Open Discussion Notes 11/26/14

Workroom, 11:15-11:45AM         Recorder & Moderator: Leona

1. Obituary assignment- questions and comments were made about the assignment to Alice.
2. Delivery printer- discussion started by Julie.  
1. We don’t have to touch the printer to have it print.  It will give you a hold paper and a blank sheet after scanning the book on hold. Just collect the blank sheets to use again.
2. Also, the cartridge in the delivery computer is overfilled and extra ink is coming out, causing messy copies. Albert was made aware of this problem.
3. Star printer.  Someone is turning off  the star printer at various computers. When it comes back on it prints old jobs (many of them). It should not be turned off or the print jobs should be deleted.
4. Team leaders for the new structure of the library are: Theodora Muokebe, Pedro Fonseca, Patrick Atkins.  Note- They have not started these duties officially, since they are waiting for back-filling promotions that have been made. Shammi will be going working with the foreign language collection.
5. Karen will be gone for two weeks from Dec. 3-17. We are to contact Theodora with any problems.
6. Programs.  
1. Use the program tracker found in the G-drive to list all the programming.
1. The programs in this document do not need to be put in in order- they can be sorted.
2. The Winter Make-&-Take Craft was not in there for Dec.
2. Jennifer Schwartz had sent an email about MLK day, asking for ideas and what we are doing.
3. c. AARP Taxes will begin February through April 15
1. We will be getting less forms this coming year.
2. ii. Eventually the paper forms will be phased out and everything will be done online.
3. iii. The new JK Lasser Tax books have come in.
7. Holiday CD display will be on 2rd floor.
8. Box in the lobby is for the Mission of Yahweh. There is a sign above and on the side with what can be donated. These things are for the homeless and needy families.
9. Need programming meeting in the new year.  
1. Idea- Temeka says people are requesting more food programs like the ones done last summer. Maybe she can do one with Jasmine.
2. Idea- Need ideas for after school programs.

The Kendall Enquirer No. 1

THE KENDALL INQUIRER

For the Discerning Reader

Vol. 1 No. 1

Gale Virtual Reference Library                                        

Dateline:  March 1900-1904
Alice D, Editor

Disease carrying rats attack citizens of San Francisco

O-Kay, you have your clues.    Your answer should include 1 book title containing information about the subject along with 1 newspaper headline about the subject.  The deadline to email Alice your answer will be Monday, November 24, 2014 at 11:15 a.m. If you email the information by the deadline and it is correct, your name will be entered into a drawing for a box of Godiva Chocolates.

Staff Training Notes 11/19/14

Kendall Staff Training

Topic:   Obituaries                         November 19, 2014

Presented by Alice

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Overview: There are a number of databases, Houston Chronicle, Houston Chronicle (Digital Image Edition), Historical Newspapers, Access Newspaper Archive, and ProQuest Obituaries that available to help you or a customer search for an obituary.  Today, I will demonstrate how to search for an obituary within those databases.

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How to find:   African American Obituaries.  There are two resource categories, African American Studies and or Historical Newspapers.

      

1. From the home page click on Research then Resources by Category
2. Under Resources by Category click on Newspapers
3. Scroll down until you see Historical Newspapers, click

• In the search field type in the name Rosa Cobb
• Then scroll down until you see Documentary Type
• In the box to your right scroll down until you see Obituary
• Click on Obituary
• Click on Search

How to find:  Cities/Towns/Rural Communities Obituaries, using Access Newspaper Archive

1. From the Resource by Category list, click on Newspapers
2. Click on,  Access Newspaper Archive (in library use only)

• Scroll down the page until you see a map of the United States.
• Click on the state, Kansas.
• You can search all newspapers in Kansas or narrow your search by choosing a city/town/rural community.

How to find:  Obituaries in the Houston Chronicle 1985 to present

1. From the Resource by Category list, click on Newspapers
2. Scroll down until you see, Houston Chronicle (Article Search)

• In the space next to the word Search, type in a name, Lucille Pasini obituary
• Now you have the date in which her obituary appeared in the Chronicle.  To read the actual obituary, the customer will need to:

• Go to the Central Library, and request the microfilm that covers the date they are looking for or,
• Email a request for a copy.

How to Find:  Houston Chronicle (Digital Image Edition) latest 45 days available

1. From the Resource by Category list, click on Newspapers
2. Scroll down until you see, Houston Chronicle (Digital Image Edition) click

• Click on the arrow next to the word Search at the top of your screen.
• Drop down menu click on “In Houston Chronicle”
• Type a name in the search field
• Under Date click on arrow and choose your date
• Then click search

Note:  As of November 14, 2014, the Houston Chronicle has changed the name of the section for Obituaries to Life Tributes.

