Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Staff Meeting Notes 2-17-16

11:15 – 11:45 AM, 3rd floor conference room

  1. News from Jan CE Managers Meeting and SW Managers Team Meeting
    1. From SW Managers Team Meeting:
      1. Self-check Percentages: target number is 85%; need to use expensive technology/equipment; express check is the new normal; will not cost us our jobs.
      2. Sirsi override: Everyone should be using individual Sirsi password for overrides; do not use “s****”
      3. Do not keep change in the drawer: if over, send extra money with deposit; if under, send deposit less shortage and provide an explanation; do not keep loose change in the drawer under any circumstances.
      4. RFID Tags staggered: tags should be placed along the book spine at the top, middle, and bottom in a random fashion so the inventory scanners are not reading them all in the same place.
      5. PIN numbers for Library Cards: let customers choose their own PINs; the 5-digit number is hard to remember; they’ll need a PIN to check out with Express Check; the more customers with random 5-digit PINs, the more who will forget it and the more times we’ll need to reset for them.
    2. From CE Managers Meeting:
      1. With new year comes new goals.  Mayor Turner has called for all City depts to participate in shared sacrifice facing budget shortfall coming in FY17.  He’s asked for slow-down in hiring but not a freeze; critical positions will be filled.  The mayor and Michele want transparency and will communicate any developments as they are confirmed.  View the City budget at www.houstontx.gov/budget.
      2. HelpDesk phone calls are being recorded for quality management.  Extra customer service training will be provided for staff when needed.
      3. Remember to slow down when using Telecheck and Smart Money.  Dimitri is seeing errors especially with staff putting transactions in Smart Money but not running the check or credit card through Telecheck.  This means the library doesn’t get the money but the fines or fees are cleared from the customer’s account.
  2. Training: 2016 COH Summer Jobs Program and Application Process (Karen)
    1. handout (memo from Ophelia Cespedes and copy of Summer Jobs Program flyer)
    2. PowerPoint presentation: The 2016 Summer Jobs Application

Quick Notes
  • Cleaning and GSD: See email from Pedro, below.
  • Closing & Pick-Up--What does this  mean?: At the end of the day we want to reset the public spaces (and the workroom) back to their original setup--to move furniture back to its original position, open the blinds, and clear the service desks of clutter--so we’re ready to start the next day with a clean work space.  When you are assigned a closing duty, work with the other staff on the floor to make sure everything is neat and ready for tomorrow.  If you finish early, go see if your colleagues need help on the other floors.
  • Lynda.com Training: Must be completed by Mar. 4.  When you complete the training, add your name and the date completed to the sign-in sheet on Karen’s door.
  • Study Rooms and Multiple Reservations: At the top of each reservation page: “ONE reservation per customer at a time; finish one before booking the next”.  The change in meeting room policy does not apply to the individual study rooms, because our practice is specific to Kendall, not official HPL policy.
  • Answering the Phone & Teamwork:  Everyone needs to make the effort to answer the public line during open hours, and the private line at all times.  Don’t expect someone else to do it.  If  you are trying to call in or are waiting for an important call, you would want someone to answer the phone.
  • Dr. Lawson at the White House: See memo from Dr. Lawson about the ConnectED Library Challenge (handout).
Upcoming Staff Events
  • Friday, February 19: Pay Day!
  • Friday, February 26: CE Managers Meeting at CEN (Karen, Lauren)
  • Friday, February 26: Last Day of Pay Period
  • Tuesday, March 1: SE Managers Team Meeting (Karen)
  • Wednesday, March 2: Programming Meeting
  • Friday, March 4: Staff Training Meeting (Blue Group)
  • Friday, March 4: Pay Day!
  • Friday, March 4: Lynda.com Training deadline
  • Wednesday, March 9: Open Discussion Meeting
  • Friday, March 11:  Youth Services Meeting (Jasmine, Leona, Nina, Shanti)
  • Friday, March 11: Last Day of Pay Period
  • Wednesday, March 16: Staff Meeting
  • Friday, February 26: CE Managers Meeting at CEN (Karen, Lauren)
  • Friday, March 18: Pay Day!
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Email from Pedro 4-22-15
Please communicate with staff about cleaning up after themselves.  If there is an arts and craft that we provide, we need to clean up after ourselves.  GSD does not need to clean up after something that we did.  If there is a paint project and kids need to go clean up, the staff is responsible for making sure the kids are not making a mess and the staff should clean up if they do, since it is a craft they are doing.  Make sure tables are clean and if glitter is used, try and pick up as much as possible.
GSD is also not responsible for cleaning the microwaves, refrigerators, washing someone else’s dishes or wiping down our staff/public computers. If they do, then that is them being nice and providing that service on their own.  I suggest  you work a weekly or biweekly rotation among staff into your schedule to clean the refrigerator, microwave and wipe down the computers if you yourself do not want to be the only one responsible for it.  You are able to order air cans from Supplies to spray keyboards if need be.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Staff Meeting Agenda 1-20-16

