HPL Closings

From Senior Manager Mary Wagoner:

Hi Team,

The following locations are scheduled for routine maintenance, mainly carpet cleaning, and will be closed to the public on the following dates:

Friday, June 19

• Scenic Woods Regional Library (10677 Homestead, 77016)

Saturday, June 20

• Hillendahl Neighborhood Library (2436 Gessner, 77080)

Monday, June 22 - Friday, June 26

• Moody Neighborhood Library (9525 Irvington, 77076) 
• Holds may be picked up at Dixon.

Friday, June 26

• Heights Neighborhood Library (1302 Heights, 77008)
• Lakewood Neighborhood Library (8815 Feland, 77028)
• Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library (3223 Wilcrest, 77042)

MR

SRP UPDATE: Dynamo/Dash Passes

From Jennifer Schwartz:

Team,

Apologies again on how long it is taking to receive the Dynamo/Dash passes. The latest update is that the Dynamo has finally created the voucher and is now in printing process. I am really hoping for this week. In the meantime, please feel free to substitute with any of the prizes from the programming incentive pack (Rockets, Raising Cane’s,  Zoo). Raising Cane’s especially wants all of their cards distributed, with none leftover after the summer. We still have a big supply of those, Chipotle, and Circus (and of course we print Zoo and Rockets in-house). So, if you need any replenishment, let us know.

MR

NOTICE: Holds Expiring 6/16/2015 - 06/18/2015

From Fred Schumacher:

Hello all.

I want to take a moment to let you know that holds due to expire from the holds shelves 06/16-18/2015 have been modified to expire from the holds shelves on 06/19/2015.  This was done as a courtesy to customers who may not be able to pick up their holds due to weather conditions.  If you receive a call from a customer whose hold was set to expire on the 16^th, 17^th or 18^th and s/he is concerned about not getting to the library before it is pulled from the shelf, please check the account to ensure that the date has been extended, then reassure the customer that it will be held until the 19^th. 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the modification of these holds, please do not hesitate to contact me or Circulation Administration at 832-393-2222 (option 3).  We will be delighted to assist you in whatever way we are able.

MR

Removal of Database

From Marianne Lorio:

Due to high cost and low usage it was decided to drop our subscription to the ProQuest Obituaries database. I’ve just removed the database from our Resource webpage. The change should take affect by tomorrow morning at the latest. If patrons have questions about what other resources to use in its place please contact the Clayton Library and me.

MR

SRP: Awarding Prizes in Evanced

From Sara Pope:

Hi everyone,

I hope your SRP is going smoothly so far! I just wanted to send out a quick note about how we are going to track the number of “Program Prizes” collected in Evanced, because you will not award it in the same way you do the reading prizes. Please share this information with your staff!

When you are in Evanced, after you have confirmed that a child has read 5 books (should have 1 Reader sticker in their log book) and attended 5 programs (should have 5 STEAM stickers in their log book), you will click on the edit icon next to the child’s name (the one that looks like a little person). This will open up the screen where you can edit the child’s information. There is a line that says “Got Program Prize” and there are 2 circles 1 for Yes, 1 for No. If you are awarding the prize to a child, make sure you click on that Yes button, and click on save at either the top or bottom of the screen.

Also, a reminder, since we don’t yet have the soccer tickets, if you are awarding the prizes that we do have at the 5 and 10 book/hour level, you need to put a note in Evanced that says that they did not receive Dash or Dynamo tickets, whatever the case may be, and make sure you award the prizes using the red gift icon. When we do have tickets, if that child comes back and you give them their tickets, please make sure you delete the note in Evanced so that the customer doesn’t keep getting asked if he/she received his/her tickets yet.

Thanks for all your hard work on SRP so far! 1 week down, 8 more to go!

New Contacts for Flip Kits and CMH Library

Hello,

Kallie Benes has been promoted and will begin working as HPL's Youth Services Advocate. In her absence from FLIP and the CMH Library, please contact the following people:

FLIP or library-related issues (except passes): 
Vanessa Chenault
email: vhernandez@cmhouston.org
phone: 713-535-7206

CMH passes, FLIP surveys, FLIP business cards:
Barbara and Eunice
email: flipassist@cmhouston.org
phone: 713-535-7295

Thanks,

MR

ANNOUNCEMENT: New LMS Reorganization

From Deputy Director of Customer Experience Michele Gorman:

Good afternoon, HPL staff.

In the spirit of continuous process improvement, we have been through a tremendous amount of change in the Customer Experience during the last 11 months. One area in CE that has recently undergone a complete reorganization and workflow overhaul is the Library Materials Services (LMS) Division. The end result, which I am excited to share with all of you today, is a more nimble division that still performs most of the functions it has always done, but in a more efficient and timely manner.  Below are a few outcomes of the LMS reorganization.

• Faster delivery of new items
• Faster ordering of new titles and more predictable shipment sizes.
• Shipments received are completely processed and ready for delivery to libraries within ten work hours of arrival, or approximately one work day (compared to three days in the past, with items that were not fully tagged when sent out)
• All new items are RFID tagged and completely shelf ready for every HPL location before distribution. 
• Cross-functional work groups oversee processes from beginning to end.
• Selection, Cataloging, and Ordering
• Receiving, Processing and Distribution
• Centralized Floating
• Circulation Administration
• Centralized Floating is LMS’s new service.
• Easier, more responsive and more efficient way of dealing with “overflow.”
• NL Float Hubs phased out and staff time made available for other tasks
• Better management of the current collection
• Increased efficiencies resulted in time savings and the reallocation of staff
• Two staff members reassigned to new Centralized Floating service
• Eight staff members reassigned to other Customer Experience units to alleviate shortages

The newly reorganized LMS Division Management Team:

• Senior Manager of LMS: Fred Schumacher (832-393-1567)
• Collection Acquisitions Manager: Pat Ogea (832-393-1608)
• Collection Processing Manager: Gary Lackey (832-393-1591)
• Collection Processing Line Leader: Chris Patrick  (832-393-1620)
• Circulation Administration Manager: Esther Reyes (832-393-1605)
• DEO Supervisor: Angelia Rose (832-393-1577)

I have also attached a new contact sheet (link) to help guide you to the right person to help with whatever LMS-related questions you have since many job responsibilities have changed.  If you have a question that the contact sheet does not address I welcome and encourage you to contact Fred Schumacher or any member of the LMS team and they will be happy to assist you.

As always – if you have any questions about the LMS re-org or any topic, in general, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.

Thanks,

Michele

The list has been added to the group blog under "Staff Links." Thank you. - MR

SRP 2015 Performer Evaluation Form and Updates

Hello,

The link to the 2015 Performer Evaluation Form is here. It has been added to the group blog under "SRP Links."

Staff should fill out this evaluation in a timely manner since vendors are not paid until the evaluation form is received. Please try to fill out immediately after a program.

All staff should be aware of this form and how to access it. Be advised that:

1. Attendance stats are separated into three groups: kids, teens, and adults.

2. If someone that is not a part of SRP visits the branch (e.g., Papercraft with Annie, Baby Yoga), please use the standard evaluation form, which is located here on the group blog under "Staff Links."

3. Performers should contacted a few days ahead of the program. Tiffany Hoover in Programming may be able to assist you in getting in contact with a performer if the vendor is missing information.

4. Have a program "Plan B" (storytime or other program) ready to go if a performer is late or a no-show.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thank you,

MR