Tag Archive for patrons

Secrets of a Tech Therapist

by Rebekah Kati, former Head Editor, INALJ North Carolina previously published 6/5/14 Secrets of a Tech Therapist My previous job was the Information Technology Librarian for an online university. One of the most difficult aspects of this job was helping patrons troubleshoot technical problems with the online databases. At times, I felt like a therapist as I listened…

To Jargon or Not to Jargon (Library Edition)

To Jargon or Not to Jargon (Library Edition) by Natalie Browning, Senior Assistant, INALJ DC   Circulation, Overdue, Hold Request, ILL (Inter-Library Loan), Peer-Review. As librarians and library workers, we not only know what these words mean, but we use them in conversation often. Whether you’ve studied for a MLS degree or have spent any…

Access for all: library resources for patrons with disabilities

by Stephanie Noell, Senior Editor, INALJ UK, Nunavut, Yukon, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island Access for all: library resources for patrons with disabilities We in the information professions are devoted to access to information for all. Information professionals spend much of their time locating and evaluating new resources and technologies and presenting them to…

Retail Customer Service Skills in the Library

by Erin Kinney, Senior Assistant, INALJ Wyoming Retail Customer Service Skills in the Library I recently took a seasonal job at a national retailer. This retailer prides itself on exemplary customer service. This got me thinking of how such customer service skills could be applied to a library setting. Respect This retailer has cashiers that look…

Connecting with potential library users

by Emma Pinault, Senior Editor, INALJ Florida,  INALJ Idaho, INALJ Indiana, INALJ Iowa, INALJ Kansas, INALJ Georgia, INALJ Hawaii Connecting with potential library users A long-standing and frustrating question for libraries everywhere is how to draw in potential library users. Often, many of the people in a community who would benefit greatly from library services are…

Why I Chose to Become a Librarian

by Nicolas Resteiner, Head Editor, INALJ Mississippi Why I Chose to Become a Librarian I can’t speak for anyone else, but I know why I chose to become a librarian. As prospective librarians, we have people telling us that librarianship is a dying profession (I am reminded of a Parks and Recreation episode where Leslie tells a librarian…

Customer Service Tips for Introverts

by Emma Pinault, Head Editor, INALJ Delaware Customer Service Tips for Introverts As an introvert working in a library, I’m pretty sure I’m not alone. While not all of us fall into this personality type, many of us were attracted to librarianship because we enjoy quiet time spent with books. Working with patrons, however, requires honing our…

A Customer Service Cheat Sheet

by Kristen Jaques, Head Editor, INALJ Maine  A Customer Service Cheat Sheet If you’ve been browsing job postings lately, you’ve probably observed that for many library positions, excellent customer service skills are expected, if not required. The ability to work well with the public can be developed with experience, but for some of us, it…