How to Find:  ProQuest Obituaries

1. From the Resource by Category list, click on Newspapers
2. Scroll down until you see ProQuest Obituaries click
3. Below are the newspapers that you or a customer can search for an obituary.

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Practice/Assignment (due in two weeks):

1. Pick a state.  Count how many newspapers you can search in that state.  Then email  me the name of the state and the number
2. For fun type the name Smith in one of the databases pick an obit and email it to yourself and then forward it to me.  
3. Look in the database ProQuest Obituaries and list the newspapers that you can search and email me your answer.

Alice's Complete Handout

Staff Meeting Notes 11/12/14

11:15 – 11:45 AM, Breakroom

1. Farewell Party for Meg

Quick Notes

• Newspapers: Please check in newspapers everyday using Serials Control in Workflows because 1) we need to know if the paper had arrived; 2) Inventory Control needs to claim items we paid for but didn’t receive; and 3) your colleague doesn’t have to check in a whole bunch of paper later.  If you don’t know how to do this, see the Customer Service page on the blog, under WorkFlows How To…, or ask Alisa.
• Holds at the Service Desk: Items should only be held at the service desks for 24 hours or less.  If a customer is not coming within a day to pick up the item, hold it on their account and put the item on the hold shelf in the Lobby.  Why this is important: when items are sitting at the desk and not placed on hold, the catalog still shows they’re available for other customers but we won’t be able to find them because they’re not on the shelf (and we waste a lot of time running around looking for them).  And, when the customer comes to pick up the item, there’s no record in the account help us locate the hold.  Do yourself and the customer a favor and put the item on hold.
• Out of Order Signs: Every time you put up an out of order sign, please enter the date, time, nature of problem and your initials, so your colleagues can explain to customers what the problem is.  Redirecting customers to an alternate source (like the copier on the other floor) is not a bad idea either.  No information = confusion and makes us look bad.

Upcoming Staff Events

• Wednesday, November 12: Adult Pre-Selection (Alice); farewell party for Meg
• Friday, November 14: Payday
• Wednesday, November 19: Staff Training Meeting: I. Obituaries (Alice); II.  Catalog Tips & Tricks (Karen)
• Wednesday, November 19: staff holiday potluck lunch
• Friday, November 21: Last day of Pay Period; Meg’s last day
• Wednesday, November 26: Open Discussion Meeting  (Leona, moderator; Katherine, recorder)
• Thursday, November 27: Thanksgiving Day, Library closed
• Friday, November 28: Thanksgiving holiday, Library closed (payday on 11/26)
• Monday, December 1: Program Planning Meeting
• Wednesday, December 3: Management Team Meeting
• Friday, December 5: Statistics & Monthly Branch Narrative due
• Sunday, December 7: Facility Checklist due

Open Discussion Notes 10/29/14

11:15-11:45, Breakroom
Moderator/Recorder: Meg

General Discussion:

• CMC now ends on November 7th. Please ask Meg if you have any questions.
• We are currently out of the League of Women Voters Guides in English. Please refer customers to their website for information. (http://lwvhouston.org/)
• Additionally, information about voter ID requirements have been posted on our blog here. 
• Let's keep the fridge and microwave clean!
• Requests for vacation during the holidays will be approved on a first come, first served basis, with consideration of the overall schedule.
• Emergency exit doors must be armed. Please check that the doors on each floor are armed as part of closing procedure.

Circulation/Collection:

• Keep some bins to the side for use in the sorting room.
• Use your scheduled time on Fridays to shelf read -- check the Collection page on the blog if you've forgotten your assigned shelf-reading section. 
• Conditional weeding should be ongoing. 
• Please be mindful when shelving the music CDs. Pay attention to the labels. 
• For foreign languages not at this location, please return via delivery to the owning location (with a note).

Customer Service:

• Shelving and Shelf Reading: Please shelve when assigned to do so and start on time, especially in the mornings before opening. If there's nothing to shelve when assigned to shelve, please use that time to shelf read.
• Plumbing and electrical issues: Albert is working with Shammi to get these Sprocket requests expedited. 
• Meeting Rooms: 
• Let customers know that they are required to fill out the meeting room request form in order to use a meeting room. Until they have completed the form, there reservation is tentative (TENT). 
• If a HOA is meeting in a one of the rooms, please list the name of that HOA/Subdivision on the Room Reservation sheet. This is so when can direct people correctly.
• On the Room Reservation sheet -- Lavender (Light Purple) is a non-library program and Green is a library program. Please no other random colors. 

Staff Training Meeting Notes 10/22/14

Kendall Staff Training

Kendall Blog Overview                                                                                            

Presented by Meg

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Overview: Review the pages and function of our staff blog.

