Great suggestions all! I think the easiest thing to start with would be better signage, as suggested, at desk and "Closing at 9:00 Tonight"on the door. Desk sign might also read "Please let us help you with your Library needs, we are open until 9:00 this evening".

Welcome to the Closing Procedure blog!

Welcome to our Blog. I hope that everyone will take the time "to play" and to learn more about this technology. Please make comments to help update our closing procedure. I am learning along with you so lets get started and see how this works.

Below I have posted the Closing Policy and Procedure as it now exists in the manual. Please take time to read it and then comment. It is up to you to make suggestions that you think will enhance this procedure. This is a conversation to evaluate and make recommendations so we can all better handle the closing of the library each night.

With the scenarios of your experiences as a customer at closing that you sent me and the comments you are making on the current policy I will do my best to put it all together and see what comes out. Then we can use this blog to follow up and see how things are going if we decide to implement any changes.

You are free to comment on any part of the procedure. You can comment on someone else's comment. All I ask is that everyone is respectful of the other person's opinion. Also, please remember that this is available outside the library so when commenting please do not use any information that would compromise someone’s privacy.

Let's blog in this first stage for about 3 weeks. That will put us right after Labor Day.

So start blogging!

Policy & Procedure

Closing the Library

Effective May 14, 2003

1. The library’s published hours of operation are until 9 PM (5 PM Friday through Sunday). Library patrons have the right to use the library until the time of closing(9:00PM or 5:00PM).

2. Official library time will be the time showing on the clock at Circulation.

3. At 30 minutes prior to closing, a minimum of two staff members must remain at the Circulation Desk until closing time. There are two exceptions:a. Leaving the desk briefly to handle an immediate patron needb. Going around the library at 15 minutes prior to closing as described in item 4 below.

4. At 15 minutes prior to closing, one staff members will go around the library advising patrons that the library isclosing.

5. At 5 minutes prior to closing, flash lights twice.

6. At closing, flash lights twice and lock doors. Serve the patrons remaining in the library for checkout only – nofurther reference, etc. assistance is available. Once the doors are locked, one staff member must review the entire library for any people remaining. Once clear of patrons, the lights may be turned off.

7. Do not shut down library facility or services prior to closing time. Partial shut down may be allowed when the library is empty – it is acceptable to shut down one pod of unused computers but not both. It is also acceptable to shut down two of the four circulation terminals.

8. Inform the Director of patron abuse of this policy, including groups.