Today--Heat Advisory in Effect until 7 PM

From AlertHouston, 10:19AM:

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory beginning at 12.00pm (noon) until 7.00pm this evening, as heat indices are expected to be between 106F and 110F.  

Prolonged exposure to the heat and/or exertion outdoors without proper hydration and other precautionary actions may result in heat exhaustion or heat stroke. 

For information on keeping yourself, your family, and your pets safe during extreme heat, visit houstonemergency.org.


NOTE: Libraries and other City building are cooling centers when the City activates the Heat Emergency Heat Plan, which happens when the heat index, a computation of air temperature and humidity, reaches 108 on two consecutive days.  Today's Advisory follows an advisory issued yesterday. 

Anyone without access to air-conditioning can seek shelter during business hours at city multi-service centers, libraries or recreation centers. A map of open cooling centers is available online at houstontx.gov/emergency.

People without adequate air conditioning and need to use City facilities to cool off can do the following: 1) Use their own transportation resources to access a city-owned library or multi-service center during normal operating hours (available online at houstontx.gov/emergency); 2) If a resident does not have adequate transportation, they may call 3-1-1 (713.837.0311) to request a ride on METRO to an available cooling center. The City has designated 47 public city facilities to act as cooling centers during periods of extreme heat during their normal business hours. Some facilities are closed or have limited hours on weekends, so it is necessary for residents to use the map at houstontx.gov/emergency or call 311 to find an open facility.

Eclipse Viewing Opportunities on Aug. 21

No, we don't have eclipse-viewing glasses (they were distributed by StarNet to libraries throughout the country for their Aug. 21 programs, if customers ask--see #2 under Other Locations).  But we do have information about how to see the (partial in Houston) eclipse next Monday:

The total solar eclipse will begin on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017 at 11:46 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m. The maximum visibility will be at 1:16 p.m. The last total solar eclipse viewed from the United States was on Feb. 26, 1979. It’s been 38 years since we saw one in Houston.

Local Events

1.    Houston Public Library, Central Library, STEM @ Your Library, 12-2PM, Come experience the solar eclipse in a safe and fun way.  Protective viewing devices provided. For all ages; http://houstonlibrary.org/learn-explore/library-events/stem-your-library-117.

2.    Children’s Museum of Houston, 11AM-3PM, Pinhole Viewers; also Pinhole Viewer Workshop, $5 and other activities; http://www.cmhouston.org/event/solar-eclipse-viewing-party

3.    Houston Museum of Natural Science, 12-2PM, 15-minute shows in Planetatrium, $4, plus filtered telescopes set up outside;  http://www.hmns.org/education/families/family-events-and-classes/the-great-american-eclipse/.

4.    Levy Park, 12-2 PM, Eclipse Over Houston with Lunar and Planetary Institute.

5.    HCPL Freeman Library in Clear Lake, 12-2PM, The Lunar and Planetary Institute's Watch Party.

6.    Other HCPL Libraries: Tomball, 11AM-2:30PM; Crosby, 12-2PM; Galena Park 12-1PM; Stratford, 12-2PM; Fairbanks, 1-2PM; Katherine Tyra at Bear Creek, 1-2:45PM; LaPorte 1-1:30PM; http://www.hcpl.net/content/eclipse-hcpl.

7.    Brazosport Center for the Arts and Sciences, 11:30AM-3PM, planetarium show for children; http://bcfas.org/solar-eclipse-event/.

8.    NASA Johnson Space Center showing the total eclipse from International Space Station, 11:46AM-2:45PM; https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/2017_solar_eclipse_nasa_official_viewing_locations.html.

9.    Houston Astronomical Society, viewing party at Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 11:301m-1:30PM, 1414 Wirt Rd; https://www.astronomyhouston.org/content/where-will-you-be-great-american-eclipse.

