Blog Issues

Hello,

I have heard from a few managers that the NL Blog is not working correctly in Internet Explorer and Chrome. In our experience here at Central, some blogs work in Firefox even when the other two don't work. Let me know if you are having issues with our blog or your location blog here in the comments (assuming you can see it).

Here is the link to Sub requests if you can't get to the Substitute page.

Here is the link to the Sub survey and the person in charge survey.

Thanks,

Laurie

Kindle Fire

Hi!
How do you like the Kindle Fire? Please share any positive and negative feedback about the Kindle Fire with us on the blog!

As with all electronic equipment, please secure the Kindle Fire in a locked closet; or locked cabinet that is secured in the workroom.

I read an interesting article about ebooks this morning. One of the points the author makes is that accompanying the shift to ebooks is the need to find new experiences that will attract customers to visit us. Do you have any ideas on what we can do to attract customers? Please share your ideas!

http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/07/ebooks/ebook-strategy-and-public-libraries-slow-just-wont-work-anymore/

Thanks!
Mary Wagoner

Service Area Maps

Hello all,

Don't forget to take pictures of you service area maps and save them on the G Drive under 2012 Service Area Maps. Try to take a few pictures to capture where the pins are arranged. Be sure to take a picture of the inset map as well.

We will use the pictures and pins to help up determine what the official service area is for each location. Send any observations or questions to me via email.

Thanks,

Laurie

Service Area Maps

Hello,

We are getting ready to wrap up the service area map project. You can take them down at the end of the day Saturday, July 7th and put in a secure area. Steve Hill in Communications will have additional information about the next step. Please send all completed surveys to Tiffany Little in Communications.

Thanks for all of your work with this project,

Laurie

Sharing from ALA

Hi,
I recently went to ALA and found the strategies about how libraries can remain relevant by Stephen Abram very interesting. My notes are below. Please share your thoughts on the topic!

Meaningful and sustainable strategies for 21 st century libraries.
Where are the format appropriate?
Encyclopedias are better electronically and some fiction is better in print.
Shift Happens - recognize key shifts
1. Real learning - Why am I using the library services?
ed2go - 25000 courses Public libraries could actually give diplomas when libraries become real learning institutions.
not random and opportunistic
scalable and repeatable
attainable
2. Real reading
eBooks and beyond (digital image of books or more) Who reads the most nonfiction cover to cover?
reading experience - conservation, preservation, reservation (embedded photos and other content)
reviews, commentary, communities - The marks, highlighting, notes is collected by publishers. Will libraries gather this data? Community of reading a text book.
Quit looking at user's reading behaviors and look instead at what they want to learn and be.

Reading exercise - Do we measure why people read or do we measure circulation? Do we have a focus group on why people read?
Organize libraries around verbs instead of nouns.
Organize around activities instead of inventory.
3. Real programs - physical and online programs, Drupal, alignment of programs
Every book collection in a library should be justified by a program and not the other way around.***
Scalable
Repeatable
Staffed
Train the trainer
Organize the public library around the program team.
What do our branches look like if we have a master programming team?
We are not positioned competitively if we only align with collection, instead of with partnerships, communities, etc.
4. Technology
E portals
eLearning
Mobile first
eBooks
the virtual user is significantly different person from the customer who walks into the building.
Technology enhances but not tech-centric spaces (gesture computing, holograms, legobots, 3D printing, smart boards, cloud computing, monitors)e
5. Real Stories and Measurements - How do we measure and how does this lead to change with our funding sources.
The Springboard - How to Tell the Story of Your Library's Impact
Audience - Funders are usually auditory, interpersonal learners instead of text readers. What are we going to do for them and what will be the impact.
6. Real Questions
What are your top 20 reference questions?
How to download eBooks or health and wellness.
Organize yourself around real questions, then use those to show strategic alignments with mission.
Google - who, what, when, where
Google - libraries are scalable for how and why
Behaviors: Decide\Choose\ Solve\ Delay
Interview\Delve\Interact\Progress

top 15 - Are you under or over collected to answer the top 15 questions.
health and wellness
do it yourself and car repair
genealogy
homework help
technology skills
hobbies - customer and librarian hobbies are almost the same which means libraries have built in programmers

Customers trust library databases.
Impact and Customer Satisfaction
Teachers do almost all of their database searches in July, August and September
Blog has more of the charts. Stephen's Lighthouse blog.
Lego Pieces
Counter Sushi data - raw effort
Database usage - unique user, length of session, number of sessions
Google analytics - what is Amazon delivering that we aren't.
Foresee Satisfaction and demographic data
ILS Data
Geo-IP data
Take away - Alternative to Google is to engage in real learning and use social tools and have content that is driven by programming.

