Defibrilator video

There is a VHS video in the break room about the Lifepak 500 defibrilator that will soon be installed here. Esther, Franklin, Doug and I have all had training in using the defibriliator and this video is not a substitute for that training, but I would like for everyone to watch it so you are familiar with it and how it works.

Thank you!
John

Thank you!

Today marks one year since I became your manager. Thank you all for all you do every day that has made this a wonderful year.

And, of course, you all have my very best wishes for a happy holiday season!

John

Customer survey week

Team,

Here's a reminder about customer survey week that Mike posted on the Central blog based on an e-mail from Greg. Confused? Don't be. It's pretty straightforward.

Thanks!
John

Here is information from Greg Simpson on customer surveys.

It is that time of year again – time for our Customer Survey. Actually, the time for the Customer Survey was in October, but here we are.

The Survey will be conducted beginning this Sunday, December 9^th, and will run through the close of business Saturday, December 15^th.

There will be both hard-copy and online versions of the survey, in English and Spanish. We would like to drive as many customers as possible to the online version and would appreciate your help in encouraging customers to use that as the first option.

Staff from the Public Services team will ensure that the correct signage is placed out and desks have surveys.

Your job is to encourage as many customers as possible to fill out the survey. Please note that Greg indicates they would prefer customers to do the online version.

Early December notes

• First a big thank you to everyone for pitching in and helping with Telephone Reference and circulation during Central's closure on Monday.
• Remember the systemwide holiday party on Friday, December 14th at the George R. Brown Convention Center. I have guest tickets available for $10.00 each. I also have raffle tickets for $1.00 each.

Thanks!
John

Telephone Reference - November 30th

The Julia Ideson Building will be closed on Friday, November 30th at 1 p.m. We have been asked to cover Telephone Reference that afternoon. I'll put the two TR desks on that day's schedule.

Thanks!
John

Mini-Grant

COMS has awarded Scenic Woods a mini-grant for $2000 for environmental books for children. Woo-hoo!

I have a copy of our entry if anyone would like to see it.

John

Johnson Controls on the Weekend

By 10:00 o'clcock it was warm and humid in the public area of the Library, so I decided to call Johnson Controls. I first called the number listed on our directory for the weekend, 31358, but was directed to call 1-866-862-0459, which is not the number listed. After being put on hold for about 5 minutes a Jamelle, in Milwaukee, Wisconsisn answered and asked for our "site ID number." I told her that I did not know it, but after spelling Scenic Woods for her a few times she started looking. That found a few other locations in Texas I'd never heard of, but no Scenic Woods. I suggested she try looking for Houston Public, and she asked if we were at 500 McKinney. Now that she had the right client listing it was only a couple more minutes before she found us and was able to tell me that our "site ID # is 00135499." She then took down the information that it was very warm and humid and getting warmer. She gave me a "service request number" of 4081027387, and assured me that we would hear from someone within the hour.

By the way, the temperature in Milwaukee Saturday morning was in the low 30's. Everyone here at the time thought that sounded wonderful!

Doug Weiskopf

HPL/HCPL Shared Card

This was on the Remote Reference blog and I thought it should be on ours as well:

HPL and the County are starting a Shared Card program/ Currently, the BOOK RETURN service and application for One Card are only available at Stella Link, Park Place, Bracewell and Hillendahl, but more branches will be added in the next weeks.
Customers can choose to have one library card number for both library systems, but with separate accounts at either system. If an existing County customer applies for a library card at HPL, they will not be issued a new library card number, they will retain their HCPL number and card, and vice-versa.
Collections and pick-up locations are NOT interchangeable. If a "One Card" customer needs to place a hold for an HPL item, they will have to pick it up at an HPL location (of course the Clear Lake Freeman Branch is an exception). Conversely, if the customer needs to place a hold on an HCPL item, they will have to place it on hold using HCPL's catalog and selecting an HCPL branch for pick-up.
Please note: While the Book Return service and "One Card" applications are available only at the branches listed above, customers with a "One Card" may request we place holds for them at any location, including TR.

