June 18, 2025 9:30 AM–11:00 AM
Eisenhower Public Library District
Join chair Peggy Tomzik and Victoria Muraiti for a lively discussion of circulation processes, procedures, and software/application use related to circulation functions. This is an opportunity to network with peers and share successes. Participants will provide tips on providing service efficiently and optimizing software.
Agenda
- Welcome and Introductions
- SWAN Expo 2025 Registration is now open
- Patron Point - SWAN staff
- Patron Purge - SWAN staff
- Devices: Does anyone require a waiting period before a patron can check out another device - MDS
- Snag Shelf: At our library, we are transitioning to an electric version. Is anyone else doing this? - ESS
- Library Card Sign-up Month September 2025: Idea exchange
- Makerspaces & Circulation Departments: How are they integrated at your library
- Around the meeting
- Next Meeting: Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025 on Zoom
Notes
Welcome & Introductions:
- Peggy and Victoria welcomed everyone to the first Circulation Networking Group in 5 years.
- We went around the room and introduced all 25 attendees.
SWAN Expo
- Registration is open now.
Patron Point
- Crystal Vela from SWAN gave the group a heads up that there will be a spreadsheet containing the library’s most common patron profiles and user categories 2-4, which they will need to review and confirm that the selections are correct.
- There were many questions on Patron Point and the verification piece of the tool. SWAN staff answered questions and took note of more detailed questions to be addressed at Patron Point for clarification. SWAN staff also confirmed that this is still in the early stages and that they will hold office hours and training in the future.
Electronic Snag Shelf
- The item is so old and damaged that they decided to take pictures and toss the physical item. Another library sends the picture of the photo within the email to the patron.
- Some libraries will hold the item for 7 days, while others will hold it for 1 year.
Library Card Sign-up Month:
- A big focus will be on promoting the SWAN app.
- OPS will do a big campaign and how to get your card unblocked. They send an email about how to get your card unblocked. Start every year with 800-1000 cards, and will see about 30% of cards unblocked by the end of the campaign.
- Raffle for people who already have cards. Kids are entered into a separate drawing.
- Addison has a parade in August, and they kick off the promotion.
Makerspaces & Circulation Departments:
- INS has staff who help out. They will make appointments for the public to use the space and will collect the funds for anything that is purchased.
- ESS is also covering their makerspaces, and they will be looking into updating job descriptions to reflect the addition of Makerspace duties.
Around the room:
-How do you police study rooms?
- They tell the patrons the guidelines/rules when they open the room up for them and tell them that they need to leave when they need the room. Libraries expressed that it is rare that they have issues with people refusing to leave. One suggestion is to give patrons a timer when they get in the room. Another library gives a 5-minute warning.
-Have you been struggling with managing staff? An example is tardiness.
- A library talked about how they have coaching and then will institute their 3-strikes policy once they have established a pattern.
- Others spoke about how after a counseling, they have switched the schedule.
- Another library talked about how they spoke with staff members and how their actions affect the team.