Entry tags:
2014-07-27
Entry tags:
Making the Switch
My library system is transitioning to a new way of doing holds. The labels print differently and are on the spines instead of slips sticking out of the top. This means new ways of doing the Picklist as well as any books I find in the library that trigger holds for the present branch or to be sent to another branch. One of my libraries was part of the trial program, but the other library I volunteer at was on the old system... until last week.
Yesterday was my first time getting to do a full picklist with the new system at the library. I'd learned how to do it at the other library by noticing some overlooked pages and offering to do them. So I was already familiar with some of the problems and some of the benefits. The list is bigger and is printed on label paper, so it's going to mean more waste that can't be recycled (the old slips could be). Only a few labels fit on each page, so a huge stack of pages is harder to handle. I also have a hard time holding the list and putting the label on the spine of the book at the same time. Once processed, the current branch holds and other branch holds look identical except for the branch code on the back/front of the label, so that's going to take some getting used to. I'm NOT good with change. But, strangely, I really like the new system. It makes it easier to process the list and cuts down on a lot of unnecessary pieces. It also looks BEAUTIFUL on the holds shelves, with the names easy and clear to read. Tags can't easily fall off, either. I realy like the result and I'm sure I'll figure out the best method soon.
I've tried holding the book between my knees as I apply the label, but that feels weird when there are patrons around. So on Saturday I tried the prop the book up on a bare stretch of shelf to apply the label. That seemed to work all right for me on all books that will stand up on their own or upright in-between others. And though I felt like I was going more slowly, I actually kept a pretty normal pace as I was doing the picklist. And the processing is faster. So I managed to get everything done in just a little over 2 hours. That's normal for me. Doing that with a brand new method I'm still finding my way around was a pretty good accomplishment, I think! I look forward to a few weeks from now when all of the old holds are off the shelves and the whole thing is just pretty new labels facing outward.
It's good to remind myself that not all change is bad. And even when there are things I don't like about it, there are enough good qualities to make me feel good about the change. I also look foward to figuring out my own methods. I did the list the normal way this time so that I could compare times. But from now on, I'll try different orders and methods to see what works best. And getting to figure out the best methods is fun for me :-)
Yesterday was my first time getting to do a full picklist with the new system at the library. I'd learned how to do it at the other library by noticing some overlooked pages and offering to do them. So I was already familiar with some of the problems and some of the benefits. The list is bigger and is printed on label paper, so it's going to mean more waste that can't be recycled (the old slips could be). Only a few labels fit on each page, so a huge stack of pages is harder to handle. I also have a hard time holding the list and putting the label on the spine of the book at the same time. Once processed, the current branch holds and other branch holds look identical except for the branch code on the back/front of the label, so that's going to take some getting used to. I'm NOT good with change. But, strangely, I really like the new system. It makes it easier to process the list and cuts down on a lot of unnecessary pieces. It also looks BEAUTIFUL on the holds shelves, with the names easy and clear to read. Tags can't easily fall off, either. I realy like the result and I'm sure I'll figure out the best method soon.
I've tried holding the book between my knees as I apply the label, but that feels weird when there are patrons around. So on Saturday I tried the prop the book up on a bare stretch of shelf to apply the label. That seemed to work all right for me on all books that will stand up on their own or upright in-between others. And though I felt like I was going more slowly, I actually kept a pretty normal pace as I was doing the picklist. And the processing is faster. So I managed to get everything done in just a little over 2 hours. That's normal for me. Doing that with a brand new method I'm still finding my way around was a pretty good accomplishment, I think! I look forward to a few weeks from now when all of the old holds are off the shelves and the whole thing is just pretty new labels facing outward.
It's good to remind myself that not all change is bad. And even when there are things I don't like about it, there are enough good qualities to make me feel good about the change. I also look foward to figuring out my own methods. I did the list the normal way this time so that I could compare times. But from now on, I'll try different orders and methods to see what works best. And getting to figure out the best methods is fun for me :-)