Sortable Checkout History

From Syma:

I am going to work on getting a video tutorial posted on the Training Portal to illustrate this information but, in the meantime, I want to share these steps with you.  If you have any questions, let me know.

·         If you are looking for a specific author or know part of a title, you can use the “Find in Page” function in your browser (usually CTRL-F) to highlight wherever that name or word appears in the My Checkout List. 

·         If you copy and paste the information from the My Checkout page into a spreadsheet program like Excel, you will be able to quickly sort by title but not by author.   

·         If you would like to sort by author as well as title, you can copy and paste the information from the My Checkout page into Notepad and save that as a text file to your desktop.  Open Excel and locate and open the text file (be sure to have Excel look for All Files, not just Excel files).  The Text Import Wizard will pop up.  Choose “delimited”.  On the next screen check off both Tab and Other, entering a / in the Other box. At that point, you can click on finish and you will have a spreadsheet with columns for title, author, checkout date and return date.

We have made an enhancement request to SirsiDynix to make My Checkout History sortable within the system but these are useful workarounds.

PF

Lakewood Closing

From Laurie:

I have just heard from HALAN that they are going to “mask” the collection starting Friday, April 4^th.  They cannot do the masking on Saturday night but will do it Friday night; the Sirsi people cannot work late on that Saturday.  It doesn’t change anything on our end, except that on Saturday the LAK collection will not show up in the catalog.  In Workflows, they may show up as being in a Renovation status.  That will mean that they are probably on the shelf.  There may be a message that pops up when staff are checking things out as well. 

Sorry about that,

PF

Discard/Friends Boxes

From Theodora:

The FIDS department has reported that staff in Neighborhood Libraries is packing the boxes for Friends and Discard with too much heavy items. Belinda has asked that NL Staff reduce the amount of heavy books per box. FIDS complained that they have had to lift boxes that were too full and very heavy.

The Team Leaders are requesting that Managers train staff (especially the new ones) on the right weight for boxes. Basically the boxes should not be more than half full.

Please let me know if you have any questions or need more information.

PF

Flip Kits

From Sarah P.:

Kallie Benes, our contact at the Children’s Museum requested that I send you this information. Please make sure all of your staff are aware, especially about returning kits when they are checked in (even if they activate a hold, they should be sent to CMH to be replenished before going out to fill the hold). If you have any questions, you can ask Kallie (her information is below).

Hi everyone,

Just some friendly FLIP reminders/requests

1. Please email Kallie Benes – kbenes@cmhouston.org when you are running low on museum passes (for completed surveys).  Surveys should be sent in to Kallie @ CMH by courier at the end of each month.

2.  ALL kits must be returned to CMH once they are checked out & returned to you (so we can refill them). Then we will send them back to you.

3.  Please try not to cover the barcode on the hangtag with location slips. Tape on other side of hang tag.

4. If a kit is to be transferred to another location or sent somewhere to fulfill a hold, please HIGHLIGHT the location to be sent to (for the couriers & the refurbishing staff to easily see).

*We have EXTRA kits from FRA closure & DIS lack of space.  Does any location need additional kits?  If so, please respond asap.  If you are ever running low on kits (not enough to fill all the hooks on your kiosk or to represent all age groups), please email me for more.

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Kallie Benes (FLIP & CMH library manager): 713-535-7254, kbenes@cmhouston.org

PF

Annual Enrollment for COH Benefits

From COH HR:

Welcome to the City of Houston Annual Enrollment!

It's Annual Enrollment! During this time, you can elect your benefit choices and update your coverage to best meet the needs of your family and you. The Open Enrollment period runs from 3/16/2014 to 4/15/2014.

If you are participating in the Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, you must re-enroll.

Beginning 3/16/2014, visit www.houstontx.gov/oe to make your new plan year elections.

