LIS 60630 – Library Visit

Katie Feldkamp

Q/60630/Assignments/Library Visit Assignment

 Site: The Lane Library, Fairfield, Ohio Date of visit: Wednesday, February 14, 2018

For your Summary:

1. Setting description: (You should try to answer the 5 W’s. Who, what, where, when and
how? In a nutshell, what was going on during the time of your visit?)

On this particular day, the library had a packed schedule because of the holiday. All
events were held in the library, led by one or more of the staff members.

 Valentine’s Day Heart-y Party

9:30am-10:30am, children ages 3-6
Share stories, play games, and create a craft for a loved one.

 Movers and Shakers

11am-11:30am, children ages 12-24 months
Dancing, cuddling, singing, talking, listening to stories, and building early literacy
skills.

 Positively Paranormal: The Book Club with Bite

6:30pm-7:30pm, adults
Reading Nevernight by Jay Kristoff for a spirited discussion of the paranormal,
fantasy, and science fiction titles.

Upon walking in, there was someone at the service desk to help patrons check out books,
and there were two people at the reference desk ready to answer questions. There were
other staff members moving around, preparing for events and assisting patrons. They
mentioned being slightly understaffed on this day because some of their veteran librarians
were attending a seminar out of town.

Guided Observation Notes:

1. Where is the reference collection in relation to the rest of the informational materials?

The reference desk and its reference collection are situated in-between three major
sections of the library: the computer lab, the teen space, and the homework center. With
this setup, it is readily accessible to anyone who may need help finding/understanding
information or navigating the computers.

2. List 5 of the reference resources available and the year of publication:

 The Copyright Handbook, 2017

 Guinness World Records, 2018

Q/60630/Assignments/Library Visit Assignment

  The World Almanac, 2018
 Ohio Sunshine Laws, 2017
 Ohio Residential Code, 2017

3. Estimate the size of the reference collection (in volumes)

(i.e. calculate the number of volumes per shelf and x by number of sections)

Approximately 80 books make up the physical reference section – most of the materials
used years ago (which I was told took up many selves in the library) have been turned
into digital collections for patrons to access whenever and wherever they want.

4. Are non-print informational materials available?

Yes, non-print materials are available through the libraries digital collection (such as the
history of Hamilton, Ohio in pictures). Some of the Lane Library locations even have
microfilm and rooms to view them on special equipment.

5. Is there a ready-reference collection, approximately how many volumes?

The ready-reference collection is made up of about 80 books. It has been dramatically

downsized since the majority of the books were turned into digital files for librarian and
patron convenience.

6. Is there a specific area for children’s or young adult reference area, or homework center?

Yes, this library has a children’s place (newly remodeled last year), a teen space, and a
homework center. There is only one reference area though, for all patrons to use.

7. Are there helpful or instructional materials present to assist in print and web usage?
(Pathfinders; bibliographies; posters) please describe one or two that you found most
useful, unusual, interesting or relevant.

Yes, the library is properly signed to show patrons where certain to find the information
they want and each section of the library has very large display signs, such as the Teen
Zone and the Children forest-theme section. The computers have their own rules for
usage which display themselves once a user logs in.

8. What type of internet access is available? What is the internet policy for young people?
You may attach a copy.

Q/60630/Assignments/Library Visit Assignment

 Patrons who have a library card are allowed to use the computers t up to twice a day for
45 minute sessions. There are even parental control options for teens that limit the type of
websites they can visit.

9. What are the “virtual” reference resources available?

There are many virtual reference resources available through the Lane Library website.
Everything from historical photographs to scholarly articles are made available to patrons
from anywhere.

10. What evidence is available that collaboration occurs between the school library and
public library?

The library helps the local schools in many ways, including special library cards just for
teachers, which have longer check-out periods and lower late fees. Other ways include
tours, story times, and book talks for students. The biggest way they help the local
schools, though, is through the Bookmobile. It is a traveling library that visits the schools.
Students can check out books from it, and teachers can special request certain books to be
available for school projects. It requires constant communication between the school and
the library to be able to provide students with the books they need.

11. What evidence is available that the library addresses the information literacy skills of its
patrons?

Different events and services are held between the Lane Library branches to help patrons.
Right now at the Fairfield branch is the Learn it at the Library series, which show patrons
different information on how to navigate websites such ancestry.com, how to access
ebooks, and many other opportunities.

12. What seems to be the best features of the information resources provided by this library?

Q/60630/Assignments/Library Visit Assignment

 I had been aware of the Bookmobile before now, and I had always thought that was a
pretty great feature of the Lane Library. However, after browsing their website, I found out
that they were in partnership with the BMV. On the site, they actually offered different
practice driving tests, FAQ, and handbooks. It was just one more way they were helping
students feel more prepared.

13. Think about the physical layout of the reference area- Are the resources easily found,
location of shelving, materials, signage, and logical traffic pattern?

Due to the majority of the reference resources being online now, the physical resources
within the library are very easily found. The shelves of books are located right next to the
reference desk with a sign to identify them. The location is well thought out, being within
easy access to three of the main features of the library: the computer lab, the teen space,
and the homework center.

14. Staffing: Is there a stand-alone reference/informational desk? Personnel available to assist

patrons with reference needs?

There is a stand-alone reference desk with at least two reference librarians to help patrons.
In my experience, they have always been very helpful, knowledgeable, and happy to help
patrons with their information needs.

15. What “green practices” are evident in the library, are there any green practices specifically
designated for the provision of reference services?

While there are not any practices specifically for the reference services, the library does
offer some green services. It offers paper recycling to patrons, withdrawn books go to the
annual library book sale, older/unused books are donated to Better World Books, and there
is a water fountain in the library entrance that can refill water bottles and keeps track of
how many plastic bottles were saved using the service. The library used to offer battery
recycling, but after patrons tossing in the wrong types of batteries, the fire department was
concerned about it starting a fire so the service was discontinued.

