Staff Meeting Notes 3/23/16

Summary: Database Presentation, New books/material refresh, Training request reminders, Open Discussion: Party $, Planning Time

Written by: Angela Barratt

In attendance: Angela Barratt, Julia Bradley (presiding), Melinda Campbell, James Diederich, Teresa Eshelman, Cyrano Machey, Rose Siegel, Isabel Veloz.

1. Database Training: Brainfuse

• Angela and Cyrano walked us through a lively and fancy presentation of Brainfuse. 
• Here is a link to their classy color handout, and here is a link to the in-depth guide to Brainfuse that they created. You can also access these documents on our shared google drive (collierregional) by clicking on the left-hand link in drive called "Shared with me."

2. New books/material refresh

• Great job keeping everything looking fresh, especially with the NYT bestseller list
• For new books (depending on demand and popularity), try to keep only the current month and one month previous, but if you have to go further back to fill the display it's better than nothing (we talked about the fluctuation in new books and how it's impossible to predict the genres/amount that we will get)
• Please keep an eye out while roaming, particularly at the display under the TV in front
• We talked about perhaps using that space to display a specific genre, like nonfiction or romance. We decided to try romance and see how it goes. 



true romance! 

• Side note, Angela here: I just want to put in a bit on this subject from Julia's glowing email earlier this week: 
• "you should feel really proud of the respect you show our customers through presentation, neatness, organization, and awesome displays—regardless of whether you think anyone from the ELT is watching. Keep up the awesome work."

3. Training request reminders

• For training opportunities at the LDC, you need to submit a request through the training portal for funding reasons. You can read all about how to do that right here on the training portal under "Training Credits". 
• Julia will support anything you want to study to the best of her ability 
• If for any reason you need to submit training certificates, send them to Leilany before April 21; she will be taking an extended leave starting around then 

Open Discussion

4. Party $

• Questions put forth by our fearless leader: do we have 2 small parties? Or one MEGA Party? What will we eat at said party? What entertainment shall we hire? (okay, I'm editorializing a bit) 
• Apparently none of us wants to have a party because we were pretty reticent to share ideas.
• Pizza seems to be generally pleasing (personally I find even gluten-free vegetarian pizza quite pleasing) 

pizzapizzapizzapizzapizzapizzapizzapizzapizza

• Julia will start an email thread regarding pizza parlors we might use. Please chime in with any druthers. Also, if any other inspiration hits regarding types of food or other party business, please don't hold back.

5. Planning Time

• This was the opening to an ongoing discussion about planning time. 
• Melinda is doing an awesome job with the schedule, but she can only do so much without feedback from you. Feel free to let her and/or Julia know if you are finding that you don't have enough time, or if you have too much time. We talked about how some things are unpredictable, like number of library card apps or serials that come in each day. So if you need to talk about planning time in terms of weeks instead of a standard amount, that is fine. 
• Melinda said that on Friday she has scheduled people for what they asked to work on. Use the catch-up hour for whatever you need. If you finish everything you need to work on, please shelf read. 
• Melinda congratulated staff on doing such a great job with roaming in the past few weeks. 

Staff Meeting Notes 3/16/2016

Summary: Database Presentation, COH Health Care Enrollment, Volunteer Project Thank-You, Open Discussion

Written by: Julia Bradley

In attendance: Angela Barratt, Julia Bradley, Melinda Campbell, James Diederich, Teresa Eshelman, Cyrano Machey, Rose Siegel, Isabel Veloz.

1.NoveList Plus exploration (Isabel and Melinda)
 Database presentations continued this week, with Isabel and Melinda presenting on NoveList Plus. We covered tons of features of NoveList, including Readalikes, browsing categories, searching/advanced searching, linkage between HPL Enterprise catalog and NoveList, and way more. A huge thanks to Isabel & Melinda for leading us through it!

2. COH Health Care Enrollment
Open enrollment begins today and ends on April 13th. You can select or revise your plan by logging into ESS. 

Angela: There are new dental and vision plans!

Staff received an email yesterday morning from COH Benefits, where you can find information about changes in plans, copays, and networks. 

