HEAR Annual Reviews

Assessment Schedule in the Interim HEAR System

Annual Assessment Period:

§  Non-supervisory is July 1, 2014 thru June 30, 2015

(Due Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2015)

§  Supervisory is August 1, 2014 thru July 31, 2015

(Due Date: Friday, July 31, 2015)

A new Talent Management System is coming for our HEAR evaluation process. The new HEAR plans for FY15-FY16 will be created in the new Talent Management System and should not be  placed  in the current Interim HEAR Application as those plans will not transfer into the new system.

The training for the new Talent Management System is slated to begin in July and more information will be forthcoming. Below you will find additional information to update you on the transition timeline and general information about due dates for evaluations.

Transition Timeline

§  2014-15 HEAR assessments should be completed in the Interim HEAR application. 

§  2015-16 HEAR plans will be created in the Talent Management System. 

§  Supervisor/Manager training starts July 1, 2015

 

LMS Reorganization

Good afternoon, HPL staff.

In the spirit of continuous process improvement, we have been through a tremendous amount of change in the Customer Experience during the last 11 months. One area in CE that has recently undergone a complete reorganization and workflow overhaul is the Library Materials Services (LMS) Division. The end result, which I am excited to share with all of you today, is a more nimble division that still performs most of the functions it has always done, but in a more efficient and timely manner.  Below are a few outcomes of the LMS reorganization:

·         Faster delivery of new items

o   Faster ordering of new titles and more predictable shipment sizes.

o   Shipments received are completely processed and ready for delivery to libraries within ten work hours of arrival, or approximately one work day (compared to three days in the past, with items that were not fully tagged when sent out)

o   All new items are RFID tagged and completely shelf ready for every HPL location before distribution.

·         Cross-functional work groups oversee processes from beginning to end.

o   Selection, Cataloging, and Ordering

o   Receiving, Processing and Distribution

o   Centralized Floating

o   Circulation Administration

·         Centralized Floating is LMS’s new service.

o   Easier, more responsive and more efficient way of dealing with “overflow.”

o   NL Float Hubs phased out and staff time made available for other tasks

o   Better management of the current collection

·         Increased efficiencies resulted in time savings and the reallocation of staff

o   Two staff members reassigned to new Centralized Floating service

o   Eight staff members reassigned to other Customer Experience units to alleviate shortages

The newly reorganized LMS Division Management Team:

·         Senior Manager of LMS: Fred Schumacher (832-393-1567)

·         Collection Acquisitions Manager: Pat Ogea (832-393-1608)

·         Collection Processing Manager: Gary Lackey (832-393-1591)

·         Collection Processing Line Leader: Chris Patrick  (832-393-1620)

·         Circulation Administration Manager: Esther Reyes (832-393-1605)

·         DEO Supervisor Angelia Rose (832-393-1577)

I have also attached a new Contact Guide to help guide you to the right person to help with whatever LMS-related questions you have since many job responsibilities have changed.  If you have a question that the contact sheet does not address I welcome and encourage you to contact Fred Schumacher or any member of the LMS team and they will be happy to assist you.

As always – if you have any questions about the LMS re-org or any topic, in general, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.

Thanks,

Michele

 

Flood Damaaged Items--Procedures

Fines and Fees:

• The Symphony system has been set to see 05/26-05/28 as closed dates for fines purposes.  No fines will accrue for those days.
• Fines that accrue for other overdue days are legitimate and should be collected.

Items damaged/lost as a result of the 05/25-26/2015 flood:

• Check in the item from the customer record.
• Check the item out to your locations 150526FLOOD agency record.
• Dispose of the damaged item.

Accounts in Collection:

• Items reported as flood damaged on accounts In Collection will not be forgiven.
• Charges remain owed on these accounts.
• Refer customers in collection with concerns about flood damaged items on their accounts to Circulation Administration.

Flood Damaged Item Discards:

• Look up your location’s Flood Damaged Item account:
• In Check Out, use the User Search Helper to look up the account using the following name: 150526FLOOD, then select the account with your agency’s acronym (ALI, CEN, BLU, etc.).
• Or look the account up by using the following pattern: 150526FLOOD- followed by the agency acronym, such as 150526FLOOD-ACR.
• Check the flood damaged item out to your location’s Flood Damaged Item account.
• Dispose of the flood damaged item.

Holds:

• Items set to expire from the Holds Shelf on 05/26 and 05/27 have been extended to 05/28.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact Circulation Administration at circinfo@hpl.lib.tx.us or at 832-393-2222 (choose option 3).

Lost glasses at Staff Day

Do these belong to you?  They were found at Staff Development Day.  Email laurie.covington@houstontx.gov to claim them.

Thanks,

Laurie

Staff Development Day Survey

For Staff Development Day, each employee has the opportunity to select which one of 3 breakout sessions they would like to attend. Complete the survey and select the breakout session that you are most interested in attending, and then select your second and third choices. Selections must be completed (via the survey) by Tuesday, April 21^st. *If you do not make a selection, you will be placed in a session at random. Full descriptions of the sessions are listed below.

o   Game of Tones: Getting Along at Work (Room 332AD)—We have learned about Customer Service, the HPL Way, but now it is time to focus on making sure that we treat our colleagues as well as our external customers. Professor Elizabeth Whalen will offer tips and lessons for getting along with co-workers, improving relationships, reducing conflict, using emotional intelligence, and bridging the generation gap.

o   Speaker: Elizabeth Whalen, Lecturer, University of Houston

o   Lost in Translation: Customers in Crisis (Room 332 BE)—Libraries are one of the few places that are open to the public; you don’t have to have money or a job or a house to use a library.  Library staff often find themselves at the frontlines of many community issues and personal crises. A panel of experts from SEARCH, Children’s Protective Services (CPS), and the United Way of Greater Houston will provide expertise to prepare staff to deal with customers who are troubled, homeless, mentally ill, addicted or abused to provide assistance while also keeping other customers safe. 

o   Speakers: Charity Dominguez, Community Outreach Team Lead, SEARCH Homeless Services;  Jeanette De Los Santos, Community Outreach Coordinator for United Way of Greater Houston; and Ledra Johnson, External Relations, Children’s Protective Services

o   Mission Possible: Be Your Own Spark (Room 332CF)—Libraries are becoming an innovative center in the community, but it is not always easy to decide how to be creative and when to take those calculated risks. We also let fear, lack of information, or the comfort of our current situation hold us back from taking risks and moving ideas or plans forward for innovation. This session will focus on empowering staff to let their creativity flow while still following organizational guidelines. 

o   Speaker: Arquella Hargrove, Business Coach and Trainer

Don’t forget to check Inside HPL for Staff Development Day FAQs. They’ve been updated with information about training credits and parking options.

Sincerely,

Staff Development Day Committee

New Phone Number for GSD On Call

Hello,

Effective immediately, the GSD Security On Call Phone number for emergencies and intrusion alarm responses is now 832-393-8478.  The old number (832-316-1944) is now retired.  Please adjust the number in your phones so you are calling the correct number.

Thanks,

Laurie