Ryan's Weekly Tip for Homeless, Mentally Ill and Addicted Patrons, 3-27-18

From Ryan Dowd, 10:03 AM:

When Michael Jordan got mad at the opposing team, did he ever throw the ball at them (dodge-ball style)? Nope.  Never.  Why not? Because that isn’t how you win games.  Throwing the ball at the other team might have been emotionally satisfying for Michael, but it would not have helped the Bulls win.  The goal is to win; not to get the emotional satisfaction of dodgeball. You need to “be like Mike” with problematic behavior.  You need to know your goal. Your goal—your ONLY goal for difficult behavior—is to get the person to follow the rules.  That’s it.  It really is that simple.  Here are some examples: Getting a person to stop shouting Getting a person to stop staring at another individual Getting a person to leave at closing time Staff members have all sorts of other goals that have nothing to do with gaining compliance with the rules.  For example: Getting a person to respect you (or to respect your organization) Defending your coworker’s honor (or your own) Teaching a person “a thing or two” Getting a person to feel sorry for his actions Trying to accomplish any of the above is like Michael Jordan throwing the ball at the other team, dodgeball-style:  it might be emotionally satisfying, but it is not the goal and it will create problems for your team. The common theme with bad goals is that they are usually more about your own emotional needs than about the patron’s behavior. The key is to remember that it is all about problematic behavior.  You care what a person DOES.  You don’t care what a person THINKS.  If someone thinks you are a jerk but follows the rules, who cares?  As long as a person follows the rules, allow him to think whatever he wants! Have a great week! Peace,  Ryan www.homelesslibrary.com

Comics Plus App

Team,

If customers ask for help with the Comics Plus App, here's a suggestion from Sally Bates in Collection Development: 

In general, the Comics Plus App [from the Google Play Store or Apple Store] does not work for us.  I am in conversation with tech support there . . .

The best advice I can give is to encourage customers to use our HPL app, which has a link to Comics Plus, rather than the Comics Plus for Libraries app.

In the HPL App, select eBooks & More to access Comics Plus (and other ebook vendors).

Karen

Meyer Mini Branch has Opened!

From Neighborhood Libraries, 3/21:

Effective Wednesday March 21, the Meyer Mini Library location will be located at:

Godwin Community Center

5101 Rutherglenn Dr, Houston, TX 77096

We will be offering limited library service including a small browsing collection, hold pick up and story time.  Staff can be reached at 832-393-1840.

Hours of operation:

Mon-Wed: 1:00PM-6:00PM

Thurs: 1:00PM-8:00PM

Fri: 1:00PM-5:00PM

Freegal Music - New App Launch

From Freegal Music (via Marianne Lorio), 3/20:

We are very pleased to announce the launch of the all-new Freegal Music Service on April 4, 2018.  This launch is the by-product of 18 months of work which has also included the feedback of you and your patrons/customers.  
 
On April 4, the Freegal Music Site will be down for approximately 10 hours (12:00 AM EDT - 10:00 AM EDT). When it is back up, there will be an entirely new product and new apps for the iOS and Google stores.  Patrons/customers will be able to use their existing credentials, and all their playlists and stored music will be preserved.  Patrons/customers will receive their customary notification from the stores that an update is ready, and those that allow automatic updates will have a seamless experience.  New FAQs and a video tutorial will guide the end users through the site.
 
The highlights of the new service include:
 
1.  A completely new set of mobile apps that take advantage of new technology to allow the same robust website experience in the palm of the patron’s/customer’s hand.  This is what the future of our service looks like – everything on the phone.  Great discovery, great functionality and an intuitive and clean interface.
 
2.  A robust suite of APIs that will, among other things, allow you to put Freegal Music searches and images in your catalog.  Our APIs are designed with today’s capabilities, so libraries and ILS systems should find them easy to work with.  In the coming months, we will be working with ILS companies to implement them.
 
3.  An emphasis on curated music.  We know that of our almost 3 million users, 50% of them come to the site looking to discover music rather than finding something specific.  To that end, we now have over 100 playlists to meet every mood or whim.  New lists will be published weekly, and they are pleasingly displayed on the site and the apps.
 
