UPDATE: Learning Link FAQ for Staff

From Fred Schumacher:

Good afternoon,

The Learning Link Staff FAQ is intended to guide you in working with customers who may have questions regarding what Learning Link is and how it can be used. It's a living document, so if and when situations arise that the document does not address, we'll add to it. Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the information in the FAQ so that you will be better able to assist students and parents who may need your assistance in using the account to access resources and collections.

If you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact me or Circulation Administration. We'll be happy to help in any way we are able.

Note: Learning Link is to launch on Monday, October 3, 2016. The FAQ is posted below and will also be linked to on the blog under "Staff Resources."

Learning Link FAQ for Staff
Launches Monday, October 3, 2016

1. What is Learning Link?

·                     Learning Link is a virtual library account that is issued to all students in Houston Independent School District schools.

2. Can a student have a Learning Link account as well as a My Link library card?

·                     Yes. A student enrolled in an HISD school may have a Learning Link account even if s/he already has a My Link library card. Likewise, a student with a Learning Link account may also register for and receive a My Link library card, as long as s/he does not already have a My Link library card account in HPL's Symphony system.

3. What can a student do with a Learning Link account?

·                     Learning Link provides the student with 24/7 access to HPL electronic resources, as well as allows him/her to have up to 10 physical items checked out from the Library at a time (some restrictions apply).

4. Are there check out limits for Learning Link accounts?

·                     Yes. Learning Link accounts are limited to up to 10 physical items checked out at any time. Additionally, Learning Link accounts are subject to the same check out limits on electronic resources as My Link accounts.

5. Are there restrictions on the type of physical material that can be checked out on Learning Link accounts?

·                     Yes. Learning Link accounts may not be used to check out DVDs, CDs, laptops or other electronic devices, games or Flip Kits. Additionally, elementary school students may use their Learning Link accounts to check out physical items from the juvenile materials collection only.

6. Do Learning Link accounts accrue fines?

·                     No. Fines do not accrue for overdue materials checked out on Learning Link accounts.

7. Do Learning Link accounts get billed for unreturned, lost, or damaged material?

·                     Yes. Learning Link accounts will be billed for unreturned, lost and damaged material. Bills for items will be limited to a maximum cost of $10.00 per item, and no processing fee will be charged.

8. Will Learning Link accounts be blocked for bills?

·                     Yes. Learning Link accounts will be blocked from privileges when the amount owed for bills for unreturned, lost and/or damaged material on the account is $50.00 or more.

9. What do I do when a student wants to check out physical material with his/her Learning Link?

·                     To look up the student's Learning Link account, request his/her school issued student ID, and look the account up using the name and ID number. The Learning Link User ID is the first initial of the last name followed by the student ID number (Robert Frost with HISD ID number 123456 will have Learning Link user ID F123456). If the student cannot present his/her school issued student ID, get the student's first and last name, student ID number, and birthday. Use that information to look up the student's account, confirm that you have the right account by checking the birthday against the PIN (mm/dd). Before checking out, make sure that the student's home address and phone number are added to the account. Address verification is not required for these accounts, but it is helpful to do so if the parent is present.

10. Can parents/guardians use their children's Learning Link accounts?

·                     Some parents may wish to use their children's Learning Link accounts to check out material for their children. Allow them to do so. The parent will need to provide the same information to access the account and check out as the student does. The same limitations will apply to these check outs as apply to check outs performed by the students.

11. Can Learning Link accounts be used to check out DVDs, CDs, laptops or other restricted material if the student's parent/guardian gives permission to do so?

·                     No. Learning Link accounts are not approved for checking out any of those materials. Parents/guardians may register their children for My Link accounts, which will allow them to check out DVDs, CDs, laptops and other electronic devices, games, and Flip Kits.

12. Do HISD Staff have accounts too?

·                     Yes, HISD staff also have Learning Link accounts in the Symphony system. The formula for the user IDs is the same as the student accounts - first letter of last name and employee ID #/ They are not allowed to check out physical materials with those accounts. They are limited to electronic resources only. If an HISD staff member comes in and wants to check out physical materials, they should complete an application and get a regular MyLink card.

