Friday, June 30, 2017

Online Library Card Registration | Update


Catalog/database computers now show a "Registration Location" dropdown menu. Customers can select the location where they are submitting the form. This will provide a better report of library card registrations by location. Note: this change only shows up on the catalog/database computers. All staff computers will still show the name of their location. Customers submitting the form outside the library will not see this change.


Please share with your staff.
Questions? Email me.
Saima
__________________________________________________________________________


Online Library Card Registration



Hello again,

Firstly, thank you for the feedback we received from your staff! We have already made some changes based on their questions.

Secondly, while we prepare staff training, an FAQ document has been added to the Training Portal (hover over Learning Resources tab then select Library Functions and look for MyLink Online Library Card): http://training.houstonlibrary.org/library-function
   
We are using two locations to pilot the project: Central and Jungman. Because our locations vary so much, we need to figure out a designated workstation (desktop or tablet) that will function as a library card registration spot. In most cases, it will be the catalog/database computer. Once we have gathered enough data and tweaked the form, we will have a better idea about a roll out plan. In the meantime, please continue to use the paper application form (except Central and Jungman). Of course, you are welcome to direct your customers to the online form. Already about 44 customers in Texas have registered online and the form’s been live less than 2 days!

A few reminders that are necessary for staff to know:

·         There is a built-in address verification however this may not always work so you may have to use the traditional method to verify address;
·         Form will recognize a duplicate;
·         Youth registrations will take place on-site (HPL location) only;
·         Check if customer is already using Overdrive; if yes, then proceed to submit the Overdrive merge account request;
·         This is what staff will need to do to update the user record in Workflows:
o   From the Circulation tab, under the Users group, use the Modify User wizard to update the user record:
§  User ID - replace it with the 77422… barcode number;
§  Library - change it from HOU-ONLINE to your location or customer’s preferred location;
§  Profile Name - change it from PUBLIC to one that applies to the customer;
§  Change History Rule: ask the customer if they want to keep a checkout history; then change it from circrule to allcharges; remind them to opt in when they log into the library account at home. Not changing it will NOT prevent the customer from checking out items or placing them on hold;
§  If customer agrees with device checkout policy, then change user cat2 to laptop-yes under the Demographics tab.
Please continue to send your questions and suggestions to Virtual Library Services (hplvirtuallibrary@houstontx.gov).

Please share this information with your staff.

Sincerely,
Saima

Please, ask our customers to give a book for our boxes at both locations.

KHOU Turn the Page Book Drive


HPL is partnering with KHOU Channel 11 for its annual Turn the Page Book Drive, starting Monday, June 12 – Friday, June 30, 2017.

KHOU has a partnership with Books Between Kids, a local non-profit organization who provides books to children of elementary to middle school age to help them start their own home library. Books Between Kids works with HISD to host book giveaways to 63 elementary schools throughout the school year. The Turn the Page book drive helps supply for the year-round book giveaway.

HPL as partner of this book drive will host a book collection box (campaign-branded with HPL and Star Furniture logos) at 15 locations (see below). The book collection boxes are scheduled to be delivered today, Friday, June 9, 2017.

KHOU has planned for a courier service to pick up the book collections weekly, last day being Friday, June 30, 2017. If your box overflows prior to your scheduled pick-up, please contact the KHOU Community Marketing & PR Specialist, Alexandria Williams.


PARTICIPATING LIBRARY LOCATIONS
Bracewell
Heights
Kendall
Jungman
Looscan
Stella Link
Park Place
Acres Homes
Oak Forest
Stanaker
Carnegie
Collier
Central
Vinson
Smith
Young
Alief

Online Library Card Registration Form | Updates 6/16/17

Both English and Spanish forms now have the SSL certificate, making it secure. This caused a brief accessibility issue yesterday on the catalog/database computer which has been fixed. 

Also, from now on  the form will only display for IP addresses inside the US. If someone tries to access it from overseas, they will receive an error message: Online Registration Unavailable - AIP (41.76.196.34) where the 41.76… will be the actual IP address detected. If you are contacted by a legitimate Houston/Texas resident who is overseas and wishes to get a library card, connect them to Circ Admin. This was done to control some nefarious activity that was detected coming from foreign IPs. 

Please contact me if you have any questions. Again, your feedback is much appreciated as it allows us to improve the user experience.
Saima 

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Storytime Craft


This is just one of the many crafts we had the toddlers do during our toddler storytime program at OAK.  The theme behind this storytime session was "good manners."  Thanks Tangela, for your creative talents!

-Jesus Villegas

Monday, May 8, 2017

SRP Infro (Part 3): SRP Programs @ ACR

These are all the programs taking place at ACR.

Children's program: 11:30 AM.
Summer Food Program:  12:00PM
Teen Programming: 1:45PM

More Information about each program will be provided later. Please look at the list of events to see which program you would be interested in supervising.



SRP Info (Part 2): SRP Prizes

Summer Reading Program Prizes
*while supplies last

LevelBabies, Toddlers & Pre-K (0-4)Children 5-10Teens 11-18
May Early School Registration (only for students who register at school)Alley Theatre tickets, first 250 to sign up (no children under 6)Alley Theatre tickets, first 250 to sign up (no children under 6)
RegistrationFree BookFree BookFree Book
5 Books/Hours ReadSunglasses & certificateSunglasses & certificate
10 Books/Hours ReadFinger PuppetsChipotle mealChipotle meal
20 Books/Hours ReadRice University Athletics ticket Rice University Athletics ticket 
30 Books/Hours ReadMario Brothers bibs, baby teethers (babies 0-2)
Mario Brothers meal set (toddlers 3-4)
Astros tickets

Pixelated bag
Astros tickets
Pixelated bag
Top Readers
(2 per location)
Retro game gift set (Pac-Man connect, Pattern Play 3D)Retro game gift set (Pac-Man connect, sticky note art) 
5 Programs AttendedChildren's Museum Family PassChildren's Museum Family PassAlley Theatre tickets
Family CompletionHermann Park Train & pedal boats
Raising Cane's meal
Hermann Park Train & pedal boats
Raising Cane's meal
Hermann Park Train & pedal boats
Raising Cane's meal

SRP Info (Part 1): Beanstack Training

Here is the training instructions which were found on the Dixon\Moody blog.

Use the Demo Account to Practice with the software after the training session. Begin by creating an account.
Make sure the first name begins with HPL_ Youth Services will delete the test accounts later on. Example: HPL_Richard Then test the following functions:
1. Logging books/minutes (babies and toddlers default to Books everyone else defaults to Minutes)
 2. Switching Account Creators (the Creator is the adult or main account that the rest of the family is logged under)
3. Attending programs (enter special codes) Animal program (code is ATOZEBRA)
4. Award prizes to your test accounts

 Here is the link from the Youth Service Mtg I tried to simplify it and some of the links didn't work at the time of our training, but you can go back and review it when you are trying the demo out later YS PP Training Staff Account 
USERNAME-OAK (or ACR)
PASSWORD-library (lowercase)

BeanStack Link

-Jesus Villegas