A picture of library staff the year 2006 from left Monica Morrison, Eden Kahsay, Joseph Matshelo and Herbert Kiberu.

Down the memory lane

How was it the first day at work..the year 2005? I was welcomed by the library officer Herbert Kiberu and he taught me the basics about library, processing books, photocopying, binding, check in and out of library materials manually.

It was hard because I met different people some were hard to please some were just difficult so in my mind I just told myself that I am going to work the three months contract then I am out of this place, this is because I was just used to staying home. Then came Senior Librarian Monica Morrison ooh this lady made me enjoy my work and to be where I am right now, she taught me everything about library and this is why I do my best to help new staff members.

First day in a library environment

My name is Joseph Matshelo I work as library assistant at Okavango Research Institute a branch of University of Botswana since 2004 were to photocopy, process books and reports, check in and out of library materials
my duties are as follows;

1. Verifies and matches newly received materials against invoices/order list

2. Assists in verification of the accuracy of Shipping Agents and supplier’s documentation, processes invoices, and ensures security of new materials

3. Collection Maintenance

4. Assists in verifying and dispatching materials for bindery

5. Shelve and shelf reading

6. Provides record management services and assists in keeping inventory of library materials and equipment

7. Assists in the registration of customers at the circulation desk and continuously updates the Patron database, familiarity with millennium needed.

8. Checks library materials in and out to library customers using the computerized circulation system.

9. Sensitizes/desensitizes circulation materials to ensure security

10. Assists with the processing of inter-library loans requests from customers.

11. Attends to general customer queries to foster effective customer relations.

12. Provides and maintains bindery, reprographic and printing services to support internal library activities and customer needs and keeps a log of such to produce a quarterly report.