Internship Journal_John Czap

John Czap
LIB 375-970 (Field Work)
Spring 2014
Journal of Internship at the Bethlehem Area Public Library (BAPL)
From January 23 to April 19 – 120 Hours
January 23, 2014 – 11am thru 2pm (3 hours)
I started off by observing operations at the information desk, and learning about item reserves,
inter-library loans (ILL, and serving patrons in general. The information desk handles items that were
reserved by patrons, and reserves cost 50¢ per item; I don't know how many other libraries practice that
policy, but it seems like it is a good way to bring in extra income. They are in charge of placing reserves
and collecting reserved items, and the circulation desk holds all reserves that are ready to be checked
out. The ILL program at BAPL, according to one of the librarians, has access to books from libraries all
across the country, in addition to the local partnership with Allentown and Easton. While observing, the
information desk faced an unusually long line at one point. The librarian serving them would, regardless
of who was first in line, would quickly assist patrons whom he determined had minor inquiries (where to
turn in forms, where to print, etc.); it seemed a bit informal, but for such a long line, such a practice
could relieve congestion around the desk more quickly.
In addition to those observations, I helped out by correcting schedule brochures for the
bookmobile – one of the destinations was considered hazardous (maybe only for the winter?), so it was
to be blocked out by correction fluid, and the new destination written over it, so that those 80-100
brochures would not go to waste. I do admire the will to save money on replacement prints, but the job
was time-consuming – almost 2 hours. Such a task might not have been accomplished quickly by other
workers, as they are usually busy. Maybe volunteers can be recruited to do such tasks, in addition to
shelving books. This is why thorough planning is required for everything, so that there doesn't have to
be such corrections made. I think the Bookmobile got stuck once (last winter?) when I was working as a
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shelver. If it was the same location that was removed from the schedule, could they have made the
adjustment before the brochures were printed?
January 24, 2014 – 3pm thru 6pm (3 hours – 6 hours accumulated)
I started today by observing operations at the circulation desk, where patrons check out their
books, return books, inquire about their library card account, apply for library cards, pay fines, etc. At
BAPL, there are usually 2 librarians working at the desk, but up to 3 or 4 (occasionally, even 5) can
work at the desk, if there are a large number of patrons. The librarians are very friendly to all patrons,
and it is not uncommon for them to address a patron by name (unless it seems likely that the patron will
be uncomfortable with that); they even have friendly conversations with patrons if it is not too busy. It is
a very friendly, cheerful atmosphere.
I noticed that select music CDs that were cataloged under “young adult”, as well as all video
games, are kept behind the circulation desk, where only the librarians have access. Patrons can still find
the cases on the shelf – if they want to check it out, all they have to do is bring the case to the circulation
desk for check out, and a librarian will retrieve the disc. I did not ask why this was, but from my time as
a shelver, I figured on my own that those items were at high risk of being stolen by patrons (in this case,
teenagers). Sure enough, the librarians and I discovered that a CD was stolen. It was from a music artist
that seemed to appeal to young adults, but it was cataloged in the adult section, where CDs are all kept
in the cases – a teen possibly came across it, and decided to steal it.
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In cases of item theft, the librarians look up when the item was last checked out, so that they can
check security camera footage from the time period. The cameras seem to cover the entire main
collection, and the video quality is very high – I was told that the library caught more thieves once the
current cameras were installed a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, the item was last checked out a long
time ago, so there is a very wide time window of when it could have been stolen.
After an hour of observations, I spent another hour performing shelf-reading, to make sure items
in a section of the library were organized correctly. I reviewed and corrected 000 through 070.49, which
was not in too bad of shape. Even though I have been a shelver here since 2011 (since late-2012
continuously), this is probably only the second or third time that I was asked to shelf-read, although
previously I would at least move a small number of books around if I was there and noticed them out of
place. At a later date, I will shelf-read areas of the collection that are known to be generally bad, to
compare with today's experience.
For the last hour, I actually had to work on the bookmobile schedules from the previous day's
work. I misunderstood, or missed, instructions on the size of my handwriting, and it was determined to
be too small for patrons with poor vision. Thus, I had to edit over 80-100 brochures – again. Thankfully,
the assistant-director was forgiving and reasonable, and gave me the chance to correct the mistake. I was
still embarrassed, though. I probably should have asked for a progress check before I finished it all, so
that I wouldn't have so much to correct, but I'll know better for next time – that's for sure.
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January 25, 2014 – 10am thru 1pm (3 hours – 9 hours accumulated)
I spent the first hour and a half continuing work on the bookmobile brochures; due to the fact that
I was putting on a second layer of correction tape, it was a bit more time-consuming, but I managed to
successfully correct all of them, so that the patrons could use them.
For the other 1.5 hours, I helped to index obituaries from the microfilm archive of the local
newspaper. I had previously assisted on it last semester, for an archiving class, so I was continuing
where I left off, and I didn't need much of a tutorial this time. My task was to go through the microfilm,
starting in January 1918, and copy down information from the obituaries.
The microfilm reader was an older model, and it was not connected to any computer, nor did it
allow any sort of digital scanning (but allowed printing), so it was most practical to write down the
information onto paper, to later be entered into an online database. Last semester, I had to record the
name of the person, the date and location of the article, and a list of surviving relatives. However, this
time I was not required to record relatives, so this saved some time for listing down each person – I was
even able to streamline my notes, allowing me to record information even faster. I listed down deaths
from January 5 through 8, 1918. It was interesting, and very educational, to get a glimpse of those old
newspapers, to see how life was back then. What struck me the most was that it was not unusual to see
deaths of people that would be considered young by today's standard (some people were not even 40).
