Fines Update

Overdue fines have been waived through January 2, 2018.

LOO Emails

Use loo.library@houstontx.gov to email customers or receive meeting room request forms.

Use loolibrary@houstonlibrary.net if it asks for an email address when using Microsoft Word, etc., if you are using any of the four service desk computers or the book drop computer.  Use loolibrary2@houstonlibrary.net for the delivery/label printer computer.

Axis 360

For a while now we have offered e-books through Axis 360. It is also possible to provide downloadable audiobooks through Axis 360. HPL elected not to do so since we cannot afford a fourth subscription for downloadable audiobooks. However, the vendor, Baker & Taylor, has been generous enough to donate e-book and e-audiobook titles to the collection to assist with our Harvey recovery. Therefore there is now a small collection of audiobooks in the Axis 360 collection. This is to give a heads up in case you are asked about the new audiobooks. Also, we have no plans to add additional titles to the Axis 360 collection for the foreseeable future.

OverDrive

There are two ways to place holds in OverDrive. When you place a hold you can select to have the hold fulfilled automatically once a copy of the title becomes available. In this scenario if a copy became available while we were having issues with OverDrive (between 11/9-11/11) the title would still be automatically checked out. It should now be available on the patron’s Bookshelf (if using the OverDrive app) or under Loans (if using the website). Let Marianne Lorio know if patrons are concerned that they lost a couple of days of access because of not being able to download a title. Once she verifies the situation she will do what she can to provide them with their full 2 week check out period.
 
The second option when you place a hold is to choose for the title not to be automatically checked out when it becomes available. Instead the patron will receive an e-mail stating that they have 48 hours to check out the hold. If the patron received such an e-mail between 11/9-11/11 it is possible that the hold expired before they could check out the title. If you talk to a patron who lost a hold due to this issue have them place a hold on the item again. Then e-mail Marianne Lorio the name of the title, the format, the customer's name, e-mail, and library card number. She will do what she can to have the patron’s hold fulfilled as soon as possible.

LMS Flags

Any item being sent in to LMS for a possible change or attention of some other kind, including problem AV items, must include a LMS Flag. One flag per item, not per bundle. Please note sender and unit in space provided at top of flag. Post-its and slips of scratch paper with vague notes and no unit names are not substitutes for LMS Flags.

Please review all items that have been set aside as problematic before they are sent in to LMS as edits. LMS has noted receiving a large number of items that were not appropriate send-ins for various reasons, such as:

 weeded items that have been stamped “Friends” and deleted from Sirsi
 items that are outdated or superseded by new editions (weeding candidates)
 damaged books
 items flagged as “barcode-not-found-in-Sirsi” that are in Sirsi and scan just fine
 damaged items that are intransit to fill customer holds
 call number changes on items older than 2 years

Feast

October Meetings Recap

Collected from meetings held 10/5, 10/12, 10/19 & 10/26:

Circulation
Citizenship Toolkits - There are 3 essential components that must be returned with the kit: (1) Civics Flashcards, (2) Learn about the United States Quick Civics Lesson, & (3) Welcome to the United States in English. Lost items are $7 each. If all 3 are missing, charge the customer $21 for the kit and $10 processing fee. Kits with missing parts should be checked out to LOO-REFURB and sent to LMS attn: Gary Lackey.

Learning Link - Remember that Learning Link accounts do not accrue overdue fees, and a customer should only be charged $10 per lost item. It is also important to get contact information into the account (no proof needed), so a customer can be notified if there is a bill.

Communications Updates
Communications has requested to claim ownership of library branch Google pages. We should be receiving a postcard in the mail from Google. If you see it come in with the mail or through book drop, please give it to Leonore.

IT Updates
Envisionware is a new computer reservation system we will eventually get. This is different from the other new one some branches have. Eventually, all branches will have Envisionware. In addition to the new software, we are getting a new copier/printer that will also print in color.

We are no longer using staff as the user name on shared computers. The new login is loolibrary.

Meeting Rooms
When booking the meeting room, if a group is bringing food, put (Food Fees) in the title in the calendar, so that when it is time for the meeting we remember they need to pay $25.

Partnerships
Groomed for Literacy - Looscan has been paired up with a barber shop called Hygienix, which will have a little free library in it. Donna and Leonore are the contacts and will visit the barber shop to restock books, etc. Our barber shop was flooded during Harvey, though, so we will be delayed in getting things started.

Literacy in the Bag - The large donation box up front is primarily for children’s books but adult books are accepted. I don’t know how long we will have the bin, but I think it will be till sometime in December. Here’s the website: http://literacyinthebag.org/

The Holocaust Museum’s Butterfly Project exhibit will be picked up on 11/16.

Programming
LOO & MNT are offering College Prep – Foundation for Success classes, one per month, November-January. The last session will include preparation for the ACT/SAT tests.

The Living Room @ HPL - We will be hosting an event on Saturday, 12/2. I don’t have a lot of information about it right now, but the theme will be refugees.

Youth Updates
We now have toys and puzzles out in the juvenile area. We also have a coloring station.

Please keep the STAFF laptop that Donna uses for movies on the bottom shelf on the left side of the cart.

Etiquette in Public Areas
Please do not use your cell phone while on the public floor. If you need to make a call or look at a text, please step in the back to do so.

Please keep in mind that customers can see what we do on the computers at the desk. Avoid Facebook and games while out on the floor. Also, be careful about enabling extensions when accessing certain websites. Because our browsers are all using the same login, extensions installed onto one computer will show up on another. Some extensions/websites can cause viruses.

Timekeeping
Please sign in and out on Kronos according to your work shift. If you work 9:15-6:15, clock in at 9:15 and out at 6:15. If you arrive early and worry you will forget to sign in on time, set an alarm on your phone.

Holiday Contest
Tasha over at MNT is leading the LOO/MNT holiday party team building exercise. The theme is the 1920s, and we are making a wanted poster. Be thinking about bandit names and crimes. The deadline to submit the project is 11/13.