and your enthusiasm for your work. You were justifiably proud of what we have been doing, honest in your frustrations and suggestions, and excited for new possibilities that may be coming our way. WVWC is very lucky to have all of you in your positions!!
There were some themes that came up in multiple conversations, and I would like to share them here in hopes of highlighting some things for us to work on.
There were some themes that came up in multiple conversations, and I would like to share them here in hopes of highlighting some things for us to work on.
We Really Are Diverse
We may not look like it, but we really are diverse in our personalities, approaches to things, and in our skill sets.
In spite of any differences, we all seem to be in complete agreement that we are striving for good customer service and a professional manner.
Even when we generally agree on things, we come from very diverse perspectives.
In spite of any differences, we all seem to be in complete agreement that we are striving for good customer service and a professional manner.
Even when we generally agree on things, we come from very diverse perspectives.
A few examples of our diversity (there are lots more):
Very social / very private
Very neat / a little less so
Very detail oriented / very big-picture oriented
Let's Respect That DIversity
By respecting the differences in the way we approach things and do things, we may likely come to a very balanced way of doing our work.
Please respect the work space of your co-workers. More than one of you has expressed frustration that people drop by to talk and chat for extended periods of time, thus distracting them and making it hard to accomplish their work. While we all want or need to chat from time to time, please be sensitive to the needs of your friends and colleagues.
Several people mentioned that Facebook and Twitter, while certainly being used for work-related purposes are sometimes being overused by people for personal things during work time. It was mentioned that people beyond our walls are wondering why we have time to play games or do shopping on work time. While sometimes it is a matter of perspective, we can certainly all stop and ask ourselves if these things need to be considered.
Mike Kuba will be coming to talk with us early in August to share our Myers-Briggs results. That could be a fun conversation if approached in the spirit of celebrating our diversity.
We also need to offer that same respect to other groups, such as faculty, students, and our student employees. These people all have different needs and skill levels as well.
Please respect the work space of your co-workers. More than one of you has expressed frustration that people drop by to talk and chat for extended periods of time, thus distracting them and making it hard to accomplish their work. While we all want or need to chat from time to time, please be sensitive to the needs of your friends and colleagues.
Several people mentioned that Facebook and Twitter, while certainly being used for work-related purposes are sometimes being overused by people for personal things during work time. It was mentioned that people beyond our walls are wondering why we have time to play games or do shopping on work time. While sometimes it is a matter of perspective, we can certainly all stop and ask ourselves if these things need to be considered.
Mike Kuba will be coming to talk with us early in August to share our Myers-Briggs results. That could be a fun conversation if approached in the spirit of celebrating our diversity.
We also need to offer that same respect to other groups, such as faculty, students, and our student employees. These people all have different needs and skill levels as well.
Remain Curious and Keep on Learning
Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning. (William Arthur Ward)
We have an incredible number of resources, and we all need to be familiar with them in order to be able to give good service to the Wesleyan Community.
This is not just something that Beth needs to do as Reference and Instruction Coordinator. We ALL need to spend time when we are at the front desk exploring them so that we will be ready when the situation requires it.
There will be opportunities to attend formal workshops or class sessions for this, but we all know that the best learning happens when we are trying to satisfy our own curiosity. For example, who can be the first to tell me something about who William Arthur Ward is? Use one of our resources - and respond to this email.
Each week I will try to offer up a "database of the week" for you to explore and to respond to something like this. You may find that you enjoy it! And that it is a productive way to use some of your time at the front desk.
We have an incredible number of resources, and we all need to be familiar with them in order to be able to give good service to the Wesleyan Community.
This is not just something that Beth needs to do as Reference and Instruction Coordinator. We ALL need to spend time when we are at the front desk exploring them so that we will be ready when the situation requires it.
There will be opportunities to attend formal workshops or class sessions for this, but we all know that the best learning happens when we are trying to satisfy our own curiosity. For example, who can be the first to tell me something about who William Arthur Ward is? Use one of our resources - and respond to this email.
Each week I will try to offer up a "database of the week" for you to explore and to respond to something like this. You may find that you enjoy it! And that it is a productive way to use some of your time at the front desk.
Things We Are Doing - Things We Could Do
The DVDs, shelf reading, and inventory are still in process. The purpose for all of this is to make sure that the collection is in great shape for our library users. It is very good for all of us to take a turn at the shelf reading and inventory. It gets us in touch with resources that we have - including making us realize the strengths and weaknesses of our collection! Thanks to those who have been active in this. I would encourage others to do it also!
Carol Smith is weeding and shifting periodicals. As this process progresses, we will be able to rethink some of the areas behind the front desk. Carol Bowman will be setting up Acquisitions things in the vault (and Brett has plans to move some other things out of there) where they can be close by when she needs them, but still be in a secure area.
We all need to be aware that our voices carry when we are out front. This can be distracting to students and other visitors, especially when we gather for a gossip or gripe session. Just be aware that the "shelves have ears".
As the new school year gets ready to kick off, I hope that we will all keep in mind that the excellent work that we do here is crucial to the teaching and learning of the WVWC Community. Sometimes we get so bogged down in the day-to-day details, busyness, frustrations, and annoyances that we can forget that!
Carol Smith is weeding and shifting periodicals. As this process progresses, we will be able to rethink some of the areas behind the front desk. Carol Bowman will be setting up Acquisitions things in the vault (and Brett has plans to move some other things out of there) where they can be close by when she needs them, but still be in a secure area.
We all need to be aware that our voices carry when we are out front. This can be distracting to students and other visitors, especially when we gather for a gossip or gripe session. Just be aware that the "shelves have ears".
As the new school year gets ready to kick off, I hope that we will all keep in mind that the excellent work that we do here is crucial to the teaching and learning of the WVWC Community. Sometimes we get so bogged down in the day-to-day details, busyness, frustrations, and annoyances that we can forget that!
Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library
Email: librarian@wvwc.edu
Website: amplibrary.wvwc.edu
Phone: (304) 473-8013
Facebook: facebook.com/amplibrary
Twitter: @AMPLibrary