Scanning Microform for Patrons

Starting immediately, we will be offering a new service to patrons. They will be able to request that we scan microfilm or microfiche for them. We will then scan the article for them and put it in their MyALADIN accounts. Basically, here's how it works:

1. A patron requests something on microform.

You say, "We can scan that for you and send it to your ALADIN account."

They say, "Really?"

You say, "Yes, really."

2. Have them fill out a request form. These forms are new, and they are located in the box with the pencils and the current periodicals request forms.

3. The e-mail address on the form must match the e-mail address in that corresponds to their ALADIN account. If they do not know which e-mail address corresponds to their ALADIN account, have them look it up. We can only forward them .pdfs if we have that specific e-mail address.

4. Make sure we don't have the article in print or online. If have it at AU online or in print, direct them to use that before requesting that we scan microform.

5. Once they fill out the form, your job is to find the article on microfilm or microfiche. Make the article into a .pdf by scanning it with a microform machine.

6. Once you create the .pdf, save it on to the usb drive that is hanging from the bulletin board on the right side of the periodicals desk. You will need to name the file correctly. Here is the format you will use:

AUMF_name@emailaddress.com_author.pdf

The file must be in this format. The patron's e-mail address must correspond to the one in their ALADIN account. Where it says author, you put the last name of the author of the article. So, if I wanted to save a pdf. for a patron with the e-mail address bobsmith@yahoo.com, and the author of the article is Harvey Baine, you would save the file as follows:

AUMF_bobsmith@yahoo.com_Baine.pdf

7. Once you save the .pdf to the usb drive, give the form that the patron filled out to either Harvey, David or Mark. If none of us are here, give it to whoever is coming in the next day. If the next day is a weekend day, put the form on Harvey's keyboard. If the next day is a Monday or Tuesday, put the form on David or Mark's keyboard. We're all here Wed-Fri.

And that's it. Ideally we will have a 24 hour turnaround time for scanning and sending these .pdfs. If someone requests more than 5 .pdfs, tell them that we may not be able to get them within 24 hours, and let a supervisor know. We don't expect anyone to abuse our service, but you never know. You will all be personally trained on how to scan and save the .pdfs. Me or Harvey will talk to each of you about it. I will post the instructions on the bulletin board for the time being. If you have any questions, feel free to ask any of us. Thanks!