Star Ornament Craft

Last Wednesday from 2 PM - 4 PM we had a very exciting Star Ornament Holiday Craft! Here are some of the highlights from the program.

And a larger star!

Finally, some of the Crafters!

Happy Crafting!

Katie Thomas
RIN/HIL

Good Afternoon Everyone!

On Wednesday the 13th, 2013 we had a very fun time making a lovely Holiday Wreath! We used cardboard and tissue paper to create wreaths to hang up and admire. Here are some pictures of the excellent time we had.

Katie Thomas

NL Manager's Meeting Notes - 10/24/2013

***The words below are Marcos Martinez's notes from the meeting. These are not quotes of the presenters.

• FACILITY ISSUES (presented by Shammi Gill)
• Submit work order using Sprocket and load photos of issues in G Drive>>Elva Alvarez>>Photos (photo is optional, but helps).
• ANNUAL REPORTS (Mary Wagoner)
• Begin writing monthly reports to make drafting the annual report easier and efficient. Reports due by 10th of the next month; start with October 2013 report.
• SIRSI & OTHER ISSUES (Mary Wagoner)
• Many complaints received from public stating that staff are talking bad about HPL's ILS (SIRSI). Please refrain from sharing internal issues with customers. We want to provide 
• CIRC ADMIN (Laurie Covington)
• Sara Ortiz on board with Circ Admin.; visiting NL sites to identify issues and/or observe workflows. This is an effort to build better relations between both divisions.
• Can email Sara directly regarding any circ-related issues.
• Circ policy being revised. Share concerns with committee: Djuina Hammett, Tony Goodwin or Richard Hurst
• HOLIDAY PICTURE CONTEST (Laurie Covington)
• NLs is having a Holiday Picture Contest (more details to come)
• Groupings may submit one photo for grouping
• Prizes included gift cards and/or cash; winners in mid-December
• LIB. CARD APPS (Theodora Ume-zeoke)
• Have lib card apps submitted to Fred's department by 1st of next month (ex. Oct. 2013 apps due by November 1st, 2013)
• SUPPLIES
• "Goo-Gone" and wipes purchaed for removal of tape residue. Request as needed.

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Assistance at HIL 11/15/13

Good news! We will have certified ACA assisters, with Cognosante, on site at HIL in the meeting room on Friday, Nov., 15, 2013 from 1pm to about 4pm to help customers with navigating the site/process. Here is the description of the program (entered on Evanced 10/16/2013):

Certified In-Person Assisters will be on site to provide assistance to consumers in understanding the new Affordable Care Act (ACA) programs, navigating the online enrollment, and filling out the online application. No registration is required. For any questions regarding the ACA or for more information on ACA, please visit https://www.healthcare.gov/.

Please help promote this special program to our customers. An informational sign will be posted at both locations soon.

Thank you,
-M

Staff Meeting at HIL 10/11/2013

The following items were on the agenda and discussed:

• Unattended Animals: We had an incident with a dog left outside tied to the railing by the entrance while the owner was browsing the web inside the library. An animal may not be left unattended much less tied on City property because of the possible issues that could arise.
• Kindle Fire Device and Roving: Staff are not expected to roam with the Kindle device for the duration of 1 whole hour. Since we are neighborhood libraries and not regional/central branches, I believe a 5-15 minute roaming with the Kindle on the public floor should suffice in a given hour. Remember this not only gives us the opportunity to assist customers on the spot, but it allows us to also provide a welcoming environment and scope out the area for any suspicious activity/behavior. Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the device to become more comfortable using it.
• Training Portal: Online training opportunities on LMS; the link is listed on the left-side of the Staff Training Portal homepage. Notify your supervisor of any trainings you are interested or have successfully completed. Also, every staff member is welcome to participate in the discussion threads on the Discussion Board found on the Staff Training Portal. Setting up an account is very easy and takes minimal time.
• CMC at HIL: Staff have until the end of October 2013 to contribute any funds to CMC. Laura is our CMC Coordinator for HIL and Katie is our CMC Coordinator for RIN. List the location that you primarily report to. 

