A few items

Per Edward, we are not to keep the TDL or ID number in the spreadsheet we use for Study Room Reservations for security reasons. We can still hold their ID or TDL at the desk, but do not record the number.

Also, please start directing customers to use the outside book drop whenever possible. This should make things work more efficiently at the front desk. I will begin assigning someone to empty the bookdrop every hour and check the items in in the back, so please watch the schedule. If a customer requests a receipt then you should check the items in at the desk, otherwise we should reduce the amount of items we are checking in at the front desk.

--Jeff

Volunteers for July 4th

The Mobile Express will be participating in the July 4, Freedom over Houston Event from 3:00pm to 10:00pm. We need staff to volunteer to provide coverage for this event. The shifts are 3:00-7:00pm or 6:00- 10:00pm. Please let Thuy know if you are able to work this event.

Edward

Staff Meeting

Let's have a staff meeting before we open tomorrow to discuss some important Circulation issues.

-- Jeff

Holiday Days Off

I called Gloria in Payroll with some questions I had about timesheets for the Fourho of July Holiday and she informed me that there was a policy change in the Spring and that now employees must work (or use a Vacation Day) both the day before the Holiday and the day after the Holiday in order to be receive Holiday Day.

In short, if you are working this coming Saturday (6/27) you cannot take off July 2 or July 6 (unless you want to use a Vacation Day) and still be paid for the Holiday. You must take either Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday of next week off

--Jeff

Paging Lists

If you are ever assigned to the paging list,
remind Sumitra to save the proper list format under your
MilCirc initials.

Bottom line: You will never ever have to do that
ITEM ITEM BIBLIO BIBLIO thing again!

Checked Out Items on Shelves

We continue to find items on the shelves that are checked out to customers, some of which are causing customers to unnecessarily accrue fines. This morning we had one customer who had five overdue items on her record that she proceeded to find on the shelf (the items in question were uncataloged paperbacks). This should not be happening.

When you are checking items in at the desk or in the back, watch the MilCirc screen to make sure the item appears in the list on the screen, otherwise it might not be getting checked in properly. The thumper will make a sound whether or not the item is actually checked in, so you cannot rely on that as a guide. You need to watch the screen and listen to the thumper.

--Jeff

New Tally Sheet for July

To help us cut down on clutter at the desk, and because the idea received encouragement, I've added a few more columns to the Circ question tally sheet.

• If you are assigned to the paging list for the day, please remember to add the total to the sheet.



• The CC and PC columns are to keep track of how many computer cards and Powercards have been created throughout each day. If you are closing up the desk, please count up the number of computer card forms in the drawer, record the number, and dispose of the information forms responsibly. Please don't let them crust up the drawers, our space is limited as it is.



• The questions section has also been divided further: please note that the computer/printer category includes procedural questions as well as some directional ones, and also questions about the reservation system.



• As a reminder, a "reference" question can be considered one that requires you to refer to the collection.



• Please help us make sure that the interns understand these categories and are accurately marking down the questions they address on the floor. You may need to remind them a few times so they get the hang of it.

=================================
The powerpoint rotation is growing thin, send me slides and/or current details for any upcoming programs you're excited about (er, Pink Ladies and Captain Underpants...?).

Also, if anyone would like to send me a few titles they've enjoyed recently, I can start putting out staff picks. Otherwise it will just be an endless rotation of English major favorites, courtesy of me and Megan.


(Side note: A big thanks to everyone who helped me cut out pizza toppings this week. Phew-- you guys are lifesavers)

Circulation Issues

There are several things we all need to work on in circulation.

1) All circulation policies are to be followed. If you are not sure about how something should be done, go here and review the "Circulation of Library Materials" Policy and the policy regarding "Fines and Fees." For example: any time you waive part of a fine, for any reason, you must put a note in the customer's record; and please try to remember to clear you initials whenever you leave a MilCirc station, I know we get busy out front, but this will prevent anyone from doing something on wrong using your initials and then you are responsible for what someone else did.

2) We have received a complaint from a customer about our self-check machines. Essentially, this customer claimed that they were forced to use self-check even though they did not want to and that staff would not check out items for them. The customer also stated that he would have to go to another location if they wanted their items checked out by staff.

While we should strongly encourage Self-Check usage, we should not force customers to use self-check machines. If a customer resists using self-check, or really wants you to check out their materials for them at the Service Desk, please do so -- it is good customer service. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should staff ever tell a customer to go to another location if they do not like the way something is done here.

Sunday Schedule

Here is the link for the Sunday Schedule information. Please note that not all Frank staff are going to the same library for their Sunday work.

--Jeff

Digital Literacy Certificate Test

All HPL Express staff that are involved in technology training are required to take and pass the Digital Literacy Certificate Test including managers. Please use the following link to complete the test by June 15, 2009. Please print and forward a copy of your certificate to Thuy at HPL Express SW.If you have any question please contact me.

http://www.microsoft.com/about/corporatecitizenship/citizenship/giving/programs/up/digitalliteracy/eng/Curriculum.mspx#certificatetest

Edward Melton

Summer Youth Worker Program

(4)Interns will perform basic customer service duties such as assisting with technology training, programming, program preparation, collection maintenance and outreach. The following staff will serve as Summer Youth Worker On-site Supervisors at HPL Express Frank: Sumitra Chatterjee( Primary Supervisor) and Jeff Coyle( Secondary Supervisor)

Edward Melton

Wii-Sign Up

Hey Guys!