Staff Meeting Minutes 7/29/2016

Monthly Meeting Agenda 7/29/2016

        I.            Managers Meeting Notes

a.       New Positions opening at Blue Ridge soon. There will be a WIC Clinic in location.

b.      Language Access Plan

                                                               i.      We have an obligation under federal law to provide access to all patrons regardless of the language they speak.

                                                             ii.      The new Language Line allows us to receive immediate live translation for a nominal cost, including Spanish. Attempts should be made to use in staff personal first before moving to Language Line and the number is not to be shared with the public.

                                                            iii.      Bilingual staff will be asked to report on the frequency they use their second language at work and in what roles. (Outreaches, story times, programs, reference etc) If selected for an official bilingual position, you will be asked to take a proficiency test before you get bilingual pay.

c.       New Communication Guidelines

                                                               i.      All programs must be put into Evanced three months in advance with an end goal of working toward a 12 to 18 month calendar.

                                                             ii.      We will be losing the Crafts, Book Clubs, and Health and Fitness flyers but retaining the Computer Class flyers.

                                                            iii.      We will have Evergreen flyers that are available all year promoting library services such as our online databases, ebooks, and job labs.

                                                           iv.      Communications will promote three events a month per branch and the sooner we select the events the more promotion they can do. (Print, e-newsletter, social media)

d.      Youth Services Update

                                                               i.      Learning Link training is on August 12^th Youth Meeting. All Youth Services employees must attend. If you cannot attend we need to know now to make arrangements to schedule you for the next Manager’s Meeting.

                                                             ii.      End of Summer Reading is officially July 31^st. The bike will be selected on August 2^nd and we will be asked to send in our remaining prizes around the start of school. We can allow customers to redeem prizes up to that point but we will not be logging anymore books. However if someone insists they read the books before the July 31^st and just couldn’t log them we can make an exception but those will not go toward the bike.

e.      Digital Strategies Update

                                                               i.      Hotspots and Notebook checkouts are being piloted at select locations and are potentially coming to all locations.

                                                             ii.      It will be possible to request a hotspot for in house use for example, taking kids on a Pokemon Go! Tour of the neighborhood.

      II.            Branch Business

a.       Two New Hire Part Time CSC start 8/8/16 Eugene Rodriguez and Charneice Gayle. There is still one Part Time CSC to hire which is posted now. Brittany and Yadira's will report to work at their new branches on 8/13/2016

b.       Brandon’s position for Librarian III is now posted and its close date is 8/6/2016. So hopefully we will have that position filled soon.

c.       We will no longer be allowed to do homework at work unless we are on one of our two fifteen minute breaks or our lunch. This includes when we are on the desk or times we have finished shelving or other tasks.

                                                               i.      I will be working with the new manager or assistant manager to share tasks that will cut down on the boredom, develop staff skills and make best use of our time. 

d.      Back to school is approaching and we will be taking a more proactive approach to After School Zone. We will still strive to give children the opportunity to follow rules but we will no longer tolerate fake fighting either inside the library or in the parking lot as it has led to too many actual fights. Similarly we will send students home for cursing, excessive noise, or running in and out of the building.

                                                               i.      We will try to collect as many parent’s phone numbers as they come to pick up their kids so that we have someone to call other than the police when kids refuse to leave or are involved in an incident.

                                                             ii.      Neshia and Shine have found clarification for the After School Zone policies and found there are no official rules for them and that existing library rules are to be followed. They have reached out to see how other branches have gone about enforcing these policies consistently to share the best practices at Pleasantville.

    III.            Suggestions

a.       Shine made a request for better communication with regards to scheduling changes. Drew will email, call, or directly speak with any staff member when making schedule changes going forward.

Meeting Minutes 5/6/2016

     II.        The meeting was held at the Tuttle Neighborhood Library Friday May 6, 2016 at 8:30 AM.

1.       Brandon began by announcing the newest member of HPL and our new International Services Manager, Helen Cho.

a.       We reviewed the ISpeak Houston sign and how to help a customer identify which language they speak so that we can connect them to the appropriate translator.

b.      Brandon introduced the new Language Line Service that allows for quicker connection to translators through a City Only connection service. We reviewed the flow chart to determine when it is appropriate to connect a customer. Brandon emphasized that this service costs the library .30 to .50 a minute and that there currently is no line item in the budget for it, so we should only use it when there are no other translators available and never give the number out to the public.