"Support the CMC" (HIL)

Our CMC Coordinator for HIL, Laura T., has creatively put together a display at the CSD to promote the good causes CMC does for the community. HIL Staff are holding a raffle at the end of October. If anyone is interested in participating, please forward any amount to HIL Attn: Laura T. Below are a couple of pictures of this effort to raise funds for cancer research:

Repost: Roving/Roaming with Kindle Fire Device

REPOST:

Good Friday, Everyone!

Per NL Admin., we will begin using the Kindle Fire devices for when we are scheduled to “RM/K” or roam with Kindle device out on the public floor. We will need to ensure the devices are set to charge at closing so they are ready to use the next opening day. Chris and I will be entering the following task code in the weekly schedule: “RM/K”. This will indicate that you are the person for that hour to rove the floor to assist customers.

Visit the Discussion Board on HPL's Staff Training Portal to join the discussion.

Thank you,

-M

Discussion Board on Staff Training Portal

The HPL Training Team has designed a platform for staff to hold discussions with each other in the system on the Staff Training Portal. Explore the different topics posted on the Discussion Board and feel free to join in on the conversation. Registration is very quick and easy.

https://sites.google.com/site/hplstafftraining/communications/Discussion

Thank you,
-Marcos

Reviewing Submitted Work Orders in Sprocket

To review both closed and open requests, log in and locate the "Saved Searches" box/button on the right-side of the web page. Once clicked on, a window will pop-up with two options: My Closed Requests and My Open Requests. Please take a moment to log in and familiarize yourself with this feature. Here is the link to the Sprocket System: https://gsd.upturnhost.com/Login.aspx

As always, please forward information on all work orders submitted to the PIC on-site and the manager/assistant manager.

Thank you,
-M

NL Manager's Meeting Notes - 09/26/2013

• CMC (presented by Belinda Cox):
• Theme this year, "Build Up Our City"
• Online contributions, starting October 1st through October 31st
• Online auctions starts October 7th through October 18th
• 2nd Annual Fall Festival (Library Dept's fundraiser), on October 31st from 11am-2pm at Library Plaza
• Goal last year was $47k and reached $46k; this year's goal is $45k
• SAFETY (Laura Covington)
• Launching another safety initiative in January of 2014
• Safety Committee is seeking 1 member from NL staff to join committee
• COMPUTER-USE ONLY CARDS (Theodora Ume-Ezeoke)
• Refer to Library policy on Computer-Use Only Cards and follow closely
• No more guest/courtesy/temporary passes or cards to public; consistency across Library system is important for our customers
• Existing card # can be given as courtesy to customer if they present valid photo ID
• NOTE: Matricula Consular (Mexican Matriculate) can be used as valid photo ID for adults registering for a Comp-Use Only Card.
• (Smart Money: retain 3 years of financial docs)
• SPROCKET (Karrington Burnett)
• Sprocket manual can be found on NL Blog
• Ensure that on each Sprocket request (work order) that the correct location (HIL or RIN) has been uploaded in the appropriate field (located right under Contact Name field).
• (Please, Cc manager and person-in-charge (PIC) if you submit a work order. -MM)
• PERSON-IN-CHARGE (PIC) (Mary Wagoner)
• NL Admin. is asking that all locations have a PIC at each location and to bold the PIC on the weekly work schedule.
• SIRSI WORKFLOWS (Erin Cody)
• Staff working to setup a new profile when we log in to Workflows; more details coming soon via email. Changes to take place soon on or around 10/7/2013
• STAFF TRAINING PORTAL (Suzy Benton and Thuy Vo)
• If there is a fee-based training that you would like to attend, complete and submit to your supervisor the Training Request/Approval form (on Staff Training Portal); employee requesting signs and submit to manager for approval. NOTE: funds are limited -SB
• Staff Training Portal updated with new materials and page layout; check out Ebooks page and handouts/screenshots
• ACCIDENT DURING SHIFT (Laurie Covington)
• If a staff member is involved in an accident during a work shift (even on lunch break), employee must immediately notify supervisor, then supervisor/PIC will notify NL Admin., then HPL HR will be notified. 
• A drug test must be taken soon after the incident and the employee involved must be accompanied by a supervisor of the same sex to the drug testing facility. 
• TRESPASS AFFIDAVITS
• Official affidavits on-file at local substations. Non-official are located on G Drive if staff are required to present onsite. (I'll be posting HIL's and RIN's in the work room area soon. -MM)

