Good news about self-check machines!

Hello all.

SirsiDynix has updated our settings to allow self-check machines to automatically override blocks on items with “In Transit” for Current Location, blocks for items with holds that have not yet been trapped and  item messages on items with multiple parts/accompanying materials.  They will continue to block check out of items on the holds shelf to any card other than the one on which the item is held. 

We hope that these updated settings will result in improved service for your customers.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Circulation Administration Unit at 832-393-2222 (option 3).  We will be delighted to assist you however we are able.

Fred Schumacher

Circulation Administration Manager

Comics Plus Training

Hello,

Because our trainer is unable to enable more than eight logins, we are cancelling next Tuesday’s live webinars.

Instead, we are asking those who either missed the training last Thursday or planned to take it next Tuesday to please watch the archived webinar when we receive it from the trainer.  We will let you know as soon as it is posted on the training portal.    

You are welcome to explore Comics Plus at any time by creating an account at the URL highlighted below.

A few FAQs from Thursday’s training: 

1)       We will allow five checkouts at a time when the service goes live on Friday, May 23 (in time for Comicpalooza). 

2)       Items are checked out for seven days and cannot be returned early.

3)       This service works like hoopla, in that the library pays every time a customer downloads an item.  There is multiple access to any given title; that is, any number of users can read it at once. 

4)      This is a streaming service so you must be connected to the Internet to read your comics, manga and graphic novels.

5)      Iverse is adding additional publishers to the service.  Right now about 2/3 of the content is for children and young adults.

6)      There are materials in other languages that you can find by searching that language, including Mandarin and Spanish.

7)      Customers will need the latest version of most  common browsers to access the service.

Thanks for your patience.

--Sally

Sally Bates

Collection Development Department

SRP Registration

Hello team,

Very important message about awarding the SRP Registration Prize:

When someone signs up for SRP at your location (or signs themselves up online and comes in to collect their Registration Prize), go ahead and award the prize in Evanced, and give them their Rosen books. Since we don't have the $5 off fines coupon yet for reading down your fines, please make a note in the customer's account in Evanced that says "Has not received $5 coupon for registration" with your location and initials, so the note should look like: Has not received $5 coupon for registration OAK/SP

VERY IMPORTANT: After we receive the coupons, and the customer comes in to collect the coupon (perhaps when they come in to collect their reading prizes), give them the coupon and DELETE THE NOTE by editing their account. This is standard procedure for when we don't one element of a prize level, since you will already have awarded the other item in the registration prize (the Rosen book).

If you need instructions on how to add and delete notes, remember that Sandy Farmer has offered to come to your locations to do Evanced for SRP training, and she can show you how. Youth staff that attended the April youth meeting/training should be able to do this as well.

We are hoping to have the coupons ready to go for June, and we don't usually have too many people signing up in May.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask either myself or Sandy Farmer.

Thanks!

Sara 

Statistics are important!

Statistics are important! They are a way of tracking and showing how busy we are, and they justify our staffing levels. Keeping accurate statistics is everyone's job. On this note, I want to remind everyone to PLEASE mark down your questions on the statistics sheets! I just entered some statistics for ACR, and there were some days that there were no questions marked at all. I find it hard to believe that nobody asked how to sign on to the computer, how to use the printer etc. Remember to mark down your questions!

Also, remember to write down the gate count! On the schedule, when we put you down for DP (deposit), you are also going to see GC (for Gate Count). So, when you are scheduled to get the deposit ready in the morning, you are also responsible for making sure the gate count gets written on the statistics sheet.

On the stats sheet for holds, I want to remind you about the distinction between the 2 columns. In the "Pulled" column, that is how many items were on the paging list, whether you were able to find them or not. There only needs to be one number in this column-sometimes people write the number paged and the number pulled-we only need the number paged. The "Processed" column is how many holds/items are staying at your location. So, it's the number of items checked in from delivery, plus if any items that a customer returns activates a hold at your location, you can put +1, or +2 etc.

Lastly, if you conduct a computer class or open job lab, please remember to enter those statistics on the appropriate online forms, as soon as your class is over! Don't wait until the day they are due, because you might be out sick, and then we have to scramble to figure out what the statistics were (or weren't) for the month.

Thanks!

-Sara

Children in the Workplace

Hello everyone,

Since Summer is fast approaching, Mary has asked that I remind everyone of the following . . . 

-----------------------------

Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson sent a memo on June 12, 2007, in regard to children in the workplace.  ALL staff must comply with the memo.

“Please note that children may not be brought to the workplace in lieu of day care.  They may participate in the Summer Reading Program and other library activities.  However, children will not be allowed in the parent’s or care giver’s work area, staff lounges, or left alone for long periods of time in the library.

Thanks for your cooperation.”

Failure to comply will result in a Performance Discussion with the employee. A Manager, Acting Manager; or staff member designated in charge of the building must require compliance.  As supervisors, you and I have responsibility for the day to day operation of the work area. A parent or caregiver cannot divide their attention between doing their job and monitoring their children.  Our customers deserve 100% of staff’s attention at all times.

“Guests/friends/spouses” are not allowed in work areas.  If a “guest” were injured, he or she could sue the library.  “Guests” are not covered by Workmen’s Compensation.  All library staff is responsible for maintaining a professional work environment.   

Thanks!

On behalf of the District Managers,

Mary Wagoner

Tagging

PLEASE BE AWARE!!!!!

Anything that comes into the Oak Forest Neighborhood Library that does not have a tag needs to be given one!

EVEN IF IT IS BEING SHIPPED ELSEWHERE!!!!!

This means that things that are on the "TO BE TAGGED" shelf need to be checked once tagged to determine where they are going (are we keeping them?  Are they going to Central?  Are they HOLDS for elsewhere? Etc.)

Thanks,
Brandon

Freegal

We now have a new site available to our patrons called Freegal that allows our customers to stream music free of cost as  long as they have a valid library card.

Please look at this training site to find out how to use the service as well as how to explain it to our customers.

https://sites.google.com/site/hplstafftraining/learningresources/freegal-music

Thanks,
Brandon