Civic Engagement

Hello,

Here is Stephen Klineberg's presentation about the Changing Face of Houston.

Feel free to share the link with your community leaders.  Notes (courtesy of Marcos Martinez) from the September 23rd event include:

• Houston demographics will be model for rest of America as it also transitions to majority non-white.
  4 minorities: Asians (7%), Latino (40%), Anglo (38%), Black (19%)
• Each City Council district in Houston has been appropriated $1 million
• Panelist: student must have food/shelter in order to proceed and focus on education. (ex. Library user can fully utilize the resources the Library provides only if basic needs have been met)

Share any other notes that you have with me and I will add them here.

Thanks,

Laurie

New COH Policies

Hello,

There have been several new policies approved in the last few weeks.  All staff should have received emails about them.  Here are the links.

E.O. 1-12, Controlled Substance and Alcohol Abuse
A.P. 8-7, Open Data
A.P. 3-21, Violence in the Workplace

Thanks,

Laurie

Amnesty Ends Friday 9/26/2014

Hello all.

This is just a reminder that amnesty ends tomorrow (Friday, 09/26/14), and the system will resume assessing fines and fees on overdue materials on Saturday (09/27/14).  Items returned via the book drop on Friday evening can be checked in using Fine Free Discharge when the book drop is cleared on Saturday morning.  Each HPL location will have a special login set up just for this purpose (listed below).  Please follow the procedure outlined below to check in items from the book drop on the morning of Saturday, 09/27/14:

•  Clear the book drop of all items returned up to opening time on Saturday, 09/27/14.
• Using your unit login from the list in the email, log on to the Workflows client.
• Click on Fine Free Discharge under the Common Tasks wizard group.
• Discharge (check in) each item returned through the book drop before opening time 09/27/14.
• Close the Workflows session and log back in using your normal login credentials.

This process will ensure that any overdue items returned on the 26^th after closing are treated properly.  Fine Free Discharge should only be used for items received prior to opening on 09/27.  Items returned through the book drop following opening should be checked in using your usual procedure.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Circulation Administration at 832-393-2222 (choose option 3).

Thanks.

Fred Schumacher

Circulation Administration Manager

 

HPL Brand Initiative

Hi,
Please feel free to share Donna Jackson's presentation about HPL's Brand Initiative with staff. 

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15473454/Brand%20Presentation_NL.pdf

Thanks!


Best regards,
Mary Wagoner

Guidelines for signs and flyers

Hi, Team,

Please see the following guidelines for creating a sign; or flyers.  Please send your requests to Elva Alvarez who will do a cursory check to see if the guidelines have been met.  Please designate if it is a sign for posting for a one-time event.  If it is a flyer meant for distribution, please attach the Print Shop request.  If your request is approved by your respective Team Leader, she will forward your Print Shop request to Print Shop and copy you.

Here are some basic guidelines:

• Myriad Pro is used for most headers, and body content of our brochures, flyers, and other materials. In cases where Myriad Pro is not available, Arial can be used as an alternate font for header and body of content.
•  Use correct library name - 
• For example, it’s not Acres Homes Library. 
• Correct name is Shepard-Acres Homes Neighborhood Library
•  It’s not Collier Neighborhood Library.
• Correct name is Collier Regional Library
• When adding dates to flyer, the format should be as follows:
• Friday, March 21, 2014
• Not – 3/21/14
•  When adding time, format should be as follows:
• 2 PM – 4 PM
• Not – 2:00p.m. – 4:00p.m.
• If you advertise a class, use the complete class name on the sign.
• Please do not add photos or graphics.

Best regards,
Mary Wagoner

Elevator Speech

Hi,

If anyone already has a great elevator speech, please share it at the Manager's meeting! If you are unfamiliar with elevator speeches, please review these sources for how-to tips:

http://www.ala.org/everyday-advocacy/speak-out/elevator-speech

http://www.ala.org/alsc/elevator-content

I look forward to hearing some great ones on Thursday!

Best regards,

Mary Wagoner, M.L.I.S.

Special Services Team Leader

Houston Public Library

New email: mary.wagoner@houstontx.gov

832-393-2711(office)

713-447-1545 (cell)

832-393-1462 (FAX)

Promoting Programs

Promotion

• Establish a promotional routine in which staff regularly closes all transactions (in person or on the phone) by informing customers of upcoming programs.
• Customer service – Be courteous, be available to “talk” about the program; smile and show enthusiasm.
• Recognize staff promoting programs with positive reinforcement.
• Hosting location has additional promotional responsibility for onsite programs or programs at nearby community sites.
• Staff assist interested customers in the registration process.
• Staff let customers know about for similar programs.
• Assure all staff provide additional program information for their neighborhood library and other locations for customers.
• Cross promote programs.  For example, at the beginning or end of storytime, staff person can promote a youth services program at a nearby neighborhood library.
• Distribute promotional materials to community contacts, *stakeholders, schools, churches and area businesses.
• Stakeholders include, but are not limited to, the following: library customers, employees, business leaders, educators and schools, cultural community, philanthropic community, virtual community, civic groups and associations, superneighborhoods, churches, recreation groups/clubs, health organizations, professional associations, social service organizations, politicians, media (community newspapers), city departments and government agencies.
• Contact well in advance of the program, and send reminders.
• Share information at community events.
• Partners promote us with presence on their website and distribution of print flyers.
• Create attractive and prominent displays with relevant materials.

Thanks!

Mary