Congratulations, Heather!

Please join me in officially welcoming Heather DeHoyos to Scenic Woods. She is now officially and permanently our children's Senior Library Service Specialist!

John

New look

I thought I'd try a new look for our blog. Let me know how you like it!

John

It's November

It's November and with the new month, come a crop of announcements:

• The phone greeting trial ended on October 31st. You're welcome to continue using it, or a shortened version (my suggestion is replacing "HPL--Scenic Woods Branch" with "Scenic Woods Regional Library").
• The Fall Festival held on October 31st was a howling success! Nearly 100 children attended! Special thanks go to Heather DeHoyos for all her hard work in organizing this event and to Sydney Colwell, Shaneka Dotson, Michelle King, Esther Reyes, Ana Rivera, Franklin Smith and everyone else who worked so hard for this very successful program!
• The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's "Whimsical Wearables" exhibit arrives here on Monday, November 5th. Please see Pamela for more information about this interesting exhibit!
• At least for the next week, we will need volunteers to work reference Wednesday and Thursday evenings. There are also still some opportunities to work Sundays in November and December. Please see me.

Thank you all for all your help, hard work and cooperation!
John

Wednesday and Thursday night

We need at least one volunteer to work the evening shift on Thursday for this week. Two would be better. One more would also be welcome on Wednesday evening.

Please see me if you're available.

Thanks!
John

Sundays and a notice

• We still need one reference person on November 4th and one on November 11th. If it's been a while since you've worked a Sunday, please consider working one of these days.
• On Thursday, November 8th, Municipal Courts will have a few people in our lobby giving out information from 5 to 8 p.m.
  
  Thank you!
  John

Reminders

Michelle has asked me to post these reminders:

• When you receive an item on which you have placed a hold, please remember to check it out to yourself. Unchecked items can wreak havoc on the holds maintenance system.
• Remember the deadline for CMC is October 29th. If you have not yet completed your paperwork, please do so.

Thanks!
John

Monthly staff meeting and more special guest stars

• We'll have our October staff meeting on Tuesday, the 23rd, at 3:30 and 4 p.m.
• AritEdna "Arit" Ekpro from Dixon will be with us for a few days while Dixon undergoes minor renovation. Our own Minnie will be joining us this week as well. Yay!
  
  Thanks!
  John

Special Guest Star

As part of this year's CMC fund raiser, I have "rented" Gina Stemmer, Chief of Neighborhood Libraries, for two hours Friday afternoon. She'll be covering the reference desk from 4:00 to 6:00. Please make her welcome.
Thanks,
John

An Informal Survey

As most of you know, I represent the Library in the negotiations for a new contract for all City employees. As things stand now the City is offering a 2% across the board pay raise and we are asking for 5%. They have also offered to hold the line on the percent that we pay for health insurance.
I need your input: What percentage across the board pay increase would you consider adequate, and what other issues, such as EPE reform, holding the line on insurance costs, raising the shift differential or the longevity pay, do you consider most important?

Doug

Reservation Station and computer bandwith

• I mentioned this to several folks before I left on vacation, but just a reminder: There is not supposed to be a chair in front of the reservation station. If a customer does move a chair there, please return it to where it belongs.
• Justin Ewald from IT called today to let me know that they have increased our computer bandwidth. If there are any problems, please let me know.
  
  Thanks!
  John

Holiday requests

The holidays will be here very soon, so please let me know ASAP if you are intending to go away Thanksgiving week, the week before Christmas or the week between Christmas Day and New Year's. Volunteers to work on any of the weekends in question are welcome. I'll be back full-time on Monday the 15th, so please let me know next week.

Thanks!
John

Early childhood computer mouse

The early childhood computer's mouse is not working. There is a severed wire in it. I have put in a request to IT for a replacement mouse, but I am not certain of the availability of mice in that size. For the moment, the early childhood computer will be out of order.