What saddened me about the microfilm collection was the precarious state of the collection. Due
to space limitations and frequent access, the collection is not kept in a storage area with its own
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independent climate control, and is also subject to wear and tear from handling. This highlights the need
to index articles of interest, so that the text can be preserved digitally. However, without any advanced
microfilm equipment, that process is extremely time-consuming, if anyone is even available to perform
the task. The library might benefit from a money grant, in order to fund such digitization projects.
I spent the first hour observing at the circulation desk, and I learned about dealing with disruptive
patrons. The type of response depends on the severity of the situation, but generally, a patron is asked to
correct their behavior. Failure to comply results in the patron being asked to leave the library; if the
patron is unruly, then police is called (and can respond fast if required, since their headquarters are next
door). While asking about policies regarding disruptive and unruly patrons, I noticed a wireless device
under the circulation desk, labeled as an emergency panic button, used to contact authorities in the worst
of circumstances. When I asked about it, I was told that it was actually unknown if the device was still
working. The chances seem slim (knock on wood) that the panic button might actually be needed, but I
feel as though the library should probably test it on a scheduled basis, so that they can be prepared.
Afterward, I observed and interviewed at the information desk. I learned that they were
responsible for setting up themed displays of library items (usually audio-visual materials); such themes
may include Christmas movies and music, LGBT music artists, famous documentaries, Black History
Month, recently deceased people, etc.
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I asked questions regarding what services the information desk provided to patrons. They answer
any library, technology, or research questions that “don't take longer than 30 minutes to answer”, or
show a patron how to answer a question on their own if it will take too long for the librarian. If the
information librarians cannot solve any technology-related problems with the public-use computers, then
workers from BAPL's technology department come in to assist. For research questions, the 2 librarians
that I asked stated that they would have little problem using Wikipedia for answering questions that do
not require too deep of research (birth dates, basic summaries of an event or person, etc.). However,
even if the librarian already knows the answer to a research question, even if they know the subject very
well, they must still look it up to confirm it. The information desk also offers research help to people
who contact the library via internet – one of the farthest locations that a patron has contacted from was
the United Kingdom.
I spent 3 hours helping to index more obituaries. In the time-span working, I successfully
indexed from January 9 through 19, 1918. Coincidentally, I found an article mentioning a person by the
name of “John J. Czapp” - different name spelling than mine, but maybe there is some connection?
For the remaining hour, I observed at the circulation desk, where I learned about rental books.
Certain new books (mostly fiction) are in high demand, and are usually difficult to obtain at the library,
even if reserved. As a remedy, the library offers select books as rentals – they are rarely completely lent
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out, and have a 21-day lending period (1 week more than other new titles). The patron must pay $3 for
this service, but the fee does not have to paid immediately – they must eventually pay when their library
card is up for annual renewal. This can solve the problem of popular new titles being hard to get, and
bring in a little extra revenue for the library.
January 30, 2014 – 11am thru 12pm, 4pm-6pm (3 hours – 18 hours accumulated)
I spent the first hour indexing obituaries, from January 21 to 25, 1918. Afterward, I was asked to
help with digitizing local newspaper articles from World War II. Unfortunately, due to technical
problems, I was unable to do this. I'm hope to do it at a later date.
Instead of digitizing those articles, I decided to observe more at the circulation and information
desks. While watching the flow of people, I came to realize that, despite this library serving a lot of
people every day, it still feels like a small-town library, due to the courtesy that the library staff extends
to patrons in need. An equivalent would be Wal-Mart operating like a small-town convenience store,
where a large flow of people won't stop workers from having a true smile on their faces, eager to serve.
In fact, due to the amount of people that can be present at BAPL, it might be helpful if BAPL
uses the idea of a large retail store – self-checkouts. At least one or two might help to relieve patron
congestion on the busiest days. It can also allow patrons to have some “privacy” - if they have items that
they feel uncomfortable showing to a librarian (even though librarians are to respect their choices), they
can check it out themselves. However, this might be difficult to install, as most (if not all) library items
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have a security magnet that has to be desensitized, to avoid setting of the alarm at the exit. Desensitizing
equipment would need to be installed at each self-checkout, and that can probably take up extra room.
At the information desk, I learned about the library's job carrels. They are 4 computers, each in
its own cubicle, closed off by a door, affording the patron some privacy. They are used solely for patrons
to search and apply for jobs, as well as to fill out resumes. They also allow an extended period of use: 2
hours, compared to 1 hour for the general-use public computers. Internet activity is not monitored in the
carrels, but certain websites (such as social media like Facebook) are blocked. It is a wonderful way to
help out the local population that is looking for work. Even in modern America, a world of computers
and smart-phones galore, there are still citizens that lack internet access. A lot of employers now are
requiring potential employees to apply online, with no option to apply in person – the pain of which I
once experienced myself.
February 1, 2014 – 10am thru 11am, 4pm thru 5pm (2 hours – 20 hours accumulated)
I spent my first hour observing between the circulation and information desks. While at the
information desk, I learned about BAPL's staff intranet. The staff intranet provided the workers with
work schedules, vacation forms, and even a birthday list. Certainly, it is an important resource for all
employees at BAPL. However, the downside to the current system is that it is only available in the
library – workers must go to the library, or call one of their fellow co-workers (if they are not working
themselves), to access work schedules and other items. According to one of the librarians, there is a
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system upgrade available that will allow the staff intranet to be accessed outside of BAPL, but it comes
at quite the price – almost $800, in addition to the time needed to adjust to the new system. It might be
difficult at this time, as BAPL finally upgraded most computers to Windows 7 (from XP). This
highlights the problem with advancing computer technologies, in which costs can be so high that it is
uneconomical to upgrade as often. Thus, there must be a balance between technology that is not only
affordable, but practical for long-term use.
