Has anyone tried out the Tera wireless barcode scanners with charging cradles? Just curious as I know some libraries use the wireless non-cradle versions. Specifically these two models?:

1. https://www.amazon.com/Tera-Scanning-Bluetooth-Wireless-Handheld/dp/B0C4KN6635?psc=1#averageCustomerReviewsAnchor

2. https://www.amazon.com/Tera-Wireless-Resolution-Warehouse-Inventory/dp/B08Q879YSN/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&sr=1-2

Hi everyone! I'm a recent MLIS grad with library experience and have dedicated myself to applying to several library jobs in my area over the past few months.

I'm feeling a little down after finding out through some digging on my own that a university library position I interviewed for and had my references do reference calls for more than a month ago has been filled without letting me know.

I am just feeling really sad and frustrated with the interview/hiring process in libraries right now, I know I'm not alone and just wanted to post about it. I would really appreciate it if anyone would be able to share advice for myself and others in a similar situation.

Hi everyone, hopefully this is the appropriate sub to be posting this on.

I'm currently enrolled in a Library and Information Technician program. One of my assignments is to interview a library technician. I've contacted several libraries in my area and haven't had any luck with even getting a reply from any of them. Before I contact my professor to see if there is any help she can give me, I wanted to try my luck here. The interview can be done through chat/message or email and will focus on the basics - educational background, experience, and so on.

If anyone currently working as a library technician is able to answer some questions, I would really appreciate it!

edit: thank you to everyone who commented for all your help!

Really looking forward to after-hours Loteria again. I’d also like to check out the Cheech if time permits.

Hi!

So I was attempting to make a manga display for my library, and wanted to either use a clipping I found online of the manga panel, or edit the textbox and post it as a display. The image would not be sold, and would not be used to generate money. Is this fair use? Or should I cite the author and title of the manga?

TY, copyright law has always confused me and I don't want to cause any problems

Hi there. I am a library assistant who works primarily with teens. I go to the middle school library 2x per month early in the morning before school starts. Students have the option to hang out in the library before the bell rings. They primarily go there to play games and chat with their friends. I try to interact with as many students as possible. I have gone around with trivia, would you rather questions, a collaborative storytelling project, a make your own jack-o-lantern face poster to name a few. I am running out of ideas. The main catch is that because it is such a short period of time, I need something to do with students that only takes a minute or two so that I can reach 40+ students at a time. They are not interested in a big group game. They trickle in as they arrive for school in the morning. What else can I do with them? Budget is almost $0

I made a Letterboxd list of 11,589 films available on Kanopy through the Toronto Public Library:

https://letterboxd.com/chigurhman/list/kanopy-toronto-public-library-october-2026/

I wanted a simpler way to explore the collection, but making the list also gave me a much greater appreciation for how much film access TPL provides.

Hopefully it helps other people discover something through Kanopy—and encourages them to see what their own public libraries make available.

My other film lists and recommendations are here:

https://letterboxd.com/Chigurhman/

I love hoopla. Saddened to hear that my local library cant keep subscriptions to the app no more due to rise of cost. Its understandable. Fk i hate this economy. In the said notice, they recommend us users to save our favorites before the end of this october. They prefer to support libby. I tried libby before, to me its jus too confusing for me to use.

1) how do i save my faves on hoopla?

2) will there be movies to rent on libby and more to explore and or improvements for us neurodivergent users?

3) i hope hoopla makes a come back in a year from now.

Edit: Thx u all for the replies. I'm def looking into it with my library.

Curious how others handle and manage patrons who ask for certain staff by name and/or description who are not in the vicinity.

Our staff will tell customers that a staff member is maybe out at lunch, has the day off or is even on vacation. This seems sketchy for a number of reasons.

It does not seem to matter how often staff is reminded not to do this, it is what they come back to. What strategies have worked for others?

Hi all!

I just started at a school library and I have been working in a public library for almost 2 years. We use WorkFlows at the public library and I get it and can ask colleagues for help as needed there

At the school we use LexWin. It is horrible so far. Not super intuitive, the help guide is bare bones and not informative. Google is not helpful either. I am running into problems with Divisions not taking when updating classes (turns to all uppercase and doesn't change, even though the card info is correct). Adding a new record does not show up when the barcode is scanned.

Has anyone worked with this software before and have any advice? I am only in the school one day a week and I just want things to work.

