City computers are for City business

Please remember that City computers are for City business.

This is very important to remember when you are in public view. Since many phones have cameras and video it is very easy for citizens to document their complaints. And nobody wants to end up on the news in a picture or video.

So unless you are on Face book, shopping, watching a video or listening to a recording to show a patron something related to a reference question, please don’t do these activities on City computers in the public areas on work time.

Couple of other reminders

When on the public floor remain conscious of volume and content of conversations because the customers can hear us and they don’t always get the context of the conversation.

And as the holidays approach remember we cannot accept gifts or tips.

Also remember there is no solicitation on city property. That includes collecting person information, selling, fundraising or begging for money.

Thanks in Advance
Kitty

Museum Partnerships

I'd like to see HPL partner with the local museums to offer free admission, either by showing your library card at the museum, or by having passes that are available at the libraries for people to check out. I think there was something like this years ago (free admission on a certain day at MFAH with a powercard), and I'd like to see something like this happen again. I think it might motivate some people get a powercard who might not otherwise be thinking about the library.
I did a google search for "museum passes at library" and I got lots of results. Macy's seems to have sponsored a lot of them through the "Museum Adventure Pass" program. It looks like libraries handle museum passes differently, so we have lots of options here. We already have a partnership with the Children's Museum via the FLIP kits (patrons fill out the surveys and get free passes), and I'd love to see partnerships with the MFAH, Science Museum and Health Museum, at least!

Sara Pope
Heights Neighborhood Library

Stress Buster Yoga

It would be really nice to encourage employees to attend these HPL Yoga sessions together.
Not only is it stress busting, but it develops camaraderie and offers new, shared experiences between employees.

Selling USB drives/scanning and fax services

Has HPL considered selling USB drives? It's something a lot of people need/ask for, since they can't save to computers.

Also, we sometimes get asked if we can scan or fax documents. I know Central is now faxing documents, is that something that will also happen in neighborhood libraries?

Sara Pope
Heights

Change for Copiers/Printers

Something needs to be done re: change for copiers and printers. Since the machines only take bills and do not give change, we are frequently forced to tell patrons they either need to put $20 on an easily lost-or-stolen card, or go away to get change and come back. At our library, we are not particularly close to any store... everything is at least a block away, and I know there are other libraries more remote than ours. Likewise, copy machines will only take up to $3 at a time, meaning anyone with a $5 is forced to seek change.

Programming/Meeting Room Calendar

Hi , It would be really helpful to have a google calendar accessible for input by branch staff( not just manager) to post&update the meetings in the public meeting rooms/study rooms. This would include both HPL-sponsored activities and public meetings. Program Registration is cumbersome and slow to update throughout the course of the day. Staff could update quickly to avoid double booking and reflect cancellations. It would also allow staff to get rid of paper schedules. If its posted to the Branch blog, it can be accessed quickly. For instance at HEI I would want three other Reference staff to be able to enter changes/updates as they occur, rather than just myself. Thanks, Pat

Welcome

I wanted to quickly welcome everyone to the Neighborhood Libraries Ideas and Suggestions blog. This is intended as a place where all staff in Neighborhood Libraries can easily share ideas and ask questions of colleagues and NL Administration. These can pertain to anything that relates to HPL or Neighborhood Libraries. I am particularly interested in steps that can be taken to assist staff throughout Neighborhood Libraries. More than just posting, I want to encourage everyone to freely comment on postings and respond to comments so that we can use this as an avenue for ongoing dialogue between staff members at all levels throughout our many spread-out locations. I feel that finding a means for encouraging that dialogue and providing staff a means to communicate with each other is essential.

The importance of communication and dialogue is especially true when it comes to NL Administration. We need to provide everyone a means to communicate with us as easily as possible. Our job is to be advocates for our staff and to work to help you do your jobs. To do this, we need to find ways to better communicate and listen to the large group that makes up Neighborhood Libraries. Ultimately, the best and most productive comments, ideas, suggestions, concerns, etc. come not from our level but from folks on the front lines. I sincerely hope that this blog will serve as an avenue for staff to share such ideas and begin an ongoing conversation with one another and with NL Administration.

-Mike VC

Taking advantage of our phone system

It would be great if we could take greater advantage of our phone system. If someone is going to be away from their desk for an extended period of time or at another branch for the day/week, forward your phone to the other building that you might be in. Even if it is just the main number, that can be helpful.

Also, if someone calls for a staff member at branch X but that person is really at branch Y, offer to transfer the caller rather than making them look up the number and call themselves.

Thanks!

Laurie Covington
Coordinator of Extended Hours Locations (COL, HEI, & SCE)