SRP Prizes and What to Do With Them

From Sara Pope, 8:19AM:

If you have any SRP prizes left at your location, with the exception of Whataburger coupons, please go ahead and send them back to Corey Johnson. Please make sure your branch is indicated as where it’s coming from.

If you have Whataburger coupons, give them away at checkout to kids until you run out.

Michelle already sent an email, but please send any leftover SRP books to Michelle Johnson, so she can inventory what we have for Winter Reading (coming soon!)

Staff Meeting Notes, 8-6-18

 SOUTHWEST EXPRESS / WALTER GROUP STAFF MEETING

Monday, August 6, 2018, 9:15-9:45 AM, MEETING ROOM

 Staff Meeting Agenda

1. Celebrate SRP Success--Southwest #2 in registration, Walter #4!  Horray, cupcakes and presents for everyone!
2. New Hours and New Staff Schedule (handout)

1. Remember work week is Saturday - Friday.  Make up hours the week after working Saturday to have a day off.  Don’t make them up the week before--that’s overtime :( 
2. The first week of the pay period is the one with payday on Friday; the second week ends in the pay period close.
3. Please check the two-week pattern and make sure your schedule is correct and let me or Christy know ASAP.
4. If you want to take off the Saturday you are schedule to work, please find someone to swap with (full-time staff).  Part-time staff can take off 4 Saturdays in a calendar year.  See Guidelines for Saturdays, June 2014 on blog.
2. City of Houston Executive Order 1-18: Policy on Use of Social Media (Jan 4, 2011).  Please read the policy, then sign the acknowledgment sheet in Karen’s or Christy’s office
3. Introduce Edgar Fuentes, new Senior Manager for Southwest Region.

Important Dates this Month

• Friday, August 10: Last day of pay period; timecards approved after 5:30 PM.
• Friday, August 17: Payday; Regional Youth Services Meeting @ ALI (Irene, Ivy).
• Saturday, August 18: Araceli’s last day before moving to Heights.
• Friday, August 24: Last day of pay period; CE Managers Meeting @ CEN (Christy, Karen)
• Monday, August 27: Staff Meeting, 9:15-9:45 AM.
• Saturday, September 1: SW Multi-Service Center and Southwest Express closed for Labor Day holiday; all staff work at Walter.
• Sunday, September 2, and Monday, September 3: Houston Public Library closed for Labor Day holiday.

SRP for Staff

From Virtual Library, 10:49 AM:

YOU are invited!

Invited to read!

Invited to share!

Yes, YOU!

The summer reading season is about to start and this year, we are bringing back the beloved Staff Summer Reading Program!

Staff SRP is open to all HPL employees wishing to participate.  It is a great way to get to know your coworkers and participate in a fun activity with them. And you just might win a prize!

Everything you need to know about this year’s SSRP is on the intranet:https://houstonlibrary.libguides.com.

Registration is now open. You may register, log time and submit reviews anytime during the reading season from June 1 - August 31, 2018.

Let the summer reading begin!

Questions? Send an email to the Virtual Library team.

SRP for Adults

From Carmen Abrego, 11:15AM:

Happy June 1st, everyone!

Registration for Summer Reading for Grown-Ups (SRG) is underway!

We are excited to announce that this year we will award a special SRG decal upon registration to adults, 18 years and up! Locations should receive decals very soon (actual size of image as shown in this email).

In addition to the registration prize, we will oversee monthly random prize drawings for gift cards to local restaurants and Brazos Bookstore (to be awarded to participants who read and submit book reviews on Beanstack; look for SRG digital badges in 2-3 days). An example of an eligible review:

The Hate U Give

by Angie Thomas

Written by Amy M. on May 29, 2018

I feel like this should be required reading—it is heart-wrenching, raw, and honest!

Please direct customers here: http://houstonlibrary.org/learn-explore/library-events/summer-reading-grown-ups

to learn about upcoming author and outdoor movie programs (PBS host and culinary writer/expert on BBQ, Steven Raichlen on Saturday, June 16! Black Panther outdoor movie night on Thursday, June 28!).