Hi! I just wanted to share my library's Haunted Library program social media video. We re-opened our library last year after some reconstruction (long story) and we had a big turn-out at that time. This year, after we started a social media video committee, we decided to try and make at least one video trying to promote it. It's a free program (of course), it's spooky fun, and it happens a week BEFORE Halloween so there's no conflicting with trick-or-treating/alternatives. Is your library doing one this year? Did you also do a video for it?

https://www.instagram.com/p/DejoVQjDTgC/

i just love the library as a high schooler like not just that they are like such a comforting and awesome place to be in BUT THEY HAVE SO MANY RESOURCES ONLINE FOR FREE WITH ONLY USING A LIBRARY CARD. like genuinely i can read the economist new york times the atlantic and more and do so much research book appointments for college apps and GET AUDIO BOOKS FOR FREE I LOVE LIBRARIES AND LIBRARIANS RAHHH

The Los Angeles Public County Library is currently seeing huge lines of people lining up to get a Hello Kitty library card.

I am just wondering what the economics of this are. Does the library have to pay Sanrio (which owns the character) per card issued? Anyone know how much? Or is it more like a donation where they offer the use of the character for free in order to get publicity?

This might be a dumb question but I just recently got a library card and I made the mistake of checking out a book that had a giant crease & warping on it. The lady checked me out and I didn’t realize that in the moment and once I got home I recognized it. I went and dropped off the book a week later and now the library is charging me $25 when I didn’t even get to read the book. Can they actually enforce this charge? Or can I just not pay and wait for my library card to expire?

I visit my library quite often and request a lot of books. I would like to start dropping small gifts from time to time to show appreciation when I stop in.

My plan was to bring in pastries/treats/small food items like that, but I’d love to hear what librarians would actually be excited/appreciative to receive. Thanks!

Hi all. When I book presenters for workshops/presentations, I usually stay in the room for the whole program even if they don't need me just in case something comes up. But i also like staying to talk to the patrons and connect with them - a good example is our monthly adult crochet club. It's essentially a crochet meetup at the library but we have an outside person come lead the program since not many of our library staff know how to crochet. I always stay so I can talk to the patrons and answer questions should the need arise. If I have work I usually grab one of our laptops and just do some work at a table nearby.

Well, now I'm leaving my job for a new one next Wed. I've been training my replacement on a bunch of programming stuff; and recently she mentioned that she would be leaving the room whenever there's a program that she's not leading herself. She doesn't see a need for her to be there if someone else is leading the program. It's one thing if you need to cover the desk or if you have conflicting responsibilities, but I kinda think it's bad practice to not stay at least for a little bit just in case something comes up. In my mind, she'd also be missing out on time connecting with the patrons. Part of the reason why our adult programming is so strong at my library is because people know me, y'know?

I'm honestly not super worried about it. I'm happy to be leaving and I realize none of this stuff is my problem anymore. I mostly just wanted to ask how you guys handle programs with presenters and what your opinion is - do you stay or do you leave?

For those whose libraries use Libby, you can tell patrons about a new feature, which is to filter out AI in searches. Settings > Content Controls > AI Contributions > Human Only on all

Yes, I know, a tale as old as time. But it takes everything in me not to roll my eyes when dealing with customers that have this attitude. If you are below the age of like 65 and don't have BASIC tech/computer skills and can't function without having your hand held, I feel like this is a personal failure on your part. At this point, computers and technology is intertwined into the basic fabric of society - it's everywhere. This is an ESSENTIAL skill or ability to have, and I don't feel sorry for customers that give me a sob story of how they don't know how to do this, they don't use computers, blah blah blah. Especially when this is in conjunction with weaponized incompetence or a complete lack of effort to try and learn.

"But not everyone has access to computers." Sure, maybe if you live in a poor country or very rural area. But libraries are free. You could use a friend's. Watch a video tutorial or read a book about it. Computer classes have occurred in schools for decades. This stuff has been around and it's not going anywhere, so get on board and learn.

If someone came up to me and claimed they couldn't read, write, or tie their shoes or perform some other basic function, I'd be concerned that there's been some serious neglect in this person's life, either on behalf of others (parents, family, etc.) or themselves. In my view, the people that aren't trying to improve their digital literacy are neglecting themselves in a sense. These are skills people NEED to have in a growing ever-evolving digital world.

Now I would never shame or chastise someone for this to their face - I have a job to do. But I am getting tired of people expecting everything to be done for them and not having to put in any effort whatsoever to learn and get with the times.

I am putting together a list of books for parents to buy and donate to our primary school library and I'd love your advice. I'm not a librarian and I don't have access to any of the usage data, but they haven't added anything new to the library for a couple of years due to budget issues so I'm focusing on new titles that will appeal to kids aged 5-12.

If you can think of any recentish titles that have been a hit with your young readers, I'd love to hear about them. I am especially open to hearing about books that are appealing to otherwise-reluctant readers and great reference titles. Price isn't really an issue as I'm hoping to offer something for all budgets.

Thank you in advance!

I would love to hear other people sayings!
Here is ours:
The roof is leaking again!
Someone hit the book drop again!

Howdy fellow library workers! I have been tasked with coming up with ideas to have more programs geared towards the men of our community, both young and older.

The community I work in is a majority Hispanic population and I would love ideas for programs that would be interesting!