HEAR Interim Application

All supervisors must attend a HEAR Interim Application Training for Supervisors and Mangers (HEAR Day @ HPL) session. Before you can register for that class, you must take HEAR Interim Application Basic End-User Training, a web-based training. Similar to before the 7 hour HEAR Process training, you had to take the AP 3-20 web-based training.

Please take the web-based class first and then you can register for the 2 hour training on the HEAR Interim Application.

Thanks, Laurie

Traffic Update and Road closure - Looscan

UPDATE:  This work has been delayed but should begin March 10th

I wanted to let you know about the Harris County Flood Control District’s W129-00-00 Channel Enclosure Project.
The Flood Control District is enclosing the drainage channel formally identified as HCFCD Unit W129-00-00 in dual 12-foot by 10-foot reinforced concrete box culverts from San Felipe Street to Richmond Avenue. The drainage channel runs parallel to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks just inside West Loop 610. The purpose of the project is to improve the stormwater-carrying capacity and public safety features associated with the poorly functioning drainage channel.

The project also includes the demolition and replacement of the 50-year old bridges that cross the drainage channel at Westheimer Road and San Felipe. At this time, we expect to begin work on the Westheimer bridge in early March 2013. This bridge reconstruction project will require traffic flow on the Westheimer bridge to be limited to one lane in each direction for up to a month. Work on the San Felipe bridge is expected to begin in summer 2013 and all lanes will be closed for up to two weeks. Both schedules are subject to change due to construction or weather issues. I wanted to let you know about this project as the bridge closures may affect visitors of the Looscan Neighborhood Library.

More information about the project can be found at www.hcfcd.org/w129. Website visitors can also sign-up to receive construction updates via e-mail. Detour maps will soon be available on the website.

Mary

Customer Service Tips from the Trenches

Here are some customer service tips in the spirit of becoming more of a "smile" organization:


1. Remember, when a patron asks you a question (for example-Where are your tax forms?/Do you have tax forms?/Do you not carry tax forms any more? and the million variations we've heard since the beginning of January this year), he doesn't know that you've already been asked the same exact question by a dozen different people already that day, and he's not trying to bother you, so keep it nice when you answer the question! Don't sigh at him, even though you're tired of saying the same thing over and over.

2. When helping patrons with those questions that you are tired of answering (especially computer hand-holding questions), I try to think about my parents, and how would I want someone to treat my mom or my dad if they went to the library and asked the same questions. I know we all hate it when the first thing out of someone's mouth is "I'm computer illiterate," but I could envision my dad doing the same thing at a library, so I try to remember him and think about how I would want someone to treat him. (If you don't like your parents, think about someone else you would want treated kindly, even yourself!)

3. When I worked in retail at the cash register, I would greet the customer and say "Did you find everything ok?" Most of the time, the customer will say yes, but if the answer is no, there might be something you can help them with. If they didn't find the book they were looking for, offer to put it on hold for them. If they tell you they couldn't find any books on a subject, that might be a gaps area that we can float things in on, so tell the appropriate person for that area.

4. The change I've made most recently to my customer service is that I say "My pleasure" instead of "you're welcome" when a customer thanks me. They do that at Chick Fil A, and I think it sounds so nice, so I stole it from them! It doesn't actually have to be your pleasure (I don't think it gives the people at Chick Fil A pleasure to give me ketchup, but they still say it), just say it with a smile on your face, and patrons will walk away feeling good about the interaction.

Any other tips? Feel free to comment!

-Sara Pope - Heights Neighborhood Library

Interview Seminar

Here is the link for the interview seminar that NL Administration conducted in November/December.  We may not be able to schedule another one, but there are some great tips here that candidates may find helpful.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzihB-DO70HLcThrV2FVMDhldkk/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks,

Laurie

2013 CIP Meeting Schedule

2013 CIP Public Meeting Schedule


A - Helena Brown

(HIL, RIN) Tuesday, February 19, 2013 Spring Woods High School

2045 Gessner Drive

B - Jerry Davis

(ACR, DIX, FIF, KAS, LAK, PLE, SCE) Tuesday, March 19, 2013 Acres Homes MSC

6719 W. Montgomery 77091

C - Ellen Cohen

(COL, HEI, MNT, OAK, STE) Tuesday, March 5, 2013 Metropolitan Multi-Service Center (Gymnasium) 1475 West Gray

D - Wanda Adams

(BRA, JOH, SMI, YOU) Thursday, February 21, 2013 Judson Robinson Jr. Community Center 2020 Hermann Drive

Residents of District D can attend either the District D or E (Clear Lake) meeting

E - Mike Sullivan Thursday, February 28, 2013

CLEAR LAKE Univ. of Houston - Clear Lake 2700 Bay Area Blvd.

Joint CIP meeting for residents of District E and D

Tentative Feb 20, 2013 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. KINGWOOD Kingwood CC

4102 Rustic Woods Drive Kingwood, 77345

F - Al Hoang

(ALI, ROB) Monday, March 4, 2013 Tracy Gee Community Center 3599 Westcenter Drive

G - Oliver Pennington

(JUN, KEN, LOO) Tuesday, February 26, 2013 Briar Grove Elementary

6145 San Felipe 77057 (use park entrance)

H - Ed Gonzalez

(CAR, FLO, MOO, TUT) Wednesday, February 27, 2013 Sam Houston High School

9400 Irvington 77076

I - James Rodriguez

(CEN, MAN, MCH, PAR, STA) Monday, February 11, 2013 E.B. Cape Center 4501 Leeland

J - Mike Laster

(SWX, WAL) Wednesday, March 6, 2013 Sharpstown Community Center 6600 Harbor Town Drive

K - Larry Green

(BLU, FRX, MEY, VIN) Thursday, March 21, 2013 Hiram Clarke MSC

3810 West Fugua, 77045

Over Drive Interface

OverDrive page has launched a new & improved interface. New features include (among other features) one-click checkout & the ability to read e-books from your browser, with no download required. 

Here is one page handout for our customers, and detailed screenshot instructions  (for HPL staff or patrons)

Staff also can find these instructions at the E-books for Texans site:

https://sites.google.com/site/hplebooksfortexans/overdrive-read

Shammi

TSLAC and HBMG Consulting

Hi, Team,




Beginning next week, Managers and Assistant Managers will be contacted by representatives from HBMG Consulting on behalf of the Texas State Library. If you receive a call from Bill Kleinebecker (area code 512), please work with him to schedule a site visit. During the site visit, please assist the HBMG consultants in conducting their of assessment of HPL technology and current practices. They will be interviewing Managers and staff and may be installing a Web enabled tool that collects data.



Please allow them access to our computers and servers. If you do not have a key to the server, please contact Elva Alvarez immediately so IT can arrange for access.



Thank you so much!

Best regards,

Mary Wagoner, M.L.I.S.