------

Dear Team,

I will be scheduling times to meet with each and every one of you to develop your HEAR work plan for this evaluation period. Stay tuned...

Thank you,

-Marcos Martinez

Shelf Reading Log

Hello, Team!

Some of you have suggested creating and maintaining a shelf reading log. Therefore, Katie has designed a template for us (Thank you Katie!) and we shall be using this. At HIL, you will find the shelf reading log by the staff mail boxes in the work room. At RIN, this is located at the CSD by the binders. Both are on a clip board. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the log and their locations. If you are scheduled to "SH" and there are no books to shelve, please take the initiative to shelf read a section and refer to the log to avoid duplicating areas read. Some of you have already shown initiative and it is much appreciated. Currently, there are no assigned areas to shelf read.

The Shelf Reading Log template can be found on the G Drive >>>HIL/RIN>>> Shelf Reading Log (Word Doc).

If you think we can improve the log in any way, your feedback is welcomed.

Thank you,
-M

Symphony Go-Live Update (Dr. Lawson)

Email from Dr. Lawson on Thursday, July 11, 2013:

Dear HPL,

Kudos to Syma and the team leading this gigantic effort. They have done a fantastic job and are owed tremendous gratitude from us all. Let them know we appreciate them when you see them around.

And, I send my deep appreciation to the entire staff - for your patience and tenacity as we get through this bumpy period.  This is not an easy transition – but it will get better. The new system is fabulous and it will soon be familiar to us and the glitches will fade.

Please hang in there and do your very best to help each other and our customers with the new system.

Thank You,
Rhea Brown Lawson, PhD

Director, Houston Public Library

We link people to the world.

Symphony Go-Live Update!

Email from Syma on Thursday, July 11, 2013:

I know it’s been a long, hard day for most of us but, honestly, tomorrow will be better J 

·         Most of the circulation related issues were due to the fact that an awful lot of our offline circulation information did not load into the system as quickly as anticipated.  Items that had been checked in offline still showed checked out, customers who had registered offline were not showing up in the database, and so on.  The load of offline circulation information will be completed by tomorrow morning so most of these issues should be resolved.

·         The one year expiration date for new cards has been corrected and should work properly tomorrow.

Issues being worked on:

·         Length of receipts and/or multiple single receipts for the same customers

·         Strange check-out periods somehow related to a card’s expiration date

·         Minor fines blocking check-out

·         Holds wrapper issue

·         Enterprise catalog display problems, especially in Internet Explorer.  We recommend you switch to Firefox or Chrome for a better, although still not perfect, display.

One thing that is not a glitch and that we will just need to get used to is that when a new staff person takes over at a terminal, the person leaving needs to close Symphony Workflows and the new person needs to re-open Workflows and log-in.  There is no short-cut.

Please keep those calls and emails coming in.  If we don’t know what the problem is, we cannot fix it.  The IT Helpdesk should be your primary contact point.  We have a team of HALAN, IT, LMS, and SirsiDynix staff stationed nearby so issues reach us quickly.

Thanks for all you do.  It is deeply appreciated.

Syma

Library Cards Created During Offline

Email from Fred Schumacher on Wednesday, July 3, 2013: 

Greetings all.