2.       Brandon shared the newReservation System Video link 

3.       We reviewed the policy for cell phones, computer and internet use while on the desk.

a.       Cell phones are to be left in the back room or in your pocket on vibrate if you go out to the floor. In the case of an emergency, you can check your phone, but you need to be able to leave the desk first to do it.

b.      Homework is not to be done on the clock.

c.       Internet is provided for business use. The internet may be used for personal use on break, but not on the front desk.

4.       We covered the advice given by HR on applying for jobs internally and clearly answering the supplemental questions. Specifically listing all customer service experience instead of just the experience at HPL and selecting the highest level of education achieved on the dropdown list even if you have achieved a higher level than is available to select. This will prevent applications being declined that could have otherwise gone forward.

5.       We reviewed the severe weather policy and insured that everyone had the emergency hotline number in their phones. Brandon clarified that when the library is shut down due to flooding, only people assigned to work that day get paid, not people on sick days, vacations or unscheduled employees. We also reviewed the form to be filled out upon returning from a major storm.

    III.            We discussed Council Member Cisnero’s visit to Tuttle.

1.       Cisnero is very passionate about education and technology and has a number of ideas for Tuttle including paid interns to teach computer classes this summer, the possibility of getting the Community Engagement Mobile Computer Lab to visit, and other potential ongoing programs.

    IV.            We confirmed that everyone that will be working at Tuttle during the Summer Food Program has already completed or signed up for the Food Training Course. We have three remaining employees signed up for the course on next Thursday.

      V.            We opened the floor to discussion but no one had any comments or ideas.

Kronos for the pay period 5/7 - 5/20

Tony Goodwyn, the manager of Ring/Hillendahl will be doing KRONOS for all of you this coming pay period.

Any problems/questions/etc. need to be referred to him.

His numbers are

3-1962 and 3-2007

His email is tony.goodwyn@houstontx.gov

Please let him know about any problems that occur.

Thanks,
Brandon Pope

Cisneros @ TUT

Hello everyone,

There has been a change in the schedule.

Council Member Cisneros is going to be touring Tuttle on Thursday the 28th at 4:30.

Thanks,
Brandon

Cisneros @ Tuttle

Council Member Cisneros will be going to Tuttle on May the 2nd at 2:00.

She has another appointment at 3:30, so I don't think that she will be able to stay very long.

Please help me make the building as attractive as possible for her visit!

Thanks,
Brandon

While I'm gone

Hello everyone,

As I told everyone at the staff meeting, I will be out all next week on vacation.

There have been a few scheduling changes to reflect this.  Please be sure to check the schedule closely.  Those who I've asked to work a slightly different schedule should see it reflected on our webpage.  If there are any problems that you notice, please let Drew know immediately.

Additionally, several people will be out next week.

Pedro will be out all week so address any queries that would normally go to him to the NL office at 32707.

Drew will be out on Saturday.  In his place, Neisha will be at TUT.  Jeremy is at PLE as normal this Saturday.  They are each going to be in charge of their respective buildings.  If there are any issues they cannot handle, please call the Neighborhood Library office at 3-2707.

Monday will be Neisha and Jennifer with a sub from Kashmere Gardens.  Rosa is out that day.

Finally, Wendy will be out on Wednesday.

I've asked John Merullo to handle our KRONOS issues while I'm gone.  He is the manager of VIN/BLU and his numbers are 3277/32129.  If it's an issue that does not need immediate attention, it can probably wait until I return on 3/21.

ANY CHANGES TO SCHEDULE (Sick Days, late Arrivals, etc.) PLEASE EMAIL ME SO I CAN KEEP TRACK AND MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS IN KRONOS NEXT WEEK!!!!!

Next week should be fairly quiet at PLE since it is Spring Break, but will probably be a little busier at TUT.

Thanks everyone and I'll see you when I return,
Brandon