And do encourage your library’s book club regulars to sign up and get in on a REWARDING summer of reading ($25 or $100 gift cards, anyone?)

Questions about SRG? Please contact Jennifer Schwartz, Tiffany Wise, and/or me. To request additional decals, contact Tiffany and Loli De Llano (both copied on this message).

Mandatory Beanstack Training

From Christy, 5/26:

Per CE Manager meeting yesterday, Mary Wagoner requested that all front line staff members need to be able to assist customers on the 2018 SRP registration and prizes (NOT JUST THE YOUTH SERVICES STAFF). 

It is mandatory for all of us to take online 2018 SRP Beanstack training ( see the training link below) for 10 min and use additional 30 minutes to ganin hands on practice in order to get familiar with the program before June 1. 

I added 1 hour SRP TRNG time for all staff on this week schedule. Since this the second year of using the Beanstack for SRP registration, it should be much easier for us this time.  Once you completed your 1 hour training, please report ot Karen or me know by May 31 for your credit. 

Thanks, Christy 

---

---

From: Chang, Christy - HPL
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2018 5:43 PM
To: SWX/ WAL list
Subject: Fw: Beanstack Training

 

Hi team,

SRP registration staff login username and password set up by the Youth Services staff

Walter- Username: WAL, Password: library

SWX- Username: SWX, Password: library

Please do not change the username and password! 

See Mary's email for more SRP training information. The SRP registration has started,  if you have time please get familiar with the 2018 SRP registration.

Thanks Christy

---

From: Wagoner, Mary - HPL
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2018 4:33 PM
To: HPL - NL & Express Managers
Cc: HPL - Youth List; HPL - Special Collections Managers; HPL Training
Subject: Beanstack Training

 

Good afternoon!

We are looking forward to Block Party! and what promises to be the best summer reading program ever!  This is Houston Public Library’s largest program for families, therefore all staff are involved in its success! 

 

All staff at Neighborhood Library and Express locations are required to learn about the Summer Reading Program in 2018.  Of course, staff will receive training credit!  Please share with your respective teams the links below that are on the HPL Training Portal.  You can do this together at your staff meetings!

 

1. Training portal homepage (New Training Materials section): http://houstonlibrary.libguides.com/training-portal
2. Library Functions page (Summer Reading Program 2018 section): https://houstonlibrary.libguides.com/library-functions

 

These are quick tutorials on how to register participants, log reading and activities, reset passwords and award prizes.  It is only about 10 minutes long!!!

It is important that all staff know how to do this since Summer Reading Program starts June 1^{st .} The preference is for staff to have completed training by May 30^th.  If someone needs an extension, please email me.   Thank you!

 

Staff Meeting Notes 5-21-18

9:15-9:45 AM, Walter Meeting Room

STAFF MEETING AGENDA 

• Digital Fluency Assessment--Thank you for finishing your assessment this month. We are 100% complete! More treats . . .

• COH Absenteeism and Sick Leave Use Policy. 

• Mayor’s memo from 4/19/17: “The HR Department is closely monitoring absenteeism in an effort to curtail sick leave abuse that may exist. . . . Abuse patterns include: 
• Sick leave taken consistently on Mondays and Fridays; 
• Sick leave taken consistently on the day before or after a holiday; 
• Sick leave taken after a vacation request was denied; 
• Sick leave taken when difficult assignments or projects are scheduled or due; 
• Sick leave taken following coaching sessions or formal disciplinary action; 
• Sick leave taken when manager/supervisor is on vacation; 
• Sick leave taken when co-workers are on scheduled vacation for fear of having to assume additional duties.” 
• Mayor’s memo from 4/11/18: All employees are responsible for knowing, understanding and complying with the rules and regulations that govern sick leave found in The Code of Ordinances, Chapter 4, Section 14-227, which states in part: 
• “...each absence for an eligible reason after 64 hours within a benefit year, regardless of the duration of the absence, whether taken cumulatively or in a single event, must be verified by an attending health care provider’s statement…” 
• “Verification may be required prior to the use of 64 hours of sick leave in any instance of potential abuse of sick leave.” 