Customers who register for new cards while we are in Symphony Offline will be unable to use those cards on the computer reservation system.  On Monday of this week you should have received an envelope containing pre-made computer use cards (see below for original message).  You should issue one of these cards to any new cardholder who you register in Symphony Offline, as the new library card created in Symphony Offline will not allow them to use the computer registration system.  On 07/11, when the offline circulation files are uploaded to the Symphony server, the cards created in offline will start working with the computer reservation system.

Thanks,

Fred Schumacher

-mm

DigitalLearn[dot]org: Video on HPL Digital Literacy

Published on the recently launched digitallearn.org site, this video was posted highlighting Houston Public Library's digital literacy efforts and a few of our members.


Our BTOP Tech Instructors have done an amazing job to develop the skills of our members and change their lives through the hundreds of classes taught every month. Thank you, Willie and Ken, for all you have done and continue to do at Hillendahl and Ring Neighborhood Libraries!
-Marcos

Procedures for Circulating Laptops During Offline

Email from Fred Schumacher on 6/24/2013:

Greetings all.

Shortly, we will migrate from Millennium to the new Symphony ILS.  During the actual migration of customer records, we will be operating offline for all circulation transactions.  The Symphony Offline client does not accommodate hourly circulation of laptops, so we have developed a manual circulation procedure for you to use during the offline period – 07/03/13 through 07/10/13. 

The HPL Print Shop is printing special Laptop, Tablet and Gaming Device Circulation Agreement forms that will be sent to each location.  The forms are printed with the same agreement as  currently appears on the regular forms, but the bottom of the agreement has been altered in include a space to record the barcode of the item being borrowed and a time returned for the item.  Additionally, a cut-off customer receipt with spaces for item barcode, date, time out and time due has been added to the bottom.  During the time we are offline for the migration, you will need to use these forms to manually circulate laptops, tablet computer and gaming devices to customers.  The receipt portion of the form will need to be filled out for each circulation and issued to the customer.  At the time the item is returned, you will need to fill in and initial the time returned and inform the customer of any overdue charge owed, if the item is returned late.  Forms for items returned late are to be retained for further handling once we are online in the Symphony system.  Forms for items returned on-time may be disposed of in the normal manner.

Again, you will receive the forms from offline circulation of laptops shortly.  Put those forms aside for use during the offline circulation period – 07/03/13 through 07/10/13.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us in the Circulation Administration Department.  We will be happy to assist you in any way that we are able.

Thanks for your attention to this.

Fred Schumacher

Circulation Administration Manager

-mm

Transitioning to a New ILS (Dr. Lawson)

Email from Dr. Lawson on 6/17/2013:

Hello HPL!

In July, Houston Public Library will unveil a completely new integrated library system (ILS) that will run our catalog and customer accounts. The new system, SirsiDynix’s Symphony, will result in improved service delivery and more efficient processes. Every effort is being made to keep you informed of changes and timelines to make the transition process to the new ILS as painless as possible -for both you and our customers.

Over the next few weeks we are going to implement a phased roll out that will have several milestones.

·         On Wednesday, July 3^rd, our current ILS, Millennium, will be taken offline.

·         On Thursday, July 11^th the new ILS, SirsiDynix’s Symphony, will go live.

·         The week between these two dates (Thursday, July 3, 2013 thru Wednesday, July 10, 2013) will have the most impact on HPL customers and staff. During this time:

Ø  Most customer interactions will be handled manually, offline.

Ø  Check-outs, check-ins, and new registrations will be handled through the SirsiDynix Symphony offline circulation system.

Ø  We will not take new hold requests or fill existing hold requests during this period.

Ø  Inter Library Loans will be handled manually.

Ø  Self-check machines will be unavailable.

Ø  We will not be able to collect fines.

Additionally, there are two significant changes that will result from this transition:

1.    All customers will be required to have Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) to access their accounts online. This is one of the most important features to impact customers and provides them with an additional level of security for their accounts.

Ø  Current cardholders will be assigned a four-digit PIN based on the last four numbers of the phone number associated with their accounts.

Ø  New cardholders will have five-digit PINs automatically assigned to them by the system at the time their account is created. 

