Public Libraries
Alexandra Yarrow, B.A. Hon., M.L.I.S.Manager, Alternative Services
Bibliothèque publique d'Ottawa Public Library
Agenda
• My career path• Fun facts about OPL• Favourite things • Weird tales for Hallowe’en• Hot tips
My career path• Atwater, Westmount and Fraser Hickson Library patron• 1997 - Marianopolis College• Westmount Public Library• Nicholas Hoare Books• McGill Health Sciences Library• Miss Edgar's and Miss Cramp's School• Eleanor London Côte-St-Luc Library• Ottawa Public Library since 2006
OPL by the numbers
OPL by the numbers
Favourite things
• Autonomy• Community-building• Experimenting• Diversity of experiences• Responsibilities
RFID @ OPL
• $1.78M in 2012 (tagging all branches and converting Hazeldean)
• $3.785M Total estimated remaining capital costs (5-8 years)
• Check out the AMH in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3s-KWPwTU4
• Check out RFID at Hazeldean Branch:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g28fV9Z_dk
#everyonehasastory
• That time I was serenaded by a toothless man• When the Scientologists came calling• Kids say the darndest things• What to do when Cate Blanchet walks in• Why a kid dressed his teddy bear in a skirt• When an English conversation group gets x-rated• How I learned everything I never wanted to
know about dry cleaning chemicals
So you want to work at OPL…• Interview questions will relate very closely to
the description of the job on the posting • Relate your experience to the job description• Read about us!• Language testing:
“designated” vs. “Day 1 ready”
Page
10
• Reports to supervisor and/or coordinator• Duties and responsibilities
– Shelving of materials– Shelf-reading and straightening– Pick-up– Filling/emptying RFID or “grey” bins– Non-public check-out and check-ins– Retrieving items on holds list– Assisting with discards– Emptying book drops
• We hire pages once a year either for a part time position or casual hours
Customer Service Assistant• Reports to supervisor and/or coordinator• Duties and responsibilities
– Provides customer service in person, by phone or via email or chat
– Assists with membership services
– Supports materials and cash handling activities
• We hire CSAs on an as-needed basis
Public Services Assistant/Children’s Public Services Assistant• Reports to supervisor and/or coordinator• Duties and responsibilities
– Provides reference and RA assistance– Provides circulation and page services – Routine collection maintenance duties– Promotes Library services– May be senior person in charge or
exercises responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the library branch.
• We hire PSAs / CPPSAs on an as-needed basis
Advice
• You are your own best advocate• Mentor someone and be mentored• Make a name for yourself• Learn from mistakes• Soft skills are more important than
hard/technical skills• Get involved in a professional association• Don’t say no!