4. A new functionality that will allow libraries to show off their music curation abilities and help create a community of music lovers in their service area.  Patrons will be able to create playlists and share them with the library.   Libraries can edit and publish them on their own Freegal Music site and also create their own playlists from scratch.
 
5.  A simple, clean and modern new interface to help the patrons/customers quickly explore the breadth and depth of our content base, which is now 15 million tracks and includes music videos and audiobooks.
 
The all new Freegal will still include:
 
1.  New content every day.  Our worldwide catalog contains 15 million songs from more than 30,000 music labels that originate in over 100 countries.
 
2.  Our unique library business model of unlimited aggregate use for a flat annual fee.  We are the only music service of this kind in the world.
 
3.  Daily support, regular updates and marketing support.
 
It is with great anticipation and excitement that we announce this launch.  We look forward to your feedback. 

-The Freegal Music Team

Mobile Hotspots for Staff

From IT Help Desk, 9:34 AM:

We recommend that you contact the Digital Strategies’ HelpDesk (HPL.HelpDesk@houstontx.gov) when you’d like to borrow a mobile hotspot. While our staff is eligible to borrow any circulating library material, we encourage you to checkout hotspots reserved just for staff.

A few reminders:

• You must use your valid MY Link card;
• Your card must be in good standing – no outstanding fines; at least 30 days old;
• Checkout period is 3 weeks; you may check it out again if no one is waiting;
• You may ask HelpDesk staff to place one on hold for you, if none is available;
• Sprint’s coverage may be spotty even in major cities.

Checkout Procedures:

• Email HelpDesk and include your MY Link card number, location and a need-by date;
• HelpDesk will check it out and send it via inter-department mail;
• Your checkout period begins as soon as device is checked out to you;
• You may also make arrangements to pick up directly from the HelpDesk.

Checkin Procedures:

• When you are done, send HelpDesk an email letting them know that you are returning the device;
• Place it in delivery;
• Device will be checked in when it reaches HelpDesk;
• Your checkout period includes the in-transit time;
• You are still responsible for damage and/or loss of item.

Special reminder about library related travel: email HelpDesk as soon as your travel is confirmed. Make sure that the device is active and working several days prior to travel. We are unable to fulfill last minute requests due to limited quantities.

If you have any questions, please contact the HelpDesk.

Open Enrollment Starts Soon!

From City of Houston Wellness Connection, 3/15:

Don’t forget to update your address in Employee Self-Service (ESS)
so that you don’t miss out on any important updates from the City of Houston.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————

During Open Enrollment April 1-13, choose the best option:

OPTION 1:

NO BENEFIT PLAN CHANGES

If you are not making any changes to your benefits elections, other than *enrolling or re-enrolling in the Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HFSA), you do not need to log on to ESS. You will keep your current plan selections. See Option 4 for details regarding HFSA.
 

OPTION 2:

ENROLL / CHANGE BENEFIT ELECTIONS

If you are enrolling or changing your benefits, log in to ESS to make your selections.
 

OPTION 3:

WAIVE BENEFIT COVERAGE

If you are waiving coverage, please log in to ESS and elect the waive option for medical, dental or vision.
 

OPTION 4:

* ENROLL / RE-ENROLL IN HFSA

You must enroll or re-enroll in the Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HFSA).

 

IMPORTANT!
You will not automatically be re-enrolled into the HFSA if you did not elect it. There will be no exceptions.

Hotspots Update and Reminder

From Saima Kadir, 2:57PM:

As we add hotspots to more and more locations, we want to make sure that policies and procedures are observed consistently.

Here are some reminders:

• Report missing hotspots to the HelpDesk immediately;
• Report technical issues to HelpDesk;
• Tri is checking inventory and we plan to replenish lost/missing items soon;
• Staff can ONLY place hotspots on hold for their location; staff with multiple Workflows login MUST use the correct one (based on the location they are working at the time);
  • If other location’s staff place a hotspot on hold, it rearranges the hold queue
• Customers may have multiple hotspots on hold but can ONLY check out one device at a time.

Tri and I will be at the next CE Managers’ meeting so we hope you will bring your hotspot questions! As mentioned in a previous meeting, I am also working on revamping circulation training. Stay tuned.

Feel free to contact me if you have any device related questions.