In the afternoon, I helped the circulation desk with shelf-reading. I cleaned 600 through 613.2;
and 641.5, “A” through “Gelles”. When working, twice I was standing on a stool with missing screws,
which could have caused me to fall. If the third stool had missing screws, I probably would have started
inspecting all of the stools in the library, to make sure no one could get hurt. Plus, if someone got injured
from a broken stool, they might sue the library.
February 4, 2014 – 11am thru 3pm (4 hours – 24 hours accumulated)
I started off the day observing for 30 minutes at the circulation desk. Afterward, I headed to
youth services.
As the name implies, youth services handles the children's section of the library. They account
for almost a third of the library's services, but, unfortunately, only occupy less than 15% of the library's
available floor space. From my observations, and time working as a shelver, I know that youth services
suffer from a lack of space. Because there is not enough room for everything, extra copies of books must
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be stored elsewhere, such as their work room (already cramped) and the basement storage. Recently, the
excess of oversize fiction books was getting to the point where they needed to move books into the
basement. However, the books currently down there had to be moved around to make room. I spent 1
hour and 30 minutes moving and consolidating the oversize books already downstairs, so that they
would be able to bring down more.
Despite my help so far, I know that it will not be enough for the long-term. Thankfully, BAPL
has an ongoing project, entitled “Room to Grow” (http://www.bapl.org/room2grow_01.html), which will
renovate and increase the area allocated for youth services at both the main library and South Side. At
the main library, they are renovating space on the 2nd
floor, which will provide room almost equivalent in
size to the main floor collection. That space will eventually go to youth services, and it will be better
than the current location.
After helping out youth services, I observed at the information desk for 1 hour, and I spent the
last hour shelf-reading (641.5 Gensler, though 641.592).
February 6, 2014 – 4pm thru 6pm (2 hours – 26 hours accumulated)
For 2 hours, I worked on indexing obituaries – January 26 through February 2, 1918. I had an
interesting discussion with BAPL's new director earlier in the day, while I was on duty as a shelver (not
counting towards internship hours). I was putting up DVD movies after they were returned. One of us
remarked, and we both agreed, on how, despite the rise of Netflix, people were checking out DVDs in
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large numbers – the DVDs flow in and out faster than the books at times. The principle behind Netflix is
similar to eBooks, in which media can be accessed digitally, without having to get off the couch. In
modern America, people can now read books and watch movies on demand. Those technologies, along
with the evolution of the internet (Google, Wikipedia, etc.), have led some people to question the
viability of libraries in the 21st
century. Despite these technological and digital advances, not everyone
can afford such luxuries at the moment, or choose not to deal with it. In regard to doing research on the
web, there are many answers you can get – possibly millions – but a librarian can guarantee the right
answer, or at least that is the view according to Neil Gaiman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH-
sR1uCQ6g). However, libraries should always learn from and adapt to new technologies, in order to
improve their services.
I spent 3 hours observing at the information desk. When the library opened, we discovered that
Millennium, the main software used for accessing the library catalog, was offline. As a result, no one
could access the catalog (either the workers or patrons), the circulation desk had to manually record who
checked out which books, and patrons could not log onto the public-use computers (even though the
internet worked, Millennium controlled the sessions on the computers). Due to the confusion, the staff
was very busy. I felt bad just sitting idle, so, despite previous instructions to only observe, I helped in
retrieving DVD movies for patrons that asked if they were in or not.
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I did this because the librarians seemed to have their hands tied with the ongoing catalog
problem. Plus, from my time working as a shelver, I have become very familiar with the DVDs to the
point where I recognize most titles when they are mentioned. One of the information librarians later said
that even though I was technically overstepping my authority, my help this time was an exception due to
the uniqueness of the situation and my familiarity with the DVDs. I do believe in set rules and
guidelines, so that confusion is avoided in operations and policies, but certain situations might call for a
bending of the rules, as long as good judgment and reasoning is used.
After an hour, Millennium was running again. I found out that Bethlehem was not the only one
affected – at least Allentown and Easton were also affected, due to these libraries being in a partnership
that involves sharing their catalogs. To make matters worse, the people responsible with maintenance on
the software were located all the way in California, leading to some communication issues. One patron
remarked that we were probably wishing that we didn't get rid of our card catalog (after the conversion
to a digital catalog, the cards all served as scrap paper), highlighting the pros and cons between each
format. If it's physical, you have it readily available, but it's difficult to search through, takes up room,
and it's time-consuming to update. If it's digital, then it is easier to search and takes up no physical room,
but all it takes is one bug to make the entire catalog inaccessible, and greatly hamper the library's
operations.
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I worked on obituaries for 2 hours, completing February 4 through 12, 1918. For the last hour, I
observed at the circulation desk.
The most interesting event today occurred before my internship, while I was working as a
shelver. A fight broke out between 2 unruly patrons, which was quickly broken up by an intervening
patron; the 2 were later arrested and banned from BAPL. The librarians acted professionally, by
immediately notifying the police, and keeping their distance from the scuffle, to avoid possible injuries
to themselves. The director happened to be nearby when the fight occurred, and he closely monitored the
patrons, but he did not get directly involved with them – he only kept far enough to avoid conflict, but
close enough to contain and monitor them until police arrived.
In addition to the director's actions during the aforementioned incident, I also applaud him for his
leadership style. Compared to the previous director (who retired in December of 2013, one year after I
started working at BAPL as a shelver), I have noticed him more frequently on the main floor of the
library, conversing with workers and seeing how their work is going. In 2 days I've seen him more often
than I saw the previous director in the space of 1 year. It's also a good boost of morale to hear (hopefully
well-deserved) compliments from him while I am on the job. He seems very interested in how his
employees are performing – definitely not like some “armchair CEO”.
NOTE: My comparison to the previous director was only a personal observation, and it was not
intended to criticize her leadership style.