Thanks,
John

A Note Before I Go

As you all know, I'll be off most of the time between now and October 15th. I'll be in on Tuesday the 2nd (9-1), Wednesday the 3rd (5-9), Tuesday the 9th (9-1) and Wednesday the 10th (5-9). I also have a meeting scheduled for Thursday the 11th. Otherwise, Pamela will be in charge most of the time. I have the reference schedules posted for most of the next two weeks here on ye olde blog. Any questions, feel free to call me. Thank you all for being such as great staff!
John

Correction to October calendar

Oops! I noticed some errors on the October calendar regarding Saturdays. I inadvertantly had someone working two Saturdays in a row! Let me know if there are any more mistakes. Thanks!
John

Quick notes

• If you have not yet filled in emergency contact forms, please do so ASAP. One copy goes to Sharon Alvarez in HR, the other to Linda Samson at PAR.
• There has been some concern about the usability of our microwave oven. I will purchase a replacement, but we have almost no money left in booksale. Please see me to contribute to the new microwave fund!

Thanks!

John

What's new?

A lot is new!

1. Look just to the left of this announcement and you'll see a link for the reference desk calendar. It will published online from now on.
2. Tuesday, September 25th at 3 p.m., Belinda Cox will be coming to train us (that's everyone: circ and reference) on HPL's pilot project telephone greeting.
3. I'll be on vacation starting this Friday, September 28th. I'll be in a few days and to work my Wednesday evenings. I'll drop by at least once with my mom so you can meet her! I'll be back from my vacation on Monday, October 15th.

Thanks!
John

Popular books

School is back in session and with it come multiple requests for single titles. We've had a few titles with unusually high demand:

• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor: Jane has put several additional copies in paperback classics.
• A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest Gaines: Additional copies were requested via the COMS list. At least two branches are sending copies, which will be put in classics.
• The Good Earth, by Pearl Buck: Again, more copies have been requested via the COMS list and these will also be put in classics.

Thank you for your cooperation,

John

Phone problems

If you experience a problem with the phone line on either of the Telephone Reference phones, please mark an "X" in the "Prob?" column on the spreadsheet and note the time in the "time of prob?" column. Justin in IT is working on trying to establish a pattern.

Thanks!
John

Telephone Reference reminders

A couple of reminders for when you're recording stats for Telephone Reference:

• Use the proper spreadsheet for stats. They are located on the desktop of the computer terminals. On TR1 (31690) it's called "TRR". On TR2 (31692) it's called "TR Stats 07 Use This One" (unsubtle, I know). Please do not start a new spreadsheet.
• Please remember to mark "Ref" in the left-hand column if the call includes a reference (i.e., non-directional) question. If you type "r" in the column, "Ref" will show up.

Thank you!

Books on the Bayou

It's that time again, when we ask everyone in Houston to share in reading one book, which this year is Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima.

One of our community partners, MacArthur Ninth Grade School (Aldine ISD) is helping to promote it. Dorothy Allen from that school will be by no later than Thursday, September 13 to pick up some flyers. They are on the CPU by the reference desk, under the bottle of hand sanitizer.

Here at Scenic Woods, we have two events planned:

Natural Cures and Folk Remedies: What does the Science Say?
Monday, October 15 at 6:00 PM
Does your family have its own remedy for the common cold? Do you take herbal supplements? Have you ever wondered if they really work? Learn how scientific studies are done and how they may demonstrate whether your home remedy really works or whether it is snake oil. Presented by the HAM-TMC library.

Book discussion
Tuesday, October 23 at 2:00 PM

Other events are listed here:
http://www.houstonlibrary.org/booksonthebayou/events.html

September Computer Classes

Comptuer classes in September at Scenic Woods:

Intro to Power Point; Wed. 9/5 3:30 (Onda)
Computer Basics; Thurs 9/6 3:00 (Doug)
Internet Basics; Wed. 9/12 3:30 (Onda)
Internet Basics; Thurs. 9/13 3:00 (Franklin)
50-Plus Computer Club; Mon. 9/17 3:00 (Velma)
E-Mail Basics; Wed. 9/19 3:30 (Onda)
Internet Basics; Thurs. 9/20 3:00 (Franklin)
Computer Basics; Wed. 9/26 3:30 (Onda)
Computer Basics; Thurs 9/27 3:00 (Doug)

Please note that a typo crept in and the library's calendar of events and Web site list Internet Basics on the 17th and 50-Plus on the 20th instead of the other way around.