• Customer Complaint: phone call from customer that staff are rude to well-dressed customers, nice to homeless ones. Perception is everything. 

• Weekly Update Emails (5-14-18): 
• Keep your eyes on the screen when you discharge items--make sure each item is properly discharged before going on to the next one. We have 100% human- processed returns so they should be error-free. Watch for: 
• Metallic covers which don’t scan 
• Pop-up messages which need to be closed before scanning the next item 
• Slow processing time 
• Old tags or unsecured tags 
• Example: Teen novel The Replaced, returned in book drop on 5/5, found on shelf 5/19 after customer reported item not checked in. 
• Sorting carts at desk: place items on carts in shelf order. If you’re super busy, place them in a stack after the book end and interfile later. Putting returned books on the carts in order saves everyone time because they don’t have to be handled as often and they’re ready to be shelved. 
• Check your email regularly! 

IMPORTANT DATESFriday, June 1: First day of SRP
Monday, June 4: First day of Lunch @ the Library (M-F 12-1) and Snacks @ the Library (M-F 3-4)
Saturday, June 9 and 16: Monthly Staff Training--SRP and Beanstack
Friday, June 15: Youth Services Meeting, 9-11:30 AM (Ivy, Irene)
Monday, June 18: Staff Meeting
Friday, June 22: CE Managers Meeting
Saturday, June 30: Last day of FY18 & performance review period

Camp Stream Update

From MyTesha Tates, 10:39 AM:

 

As of today we are completely full for all camp sites grades K-5.  Grades 6-12 are full as well at all sites except CEN & CAR.  We are accepting additional wait list applications.  CEN and CAR both have space for 9-12^th graders.  Pls share this update with any requestors. 

 

Please note that on the first day of each camp any campers that do not arrive by 8:30AM will have their spots released.  Any wait list applicants and/or walk-ins can fill these vacated spaces if they are present.  Waitlist applicants will fill these spaces first based on the order that their original application was received.  Walk-ins will be processed next if space remains based on the order of their arrival.   This process will be managed by Community Engagement. 

 

Feel free to reach out to any member of the Community Engagement Team with additional questions or concerns. 

SRP 2018- Block Party!

From Mary Wagoner, 4/26:

Houston Public Library’s Summer Reading Program theme this year is BLOCK PARTY! We’re celebrating community and community building through reading, library program participation and community involvement. 

Houston Public Library is streamlining the reading levels by logging days for everyone. If participants read just 20 minutes a day they can log that as a day read. Participants in the Summer Reading Program will earn digital badges with corresponding button pins as well as a book at the 10 Day, 20 Day and 30 Day level. For Library Program attendance and Community Involvement, the prizes will be digital badges and corresponding button pins.

To that end – every location will receive a 1.25” Button Machine, a 1.25” Graphic Punch, and button pieces! Participants will be able to make their button and add it to their lanyard!  The buttons/pins are fun, collectable and advertise the program to other families.  The button/pin makers can be used throughout the year as part of a craft or reward for attending a program!  The button/pins will be part of the prizes for future Summer Reading Programs as well.

Prizes for Babies: Registration – Book 10 Days – Finger Puppet + Book 20 Days – Bubbles + Book 30 Days – Rubber Duck + Book

Prizes for Kids and Teens: Registration – HPL Lanyard + Book 10 Days – Button Pin + Book 20 Days - Button Pin + Book 30 Days – Button Pin + Book 5 Library Activities – Button Pin 5 Community Activities – Button Pin

Teen Grand Prizes - Teen readers who unlock the 30 Day level will be automatically entered into a drawing to win a pair of wireless Skullcandy headphones (1 pair per location).

Weekly Drawings for Kids – Any kid who is registered and has logged reading will be entered in a random drawing for a Kindle Fire Kids Edition each week during the summer.

Family Prizes – This prize is awarded through the adult Summer Reading for Grownups program. To unlock the Family Prize badge, adults must review 1 book marketed for juvenile or teen readers and 1 book marketed for adult readers and the youth must unlock the 30 Day badge. Family = 1 Adult + 1 Kid (Ages 5-18)

• To make logging even easier, Beanstack will have a mobile app up and running by June 1!

