HEAR
Monthly reports are due 2/7.
Kronos, Absences & Tardiness
Everyone received the mayor’s memo regarding absenteeism, as a reminder that abuse of sick time is being monitored.
Everyone also received a copy of the policy on absences and tardiness: Take note that you must contact the branch and speak to whoever is in charge that day within 30 minutes of your scheduled start time. It is okay to notify Leonore or Melissa if they are away, but you MUST also speak to the designated person in charge. Please note that an employee may only make up a maximum of 4 hours after an unscheduled absence, and this is only at the supervisor’s discretion.
Please send an email to Leonore and/or Melissa whenever there is a discrepancy in Kronos, so that we know how to correctly input your time and in case there is an audit.
Wellness
The deadline to complete your health assessment is 2/2/18. The deadline to complete preventative care is also 2/2. The other wellness engagements are due by 3/9. Please check to see if you have 100% completion at mycigna.com.
Opening Procedures
The three most important things that need to get done before we open the doors to the public are putting the money in the till, turning on the computers, and making sure the newspapers are done. No matter what is on your schedule first thing, make sure these things are attended to before we start other tasks.
Desk Etiquette
Be timely to the service desk.
Clear the counters at Desk 1 of any returns before you end your shift.
Please do not put credit card paper in the receipt printers. Credit card spools are smaller than regular receipt paper.
Please remove the yellow hold labels if you check out for a customer.
Customers must show either an ID or library card or barcode on the official HPL app to check out material. We need to be consistent in asking, including with our regulars.
Customers calling on the phone must provide their library card number if they want anything done with their account. Verify the name on the account after the number is given.
Please try to answer the phone within two rings. If you are in the work room and hear the phone ringing and ringing, please answer it.
Please do not call the library “branch” when answering the phone. We are Looscan Neighborhood Library.
Collection Maintenance
There is a new children’s new book section at the front of the chapter books. Only new fiction and nonfiction will go here. Since there aren’t any date labels on these books, the section will be replenished/swapped out as new books come in.
When discharging book drop, please put like items together on shelving carts. Also, please clear the back counter. Put labels on carts/baskets if there’s cause for confusion.
Please avoid putting FLIP Kits on carts. If they are to go on the shelf, carry them out to the dog house.
YA returns will now go on the adult cart on the nonfiction side.
Please put newspapers in order in the back cabinet or leave them stacked in the bottom of the cabinet at Desk 2 for Tina to file.
We have started collecting statistics on items used in-house. Someone will be scheduled to do this at the end of each day, but if you see things while you are shelving or otherwise out on the floor, please use the “Mark Item Used” wizard under Special in Sirsi to mark these items as used before you put them on a return cart or back on the shelf.
Please also straighten the shelves when you are assigned to pick up at the end of the day.
Be mindful when processing holds that things go in the right place. We’ve had a lot of books with holds for other branches wind up on our own hold shelf lately.
Technology
IT says it is normal for the public computers to sometimes go straight to the desktop after a customer’s session ends. This is a Sirsi issue and is something we must live with until we get our new reservation system. To fix it, select log off on the start menu of the individual computer.
Please do not use Coin Copier printer paper for staff printing. Staff paper is under the table in the work room and is currently HP brand. Coin Copier paper should only go in the copy machine and is currently Go Glatfelter brand.
Our self-check machines have been upgraded. The software looks a bit different. Please play with it so you know how to help customers who have questions. We are going to get new scanners soon, which will allow customers to use the barcodes on their phones.
Meescan is another way to self-checkout. It uses an app and your phone’s camera to check out material. The desensitizing device for Meescan is on the low counter at the less used side of Desk 2.
All staff are required to submit a photo for the new intranet directory. Djuina's deadline is 1/31. Photos can be emailed to hpl.communications@houstontx.gov or saved on the G Drive in the folder !New Intranet Content -> New Intranet Directory Photos -> Headshots. Save the photo file name as: your full name-employee ID number.
If you see a login page on the new Intranet, put your email address in and then click on reset password if you haven’t already.
Customers with iPhones can use the Notes app already on their phones to scan a document. The scans can be saved and emailed. There’s also a free app called Tiny Scanner that scans documents and saves them as attachments for emailing.
All public computers should have the Jobview application on the desktop. This is a tool for job seekers. Please let IT know if you notice the icon is missing on a computer.
Programming
We are no longer offering citizenship classes.
Melissa's self-publishing workshops will start on in February.
Antoinette is holding adult coloring sessions once a month.
Meeting Spaces
The new Garden Room form is on the blog. It has space for customers to sign out when they are finished with the room. The clipboard will now be kept at Desk 1 on the passenger side. Please remind customers of the rules and inform them of the new sign-out procedure.
Put a contact number in the meeting room calendar when you book a group. This is helpful in case we can’t get to work to let a group know we will be closed.
Booksale
Book sale prices will eventually be standardized across the system. We are supposed to get an official sign. The new prices will be:
- .10 Magazines
- .50 Paperbacks
- $1 Hardbacks & Media
Customer Experience Updates
The senior managers + Laurie serve as liaisons to different library divisions. If you ever email somebody in another division, you can CC the appropriate person as necessary:
- Mary – SPACES
- Laurie – HR
- Patrick – Digital Strategies & LMS
- Pedro – FIDS, Financial Services & Nicole’s team
- Djuina – Organizational Development
Please keep Djuina in the loop if you need to contact another division about an issue.