2.    Beginning July 3, 2013, our circulation period will change from 2 week check-outs (with two possible two-week renewals) to 3 week check-outs (with one three-week renewal).    This will give our customers more time to get through their particular item(s) and reduce the number of times they need to worry about renewal. 

NOTE:  DVD’s will circulate for one three-week period, with no renewals.

Syma Zerkow, Chief of Library Materials Services, will continue to provide you with regular email updates about the overall ILS transition and on-going staff trainings.  Additionally, a Frequently Asked Questions  (FAQ) document will be  placed on HPL’s Intranet full of useful information for staff. This document will include a list of the features we are keeping, those we are adding, as well as a list of the features that will not transition to the new system. More information will be shared with you on an ongoing basis as it becomes available.

We will begin providing information to our customers this week. This will include the dates of the roll out and the expected impact to them, our services, and their accounts.

Switching to a new ILS is a monumental undertaking, requiring months of planning and the time and attention of many of our co-workers.  We know that no matter how much we have planned, or how much care we have taken with each of step of the transition, there will be some challenges for our customers and staff. Please let us know how things are going, and when you have questions or suggestions – contact Syma – syma.zerkow@houstontx.gov

Thank you in advance for your commitment and patience as we work our way through these milestones.  Most importantly, I ask that you take time to familiarize yourself with the FAQ’s and other information provided so that you can become informed. Being informed will make the transition easier and will equip you to help guide our customers through this change. It’s going to take all of us working together to make this transition possible.  Thanks again!

SIRSI Training Reminders

Please remember your SIRSI training day and refer to the schedule. Alice has inserted a note on the schedule asking for all staff to practice with SIRSI when you are not scheduled on the desk/floor. Please take the opportunity to review the manual, practice the basic functions on WorkFlows, and enter some of the self-pace courses. Chris has saved a copy of the SIRSI manual on every station at the CSD. When there is down time and shelving is caught up, please take time to review the manual as well. Let's be prepared and ready to go for when we go live with SIRSI!

Thanks,
-Marcos

Featured HPL Online Resource: Learning Express Library

The Learning Express Library provides access to interactive practice exams as well as a Job and Career Center. This includes TAKS, GED, SAT, civil service, ASVAB, law enforcement, real estate, and basic skills tests. To register, an email address is required to track progress. 

The link can be found on http://www.houstonlibrary.org/education web page (listed under the Database Category: "Education" if accessing through homepage). 

Check it out! This can be a great alternative if print study guide materials are not available for our customers. 

-Marcos

SIRSI Update #5

Email from Syma Zerkow on 05/31/2013:

Last week, I urged you to try logging in to the test database.  Unfortunately, some of you have had problems with the connection.  IT and SirsiDynix staff are working to resolve this. 

The train the trainer sessions on circulation have been completed.  We will have 4 teams of trainers conducting these 4-hour training sessions.  This will allow multiple opportunities to attend sessions at locations throughout the system.  A training schedule will be issued next week.

Starting June 11, we will be making changes in the bibliographic records for periodicals, microfilm, E- audiobooks and E-books so that they will import correctly into Symphony.  Once these changes are made, the ability to limit your search by these material types will disappear in both the Classic Catalog and Encore.  We will be posting information on the Catalog Search page and elsewhere.  The final language has not been set but it will be say something like:

TEMPORARY CHANGE IN CATALOG SEARCHING

To find magazines, go to Journals and Periodicals: http://0-atoz.ebsco.com.catalog.houstonlibrary.org/Titles/hpubl?lang=en&lang.menu=en&lang.subject=en

To find microfilm, add “microform” to your keyword search terms

To find E-books and E-audiobooks, add “electronic resource” to your keyword search terms

We will need to continue to use these workarounds until we go live on Enterprise, our new SirsiDynix online catalog.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact me or use Contact Us on the HALAN ILS Migration News site on the Intranet.  