11:15 – 11:45 AM, Breakroom

  1. Staff Changes:
    1. Jose promoted to SR CSC, starting at STE 1/19
    2. Christopher, new CSC-PT, starting 1/19
    3. Karen interviewed candidates for CSC-FT opening, 1/19
  2. News from Youth Services Meeting 1/15 (Jasmine, Leona, Shanti)
  3. Kronos Review (Lauren), new interface; leave requests; Lauren's Kronos presentation
Quick Notes
  • 2016 Customer Experience Meetings with Deputy Director Michele Gorman, 11:30 AM-12:30 PM (aka lunch & chat with Michele): Wednesday, Feb. 3 at Collier; Thursday, July 21, at Walter; Thursday, Nov. 10 at Alief; staff names are drawn randomly by CE Admin staff, attendance is highly recommended/ mandatory.
  • 2016 CyberSecurity Training: Must be completed by Feb. 11.  Each employee will receive an emailed link to the  training.  Send Karen or Lauren the date you complete the training.
Upcoming Staff Events
  • Friday, January 22: Pay Day!
  • Friday, January 22: CE Managers Meeting at CEN (Karen, Lauren)
  • Friday, January 22: Serials  training with Gail Ibarra (all staff)
  • Friday, January 22: 2016 CyberSecurity training time (online)
  • Monday, January 25: Send disks needing repair to LMS Jan 25-29.
  • Tuesday, January 26: Worker’s Comp Training at STE (Karen)
  • Wednesday, January 27: Management Team Meeting (Karen, Lauren, Alice, Shanti).
  • Friday, January 29: Last Day of Pay Period
  • Friday, January 29, 2016 CyberSecurity training time (online).
  • Tuesday, February 2: SW Managers Team Meeting at FRA (Karen)
  • Wednesday, February 3: Lunch and Chat with Michele at COL (by invitation)                                       
  • Friday, February 5: Staff Training: Super Star Shelving with Leona and Shanti
  • Friday, February 5: 2016 CyberSecurity training time (online)--last chance!
  • Wednesday, February 10: Open Discussion Meeting (need Moderator and Recorder)
  • Friday, February 12: Last Day of Pay Period
  • Friday, February 12: Staff Training: Super Star Shelving with Leona and Shanti
  • Wednesday, February 17: Staff Meeting
Links:
KRONOS full-service log-in: https://coh.kronos.net/wfc/navigator/logon; KRONOS comments saved in the Kendall folder on the G: drive and on the Kendall blog on the Staff Links page.
Jobs @ HPL: http://houstonlibrary.org/jobs-hpl (or go to the bottom of the HPL website home page).
City of Houston Job Opportunities: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/houston/default.cfm (or go to the COH website,  www.houstontx.gov, and click on “I Want To” and select “Jobs”).

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Staff Meeting Notes 12-30-15

In attendance:
Lauren Wilcox, Lutricia Bratton, Alice Dooley, Janalyn White, Kathrine Fan, Nina Oliver, Doug Dietrich, Temeka Doakes, Jose Torres, Pamela Officer, Shanti Rao, Jasmine Zelaya, Leona Hoegsberg, Albert Banks

Highlights
Pay Structure Change: Everyone will be receiving up to a .50 cent per hour raise starting the first pay period after 1/1/2016.  To find out how this will affect you:
o   Know your pay grade:
§  Library Assistant – Pay Grade 5
§  Customer Service Clerk – Pay Grade 10
§  Senior Customer Service Clerk – Pay Grade 12
§  Library Service Specialist – Pay Grade 13
§  Senior Library Service Specialist – Pay Grade 16
o   To see your exact gross pay and to know whether you are above, below, or at midpoint pay, log in to your ESS account (https://portal.houstontx.gov/irj/portal)
      Open Carry: “Effective 1/1/2016, citizens with a current concealed handgun license, or a person who obtains the new ‘license to carry a handgun’ will be able to carry a handgun in a concealed manner or openly in a belt or should holster in most city-owned or leased property.”
o   We are not allowed to approach a person and ask them if they are properly licensed to openly carry a weapon.  If we are concerned that someone will act violently, we are to call 911 immediately.
o   If there is a school group or school-sponsored event happening in the library, we can put up signage and prohibit the carry of weapons in the specific location of the group/program meeting (ex: if there is a program on the 3rd floor, we cannot prohibit carry on the 2nd floor).