Just wanted to let you know that I (finally) created a spreadsheet on Google Docs for the Wii Sign Up.

Doing it on-line will make sure we have less clutter out there. I am going to make one for the Board Games too. The Wii Sign Up Sheet is for both the Wii and the Play Station b/c they have to play either one and we only have one television.

Let's start using it now :-)

Don't forget to let users know that We are having a GAMING TOURNAMENT on Friday at 4pm!!! I will have a manual sign up sheet out there b/c there are prizes involved!!

Thanks,

J-Thizzle
(its me Jennifer)

Bookdrop

Somebody needs to check the bookdrop the first thing every morning, and especially on Monday mornings. Someone also needs to check the bookdrop early in the afternoon, and right before closing (it would also be a good idea to check it late in the afternoon on Monday and Thursday).

When I checked the bookdrop this evening, it was clogged. There were several books, videos, and three newspapers in the chute and nothing in the cart below because someone had returned a book that was almost too large to fit through the slot at the bottom and it got stuck. The other day a customer returned several music CDs in a plastic grocery bag and it clogged the book drop also. This is something we need to watch out for.

It is not sufficient when checking the bookdrop to open the door and just look to see if anything is in the cart. You must put a hand up behind the rubber flaps and feel around to make sure the bookdrop isn't clogged. Large books, stacks of picture items put in the drop at the same time, newspapers, etc., can cause the bookdrop chute to clog making it impossible for anyone else to put anything in the bookdrop.

--Jeff

Meeting Room Rules

1. Current ID required – leave at desk.
2. Two hours, per customer, per day (we can make exceptions to this if the library is not busy).
3. On the “Study Room Reservation” spreadsheet, please record: Name, ID#, and time (especially if someone does not begin at the top of an hour, such as 1:15-3:15).
4. Reservations:
   a. Study Rooms: we will accept advance reservation, but will only hold the room for 10 minutes. After that, the reservation is cancelled. We need to tell customers this if they reserve the room in advance.
   b. Conference Room: will take advance reservation subject to availability; groups of 2-10 or so.
   a. Classroom/Big Meeting Room: reservation form required (per HPL Policy), only with advance reservation, and subject to availability with Library programs taking precedence.

WeCAN Works

Good Afternoon Team,

This email serves to inform you of some important updates regarding the WeCAN Works Track II training schedule. Phase II of training for Track II is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 6, 2009. Per the initial course schedule, sessions were to commence at nine additional sites: Stella Link, Family Road, HPL Express Frank, Scenic Wood, Flores, Park Place, Carnegie, Kashmere, and Blueridge; however, after conferring with our partners at HCC, we have decided to postpone implementation of the courses at these sites until the September session, scheduled to begin September 8thand resume training at HPL Central, HPL Express Southwest, and Burnett Bayland for July. This strategy will allow us to concentrate our efforts on recruitment for the three locations holding sessions in July to ensure maximum participation. Additionally, it will allow more time to engage in an aggressive recruitment strategy for the September sessions, at which time, the additional HPL locations and WeCAN Centers that can provide accommodations will begin offering the Adult Basic Education/GED courses. Thus, if you are one of the additional sites scheduled to begin classes in July, you may resume your normal training schedule and/or consider additional training opportunities presented as part of Track III for the months of June and July.

I will forward the recruitment flyer to you once it has been finalized so that you may distribute it to your patrons and persons who inquire about the program. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the updated course schedule, please do not hesitate to contact either myself at 832.832.3123 or Nicole at 832.393.1559.

Thank you for your understanding and flexibility. We will follow up with you accordingly as recruitment begins for the September session.

Best regards,

Jolea T. Bryant
Community Involvement Coordinator
Office of Digital Inclusion/HPL
Ph: 832.393.1623
Jolea.Bryant@cityofhouston.net
www.houstonwecan.org

Reader's Theater and Twilight Storytime

It's on like Donkey Kong!!! Yay yuh.

Book Club and Writer's Workshop

If anyone should come in and want to join Book Club or Writer's Workshop and I'm not here please get the child's name and phone number.

There is a Writer's Workshop flyer in the bottom drawer of my desk that you can give the kids. It says "Express Yourself." I am out of folders. When the kids have a piece written is when they come into the library on Monday nights. I will then help them edit and type up what they've written. They do not have to come in every Monday night.

If a parent or kid is coming in to get the book for book club, they are on my desk. The title is Al Capone Does My Shirts. They must check the book out on their card.

Summer Reading Program Prizes and log

The website address to log in books is summer.hpl.lib.tx.us/evanced/sr/programlist.asp

This website is a favorite on both reference computers in the library under SRP LOG.

The password is the same as all other staff logins.

Look up the child by last and first name, phone number, whatever. Then click on the clipboard icon to the right of their name to log in their books. You do not need to list the title of each book. You can put 20 under quantity and "various" under title.

A prize button should appear after at least 10 books are logged in. However, this feature is not yet working. So please keep a list of names, books read, and prizes awarded for the time being.

Prizes

5 books: SRP Certificate and circus bookmark

10 books: Whataburger coupon, Souper Salad certificate, 2 James Coney Island coupons (different ones)

20 books: Astros paper, Aquarium coupon, Circus ticket (sign the back)