Mary Wagoner

Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricane Season began June 1st. Take a few moments and take a look at the Hurricane Preparedness section on the Intranet: https://hplnet.hpl.lib.tx.us/emergency.html. There is a great deal of good information about preparing for a storm both at home and at work. Please make sure that your supervisor has your most current phone number (s) so you can be contacted in an emergency. In the event of an emergency, Planning and Facilities (PFD) will also provide information on the Emergency Hotline at 832-393-1550.

Thanks,

Laurie

Storm Risk Calculator

The City of Houston has unveiled a new Storm Risk Calculator. You can visit the site (risk.rtsnets.com) and plug in your address to find out your risk level. The system estimates the risk of storm surge and rainfall flooding, wind damage as well as power loss for more than 2,300 neighborhood-sized blocks that cover all of Harris County, including those not in evacuation zones.

FAX Services

HPL has the opportunity to expand FAX services that were piloted at CEN and SCE to a few more neighborhood libraries. Please let your Team Leader or Coordinator, Extended Hours Locations know if you would like to offer these FAX services at your location by June 29th. Please share any relevant information such as the frequency of customer requests; or lack of other FAX business services for the community. Thank you!

Best regards,
Mary Wagoner

FAX Services

HPL has the opportunity to expand FAX services that were piloted at CEN and SCE to a few more neighborhood libraries. Please let your Team Leader or Coordinator, Extended Hours Locations know if you would like to offer these FAX services at your location by June 29th. Please share any relevant information such as the frequency of customer requests; or lack of other FAX business services for the community. I have attached the signage for FAX services which may answer a few of your questions. Thank you!

Service Area Map Project starts next week!

Steve Hill sent this message:
Hello,


This is a friendly reminder that all HPL public service units will participate in the Service Area Map Project, scheduled to launch on Monday June 18th. The purpose of the project is to assess customers using our services, materials and facilities. The assessment will have two components: One is a large map 30” x 40” that allows visitors to indicate where they live with a push pin; and the second is a survey that may be completed in person or online.

Map - Each HPL location will receive a map detailing city & county boundaries, major roads, census tracts and our facilities. The purpose of the map is to ask customers to help us illustrate where people live in relation to the libraries they use.

Handout - An instructional handout, designed to encourage people to participate, will also be provided. The handouts should placed at service desks for use during regular customer interactions.

Survey – A brief questionnaire will be available to our customers in print or online via HPL’s homepage. Please encourage customers to use the online version as appropriate.

Results – In the short term, the information we gather will be combined and used as a tool to help redefine each library’s service area. Long term, the data collected will be used to improve library services, and target potential new users.

As ever, your help is essential to the success of HPL and we look forward to working with you on this project. For more information about the project please read the attachment to this email and or speak with your managers.

Thank you for all you do for the communities we serve.

If you have any questions call your Team Leader or Coordinator.

Thanks,

Laurie

We've Moved!

Hi,
The NL Administration office has moved from 820 Marston to Central Library, 6th Floor, Suite 629.  Our email and telephone numbers remain the same.  I hope to see you at Central!
Mary

Tip from the Black Belt Librarian--30-30-30

I was able to attend the ALA Webinar yesterday with the Black Belt Library, Warren Graham. One of his good tips was a challenge that I am asking you to take up. For the next 30 days I challenge you, every 30 minutes, take 30 seconds to survey your surroundings to see what is going on in the library. You don't have to seek out problems or go to where there is a crowd, simply look around and act on any problems that you see. You can read more about the Black Belt Librarian here: http://www.alaeditions.org/preliminary-reading-warren-graham-workshop Thanks, Laurie

Kindle Fire FAQ

HPL Kindle Fire FAQ
6.04.2012


Why were Kindle Fires purchased?
We wanted every NL staff person to have the opportunity to become familiar with downloading e-Books and comfortable using a tablet. Each NL location, except Discovery Green and Fifth Ward, will receive a Kindle Fire.

Who can check out a Kindle Fire?
Any NL staff. It can only be checked out and returned to the home neighborhood library location. For example, if it is checked out at Montrose, then it must be returned to Montrose.