• Pre-registration will open on May 15^th, but participants will not be able to log books until June 1.

• Training is coming soon!  All frontline staff will participate so in training and HPL’s customers will be thrilled that anyone on the HPL Customer Experience team can assist them with registration and prizes. 

My special thanks to Rebecca, Sara and Corey for being Beanstack gurus, trainers and consultants and working so hard behind the scenes to plan,  coordinate and implement the program. My thanks to entire Youth Services team for their hard work and dedication to improving and making Summer Reading Program exciting! In addition, I would like to acknowledge Communications for their support and Camp STREAM for becoming a mainstay of Houston Public Library’s Summer Reading Program.

Let Rebecca, Sara, Corey or me know if you need more information; or have any questions.  Thank you for sharing the joy of reading!

SRP Prizes Still Available

From Corey Johnson, 9:16AM:

I just wanted to remind everyone that we are still awarding prizes throughout August. We still have tons of Kids Chipotle, Rice tickets, Alley Theater tickets, and finger puppets available, so if your branch needs more, please let me know asap. 

     

Top reader prizes for all locations were sent out last Friday along with a spreadsheet with each location's top readers names, and contact information. If your location has not received either one of those by now, please let me know.  

Shout out to PAR, YOU, LOO, JOH, RIN, DGX, and BRA for sending us prizes to redistribute! Please remember that if your location has a surplus of prizes that are not high in demand, send them to YS [Youth Services] (attention me or Sara) so we can redistribute them to a location that needs them. 

If your location needs ANY prizes, even if we ran out, please let us know your location, what you need, and how many so we can know who to redistribute prizes to if we receive any from other locations. 

Beanstack Update

From Rebecca Denham, 7/12:

We’ve been getting a lot of questions about badges not unlocking when customers think they’ve reached a certain reading level.  What has often been the case is that customers are counting books logged in May toward their Summer Reading Program goals. 

Participants can back date reading, but since the program started June 1st, only books/minutes logged starting 6/1 will count toward completion.  It is a little confusing because there is a “Reading Summary” box on the right-hand side of the screen when a person is in their account.  This is a cumulative total of all reading, regardless of date logged.  To see the number of books/minutes that have been logged during the program itself please check the “Program Participation” box (located just under the green row of buttons).  That will show the programs that someone is participating in and how many books/minutes they’ve read for that program.  Please see pic attached picture.

Please make sure to check the books/minutes for Game On! Summer Reading Program 2017 when a customer thinks they’ve reached a level but the badge hasn’t unlocked.  If you run into any issues with an account, send us the customer’s name and email so we can investigate.

Staff Meeting Notes 7/10/17

SOUTHWEST EXPRESS / WALTER GROUP STAFF MEETING

FRIDAY, July 10,  2017, 9:15-10:45 AM, MEETING ROOM

Present: Karen, Christy, Alexandra, Derrick, Holly, Irene, Ivy, Linda, Martha, Patricia, Sonia, Kiki, Xavier. Absent: Araceli, Rhonda, Teresa

 Staff Meeting Agenda

1. Updates

1. Welcome new Summer Intern Farah (Karen)
2. Alexandra’s last day--Aug 11/ job posting (Karen)
3. New Staff meeting schedule (see below)
4. SRP Programs at SWX and WAL (Ivy & Irene)
5. Summer Food Service Program (Linda)
6. Volunteers (Christy)
7. Using Beanstack to award SRP prizes (Karen)
8. Updates from June Managers Meetings (Christy & Karen)
1. Other Updates
1. New Stats Categories
2. AC/ Building temp last weekend
3. Delivery/ Deposit Bag & FLIP Kits
4. Shifting/ No Bookends
5. Holds/ Hotspots
6. Safety/ Emergency Exits
7. June Outreach results