Other Locations

1.   TX State Parks: https://tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/stargazing

2.   US Library events supported by StarNet: http://www.starnetlibraries.org/2017eclipse/

Live Streaming Images

1.  NASA Eclipse Megacast, 12-4PM, providing unique broadcast coverage to watch the total solar eclipse: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-live-stream

2.  Exploratorium, https://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse

3.  Smithsonian Eclipse App, http://smithsonian-eclipse-app.simulationcurriculum.com/download.html

4.  SLOOH, https://live.slooh.com/#/?_k=42aegv

5.  CNN, http://www.cnn.com/specials/vr/total-solar-eclipse-2017/

Precautions to Take

1.   Wear eclipse safety glasses. The consequence of not using eclipse safety glasses is severe eye damage. Here are some places offering safety glasses (but many vendors are already sold out): https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters. 

2.  Another option is to create your own pinhole projector: https://media.click2houston.com/document_dev/2017/07/26/Eclipse%20Pinhole%20View%20Postcard_1501104748671_10168258_ver1.0.pdf

Sources (in addtion to those listed above):

http://365thingsinhouston.com/2017/08/15/total-solar-eclipse-houston-events-2017/

https://www.click2houston.com/news/eclipse/houston-watch-the-great-american-eclipse

http://houstonlibrary.org/learn-explore/blog/great-american-eclipse-2017

Staff Meeting Notes 8-14-17

Monday, August 14,  2017, 9:15-10:30 AM, Meeting Room

Present: Christy, Derrick, Irene, Karen, Linda, Martha, Patricia, Rhonda, Sonia, Teresa.
Absent: Araceli, Holly, Ivy

 Staff Meeting Agenda

1. Updates - 30 min

1. FY18 Staff meeting schedule
2. SRP Wrap-Up (Ivy & Irene)
3. Summer Food Service Program Wrap-Up (Linda & Teresa)
4. Summer Volunteers Wrap-Up (Christy)
5. Fall Programs (Derrick & Ivy)

2. Notes from August SW Managers’ Meeting (Karen & Christy) - 45 min
1. When can we close building? 1) When temp is above 80 degrees, can consider re: programs scheduled, how long temp has been high, status of repair; 2) if no water and no signs of workers in area; 3) when no electricity, depending on circumstances (cooling center, amount of natural light)I
2. Resurfaced DVDs: LMS wants us to send loose DVDs individually wrapped, not together in a box.
3. Giving out free prints/copies: 1) When it’s Coin Copier’s fault (paper wrinkled, copy faded); 2) if customer doesn’t have any money, we should not make a habit of making  free copies; 3) Depending on the nature of the document, we could copy to flash drive and print at desk; 3) When we give free copies, they do not get the money owed them--taking payments as MISC goes to COH general fund.
4. Clearing hold shelf: 1)  items appear on list only once, so must print and check list for each day (including Sunday); 2) Also check regularly for older items--older than 15 days is a safe estimate.
5. Damaged Items: 1) charge customer’s account; 2) Keep item for 30 days as it belongs to the customer now; 3) make sure customer is notified to pick up item if they would like to.
6. Curfew: 9AM-2:30PM during school year for ages 17 and under--cannot be in library unless accompanied by parent or guardian. (COH ordinance?)
7. Service Animals: 1) applies to dogs and miniature horses only; 2) Can ask 2 questions only: “Is the animal required because of a disability?” and “What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?”.
8. Braille Keyboard: For use by customers needing adaptive equipment. [Where is it?]
9. Signs & Flyers:1)  Only calendar template is approved for handout with branch printing; 2) all other handouts must be printed by Print Show, 2-3 week turnaround; 3) Sign template for single signs only, not handout; 4) Request other signs from Print Shop, 3-4 week turnaround, including Bluebonnet & Lone Star signs, New Book signs, Book Sale signs--any sign that has been printed and posted by a staff member must be sent to the Print Shop unless done using approved template and fonts.
10. Kronos:  1) punching in a 9:20 is late, even if it’s not counted by the HEAR Attendance & Punctuality standard; 2) Punch rounding does not mean you can arrive 7 minutes late and leave 7 minutes early--the COH Electronic Timekeeping Policy states employees must work their scheduled shifts (listed on the daily scheduled).
11. TexShare Card: 1) Only issued by Circ Admin; 2) have customer fill out form and send to CEN; 3) Circ Admin will mail card to customer in a week of receipt of application.
12. De-Cluttering: We have done a good job of make the public space clutter free, so we should focus on the workroom now--everything in its place, everything on a shelf or in a closet somewhere.
13. Friends Book Sale: customers can drop off donations at the Friends Wareshouse; go to friendsofhpl.org/donate-books

