SD Bills Sent

Greetings all.

We have recently resumed sending bills to customers with long overdue items.  The process causes the long overdue item to be removed from the checked out items list and billed to the user record as Lost-Assumed.  Lost-Assumed items cannot be renewed.

If a customer who received a bill contacts you and claims that the item was returned, you will need to check your shelves for it.  If the item is found on the shelf, check it in, and the bill should be removed and replaced with the overdue fine for the item.  You should then waive the fine and enter using the Payment Type ONSHELF. 

Bills will continue to be sent on a daily basis for items that are 30 days or more overdue.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Circulation Administration Department at 832-393-2222 (option 3).  We will be happy to assist you in whatever way we are able.

Fred Schumacher

Circulation Administration Manager

Sarah Ortiz visit

On October 30th a representative from Central Circulation Administration, Sarah Ortiz, will be coming to Oak Forest to introduce herself and open lines of communication between us and Central Circ Admin.

In preparation for this, please submit any questions of concerns you might have by Monday (10/28/13) so that she can gather information necessary to answer our questions.

Thanks,
Brandon

Door Count!

Starting on either Monday or Tuesday (depending on location) we will once again be doing Door Count.

This is composed of two things.

First, an hourly check must be made of the gate to get the count for the past hour.

Second, at the end of the day, gather all materials out on tables and count it to get our In House Use number.

Thanks everyone!

Brandon

Mobile App

The mobile app has regained some use.

While patrons still cannot pay fines with it, it now shows the correct Dewey Decimal number rather than  the Library of Congress call number.

Thanks,
Brandon

When replacing a card in Symphony, it is important that you use the User Lost Card wizard under the Special wizard group.  The User Lost Card wizard will create a second account for the lost card and assign a Lost Card profile to the account.  Although the lost card number will remain on the borrower account as an active and previous ID, the second account with the Lost Card profile will prevent its use for check out.  Use the following procedures for dealing with lost cards:

When a customer reports a card lost on the phone:

1.       Look up the account in Symphony using the Modify User wizard or the Display User wizard.  If you look it up with the Display User wizard, click on the Modify User helper after the account displays on your screen.

2.       Click on the Privilege tab, and change the Status value to LOST-CARD.  Add a new note in the Extended Info indicating the date and time the card was reported lost.  Let the customer know whether items are checked out and/or fines/fees are owed at the time the account is reported.

3.       When the customer comes into the library to complete a new registration form and replace the card, use the User Lost Card wizard to issue the new card.  (Settle any outstanding fines/fees before extending the expiration date on the account)

4.       After assigning the new barcode, look up the account with the new card number in Modify User or Display User.  If you look it up with the Display User wizard, click on the Modify User helper after the account displays on your screen.

5.       Click on the Privilege tab, and change the Status value from LOST-CARD to BLOCKED, and save.  The system will assign the correct status to the account based on HPL’s policies.  Record a new note in Extended Info indicating the date and time the card is replaced.

6.       Issue the card to the customer.

When a customer comes into the branch to report a card lost:

1.       When the customer comes into the library to report a card lost, have him/her complete a new registration form, and use the User Lost Card wizard to issue the new card.  (Settle any outstanding fines/fee before extending the expiration date on the account)

2.       Record a new note in Extended Info indicating the date and time the card was reported lost and replaced. 

3.       Issue the card to the customer.  Make sure the customer is aware of all current check outs and/or fines/fees owed on the account.

Please do not deviate from this procedure when dealing with lost/stolen cards.  The system will manage blocking the use of lost/stolen cards, as long as the proper procedure us followed.

If you have questions/concerns, please feel free to contact Circulation Administration or your local LA Supervisor.  We’ll be glad to assist you in whatever way we are able.

Fred Schumacher

Circulation Administration Manager

More on Computers

I have had a few questions about the software updates and some of you may have the same questions, so I am sending an email to all NL staff.

 Robert Bliss clarified that after software updates, the computers are rebooted and shut down. All you have to do in the morning is turn the computers back on.

 After all Neighborhood Libraries have been upgraded with new PCs, IT will have them shut down every night after any updates. This will save on electricity, and wear and tear of the computers at night.

 So from this point on, just turn off the monitors, and leave all PCs on, both Public and Staff. 

Please let me know if you have any additional question.

 Thank you, Shammi Gill

Computer Updates

Greetings – IT updates the computer software on different days of the week. Please do not turn off the computers, it is okay to turn the monitors off. On Mondays and Wednesdays IT does office and Windows Update. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, McAfee antivirus updates. And Fridays and Saturdays all the other software updates are done. please leave all the computers both staff and public on after hours for updates. Please let me know if you have any question. Shammi Gill