Meeting Room Policy Update

Links to the new meeting room form, new garden room form, and new meeting room rules can be found under Documents.  Please read the new rules carefully.  Please note that every reservation for the meeting room or conference room will require a separate form.  Also, keep in mind that no business can use our rooms, regardless of purpose (such as a free seminar).  Groups may only book 6 times within a 90 day period, and the rooms may only be booked 90 days in advance.  We are honoring existing reservations, but we should adhere to the new rules with any new room requests.

Please feel free to give customers a copy of the new rules.  They are also posted on the public website (HPL Home --> Find It --> Meeting and Rental Spaces --> Neighborhood Library Spaces).  Customers can also download the new form from the website, but they will still have to bring in the form in person in order to reserve the room.

The "study room" policy is not posted on the public website but has been updated on the HPL Intranet (under Admin 1.3).  The garden room is still first-come, first serve but can only be used in two-hour increments.  If no one is waiting to use the room, then time can be extended.  Copies of the new form are on the clipboard at Desk 2.  The garden room is now on the Google calendar so we can better track the room's use.

NCAA Read to the Final Four Reading Challenge

Sixty-eight HISD schools have been selected to participate in the NCAA Read to the Final Four Reading Challenge, which begins September 24th.  Participating third grade students will receive a My Learning Link library card from their schools.  The cards are completely free: there will be no fines assessed for late or lost items!

Twenty-five libraries will serve as designated NCAA resource locations.  Please note that Looscan and Montrose are not among them, but we still may have students come in with My Learning Link cards.  Things to know about the cards:

Who will receive a card?
Cards will be given to all 3rd graders at participating schools (approximately 7,000+ students).  This is a pilot program for the 2015-2016 school year and we hope to expand the program to ALL K-3 HISD students in the 2016-2017 school year.

How will students receive their cards?
During the launch of the NCAA “Read to the Final Four” Program at your child's school, he/she will be given a Learning Link library card. It’s set up to begin using immediately. A parent or guardian signature is not required for activation.

What are the limitations to the students?
- No laptop checkout allowed
- No gaming checkout allowed
- No ILL
- Only juvenile materials allowed to be checked out (books, DVDs, CDs)
- 10 item limit
- Card expires July 31, 2016.

What are the special perks of this card?
- Unlimited virtual access
- In-house computer use allowed
- Holds allowed
- Renewals allowed
- Card cannot be sent to collections (no fines)
- Card replaced free of charge (student needs to tell staff their name, school, and ID if they know it)

Who should I contact if I have more questions?
Please contact our Youth Services Advocate, Kallie Benes (832-393-1428, Kallie.benes@houstontx.gov) with any additional questions.