General Information
Our closing procedure is based on the ideas that:
- We provide full Library services until closing time.
- Closing is handled with as much service-orientation as possible.
- Our closing times are, however, strictly enforced.
- The Library staff is responsible for closing, while Security is responsible for checking to make sure that the building is secured.
- We ensure that at closing time, the Circulation desk and other work areas are secure and tidy, and ready for a smooth opening the next day.
Our actual closing begins as much as an hour before closing time. Staff who have completed other duties come to the Circulation desk to assist with closing routines (book drop, check-in, and making up trucks).
At 20 minutes to closing, staff visit levels two and three, the lobby, Reference and Study areas, including the study rooms (but not the bathrooms) reminding each person (not by announcement but by conversation) that the building is closing, and when.
- Students who are engrossed in their work, are sleeping or have earphones in are not easily communicated with by announcement; you need to get their attention individually and make sure that they clearly get the message, and answer any questions they might have.
- Individual conversation is also the way we do things as a rule, and is the way we are most likely to get easy cooperation. We say to them either, "The Library closes at 11:00" or (due to unreliable clocks) "The Library closes in 12 minutes." The notification of patrons is the Library’s responsibility.
If there is a Reference staff member on duty, he/she will do the notification in the Reference area. If there is no Reference staff member available, Circulation staff will do it.
On days when the library closes at 5pm, staff will also do a round through the library office area to let other department’s staff know that we will be closing in a few minutes. While all this goes on, we are providing service to patrons who come to the desk.
At closing time, Security begin their building-check, clearing out any students who remain after our rounds. We still sign out books to patrons who have lagged behind, though all other services, including computer use, is to have ceased.
Security is responsible for checking the whole building: bathrooms, study rooms, etc. They tell the Circulation supervisor when the building is cleared.
After Security leaves, we continue our closing routines, which may take the better part of a half-hour.
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