Lexile

It is now possible to search for Lexile information in the regular Card Catalog.

First, go to the online catalog.

Do a 'word' search. Enter the 3 digit number along with the word lexile.

For example "500 lexile" or "720 lexile".

This should then list all of the books with this lexile number.

May

The calender for the meeting room in May is open!

The April Meeting Room Calendar . . .

. . . is now open!

We are now accepting meeting room reservations through April 30th!

Meeting Room Reservation

At this point, we are now accepting Meeting Room and Conference Room Reservations through the end of February.

Please continue with our policy of making people come in person to make room reservations.

Thank you,
Brandon Pope

Meeting rooms

We are now taking reservations for the meeting and conference room through December 31st, 2009.

We are NOT taking any reservations for 2010 yet and will not until the beginning of October!!!!

FYI

Just in time for the new school year--

Paperback classics should now be visible in the Catalog with a call number of "paperback classic." And they are holdable! This means that staff that does your daily title paging list may now find titles to pull that have a call number of "paperback classic." Please make sure that they are all aware of this change--and that they know where your paperback classics are shelved.

We have done our best to identify and unsuppressed all of the appropriate bibliographic records for the paperback classics but it is certainly possible that we missed some. If you come across a paperback classic record that is still suppressed, please send the bib # and title to Erin Cody in COMS.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thanks,
Syma

LOO NL Final Monthly Report for July 2009

Looscan Neighborhood Library
July 2009
Final Monthly Report


I. Statistics & Trends
A. Circulation- There were 19,969 adult items checked out during July 2009 which represented 37.75% increase over July 2008’s 14,497; there were 1,533 YA items checked out which represented a 27.11% increase over July 2008’s 1,206; and there were 14,979 which represented a 47.92% increase over July 2008’s 10,192. FY 10’s circulation for July 2009 of 36,481 represents a 40.9% increase over July 2008’s 25,898. The main explanation for LOO’s large jump in circulation is JUN’s summer long closure for an ADA renovation. In addition, the economic downturn has also contributed to increased library attendance and usage.
B. Reference – There were 4,125 Reference questions and 3,400 directional questions in July 2009. The FY 2010 reference question total of 4,125 represents an increase of 21.68% from FY 2009’s total of 3,390. The FY 10 directional question total of 3,400 constitutes an increase of 30.77% from FY 09’s 2,600.
C. Computer usage – There were 253 computer laptops checked out during July 2009.

II . Collection Development – Gifts/Money
A. Weeding – none
B. Displays – three adult displays: Independence Day (July 4th), Bastille Day (July 14th), and Horses
C. Grants – none
D. Gifts -- none

III. Personnel
A. Temporary assignments – Brandon Pope is out on FMLA beginning 6/1/09
B. Leaves of Absence: Shanti Rao is on an unpaid leave of absence from 20 July 2009 through 20 September 2009 to take care of her father in India.
C. Vacancies: There is one current vacancy: The Children’s Librarian position is open.
D. New hires: Carol Beechler, Shanti Rao, and Beth Rodriquez
E. Volunteers – six volunteers who volunteered for 224 hours in July 2009
F. Coverage received – Ms. Hammett from Montrose covered Toddler Time on Wednesdays; Chris Hu and Lisa Reyes from the Floating Staff also helped with coverage. Charlie Murray and Yolanda Davis from JUN were temporarily transferred to LOO during JUN’s closure for ADA renovations.

IV. Staff Development
A. Meetings – CM attended the JUN Neighborhood Library staff meeting held at LOO on 7/7/2009 with Pat Jones, Dodie Bailey, Lisa Swan, and Paula Barrera; CM Branch Manager’s meeting on 7/9/2009; the LOO staff held a staff meeting at LOO on 7/10/2009
B. Trainings – Carol Beechler and Beth Rodriquez attended Customer Service on 7/2/09; Carol Beechler, Beth Rodriquez, and Shanti Rao attended the city of Houston new employee orientation of 7/8/2009; Carol attended a YA COMS meeting on 7/14/2009.

V. Special Programs & Activities
A. Programs – Toddler Time on Wednesdays; a children’s movie was presented every Monday afternoon from 2:00-4:00 PM with a family movie every Thursday afternoon from 2;00-4:00 PM through the end of the SRP on 31 July 2009
B. Special Activities – SRP programs included a performance by the Marionette Playhouse of Sleeping Beauty and the Handsome Prince on 7/1/2009; Mark Shepherd, the cowboy poet, presented a program at LOO on 7/8/2009.

VI. Facilities
A. Sprocket reports. Three Sprockets during July 2009 were opened:
(a) # 094112 water running continuously in family restroom facet
(b) # 094138 bulbs in staff restroom need replacing
(c) #096378 please add “No Parking” to fire lane

B. Incidents: eight incident reports were filed as well at LOO during July 2009:
(a) A customer complained about another customer talking too loudly on cell phone on 7/6/2009
(b) A customer complained her car had been bumped in the parking lot on 7/6/2009
(c) A customer walked through the back door setting off alarm on 7/6/2009
(d) Customer reported sleeping in men’s public restroom on 7/13/2009
(e) A female customer reported being followed by a male customer on 7/17/2009
(f) Cell phone disputed on 7/29/2009
(g) A female customer reported being “beamed” at on 7/29/2009
(h) A female customer vehemently objected to fines on 7/29/2009

Many thanks for your kind consideration.

Respectfully submitted,
Charlie Murray
Acting Branch Manager LOO