This is an active enrollment for all employees.
* You must enroll in a medical plan, even if you re-enroll in the same plan.
* If you fail to enroll in a medical plan, you will be defaulted to the Open Access Plan.
* If you add a new dependent(s), you must provide relationship documents within 31 days after annual enrollment ends. Relationship documents include certificate of marriage, birth certificate, and Declaration and Registration of an Informal Marriage Certificate (for common-law marriage).
* You must use the Choicelinx tool to make your benefits elections.
* Election forms will not be available for active employees.

Choicelinx: https://www.yourbenefitschoices.com/cigna/coh/logon.mvc/login

MR

New Shelf Reading Form

Hello Team,

I have added a new form under Staff Links called "Shelf Reading Sign-in/out". Please use this form when you begin to shelf read an area and when you finish shelf reading. It will help everyone know which sections have been shelf read and what hasn't. This will also be a good way to track your progress if you are evaluated on this.

This form helps cut down on any paper log and I hope it makes it easier on you.

Thanks,
Pedro

Lakewood Closing

Good day Team,

This is to let you know that the Lakewood Neighborhood Library will be closing at the end of business on the 5^th of April 2014 for roof replacement. The expected reopen date is May 12^th. We will not have staff in the building.

Holds should be sent to Kashmere.

Let me know if you have any questions or need more information.

Take care.

Theodora.

ACA Information

From Mary:

Everyone should have received their flyers last week.  I have had a few questions about the ACA Houston Enrollment Assistance Center, therefore I am providing some background information below.

Houston Enrollment Assistance Center are contracted through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, who is responsible for raising awareness about the enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace. They will be providing free enrollment assistance to those who wish to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace, as well as answering any questions in regards to the Affordable Care Act.  It is important to understand that they are not an insurance company, and they do not sell insurance.

 Goal is to:

·         Raise awareness about the Affordable Care Act

·         Inform the public about the free services that are provided

·         To ensure that everyone who desires healthcare has the means and resources to enroll in a health insurance plan.

The Certified In-Person assisters travel throughout Houston to various events providing enrollment assistance. They will be supplying their own equipment, such as laptops, paper applications (in both English and Spanish) and other resources in order to complete the enrollment process.  A Certified In-Person Assister who is bilingual in English and Vietnamese will provide assistance at Park Place

What they will do:

They will be distributing flyers and/or business cards, enroll interested individuals, supply paper applications to those who are not able to enroll on site, as well as answering any questions the public may have.

Thanks for contacting me.  Please let me know if you have any more questions.  Thanks!

PF

HOOPLA Software Update

From Syma:

Please alert all public service staff that hoopla is working on a solution to the problem created by the latest Apple software update.  When we receive additional information, we’ll let you know.

PF

New Flyers

From Mary:

Please see the following guidelines for creating a sign; or flyers.  Please send your requests to the manager who will send it to Elva Alvarez who will do a cursory check to see if the guidelines have been met.  Please designate if it is a sign for posting for a one-time event.  If it is a flyer meant for distribution, please attach the Print Shop request.  If your request is approved by your respective Team Leader, they will forward your Print Shop request to Print Shop and copy you.

Here are some basic guidelines:

1.    Myriad Pro is used for most headers, and body content of our brochures, flyers, and other materials. In cases where Myriad Pro is not available, Arial can be used as an alternate font for header and body of content.

2.    Use correct library name - 

For example, it’s not Acres Homes Library. 

Correct name is Shepard-Acres Homes Neighborhood Library

It’s not Collier Neighborhood Library.

Correct name is Collier Regional Library

3.    When adding dates to flyer, the format should be as follows:

Friday, March 21, 2014

Not – 3/21/14

4.    When adding time, format should be as follows:

2 PM – 4 PM

Not – 2:00p.m. – 4:00p.m.

5.    If you advertise a class, use the complete class name on the sign.

6.    Please do not add photos or graphics.

Pedro

Ethics for COH Employees

Hello Team,

Here is some information from the ethics training I attended and topics that were talked about.