      EAP: The Employee Assistance Program is a free service to all city employees and should be used if you need any counseling or guidance with any issues, including but not limited to:
o   Stress, anxiety, or depression
o   Relationship/marital conflicts
o   Getting out of debt
o   Retirement planning
o   Landlord/tenant issues
o   Contracts
o   Child and elder care
o   Home repair
§  If you get a referral number and are connected with a counselor, you will receive 6 free sessions for any specific issue.  If you have another issue you would like counsel for, you will receive another 6 free sessions for that specific issue.
§  Call 24/7 at 855-378-7485
§  Website: guidanceresources.com
§  City of Houston web ID: HOUSTONEAP
      Shelf-Reading and OnSearch: starting next week (1/4 – 1/9) Doug will begin distributing the missing (OnSearch) list to each employee.  You will be using this list as you shelf-read weekly to search for items marked as missing.  This will keep us more informed about our shelf-reading areas and keep the items marked as missing to a minimum.
      Delivery Priorities: If you are assigned to delivery for the day, you need to stay down on the 1st floor as much as possible.  We will begin tagging items in the delivery area, as well as answering phones and helping people in the lobby if the line gets long.  We need to communicate with one another to keep the sorting and delivery area as orderly as possible and cleaned up at the end of the day.
Monthly Report: You will be receiving a Google doc that will outline your SMART goals and give you space to track your progress on a monthly basis.  These reports will also include a narrative portion that you will use to give examples of how you have contributed to the team.  These reports will be brought to the monthly one-on-one meetings with your direct supervisor so that everyone can discuss progress, issues, challenges, and successes.  


Quick Notes
  • 2016 Customer Experience Meetings with Deputy Director Michele Gorman, 11:30 AM-12:30 PM (aka lunch & chat with Michele): Wednesday, Feb. 3 at Collier; Thursday, July 21, at Walter; Thursday, Nov. 10 at Alief; staff names are drawn randomly by CE Admin staff, attendance is highly recommended (mandatory).
  • New Elected City Officials, effective 1/4/16 (Handout)
  • Open Carry Law: Firearms Legislation Overview from City Attorney Donna L. Edmundson 12/11/15 (Handout)
Upcoming Staff Events
  • Thursday, December 31: Last Day of Pay Period (before New Year’s Holiday).
  • Friday, January 1: New Year’s Day - Library closed
  • Tuesday, January 5: SW Managers Team Meeting, 9AM-12 Noon at Frank (Karen)
  • Wednesday, January 6: Program Planning Meeting (Karen, Nina, Leona, Shanti, Jasmine, Alice, Pam, Jose, Doug)
  • Friday, January 8: Pay day!
  • Friday, January 8: Staff Training: Intermediate Word with Pam
  • Tuesday, January 12: SW Assistant Managers Team Meeting, 9:15-11AM at Stella Link (Lauren)
  • Wednesday, January 13: Open Discussion Meeting
  • Friday, January 15: Youth Services Meeting, 8:30AM-12 Noon at CEN (Jasmine, Leona, Nina, Shanti)
  • Friday, January 15: Staff Training: Intermediate Word with Pam
  • Wednesday, January 20: Staff Meeting
  • Friday, January 22: Customer Experience Managers Meeting, 8:30AM-12 Noon at CEN (Karen & Lauren)

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

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

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Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Staff Meeting Notes 12-2-15

11:15 – 11:45 AM, Breakroom

  1. Updates from 11/20 CE Managers Meeting (Lauren)
  2. Training: Rules Revisited--Library Rules, Meeting Room Guidelines, ADA Guidelines, Open Carry FAQs (Karen)
    1. Library Rules: Website, http://hpl.lib.tx.us/library-rules-policies; 1-page handout, https://hplnet.houstonlibrary.org/forms/15_Library_Rules_FINAL.pdf [updated link, also updated on Kendall blog.]
    2. Meeting Room Guidelines: http://hpl.lib.tx.us/sites/default/files/neighborhood_libraries.pdf
    3. Open Carry FAQs (from the Texas State Library & Archives Commission) & Notes from COH OPen Carry Forum 11/4/15: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/pubs/ocpublic.html
Quick Notes (from SW Managers Team Meeting 12/1/15)
  • Keep bookend on each shelf.  If no room, shift or float items to make space.
  • Use standard HPL email signature format.  It should include the HPL logo, disclaimer and Citizensnet info (in your desktop email and Outlook Web Access).  See Karen or Lauren if you need help setting this up (or go to http://houstonlibrary.org/hpl-brand/internal-documents/email-signature):
  • Email: also use plain pages, no “stationary” or decorated backgrounds.
  • Emails sent to all staff emails must be approved first by Michele Gorman (for Customer Experience).
  • If you are planning to retire or resign in the near future, please let Karen or Lauren know as soon as possible so we can notify CE Administration about filling your position.
  • Badges must be worn and visible in public areas and workrooms when you’re on the clock.
  • Building lights should be turned off at night.
  • The private line number should always be answered using the standard greeting (and should always be answered).  
  • Customers who want to check out a book they just returned are welcome to do so (if there are no holds for it).  There is no “24-hour rule”  that requires a book must be returned to the shelf first before it can be checked out again.
  • If there’s no Clear Holds report in the morning, notify the IT Help Desk, then pull books that are dated 14 days or more.
  • Axis360 training is required for all front-line staff by December 18.  Notify Karen or Lauren when you have completed the training.