---

-Marcos

Updating Customer Records

Email from Syma Zerkow on 05/29/2013:

As you are updating customer records, please do not delete or change the “g” message field.  This field is used to create the message that customers now see when they log in to their account that reminds them to update their personal information in preparation for the move to Sirsi.  I believe that some of you may be changing it from “g” to “x” or deleting it entirely once the customer has updated their information.  Unfortunately, that creates a problem.  We are using that field to send a series of messages about the change (right now we are trying to alert customers that PINs will be required in the new system) and when you change the “g” to “x” or delete the “g” completely, we are no longer able to mass update those records. 

Thank you for your cooperation.  If you have any questions, let me know.

---

-Marcos

HPL Mobile App Updates

Email from Saima Kadir on 05/28/2013:

Greetings,

I would like to share a few updates about HPL’s mobile app:

·         It shows the same message that has been added to My Millennium about upcoming catalog changes; it gets updated as new information becomes available

·         App can now store a patron’s library card so it doesn’t need to be entered every time patron wants to access their account

·         Library patrons who use the app to chat with us, now get a notification to use their browser for a better chat experience

·         we are working with Boopsie, our app developer to have it integrate with Sirsi once we migrate to the new ILS

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

---

-Marcos 

Tech Studio at HIL

This month at HIL we launched the Tech Studio--a creative space packed with technology punch for teens and tweens (ages 10-18). Our HIL June programming calendar features the Tech Studio at the top reading: 

"A space designed for teens and tweens, ages 10-18, who are interested in digital photography, graphic arts, web design, and music production using various tools on MacBooks. To easily save projects, a USB flash drive is suggested." 

Our next Tech Studio setup will take place on Thursdays, June 13 and 27 from 3pm-5pm. Our goal is to introduce the young age group to fun software programs and cultivate their technological skills to reach new levels of creativity. This aligns with the Library's service priorities and goals by providing support for student success and access to technology with impromptu instruction. 

Our most recent program pulled in a total of 9 attendees with only word-of-mouth marketing. My thanks go out to you all, the Team, for spreading the word!

Below are some recent photos of our new program setup. Attendees learned how to use Comic Life version 1.0 to produce a "comic" page filled with goofy images of themselves.

Important Dates Regarding ILS Migration...

Just a reminder...

Email from Syma Zerkow on 05/09/2013:

Our GoLive date for SirsiDynix Symphony is Thursday, July 11.  We are starting to detail out the timing of a lot of the changes and I want to make sure you were all aware of them.  I plan to send out updated information to staff on a weekly basis.  The Communications Division will begin a public awareness campaign for our customers in early June.

·         In order to reduce the number of circulation-related issues that will arise during our migration period (June 21-July 1), we have modified how the III system calculates due dates.  Our goal is to minimize the number of items returned over that time period but not affect our ability to check out or return items.  As a result, you (and our customers) will see a lot of unexpectedly long check-out periods.   Please accept whatever due date the system shows and, if a customer questions it, explain that we are moving from our existing catalog and circulation software to a new system and to make the transition as smooth as possible, we have temporarily changed the checkout period. 

·         Collections throughout the system will be more finely defined in the new catalog.  Every library will have locations such as Media, Beginning Readers, Graphic Novels, and more.  Sirsi informs us that due to the complex mapping of items to new locations, we need to keep item location changes to the absolute minimum during the migration period.  Therefore, we plan to stop floating materials beginning the week of June 17. When we go-live on Symphony, floating will immediately go back into effect.

·         During this period (June 21-July 10), no new titles or items will be added to the collection and we will be unable to delete items.  Staff will also need to follow new procedures to check-in periodicals and new procedures to create “items on the fly” (short records to allow circulation of items whose barcode is not in the system).

·         From July 5-10, we will be using Symphony Offline Circ.  During this period, no fines can be collected and no holds can be filled.  We will be able to register new customers.

·         Training for the new procedures will begin just after Memorial Day and run intensively throughout the month of June and continue on a regular basis thereafter. Training material will also be available on the Staff Training Portal.