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February 15, 2014 – 10am thru 12pm (2 hours – 34 hours accumulated)
I spent 1 hour each observing in the circulation and information departments. I was not expecting
to come in today, because of a very bad snow storm. Regardless, I prepared and made it to work safely
and on time. We had already been closed the previous 2 days due to an unusual amount of snow storms
hitting the area.
As it turns out, the reason we did not close seemed to be because of a donor's meeting that was to
be held during the library's last hour open for the day. High-profile and wealthy donors were expected to
attend, and food was already ordered for the event. The director acknowledged that the weather was very
bad, and he even risked driving over on his day off to examine the situation. He seemed reluctant to
close early because it would have meant canceling that donor's meeting, which was important since
those people probably gave considerable donations to BAPL. I do not know if many of the donors even
showed up.
Thankfully, the snow stopped just before work ended, and the roads were in decent shape by
then. Also, the library, despite the weather, was busy with patrons who braved the storm (possibly
because they couldn't come over the previous snow days). It goes to show how difficult it can be to
balance the safety of the employees versus the satisfaction of the patrons – or, in this case, high-profile
donors.
At the information desk, I learned that when a patron asks if an item is available, the librarian not
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only shows them how to use the online catalog, but tries to speak louder so that others in line may
possibly hear, so that they might be able to resolve issues themselves. Later, a librarian and I were
discussing a patron who asked a question regarding politics, and I was told that a good librarian is
unbiased, and only gives facts (no opinions).
I spent 2 hours working on obituaries, February 13 through 23, 1918. Not only were there 2
consecutive snow days the previous week, but BAPL was closed yesterday for President's Day. This
resulted in Tuesday being VERY busy for the library – another important thing to consider when
deciding on declaring a snow day. If we were closed on Saturday as well (previous journal entry), I'd
hate to imagine how much work there would have been.
In the afternoon, while on break, I encountered a patron who asked to use the phone in the office.
I was going to turn her down, yet she mentioned that one of the librarians had allowed her to use the
phone, as she was a friend. When she mentioned the librarian's name, I mistakenly took her word for it
and let her use the phone – she was calling to reserve an apartment, which she considered an
“emergency”. However, the librarian showed up, and when I explained it, she sent the patron out, and
explained to me that even though it was a friend, she lied about permission to use the phone, and had
already harassed her previously for similar, unusual help.
I was forgiven for the mistake. The librarian told me that even though it is usually best to treat
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each patron on an individual basis, depending on their needs, some patrons will “ask for an inch, get an
inch, then ask for a mile”. I was given the advice that even when I may feel convinced to help a patron
beyond what is usually normal, I must always remember my guidelines and limits as a professional.
I observed one hour each in the circulation and information departments, and then spent an hour
shelf-reading, from 641.594 to 641.864. From my shelving experience, it seems that the most
disorganized sections of the collection are towards the back of the library, especially the oversize books.
Reasons for this may include the fact that there are no signs that instruct people where to return
unwanted books, with the exception of one small sign above one of the in-house circulation carts. The
other cart is located behind the information desk, where patrons are probably less likely to notice it, and
the other cart is in reading area of the library. It seems reasonable to place it there, but there should
either be one more cart, or more signs instructing people where to return unwanted books. The cart at the
information desk should also be placed in the open, and signs should be put up to notify people where to
return unwanted books, instead of possibly putting it back incorrectly.
I spent 30 minutes observing at the circulation desk, 30 minutes observing a computer class, and
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2 hours observing at the information desk.
The computer class is approximately 2 hours, and any participant can ask for help and receive
instruction from library workers and volunteers. When I finally found out about the class, there was only
30 minutes left, but it seemed that only one person attended, despite more having registered in advance
(a requirement). The librarian serving the class told me that the usual schedule of the class would
probably be amended, as attendance seemed to be dropping, and the registration deadlines are set too far
in advance. I hope to volunteer for the class on March 18, if am able to.
During my time at the information desk, I took a tour of the library's archive, the Bethlehem
Room. The following is from a Fall 2013 assignment on the archive:
The material and collections in the Bethlehem Room record and conserve the history of
Bethlehem. Any patron may access the Bethlehem Room, with permission and an escort from the
information desk. Photo identification is required, and users of the room need to fill out a slip of paper.
The slips are then organized by month in a very small storage container, and kept for at least a year, to
aid in statistics. No jackets or bags are allowed into the room; lockers at the information desk provide
temporary storage for such belongings while the patron is using the Bethlehem Room. Not even pens are
allowed, due to the rare possibility of the room's climate causing the pens to explode and splash ink.
The only entrance to the room is located within 50 feet from the information desk, and the only
path to the door passes directly by the desk. The entrance is within direct eyesight of the information
desk, so librarians can easily observe any activity there. The entrance is a double set of metal doors,
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which can only be opened by key, and there are windows to observe activity inside. The room, or at least
the entrance, lacks an independent security system for burglaries (although there is one motion detector).
However, all entrances to the library building are armed as part of the security system (with the police
station next door). All patrons have to pass through a book detector that is constantly watched by
librarians at the circulation desk, and most, if not all, items in the archive have a security device that will
sound off the alarm like a regular book from the library's main collection. There are security cameras
located around the building, with at least one with a view of the Bethlehem Room entrance. The video
recording is in color, with a very good resolution and frame rate, although it is unknown whether
someone is constantly monitoring it. The staff, however, seems to have easy access and control of the
security footage. The intercom in the room no longer functions, and there seems to be no phone that can
be used to contact someone elsewhere in the library. Because the Bethlehem Room is located in a corner
of the building, the outside “walls” are large windows. The windows are “industrial” strength and cannot
be broken easily by intruders, but windows elsewhere, of similar design, have broken from age and
unfavorable climates.
