January 25, 2013

I began today by shelving some books and continuing to familiarize myself with the Library of Congress Classification System... A task that can take longer than you would think with all of the decimal points. I also worked on circulation desk duties such as answering phones, checking in and out books, and using the Work Flow program to verify what is currently in the collection. Also noteworthy is the view from the circulation desk on the third floor of the Monroe Building – It looks east across Michigan Avenue towards the Art Institute and Millennium Park. Finally, I met with my supervisor to discuss possible topics for the Patron Discovery Page I will be creating during my internship at the Pritzker Military Library.

January 18, 2013

I started my internship today at the Pritzker Military Library in downtown Chicago, IL. The first thing I did was tour the main collection and the rare books room, both on the third floor. With assistance from my supervisor, I shelved some returns and began to familiarize myself with the Library of Congress Classification System (similar to the Dewey Decimal System), a series of letters and numbers assigned to books, periodicals, and DVDs that determine their place in the collection. I was also fortunate enough to watch author Lois Leveen present her new release Secrets of Mary Bowser, a work of historical fiction, on my first day at the library.