·         We are working with Communications to develop FAQ’s to assist you in providing clear explanations to our customers about the changes.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact me or use Contact Us on the HALAN ILS Migration News site on the Intranet.

---

-Marcos

SIRSI Training Updates

Email from Syma Zerkow on 5/17/13:

Training update:

·         Training on the new system will be offered in multiple locations and multiple times throughout the month of June and then ongoing.  Once a definite schedule is established with times and locations, everyone will be notified.

·         Procedures presented during training will be available through the HPL Training Portal.

·         SirsiDynix Help screens within Symphony WorkFlows are excellent.  Plan on using the Help screens regularly.

·         Sirsi also offers a free generic tutorial that you will be able to access at any time.

·         A “cheat sheet” to keep at the Service Desk of most common procedures will be available.

I’d also like to offer some quick definitions:

·         Enterprise is the name of the new catalog interface (currently we have the Classic Catalog and Encore).

·         SirsiDynix Symphony is the equivalent of III Millennium.

·         Symphony WorkFlows is your single access point to all functions.  Currently, you may have an icon on your desktop for Circ, another for Serials, another for Offline Circ, another for Program Registration, and so on.  All of these various III modules are incorporated into the single WorkFlows icon.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact me or use Contact Us on the HALAN ILS Migration News site on the Intranet.

---

If you wish to explore Enterprise, the new catalog interface, you can visit Nicholson Memorial Library System's site, http://nm.ent.sirsi.net/client/default. -Marcos

Smart Money & Credit Card Machines

 

Email from Theodora Ume-Ezeoke on 5/10/13:

 

Concerning Smart Money and Credit Card Machines.

Good day Team,

Here are some remainders from the Financial Services department about Smart Money and the Credit card machines:

1. In the morning, all locations should reconcile the credit card machine activities with the closing receipt that comes out daily.

2. Make sure that the receipts total you have on hand for the credit cards and the checks agree with the closing receipt that comes out from the credit card machine daily.

3. This receipt that you see at the credit card machine in the morning when you come to work is from the bank.

4. If you don’t see the words “settlement successful” located at the end of the receipt please call 1800-451-5817. Have the merchant number ready and give it to them. (if you don’t know where this is located or cannot find it, please call me as I have this information and can give it to you) They will ask you a series of questions which should help to resolve the situation.

5. If your location has a glitch with the credit card machine, please call the IT Helpdesk and ask for the rewiring of the credit card machine to have it transferred from Wi-Fi to wired or through the phone line.

6. After your machine has been rewired, please call the bank at 1800-451-5817 and inform them that the credit card machine has been switched from Wi-Fi to wired line so they can switch the files.

7. Please remember to swipe credit cards on the credit card machine before entering it in Smart Money

8. Please keep the receipts and send them daily to the Financial Services Department.

 

---

-Marcos

 

 

 

 

RIN YA Book Display

Photo credit: Kathy C.

Kudos to Kathy and Marc for keeping this collection at RIN in good shape.

-Marcos

Due Dates During Migration from Millennium to SIRSI Symphony

From Fred Schumacher on 5/8/13:

Greetings all.

As you know, we are preparing to migrate from III Millennium to a new Integrated Library System, SirsiDynix Symphony, in the near future.  As one means of ensuring that the change-over from the current system to the new one goes as smoothly as possible, we have arranged for the III system automatically assign due dates that will fall after the migration to the new system is complete.  Thus, you will notice that the system is assigning due dates in mid July for items checked out for six weeks now.  Please leave the system assigned due dates as they are; do not manually reassign due dates for these items.  Use the Renew function in Millennium to assign six week due dates; do not manually assign them.

As we get closer to the actual migration date, you will notice more and more items being assigned extended due dates by the system.  As that happens, please continue to refrain from manually reassigning due dates, and allow the system to calculate the due dates for us. 

If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact the Circulation Administration Department at 832-393-2222 (choose option 3).  We’ll be happy to assist you in any way that we can.

