Orienting Access Services Staff to Other Library Service Points

Abstract

Access Services staff are the first people library patrons are likely to see upon entering the library, and they often work at hours when no other staff are in the building. Yet they may lack opportunities to learn how other library services operate and relate to their work. This session details one library's experience in developing a program to systematically expose its staff to other areas of the library during breaks and intersessions. After attending a few orientations of varying degrees of usefulness, staff participated in drafting a list of questions which Access Services staff might have about each part of the library. These questions helped to better guide tour leaders in other parts of the library; as a result, Access Services staff report being better able to assist our patrons.