Reflection on 26th Annual Minitex Interlibrary Loan Conference
Mary Ramacher
Access Department – ILL
SCSU Library
As a result of attending this event, can you identify and explain a few things you can use/apply to your work or practice?
Several of the things I took away from the Keynote speaker were:
- That the library needs to not just be welcoming to employees but that it should look welcoming when you first enter the building
- To say “yes, and” to show that you understand what someone is saying instead of “no, but” when we can’t do exactly what the patron is asking.
- An analysis of personality styles.
Our library had a very ‘sterile’ atmosphere when you first enter the building and a few years ago we put in an electric fireplace and some comfortable seating in the front. It is one of the busiest areas of the library now, which proves the idea of being welcoming. I am looking forward to trying the more positive approach of using ‘yes and’ as opposed to ‘no but’ when helping my patrons. The personality types analysis will be very helpful too when dealing with difficult personalities.
The session on statistics by the Minitex Director was very interesting too. Our library web page will need some work so that its format adjusts to any type of device for ease of use. She also talked about 18-24 year olds reporting ‘digital fatigue’ so our idea that students want everything electronically will need to be reevaluated.
We were also informed of some improvements to WorldShare that I will be using immediately upon returning to work in Interlibrary Loan.
Mary Ramacher
320-308-2085
Access Department – ILL
SCSU Library