Open Discussion Notes 9-21-16

Breakroom, 11:15-11:50

Moderator & Recorder: Melinda Campbell

• Volunteers: Please welcome our volunteers who are a great help to the Library. One volunteer loves to help with the children’s programs and likes to help with the craft projects for the children, so please direct her in this direction.
• Damaged/ Incomplete items: Please apply a note to the customer’s record if item is still on their account, with details of what is missing, when and how contacted. Check each item before checking in so we can catch items before taking item off account. Place incomplete items in basket in workroom. Through our diligence we can reduce the loss of items for HPL.
• Question: Do the volunteers go through a background check? [Yes, that's part of the application process. KL]
• Outreach: Middle School Outreach next Thursday 9/27 5:30-7:30P with two staff members attending.
• Supplies: Please place your supply needs on the sheet provided on the back of the supply cupboard to be ordered.
• Promotion: Janalyn will start in her new full-time position on Saturday!
• Collection: Picture book shelves are looking great! Please take done unfinished shelving carts to 1^st floor when unable to complete task in allotted time.
• Pre-School Storytime:  Any volunteers to help while Shanti is away.

Staff Training Notes April 1 & 8

Kendall Staff Training

Hidden Gems                                                                                                             April 2016

Presented by Alice Dooley

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Overview:  Presenting “Special Collections,” archival and research materials available through the HPL website.

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Description:  The Houston Public Library website under the tab, “Research”

1.    The African American Library at the Gregory School

2.    Clayton Library for Genealogical Research

3.    The Foundation Center Funding Information network Partner

4.    Greenburg Collection

5.    Government Documents

6.    Houston Area Digital Resources

7.    Houston Metropolitan Research Center

8.    Houston Oral History Project

9.    The Texas and Local History Department

10.  The World Languages Collection

Hidden Gems

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Practice/Assignment (due in two weeks):  April 15^th

As a way to introduce you to Digital Collections, the Houston Public Library, Houston Area Digital Archives, Smithsonian Libraries, library.si.edu/color, New York Public Library, nypl.org/publicdomaindigitalcollections.nypl.org, the Portland State University Library, http://library.pdx.edu/color-our-collections-february-1-5/ and other libraries, have made available pictures that are in the public domain that you can color.

Your assignment is to choose a picture(s), color it, and then put it in my mailbox.  A displayed of your artwork will be put on display somewhere in the workroom. 

Staff Training Notes March 4 & 11

Kendall Staff Training

PowerPoint

Presented by Pamela Officer

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Overview

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Create a presentation.
• Add graphics and multimedia to a presentation.
• Inserting a YouTube video in your presentation
• Adding a Dramatic effect to your presentation.

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Step 1: click on the Home Tab then click on Layout choose your first slide.

2. Add a Theme click design tab and select the theme of choice.

3. To add a new slide click new slide on home tab.

4. Add text to slides

5 Insert a picture click on Insert tab and click on picture or go to the internet.

6. Apply a transition effect to the presentation goes to the transition tab and choose one.

7. Highlight the object   on your slide to apply an animation, select animation.

8. Add sound to graphics

9. insert a you tube video to presentation

10.

How to insert a YouTube video in a PowerPoint

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Practice/Assignment (due in two weeks):

Create a presentation about the library services. You must a have a least five slide for this assignment. It must include all numbers below.

1. Add a theme
2. Pictures
3. Apply animation and transition to your presentation
4. Add sound clips
5. Add a You-tube video to your presentation
6. After you have completed your presentation send it to me.

Due date of  presentation: March 21,2016

Staff Tranining Notes December 4 & 11

Basic Microsoft Word                                                                             

Presented by Pamela Officer

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Overview:  

Review basic task in a word,

Edit and format Text,

Work with tables and Pictures

Review short cuts

Handout

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Staff Training 6-10-15

2nd floor conference room, 11:15-11:55AM
1. Excel: Formatting a Spreadsheet by Pam

• Identify spreadsheet terms
• Build a Bingo card (format a spreadsheet)

2. Brainfuse by Jasmine (handout)

Staff Training Notes 5-13-15

2nd floor conference room, 11:15-11:55AM
1.  Teen Readers Advisory by Jasmine; handout
2.  Excel: Consolidating and Linking Spreadsheets by Pam; handout

Staff Meeting Notes 4-8-15

11:15 – 11:45 AM, Breakroom

Agenda

1. Updates from Managers Meeting:
1. Collecting Stories for MY Link Campaign (Karen)
2. Staff Development Day (Lauren)
3. Self-Check Stats and what to do (Nina)
2. Training: Biography Help for Kids (Leona & Shanti). Biography Handout, Biography in Context Handout

Quick Notes

• Open Enrollment ends April 15; see blog post for details.
• FAQs about service animals: detailed guidelines to help you correctly follow ADA requirements regarding service animals (handout).
• Discover 15 Minutes: HPL partnering with Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation to distribute tips to parents to encourage early literacy (handout).
• Make sure workroom doors are closed before public opening hours.

