Library Page Hiring

 5/26/2022

Library Page Hiring

We are starting to put these job postings (we are hiring 2 pages) in some more places. I have put job applications into one of the paper holders to the right of all of those folders near the check-in computer (sorry, hard to describe). People can also go to our website, click on the "alert" at the top of the page (red bar) and print it from there. I haven't had a chance to turn it into a fillable form so for now they need either to take a picture of it and email it to wigginml@comcast.net, scan it and email it, or drop it off/mail it.

There isn't a due date for applications - will keep looking until we find people.

You can see the job ad, job description here: https://www.library.strathamnh.gov/library-info/pages/open-positions  Also under the "Library Info" menu, click on Open Positions.

These positions will work about 2 days/week each and alternating Saturdays. This is all tentative until we hire someone and work out a schedule.

Both pages will work in adult, kids, and teen collections. They will be primarily shelving, shelf-reading, and other collection care. The intention is that these positions won't grow into circulation. Scott will be supervising these two positions and we'll be relying on everyone to help out with training from time to time. 

We have a candidate coming in one afternoon next week! Please spread the word to anyone you know who might be interested. 

Personnel Policy revision update

Personnel Policy revision update

The Personnel Policy draft is being sent to an employment attorney this week for review. Whatever edits are sent back will be incorporated by the Board and then the intention is to give that draft to all of you for comment. 

The biggest changes that have been made are in the employment classifications sections. Once I know when the attorney will be able to return the policy to the Board, I will give an updated schedule for review.

Lesley

Koha Holds-to-Pull Mystery

 5/24/2022

Koha - Holds to Pull - New, unavailable books

We've had this mystery a couple of times: A new book is cataloged exactly right ("on order," "not for loan") so that it doesn't come up on holds-to-pull lists until it clears through Cindy's hands - but a couple of these books have shown up there anyway.

Turns out it was a bug that was being worked on and the fix should be updated in our system soon. 

Please let me know if you run into this again. If my explanation isn't clear - please ask me or Cindy to explain.

If you run into this problem you can try:

You can change the call number on that copy to NOT HERE YET so we don't spend time looking for it.

Then let Cindy know so when that copy does come in, she can make sure the call number is corrected.

New Museum Pass System

Sometime today (Monday 5/23) we will transition to the new museum pass systems. All reservations have been transferred to the new system. The links will soon be changed on the website for the public, and there are links on the home screen of the circ computer up front. If you have the museum pass saved at link on your own computer update it to https://strathamnh.assabetinteractive.com/museum-passes/by-museum/ to make reservations.

There are three packets of instructions on the system that I have put in everyone's mailboxes and also in a folder on the museum pass shelf. Please read through them. If you have questions, let me know. 

Thanks,

Sam

Summer is for Reading; Summer is for Baseball

Once again this year, I was able to secure free tickets to the NH Fisher Cats from our friends at Autofair Nissan of Stratham. 

For non-baseball-fans, the Fisher Cats are the minor league affiliate (AA level) of the Toronto Blue Jays and play their home games in Manchester. (If you're wondering, the Red Sox AA affiliate is the Portland Sea Dogs, and yes, the Dogs play the Cats several times a year in both Manchevegas and Maine.)

AutoFair said I could do what I want with them, and I have decided to give the tickets away to anybody -- adult or child -- who borrows a baseball book or movie. There's a display up by the copier. Courtney may also do a display of kids/YA books. 

The tickets are in a little plastic bin at the front desk. Each envelope has tickets for 3 games -- June 21, August 4, and September 14. If a patron wants the tickets for all three games, or 2 of the 3, or just 1, that's fine, just give them what they feel like they will use. 

I'm hoping people read the sign and actually ask for the tickets, but if you happen to notice they are checking out baseball-related materials, you can certainly offer the tickets proactively. 

Related: If any of the staff wants to go to a game, go ahead and take the tickets. They were free and, as a major sponsor, AutoFair has even more! 

 5/19/2022

Printing & Copying Charges

As we get ready to start allowing card payments with Square, I'll be changing what we charge for various things in order to cover the additional fees that the provider (Square and the credit card companies) charges.

On June 1 the cost to print or copy (no matter if someone pays cash or with a card) will be:

Black & White: $0.20/side

Color: $0.50/side

This is also a needed increase simply because of supplies costs. 

For copies & printouts, just consider this a cost increase - no need to try to explain the complicated percentage+fee that Square charges. 