• If you suspect something is unethical always ask for clarification.
• Be objective with your behavior. Do not do something that you know is wrong if you would see another staff member doing it.
• You cannot use your position as a COH employee to make money.
• We all must report if we see any wrongdoing, especially those in a supervisory position.  If not, we then become complicit in the unethical activity
• Don't accept gifts from a person in a position to benefit from city activity
• Only gift you may accept is that from a family member or long time friend. Friendship has to be proven to have been in place from the time before you began as city employee.
• All outside employment must be cleared with the director first. If you have a second job, please complete the form and submit it to the Team Leader. Here is the link to the policy: http://www.houstontx.gov/adminpolicies/3-10.pdf
• You cannot use a day where you are paid with the city to then make money outside of the city, such as a vacation day or sick day.
• Penal Code violations are punishable with jail time.
• Mayors gift policy violations are put up using disciplinary measures.

Here is the link to watch the video of information that was given:

http://www.houstontx.gov/boards/ethics/ethicsvid_cohe.html

It is about an hour long so you may watch it on and off as you get opportunities.

Pedro

2/27/14 Manager's Meeting

Saima:

• FLYERS
• You must use the online template to create any flyers.
• Show the flyer to your manager so it is approved by them.
• The flyer then must be emailed to Elva Alvarez to be approved by a team leader.
• Let them know it is an in-house flyer and not a request to print.
• Then it will be sent to communications for approval.
• EVANCE
• Staff will place programs into EVANCE as usual.
• Program must be published by either manager, supervisor or staff put in charge of this duty.
• Use the standard titles and descriptions that other libraries use but you may add something to the description if it pertains only to your location.

Donna Jackson (new brand coordinator):

• BRAND
• Our brand represents who we are.
• Provides a clear message.
• Shows awareness.
• It is a lifestyle
• Shows the value.
• INDIVIDUAL BRANCHES
• All branches should be consistent.
• Declutter initiative should always be maintained.
• The experience and service should not change when going to another location.
• There is a Brand Manual on the intranet under the Documents page.

Other Items:

• Initiate having staff greet customers out on the floor. Maybe near entrance or near service desk. As customers come in staff may begin assisting to welcome and see if they need help. Get staff out from being behind the desk.
• Place building issue pictures with correct name and location on the G-drive under Elva Alvarez folder, not on the email, and let Elva and Shammi know.
• Booksale and Fines should be placed in separate envelopes. If you are unable to separate, have a shortage or overage you must put a note explaining.
• Put number of discards/friends boxes on the G-drive in the FIDS folder.
• If you do not have your Defensive Driving Certificate you must retake the DD class again. Leylani is not keeping copies. Once you get it you may want to scan it and email it to yourself.
• If training hours are on your HEAT evaluation you may use in-house training hours to obtain your goal.
• Email Laurie to send you a copy of the fire evacuation routes for your building.
• Send a Facility Check list to Elva Alvarez monthly.

Scholarship Opportunity!!!

HPL Academic and Continuing Education (ACE) Scholarship Program

The HPL ACE Scholarship Program provides financial

support for Houston Public Library employees to further their education. Scholarships are

available for continuing education workshops or for regular course work as part of a degree

plan. Eligible applicants are full-time and part-time employees, in good standing, with one or

more years of continuous employment with the library.

Full-time employees may be awarded up to $1000.00.

Part-time employees may be awarded up to $500.00.

Applications are available on the intranet at https://hplnet.hpl.lib.tx.us/personal.html

Application Deadline:

Monday, March 17, 2014

How To Submit Your Application:

1. Click on Open Form. Save the electronic form to your computer.

2. Fill out form electronically.

3. Attach completed form to an email and send to:

HPL ACE Scholarship Program Administrator

Andrea.lawrence@houstontx.gov

Lakewood Closing

This is to let you know that work at Lakewood will begin April 7 and will be complete May 9^th. It is recommended that we do not have staff in the building during this period. Existing parking will be under the control of the contractor and the building will have strong and overwhelming odors.

I will keep you all posted.

Thanks

PF