These are the basic actions:

• Researching (titles and prices) and verifying information
• Data entry into the computer and filing papers
• Moving around heavy boxes and carts of books
• Writing and typing call numbers, stamping, sticking labels and barcodes

Responsibility:

Mistakes in the little details have big consequences (see details below) and we're counting on you to be careful and accurate!  Sometimes you are helping your supervisor be careful and accurate too!

Here are some more details about those actions:

Managing orders and incoming materials:

1. Search the Library's catalog to see if we should order something or if we really have it already (Usually we don't want to buy twice!)
2. Prepare orders:
   • Search and download copies of catalog records from OCLC (a database of U.S. library records) using Connexion software
   • Create electronic purchase order records in the library system
   • Search in vendor databases to select titles for purchase  (a major one is called GOBI)
3. Unbox books and load them in order onto booktrucks
4. Manage records and documentation for new books, DVDs and CDs:
   • Sort and date-stamp packing slips and invoices
   • Create records in the library system (for the book, for the invoice)
   • Add barcodes (sticker the book, scan it into the system for the first time -- guess what happens if you put the sticker onto the wrong book!)
   • Manage paper records (invoices, packing slips)
5. Assist with Gift Books: search the catalog and OCLC, create purchase orders, maintain the storeroom
6. Assist with U.S. Government Documents: search and download records from OCLC, mark items with special call numbers called SUDOC
7. Iron the call number labels onto the spines of the books (guess what happens if you get call number label onto the wrong book!)

Managing journals:

1. Matching binding slips with items to be bound
2. Boxing items up to send to bindery
3. Unboxing bound items returned from bindery
4. Checking spines of bound volumes against binding slips
5. Adding barcodes to bound volumes (sticker the book)
6. Creating item records for bound volumes in catalog module (scan it into the system for the first time)

Transfering books to the offsite storage facility:

1. Pulling books from stacks as required
2. Duplicating barcodes and applying them to the outside of each book
3. Recording each book that has received the duplicate barcode
4. Boxing up the processed books
5. Moving the boxes to the pick-up area using a handtruck
6. Editing data in the library catalog and other systems to clean up errors

Students may be cross-trained in all tasks in Resource Services.