3. Volunteer Project
A huge thanks to everyone for being so welcoming towards our large group (10!) of volunteers from EDP Renewables last Friday! They had a great time volunteering with us. Our end caps are now free of tape and our shelves are less dusty.

Open Discussion
Cyrano: Yesterday there was an issue with a youth patron who had two cards: one with only her grandmother's signature and another with only her mother's. Her mother wanted information from the card that the grandmother had opened. I contacted Circ Admin for advice on what to do in this case. Julia: Will follow up with Circ Admin about policy on this. 

Isabel: Don't forget to straighten while roaming!
Thanks, Isabel, for straightening so thoroughly yesterday.

Angela: A daycare is taking a field trip to Collier this morning. We'll do a Story Time in the Kids area and then move into the Meeting Room for crafts and computer fun. Melinda will be helping out.

Melinda: 

Staff Meeting Notes 03/09/2016

Summary: Database Presentation, Volunteers, New Trainees, ACE Scholarship, COH Wellness, Straightening, New "Friends" Stamp, Claims Return, Passport Services

Written by: Isabel Veloz

In attendance: Angela Barratt, Julia Bradley (presiding), Melinda Campbell, James Diederich, Teresa Eshelman, Djuina Hammett, Cyrano Machey, Rose Siegel, Isabel Veloz, and Evelyn Mayberry. 

1.MedlinePlus exploration (Julia and James)

·         Database presentations started this week. Big thank you to Julia and James for their great presentation on MedlinePlus. 

2. Volunteer group at Collier this Friday

·         Volunteers are coming to clean our shelves this Friday. If you want to have time on the schedule to greet them, please get with Julia. 

3. More trainees at COL this week

·         We have more trainees this week, please welcome them to COL and help them out with whatever they may need.

4. HPL ACE Scholarship Program

·         There is a scholarship available to full-time and part-time employees. If you are interested and/or need more information, please let Julia know. 

5. Last chance to get COH Wellness discount

·         There is an early morning meeting for this last chance to get the COH Wellness discount that Julia is attending. Please let her know if you need more information regarding this as well. 

6. Straightening
Straightening will be a rotating duty from now on. Straightening is everybody's job; it will be put on the schedule for somebody different every two weeks. Please take it seriously and straighten the entire library when you are scheduled to do so. Also, straightening is something that should be getting done during your Roaming hours, especially something to be done for whoever has roaming during the last hour of the day as part of Closing Procedures. Feel free to split the work load by asking someone to work on the children's area while someone else works on the adult area. 

7. New "Friends of the Houston Public Library" stamp
There is a new stamp for discarded items. Please get with Teresa, Melinda, or Julia if you have any questions. DO NOT stamp books with yellow call number labels. Send them back to LMS if they are damaged. 

8. Searching for items (Melinda)
If you have a patron call or come in with a claim's return, please write down their library card number, the name on the account, and the name of the book with its bar code and leave it on Melinda's desk. Do not put it in missing right away. This way, we have time to properly look for it a few times before marking it missing. 

• Please make sure to make a note in patron's account after every shelf check.

Open Discussion

Passports:

• We need at least four people trained in order to start passport services here at COL. There is a training coming up week after next this month and another on April 19th. Please let Julia know if you are interested or if you are not interested in passport training. 
• If you are interested in being trained as a back-up, please let Julia know as well. In order to be a back-up passport agent, you only need to complete online training. 
• We are trying to figure out a way that passport services will work at COL on account of scheduling and staff needs. If you have any questions, concerns, and/or suggestions, please let Julia and Djuina know. 

Meeting Minutes

February 24, 2016

Present: J. Bradley, M. Campbell, A. Barratt, C. Machey, T. Eshleman, J. Diederich, I. Veloz, R. Siegel, D. Hammett

Agenda

●     Spanish Bingo

○     We played Spanish Bingo today to learn common words and phrases related to library work. Congrats to Teresa for winning the game.

