Greetings fellow HPL Staff,
I want to update you on some issues so that you know what IT is doing to help with certain challenges we face daily.
First: in an effort to reduce cost, IT has enabled ALL PATRON machines for automatic shutdown after hours. You have probably noticed that when you come in – they have to be turned on. If we are missing any (you find them on) please let the helpdesk know. Our normal night for software updates is Thursday so if there is a long update there is a chance that they are not turned off on Thursday nights.
Soon we will do the same for STAFF PC’s. Until we are able to do that, please log off and then do a shutdown prior to your departure each day. If you have a desktop or laptop with a docking station, you may leave those in Log Off mode on Thursday Nights (do not shut down on Thursdays).
Second: I want to remind you again to be conservative with color printing. There are certain reports that would be meaningless or simply hard to understand if it were not for the use of color. Obviously those can and should be printed in color (if you have a color printer). The most obvious instance of where you do not need color is searching for something on the Internet and then printing. Color will be part of that web page and most generally, the color does not add any real value to the printed document – i.e. mapquest directions, Magazine article, safety tips, Information from medical sites such as Humana or the City of Houston’s Blue Cross, Blue Shield website. I of course cannot give every possible example but I think these should allow you to make a good choice. We have a very difficult time ahead of us and we must be very conscious of our expenditures.
Third: I am sure you are experiencing slow speed on your network. We are aware of this and had hoped that the Optical network project would be complete by now. Unfortunately there were some issues we were not aware of that has caused delay. This project is beginning with a pilot of 10 locations. Due to AT&T planning, an optical circuit can’t be ordered until the site is certified ready and then the lead time is as much as 120 days if your library is not in an area of the city where fiber already exists. I am not going to include the entire schedule at this time but the first locations based on their overall readiness in the network switch closet, are Central, Stella Link, Blue Ridge, Montrose, Johnson, Looscan, Pleasantville and Marston. Due to the Hub and Spoke nature of our Wide Area Network, Central had to be first. Then each line is a point to point connection from Central to that library. When the Fiber is installed, your speed will go from 1.5 million characters per second to 10 million characters per second. This should make a big difference in your Internet experience.
Fourth: LAPTOP’s and Batteries. We realize as our laptops age, that the batteries just do not hold long enough to keep checking a laptop out all day long. It is not recommended to checkout the power supply for two reasons – an outlet must be available near seating to accommodate plugging them in and second, cords stretched from the seat area to outlets become hazards for tripping and falling. We in IT have engaged Hewlett Packard experts to look at this problem with us. We have provided you the reconditioners but the fact remains – HP specification indicates that it takes 4 hours to get a 2 hour charge. We are purchasing new batteries for laptops that will not be replaced this year. We are providing HP with some of the batteries that will not hold a charge any longer so they can test them. We do hope to come up with a good solution to this annoying problem.
I hope this information helps to let you know we are aware of situations you face daily and are diligently working to make them better. I hope we can records some wins in these areas this year.
As always, I will answer your questions.
Best Regards
Ron
Ronald L Stauss
Assistant Director - CTO
Houston Public Library
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