3. Issues to Discuss

Important Dates this Month

• Monday, July 10: Outreach SW WIC Clinic (Irene)
• Tuesday, July 11: SW Assistant Managers Meeting (Christy)
• Friday, July 14: Outreach at Fonteno Senior Center (Derrick); last day of pay period
• Wednesday, July 19: SWMSC Providers Meeting (Christy); Outreach: Kids Learning Center (Irene)
• Friday, July 21: Youth Services Meeting (Irene); pay day
• Monday, July 24: Outreach: SW WIC Clinic (Irene)
• Thursday, July 27: Outreach at Sharpstown Civic Association (Linda)
• Friday, July 28: CE Managers Meeting at CEN (Christy, Karen); last day of pay period
• Friday, August 4: Outreach: Lansdale Community Center (Ivy); pay day

FY18 Southwest Express/ Walter Group Staff Meeting (2nd Monday of the month)

2017: August 14, September 11, October 9, November 13 (Thanksgiving potluck), December 11 (Christmas party)

2018: January 8, February 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11

SRP Prizees Update

From Kallie Benes, 2:53PM:

Just some SRP prize updates: We are sending out more Family Prize Packs, along with other prizes as you request them now.  So send us your request if you need more prizes.  Please include the audience, prize level, & qty. needed. Ex. Baby/Toddler 10 level- 20

As of Friday, we had nearly 17,000 registered participants in SRP (we had 18,000 at the end of July last year), so you can see our numbers are really up.  That’s fantastic!!! Keep up the great work!  This has caused a slight hiccup, in that we’re currently out of bibs/teethers and only have 5 toddler/presc. Meal sets left.  We are working to get another shipment of these prizes sent out asap.  If you need more of these, let us know and we will send you some as soon as they get in, but please let your patrons know that more are on their way and if they could stop back in in 1-2 weeks, we should be back in stock.  Thanks so much for your understanding, we appreciate your help in conveying this to our customers.  Please make sure all staff are awarding the correct prizes to the correct age group (0-2yr. get bibs/teethers, 3-4yr. get meal sets).

One additional reminder, a customer mentioned that she was told she had to print the Hermann Park and Raising Cane tickets/coupons online herself.  This is incorrect.  All tickets for the family prize pack are in the stapled bags.  Please ensure staff are awarding the correct bag for the correct age of the child (label on bag).  The astros tickets are also inside the pixelated bags at the 30 level (for kids/teens).

Also, I’m attaching the prize distribution chart again, for you to display for staff’s use.  You may want to put this near your prizes.

Thanks again for all of your amazing work in making this one of our most successful SRPs to date!  You’re all awesome!  Keep it up for our last month.  Here’s a virtual hug!

SRP Registration is Up!

From Patrick, 6/20:
I was able to find the SRP registrations for the last few years:

• Southwest went from 370 registrations last year all the way up to 629 this year.

• Walter went from 797(2015) to 643(2016) all the way up to 1126 this year.

Great job getting people signed up out there!

UPDATE: 
As of Saturday, we're at 1792 combined (646 SWX, 1146 WAL), behind Stella Link at 1942 and just ahead of Kendall at 1665.  We had a big outreach at Ed White Elementary and a ton of preschool outreaches last month, and just finished two outreaches to Rodriguez Elementary and DRAW Academy this month--all of that has made a big difference and given us a very strong start.  

The best way to keep it up is for all of us to ask EVERY child and parent who comes in if they're signed up for SRP and if not, do it on the spot--1) they get a free book right away, 2) it keeps kids reading while school is out, 3) they get cool prizes the more they read, and 4) they start school in the fall ready to succeed!  Karen

Beanstack Updates

From Sara Pope, 6/11:

In Beanstack, User Names are not case sensitive, but passwords are.

So if you are logging in as a Central staff person, you could use CEN, cen, Cen or any other combinations and still be able to get in.

Passwords are case sensitive, so if you or a customer is having trouble logging in, you might want to check that Caps Lock key.