How do I check out a Kindle Fire?
Please use your personal HPL library card.

What is the check out period?
You may check it out for 2 weeks with no renewals. They cannot be placed on HOLD. A Manager may set up a “waiting list” so that all staff has a chance to try out the device.

Can I use it at home?
Yes. Staff is encouraged to check out the device on your library card and use it either at home; or at work. The best way to become familiar with new technology is by using it.

What Amazon account do I use?
Each neighborhood library will use a special Gmail account to set up Amazon account.
If staff uses their personal Amazon account, then he or she is responsible for registering and de-registering the device when it is returned.

Can I buy a book and download it?
You can only purchase a book for download on your personal Amazon account. You are responsible for registering and de-registering it. Once you return the device, you would be able to access your purchased item through the Kindle app on a mobile device, on a computer, or on another Kindle device.

How do I download an e-Book?
Instructions are available on the NL blog: http://hplnl.blogspot.com/

How do I request hands on training at my library?
Please email your request to hpltraining@houstontx.gov

When the Kindle Fire is not in use, it should be secured in the laptop cabinet.

Thank you!
Mary

Tax Help Year Round

Neighborhood Centers Inc offers free tax services for Tax Returns 2006-2011 and amended returns 2006-2011.

Eligibility requirements: Families earning up to $50,000 and individuals earning up to $30,000.

Hours: (subject to change--call 211 or 713-669-5385)
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10am-6pm
Thursday 1pm-6pm
Friday 9am-4pm

Locaation: 6500 Rookin St, Houston, TX 77074, Suite C-101
(off Hwy 59 S and Hillcroft)
Metro routes: #9 Gulfton, #163 Fondren Express, #47 Hillcroft, & #2 Bellaire

Thanks,

Laurie

HPL Mobile App is now live!

The HPL Mobile App is now available to download for both Android and Apple devices. Simply visit the App store for your device, search for the app (I was able to find it for the iPad by searching HPL TX and Houston Public Library for Android devices) and download the free app.

Here is a link for the HPL app in the Google Play Store.

For Blackberry/ Windows users search for Open browser and enter the URL: hpltx.boopsie.com/m

Amazon and Nook coming soon.

They are doing a "soft launch," but you may begin telling customers about it and how to download it starting now. The official launch will take place at the beginning of July.

Thanks,

Laurie

Overdrive & Internet Explorer 9

Greetings - As per Judith's email below, please share with staff and customers having issues with IE9 & Overdrive.

Shammi

Overdrive apparently made changes to their website recently that have made it impossible for customers to check out items if they are using Internet Explorer 9. If you encounter customers with this problem, please ask them to use IE8, Google Chrome, or Firefox. Overdrive is working on the problem but it may take a few days to correct.

Judith Hiott


Judith Hiott, Chief
Houston Area Library Automated Network
500 McKinney
Houston, TX 77002
832-393-1476

Literacy

Hi, I am requesting your suggestions and ideas on how we can promote literacy programs to customers who do not have the ability to read. Thanks! Mary

Staff Summer Reading Club

Do you like to read and want to expand outside what you normally read or want to improve your abilities to do reader's advisory?

Please join us in participating in the 2012 Staff Summer Reading Club. Besides being lots of fun, the purpose of the club is to make the participants better readers’ advisors. The guidelines are meant to encourage participants to read books from categories they might not normally choose. Past participants have been known to form new reading interests this way.

Participants must complete five books between June 1 and August 31. One or more titles must be nonfiction. You may either read the book or listen to the unabridged audiobook. Five of the books you read must be from five different categories out of the twelve listed in the guidelines. In 5 lines or less, tell us about each book you read using the SRP Reader Online Access on the Reference page of the Intranet. Rate the book on a scale of 1 to 5: (1) Recyclable; (2) Tolerable; (3) Readable; (4) Memorable; (5) Phenomenal.


The dues are only $3 (sent to Chris Hu in LMS), which goes toward the Celebration in the fall. Please see attachments for all the details.

Let the summer reading begin!

SSRC Guidelines
SSRC How To
FAQs

Thanks,

Laurie

Seth's Blog

Hi,

This blog posting was shared by Suzy with me. It generated an interesting discussion. What is your opinion?

Thanks. Mary

What do you think?

Hi, Suzy shared this posting from Seth's blog. http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/05/not-everyone.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29



What do you think?



Best regards,

Mary