Thanks,
John

Looscan

Looscan Neighborhood Library has opened in its new building! The address is still 2510 Willowick (Near Westheimer).
Phone is 832-393-1900.
Hours:
M 10 - 8
T, W 10 - 6
Th 12 - 8
F 12 - 6
Sat 10 -6
Sun Closed

A helpful hint for Telephone Reference

This is taken from the Remote Reference Blog. I'll add a link to the E-Mail Reference form on the "Helpful Links":

1. For obituaries, just like any other research-oriented request that needs follow-up, please fill the e-mail reference form at www.hpl.lib.tx.us/services/eref_form.html, or if the customer has access to the Internet, direct him/her to the form. Please do not use the "green sheets" any longer. Please inform customers that it normally takes longer than 36-45 hours to do the research; all requests are handled on a "first come first serve basis"; we are unable to do any RUSH requests. We only accept obituary requests for people who either lived or died in Houston/Harris County. • If date of death is after 1984, check the Houston Chronicle database for an obituary (coverage starts from 1985). Other web sites where one can find death/obit info: Obits Archive, SSDI, Ancestry Library Edition database, Texas Death Index.2. When filling out an e-mail request for a customer, please write TR and your initials at the top of the message. Include as much information on the request as possible, as well as resources you've already checked. For some government/law related items (Texas or US), try doing a Google search, it's very likely that you will find a full-text article available at a government Web site. You may also wish to try an Advanced Google search and select ".gov" as your preferred domain. For many business questions, a custom search in ReferenceUSA gives best results.Please use clear and simple language to type the question - we have received too many questions with incorrect information; please do not type in all caps.

2. When filling out an e-mail request for a customer, please write TR and your initials at the top of the message. Include as much information on the request as possible, as well as resources you've already checked. For some government/law related items (Texas or US), try doing a Google search, it's very likely that you will find a full-text article available at a government Web site. You may also wish to try an Advanced Google search and select ".gov" as your preferred domain. For many business questions, a custom search in ReferenceUSA gives best results.Please use clear and simple language to type the question - we have received too many questions with incorrect information; please do not type in all caps.

Item for public viewing

There is a waste water permit application for public viewing on the shelf in the middle of the low bookcase by the public service desk, right under the shelf with the dictionary.

What's this?

Remember the blog?

More and more HPL locations are going to this to improve communication among staff. So, let's try using it as our home page and see how it works.

Thank you all for your cooperation!

Printing without a library card

Customers, of course, should always have their Power Card or computer use card with them, but sometimes they don't have it and log on to a computer anyway.

They can print from a computer using our customer copy card. If a customer asks to print and they have logged in without a card in hand, they will need to send the print job using our customer copy card's number in the Pharos "to print" window. Please do not give out the number; instead, enter the number yourself. The customer can, with your help, add money to the card and print.

If they have already sent the job using their own number, they will need to re-send it using ours.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this.

I appreciate everyone's flexibility and patience as we all learn this new system.

John

Holds cover sheet

The cover sheet for the items to be placed on hold is on the desktop of the reference terminal on the children's side (that is, facing the reservation station).

When circ staff check in items on hold for customers, I'd like for the reference staff person present to print the cover sheets. It should only take a few minutes. The date should be ten days from the day the holds arrive.

The little receipt slips with the customers' names should be removed before they are put on the hold shelf.

Thank you all for your help with this.

John

AARP Tax assistance

Volunteers from AARP will be at Scenic Woods to offer customers assitance with their income tax from February to mid-April.

The first day will be Friday, February 2. Starting February 8, volunteers will be here every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Please let customers know if they ask about tax assistance.

John

Trying this out

To try to improve communications, some HPL locations are using blogs. Those who have worked at Central are familiar with this concept.

I figured we could try this and we'll see how it works out. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

John