3. Issues to Discuss (20 min)

Important Dates this Month

• Friday, August 18: Youth Services Meeting (Irene); pay day
• Monday, August 21: Outreach SW WIC Clinic (Irene)
• Thursday, August 24: Floating training at CAR (Holly, Ivy); Office 365 at LDC (Karen)
• Friday, August 25: Outreach at Fonteno Senior Center (Derrick); CE Managers Meeting at CEN (Christy, Karen); last day of pay period
• Wednesday, August 30: Baker-Ripley Providers Meeting (Christy)
• Thursday, August 31: Tech Talk with Rick Peralez @ CEN (Derrick)
• Friday, September 1: December programs due in Event Module; pay day
• Tuesday, September 5: SW Assistant Managers Meeting (Karen)
• Friday, September 8: Last day of pay period
• Monday, September 11: September Staff Meeting

FY18 Southwest Express/ Walter Group Staff Meeting (2nd Monday of the month)

2017 August 14

September 11

October 9

November 13 (Thanksgiving potluck)

December 11 (Christmas party)

2018 January 8

February 12

March 12

April 9

May 14

June 11

Where to Send Damaged Items

From Marianne Lorio, 8/7:
It's been brought to my attention that Central is receiving a number of damaged AV that should be sent to LMS. We think part of this is due to unintentional confusion. While LMS is psychically at Central is not part of Central. (You all share us equally.😊) 

When you send damaged AV to Central it will not be delivered to LMS. Central has enough to do without having to be responsible for the entire system's damaged AV. If, for example, the audiobook disc you have belongs to an audiobook located at Central, please do send it to Central. 

Otherwise please indicate the item is going to LMS. Damaged audiobooks come to me. Discs that need cleaning go to Floating usually (there is a hiatus while we get a new disc cleaner). Please contact me with any questions.

Resolving Blogspot Issues

From Maurice Williams, 9:02AM:

City of Houston HITS Security Team will be making some firewall network changes on Monday 8/14 around 4p to hopefully resolve the blogspot.com and Google connectivity issues. Please test connectivity to blogspot.com and a couple of the Google apps that you use during the week on Tuesday 8/15.

 

If you have called and or open a ticket request with the HPL Helpdesk about blogspot and Google connectivity “reply back to me” with an update if still not working after Tuesday 8/15.

 

Thanks to everyone for their assistance and patience.

SRP Prizes Still Available

From Corey Johnson, 9:16AM:

I just wanted to remind everyone that we are still awarding prizes throughout August. We still have tons of Kids Chipotle, Rice tickets, Alley Theater tickets, and finger puppets available, so if your branch needs more, please let me know asap. 

     

Top reader prizes for all locations were sent out last Friday along with a spreadsheet with each location's top readers names, and contact information. If your location has not received either one of those by now, please let me know.  

Shout out to PAR, YOU, LOO, JOH, RIN, DGX, and BRA for sending us prizes to redistribute! Please remember that if your location has a surplus of prizes that are not high in demand, send them to YS [Youth Services] (attention me or Sara) so we can redistribute them to a location that needs them. 

If your location needs ANY prizes, even if we ran out, please let us know your location, what you need, and how many so we can know who to redistribute prizes to if we receive any from other locations. 

New Processing Flags

From Sally Bates, 8/9:

We have revised the Inventory Control flag.  This is the form that you use to let us know about items that have fallen out of the catalog, have the wrong label, are missing a label, audio books that need a disk replaced, etc. Attached is a picture of the old and new flags.

HPL Print Shop is sending 50 of the new flags to each location.  Please let us know if you have comments or suggestions.  Once we have finalized the new flag, it will become a Supply Room item and you can request it with your other supplies, as in the past.

Please gather up the old Inventory Control flags and send them into LMS-Float crew, who will use them up.