I know that donations are on everyone's list of least popular issues to deal with. We have been approached by an accountant (who knows how useful income tax receipts are!) to donate a large collection of music CDs to us. Although CDs aren't as popular as they used to be, some of the collection may be useful to us. Do any of you know how best to determine a value for such items? Any advice will be appreciated.
Thanks yet again,
Keith

This fall our College had to implement stricter control on our computer systems so that now everyone has to sign on with a username and password. This has caused us some problems with the members of the public who come in to use the library computers. We have had to restrict their access to just a few stations, which is unfortunate, and are now running into problems with having to patrol these few stations so that there is fair access to them for everyone. How do other AACL members handle public access? Do the users sign in? Do they have to get community memberships? How do you monitor the time? With the recent launch of the LHCADL we want to be able to provide public access to the databases but are running into some logistical concerns. I know that many of you have had these security measures in place for years so I am sure you have already dealt with this issue - your experience and expertise will be appreciated.
Thanks again,
Keith

I am wondering how other members of AACL count short sessions that are provided as part of the information literacy program. In our statistical comparisons we distinguish between tours and classes but how do you count sessions that aren't either? For example, on New Student Orientation Day we attended about 25 classes to give short (10-15 minute) introductory talks on the Library to classes that ranged in size from 3 students to 150 students. They required preparation and presentation time plus helped us reach the students on their first day - so they are important. But they didn't require the same amount of work as our regular info lit classes do, so we don't know how to count them.
How do you count these or do you not include them?
Thanks.
Keith

Now that I have this blogging down pat (after I found my password again!) I have another query for you: what jobs do you have your evening and weekend staff do at the Circulation Desk? As we pass off some of the traditional work that the Circ staff do, such as having e-reserves, self-check circulation, and so on, what jobs are left for those who work the less busy shifts? We are really stuggling to find jobs that will keep them occupied - they are asking for more to do but since they have to stay at the Desk it is difficult to give them projects. We are interested in learning what the evening and weekend clerks do at your libraries. We need them - they are important front lines people - but we want them to stay interested and productive.

We have an issue at Medicine Hat College that may be unique but we hope not because we need some help! For the past few years all of the students in the Health Studies program take a common course that is team-taught by up to 5 instructors. In this course the students are given assignments where they need to use digital video cameras to tape confidential interviews. They are then to hand a copy of the tape into the instructor. We have lots of cameras but never enough to meet the demand (as with everything, the assignments all seem to be due at the same time for all 150+ students) and there is a componded problem in that the new cameras that use the small format tapes are not compatable with the older models that the instructors use. Consequently we are expected to have enough cameras for all of the students plus the instructors. We cannot afford to do that!

To try to handle this we have been dubbing the small versions onto the older larger type (VHS) or onto DVD but this is very time consuming for the staff and the students all want them done at the same time (of course!).

If you or your AV department has encountered this same problem, how do you handle it?