The Bethlehem Room has its own independent climate control, through the use of an industrial,
portable air-conditioning and dehumidifying unit (the library's central cooling and heating is actually
controlled by city hall, next-door). The unit has an automatic control interface, but a stand-alone, digital
hygro-thermometer is used to measure the climate conditions in the room, normally at around 70° F and
50% humidity. The A/C unit has a phone number on it to call for repairs. The windows, despite not
having a noticeable tint, supposedly have UV coating, and the blinds are constantly closed in the room,
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keeping out harmful sunlight (and discouraging prying eyes from the outside). There is no insulation
under and between the double doors, yet the staff claims that the climate control is “not perfect, but
good”. The hygro-thermometer is supposedly checked hourly, as there is no alarm to signal insufficient
climate conditions. There is a fire extinguisher in the room, but no water sprinklers, to avoid causing
more damage than necessary to the archival material. Excluding the doors to the Bethlehem Room,
several doorways in the building serve as fire bulkheads, containing fires in their sections of origin.
There is such a difference in climate between the Bethlehem Room and the rest of the 1st
floor (main
collection) that a fire can not easily enter the room.
A majority of the collections in the Bethlehem Room are organized by the Dewey Decimal
System. Special collections, such as diaries, letters, and paintings, are grouped by their creator (or, in
some cases, by the donator). All items are cataloged like normal library items, so they can be found on
BAPL's online catalog: http://webpac.lvlspa.org/search~S13. However, nothing in the archive is
digitized or indexed. In the room, material is stored on several moving shelves. The shelves are
electronically controlled, each having its own control interface and warning lights. If power to the room
fails, the shelving unit has its own backup battery pack for emergencies. There are finding aids located
within binders at a desk in the room, along with at least one binder containing image duplicates from the
photograph collection. There is a card catalog in the room, and it is still in use despite its old-looking
age. The room also has a computer for catalog searches and research, and has a printer/scanner attached.
There are 2 public-use microfilm readers, but they are located outside of the Bethlehem Room. Funding
for the Bethlehem Room comes from the local city government, although if any digitization projects go
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underway, funding is only to come from either the state or federal government. Currently, there are no
major, ongoing preservation projects on any archive material.
One major part of the Bethlehem Room is the microfilm collection. It consists of local
newspapers, dating back to 1867. The local newspaper collection is currently in the progress of being
indexed, when the staff has the time available to devote to the task; because there are no microfilm
readers available that can scan text and transfer it onto a computer, information is copied down manually
from the reader. The microfilm is available to the public, and librarians at the information desk will
assist in retrieving and setting up the microfilm for use. Unfortunately, even though there seems to be
adequate shelf space in the Bethlehem Room, the microfilm is accessed so frequently that they are kept
in drawers behind the information desk. As a result, the librarians can keep inexperienced patrons from
accessing or handling the microfilm correctly, but the collection does not sit in an adequate climate. The
drawers are metal, to prevent some fire damage, but the drawers do not have any insulation or climate
control. At least one librarian complained that she was “nervous” to get out the microfilm, as it will only
further increase the degradation over time. Even though other items in the Bethlehem Room have not
been digitized, they are at least in a climate-controlled room. Due to the impracticality, if not the
impossibility, of keeping the microfilm easily accessible in a good climate, it would be best that BAPL
currently keep to (and intensify) its focus on indexing the local newspaper articles and obituaries, before
the microfilm degrades to the point where the history is lost forever.
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I spent 1 hour each observing at the circulation and information desks. When I asked the
information librarians about which search engines and websites they are allowed to use on the internet, I
was told that they are given great liberty as to what they may use (even Wikipedia), as long as the
resource is trustworthy and the librarian takes everything “with a grain of salt”.
During my last hour of the day, I spent the time observing and asking questions at youth services.
Children must be at least 7 (or 8?) years of age to be in the YS room without parental supervision. The
room has its own computers for use by children, including several specialized computers that provide
educational games and activities. The activity computers were recently acquired for a bargain, and will
be updated regularly by the manufacturer until the end of their lives (possibly 7 years). The programs on
these computers will hopefully contribute to the children's education, in addition to what they may learn
in school.
YS hosts 4 storytime sessions per week, with one session each for babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers,
and families. There is also TumbleBooks, an online service that provides interactive eBooks to BAPL
patrons. The storytime sessions undoubtedly bring in many young patrons, but the partnership with
TumbleBooks brings BAPL's youth services into the 21st
century, appealing to families that are unable to
make it to the library during business hours. YS also provides homework help, Monday through
Thursday, during the college semester (college students volunteer to provide tutoring). Such tutoring
programs may reinforce the library's role as a place for education, as well as entertainment.
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The head of YS is responsible for acquisitions of children and teen library material,
independently of the main acquisition department, and limited only by the allocated budget. Weeding is
done at least once a year, but is dependent on the budget. Weeding is urgent in YS, due to its room being
too small. When the “Room To Grow” project (previously mentioned in February 4 entry) succeeds in
moving YS to the 2nd
floor, the former room will be used to house the teen section, and possibly a cafe
for use by all patrons.
In the modern era, Libraries must try new, possibly radical, things to lure in patrons. A cafe
would surely help in a library as busy as BAPL, and possibly even bring in significant revenue.
I spent 1 hour observing at the circulation desk, and 2 hours observing at the information desk. I
decided to question one of the librarians about the use of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia website. I
was told that it is okay to “begin” with Wikipedia, but never to “end” with it, due to the possibility of
untrustworthy citations (or the complete lack of citations).
