Teens and what we got.

Just a heads up guys, please don't assume that just because a teen is asking for a book that they automatically want the teen room. I've had a few angry patrons that have had to turn right back around to go to the correct section, classics, DVDs and CDs.

We have graphic novels of classics and other popular books, they all have 700's call numbers 741.5.... etc.

We do not have any DVDs/CDs up here like the catalog may say. We have very few Reference books, generally serving teens/librarian-like books. The majority of the non-fiction is recreational: beads/chicken soup/ teen issues (pregnancy, smoking, drinking etc.).

Please, please, please do a reference interview with the teens, you generally have to poke and prod them many times to get the information out but they usually will tell you what they want in various mumbles.

or call us to see if it is up here if you have any doubts! x31521
~robyn

GED classes?

Are any of the HPL locations still offering GED classes?? I couldn't find it in the COE or on the online calendar. I can't remember which locations had it.

If HPL doesn't offer classes anymore, can we put together a couple of contacts to direct people to?

~katie

Vinson was the only location offering GED classes at HPL, but have been discontinued

• Harris County Department of Education - Call 713-692-6216 for Literacy, GED & ESL

• North Harris College - Provides free ESL, GED and Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes in Aldine, Spring, Humble and Tomball areas. Call 281-260-3576.
• Literacy Advance of Houston - Call 713-266-8777 for ABE, ESL & Literacy
• Harris County Public Library Literacy Coordinator - Call 713-749-9035 for Literacy
• Cage Elementary - GED classes are held Tuesdays and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. throughout the school year. Interested persons should register with Rose Amaro at (713) 926-7061.

~Paty

Computer Reservations Note

Here is a computer reservation anomaly that I have observed at least 3 times on R3. The computer reservations screen shows the neon pink of a computer reservation but instead of 60 minutes, it 's stuck at 37 minutes. If I look on the reservations list, however that card # is not listed. When I went over to that certain computer, it is completely shut off. (possibly from the day before.) I turn the computer back on but it still shows the reservation. The system won't let me change the status. Usually I mess around with it and finally goes back to normal. This time I had to call IT to reset the status. I've noticed that the same library card # was involved in 2 of the instances- 22477015901525. Please keep an eye out for this situation. LW

computers, cash acceptors, microfilm viewers,copiers/printers

Is there any way we can have a daily rundown of what's not working on each floor? This way we don't send patrons blindly from one floor to another if we can't reach each other by phone?

IT Issues and Incident Reports

Greetings,

A quick reminder to all staff to make sure to report problems/incidents.  For any and all IT problems (which includes copiers and printers), please refer to Paty Bustamante, who will then report to the IT Help Desk.  Anytime a staff member witnesses an incident or event that "causes a disturbance to library property, staff, or customers", they need to fill out an incident report and submit it by e-mail to the "HPL Central Incidents" list in the Global Address List via Outlook.

Thanks,

Mike VC

Reporting lift problems

The man currently( 3:00) working on the lift on the second floor asks that we report as specfic information as we can. The message that he received said that the lift was not dispatching from the 2nd floor. Well, he has tested it and it does go to 5. I think the problem may have been that it doesn't go from 2 to 3. Can anyone confirm that quickly? He is also working on the problem of the bucket not kicking off on 2. If anyone has anything to add to the problem list, he's there right now.
cindy

Copier / Printer Issues

A couple of things about public printer copiers:

1. Public computers on the third floor are defaulting to the color printer again.
I thought we finally got this fixed after much effort but it's happening again. This frustrates the patron when the copier shows none of their print jobs and uses up staff time trying to get multiple jobs routed over to the B/W printers throughout the day.

2. We really need a black/ white copier on the first floor.
The average scenario is a customer that just wants to run in and make a few copies but we have to direct them up to another floor to complete this basic task. The first floor copier could be a money maker but right now no one uses it except by accident.
LW