Ryan's Weely Tip for Homeless, Mentally Ill and Addicted Patrons, 3-13-18

Homeless individuals have a “shortened time horizon.”  A time horizon is how far out into the future you can see and think about. How often do you think about retirement?  I think about it at least weekly (mostly to worry about whether I am saving enough to retire).  How often do you think about next year?  Most people think about next year frequently.  How often do you think about next month?  Next week? Conversely, how often do you think about 250 years from now?  Probably never.  Neither do I.  250 years from now is simply beyond our time horizon. For most individuals, their time horizon is about as long as they expect to live. For most homeless individuals, though, their time horizon is about 24 hours.  That is as far out as they regularly think.  Ten years from now is irrelevant.  A year from now is not a priority.  Even next week is not something regularly thought about.  The reason is that most homeless individuals are in Crisis Mode, where the pressing survival needs of the next two days take priority. Imagine that you don’t know where you will sleep tonight, or whether it will even be inside.  Imagine that you don’t know when you will get your next meal, or whether it will even be today or tomorrow.  Imagine that there is a warrant for your arrest (for a jaywalking ticket that you ignored) and you could go to jail at any moment.  If that was your reality, would you think about retirement?  Would you think about next month?  How about next week?  It is easy for you or me to think, “Well, I would make long-range plans to better my situation,” but then you probably wouldn’t have gone 35 hours since your last meal.  Hunger and fear change everything. Having a time horizon of only 24 hours hurts homeless individuals in two very important ways: It is really hard to get back on your feet again without the ability to make plans for more than one day out.  Getting a job requires days or weeks of preparation (writing a resume, applying for a job, preparing interview clothes, arranging transportation to arrive for an interview on time, etc.).  This shortened time horizon means that many good starts (e.g. applying for a job) are ruined when a new crisis hits and diverts attention from making plans. Any punishment that will occur more than one day from now isn’t all that relevant.  Any punishment that will last more than one day isn’t any worse than a punishment that only lasts one day.

Have a great week! Peace, Ryan www.homelesslibrary.com

Volunteers Can Use Breakroom

From Patrick Atkins, 2/1:

We should allow volunteers to use our break room. We have gotten some complaints through Andrea about this. I don't see a reason not to let them use it.

NOTE: Vounteers' breaks will be noted on their schedule. Karen

ATTN: InterLibrary Loan Audio-Visual Material

From Rodney Hall, 10:03AM:

A large number of Audio/Visual materials borrowed from another library system are not receiving proper attention during the delivery/transit process.  When these items are placed into transit, they should be bubble wrapped and placed into an envelope, or some other method of secure packaging. 

Please remind your staff of this policy.  If you have any questions, please contact one of us in Interlibrary Loan. 

NOTE: So they don't get damaged (then we have to pay for them. . .).   Envelopes and bubble wrap are in a box on the workroom table or by the ILL items waiting for pickup at the Info Desk.  Karen

International Services Leadership at HPL - Exciting Updates

From Liz Sargent, 3/7:

I am excited to update everybody on the growth of International Services Leadership at HPL, including the formation of the International Services Advisory Team and the International Services Corps, and the opening of 2 upcoming leadership positions.

The International Services Advisory Team has been established with our first 7 Advisory Team members, who will serve a 2-year term as a lead team to develop and innovate the scope of International Services provided by HPL. This team represents a powerful combination of expertise and experience, from Youth Services to Collection Development to partnership and team management. Please join me in congratulating our International Services Advisory Team!

Ana Frade	Jungman Neighborhood Library
Analisa Falcon	Vinson Neighborhood Library
Caitlin Campbell	Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library
Marcia Cameron-Denton	Henington-Alief Regional Library
Mikaela Selley	HMRC - Hispanic Collections and Oral History Archives
Pedro Fonseca	North and Northeast Regions
Teresa Lopez	Park Place Regional Library

Also thanks are in order for everyone who are offering to volunteer their creativity and time to the International Services Corps: combined with our Citizenship and English instructors, we now have an International Services Team of over 70 uniquely talented HPL staff that will be multiplying HPL’s impact to Houston’s international communities!

