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!