●     Roaming

○     Roaming is still a vital function of our work

○     The roamer should be there to assist with basic computer questions from the floor. If that is not the case, please shelf reading, shifting if applicable, straightening, or any other work that will keep you visible on the floor. Also keep an eye on the desk to ensure help is not needed

○     If at all possible, keep the third computer vacant unless needed to help customers during a busy part of the day

●     Shelf Reading

○     All still be assigned to one hour of shelf reading every two weeks

○     If more time is needed, feel free to use your planning hour to complete your shelf reading assignment

●     Phone Lines

○     Remember to unforward phones at the start of the business day

●     Complete Interactions

○     For customers getting new cards, offer them an introduction to their library and what it has to offer. Offer tours, share library card benefits, library resources, etc.

●     Kid’s Corner

○     Seuss-a-palooza will be held next Wednesday, March 2nd, at 6:00pm

■     Please promote the event to our customers, particularly those with kids

■     Angela will be working on art for the even Friday

■     Some of the events included area: bilingual story time, pin the hat on the cat, and other fun things

Open Discussion

●     Missing Items

○     We plan to slow down and take our time checking in items to ensure our errors are decreased

○     If items are piling up, we will place them in the book drop to make sure they are not accidentally shelved

○     iPad Policy committee is being drafted. Djuina recommended Melinda and Angela to serve

○     We will be getting our roof lined and coated.

■     We may be closed for a day or two during the process

○     Mayor Turner announced there will be layoffs for the city. Dr. Lawson is currently refiguring our budget so that jobs will not be taken

Staff Meeting Notes 2/17/201

Summary: Welcome Training Trainees, True Confessions, Summer Food Program Hope, Democratic primary polling site
Written by: Teresa Eshelman

In attendance: Angela Barratt, Julia Bradley, Melinda Campell, James Diederich, Teresa Eshelman,,Cyrano Machey, Rose Siegel, Isabel Veloz, Tangela Gray, Jennifer Brazon


1.Welcome

•        Our two new trainees, Tangela Gray and Jennifer Bazon are here at Collier. They have been with usthis week and will be returning next. Great job for all the hard work put forth in lending a helping hand and welcoming the two

2. True Confessions

•       Julia introduced True Confessions, a get to know you game. We learned:
  • Cyrano- can turn an ordinary tie into a bow tie.
  • Isabel- favorite number is 4
  • Angela- has never broken a bone
  • Jennifer- has a 6yr old daughter
  • Tangla- has psychic tendencies
  • Julia- played the butler in a rendition of ---------, in college.
  • Ms. Rose- has 3 boys
  • James- likes turtles
  • Teresa- lives with Royalty
  • Melinda- is a morning person and wakes up early

3. Summer Food Program

•         We will be participating in the Summer Food Program once again this Summer. Teresa James,
  Angela and Julia have decided to attend training. For those also wanting to, Please make Julia aware.

4.HOPE

•         A HOPE Union representative will be here 3/8/2016. Be aware that you are not obligated to speak
  to them. For those who would like to, here is the perfect opportunity. Again speak to Julia and she will an allotted time to do so.

5. Democratic primary polling site

•        It has been official Collier will be used as a democratic primary polling site on Tuesday, March
  1st. They will be arriving at Collier 6am to set up and will need to stay after we close to pack up. Melinda has volunteered for the morning slot and Cyrano for the later until 8.

6.  Kids’ Corner

• We have a label maker!!!   Angela handed out a Label-Maker Quick Start Guide that gives step by step instructions on how to use it.

7.Open discussion

• CMC party.Email or share your preference with Julia as to what you would like for our get together
• Djuina’s Party: Please Contact Cyrano with all ideas on a celebration for Djuina.
  
  

Handouts:

Staff Meeting Notes 2/10/2016

Summary: Tax Forms, Training Trainees, Counterfeit Pen Procedures, Signing Up for Training, Database Training, PBS Kids Writing Contest, 2016 Bluebonnets, Shifting, Toy Box, Open Discussion

Written by: James Diederich

In attendance: Angela Barratt, Julia Bradley (presiding), Melinda Campell, James Diederich, Teresa Eshelman, Djuina Hammett, Cyrano Machey, Rose Siegel, Isabel Veloz

1. Tax Forms 

• Tax forms are located in the blue bin under the desk. We have the 1040, 1040A, & 1040EZ. Instructions only for the A & EZ. Two forms per person and only on demand due to limited supply.

