Lights Out

From Karrington:

It is time again for HPLs participation in Lights Out Houston 2014. The City of Houston has pledged that our buildings will participate in Lights Out Houston 2014. Our pledge is that we will turn off all non-essential lighting from Thursday, April 24^th at 9:00pm through the weekend. Please let the managers know to turn off any non essential lighting. GSD will take care of the rest. If there are any questions or concerns please let me know. Have a great weekend!

PF

Flyer Approvals

Form Laurie:

We are continuously trying to improve the processes for flyer approval.  The Team Leaders met with Donna Jackson again this week and we have tried to streamline the process.

Starting today, Managers should approve flyers for their location(s).  Once the manager has approved it, please save to the G Drive under Requests—Jackson in the appropriate week folder.  Please stop sending flyers to Elva Alvarez. 

Every Monday, Donna Jackson will look through the folder and approve or deny requests.  She will inform managers if requests are denied through either email or phone.  If you would like Print Shop to print a copy of the flyer/sign then complete the Print Shop Request form (https://hplnet.hpl.lib.tx.us/documents/HPL_Print_Shop_Request_Form.pdf).  Save the Print Shop Form with the NL name and a short title similar to the flyer.  Donna will forward the Print Shop Request and approved flyers to the Print Shop.  If you would like to print your own sign/flyer then no Print Shop Form is required and you may proceed with printing once you have approval from Donna.

Moving forward, we are looking for ways to improve the process further.  We are still advocating for the calendars and hope to have more information at the Managers Meeting at the end of the month. 

PF

Staff Meeting Ideas!!!!!!

Hello Team,

I have added a new link so that you may submit meeting ideas/suggestions to have at upcoming staff meetings. It is under the "Staff Meetings" tab on the blog under the "Staff Meeting Links". Please submit any ideas, suggestions, reminders, anything you believe should be brought up in the meeting so that we continue to serve our internal and external customers better.

Thanks,
Pedro

Door Count

This is just a reminder that door count begins next week, Monday April 21^st thru Sunday, April 27^th.

Door count is a process where we count two things: 1. Visitors on an hourly basis and 2, In-house materials use on a daily basis.

PF

SRP Registration and Books

From Jennifer Schwartz:

Dear All,

We have a few exciting new incentives to this year’s Summer Reading Program. We will be sending out a detailed breakdown, as well as offering training at the next Youth Meetings.

One of the incentives is that a generous donation from Rosen Publishing will allow us to give a book to every child who registers for the summer reading program. That’s right! In 2014, every child who signs up will receive a book just for signing up. We will still offer scholastic books for reading incentives at the same levels as last year, as well.

We will need to keep the Rosen books separate from the Scholastic books to ensure that we are giving out a Rosen book with registration, and a Scholastic book for reading incentives. We do apologize for this, but it is important that we honor the stipulations of this very generous gift.

Our first shipment to you will be the Rosen books, which you should anticipate receiving over the next few weeks. We will make sure your boxes are clearly marked “Rosen,” and these will be the books that you will give out upon registration. We will try to include a good variety of ages and subjects in each box. It will work very similarly to the Scholastic books. If you are running short of a particular type of book, let us know, and we will replenish your supply. 

MR

Laptop Returns

Hi Team,

Please remember to plug the laptops back in when they are returned. Do not leave them on top of the cart.

Thanks,
PF

Freegal

From Marianne:

Freegal has been added to the main banner on the library’s website.  Please be prepared for questions from our customers.  The Staff Training Portal has a quick link in the left-hand column to the Freegal training webinar we held as well as FAQ’s.

In even further clarification, the direct URL to Freegal is www.freegalmusic.com, not the URL included in previous e-mails. However the point still stands, for HPL customers to use the library’s subscription do not use the above URL. Instead access Freegal through the library website.

PF

Kashmere March 2014 Statics Comparison

Service Contacts*			This month	This month last year	% Change
Total			8,527	9,481	-10%
(*Circulation + Computer Users + Directional + Program Attendance + Reference + Visitors)
Usage Statistics			This month	This month last year	% Change
Service Hours			147	151	-3%
Reference Questions			1,476	364	305%
Directional Questions			2,368	1,149	106%
Circulation		Adult	-	1,227	-100%
		Young Adult	-	138	-100%
		Juvenile	-	774	-100%
		Total	-	2,139	-100%
Computer Users		Laptop	-	105	-100%
		Desktop	-	1,369	-100%
		Total	-	1,474	-100%
Holds		Pulled	284	372	-24%
		Processed	170	605	-72%
Visitors			4,055	3,984	2%
Meetings Held by Outside Groups			This month	This month last year	% Change
# of Meetings			7	10	-30%
Attendance			119	108	10%
Outreach Held Off Site			This month	This month last year	% Change
# of Events			5	-	#DIV/0!
Attendance			203	-	#DIV/0!
Programs (by Service Priority)			This month	This month last year	% Change
Literacy Advancement		# of Programs	13	4	225%
		Attendance	88	158	-44%
School Support		# of Programs	24	4	500%
		Attendance	336	43	681%
Technology / Training		# of Programs	10	22	-55%
		Attendance	77	104	-26%
Workforce Development		# of Programs	10	19	-47%
		Attendance	25	66	-62%
Other		# of Programs	16	-	#DIV/0!
		Attendance	102	-	#DIV/0!
Total		# of Programs	73	49	49%
		Attendance	628	371	69%
Programs (by Audience Type)			This month	This month last year	% Change
Adult		# of Programs	27	41	-34%
		Attendance	164	170	-4%
Young Adult		# of Programs	4	4	0%
		Attendance	39	43	-9%
Juvenile		# of Programs	42	4	950%
		Attendance	425	158	169%
Total		# of Programs	73	49	49%
		Attendance	628	371	69%