The Public Services desk is the first place you see as you enter the library. You may have checked out books, a charger, dry-erase markers, or even a laptop, but did you know there is so much more to what we do in Public Services?
The Health Sciences Campus (HSC) does not have a student union, so many times, our desk serves as a general information hub where people stop in on a regular basis to get directions. We assist by verbally giving directions or walking people out of the library to show them which way to go. At times, we need to look up directions online because websites do not include a physical address for the building where people need to go. Also, we have campus maps available if you need them.
Another part of our job is to help our users with technology. We troubleshoot when issues arise with the Wepa printers, assist library users with printing documents, fix paper jams, and keep the printers filled with paper. If any of the public computers are not working, we send requests to IT behind the scenes, so they can come and resolve the problem.
Loading the filament on the 3D Printer
Public Services is also responsible for managing the exciting new and emerging technology available at the library. We currently have a 3D printer, a 3D anatomy table, and Oculus virtual reality headsets. On Wednesdays from 1:00- 3:00, you can stop in for Tech Time and learn all about these incredible tools to enhance your studies. The Public Service’s student employees conduct our Tech Time sessions and are super knowledgeable. We also assist various groups who would like to come in and use our Virtual Reality Lab located on the 4th floor. Visitors who schedule time in the VR Lab vary from current HSC students to high school students who have an interest in healthcare professions.
Retrieving a journal from the annex
In addition to our technology, Public Services is responsible for HSLIC’s Interlibrary Loan service (ILL). This allows library users to obtain articles and books, even when the library doesn’t own them. Thanks to ILL, other libraries across the country will send us articles via PDF or mail their books to us for your use. Also, the library keeps a collection of hard-bound journals in our annex, which is located in the Health Sciences and Service Building. Both Public Services staff and student employees regularly go to the annex to retrieve journals. We then scan and send them to our users via PDF. This service is provided free of charge to HSC students, faculty, and staff.
As you can see, there is more to the story of Public Services. We encourage you to stop by and take advantage of all the services we have to offer.
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