Upcoming Staff Events

• Friday, April 10: Last day of Pay Period
• Wednesday, April 15: Last day for Open Enrollment
• Wednesday, April 15: Staff Training Meeting
• Friday, April 17: Pay Day
• Wednesday, April 22: Open Discussion Meeting
• Friday, April 24: CE Managers Meeting (Karen, Lauren)
• Friday, April 24: Last day of Pay Period
• Wednesday, April 29: Tech Training Meeting/ Management Team Meeting
• Friday, May 1: Pay Day
• Friday, May 1: Staff Development Day @ George R Brown Convention Center

Staff Training Notes 3-18-15

PART I
HPL Kid's Page
Presented by Leona
Overview: The Kids Page on the HPL website has a variety of resources for children to use in the library and at home. This training will be an overview of the resources on that page.
Leona's Complete Handout

PART II
Introduction to Excel                                                                                    
Presented by Pam
Overview: After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
· Identify the components of a spreadsheet.
· Enter data into a spreadsheet.
· Perform basic mathematical tasks in a spreadsheet.
· Insert charts in a spreadsheet
Pam's Complete Handout

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.

Follow-up to Staff Meeting: Jury Duty Pay

As a follow-up to our discussion at yesterday's staff meeting about jury duty (and whether you need to take vacation or come back to work), here's that the city policy says:

Administrative Procedure 3-11 -- Absence

6.13 Court Related Absence

• 6.13.1 Employees shall be paid for court-related absences when the court appearance is in response to a summons for jury duty . . . 
• 6.13.2  Employees summoned for jury duty shall be required to furnish proof of summons and shall be paid for time spent in court and thirty (30) minutes  travel  time after release from court only when such time can be validated by an instrument of the court, such as a court attendance slip . . . 
• 6.13.3  Subpoenas, summons, or other such court-ordered appearances shall be treated and compensated in the same manner as jury duty only when such sppearance is related, directly or indirectly, to City business or to the employee's role as a City employee . . . 

So, you will be paid for the time you spent at jury duty and 30 minutes of travel time to return to work--provided you bring official court attendance slip, such as the work release form provided by Municipal Court.

You can find more information about attendance and paid absences in the following:

1. The City ofHouston Employee Guidebook (also on the Kendall blog “Quick Links” page) provides a good overview and will direct you to the appropriate City policy, which can be found on the Administrative Policies and Procedures page— http://www.houstontx.gov/adminpolicies.html —of the city website.
2. The Library’s attendance policies and procedures can be found on the Intranet under Forms + Documents > Policies and Procedures > H.R. > 5.1 Hours: Time and Attendance Reporting.

Karen

Staff Meeting Notes 9-17-14

11:15 – 11:45 AM, Breakroom

1. Updates & Reminders:
1. Electronic Timekeeping Policy 2-4 (Karen); handout
2. Progress with MY LINK launch (Karen/Meg)
3. Password Manager Enrollment & ESS Portal (Meg); also on Quick Links page, under "Staff Links"
2. Circulation Training (Alisa) [rescheduled for Oct.]

Quick Notes

• FLIP Kit surveys: Please review the survey(s) for completeness before issuing a pass to the Children’s Museum.
• Overdrive: Customers will need to contact email reference to have their Overdrive account merged with their new number. (See front page of catalog.)

Upcoming Staff Events

• Friday, September 19: Payday
• Wednesday, September 24: Staff Training Meeting
• Thursday, September 25: Outreach at Mahaney & Cummings Elementary
• Friday, September 26: Last day of Pay Period
• Wednesday, October 1: Open Discussion Meeting
• Wednesday, October 1: CMC begins
• Friday, October 3: Payday
• Friday, October 31: Annual Health Assessment Due

Open Discussion Meeting 9/3/14

H.E.B. My Link Updates:

• We will receive new H.E.B. My Link cards on or before September 9.
•  The new card campaign and the amnesty period will begin on Wednesday, September 10.
• During the two-week amnesty period (September 10-23), fines up to $24.99 will be forgiven (as long as they are not in collection). The customer must sign up for a new card to take advantage of the amnesty.
• We (staff) should wear red HPL shirts (or a plain white shirt or a plain red shirt with our MY LINK badges) from Wednesday, September 10 through Wednesday, September 17.