Upcoming Staff Events

  • Friday, December 4: Last Day of Pay Period, Timecards approved at 5:30PM
  • Friday, December 4 & 11: Staff Training--Basic Word  (Pam)
  • Friday, December 11: Pay Day
  • Wednesday, December 16:: Open Discussion Meeting
  • Friday, December 18: Last Day of Pay Period, Timecards approved at 5:30PM
  • Thursday, December 24: Christmas Eve - Library closed
  • Friday, December 25: Christmas Day - Library closed
  • Friday, January 1: New Year’s Day - Library closed

Friday, October 9, 2015

Staff Training Notes, October 2 & 9

The Art of the Reference Interview
Presented by Alice & Leona (Karen on 10/9)

Slides and Handout provided by the Idaho Commission for Libraries, 2010 at libraries.idaho.gov/page/able (under ABLE Courses, scroll down to Public Services Sequence, 1. The Reference Interview).  If you missed the training, you can complete the online version and submit the certificate of completion to Karen for credit.

NOTE: All ABLE courses which you take online are pre-approved by HPL Training for training credit.  Go to training.houstonlibrary.org/online-training for details. 

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Staff Meeting Notes 7-15-15

11:15 – 11:45 AM, Breakroom

  1. Sign up for FY16 Open Discussion Meetings: moderator or recorder  (Karen)
  2. Updates from 6/19 CE Managers Meeting (Lauren)
  3. Security Review: COH Badges and Other COH Employees in Building (Karen). Handouts: City of Houston Employee Guidebook, page 21; Executive Order 1-37 Security on City Premises

Quick Notes

  • Happy New HEAR Year!  Karen and Lauren will be meeting with all staff in July and early August to prepare your FY16 HEAR plans.  We’ll be discussing what to keep, what to change, and what to add, so think about your plan from last year’s plan and what you would like to see for this year.
  • Weeding and Collection HQ Training: There are opportunities for weeding training at ROB on Friday, July 17, and Collection HQ training at COL on Friday, July 31. Check with Karen first, then register at the Training Portal.    
  • Texting and Music in Public Service Areas:  
    • Texting and listening to music in public service areas distracts you from paying attention to customers’ needs and doing your job effectively.  
    • Texting or listening to music when customers are around tells them you’re not available and not interested in helping them.  
    • Texting and listening to music should be done in non-public areas or during non-public hours with the volume turned down low enough so you can hear someone speaking to you.  
Upcoming Staff Events
  • Friday, July 17: Last day of Pay Period
  • Tuesday, July 21: SW Managers Team Meeting at ROB (Karen)
  • Wednesday, July 22: Program Planning Meeting (Karen, Alice, Jasmine, Jose, Leona, NIna, Pam, Shanti)
  • Friday, July 24: Pay Day
  • Friday, July 24: CE Managers Meeting (Karen, Lauren)
  • Wednesday, July 29: Open Discussion Meeting
  • Friday, July 31: Last day of Pay Period
  • Wednesday, August 5: Staff Meeting
  • Friday, August 7: Pay Day

FY16 Staff Meetings (meetings occur every 4 weeks, except holidays)
  1. Open Discussion (everyone), 11:15-11:45, Break Room: 2015--7/29, 8/26, 9/23. 10/21, 11/18, 12/16; 2016--1/13. 2/10, 3/9, 4/6, 5/4, 6/1, 6/29.
  2. All Staff Meeting (everyone), 11:15-11:45, Break Room: 2015--7/15, 8/5, 9/2, 9/30, 10//28, 12/2 (rescheduled for Thanksgiving), 12/30 (rescheduled for Christmas); 2016--1/20, 2/17, 3/16, 4/13, 5/11, 6/8.
  3. Program Planning (Karen, Alice, Jasmine, Jose, Leona, Nina, Pam, and Shanti), 11:15-12:15, Break Room:: 2015--7/22, 8/19, 9/16, 10/14, 11/4 (rescheduled for Veterans Day), 12/9; 2016-1/06, 2/03, 3/02, 3/30, 4/27, 5/25, 6/22.
  4. Staff Training (everyone): to be determined.