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Kendall Staff Blog: belleshermankendall.blogspot.com            

Our blog is an important resource for staff. While the Intranet is also an essential place to find what we need, the blog is our personalized version of the Intranet. We are in the business of information, and the blog is a great place to quickly access the information we need to our jobs well.

The blog for the Kendall Neighborhood Library is divided into nine sections (pages).

·         HOME

o   Most up-to-date information posted on this page (Check it every day!)

o   Link to our Google calendar, important phone contacts, in-charge list

o   Quick access to handy information

·         STAFF LINKS (formerly Quick Links)

o   Information for us to use internally as HPL/City employees

·         CUSTOMER SERVICE

o   Quick links to get straight to information to help our customers

o   WorkFlows tutorials

·         EQUIPMENT

o   Operational status of our main equipment

o   Contact information for equipment help

·         FACILITIES

o   Floor plans and facility contact information

o   What to do if ____ happens in the building…

·         STAFF MEETINGS   

o   Notes from all Staff, Open Discussion, and Training Meetings

o   Schedules for Open Discussion & Training Meetings

·         COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

o   Latest collection updates, gap order schedule, shelf-reading assignment list

·         PROGRAMS

o   Links to important program calendars, forms, and documents

o   Showcase of Kendall programs

·         GALLERY

o   Photos from our staff of the great things we do!

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Assignment (due 11/5/14):

• By exploring the blog, find your assigned piece of information.

• Send me an email (megan.hopkins@houstontx.gov) explaining where you found the information on the blog.

• Extra credit: Mystery link! There is a golden apple hidden on our blog. You can find it by following one of the links on one of the pages. If you find it, send me an email, and you will win a prize!                                                                                             

Repair Shelf Procedures

Presented by Juli

Staff Meeting Notes 10/15/14

11:15-11:45, 3rd Floor Meeting Room

1. Updates and Reminders:

• Upcoming website launch (10/24/14)
• KHOU Book Drive - benefiting Neighborhood Centers
• Laptop checkout reminders (see Fred's email from 10/9/14)
• Door Count begins Monday
• Health Assessment due - November 14

2. Circulation Training (Alisa) -- Items Wizard

Quick Notes

• Cleanliness of our shared spaces: Please be thoughtful of everyone when it comes to making sure our service desks, delivery desk, and break room are clean places.
• Counterfeit Detector Pen: If a customer gives you a bill of $5 or more, please mark it with the counterfeit pen. (Pens are at the lobby and drive-up desks.)
• Out-of-Order Signs: Please post an Out of Order sign on any equipment that you have reported to the Help Desk (or completed a Sprocket on). This helps us all stay informed. 

Upcoming Staff Events:

• Friday, October 17: Payday
• Wednesday, October 22: Staff Training Meeting
• Friday, October 24: Last day of pay period
• Wednesday, October 29: Open Discussion Meeting
• Friday, October 31: End of CMC

Open Discussion Notes 10/1/14

Updates/General Reminders:

• CMC starts today and runs through Oct 31. You can easily contribute via ESS.
• Facilities is ordering a new microwave for the breakroom. Hopefully it will arrive in the next few weeks.
• We will be using booksale funds to make much-needed purchases for the branch. Shammi will be sending the information soon.
• Shammi thanked us for all our hard work during the amnesty program. We processed nearly 400 library card applications in one week!

Circulation/Collection:

• If you notice any non-KEN foreign language items floating our way, please send them on to a location that does house those items. 
• The DRIVE-UP option will be merged with KEN soon, eliminating the need to override transit on holds. (ILLs, Flip Kits, need to stay behind the drive-up desk.)
• The stats at the drive-up desk are lacking. Please remember to mark down directional and reference questions. Don't forget to mark any and all holds that are outgoing!

Customer Service:

• Language assistance: Mark languages spoken on the stats clipboard. Call 311 when absolutely necessary. (It's a service HPL must fund for each phone call.)
• Be consistent about our services (e.g. phone use, applications, fines, etc.). Follow policy and procedure and give a reason WHY to the customer.

Staff Training Notes 9/24/14

Kendall Staff Training

Gale e-Courses Formerly (Learn4life)

                                                                                                                                    9/24/14

Presented by Jasmine Zelaya

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• Offers a wide range of highly interactive courses that you can take entirely online.
•  Patrons with valid HPL library cards in good standing are entitled to enroll in courses per calendar year at no cost.
• Courses run for six weeks and new sessions begin every month.
• Instructor-Led Courses
• Professional development and personal enrichment

What Are Instructor-Led Courses?