Later, I observed one of the librarians struggling to satisfy a patron's inquiry. The patron arrived
less than 20 minutes before closing, and seemed to have prepared very little before coming to the library
for help, and needed constant help from the librarian, resulting in the last patrons almost not being
served before closing time. Despite the librarian's frustration, he kept normal and calm, and continued to
assist the patron until her needs were met. I was impressed by his handling of the situation, without the
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patron ever realizing how irritated he was. It is unavoidable to work with patrons that can be unprepared,
but librarians should always be patient and help as much as possible.
March 1, 2014 – 10am thru 11am, 4pm thru 5pm (2 hours – 50 hours accumulated)
I spent my internship hours working on copying obituary names, from February 25 to March 6,
1918. While working with the microfilm, I learned that some of the rolls were over 60 years old,
reminding me of the delicate condition that the film is already in.
Some of the librarians were complaining due to high temperatures in the library building on the
previous day. The library's interior climate is actually controlled by city hall, which is located in the
same plaza. When I asked if the library's climate could be controlled independently of city hall's climate,
I was told that city hall claimed it was a “complicated” system. There have even been problems in the
Summer when the air-conditioning levels were not sufficient for very hot days. It would make sense for
city hall to control the library's temperatures for budget reasons, but during this winter, the heat was too
high, and usually the front doors had to be left open. Such disregard by the city officials not only
impacts the comfort of the patrons and workers, but wastes money when the library is probably already
suffering financial woes. The librarians are hopeful that the new director could find a solution by
working with the city officials.
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March 6, 2014 – 3pm thru 6pm (3 hours – 53 hours accumulated)
I spent 1 hour observing at the circulation desk, and 2 hours at the information desk. While at the
information desk, I learned about BAPL's weeding process.
Weeding is done approximately once a year, and is important because of the limited space in the
main collection area. The 300 section, one of the largest, takes the longest to weed through. Books
selected for removal included out-of-date books, and those that have not been checked out often or
recently – this rule does not apply, however, for books on civil rights, as there are not enough books on
the subject, according to one librarian.
Despite BAPL's weeding efforts, only about a couple of thousand books are removed, while
almost a thousand enter at the same time. The old items keep the monthly book sale running, and bring
in extra income for the library.
Print encyclopedias will stay for a while, to keep costs down. Also, certain encyclopedias, such
as Britannica, no longer offer print versions. In the 21st
century, encyclopedias truly do seem more
practical in an electronic format, as information now is always changing and being updated.
March 8, 2014 – 10am thru 1pm (3 hours – 56 hours accumulated)
I spent 1 hour observing at the circulation desk, and 2 hours at the information desk. At the
information desk, I noticed that the reference librarians may be required to do some of the tasks of the
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circulation department, especially book renewals, if the circulation desk becomes overwhelmed on busy
days.
Some regular services provided by the information desk include 15-minute computer passes for
guests that do not have, or cannot obtain, a BAPL library card (or left it at home). This service may
come in handy for out-of-town visitors that need computer access. Another good service is for the use of
the printers. One black & white copy is 20¢, and money may be stored on a patron's library account –
convenient for those that lack spare change in their wallets (the librarians can still make change, but the
cash register is not readily available at the information desk, where the printers and copiers are).
If BAPL does not have a title that a patron is looking for, they may pay a 50¢ fee to request that
the item be added to the collection and reserved for them, upon approval from the department in charge
of acquisitions.
Throughout my time working as a shelver, my favorite non-fiction book series in the library is
“Opposing View Points” (as well as similar series, such as “Current Controversies”). The books cover a
multitude of topics, and provide a diverse view in favor of, or against, certain subjects. Series like these
will help the library to educate the population on important issues, while affirming a neutral, non-biased
stance.
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I spent the entire internship time, 3 hours, observing at the information desk. I noticed that BAPL
does not seem to strictly enforce certain rules, especially regarding patrons speaking loudly, or patrons
talking on cell phones. Such rules seemed to be enforced only if the patrons' conversational volume
becomes noticeably louder than others, and undoubtedly disturbing. A librarian said that, due to the large
number of people in the library, it is more practical to enforce such rules when the violation becomes too
large to ignore; if the rule was strictly enforced on every patron, they may see BAPL as “authoritarian”,
and may not come back.
I spent 3 hours correcting library pamphlets. BAPL's South Side branch was changing its open
hours, and the pamphlets needed to be corrected, using labels with the new times, so that new pamphlets
would not have to be printed out. It was similar to earlier in my internship, when I corrected pamphlets
for the Bookmobile, but the labels made it easier and quicker. I also didn't have to worry about my
handwriting being difficult to see, since the new labels had the hours printed on instead of written.
March 14, 2014 – 12pm thru 1pm (1 hour – 63 hours accumulated)
I spent an hour correcting more library pamphlets.
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I spent 3 hours observing at the information desk, where I watched the librarians work on
statistical surveys. The surveys are taken approximately once per week, by each information librarian.
Questions on the survey ask for data regarding each patron and their respective inquires – a patron's age
group and gender, how many questions they asked, what kinds of (non-technical) questions, their level
of satisfaction, etc. The survey results are researched to see how many patrons visit the information desk
for help, and what kind of help they usually need.
I spent 1.5 hours correcting library pamphlets, 30 minutes observing at the circulation desk, and
2 hours at the information desk. At the information desk, I noticed that a few patrons were confused how
to use the public printer. When a patron sends something to the printer from their computer, it actually
goes first to a print center, a computer hooked up to the printers. Then, the patron goes to the print
center, selects their print job from a list on the screen (which also displays the price), and, after paying
the fee (20¢ per black-and-white page), retrieves their document from the printer.
The print center setup maybe more streamlined for the library employees to service, but some
patrons don't seem familiar enough with this setup. It may help to place instructions at each computer
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station, so that the information librarians can focus on helping other patrons. Another idea would be to
send print jobs directly to the printer, and pay for the job using money saved on the patron's account
(they already need their library card to sign into the computers in the first place), although not every
patron would want to place money on such an account (especially if they don't print frequently).