---

-Marcos

Summer Reading Program '13

Quick link to SRP web page: http://www.houstonlibrary.org/summer

Email from Sandy Farmer on 5/7/13:

Summer Reading Club registration began May 1^st.  This is so that our school partners can encourage their students to enroll. Logging books will not begin until June 1^st.

If you have previously bookmarked the Summer Reading Club staff website please go to the reference page on the Intranet and rebookmark (yes, I know that’s not a real word) the page. The software was moved to a new location that should provide us with better service.

Due to the location change in Summer Reader all customers will have to do a new registration for this year. All previous year’s information has been removed from Summer Reader. If a customer has registered before, they will have to do a new registration this year. Hopefully this fresh start will allow our customers access to many previously taken usernames and it will make it easier for us to find people.

Thanks everybody! Have a great summer and email me if you have questions.

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-Marcos

MAM Services to the Community

FYI...

Library Literature Circulating

You may begin to see magazines circulating with a list of all of our names attached on the front. This is the Public Libraries magazine, produced and distributed by the Public Library Association. I am a member of this association, and I thought I would share this literature for those who may be interested. There is no obligation to read this piece of literature, but I encourage you to browse the articles to see what other libraries are doing or to get a feel for the trends. I hope you enjoy and perhaps engage in light discussions.

-Marcos

TexShare Cards Refresher

The TexShare Card Agreement Form can be found on the HPL Inside intranet under the Forms link (Library Materials). The website instructs customers to send agreement form to Circulation Admin. Dept. If a customer is interested or perhaps an opportunity to inform the customer arises, please find and/or print an agreement form and explain the details. See below for details from the Library's web page.

-Marcos

TexShare Card 

Houston Public Library is a participant in the TexShare Card Program, a cooperative program that permits eligible customers of Texas public and academic libraries in good standing to directly borrow materials from participating TexShare libraries across Texas. 

Customers with a Houston Public Library Power Card can get a TexShare card by filling out the TexShare Card Agreement form and sending it to the Circulation Administration 

Department at:
Houston Public Library
System Circulation Department
500 McKinney
Houston, TX 77002 

Cards will be mailed to eligible customers after completed TexShare Agreement Forms are received in Circulation Administration. TexShare cards are no longer available at Neighborhood Library or Central Library service desks. 

For more information, please visit the TexShare Card Program page on the Texas State Library and Archives Commission website.

Silver Stars! Featuring Andy Upchurch

Kathy is overseeing the Silver Stars series at RIN, a program designed for the 50+ crowd, which is held Thursday mornings 11am-12pm through May 9. Recently, Mr. Andy Upchurch, a local musician, avid sailor and new author of The Oleanders at San Leon (and in our collection), presented to a large audience detailing his experiences of building his own beach house with no carpentry experience. (Image above shows Mr. Upchurch's display. Photo credit: Kathy C.)

This series is gaining some serious momentum thanks to Kathy's planning and marketing. Keep up the good work, Kathy! A big thanks to all of you who have and continue to help promote this program at the service desks.

-Marcos

Ring Neighborhood Library opens doors on Saturdays starting 04/20/2013

New hours comes with a new look to the weekly schedule.

You may have already noticed the color scheme to the weekly schedule has changed. As we know, color can affect us in many ways, and the goal of the selected color scheme is to provide a relaxed feeling when viewing your hourly tasks. Some claim green color is good for the heart and purple (lavender) can suppress hunger along with stimulating creativity. Hmm.... we shall see.

-Marcos

Blog Revived!

Our grouping's blog is back and running again! 

This blog serves as a way to access commonly used sites/forms and a means to communicate to you, the HIL/RIN group, with updates, reminders, cheers, and opportunities. Become familiar with the layout and links provided on the right, and please make it a daily routine to visit the blog during each work shift. Take note of the "Quick Links" listed where you will find the following listed: Weekly Schedule, HPL Intranet, KRONOS Quick, Volunteer Sign-In, Web Outlook and the Library's Homepage. As always, we welcome your feedback.

Thank you,
-Marcos