2. Training Trainees

• Be aware and ready for two new trainees coming to Collier on Monday, 2/15/16. 

3. Counterfeit Pen Procedures

• Please use counterfeit pen for bill denominations $5 and up. The pen will be attached to the register scanner for convenient access.  

4. Signing Up for Training

• Sign up for official City training opportunities (such as at the E. B. Cape Training Center) as you see them and then notify Julia about your registration. This will expedite the process and make it more likely that you be able to get a slot in the class. 

5. Database Training

• In two to three weeks we will start internal database training. 
• There are assigned teams with assigned databases: Teresa, Rose, and Kameshia- Newspapers! Angela and Cyrano- Brainfuse. Isabel and Melinda- Novelists. James and Julia- Ebsco Medline.

6.  PBS Kids Writing Contest

• Registration is now through March. Entry forms are in the kid's section on the mini-display. Angela has more details about the contest on a sheet at her desk. 

7. 2016 Bluebonnets

• 2015/2016 Bluebonnets have been selected. Please file these new ones in their designated section and shelve the older ones with the regular books. 

8.  Shifting

• Make sure to not over-stuff a shelf and to shift if necessary. Shifting will definitely occur due to the addition of the new Bluebonnet books.     

9. Toy Box

• The toy box (treasure chest) containing prizes for children that clean up their toys is located under the desk. Remember: one prize per child per day. 

10. Open Discussion

• When patrons get a computer card, be sure to emphasize that there is a $1.00 replacement fee if they lose that card. 

• Collier will be used as a democratic primary polling site on Tuesday, March 1st. They will be arriving at Collier 6am to set up and will need to stay after we close to pack up. 

Staff Meeting Notes 1/27/2016

Summary: Wellness Documentation, Overdue Items, Upcoming Gatherings, Shifting Update, Displays + Room 455, Cell Phones, Test Prep Guides, Tax Help; From the Youth Meeting: FLIP Kit Tickets, Children’s Book Celebration, Seuss-a-Palooza, SRP; Open Discussion

Written by: Melinda Campbell

In attendance: Angela Barratt, Julia Bradley (presiding), Melinda Campell (note-taking), James Diederich, Teresa Eshelman, Djuina Hammett, Cyrano Machey, Rose Siegel, Isabel Veloz


1. Wellness Documentation

• Option A requires two preventive care activities
• To receive the discount for health insurance if Plan A was chosen, visits must be documented by January 31^st.
• Able to use dental visits, vision screening or flu injections not done through Cigna but these visits must be manually reported.
• You may, of course, use wellness time for visits
• Other plans include: telephone coaching, onsite health education or my health assistant online program
• Visit the COH wellness website for more information.

2. Overdue Items

• Please check accounts when checking in items to see whether they have other items out or overdue items on the account and let the customer know at that time, including any preexisting fines that the account may have. Please make this a habit for better customer service.
• One tip for a friendly way to let the customer know: “The record shows that there is an overdue fine ….”

3. Upcoming Gatherings

• Brandon Cofield of MBK is coming to lunch at Collier on Friday to familiarize us with their service to the community and to answer any of our questions.
• Also we have Hiawatha Henry from Programming coming on Monday at 11:15. Hiawatha works with Jennifer Schwartz and they are in charge of setting up outside programs and performers in the Library. She wants to hear your ideas regarding programs that we could have at the library. Rose and Kameshia, Julia will get together with you for your input as you are not here at that time.
• James suggested “How to use my library card”

4. Shifting Update

• The large project is almost done and a big thank you for all the work that everyone has done. It looks amazing.