Whether you're looking for personal enrichment or professional development, these six-week online courses are the perfect way to learn a new skill or enhance your existing ones. You'll spend roughly two to four hours each week completing two engaging lessons in an enjoyable, interactive learning environment. Expert instructors develop and lead every course, and you'll be able to interact with them and with fellow students in lively online Discussion Areas. New sessions start every month, so you can sign up anytime. Upon completing a course with a passing score, you'll get confirmation of completion from your learning institution.

Benefits for Patrons:

• Easy: Signing up with their library accounts, simple enrollment process

• Accessible: Courses can be accessed anywhere, any time, on any computer with

internet access.

• Engagement: Online discussion areas bring the learner and instructor together for

feedback and encouragement.

• Flexibility: A 10-day extension period is available if needed.

• Recognition: Patrons receive a "Record of Completion" certificate after successfully

finishing a course.

• Frequent Course Offerings: Sessions begin monthly

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How to [list steps]:

1.    Log on to the Houston Public Library Homepage at Houstonlibrary.org, click on the ”Research Tab” on the top menu bar.

2.    Select “Alphabetical Database Listing.” From the left side menu.

3.    Click on the letter “G” on the top Alphabetical Database Listing.

4.    Select the link for “Gale e- Courses(formerly Learn4Life)”  This will take you to the Gale e-Course homepage.

5.    You can find courses by by scrolling down through the “Browse Catalog” tab on the left hand side of the screen. Several Microsoft Office applications are available as beginner, intermediate and advanced courses.

6.    Click “Enroll Now” next to the course of your choice.  Select your course start date and click “continue.”

7.    If you have never taken a Gale e- Course: enter your email address, and click “Create Account.”  Complete the Account and Student information page and click “Continue to Payment Options.”  If you are a returning student: enter your account email and password and then click “Sign in.”

8.    Instructors will provide a detailed class syllabus. Course Requirements are also listed and include: Internet Access, Email, Mozilla Firefox, Micr. Internet Expl.,Google Chrome, or Safari, Adobe.  Wait until after 12:00am  on the start day of the course to access the class.

9.    Quizzes will follow each lesson.  You can take the quizzes as many times as you like without affecting your final grade.

10.  In order to complete your instructor-led course, you will need to pass the 36-question final exam on the first attempt.  Successful completion is determined by the minimum passing score which is 65%.  Once the final exam is successfully complete, you will have immediate access to your online Certificate of Completion from within your classroom.  When the classroom closes, you can return to the My Classroom page at any time in the future and access a copy of the certificate.  If you do not pass the final exam on the first attempt, you will not be able to obtain a Certificate of Completion online.

11.  Quizzes and assignments will follow each lesson. Although assignments are optional, they are helpful and recommended.  You can take the quizzes as many times as you like without affecting your final grade.

FAQ’s & Important Info:

Unlimited Number of Classes

There are no limits on number of classes members can enroll in and try. Students will be dropped from classes automatically if minimum progress is not made during the first two weeks.

What courses are offered?

There is something for everyone. Courses range from computer applications, technical certifications, accounting, education, nursing, test preparation, law, parenting, business, and personal development.

Is there a cost?

There are no tuition or course fees for Houston Public Library members. A few courses do have book requirements. Please check the Requirements tab on the course description for required materials.

How long are the courses?

Most courses last six weeks. Check the detailed description and syllabus of the courses you are interested in taking online. Each course will list the start dates for each class. Typically there are two lessons each week and these lessons may include assignments or quizzes. Many of the courses will also include a final exam at the end of the course. You will earn a certificate upon successfully completing the course that you can keep for your records.

How much time should I set aside to complete each online course?

In each course description you will find the number of clock hours it typically takes to complete that class. If you divide the number of hours listed by the number of weeks the class meets, you will have a good estimate of how much time you need each week to complete the class. Most classes take 24 hours over a six week period, which is 4 hour a week commitment.

What if I get behind?

Students that do not complete minimum progress during the first two weeks of class will be automatically dropped from a class. It is possible to request a ten day extension in order to complete the final exam.

Who are the instructors?

All of the courses are taught by instructors who are qualified professionals in each subject area. Check out the Instructor Bio tab of the course description for more details about your instructor. Request Extension Form

Can I use my mobile device?

See the Requirement tab on the course description for technical details. Many courses do require a Flash enabled browser such as Firefox or Internet Explorer. Some mobile devices, such as the Apple iPhone or iPad, do not support Flash and you will need to use a different device to access some of the course content.

What if I have questions or need help?

Each class has a discussion area where you can contact your instructor or get technical assistance from Student Support.

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Practice/Assignment (due in two weeks):

1. Is there a fee for taking a gale e-Course?

2. How long does a gale- course run?

3. How many Gale e- Courses are you allowed to take?

Jasmine's Complete Handout