16. What, if any conclusions have you made about this library’s philosophy and support of
reference service for youth?

From what I have seen, the Lane Library makes so many efforts to help their younger
patrons. Besides always making themselves available to them, teens have their very own
space in the library as well as access to online services and seminars specific to their age
group.

Q/60630/Assignments/Library Visit Assignment

 17. What did you find most interesting about your visit?

What I experienced was more heartwarming than interesting. While I was visiting, I
actually found it quite encouraging to see firsthand how well the staff knew their patrons –
even the kids. The reference librarian who had been helping me greeted everyone nearby,
asked if they were finding everything alright, and even knew some patrons by name. It
was great to see such wonderful customer service and meet someone who truly seemed to
enjoy their job.

18. As a user, what do you see that might be improved that could potentially enhance the
usage by students and young patrons?

It would be nice if the library could implement more “green practices” within the library.
They offer so much already through their digital services and their remodeling of the
children’s space to expand their selection, that going green just seems like the next logical
step for the progression of the library. By implementing more green practices, such as
hosting more events outside, it has the potential to encourage more teen and youth
participation.

For your Critical Analysis

1. Now that you have completed the visit, take some time to critically consider your
experience and how the reference sources and services measure up in light of your course
readings and online discussions. For example, as you have evaluated the physical set up of
the reference area. Is the setup developmentally appropriate for the age group it serves?
According to your readings and class discussion is this reference area set up to best serve
the needs of its youth patrons? Why or why not?

My visit to the Fairfield Lane Library was certainly a positive experience. The
initial reason for my visit was actually to ask someone a book cataloging question (for my
other graduate class) since I was having some trouble understanding the Marc 21 process.
So from the front door, I walked up to the service desk and asked the person there if they
might be able to help me.

I was immediately guided to the reference desk where the two reference librarians
there were quick to help. They were able to show me from the papers I brought that I was
actually doing everything correctly. Excited that I had the answers all along, I asked if
they knew of any online resources I could use that would possibly be helpful for me down
the road. They quickly pulled up some websites for me and even emailed me the links for
future reference after taking the time to show me how to navigate them.

Q/60630/Assignments/Library Visit Assignment

 With that out of the way, I brought up that I was also in a Reference class, learning
about how reference librarians manage information as well as help people learn how to
access it properly. I told them how much I would appreciate it if one of them could show
me where the reference collection was and maybe answer some additional questions about
how they help the younger patrons and use green practices within the library. The one
reference librarian was more than happy to show me around and answer my questions,
while the other remained at the reference desk to assist other patrons.

I was guided a whole five steps from the reference desk to the reference collection,
which only contained approximately eighty books in total. It felt a bit anticlimactic
because I had been expecting this substantial achieve of information off in some separate
room. She must have seen the confusion on my face because the reference librarian
explained to me that, back in the day, the collection was much bigger until someone years
before had taken on the massive task of creating digital copies of the collection so that
everyone could access it online from the library’s website at any time. All I could think of
was, “I hope somebody thanked that guy a hundred times over.”

As I looked at the book covers and binders in the reference collection, I was
amazed at how up-to-date everything was with most titles being from 2017 or 2018. The
oldest book there was the Holy Bible, and I couldn’t even find a year for when that
particular copy was released. The reference librarian walked me over to the computers and
showed me how I could find the old reference collection through the library’s website. She
typed in that she wanted information on the history of Hamilton, Ohio and was able to find
aged photographs of historical figures and old town council meetings. She said I could
also use this method to search for genealogy records. When I expressed my interest in this,
she mentioned that the library would actually be holding an event to show people how to
access and use ancestry.com to find their family ancestors.

After this, I set out on my own to think about what I had learned and what could
have made the experience better. For starters, I went in with no idea that the reference
collection was made up of mostly digital files that I could access from home. There are no
signs or posters showing that I could find any historical papers or photos through the
library’s website. The only reason I found out at all was because I happened to ask the
reference librarian helping me to show me the collection that was available to patrons. The
physical collection was made up of books and binders about codes and laws, and it wasn’t
exactly what I had expected. It’s positioned well enough in the library for easy access, but
for a normal everyday person walking by, I wouldn’t have known what it was. I feel like I
can’t be too critical though, because a reference collection development policy must be
based on what is actually used often, not on what has the potential to maybe be used
sometime in the future (Terrell, 2015).

Second, with how much the library already does to help their patrons and their
community, I couldn’t believe that the library itself did not have many “green practices.” I
was even a little disappointed since being eco-friendly is important to me. Here’s a library

Q/60630/Assignments/Library Visit Assignment

 that has so many great qualities and such a wonderful staff, but the library isn’t
environmentally friendly…? It just felt like the one thing that was missing. There are
plenty of simple, inexpensive ways that public libraries can go green and doing so,
become positive examples in their community (Miller, 2010). It would be nice to see down
the road that more than a special water fountain was implemented into the library.

Overall, my experience at the Fairfield Lane Library was certainly a positive one.
The staff members were very knowledgeable as well as passionate about their jobs and
helping their patrons. Even though I’m working towards becoming a librarian one day, I
still found myself amazed at just how much the library does for its people and in their
community.

References

Miller, K. (2010). Book review: Public libraries going green. Chicago: American Library
Association, 2010.

Terrell, H. B. (2015). Reference is dead, long live reference: Electronic collections in the
digital age. Information Technology & Libraries, 34(4), 55-62.
doi:10.6017/ital.v34i4.9098

Q/60630/Assignments/Library Visit Assignment