Summer Food Program

HPL is participating in the USDA Summer Food Program this summer with the Parks Department.  The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) was established to ensure that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. Free meals, that meet Federal nutrition guidelines, are provided to all children 18 years old and under at approved SFSP sites in areas with significant concentrations of low-income children.  See the list below for HPL locations that are providing meals along with the dates.  Use the link or phone number below for other organizations that provide food during the summer.

Find Summer Sites Serving Meals

Summer site information varies by state and will be available as the school year is ending and summer is about to begin in your community, call 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (for Spanish speakers) to find a free, nutritious summer meal site near you.

• Alief Regional Library - 7979 S. Kirkwood; 832-393-1820; June 9th-August 14th -- Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays Noon-1pm

• Carnegie Neighborhood Library and Livelong Learning Center - 1050 Quitman; 832-393-1720;     June 11th-August 15th -- Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 11am-1pm

• Collier Regional Library - 6200 Pinemont; 832-393-1740; June 2nd-July 31st -- Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays noon-1pm

• Johnson Neighborhood Library - 3517 Reed Rd; 832-393-2550; June 3rd-July 31st -- Tuesdays & Wednesdays noon-2pm

• Kashmere Gardens Neighborhood Library - 5411 Pardee St; 832-393-2450; June 3rd-August 8th -- Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays noon-1pm; Snacks 3pm-4pm

• Mancuso Neighborhood Library - 6767 Bellfort; 832-393-1920; June 2nd-August 21st -- Mondays 11am-1pm; Tuesdays noon-1pm; Snacks Mondays & Tuesdays 3pm-4pm

• Park Place Regional Library - 8145 Park Place; 832-393-1970; June 2nd-July 3rd -- Mondays-Thursdays noon-1pm

• Smith Neighborhood Library - 3624 Scott St.; 832-393-2050; June 2nd-August 15th -- Mondays 11am-1pm; Tuesdays noon-1pm

• Scenic Woods Regional Library - 10677 Homestead; 832-393-2030; June 2nd-July 31st -- Mondays-Thursdays noon-1pm; Snacks 3pm-4pm

• Young Neighborhood Library - 5260 Griggs Road (Palm Center); 832-393-2140; June 2nd-August 15th -- Wednesdays 11am-1pm; Thursdays noon-1pm

Let me know if you have any questions.

Laurie Covington

Staff Summer Reading Club

YOU are invited!

Invited to read!

Invited to share!

Yes, YOU!

Please join us in participating in the 20^th Anniversary Staff Summer Reading Club.  If you have never joined the Staff Summer Reading Club (SSRC), it allows you to read books in your choice of categories.  The SSRC is open to all staff.

There is a huge change:  No fees will be collected for SSRC as we received funding for the entire SSRC. 

The other change is in how prizes will be awarded.  If you read at least 5 books in a total of 3 categories, your name will be put in a drawing.   For those who read at least 5 books in a total of 5 or more categories, your name will be put in a separate drawing.  For each level, book store gift cards will be awarded.

Log your books on Summer Reader at: http://hplsr.evanced.info/pwlogin.asp

SSRC Guidelines

SSRC FAQs

If you have questions, please contact the committee members:  Melissa Jarvis, Elizabeth Kelly, Leslie Reeves or myself. 

Let the summer reading begin!

Mary Stanton

Read Down Your Fines

Be sure to watch the brief video about Read Down Your Fines:

https://sites.google.com/site/hplstafftraining/learningresources/libraryfunctions/read-down-your-fines

Handling Complaints (The Gift Formula)

Hello,

I was looking through some old files and came across this method for handling complaints.   

Try it out and see if it helps with unhappy customers.

The Gift Formula is a step-by-step process that, in its optimal form, is delivered in a set order. Having said this, the reader may find occasions when it will be more appropriate to vary the sequence. The steps are as follows:

1.      Say “Thank you.”

2.      Explain why you appreciate the complaint.

3.      Apologize for the mistake.

4.      Promise to do something about the problem immediately.

5.      Ask for necessary information.

6.      Correct the mistake promptly.

7.      Check customer satisfaction.

8.      Prevent future mistakes.

Thanks,

Laurie

Revised Employee Guidebook

Hi – Every employee in Neighborhood Libraries is expected to provide exceptional customer service – the HPL way. Every one took the mandatory Customer Service training not too long ago. Do you have any staff members that need to take the Customer Service: HPL Way training?

There are some expectations from the City as well and I have taken an excerpt from page 6 of the Employee Guidebook to share with you. Please review the entire Guidebook for useful information.

Section III – Employee Relations: What’s Expected of You?

Employees truly communicate the spirit and pride of the City of Houston to its residents and the general public. Therefore, it is important as an employee of the city serving the public, that you always demonstrate patience, courtesy, respect, and understanding to all customers, both internal and external. We must treat everyone as a valued customer.

You can do this by delivering services quickly and by treating all people with courtesy and respect. Not only is it important that the public is treated this way, but it is also required that you treat all other employees with the same respect and courtesy.

The City of Houston Code of Ordinances, as well as the policies and procedures of the City and your department, contain many provisions regarding your employment, as well as various rules you are expected to follow. We expect you to be productive, to adhere to the rules and policies of each department and the city, and to demonstrate a considerate, cooperative, and constructive attitude to the public and your fellow employees. It is your duty to become familiar with these policies and procedures, and if you have any questions to ask your supervisor or manager.

Poor performance, inappropriate work behavior, and poor attendance are issues your supervisor could address with disciplinary action. We expect you to report when scheduled and be ready to work a full productive day. You are required to follow your management’s directions, be cooperative with them and your fellow employees, and work in a professional and polite manner. You are responsible for familiarizing yourself with the policies of the city and your department, as not everything is covered in this Manual and those policies are subject to change.

                 You can access the Guidebook any time from www.houstonhumanresources.org, or by clicking here.

Please share the information with all your staff in your next staff meeting and let your Team Leader know if you have any question.

Thank you,

Shammi

WorkFlows Software Update Thursday 5/8/14 ****IMPORTANT

Hello,

SirsiDynix will install an upgrade to WorkFlows tonight (5/7/14). When you open WorkFlows on Thursday, 5/8/14, you should be prompted to load and install the upgrade.

***This upgrade MUST be carried out on every computer that has a WorkFlows client.***

I have attached instructions. Please contact the HelpDesk if you need assistance (832-393-1570, 1-800-532-9391 or HPL.HelpDesk@houstontx.gov).

Thank you,

Erin

Erin Cody

Systems Librarian

Houston Area Library Automated Network (HALAN)

500 McKinney St

Houston, TX 77002

Adding Signatures to your Outlook Email

Hello - Team Leaders highly recommend that all staff in Neighborhood Libraries create signatures in Outlook email. The instructions to do that were shared in one of the NL-Manager's meetings and I am adding a link here as well:

https://hplnet.hpl.lib.tx.us/depts/neighborhood/signature-in-outlook.pdf

Please let your Team Leader know if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Shammi