If a customer is trying to take their genealogy beyond the 1500s, one option for England and Wales is manorial documents. The National Archives UK website has a Manorial Documents Register, which lists what manorial documents are available and where they are held. Manorial documents were generated from the administration of a manor and include information on all classes of people.
CE Manager Meeting
- Please do not discuss HPL matters with a city council representative without going through Mary Hammonds or Dr. Lawson.
- Custodial Guidelines were created. We clean up our own areas and if something needs to be cleaned up and the custodial staff is not here, we must clean it up ourselves.
- Digital Strategies is researching a new copier system that would include scanning, faxing, color printing, and printing from laptops.
- The plaza in front of Central Library will be renovated, with a green space, restaurant and kids area.
- The library has safely passed the first round of budget cuts. Mayor Turner values educational facilities.
- For capital projects information, check your email.
Phones Policy
- Unless there's a family emergency, cell phones do not belong on the floor during open hours.
- Answer the main line with, "Thank you for calling the Houston Public Library. This is Clayton Library. How may I help you?", or at least something similar.
- When answering the workroom line, identify they have reached Clayton Library and identify yourself.
- A call went out in the Clayton Crier for shelf reading volunteers. They will meet 3 or 4 times a year, with their first shelf read in the summer, and next one in November.
- Staff will receive shelf reading assignment soon and should complete it in the month of April.
- A discussion ensued of whether to shelf St.Marie Parish (for example), by Saint or by St. The answer is by Saint. Although it's abbreviation is St., the word is spelled Saint, and should be shelved by that.
Group Orientations at the Library
- Sue handed out library orientation guidelines. This is information that should be mentioned in orientations to groups who schedule an orientation. If you have suggestions for the guidelines, add them in RED to the Google Doc "Library Orienation".
- Walk-in groups that want an orientation can receive a shorter, informal orientation.
HPL Outreach
- There will be more HPL outreach opportunities coming our way. Our participation is greatly appreciated.
Section Reports
- Becky: We have new "new book" labels that will be used with the next batch of new books. They will replace the red and green stripe labels. The yellow labels with go on downstairs books and white labels will go on family histories. Their date will be handwritten on the label.
- Programming: Would anyone working on April 30th who is comfortable using the Photo Scanner be interested in giving a 15 minutes demonstration? Also, we have a new handout with upcoming orientation dates. These are a good handout to give customers new to genealogy or the library.
- Tech Services: Reconciling the collection will start soon. Some shelves may be shifted. Purchasing new books has slowed down to due Irene's absence, but if a customer has a purchase suggestion, write it down and pass it on to the Collection Development team.
- Patti suggested selling flash drives.
- Steven: Please let Steven about issues with computers/equipment for public use. He is keeping a log to capture recurring issues. Also, when assisting a customer in using the Photo Scanner, make sure all the units are turned on. A discussion ensued about customers using the Photo Scanner to scan books. Sue said don't tell customers they can't do that. We can create labeling that indicates it is for photo scanning only.
- Frank: GSD is under fire and may be slower to respond to sprockets.
- Rodney has a new column in the Clayton Crier.
Joy