For 2 hours in the morning, I observed a technology workshop class. The workshop occurs once
per month, and is held at both BAPL's main branch and the South Side. However, the workshops are
taught differently between the locations: at the South Side, it is an instructional lecture taught to
everyone simultaneously, whereas at the main branch (where I was), each patron asks their own
questions, and librarians and volunteers assist each patron at their own pace.
It was a full class, with almost a dozen patrons, all asking for help on various electronic tasks,
ranging from emails and flash drives, to Craigslist and Facebook. All of the patrons seemed to be over
the age of 50, so the class probably benefits the locality's older population, which is less likely to be
knowledgeable of modern computer technology. The 2 librarians and a lone volunteer were successfully
able to answer all of the patrons' diverse questions. It highlighted the need for librarians to stay
knowledgeable in a time of ever-advancing technology – libraries truly aren't only about books anymore.
Afterward, I spent 1.5 hours working on indexing obituaries (March 7 through 12, 1918), 1 hour
observing at the information desk, and 30 minutes observing at the circulation desk.
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March 19, 2014 – 10am thru 2pm, 6pm thru 8pm (6 hours – 81 hours accumulated)
I spent 3 hours each observing at the information and circulation desks. While at information, I
asked whether the library would replace its DVD collection with Blu-Ray discs in the future. The
response was as I had guessed: because all (or at least 99%) of Blu-Ray players have backward-
compatability with DVDs, and the minor (almost unnoticeable) difference in quality, BAPL will
continue to obtain new movies in the DVD format (at least until DVDs end production, like VHS).
At the circulation desk, I learned about BAPL's policy for late fees. If a patron's fines accumulate
to under $10, they must pay the fine before they can renew their library card (occurs annually). If the
fines accumulate to more than $25, they must be paid within 60 days, or it will be reported to a
collection agency. The report takes an additional 120 days to process, and if the fine still isn't paid off by
then, the patron could see his/her credit score become affected.
March 20, 2014 – 10am thru 12pm, 4pm thru 6pm (4 hours – 85 hours accumulated)
I spent 2 hours each observing at the information and circulation desks. At the information desk,
I learned that the librarians, when they are not busy, usually search on Amazon.com for new items that
can be added to BAPL's collection; their recommendations are sent to the department in charge of
acquisitions.
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While at the circulation desk, a patron, who was a teacher, mistakenly believed that teachers and
professors could receive longer borrowing times for items, if they can be used for educational purposes.
Even though she was incorrect (thankfully, she was not offended), it got me to wondering if educators
should really get that privilege. It would be easier for educators that needed certain material for extended
lectures, but the system may be difficult to enforce at a public library. However, such a system may be
more practical in an academic library (elementary, secondary, or college).
For 2 hours, I worked on obituaries, dating from March 13 through 22, 1918.
March 22, 2014 – 10am thru 11am, 12pm thru 2pm (3 hours – 90 hours accumulated)
I spent 1 hour each observing at the information and circulation desks. For 1 hour in the morning,
I took a tour of BAPL's Bookmobile – “Bookie Monster” – at one of its destinations, and talked with
the driver.
A small portion of “everything” is on board the Bookmobile; almost all the items come from the
main branch collection, but occasionally, some items may be retrieved from the South Side branch, upon
a patron's request. Items are selected based on what is popular, and if extra copies are available. The
vehicle comes equipped with a computer and internet access, and the driver is the sole operator of the
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miniature, mobile library. The driver, in conjunction with the assistant director and head of information
services, decide on the Bookmobile's stops; the destinations are planned in advance, and displayed on a
schedule brochure and BAPL's website (http://www.bapl.org/bookmobile.html).
The Bookmobile is 25-30 feet long (almost the size of a large UPS truck), and had been bought
pre-owned about 15 years ago. At the time I checked, the odometer showed approximately 50,000 miles,
which seemed absurdly low for its age and use (the odometer may have rolled over at 100,000 miles, or
even have been reset). If the mileage was accurate, then the vehicle can probably still be used for quite
some time (the body seemed fine, and the vehicle was obviously built for demanding commercial
applications), but stop-and-go driving around the city usually puts more wear on a vehicle's components,
so body condition would not be the only factor in determining the Bookmobile's remaining life.
City officials are responsible for maintenance of the Bookmobile. If the body remains in good
condition, then it may be more economical to overhaul/replace the engine or transmission than to replace
the entire vehicle. I have a personal principle that I apply to any items that require maintenance, whether
it be a car or a computer: focus on the long-term – get a product that is not only durable enough to last,
but economical to fix (or even upgrade) as opposed to outright replacement (unless totaled in
uncontrollable/uncommon circumstances).
Some interesting features on board included toys for children, as well as a small bathroom
(although it lacked a sink). I recommended to the driver that they install some sort of harnesses on the
shelves, possibly using stretch cords and hooks, as one sharp turn or major accident could send books
flying.
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March 25, 2014 – 4pm thru 7pm (3hours – 93 hours accumulated)
I spent 3 hours observing at the information desk. I noticed that a couple of patrons were abusing
the job carrels, by either watching movies or playing video games, as opposed to actually applying for
jobs. Certain websites are already blocked on those computers, but it seems that the staff could do more
to enforce the policies. However, it might be an invasion of privacy if librarians began to actively
monitor their computer activity, as opposed to catching a brief glimpse of their screens from the outside
(although that would seem to be a privacy invasion as well).
