Circulation Service Mission Statement & Goals
Mission
The mission of the Circulation Services unit is to provide for the greatest possible use of library material, while ensuring the collection's security and adherence to equitable policies in the provision of services to individuals whose needs compete. Murphy Library materials are loaned to university faculty, staff, and students, University of Wisconsin System faculty and students, and to the greater La Crosse community within the framework of the Murphy Library and University missions. The library user is the focus of the mission and excellent service to users is the goal of all Circulation Services activities.
The Circulation Services unit is responsible for circulation of the general and course reserve collections, shelving and stacks maintenance, registration of patrons and maintenance of patron records, reserve collection processing, compilation of circulation statistics, and the provision of basic directional information to library patrons.
The Circulation Services unit shall be administered by the Circulation Librarian in accordance with library goals and policies.
Goals
Service
- To promptly and accurately issue and receive circulating material.
- To maintain accurate records of patrons, reserve collection records, and titles in circulation.
- To maintain a course reserve service which efficiently allows a maximum number of students access to a limited amount of material.
- To provide a search service which locates missing and elusive library titles.
- To assist patrons in using the library and to provide directional information and referral as needed.
- To maintain accurate statistics of library use.
Collection Maintenance
- To maintain and improve accessibility to the general collection through the prompt and accurate reshelving of materials, the performance of collection shifts in response to increases and decreases in various subject areas, and the shelf reading and cleaning of stack areas.
- To ensure the collection's security through the maintenance of a theft detection system and accurate records of violators.
- To maintain an active reserve collection responsive to the needs of faculty and students. Includes the acquisition, processing, and circulation of materials for university courses.
Staff
- To provide a skilled and competent staff including student assistants for appropriate levels of circulation service, collection maintenance, public assistance, and materials processing.
- To provide a program of training for student assistants and staff members, explaining new developments as they occur.
- To provide whatever support possible for staff development and continuing education.
Administration
- To establish policies and procedures designed to provide optimal access to the collection while ensuring its security.
- To establish policies which address the eligibility of users within the framework of the library and university missions.
- To maintain written policies and procedures covering internal operations and activities.
- To evaluate and recommend hours of access to the library collection on the basis of needs identified by library statistics and patron requests.
- To communicate with library staff on circulation matters of mutual concern.