Open Discussion Notes, 12/16/15

Staff Break Room, 11:15-11:45AM

Karen - Saturday, Dec. 26, will be a staff holiday.  The Library will be closed Dec. 24-Dec. 27 for Christmas and reopen Monday, Dec. 28.  Everyone will work a Mon-Friday schedule for the pay week Dec. 26-Jan 1.

Albert -- cleaning out the supply closet and cabinets at the lobby desk.  At the lobby desk, the right cabinet is for supplies (tags, tape, staples, etc.) and the left cabinet for cleaning materials (paper towels, etc.); please keep them in order.  Wipes are not a supply item--we must buy with our own money.  If you need a supply item, leave him a note.

Albert - all applications have been wonderful--everyone is doing a great job!  Info is correct and no duplicates.

Shanti - wet books in the book drop stick to the sorter belt.  We need towels to wipe them dry. Suggested keeping a role of paper towels or rags (from the janitor's  closet) in the sorter room.

Doug - one of the magazine display racks is missing a nut and the plex cover is coming off.  Karen suggested we can "borrow" another nut or cover from another magazine shelf (if you can't find the nut on the floor).

Leona - there is a plastic bag with dry erase markers and cleaner at the 3rd floor desk which groups using the 3rd floor conference room can check out to use during their meetings.  By providing the markers, we avoid having a problem with groups using permanent markers instead.  But we don't provide rugs or AV equipment for our meeting rooms: the rugs are dirty when we need them for a program: and the AV equipment needs a staff member present to set-up and monitor.  See the new Meeting Room Guidelines for details about what is provided/not provided.  The Guidelines are stapled in packets with the new meeting room reservation form and fee schedule.

Alisa - What are the holiday hours going to be?  In addition to above, HPL also closes at 6 PM on 12/31 for New Year's Eve.

Shanti - we need to use the empty paper boxes to store crafts supplies in the crafts storage room.

Doug - Is Santa going to be here tomorrow?  What are going to be the activities?  Photo ops?  Leona - Yes, Santa Lance here at 4 PM, not sure exact activities but Communications is bringing a newspaper reporter to take pictures, will have photo ops, need staff to help.  Alisa and Doug volunteered to help Leona and Temeka with the program.

Leona - program schedule during holiday period: next week -- 1 Holiday storytime at 10:30 on Tuesday for all ages; week after Christmas -- no storytimes, a movie on Tuesday at 2 and the New Year's celebration on Thursday at 11.

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 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