The Library A fly-on-the-wall documentary filmed at the Enterprise Library and Information Service April 2005 PART ONE

To set the scene… The Enterprise Library and Information Service (LIS) is based in the heart of Enterprise City (approximate population of 275,000). It serves Enterprise PCT and therefore provides services to all NHS staff in the city. In addition, medical and nursing students from the local university (Enterprise University) are permitted to use Enterprise LIS.

Enterprise LIS Staff Structure

Meet the library assistants This documentary is based around the day- to-day work of the four library assistants employed by the Enterprise Library & Information Service.

Martin Meekly Martin has worked in libraries for 7 years. He originally came into the profession because he wanted “a quiet life”. He has previously worked in the library of a large sixth- form college but found the students “too rowdy”. He prefers admin tasks rather then dealing with the library users and can often be found either photocopying or shelving books.

Owen Oracle Owen has worked in libraries for 25 years, 15 of which were here at Enterprise, having worked for a different PCT library previously. Owen knows the Enterprise LIS like the back of his hand, so the less experienced members of staff often come to Owen when they do not know the answer to enquiries. Owen is always happy to share his extensive knowledge and usually goes into a lengthy explanation in answer to even relatively simple questions.

Petra Part-Time Petra works 2.5 days per week at Enterprise LIS. She has a young family and returned from maternity leave 3 years ago. Petra loves her job, particularly the parts of it that involve helping the users. She is friendly and approachable and well- liked by the customers, particularly the younger students who seem to see her as a mother- figure for them.

Rebecca Rush Rebecca recently joined the Enterprise LIS after finishing her A-levels. She is keen and willing to learn and is always the first to volunteer for any jobs. Unfortunately this often leaves Rebecca with too much on her plate, meaning she sometimes spends less time on jobs than they require, which can lead to minor mistakes.

Playing Multiple Roles You will see as this documentary progresses that the library assistants all have jobs that comprise of many different aspects. To demonstrate, lets see what the library assistants are working on at the moment…

Day 1 - Martin Today Martin is being a: –PUBLICISER: Typing, printing/copying & distributing notices & leaflets regarding the May Bank Holiday Closures. –CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTIVE: Working a session on the issue desk.

Day 1 - Owen Today Owen is being a(n): –ADMINISTRATOR: Typing up and sending out letters to borrowers with highly overdue items. –INFORMATION FINDER & CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTIVE: Working a session on the enquiry desk. –TEACHER: Rebecca is shadowing Owen on the enquiry desk to learn how it works.

Day 1 - Petra Today Petra is being a(n): –INFORMATION FINDER/CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTIVE: Working a session on the enquiry desk. –CATALOGUE SEARCHER/ADMINISTRATOR: Checking the University medical & nursing course reading lists and searching the library catalogue, noting whether the library has copies in stock. Making a list of those items needing to be ordered.

Day 1 - Rebecca Today Rebecca is being a: –CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTIVE: Working a session on the issue desk. –LEARNER: Shadowing Owen on the enquiry desk. This is part of her training as a new member of staff.

Other Roles The library assistants also play many more roles throughout this first day, including… –Cashier (taking money for photocopying, printing, overdue fines etc.) –Computer Technician (helping users having difficulty logging on, printing, machine crashing etc.) –Message Taker (The LIS Manger & Deputy are in a meeting for part of the day so telephone messages are noted and passed on) –Photocopier Engineer (clearing misfeeds, changing toner etc.) –Postal Worker (collecting, sorting and distributing ingoing and outgoing mail) –Shelver (shelving returned and new items) –Tea Maker (kindly making a round of drinks at break time!)

And the list goes on… End of Part One