Finally, I am proud to announce the opening of two Library Service Supervisor positions that will be posted for International Services in the coming weeks:

• Library Service Supervisor – International Services Engagement and Outreach CoordinatorThis position will take a leading role in engaging Houston’s international communities through coordination of programs, partnerships, and services for immigrants and refugees, including the newly launched ‘The Living Room @HPL’ series. The position requires a bachelor’s degree and four years of experience in library, information services, or education.
• Library Service Supervisor – International Services Education CoordinatorThis position will lead the development and coordination of education services for international communities, immigrants and refugees, such as Citizenship, English and Language Learning classes. The position requires a bachelor’s degree and four years of experience in library, information services, or education, with a preference for teaching and curriculum development experience.

Turning off monitors on public desktop computers at night

From HPL IT HelpDesk, 2:46pm:

Before closing please leave the public computers powered on but the monitors powered off.  It is important to keep the computers on so they can receive critical updates.  Turning the monitors off helps save on electricity costs and also prolongs the life of the screens.

We realize that some of our public computers are “all-in-one” units and thus the monitor can’t be turned off while leaving the computer on.  For these leave the entire unit powered on at night.

Thanks for your cooperation and if you have any questions contact the Help Desk.

New Community Engagement Literacy Mini-Bookmobile

From Sara Karow, 2/28:

The new Community Engagement Literacy Mobile (a mini-bookmobile) is a also new HPL library location!

The van has its own Sirsi  Workflows “Home Library” code, which is CELM. The LMS Float Team is excited to be working with Community Engagement Team to manage its stock so it will be filled with materials appropriate to the venues it will visit.

The CELM collection does float, so after customers check out items from there, they can return them anywhere. Those returns will simply float into any regular floating HPL location, but if they are returned at non-floating locations like CEN & CMH, they will go intransit back to the Literacy Mobile.  CEN & CMH staff should print and attach the regular yellow intransit labels when they are triggered during discharge. CEN staff should then put the items on the booktruck outside Sylvia’s office in LST, alongside items intransit to closed NLs and mini-branches. CMH staff should also attach the intransit labels then put the material in delivery. The LMS Float Team will collect the intransit items from LST and the FIDS Mailroom and find new homes for those intransit items.

The CELM collection does show up in the online public catalog, but the items are not holdable, they don’t do holds paging, and they are not a holds pickup location.

RELATED:  If a customer asks about scheduling an event with either the Literacy Mobile or CE’s Mobile Express bus, they have the option to submit their request online via the CET’s webpage, http://houstonlibrary.org/our-partners/community-engagement, or you may refer them directly to the Community Engagement Team, 832-393-1533.

Walter Computers will be Down for Maintenance Thursday, March 8

Team,

Digital Strategies will be installing Envisionware, the new computer reservation and printing system at Walter on Thursday, starting at 8:30.  Derrick will be onsite to assist them.The software was installed at Southwest last week.

Here's a tipsheet.

Here's the email sent by Neighborhood Libraries to all locations this afternoon:

Walter Neighborhood Library’s public computers will be down for maintenance Thursday, March 8^th.  During that time, please direct customers looking for that service to nearby locations:

Morris Frank Library a HPL Express Location

10103 Fondren, Brays Oaks Towers Building

Houston, Texas 77096

M 10-6; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-8; F 10-5; Sa 10-5

Phone Number:  832-393-2410

HPL Express Southwest

6400 High Star

Houston, Texas 77074

M 10-6; T 10-6; W 10-6; Th 12-8; F 10-5; Sa 10-5

Phone Number:  832-393-2660

Karen

Ryan's Weekly Tip for the Homeless, Mentally Ill, and Addicted Patrons 3-6-18

From Ryan Dowd, 10:02AM:

Would you rather: Enforce the rules and have an orderly, safe, consistent environment where there is healthy accountability, or Be compassionate to the most vulnerable and make allowances for human frailty  Have you picked one?  Good! You’re wrong.   Whichever one you picked you are wrong.  Don’t feel bad.  You aren’t the problem.  The problem is the question. The world likes dichotomies.  You are either cat person or a dog person.  Every Chicagoan is either a Cubs fan or a Sox fan.  You are either conservative or a liberal.  People are either good or bad. Dichotomies are nice and simple.  They’re also usually wrong. My favorite dichotomy is that you have to choose between enforcing the rules and being compassionate.  Depending on which side a person falls on this false choice it can be described as: Order vs. Chaos Brutality vs. Helpfulness Enforcing the rules vs. Following our Mission Keeping our Staff Safe vs. “Anything Goes” This so-called “choice” is based on the fact that the world thinks that the only way to enforce the rules is to punish people.  Yes, Punishment-Driven Enforcement is not very compassionate.  It is not the only way, though. Empathy-Driven Enforcement (which is taught in these emails and in our training programs) allows you to enforce the rules AND be compassionate.  The reality is that you can’t ignore your rules (as I’m fond of saying, “Chaos is not a strategy”).  You also ruthlessly going around punishing the most vulnerable for their vulnerabilities. The key is not WHETHER you enforce your rules.  It is HOW you enforce your rules. So, the next time a co-worker tries to force your organization to decide between these two extremes, remember that there is a third way!Ryan Dowd, Atty., MPA The Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness www.homelesslibrary.com

Walter Display Featured on Youth Services Blog and Twitter

Congratulations to Pam for her extensive research and excellent content and to Irene for creating a stunning visual display!  Thank you Christy for sending the photos to Communications and Youth Services. We will save this exhibit for future use. . . 

Karen

The exhibit was also featured on the Library's Twitter feed.  We don't mind sharing the credit with Park Place.

HPL Kit System: Updates & Housekeeping

From Rebecca Denham, 3/2:

We now have over 70 storytime themes and over 50 Craft & STEM themes with a whopping 253 individual kits! And more on the way!

Summer is right around the corner and with it an uptick in kit use, so I’d like to go over a few kit housekeeping items to keep in mind:

What Have I Requested? – We’ve recently updated the “What Have I Requested” link on the Kits tab of the YS Blog to not only show requests by location, but also by program date rather than request date – yay, Airtable! This should also assist if there are staffing changes at your location; you’ll easily be able to check what requests have already been made and either request a change or plan accordingly.

Requesting for Multiple Days: If you need a kit for multiple days please enter the first day as the “Program Date” then indicate the extended dates you want the kit for in the “Need Longer” field. (When a range of dates is entered into the “Program Date” field it causes errors in the program we use to track requests.) Keep in mind that some kits (LEGO Mindstorms, Bloxels, Chaos Towers) already have a 7 day checkout period.

Returning Kits in Good Condition: When you use a kit, you are responsible for cleaning the kit and returning it in the condition that you received it. This may mean that you need to wipe down, sort or wash and dry items. This is part of using kits and when kits are not returned in good condition is slows turnaround time for transport to the next location and can even cause kits to become unusable.

Missing/Damaged Items: If items are missing or damaged when returning the kit please make sure to contact Youth Services Administration and let us know what is missing from which kit so that we can begin sourcing replacement items. You should also include a note in the kit indicating which items are missing or damaged.

Kit Age Ratings: Kits are rated for certain ages. A kit rated for teens is not appropriate for kids. Please make sure to check the ages of kits when placing requests. Kit ages are listed on the kit indexes available on the YS Blog Kits tab. If you have questions about a kit please contact Youth Services Administration.

Surveys: Completing a survey is required when a kit is used. The data collected in these surveys aids in grant applications and reporting as well as annual reports to library administration and the Foundation. The more information you provide, the better we can identify trends, improve kits and expand our selection. If a kit is not used, please include a note indicating that the kit was not used. If there is no survey in the kit please let us know so we can send you a pdf.

I know this is a lot of information, so I’ve added it to the Kits tab of the YS Blog for reference. As always, if you have questions about kits or suggestions for new kits please send them to Youth Services Administration. 😊

Changes to Hoopla Starting March 1 (Today!)

From Laurie Covington, 2/19:

We are going to be implementing some changes to Hoopla soon.

 

Hoopla is one of our premium digital media service that allows customers access to downloadable and streaming content. The library pays for each customer check-out as part of offering this service.  Our current usage has exceeded what our budget can support, so we have had to make the unfortunate decision of reducing the total monthly checkouts per MY Link card in order to be able to afford to continue to provide this valued service to our customers.

 

Here’s what you need to know:

• Starting March 1, 2018, customers can have up to 2 Hoopla checkouts per month per MY Link card.
• This option allows us to continue to offer Hoopla to our customers.
• It still provides full access to the most popular titles in the collection.

Please let us know if you have any questions.