 Circulation:

• Please be careful about discharging Nintendo DS’s and Wii Remotes upon their return. It’s a good practice to just scan items (remotes, books, etc.) that are just lying around on the desks to make sure they are checked in and in the right place.
• When items fall into the wrong bin in the sorter, please run the item again or discharge it manually (to be sure it’s checked in).
• If there is a problem with a customer’s account that may appear to be due to a system error, please do a print screen and email it to Fred along with an explanation of the problem.
•  Please read Crystal’s emails (also posted on the blog) regarding library card applications. She reviews important information about what to do with accounts in collection and using the Lost Card Wizard.
• From Juli – If a customer returns a disc without a case (or a case without a disc), please ask the customer where they returned the item originally (if it was a different location).

General Info:

• When sorting, please pay attention to where you are placing items. The bins against the wall have new signs directing you where to place items.
• We are back to our regularly-scheduled programs for kids and teens. Please see Leona and/or Jasmine if you have any suggestions or feedback regarding programming.
•  Room reservations:
• Remember to remind customers who reserve rooms about our policies, particularly NO selling of goods and services.
• Leave 30 minutes in between reservations.

Open Discussion Notes 5-7-14

11:15-11:45, 3rd Floor Conference Room
Moderators/recorders: Karen, Meg

Discussion: Should we accept customer returns on all floors?

PRO

1. Reduce Tension between staff & costumers.
2. Older costumers or parents with kids don’t have to go downstairs to return library materials.
3. Encourage customers to return items by making it convenient.
4. More options/places to return when lobby busy.
5. Providing a service.

CON

1. Materials that require extra handling/space (like holds, transfers).
2. Materials are not brought down to the first floor on a regular basis.
3. Items are not sorted.
4. Increases level of activity at the desk.
5. Does not utilize sort machine (an expensive piece of equipment).
6. Mixes up pick-up materials with check-in /check-out items.
7. Limited space/carts.

Other Considerations

• Process Improvement (improve workflow, materials handling)  
• Designated area/ pickup trucks. 
• Greeter in lobby.
• Clear desks during the day.
• Educate customers.

Meeting Notes 5-1-13

Agenda

1. New Shelving Order for DVDs (Nina)--handout
2. SRP Registration (Leona)--demonstration
3. BTOP Training in the Future (Chris, Glen, Karen)--discussion
4. Top 10 Kendall Things to Remember (Karen)--list

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Upcoming Staff Events

• May 1: SRP Sign-up Begins
• May 4: Children’s Book Celebration at Central
• May 8: Program Planning Meeting
• May 10: Last day of Pay Period
• May 15: Open Discussion meeting (need a recorder)
• May 17, 8:15-10:15, Youth Services Meeting (Leona, Regina)
• May 24: Last Day of pay period
• May 27: Library Closed for Memorial Day holiday
• June 1: Summer Reading Program begins

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May Programs

Adults, 1st Floor Meeting Room

• Kendall Bee Quilters, Mondays • 1–3 PM
• Mystery Book Club, Thursday, May 2 • 1–2:30 PM, The Anatomy Murders by Lisa Rosner
• Kendall Book Club, Thursday, May 28 • 1–2:30 PM, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Adult  Computer Classes, 2nd Floor Conference Room

