Librarians, libraries: how they function.

[chocolate_ari]

Hello guys. I'm working on a novella-type project. It's a light-hearted mystery novel that takes place during our times in and around Chicago. It involves a police detective who ends up investigating a crime (but he's really trying to figure out why his girlfriend has been acting so sketchy

Comments

[shanrina]

All of the public libraries I have experience with have had separate children's librarians. At my library, there was a desk where one or two of them sat to help any kids who wanted to ask them questions. They also did some programs, like read-alongs/story times.

And I was only ever a library page, but I remember when we left the library we were done--the library closed at 5, the doors were locked at 5, and we were all gone at 5. This might not be true of every library system, though, and I don't know if a cleaning crew or something might have come in at night (although I kinda doubt it). I never did any cleaning, though, and I never saw any of the other workers do any cleaning.

[pixie_on_acid]

Library technician here, which isn't quite a librarian (librarian requires a Masters of Library Science, tech is a 2 year program), nor something recognised in the United States, but rather common in Canada. We're quite often the ones doing what people think of as 'library work' -- cataloging, working the reference desk, that sort of thing

[peefy]

My gosh, my comment turned out way more long-winded, and your information was more precise (though I'm happy to see I was maybe mostly on-target!).

[pixie_on_acid]

Alternatively, you could also just email a librarian through the "Ask a Librarian" link here: http://www.chipublib.org/ That's the Chicago Public Library's page.

And don't EVER feel like you're imposing on a librarian by asking questions about anything. That's what they're there for. Especially anyone working the "Ask" email system.

I'm long-winded, had to split this into two! Part one:

[peefy]

So, some of my knowledge, as silly as it might sound, comes from a radio show about librarians from yesteryear, and the rest I'm using worked-in-a-bookstore knowledge, assuming that libraries have similar functionality in organization as bookstores

Re: I'm long-winded, had to split this into two! Part two:

[peefy]

A lot of times, and this is probably more true in libraries than in bookstores, you finish your closing procedures in down-time before the place is even closed, so it's pretty much just about doing a final check and locking up. And because libraries don't work on quite the same function as retail stores, many many not even require or allow for work to be done after closing, and all the tasks have to be done during business hours.

And unless we're talking small town small library, it's more likely than not that the city (or whoever operated the library) would hire a cleaning crew to come during the evenings or early mornings. Though, again basing this on my experience in the bookstore, the cleaning crew does necessary, but straightforward work (our crew always finished within the hour or so we were on the clock before the store opened) : vacuum the carpets, clean the bathrooms, take out the trash.

Long, but hope this helps!

Re: I'm long-winded, had to split this into two! Part one:

[peefy]

Thanks for adding on to my post, especially to clear up any misinformation I may have given the OP; I'm really happy so many actual librarians posted to give the OP better information, and I've learned a lot more as well!

As a librarian...

[norwegianne]

It really depends on the size of the library, how many librarians work there. And not everybody who works in a library is a librarian

[printfogey]

I used to work as a library assistant in Stockholm, Sweden; but since the novel is set in Chicago, I'm guessing the details I know wouldn't be very useful to you.

I'm just commenting to mention that in almost all the libraries I've worked at, an important part of closing routines was counting the money in the cash register in the circulation desk and check if it's the same the machine says it should be, then lock it in somewhere safe(ish) for the night. This would be money from overdue fees and other minor administrative fees, from the copy machine, the selling of plastic bags and perhaps cloth bags, literary-themed post cards, children's puzzles... Maybe American libraries don't handle cash anymore, though? And even here, my experiences are seven years old, so it's likely to have changed some.

[corvideye]

American libraries do handle cash. At the library in my town (pop. ca. 155k), there is a desk that is separate from check out, where they issue and renew cards and handle fees. I haven't noticed that they sell anything, possibly book bags.

[keito_jo]

Thirding the cash handling. Most libraries I've been to accept debit and credit cards, and some charge a small fee to check out feature films, besides selling book bags, etc. Our Friends of the Library have their own bookstore, so their transactions happen separately from ours.