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A Snapshot of a Day in the Life of the Library
By Steve Anderson
As everyone knows, it takes a talented and dedicated staff to make a large institution operate effectively. Fortunately, the State Law Library possesses such a team. Reference staff take careful steps to guide researchers to proper sources, and books rarely appear on shelves by magic alone. (There was a peculiar incident on a dark and stormy might several years ago, but that tale will have to await another issue.) At the end of the day, skilled staff create the collections, provide the services, and educate the researchers, all in order to further the Library's mission. But what--exactly--do Library staff members do all day, one might ask? Read? Shelve books? Of course, there is some of that, but also a great deal more.
In order to add a book to the Library's collection, the several staff members who comprise the "Collection Development Committee" review possible purchases, according to various "selection criteria," such as the relevance of a title to the existing collection, the authority and reputation of the author and publisher, the future reference value of the title, and others. Committee members write short evaluation comments about the prospective acquisition on a recommendation form. Often, there is a meeting of the minds, but on some occasions staff meet to discuss difficult decisions. Then, depending on the cost and the publisher, the ordering process is either straightforward or a bit cumbersome. The most important consideration during the ordering process, of course, is compliance with purchasing policies. The second most important step is the creation of a record in the Library's online catalog, which then permits staff to track the order, check in the item when it arrives, and catalog it according to several national standards. Library staff label and shelve the book, after the cataloging process (which could be easy (especially when using information from OCLC's WorldCat system) or complex, as in the case of a rare or new book by a smaller publisher). Staff follow special steps in the acquisitions process for research databases, Maryland state agency materials, and Federal government documents. Finally, staff include the book on the Library's New Publications List. Is that all there is then? Not really. Continuation subscriptions require supplementation, so staff have to discard old volumes and insert new "pocket parts" or looseleaf filings. Then there might be the need to consider shifting some books to make space for newer ones. There could be book repair or preservation concerns. Staff also periodically evaluate the need to continue subscriptions and make decisions regarding permanent retention or withdrawal from the collection.
The Library's reference staff similarly makes multiple steps appear seamless and effortless. While in-person assistance allows for a fairly complete question-and-answer session, telephone calls and e-mails sometimes require additional follow-up in order to determine what sources might be useful. Staff members know by heart where to find some answers to routine questions, but other requests can be more challenging, especially when the questioner is unfamiliar with legal terms. The Library's staff is very careful to not apply the law to any patron's individual situation, but guiding them to helpful sources frequently necessitates several steps: the index to one source might lead to a statute in another, which takes the reader to information on yet another source, and so on. By knowing the authorship of such resources, the librarian can explain to the patron the differences between primary and secondary sources, the concept of precedent, and the use of citator services. This is an especially useful skill these days, because so much information is online; generally speaking, librarians possess a sophisticated ability to sift through intricate search queries to find the most useful resources. Sometimes, too, a question takes the librarian "outside" the walls of the Library, searching for referral sources or other libraries from which to request interlibrary loans. The Library's clerks are dedicated to assisting patrons with specialized requests, such as locating older books in the Library's storage area and providing scans or copies for document delivery requests. Finally, there is the continual feedback that the reference staff provides to co-workers involved in the ordering process and the maintenance of the Library's websites. Assisting Library patrons requires detailed expertise, patience, and a broad knowledge of research skills.
Another aspect of staff activity revolves around the Library's educational and outreach programs. One of the key services is the People's Law Library, which aims to provide legal self-help to low- and moderate-income Marylanders. The web content coordinator reviews and updates current content on the site, develops new topic areas according to written protocols, and makes plans for continuing improvements to the site. Additionally, State Law Library staff members work closely with stakeholders from the legal services community who comprise the Content Advisory Committee for the People's Law Library. The State Law Library provides other instructional opportunities as well. For example, staff created practical, hands-on curricula for the formal legal research classes it offers to Judiciary employees. Librarians routinely give tours of the facility to student and professional groups, and visitors can learn more about legal history and the Library's collections through displays in the building's lobby area and in the Library's Special Collections Room. Finally, the Library's outreach services librarian provides consultation services to smaller Circuit Court libraries throughout the State and works with public librarians on various initiatives.
This quick snapshot of the Library staff's typical day might help answer questions about what librarians do during an ordinary day. Library workers thrive on the opportunity to be of service, learn new skills and ideas, and work on a wide variety of tasks. Even if much of this work is accomplished "behind the scenes," it adds significant value to the Library's collection and to a patron's efficient research experience. Do librarians like to read? Sure. Do librarians like books? Maybe. Do librarians help give meaning to information and streamline the research process, too? Absolutely! It really is in just a day's work. |
