Looscan Staff Team Bonding

We're half way through summer, but our team has found a way to shake off the stress and enjoy the summer! Thank you to Tina & Donna for organizing this dessert party!!

Keeping Up With Summer Trends!

Lynda.com Password Reset

We've received new instructions on how to handle lost passwords for Lynda.com. If a patron needs to reset their Lynda.com password please have them call Lynda at 888-335-9632 Monday-Friday, 8 am to 7 pm, or Saturday-Sunday, 9 am to 6 pm.

Wonder Woman Day 2017

Prepped to celebrate the first annual Wonder Woman Day!!!

Axis360 Update

The EPUB format has been turned on for Axis360. When a patron checks out a title in Axis360 while on a computer they will have two options for downloading the title. There is a button labeled Read in Browser and another labeled Download to Transfer to e-Reader. Transferring to an e-reader is only necessary on older e-readers that don't use apps. Read in Browser is for patrons who wish to read a title on their computer. For smart devices that use apps the best way to read an Axis360 title is through the Axis360 app.

May Meetings Recap

Collected from meetings held 5/9, 5/16, 5/23 & 5/30.

Branch Email Account

We have an official library email address: loo.library@houstontx.gov 

This can be used to email customers about account issues or to email meeting room forms. Anyone can use this account to contact customers rather than using their own. I set up a forwarding rule so that anytime someone responds to that account, Renee, Tina, Melissa and I will automatically know.

Online Registration
Here is a link with a video explaining how to update an online library card registration in WorkFlows: Online Library Card Application - WorkFlow Process

Saima Kadir figured out that the reason so many customers are using the old form to register for a library card is because they are finding the link through the catalog instead of on the website, where it has been updated. When a customer places a hold in the catalog, the window that asks for card number and pin has a link that says “Need Card?” This link goes to the old form, and apparently the link is difficult to fix right now. Saima is working with the Sirsi people to fix it. Once it’s corrected, we shouldn’t have the same problem we’ve been having with online registrations.

Technology

Staff can check out hotspots for outreaches or personal use by emailing the IT Helpdesk and providing your library card number. Hotspots do not have international service.

Programming

We have a new ESL conversational class led by Melissa. It is every Monday from 1-2:30 pm. It is not really a beginner class, but all levels are welcome and there is no limit.

Summer Reading Program Beanstack powerpoint

·         Camp Stream – All ages groups are booked up except for grades 9-12.

·         Have a new program that needs to be added to the calendar?  Please talk to Renee and use this form: New Program Form.

Collection Maintenance
Adult DVDs have been interfiled. Bios + nonfiction begin at the staircase, followed by all fiction A-Z, with Z being closest to the front doors.

Please put children's media on the bottom of the media shelving cart.

Please put new children's books on a cart by themselves so Yolanda knows what is new and what should go on display.

·         Each citizenship toolkit comes with multiple parts. The three parts customers MUST return are: 1. Civics Flashcards 2. Quick Civics Lesson Guide 3. Welcome to the US booklet in English & Spanish. There is $7 charge per missing part (like a CD in an audiobook). The entire kit costs $21 + $10 processing fee. Email Jessica Stanley to have missing parts replaced and notate what is missing on the kit’s content list. Kits should be kept at the desk rather than on the public floor.

Housekeeping
Please shred the clear hold shelf list (or put in the folder for Aaron to shred). This list has full names and library card numbers on it and should not simply go in the trash.

If you notice we are low on supplies, please notate what we need on the list at Tina’s desk.

Do not leave any loose change around. Please ring anything extra up as book sale.

Please mark down reference & directional questions on the statistics sheet at the desk. This is very important.

·        Please ensure that books on your desks are checked out to you, one of the Looscan cards if a display or programming item, or to LOO-REPAIR if in the process of being relabeled, etc. Items that are shown as being available in the catalog wind up on paging lists and then get marked missing when they aren’t where they are supposed to be. If you have stacks of books on your desk right now, please scan them to clear statuses and check them out as appropriate. Items that are long-in transit can been tracked, and yes, they have been tracked to staff members. Please review the Staff Borrower Cards Policy. That said, if you are doing paging or clearing the holds and see a staff member’s item on either list, please do the courtesy of letting that staff member know before the item is pulled.

The end of the fiscal year is near. If you are doing mileage for June, have your paperwork in no later than July 5th.

Training
Niche Academy offers training videos that don’t officially count towards credit, but if you take any, do list them on your monthly report.

Time & Attendance
Please be aware that the mayor has asked supervisors to monitor staff’s sick time use. Anyone who has used more than 64 hours of sick time must bring a doctor’s note whenever sick time is used.

Montrose
Montrose will reopen on Mondays beginning June 26th.