• Digital Technology Basics, Thursday May 16• 3-5 PM; Thursday May 23 – 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
• Computer Basics I & II, Thursday, May 2 • 3-5 PM; Tuesday, May 21 • 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
• Intro to MS PowerPoint 2010, Thursday May 15 • 12:30- 2:30 PM; Thursday May 29 • 5:30–7:30 PM
• Digital Photography, Tuesday, May 14 • 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• Computer Help Session, Saturday, May 4 • 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• Getting to Know Your Gadgets: eBook Open House, Wednesday, May 1 • 5:30-7:30 PM; Tuesday, May 7, 14, 21 & 28 • 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM; Wednesday May 22 • 5:30–7:30 PM
• Intro to MS Word 2010, Wednesday, May 8 • 5:30–7:30 PM; Thursday, May 30 • 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• Social Networking, Wednesday, May 8 • 12:30–2:30 PM
• Computer Security, Thursday May 16 • 10:30 PM–12:30 PM; Wednesday May 29 • 12:30–2:30 PM
• Work Skills: Creating a Resume/ Resume Help, Saturday, May 11 • 10:30 AM–12:30 PM
• Open Job Lab, Saturday, May 11 • 2–4 PM
• Intro to MS Access, Wednesday, May 15 • 5:30–7:30 PM
• Advanced MS Word 2010, Thursday, May 30 • 3–5 PM
• Intro to MS Publisher, Wednesday May 1 • 12:30–2:30 PM
• Intro to MS Excel, Wednesday May 22 • 12:30–2:30 PM; Thursday May 9 • 10:30 AM–12:30 PM
• Windows 7 Basics, Tuesday May 7 • 10:30 AM-12:30 PM
• Intermediate MS Excel 2010, Thursday May 23 • 10:30 AM–12:30 PM; Tuesday May 9, 3–5 PM
• Advanced MS Excel 2010, Saturday May 18 • 10:30 AM–12:30 PM; Saturday, May 25 • 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
• Internet Basics 1&2, Thursday May 2 • 10:30 AM-12:30 PM; Tuesday May 28 • 10:30 AM-12:30 PM

Teens, 3rd Floor

• Teen Video Game Time, Monday, May 6, 13, & 20 • 4:30 PM-6:30 PM, Ages 12 & up
• Beginner Origami, Tuesday, May 7 • 4:15 PM-5 PM, Ages 8 & up
• Advanced Origami, Tuesday, March 21 • 4-5 PM, Ages 10 & up
• Teen Movie Time, Tuesday, March 14 • 3:30-5:30 PM, teens 13 and older

Children, 1st Floor Meeting Room

• Toddler Story Time, Tuesdays • 10:30-11 AM & 11:30 AM-12 PM, babies and children up to 3 years
• Preschool Storytime, Wednesday, May 1, 8  & 15– 12:30-1:15pm, children 3 years and up
• Para Los Ninos, Monday, May 6– 4:00-5:00 pm, Bilingual, children 4 & up and their parents
• Babytime, Thursdays • 11 AM – 12 PM, parents and babies up to 18 months
• Babytime: Baby Yoga, Fridays • 2:30-3:00 PM, pre-walkers and their caregivers

Children, 3rd Floor

• R.E.A.D (Reading Education Assistance Dogs), Saturday, May 18 – 2-3 pm, sign up in advance at the 3rd floor desk.
• Papercrafting with Amie- Congratulations Card, Monday, May 13 – 4-5 PM,
• Asian Pacific Heritage Month Program- Papercutting Craft, Wednesday, May 8 – 4-5 PM, children 4 & up
• National Children’s Book Week Make-and-Take Craft, Wednesday, May 15 – 3:30-5 PM
• Kendall Book Mania Club, Wednesday, May 22 – 4:45-5:45 pm, kids ages 9-12, sign up at the 3rd floor desk.

Top 10 Kendall Things to Remember

10.  Don’t book meetings back-to-back.  Leave 30 minutes of turnover time between groups so the old group can pack up before the new group moves in, especially if they’re fans of rival football teams.

9. Lock all exterior doors at the end of the day--that includes the meeting room emergency exit and the drive-up window.  The Kendall ghost is out there looking for a way to get in.

8. Not all paperbacks belong in the paperback bins.  If there’s a call number on the spine, it’s cataloged and goes on a cart with its friends.

7. World Language books are cataloged too and go on the 2nd shelf of the non-fiction carts.  Mais oui!

6. Who wants to burn up at work?  Not me!  Don’t block the staff door with carts, bins, or boxes and we will all thank you if there’s a fire.

5. Be a team player.  Don’t drop the ball when it’s your turn to be at the desk.  

4. Idle hands can be put to work.  Load the bins on a cart, empty the tag bin, pull dups from the shelves, check apps, clean out the desk drawers . . . .

3.  It’s as simple at A - B - C.  Fiction goes on the shelf in this order: last name . . . first name . . . title.  The best way and the only way.

2. Vocera is the number 1 fashion accessory at Kendall Neighborhood Library.  Don’t go out Voceraless.

1.  Your eyes are our most important security defense.  Keep on eye on who comes in the door and off the elevator and greet everyone you can.  A friendly hello lets customers know we’re paying attention to them and to what’s going on around us.