SIRS (McKeldin Service+ Information & Research Services
Desk Committee)
Minutes of meeting
February 16, 2000
Present: Bunn, Edwards, Foudy, Laguerre, Lindquist,
Nail-Chiwetalu, Todd, M.Vikor,  Winker, Yocco

Rover wrap-up.  We reviewed the meeting with the rovers and
discussed their suggestions.
· SIRS reminds desk staff to pay attention to activity levels
in the Electronic Research area.  When desk activity is slow and
staffing more than adequate, desk staff should not all be simply
sitting or standing behind the desk.  We should be "roving" the
Electronic Research area seeking to help users or reboot workstations.
SIRS encourages rovers to ask desk staff  to help "rove" when user
demand and desk inactivity suggests that better user service would
be provided by that course of action.  "Roving" staff and librarians
need to watch closely the queuing at the desk and return to the desk
when queuing develops.  Similarly, SIRS encourages rovers to watch queuing
at the desk and whenever possible to approach users in the queue to
see if they can provide assistance (some of those users may require
directional or informational assistance which is effectively provided
from in front of the desk).
· Desk staff and rovers are reminded to refer users needing more specialized
librarian assistance to the "blue chairs or bench" in the side-rear of the
desk area if a librarian is not immediately available.  Librarians need to
monitor that area closely.
· Librarians are encouraged to work with users doing in-depth searches back
in the consultation area of the desk area
· Desk staff are reminded to wear their UM Library staff pin while serving
at the desk.
· SIRS encourages rovers to engage in whatever peer training they are able
to attend.  Cindy took this opportunity to remind staff that they are expected
to attend those peer training sessions.  However, in addition to database core
competencies enumerated on the rover page, we encourage rovers to become expert
in printing/downloading/emailing from the major databases and database groups
(like First Search).  Rovers should feel comfortable and confident referring
questions relating to search strategies, choice of search terms, database
selection to the Info Desk staff.  Folks at that desk spend a lot of time
consulting with each other to best satisfy a user's needs.
· Cindy will investigate a button or something to meet the requested need for
an "ask me" emblem.

2109. We discussed the proposed procedure for opening 2109 to users now so
that we can learn what kinds of problems we will encounter with use of that
room during time of heavy patron use of Electronic Research.  The proposal
was sent to the teams for discussion.  Input from the teams is requested
by the next SIRS meeting (March 1).

Telephone survey at the Information Desk.  SIRS has agreed to rerun the
telephone survey the week of February 28-March 3.  Team reps had no
comments on the previously delivered draft schedule for librarian coverage
of the telephones, so the teams will provide coverage according to that schedule.
SIRS approved of the previously delivered draft instructions and data collection
sheet.

Peer training session handouts at the desk.  The group urged the Peer Training
Collective to engage in a discussion on how best to provide those handouts to
staff while serving at the desk.  SIRS suggests that a web based solution is
preferable to a notebook.

ROUNDROBIN:

Cindy updated staff on the network printer for the desk.  She spoke with
Tina and Uche.  It appears that the printer may be located on the consultation
area side of the pillar that is in the center of the desk
area. (THIS HAS NOW BEEN DONE...2/22/00 ct)

SIRS discussed the Circ phones located on the various floors of McKeldin.
Cindy will report back on what they are, how they are used, and what kind
of user service results from their use.

----------------------
Cynthia Todd
Coordinator for Information & Research Services
McKeldin Library
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
ct15@umail.umd.edu