5. Displays and Room 455

• Cyrano has been doing some great displays! If anyone wants to join in and do some displays or collaborate with others, Central Library now has a room (455) set up with materials such as colored paper, fancy scissors, die cuts, Cricut, butcher paper etc.
  We can organize a field trip to see what is available and get supplies together for a display. Also, in the future, we can use the Central Library volunteers to assemble some simple pieces for our display and send them our way.

Room 455 is a communal space for HPL staff to access craft supplies and tools (die cuts, Cricut machines, paper) and be able to spread out and create displays for their branches. Anyone can use the room whenever they like--it's not limited to youth stafff.

6.  Cell Phones

• Melinda has discussed the cell phones at the desk.
  Please do not have your cell phones at the desk.
  We do have a private line at the library that can be used for emergencies or if necessary you can speak to a Manager to discuss having your cell phone handy to take the call you are waiting on.
  Social media sites on the cell phone do not look professional.
• [Hit "Enter" for additional bullets]

7. Test Prep Books

• Check and use your judgement to shelf the Test Prep books in this area.
  Be careful with general help such as algebra help books.
  Make this area just for test taking help.

8. Tax Help

• Great news! We are getting our tax forms mid February as we have reactivated our account.
• We can remind the customer that they can ask for the tax forms to be sent to their home address or use irs.gov for printing of forms.
• We do not have the tax help printouts yet.
• Tax help form AARP Tax Aide is available at select HPL locations from Monday February 1^st through Friday April 15. Here's the HPL link to tax information, including AARP services.
• Closest Libraries for this service are:
• Oak Forest: Tuesday and Wednesday 11:30-3:30, Saturday 10-2
• Hillendahl: Wednesday 11-3 Thursday 1-5. Spanish speakers help at Hillendahl is on Thursday only.

Kids' Corner (Angela Barratt)

1. From the Youth Meeting

• FLIP Kit Tickets: When the survey and kit is returned the family can receive the free museum pass.
• The surveys should be returned completed at the time the kit is returned. If returning the kit without doing the survey, we can ask them to do it at that time.
• Our passes are in the grey metal box in the drawer to the right of the CSD. When we get down to the last 5 passes, please let Angela know so she can order more.
• Check expiration date on free pass and let patron know that it is time sensitive.

2. Childrens' Book Celebration Festival

We will have Dan Santat, author of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend and winner of the 2015 Caldecott Award.

If you would like to work on the artwork for this festival, please see Angela.

3. Seuss-a-Palooza:

• We're hosting a special event for Dr. Seuss’s birthday. It will occur March 2^nd.
• We will have a bilingual story time and crafts for all ages.
• Please see Angela if you'd like to help with this program.

4. SRP

• We will host a teen event every Wednesday at 4PM.
• Please help Angela with thoughts on programs to entice teens into the library. SRP theme for this year is "Aim for the stars." May be interpreted as the summer Olympics or astronomy. Ideas suggested for programs: old fashioned field day, mini Olympics, lip-sync battles, make your own short podcast.

Open Discussion

Teresa: Please do not add float items in the discard bin as there has been several items in there recently.

Cyrano: Send back to LMS Brotherhood in Death /Robb and Honky Tonk Samurai Lansdale. We should be receiving them in shipment today or tomorrow.

Julia: We now have flowers in the staff area. Let's try to keep them alive!

Djuina:

• Jungman Library should be up and running in two months.
• City of Houston is facing between 120-150 million dollars in deficit so we may have a budget reduction.
• Staff Development Day will be occurring in October this year.
• Read to the Final Four: Dr. Lawson attended a White House meeting last week with other Library and School leaders.
• All HISD students from K-12 will be provided the “Learning Link” card, probably to commence at the beginning of the next school year.
• We are up to the Elite 8 and the pep rally where the Final Four will be announced is on February 5^th.
• Hoping everyone has attended to the Cyber training.
• The HEAR quarterly assessments are being completed.
• Renderings of Robinson-Westchase and Central Libraries were available in break room. Central will have their plaza updated to have movies and performers.
• Djuina suggested “Paint with a twist’, Laser Tag, Paintball, bowling, or Top Golf for staff extra curricular activity. Julia will send out a google survey form for voting.