There are signs at the computers and the copier announcing that this change will start on June 1.

Next: figuring out replacement costs and other items and how the percentage/fee structure impacts those.

 5/17/2022

Hoopla and new (Aspen) catalog:

We have "turned off" Hoopla results in the catalog so only items we physically own or are in the OverDrive collection should come up for a search.

The Hoopla titles won't be "removed" from catalog searches until tomorrow. 

This is one thing I'm trying to better control our costs for Hoopla. 

Lesley

 5/12/2022

Start date for Crystal: 6/20!

Museum Passes Link (For Now)

When somebody asks for a direct link to our museum passes page on our website -- as it happens, this just now happened! -- you can simply give them this tiny url: https://tinyurl.com/3zfeak8p

This is sooooo much better than the gobbledygook the website spits out when you click the Museum Passes link, e.g.: https://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/tkflex.cfm?curOrg=WIGGIN&curApp=passes&CFID=88231118&CFTOKEN=60f319c8288830ab-716912A8-D4AE-528A-5350F13EDA2FFA8C

Of course, the link will be changing soon when we finish migrating over to Assabet, but for now this works a treat. 

~dSC 

 5/10/2022

MEMORIAL DAY TOWN OBSERVANCE

MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE - MONDAY, MAY 30th
In observance of Memorial Day, there will be a parade beginning at 1:30 (along Rt 33, from Jack Rabbit Lane to Stratham Hill Park).  This will be followed by a ceremony at Stratham Hill Park Veterans Memorial Garden at 1:45.  

Town offices and library will be closed on 5/30. 

 5/10/2022

Board of Trustees meeting in May will be on 5/23 (moved from 5/16) - still at 6:30 pm.

Last month the meeting room door didn't get unlocked completely and then the door was closed at some point. This was NOT intentional. I will make sure that does not happen this month. I will also be propping open the door to the parking lot as it should always be.

Agenda: https://www.strathamnh.gov/library-trustees/agenda/board-trustees-agenda-5232022

 5/9/2022

Welcome Crystal! New Youth Services/Teen Librarian!

Great news! Crystal Lisbon has accepted our offer for the open position. Courtney, Mary-Ellen, Karen, and I all feel that she is going to be a great fit for our library and wonderful with the teens. 

She is currently working as the Library Media Specialist at Woodman Park Elementary School in Dover. She has also worked at the Madbury Public Library and the Children's Museum of New Hampshire. She has experience in programming, webpage design, Summer Reading Programs, collection development, and, having worked in a small public library, is accustomed to wearing a lot of hats and doing hands-on customer service. She also has a theater background as Artistic Director of the Hackmatack Playhouse, a  Production Manager, and dance instructor. And, she is a lovely person.

I don't have a start date or other details yet but will let you know when those things start to fall into place.

Hooray!

 5/6/2022

I have updated our Saturday rotation for May - July so that there is always a FT staff member working.

I have tried to work around time off, etc. - if you do have a conflict, please try to switch with someone.

I have tentatively scheduled the new Youth Services person for 7/9 when Courtney will be here.

 5/5/2022

MASKS in the LIBRARY

I will be taking down our "masks encouraged" signs tomorrow morning (5/6). This is based on several factors including: high vaccination rates, low hospitalizations, leveling of community spread, patron behavior, and Municipal Center status. 

 

It remains up to individuals (public and staff) to choose whether or not to wear a mask in the library. We will continue to have masks available for anyone who wants one. 

I will continue to monitor the data points that the Board has been using and we'll make changes to policies when warranted.

Thanks,

Lesley

 

5/2/2022

Saturdays: Flag Football

Cantrece is working on getting the flag football people to respect library parking. <sigh>

Her message is below. I have asked her to update the map to make the library parking more visible and obvious.

Will continue to revisit.

 4/2/2022

Saturday scheduling:

I was asked whether I had changed the plan for Saturday scheduling - the preference expressed before was to schedule one full-time and one part-time employee on Saturdays but it isn't that way on the past bunch of time or on those going forward. 

I don't remember specifically changing it or a discussion amongst us all? If there was one, please remind me! Otherwise, I will come around and see how you are feeling about which way to continue.

Thanks!

Lesley

 

5/2/2022

Happy May!

Building cleaning: Doreen is on vacation this week and Jason will be doing all of the cleaning. As a result, he will be leaving everyday at around noon.