Los Gatos Public Library Internship

A Day in the Life

Welcome to my website featuring my experience as a Library Intern at Los Gatos Library in Los Gatos, California. My intern tasks vary every day and I often tackle multiple projects at once. The following website features several of the tasks that I have completed and other projects that are in progress.

Los Gatos Library is an independent, city library. As a result, I have the flexibility of working on a multitude of projects that include offering services and programs to children, teens, and adults. Los Gatos Library also has a small staff and it is an amazing opportunity to foster relationships with each library staff member individually.

My days at Los Gatos Library are usually quite busy with tasks including staffing the children's desk, the circulation desk, and the adult reference desk. I also participate in high-level planning meetings, perform catataloging tasks, and am in the process of weeding the adult non-fiction section. I have also been trained to use the Koha Library System. Koha is an open-source library software similar to Sierra, but is free for libraries to use.

The following slides provide in-depth information about what I have accomplished so far while interning for Los Gatos Library.

[Pictured: Me showcasing a take-home kit I created for Los Gatos Library.]

Projects I’m working on

And what I’ve accomplished so far

I begin each day by speaking to my site supervisor and reviewing the projects I will complete that day. I am currently completing a variety of tasks at Los Gatos Public Library as a Library Intern. A few examples of some of the projects I am working on include the following:

• Desk experience at the children's desk, the circulation desk, and the adult reference desk: In this role, I am providing readers' advisory, helping patrons with printing issues, and assisting patrons with inquiries they may have about their library card, account, and library materials.

• Kit Creations: I am also creating and putting together several take-home craft kits for library patrons of all ages to check out. Two examples of craft kits that I have completed include a Kalimba kit and a kit titled Observing Pollinators. All of these kits include a set of materials and resources that are reflective of the kit's subject.

• Cataloging: At Los Gatos Library, some of the cataloging is performed in-house. I recently learned how to catalog books written in Russian as the Russian publisher we work with does not provide MARC records for these titles. I also have been trained on the Koha Library System to edit records and delete records. In this realm, I am also weeding the adult non-fiction collection based on a series of criteria including the last check-out date and publication date. Items more than 10 years old that have not been checked out for 10 years are being weeded. Using Koha, I scan the titles I've weeded and batch delete the records from the library's system. I also use Koha to edit records. Recently, the library's vendor, Baker & Taylor, has sent library materials with the wrong call number. As a result, I am editing the materials' entry in Koha and replacing the sticker with the correct call number on the spine.

• Programming: I have attended and helped facilitate two large programs at Los Gatos Library. One of these programs was a marionette live performance by the Fratello Marionettes and the other was a live animal presentation with Conservation Ambassadors. Both of these programs had over 70 attendees.

[Pictured: The Children’s section of the Los Gatos Library.]

Desk Experience

Helping library patrons with information needs

I help staff the Children’s Desk, the Adult Reference Desk, and the Circulation Desk for a couple of hours each day.

Children’s Desk

At the Children's Desk, I perform readers' advisory, issue new library cards, renew library cards, look up materials for patrons, provide directional assistance, and look up library account information for patrons.

Adult Reference Desk

At the Adult Reference Desk, I answer library account inquiries, offer readers' advisory, printing assistance, and help library patrons schedule meeting room reservations.

Circulation Desk

At the Circulation Desk, I provide a wide range of information. I offer readers' advisory, check in and out materials for patrons, issue library cards, renew library cards, provide directions, and put books on hold for library patrons.

Kit Creations

Kalimba Kit

As an intern at Los Gatos Library, I put together two take-home kits for library patrons of all ages to check out. The first kit I created was a Kaima music kit. For this kit, I prepared a Kalimba resource insert for patrons to read. This insert tells library patrons about the kit and directs them to some of the library's digital resources about the Kalimba instrument. I then prepared a small tag to display a library barcode. In total, I completed seven individual Kalima kits. My last step for this project was creating a new record in Koha and adding the Kalima kits to the library's catalog. Within 24 hours of placing the kits on display, all seven Kalima kits were checked out.

Kit creations cont.

Observing Pollinators Kit

The Observing Pollinators kit I created encourages library patrons of all ages to observe pollinators in their backyard or neighborhood. Each kit includes a plethora of items including binoculars, a clipboard, three sources of reading materials, and a stopwatch. I also created a laminated manual introducing library patrons to the kit and instructing them on how to use the kit. I then added each kit to Koha (the library’s catalog) using a MARC record format. All of the kits were checked out within three days.

Kit Creations Cont.

Here is a photo of the flyer I created for the Creating Pollinators kit.

Cataloging

Using Koha Library System

Batch Item Deletion

Throughout the summer, I am weeding sections of the adult non-fiction section. After pulling items from the shelves based on a set of established criteria, I bring the books to the back office. Next, I use the cataloging feature in Koha to scan and batch delete the records. I then separate the weeded books into two piles: books to discard and books to donate to the Friends of the Library.

Creating MARC Records

I created MARC records for the Kalimba and the Observing Pollinators Kit. I have also used this format to catalog books that are written in Russian. I enter the appropriate information in the 100s, 200s, 400s, 500s, and 600s fields to provide library patrons with the appropriate information to easily search for the cataloged items using the OPAC system.

Altering Records

Some of the new items the library has recently received from their vendor, Baker & Taylor, were mislabeled. As a result, I was tasked with re-labeling the titles using new stickers and updating the records in Koha to reflect the correct call number.

Programming

Executing Summer Events and Programs

In addition to creating kits, cataloging, and working desk shifts, I am also helping execute summer reading programming at Los Gatos Library. So far, I have helped execute two large programs. These two programs featured the Fratello Marionettes and Conservation Ambassadors respectively. Both of these programs had over 70 attendees each.

Program 1

Fratello Marionettes

The first program I helped execute featured the Fratello Marionettes. This is a local Bay Area performance group that performs shows with classic marionettes featuring well-known fairy tales like The Three Little Pigs and The Ugly Duckling.

Program 2

Conservation Ambassadors

The second program I helped execute was a huge success. A representative from a conservation organization brought an alligator, a frog, an owl, a monkey, and a baby kangaroo. He spoke about the importance of protecting animals and endangered species.

Continuing projects and new tasks

I have a large list of items that I would still like to accomplish while interning at Los Gatos Library. A few projects that I hope to begin and complete include refreshing the storytime take-home kits, planning fall programming, and performing an Instagram takeover on the library's Instagram page. I also will continue weeding the adult non-fiction section, revising call numbers in the children's section, and hosting more summer reading programs.

OH HEY, FOR BEST VIEWING, YOU'LL NEED TO TURN YOUR PHONE