Customer Banned from JIB

Greetings,

Here is information from HMRC staff about a patron who has been banned from the building.

"We recently had a patron, Mr. Alex Zepeda, banned from the JIB entirely
for verbal assaults/sexual harassment to several staff members and
patrons. Yesterday one of our staff members who he had previously
harassed encountered him while outside the library on her lunch break.
He harassed her again and threatened to “wait outside” the library for
her. We filed another incident report with HPL security and also
notified the police, who took a report. The police officer instructed
that if he assaults/threatens/harasses again, we need to call the police
immediately."

In addition, Saima reports that he had followed her around JIB in the past. There have been four incident reports filed on this customer before.

I would ask that anyone who might be familiar with this customer provide a description of him in the comments so that others can be aware when/if they see him.

mvc

Programming Plannig Information

Please read the following from Jennifer and submit ideas for programs.

mvc

Now that we are all back together, I would like to get everyone’s input on planning for adult programming. I’ll need to have all summer programming submitted by April 4^th, so we have just a couple of months to work on it. I will need to have all of your ideas submitted by the second week in March (but the sooner the better. Now is good), as all approved programs will need to be thought out and entered into the calendar system before the deadline. One of the new Programs we are really excited about is the “Brown Bag Lunch Series,” which consists of a variety of programs that take place over the 12-1, and then the 1-2, lunch hours. We will be doing book clubs, DIY, Cooking, and anything else that we think might be of interest. We’re going to be very ambitious with this series, hosting programs every day, possibly at both lunch hours. This is an opportunity for you to host the program you have always wanted to host. Particularly interested in a certain genre? Host your own book club!

Other programs series that will be featured include a new senior series with an emphasis on technology, a combination book/movie club, a GLBT series, Web 2.0/Social networking, and a Young Professionals series. Most of the film programs will be held in the evenings, and we will host some of the DIY programs on Saturdays.

I think that we can figure out a way to turn your dream program into a reality, so please see me or any member of the Central Programming Committee (Darcy, Saima, Sarah B., or Marcia) to share your ideas. Sarah has created a book club sign-up sheet, and we will have that out to you shortly.

Also, I try to post all programming and Outreach information on my programming blog at http://hplcenprogout.blogspot.com/. Please put this address into your readers! Please note, in order to keep posting information on that blog, I need to receive comments and feedback so that I know I have readers. J

Thanks!

Jennifer Schwartz

Suspended Customer

Good New! I spoke with Roosevelt and Meller and we are all agreed that Mr. Kahn should be suspended for 90 days (as laid out in our policies and procedures) from using our remote reference services due to abusive language and vulgarities. If he calls Telephone Reference, please politely transfer the call to a manager (say: "Thank you for calling. I can connect you with a supervisor to help you." or something similar) or to me so that we may inform him of this suspension. I want to stress that we were only able to do this thanks to the Incident Reports and documentation from staff. Great job on documenting his behavior and keep doing this if we face any other abusive customers.

Thanks,
mvc

Standards for Outreach and Programming & Training on EPE Plans

Greetings,
These objective measurements did not get spelled out explicity in EPE Plans due to space and the nature of the measurement field, which identifies what is effective or standard. These standards will serve as a general guidelines for objectively scoring in these categories along with the other elements in the measurement field--much like the criteria for number of hours of sick time used contribute to attendance rating.

OUTREACH AND PROGRAMMING
Keep in mind this reads as "assists in planning and presenting..."and that program portion will be prorated this year to months that we are actually open.
Rating Measurement
5 (Outstanding) = 6 or more outreaches and 6 or more programs
4 (Strong) = 4 to 5 outreaches and 4 to 5 programs
3 (Effective) = 2 to 3 outreaches and 2 to 3 programs
2 (Needs Improvement) = 1 outreach and 1 program
1 (Unacceptable) = No outreach or programs

TRAINING - These are formal training hours as defined by the training department.
Rating Measurement
5 (Outstanding) = 12 or more hours
4 (Strong) = 8 to 11. 5 hours
3 (Effective) = 4 to 7.5 hours
2 (Needs Improvement) = 2 to 3.5 hours
1 (Unacceptable) = 1.5 or fewer hours

And as a reminder...
ATTENDANCE RATING
Rating Measurement
5 (Outstanding) = 0-24 hours
4 (Strong) = 25-40 hours
3 (Effective) = 41-64 hours
2 (Needs Improvement) = 65-80 hours
1 (Unacceptable) >80 hours
Remember this applies to sick leave (not including FMLA) and dock hours.

One Card Initiative

Here is some exciting news from Fred Schumacher on the HPL/HCPL One Card solution. Please read through this important information.

Thanks,
mvc

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greetings all.

As you may have heard, HPL and HCPL have been working toward implementing a one card solution that will allow customers of both systems to use one library card to access both their HPL and HCPL accounts. We are excited about being able to offer this service enhancement to our customers, and we anticipate that it will be well received by customers who use both library systems. As an added bonus, the enhanced service will also allow us to check in HCPL items mistakenly returned to HPL branches and HCPL will be able to check in HPL items mistakenly returned to one of their locations. I hope you agree that this will be welcomed by our customers. As a first step toward system-wide implementation of this enhanced service, the Horizon ILS circulation client has been installed at Bracewell, Stella Link and Park Place branches, and the service enhancement will be implemented at each of these locations beginning Monday, November 5th. Please be aware that customers choosing to access their HPL accounts using their HCPL Knowledge Card barcodes may do so at any HPL location from that day forward.

You may expect to have the HCPL Horizon shortcut installed on workstations at your branch at some point during the next two weeks. Once the shortcut is installed, please contact your LA Supervisor to arrange for training for staff to implement the service enhancement at your branch. Our goal is to have the service enhancement implemented system-wide by the end of November.

Please let me or your LA Supervisor know if you have any questions.

Thanks.

Fred Schumacher
Circulation Services Manager
Houston Public Library