I spent 3 hours observing operations at the information desk. When the librarians were busy, a
patron asked me to help him find a book; he had brought up the catalog listing for the book on his
smartphone. After helping him, I thought of the possibility that a library could have its own smartphone
app. Sure enough, I found out that some major libraries, like the New York Public Library
(http://www.nypl.org/mobile-help), have their own smartphone apps, that allow patrons to not only
search the catalog, but review their library accounts. The idea still seems young, and it may be expensive
for BAPL to undertake at the moment, but I wouldn't be surprised if they adopt their own smartphone
app a few years from now.
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March 29, 2014 – 10am thru 11am, 2:30pm thru 4:30pm (3 hours – 99 hours accumulated)
I spent 1 hour observing at the circulation desk, and 2 hours at the information desk. A patron
inquired for help in finding a poem. He had the title, but it lead to nothing in an internet search by 2
information librarians. However, searching for one known line from the poem helped to quickly find the
poem. Both of the information librarians on duty at the time had worked together on the search, when
normally they worked separately with different patrons. They explained that “real” reference questions,
like the one they just solved, don't really come often – some questions are only technical, or easy
reference. Whenever they get a “real” reference question, the librarians usually team up to find the
answer, as they love the “challenge”.
April 1, 2014 – 1pm thru 4pm (3 hours – 102 hours accumulated)
I spent 1 hour observing at the circulation desk, and 2 hours at the information desk.
April 3, 2014 – 10am thru 11am, 2:30pm thru 5:30pm (4 hours – 106 hours accumulated)
I spent 1 hour observing at the information desk, and 3 hours correcting library pamphlets.
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I spent 20 minutes observing at the circulation desk, 40 minutes correcting library pamphlets, and
1 hour observing at the information desk.
While observing, I thought about BAPL's partnership with the neighboring Allentown and Easton
Public Libraries. It is a sort of loose confederation, in which their catalogs are merged together.
However, the libraries have separate membership accounts for patrons in their respective jurisdictions.
Also, if a patron wishes to borrow an item from a neighboring library, then they must request it from
their home library, and it will then be delivered to the library the next day.
In comparison, the system of the Berks County Public Libraries gives all patrons a single card,
allowing equal access to all participating libraries. In addition, they can return books from one library to
one that is convenient for them. BCPL has a central hub for distributing books around the federation.
In the future, it may be possible that the major libraries of the Lehigh Valley attempt a library
federation in a similar manner to Berks County. It would be a take a lot of work and money to establish,
but it may provide easier, combined services for Valley residents.
April 8, 2014 – 3:30pm thru 4:30pm (1 hour – 109 hours accumulated)
I observed for 1 hour at the circulation desk.
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I observed for 2 hours at the circulation desk, and 1 hour at the information desk.
I observed for 2 hours at the information desk.
April 19, 2014 – 1 hour – 120 hours accumulated
BAPL South Side:
I traveled to BAPL's South Side branch, to observe their facility and operations. It was my first
visit to the building, and I was interested to compare the South Side to the main branch that I have been
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familiar with.
As the name implies, the South Side building is located on the southern side of Bethlehem,
across the Lehigh River from the main branch, approximately 1 mile apart from each other.
Whereas the main branch's present building was constructed in the late-1960s, the South Side
branch has occupied the same building since its founding in 1929. The building is much smaller than the
main branch, but it has recently been renovated, as part of the “Room to Grow” project – new and
improved features include the paint, lights, security system, and furniture (especially for youth services,
which is now more modern than the main branch, and takes up almost 40% of the floor space). Items in
the South Side collection are part of the greater BAPL catalog, but the items are labeled “BM” and “BS”
on their labels, to indicate which branch they are housed in. Patrons may request books to be shipped
from one branch (deliveries twice per week), or they can go to the other branch themselves (BAPL
library cards work at both locations just the same).
Unlike the main branch, the information and circulation desks are merged into one large, central
desk in the building. Because there doesn't seem to be near as many patrons, compared to the main
branch, there isn't really a need to separate the operations.
The South Side has a small urban fiction collection, which the main branch lacks, although it is
falling in popularity.
The most prominent showcase of the South Side branch is their Spanish language collection
(books, music, and film), which is almost 20 times the size – the main branch only has 2 shelves for
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adult Spanish books, and the small amount of Spanish movies and music are mixed in with the English
items. I would assume that this is due to the high number of Spanish speakers in the area – according to
US Census records, Hispanics and Latinos constitute almost 24% of Bethlehem city's total population,
compared to 5.7% of the entire state population. According to one of the librarians, BAPL's South Side
branch has the largest Spanish-language collection of materials in the region.
EZ Lend Kiosk – Hanover Township Community Center:
After spending time at the South Side branch, I drove to the Hanover Township Community
Center (http://hanovercommunitycenter.com/), home of BAPL's only “EZ Lend Kiosk”. The community
center is located over 5 miles away, and the kiosk there can be used by any BAPL card holder. The kiosk
stays open as long as the community center is open (longer open hours than the library itself), and
benefits those that do not want to drive all the way to downtown Bethlehem.
The kiosk can be thought of as BAPL's “Redbox branch” - it performs similarly to the popular
movie rental vending machine, but it lends books and movies. The machine looks like a snack vending
machine, with a glass panel to view the contents on the racks. The patron scans their library card, and
then selects the a rack – the item at the front on each rack is then deposited to the patron. The kiosk
items have their own unique sticker, and items are returned in a nearby drop-box. A librarian stops by
once or twice a week to check on the kiosk; community center workers do not operate the machine
themselves.
The kiosk has its problems, however. Each rack in the machine has several different items, but
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patrons can only see the item at the front – the item at the front is the item that they check out. They may
continue to checkout until they see something that they really like, but the checkout limit is 5 books and
5 DVDs – lower than the limits at the main branch – with no renewals. A librarian claimed that the
kiosk's system can be “problematic”.
However, despite the negatives of the machine, it generates enough interest and popularity, due
to its uniqueness.
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Internship Journal_John Czap

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