STUDENT (Canadian): Excuse me, is this the media library?
LIBRARIAN (Australian): Yes, you’re in the right place. My name is Ava. How can I help you?
STUDENT: Hi Ava. I’m Paul. I’m an international student studying abroad here at Victoria University and I wanted to check out some of the recording equipment for a project I’m doing.
LIBRARIAN: Great. What type of project?
STUDENT: Well, I’d like to document some of the street performers here in Australia. I want to record their performances and conduct some interviews with them. Then I’ll need to edit it down to 10 minutes.
LIBRARIAN: I see. Well, we definitely have the equipment for you. You may check out a digital video camera, tripod, wireless microphone, and a digital voice recorder. However, you’ll have to use the editing software that we offer here in the library.
STUDENT: How long can I check out the equipment for?
LIBRARIAN: You may check out each item for 7 days at a time.
STUDENT: OK. I really need them for longer than that. Is it possible to renew the items after I’ve checked them out?
LIBRARIAN: Yes, of course. However, you need to renew the items in person. You’ll also need to bring the items with you when you renew them. Just so you know, we have very steep fines for equipment that is brought back late. All items are due by 5:00pm on their due date. We close early on Saturday, at, uh, 4:00pm. So, if your items are due on a Saturday, you must return them by 4:00pm.
STUDENT: How much are the late fees?
LIBRARIAN: They are $100 per day.
STUDENT: Is that per item?
LIBRARIAN: Yes.
STUDENT: OK. So, what if I want to renew the items and they aren’t available?
LIBRARIAN: You’ll always be able to renew equipment unless there has been damage to it, or if there is another student waiting to check it out. If that’s the case, you can put your name on the waiting list, and you’ll be able to get a hold of the equipment again within a week or so. We rarely have a waiting list that lasts for more than a week or two.
STUDENT: Sounds good. So, I’d like to get started on my project next week. Can I reserve the items I need right now?
LIBRARIAN: Yes, of course. I can enter your request into the computer immediately. For October 10th, correct?
STUDENT: Yes, that’d be perfect.
LIBRARIAN: What’s your student ID number?
STUDENT: 89565
LIBRARIAN: OK . . . and what items do you want to reserve?
STUDENT: Everything you mentioned before: digital video camera, tripod, wireless microphone, and a digital voice recorder.
LIBRARIAN: Sounds good. Now, you’ll have to take a short training course. It takes one hour and you can do it online. It’s a series of videos that show you how to use the equipment properly. The videos also show you how to store each item in its respective case.
STUDENT: When should I do that training?
LIBRARIAN: You can do it anytime you want, but it needs to be completed before you check out the items. Once you complete it, our system will register that you’ve been approved.
STUDENT: Is there a link somewhere on your homepage where I can find the online course?
LIBRARIAN: Yes. It’s at www.victoriamedialibrary.training.aus.edu. If you go there, you just enter your student ID and last name, and you’ll be prompted to the training videos.
STUDENT: Sounds good. I’ll plan on doing that tonight.
LIBRARIAN: Any other questions?
STUDENT: I don’t think so. Just to be clear, when will my items be due?
LIBRARIAN: Let me check . . . So, your items will be due on October 16th, which is a Friday. We actually close early that day, at, uh, 3:30. So, you’ll need to bring your stuff back by then.
STUDENT: Great, thanks for letting me know. I appreciate your help.