01.11.06
Posted in General at 11:20 pm by Paloma Cruz
Did you know that the Harris County Public Libraries are free wireless hotspots? Houston Public Library is adding wireless capabilities to their branches one at at time (I don’t know how many of them have wireless right now, but I do know that at least a handful have it available).
Harris County has the following posted in its Web site:
Harris County Public Library has completed installation of Wireless Internet Access in all 25 branch libraries across Harris County. Library users with wireless-ready laptop computers can bring their own laptop PCs with them to any branch library and log on to the Internet. There is no charge for using the Library’s high-speed network connection.
[snip]
In addition to the “Bring your Own Laptop” wireless Internet connections, the grant funds will be used by Harris County Public Library to make laptop PCs available for loan in all 25 of the library’s branch locations. Laptops can be checked out for use inside the libraries for 2-hour loan periods. In addition, two collaborative projects with area school districts will provide external wireless linkage between the school and library campuses as well as notebook computers for loan in two school library media centers.
[snip]
All they need now is Starbucks coffee and it would be worth it for me to trek the distance to one of their branches.
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01.10.06
Posted in News at 11:13 pm by Paloma Cruz
Overdue library books impact credit scores
‘Small’ factors could prevent a bank from lending you money
– reported by NBC Nightly News
Kevin Howard is the first to admit: He forgot to return a book to the Houston public library in 2004. That is, until he saw his credit record a year later.
[snip]
“No. 1, don’t ignore it,” says Ginsberg. “It’s real, OK? No matter how minimal it might be.”
No. 2: Don’t be fooled. Bill collectors don’t go away, even if the phone calls stop. And when you do pay the debt, try to get a letter that agrees to remove the mark from your record.
Kevin Howard has tried to do just that. But the city of Houston hasn’t budged, which means he’ll have to wait seven years until it’s finally erased — in 2012.
“This just caught me off guard,” he says. “The punishment does not fit the crime.”
I love that last part, “The punishment does not fit the crime.” Never mind that he didn’t return the materials until he was literally forced to, by a bad mark on his credit report. Never mind that the library was going to be forced to fork out money to replace the materials, or force other customers to do without it… if they hadn’t “punished” him. Never mind all that — he wants to know why he’s being punished?
I’ve seen the application for a library card, and it states on it (in Houston at least) that you assume responsibility for the items you borrow. It’s one of the reasons they make parents sign for children.
What, exactly, is news about this?
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01.09.06
Posted in News at 12:01 am by Paloma Cruz
I got this from the Houston Public Library Web site:
(by the way, have you checked our their new design?)
A New Year – New Library Service Hours
The Houston Public Library is starting off the New Year with exciting news for Library customers – more service hours at library branch locations throughout the system. The extended hours have been added to the morning and evening schedules, enabling additional access to services and programs for customers. Extended Library hours became available beginning Tuesday, January 3, 2006.
The Houston Public Library provides free access to materials and resources for education, information and entertainment. The longer hours mean you will have easier access to activities and events held at the Library, in addition to the resources provided.
Visit any of the Library’s 36 branch locations or the Central Library to use the public computers to check your email, do your homework, get free tutoring from Live Homework Help online, use the Internet for research, read online eBooks, and search through countless databases. The Library’s resources are available online from any computer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by using the resources available on this Web site.
You can also check out books on all subjects, audiobooks or other written materials. The Library has a collection of more than 4.2 million items to check out or place on hold for children, teens and adults; many items are available in several languages. The Library also provides plenty of educational and fun Videos, CDs, and DVDs.
To find the new extended hours of your branch library, visit your branch page, available through the Branches section of this Web site.
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01.04.06
Posted in News at 7:39 am by Paloma Cruz
I posted about Mayor White honoring a Houston librarian during his inauguration, but that being glossed over by media. Well, a day later, the media get it right. It’s the same story that was up yesterday, but it’s been lengthened.
City workers are stars of White’s day
He recognizes their efforts and urges public to be more involved in bettering Houston
– reported by the Houston Chronicle(1)
[snip]
White recognized employees including Mark Phalesburgh, a 10-year city veteran in the Solid Waste Management Department, who lost a thumb unloading recyclables into a machine that malfunctioned; Paul Davila, who braves “snakes and rodents” supervising the maintenance of storm sewers; and Sandy Farmer, a librarian who helped create a recreation area for young hurricane evacuees.
[snip]
* * *
Reminders:
- Houston Chronicle links expire after a few days because they’re archived. If you want to access these articles after that, you either have to be a subscriber or go to the Houston Public Library and access the database using your Library Power Card.
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Posted in News at 12:42 am by Paloma Cruz
News from the Harris County Public Library Web site:
NEW! Thompson Gale Legal Forms
We have long had a need for a good legal forms resource and are happy to announce the addition of the Thompson Gale Legal Forms database. The database provides access to a multitude of Texas legal forms including those for divorce, wills, and real estate. Access to forms is available through a keyword search or you can browse by legal area.
[snip]
You will need a valid Harris County Public Library card to access this database remotely.
And then, for you genealogists:
NEW! Ancestry.com
We are very excited to announce an exciting addition to our collection of databases . . . Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com is a genealogy resource with numerous databases including the US Census, immigration records, court documents, military records, and vital records. Ancestry.com is distributed to libraries by Proquest and joins our popular HeritageQuest database as a genealogy resource.
[snip]
Ancestry.com is available for users who are physically inside a library building; there is no remote access to this resource.
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01.03.06
Posted in News at 10:56 pm by Paloma Cruz
You wouldn’t know it from the news media, but a Houston librarian was among the city of Houston employees spotlighted during today’s inauguration of Mayor Bill White. The honor was for doing an outstanding job in creating and running a temporary library in the George R. Brown Convention Center while it was serving as an evacuee shelter after Hurricane Katrina.
Mayor honors city workers at inaugural
– reported by the Houston Chronicle(1)
Houston Mayor Bill White today used his second inauguration to honor the work of city employees, saying they exemplify his call for a “rededication to public service” by all Houstonians.
White, speaking with the downtown skyline at his back before more than 1,000 at the Houston Police Officers Memorial, praised police officers, firefighters and others among the city’s more than 20,000 employees.
[snip]
1/4/2005, UPDATE: this story was edited and now includes:
Among several other employees the mayor honored were Paul Davila, who braves “snakes and rodents” supervising the maintenance of storm sewers, and Sandy Farmer, a librarian who helped organize a recreation area for young hurricane evacuees at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
* * *
Reminders:
- Houston Chronicle links expire after a few days because they’re archived. If you want to access these articles after that, you either have to be a subscriber or go to the Houston Public Library and access the database using your Library Power Card.
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