Glitch with SRP Certificates

Reebecca Denham, 11:04AM:

These was a glitch with the digital certificates for the 5 Hour level of Kids & Teens SRP.  I have talked with our vendor and it should be resolved shortly. Customers will get a link to the PDF of the certificate in the email informing them of their prizes.  I have also linked the PDF to the SRP 2017 Information Page located on the YS Blog.  If a customer comes in asking for their certificate to be printed please do so at no cost.

As of this email we have 1566 babies and toddlers, 5175 kids and 1807 teens registered for summer reading and we’re less than a week into summer!  You are all doing a fantastic job of promoting our programs – thank you!  Please continue to promote SRP and encourage reading and program attendance throughout the summer. 

Adult SRP is Here!

From Tiffany Wise, 2:58PM:

The Summer Reading for Grown-Ups (SRG) program started on June 1 and I’m excited to share that in less than a week’s time, over 1,600 people have signed up!

We are in the midst of fielding requests for more registration prizes, specifically the MFAH admission passes. If your location is in need of more of these at any time, please contact myself of Loli de Llano.

In addition to the MFAH registration prize, we will host drawings in June and July for a Kindle Fire. Monthly drawings for the Kindle Fire devices are based on how many books with original reviews registrants submit. In other words, the more books read and reviewed, the better the chances of winning.

Our grand prize this year is based on attendance to the select programs listed on the SRG page here. A special code will be available at the events, which attendees can enter to be eligible for a drawing for a Nintendo Switch bundle.

Please let me know if you have any questions, I’d be happy to help!

NOTE: SRP for Grown-Ups page on HPL website: houstonlibrary.org/learn-explore/library-events/summer-reading-grown-ups.  Karen

Staff Meeting Notes 6/2/17

9AM-11:45 AM, MEETING ROOM

Staff Meeting Agenda (9-10:20 AM)

1. SRP Update/Preview (40 min):

1. Programs at SWX and WAL (Ivy & Irene)
2. Summer Food Service Program (Linda & Teresa)
3. Volunteers (Christy)
4. Freaky Friday ticket winners
5. Using Beanstack
1. Updates from May Managers Meetings (Christy & Karen) (10 min)
2. Other Updates (10 min)
1. Branch Meeting Room Calendar in Outlook
2. CEN and Float items found on shelves
3. Cleaning Restrooms
4. Coin Copier refunds
5. May Outreach results
6. Walgreens’ Flu Shots
3. Issues to Discuss (20 min)
4. Break (10 min)

Important Dates this Month

• Monday, June 5: Monday hours begin; Summer Food Service Program begins; Outreach at SWMSC Summer Kickoff (Christy)
• Tuesday, June 6: SW Managers Meeting at Frank (Karen); Volunteer Orientation (Christy)
• Wednesday, June 7: COH New Employee Orientation (Araceli); Outreach at Alliance for Multi-Cultural Services (Christy)
• Friday, June 9: Youth Services Meeting (Irene, Ivy); Outreach at Chinese Community Center (Christy); Outreach at Lansdale Community Center (Ivy); Pay day!
• Tuesday, June 13: Outreach at Clarewood House (Derrick)
• Friday, June 16: Outreach at Fonteno Senior Center (Derrick); last day of pay period
• Saturday, June 17: Education Expo at SWMSC (Christy)
• Monday, June 19: SLAMS Committee meeting (Alexandra)
• Thursday, June 22: Outreach at Sharpstown Civic Association (Karen, Linda)
• Friday, June 23: Outreach at Fonteno Senior Center (Derrick); Pay Day!
• Friday, June 30: CE Managers Meeting at CEN (Christy, Karen); last day of pay period;  last day of FY17; end of FY17 HEAR review period

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Staff Training Agenda (10:30-11:30):  Your Pay (Karen) & Time Off (Christy)

1. Interlibrary Loan Things to Know (handout)
2. Your Pay: Electronic Timekeeping Policy (handout); find online at www.houstontx.gov >Administrative Policies >General Government >2-4 Electronic Timekeeping Policy 2.22.2012;  see also Municipal Employee Guidebook >Section IV - Your Pay

3. Your TIme Off: Employee Leave Benefits (handout); see also Municipal Employee Guidebook >Section VI - Time Off; and Paid Time Off.