Last Minute Time Off Requests

Today I've had three different people come to me with either vacation time needs or needing time off for various appointments in the next two days

While I can sometimes accommodate these requests, please give me as much notice as you can for any non-emergency time off request as is humanly possible.  I

Please do not be surprised if I have to tell you that I cannot give you the time off due to operational needs.

The *best* times to schedule anything personal is the morning of your branches late night (Tuesday for ACR and Thursday for OAK) or Friday mornings.

When I am unavailable, let Sara know and send me an email.

Even if you have spoken with me about it, I have 13 different people to keep up with and unless you see the schedule marking you as being out, there is a good chance I have forgotten it.

Thanks,
Brandon

Unblocking Websites

If Websense (our Internet filter) blocks a customer from accessing a website, you can unblock that site on a temporary basis by following the procedures outlined on the Reference Page of the Intranet under CIPA FAQ: Disabling the Websense Filter:  https://hplnet.hpl.lib.tx.us/depts/neighborhood/CIPA-FAQ.pdf.  As noted in the FAQ, you will need to contact the IT Helpdesk for the override password.

If you or a customer feels that Websense is blocking a website incorrectly and that it should be readily available, please send that information to Lin Swalley (lin.swalley@houstontx.gov).  The Collection Development Department will review the site and determine if the website should be unblocked.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Thanks,

Syma

How to count holds for statistics

Here's a reminder on how the holds are defined for statistics:

·         Pulled:  Items on the paging lists-whether found or not found, because you spent time looking for everything on the list, didn't you?

·         Processed:  Items received in delivery, items that come across the desk as holds for customers (both in house and to send in delivery), and items cleared from the holdshelf. If an item cleared from the holdshelf activates a hold, you can count it twice, since you are spending twice the amount of time on it.

Please make sure you are counting statistics accurately! It shows how busy we are, and right now, we are very busy!

Thanks!

Sara

SRP Prizes

Great job on SRP so far, everyone! We have already exceeded our total SRP signups from last year at both ACR and OAK, and summer has barely started!
If you haven't already, please familiarize yourself with the Reading Log booklet. You need to know where each of the sticker badges go, and make sure they get put into the right place, especially the Reader badge. When the kid reads 5 books and comes to collect his/her prize, make sure you are sticking the Reader sticker in the 5 book slot, not anywhere else on the page.
Here is a list of prizes:

Registration:

• Reading Log
• 1 Registration badge sticker placed in the appropriate square
• 1 Read Down Your Fines coupon
• 1 Rosen book

5 books/hours:

• Certificate (please fill out for customer)
• 1 Reader badge sticker placed in their reading log in the 5 book slot (if a customer doesn't have the booklet with him/her, rip the sticker off the roll and give it to them)
• 1 Read Down Your Fines coupon

10 books/hours:

• 1 Scholastic book
• 1 Reader badge sticker placed in their reading log in the 10 book slot (if a customer doesn't have the booklet with him/her, rip the sticker off the roll and give it to them)
• 1 Read Down Your Fines coupon 

20 books/hours:

• 1 additional Scholastic Book
• 1 Reader badge sticker placed in their reading log in the 20 book slot (if a customer doesn't have the booklet with him/her, rip the sticker off the roll and give it to them)
• 1 Read Down Your Fines coupon

30 books/hours:

• 1 Zoo pass
• 1 Reader badge sticker placed in their reading log in the 20 book slot (if a customer doesn't have the booklet with him/her, rip the sticker off the roll and give it to them)
• 1 Read Down Your Fines coupon

Where are prizes located?
At ACR, Rosen books are on the white metal cart kept in the workroom when not being used, Scholastic books are on a wooden cart kept in the workroom when not being used, certificates are in the 5 manilla envelope, circus tickets are in the 20 manilla envelope, and zoo tickets will go in the 30 manilla envelope when we receive them. Read Down Your Fines coupons are behind the desk.

At OAK, Rosen books are in 2 cardboard boxes under the counter behind the service desk, Scholastic books are in 2 other cardboard boxes under the counter behind the service desk (please keep books under the counter when not being selected from-this keeps them from being stolen), certificates are in the plastic drawers to the right of the Smart Money computer, Circus tickets are in the same set of plastic drawers as the certificates, zoo tickets will go there as well when received. Read Down Your Fines coupons are in the plastic drawers under where we keep the current newspaper.

If we are running low on anything, please let Sara know before we are in danger of running out!

Thanks!

Sara

Friends of HPL Summer Sale

The Summer Book Sale for the Friends of HPL is going to be on June 12th-14th and we need to get the work out!

Please try and distribute one of the blue and red flyers with the Summer Sale information every time you check someone out!

Summer Schedule

Hello everyone,

I've spent the past day or so getting the schedule made for June and July.

At this point, it is as complete as Sara and I can make it.

Please take the time to look over what is on that schedule.

Make sure that any
a) programs
b) vacation
c) trainings

that you have scheduled are noted.

If you notice a discrepancy, please let Sara or me know about it *immediately*.

Also, if you need us to add/change things as time goes on, the sooner you can let the two of us know, the better.

Thanks!
Brandon

From the NL Leaders Blog

Revised Employee Guidebook

Hi – Every employee in Neighborhood Libraries is expected to provide exceptional customer service – the HPL way. Every one took the mandatory Customer Service training not too long ago. Do you have any staff members that need to take the Customer Service: HPL Way training?

There are some expectations from the City as well and I have taken an excerpt from page 6 of the Employee Guidebook to share with you. Please review the entire Guidebook for useful information.

Section III – Employee Relations: What’s Expected of You?

Employees truly communicate the spirit and pride of the City of Houston to its residents and the general public. Therefore, it is important as an employee of the city serving the public, that you always demonstrate patience, courtesy, respect, and understanding to all customers, both internal and external. We must treat everyone as a valued customer.

You can do this by delivering services quickly and by treating all people with courtesy and respect. Not only is it important that the public is treated this way, but it is also required that you treat all other employees with the same respect and courtesy.

The City of Houston Code of Ordinances, as well as the policies and procedures of the City and your department, contain many provisions regarding your employment, as well as various rules you are expected to follow. We expect you to be productive, to adhere to the rules and policies of each department and the city, and to demonstrate a considerate, cooperative, and constructive attitude to the public and your fellow employees. It is your duty to become familiar with these policies and procedures, and if you have any questions to ask your supervisor or manager.

Poor performance, inappropriate work behavior, and poor attendance are issues your supervisor could address with disciplinary action. We expect you to report when scheduled and be ready to work a full productive day. You are required to follow your management’s directions, be cooperative with them and your fellow employees, and work in a professional and polite manner. You are responsible for familiarizing yourself with the policies of the city and your department, as not everything is covered in this Manual and those policies are subject to change.

                 You can access the Guidebook any time fromwww.houstonhumanresources.org, or by clicking here.

Please share the information with all your staff in your next staff meeting and let your Team Leader know if you have any question.

Thank you,

Shammi