The Processing + Business Clerk prepares all library material for circulation, assuring that security is applied as required, that the life of a circulating item is extended to the highest degree possible, and that the library’s ownership of this material is clearly displayed. They perform general clerical work of considerable complexity and variety, including handling records with complex distribution and retention schedules. Enters and retrieves information through a computer terminal. Betsy Pilecky is the Antigo Public Library’s Processing and Business Clerk. Betsy is responsible for all of the processing for newly catalogued items before they hit the shelf for patrons to check out. Betsy manages all of the paperwork associated with record retention and distribution for the APL Board meetings. She manages the magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals within the APL collection. She handles billing for lost or damaged library materials. Organizing tax paperwork. A host of big and small tasks that keep the library running more efficiently every day with a warm smile and an upbeat take charge attitude. Betsy is a hidden gem that many patrons never see, working in the back to ensure they receive the best services possible.
Betsy was hired at the Antigo Public Library in 2010. She started out as a part-time desk clerk working at the front desk checking out items for patrons. Her other duties were checking in items from the drop box, shelving items, shelf reading, keeping everything looking good and signing new patrons up with a library card. Helping patrons find what they were looking for and answering the phone was a priority.
In 2012 Betsy was offered the part-time position as Business and Processing Clerk. In 1998 Betsy took computer classes at Northcentral Technical College. These classes helped her with the business portion of her position. She was able to create spreadsheets, Word documents, and databases. The business duties include posting and emailing agendas for all library board meetings: providing copies to municipal governments, WVLS, APL Foundation, etc. On behalf of the Director, Betsy acknowledges all gifts received and sends out thank you notes. Collects and maintains monthly statistics on computer use, walk-in traffic, public and library use of all meeting rooms. She orders income tax forms for patrons and keeps track of how many are left after the season. Reviews newspaper articles for stories about the library; copies them for the APL in the News binder; prints overdue notices, distributes mail and any other duties as assigned.
As a processing clerk, Betsy orders supplies and she created a database with a list of all supplies ordered, vendors, their contact information, and dates ordered. When new and donated books come in, after they are cataloged, they are processed with several steps. Call numbers are printed. Call numbers, labels, security tags are affixed, pages stamped, and books covered. Collection stickers are added. Books on CD and DVD’s are put in new cases and new artwork created when needed.