How to Contact Digital Strategies

From Edgar Fuentes, 11:59 AM:

Jennifer Myers created a tip sheet for contacting Digital Strategies. Feel free to share with your staff at the next staff meeting. In case you are unable to view it, I’m including the information below:

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Digital Strategies 
Hours & Contact Details

Hours 
Monday – Friday | 8am – 6pm
Saturday | 9am – 6pm
Sunday | 1pm – 5pm

Contact Details

• Call *31570 with specific information, including G #s when applicable. 
• E-mail the HelpDesk at HPL.HelpDesk@houstontx.gov with specific information, including G #s when applicable.
• Use the LogMeIn Rescue Calling Card available on staff computers.
• ServiceNow is not a preferred contact method as HITS is updating. Trainings are being developed for this program.

After Hours: If there is an after-hours emergency, please contact 713-742-3978. Emergencies include the loss of WorkFlows, the building server is down, or an issue that affects location operations.

Cyber Security Awareness Month Tips

From HITS, 7:03AM: 

Cyber Security Awareness Month Tip: Mobile Payments and Banking

Summary	More and more frequently, consumers are using their mobile devices for online banking, payments and shopping. We can now check our bank account balances, deposit a check using a mobile device’s camera, pay bills, transfer money between friends, and make purchases directly on our mobile devices. However, since these activities require users to provide sensitive personal information such as their names, account numbers, email addresses, and passwords, it is important to weigh the perceived benefits and potential risks associated with mobile payments and banking.
Did You Know?	More than half of adults (51 percent) bank online and 32 percent of adults bank online from their mobile device. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 years old are leading the mobile banking trend, with 54 percent banking on their mobile devices. 22 percent of all mobile phone owners have made a mobile payment, up from 15 percent in 2012. 62 percent of non-mobile payment users cited concern about the security of the technology as the reason for not using mobile banking or mobile payments.
Simple Tips	Use stronger authentication. Always opt to enable stronger authentication when available, especially for accounts with sensitive information including your email or bank accounts. Stronger authentication helps verify a user has authorized access to an online account. For example, it could be a one-time PIN texted to a mobile device, providing an added layer of security beyond the username and password.   Create strong and complex passwords. Create a password with 8 characters or more and a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols Use unique passwords. Use different passwords for different programs, accounts, and devices. By having multiple passwords, even if attackers do get one of your passwords, they will not have access to all of your accounts. Do not choose options that allow your device to remember your passwords. Check your account statements regularly. Review your banking, credit card, or payment service statements regularly to ensure there are no unauthorized charges or withdrawals. Know your applications. Be sure to review and understand the details of an app before downloading and installing it. Be aware that apps may request access to your location and personal information. Determine what information you want the app to share or transmit. Delete any apps that you do not use regularly to increase your security.

Envisionware at Central

From Mary Wagoner, 10/10:

As you may have heard, Digital Strategies has installed Envisionware at Central Library.  Both staff and customers really love it!  Envisionware will eventually replace the current reservation system at all locations. When a firm date has been set for your location, you will receive an Outlook invitation in advance of the installation date.  You are more than welcome to have your staff come to Central and see it in action with customers at any time. 

The attached Envisionware Information Sheet will aid in understanding the new system.  The Information Sheet is based on testing conducted by Central and a few Neighborhood Library staff at Central Library.  In tandem with the installation of Envisionware, the copier machines will be replaced by copiers that do color copies. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to email me and copy Robin Cabrera and Celeste Diaz.  Thank you!

Circulation Updates

From Saima Kadir, 10/2:

I hope y’all are doing well. I would like to give you a few updates in regards to all things circulation J

·         Circulation Admin (Esther Reyes and her team) is now part of Virtual Library Services in Digital Strategies.

·         If you need to create a “branch account”, please contact Circ Admin so they can create it for you in a manner that will not accrue any fines for checked out items.

·         For customers who need to update their account, you can edit their user record after checking the customer’s ID. It isn’t necessary to refer them to use the Update MY Link form if the customer is at your location J

·         Similarly, you can take fines and fees at your location. You may also settle disputes (with manager/supervisor’s direction) at your location. It isn’t necessary to ask customers to call Circulation when they are at your location J

·         We will revise Sirsi Workflows trainings and offer a new series of quarterly trainings soon! This will include a “Circulation Open Lab” sessions where you can freely ask everything that you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask J

Hotspot Reminder

From Saima Kadir, 2:45PM:

This is a reminder about hotspot checkout procedure: Show customer the hotspot device, charger cable, adaptor, SIM card and case to remind that all of these items must be returned in the same condition.

Many devices are being returned in damaged condition and it takes a long time to replace them which causes delays in fulfilling holds.

Please share this information with your staff. I have also added it to the Hotspot Checklist document. Let me know if you have 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.

EBooks Checkout Not Available from Catalog Saturday Night

From Digital Strategies, 6/8:

Due to system maintenance, items from Overdrive, Hoopla, Axis360, and OneClickDigital will be unavailable for checkout from the catalog overnight on June 10-11, 2017. Customers may still access these services through their individual websites, listed on our E-Books & More webpage.

 

Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Please contact us if you have any questions.

From Marianne Lorio, 12:20PM:

The links to the digital media listed below will also be available from the links on the Research webpage.