“Is there anything you need?”
Yo! So I started this week off by continuing my duties at the SocSci Section meaning more covering of books, and books to cover (I told you, they wouldn’t run out of these XD). My duty at the SocSci was done by 12 noon of the 24th.
Afternoon of the same day, I went to the next section on my list: the General Reference Section. There we were given a list of things we’re supposed to experience: cataloging of e-books, encoding new entries for the Index to Philippine Biographies, encoding annual reports of the main library or the different unit libraries, manning the Internet/Computer Desk, and manning the Reference Desk (answering emails and telephone calls, mostly). However, during my stay, I wasn’t given the IPB-duty. I was told that they ran out of IPB’s to give me for encoding so instead I encoded an additional Annual Report (I continued Clara Mirabueno’s work, finished one Annual Report of the Main Library, and was able to start encoding an Annual Report of the different Unit Libraries from Archi Lib until the Engineering Lib) Wooh! That was a lot of typing! XD
Maybe the reason why I was able to get to finish these was because I had enough spare time after encoding 15 e-books assigned to me. I did encounter some difficulties from the encoding, though. One should never, ever open another iLib account tab in a single browser. Good thing the errors were resolved sooner. Yey!
During my “Reference Desk” duty, I really wasn’t seated at the Reference Desk. But I did answer emails including an inquiry from a fellow SLIS student who was having is OJT at a different institution, Chito (huhu I forgot what his surname was). I did answer telephone calls, too but most of them were just calls from different offices looking for the librarians at the GenRef. However, I did encounter one that left a message for Ma’am Elvie. :) The part I really enjoyed doing at the GenRef was manning the Internet/Computer Desk. Though it was a bit overwhelming especially when students start to clutter at the desk, either to rent a computer, to get their IDs back, to have something printed from the printing terminals, or to get permits for photocopying materials taken from the GenRef. But it was such a thrill all the same! Too bad I had to leave so soon since I only need to spend 25 hours of duty there. LOL
