Department Highlights

Materials Services

• From July 1, 2013 to February 21, 2014, MSL received a total of 9,581 customer suggestions, for an average of 282 per week. 
• Since the beginning of FY14, 20,648 titles and 139,412 items were selected and ordered.  This averages to 625 titles and 4,224 items per week.
• Since the beginning of July, a total of 563 boxes of withdrawals and gifts were received in MSL.  298 boxes were sent to the booksale, 122 boxes of transfers and 16 boxes of gifts were sent to CAT.
• 2,820 new titles were cataloged during January, including 669 e-media titles.
• 18,386 barcode labels were printed in January; 16,970 for new materials and 1,416 for reprocessed materials.
• 2,068  new titles were received in Cataloging during January.
• In January, titles with more reserves waiting than copies purchased at the time of receipt were routed out of Cataloging to Technical Processing within one working day of receipt into Cataloging.
• Titles new to the collection were routed from Cataloging to Technical Processing within 7.64 working days of receipt into Cataloging during January.
• Average ratio of copies to titles was 4.25 copies per title for January.
• 977 requests to borrow materials through ILL for MLS customers were received in January.  During January, requests to borrow were submitted to lending libraries within two working days of being received in ILL.
• 730 materials borrowed through ILL were received and routed to libraries in January.  Materials are not always received during the same month that a request is placed.  During January, 249 of the materials received (34% of receives) were requested in December.  In December, 720 requests were received and a total of 546 of the requested materials were borrowed, for a fill rate of 76%.
• In January, requests to borrow materials for MLS customers were submitted to libraries an average of 1.75 working days after the requests were received in ILL.
• Staff in ILL evaluated 1,950 requests to lend MLS materials to other libraries in January.  1,214 materials were lent; of these, 1,120 were requested in January; average fill rate was 54%.
• In December, MLS materials lent to other libraries were returned to ILL an average of 24.66 working days after shipment. 
• In Technical Processing, the average daily run for January was 808 items per day, for a total of 16,970 items.  The average for February of 2014 so far is 699 items per day. The processors are current on processing all rush and non-rush materials, including continuations. 
• During January, TP received a daily average of 44 boxes of materials a day, for a total of 916 boxes.  The daily average in February so far is also 44 boxes. 

Cataloging/Interlibrary Loan Update

Staff in both areas are taking advantage of the temporary slowdown in work to catch up on projects that have been delayed.

An all hands staff meeting was held on February 7.  Each staff member was asked to research a system policy and share information about it with the rest of the group.  It was an effective way to review policies for everyone; Pauline is proud of staff for sharing information well and creatively.

Brandon and Paige, ILL, attended an Amigos webinar to learn how the Kansas Library Express is being integrated with Trans-Amigos Express.  They have shared information with Pauline and other ILL staff.

Pauline has set up ILL’s workflow to include Kansas Library Express.  This will provide courier service to more libraries in Kansas than previously served.

Pauline is working to plan ILL’s transition from FirstSearch to the new WorldShare ILL platform.  Currently, OCLC’s schedule calls for the transition to be completed by the end of May.

Pauline is also working to plan and provide training for Catalogers on original cataloging using RDA; and for Cataloging and ILL Technicians on MaRC formats.

Materials Selection Update

Library Visits

• In February, Selectors conducted an annual visit to DN.  On top of the regular visit, selectors have been assisting and providing guidance to DN staff weeding the collection in preparation for the carpet installation.
• Selectors are scheduled to an annual visit to ED and HR during March.

Meetings/Workshops

• Denise attended the Emotional Intelligence workshop on January 29th.
• Janet attended the children’s services meeting on February 12th.
• Janet met with new ED librarians and provided training and tips for weeding on Feb. 10th.
• Gloria Melchor/CH job shadowed Melissa, Ruby and Marilyn on Feb. 14.
• Janet is scheduled to attend parts of the YA services retreat on March 5.

Carpet Installation

• Carpet installation is scheduled to begin March 17th on the 4th floor. 
• Installation on 3rd floor is scheduled for the week of March 24. 
• Staff should be out of their area for just 1-2 days. 
• Several Materials Selection staff plan to work in the MSL basement or in DN meeting rooms during that time. 
• Janet will inform Materials Managers when MSL will be out of the office.

Technical Processing Update

• Baker & Taylor’s and Ingram’s accounts all continue to be current. 
• Findaway World’s new Playaway “Lights” have by now been received by MLS. The buttons are easier to use, the backlit display is easier to read, and the battery covers are easier to pop off. The new battery covers, however, are not the same size as the older version’s, so TP has ordered new replacement battery covers for the new “Light” version.
• Once they have been received, they will be added to the online TP supply catalog and the libraries notified.
• TP has purchased two replacement wheel and brake assemblies from Cisco Eagle for the flex conveyor in the loading dock with rusted wheels.
• On February 18, Karen Marriott and Heidi met with sales reps., from Findaway World to discuss the new “book packs” Playaway is introducing. However, there were several concerns with the size and sturdiness of the cases available in a smaller or large size. Karen is to discuss this new packaging of Playaways with accompanying read along books with the library managers. Karen Peck with Findaway World is to provide a sample of the new, reinforced smaller cases which the company is still designing at this time.
• Kevin Colwell, the SC’s Staff Association rep., is to attend the next SA meeting, scheduled for Thursday, February 27, 2:00 p.m., at the Belle Isle Library.
• Staff in TP is also taking advantage of the temporary slowdown in work to catch up on cleaning in the department. Book dust is coating shelves, desks, and most other surfaces. Heidi declared a “cleaning day” for Friday, Feb. 21, starting at 2:30 p.m. All staff are expected to participate.