New Community Engagement Literacy Mini-Bookmobile

From Sara Karow, 2/28:

The new Community Engagement Literacy Mobile (a mini-bookmobile) is a also new HPL library location!

The van has its own Sirsi  Workflows “Home Library” code, which is CELM. The LMS Float Team is excited to be working with Community Engagement Team to manage its stock so it will be filled with materials appropriate to the venues it will visit.

The CELM collection does float, so after customers check out items from there, they can return them anywhere. Those returns will simply float into any regular floating HPL location, but if they are returned at non-floating locations like CEN & CMH, they will go intransit back to the Literacy Mobile.  CEN & CMH staff should print and attach the regular yellow intransit labels when they are triggered during discharge. CEN staff should then put the items on the booktruck outside Sylvia’s office in LST, alongside items intransit to closed NLs and mini-branches. CMH staff should also attach the intransit labels then put the material in delivery. The LMS Float Team will collect the intransit items from LST and the FIDS Mailroom and find new homes for those intransit items.

The CELM collection does show up in the online public catalog, but the items are not holdable, they don’t do holds paging, and they are not a holds pickup location.

RELATED:  If a customer asks about scheduling an event with either the Literacy Mobile or CE’s Mobile Express bus, they have the option to submit their request online via the CET’s webpage, http://houstonlibrary.org/our-partners/community-engagement, or you may refer them directly to the Community Engagement Team, 832-393-1533.

Winter Reading Program Information

From Mary Wagoner, 11/14:

Tis the season for Winter Reading!   Please help our customers enroll in Houston Public Library’s free Winter Reading Program!  Youth, ages 0 to 18, may read 10 minutes a day for 10 days from December 18, 2017, to January 8, 2018, to earn a sweet prize of a book and a lollipop.

Registration is easy!   Beanstack information is on the Youth Services  blog (including a reminder about the login for staff in Beanstack and the Beanstack manual). On the top left sidebar there is a picture link.  Managers, if any staff need training on Beanstack, please contact Sara Pope (832.393.1628) or Rebecca Denham (832.393.1691) and they will gladly see that training is provided!

Youth may claim their prize of a book and a lollipop at Central; or your neighborhood library from January 2^ndthrough January 13th, 2018. The Youth Services team is assuring that a shipment of lollipops will be coming to your neighborhood library before the first day that prizes will be awarded, January 2^nd.  The program is set up for “while supplies last”, however if we run out of the 5” lollipops, we’ll be sending out smaller lollipops.  If you run low on supplies, please contact Corey Johnson at (832.393.1314).

Please check out Houston Public Library’s website: http://houstonlibrary.org/learn-explore/winter-reading-programThere’s a card on the front page “Winter Events” and cards on the Kids, Tween, and Teen pages. It will be advertised through social media as well, and it is in the seasonal brochure. There is no separate print material for it.

You may receive some questions about reading for 10 minutes a day for 10 days.  The days do not have to be consecutive days.  It can be a combination of any 10 days between December 18^th and January 8^th.

A lot of families are struggling through the holidays this year.  I am so inspired by your commitment to putting a few smiles on some faces by sharing this fun, free holiday program with your customers.

Mini-Library at NE Multi-Service Center & Literacy in a Bag

From Liz Sargent, 4:41PM:

I have exciting news to share which will bring back library services to the Lakewood Neighborhood Library service area.

The Houston Public Library is partnering with the Health Department to create a mini-library at the Northeast Multi-Service Center. The exact opening date is to be determined. We are hopeful for Monday, October 16, 2017 however another tenant has to move from the space being provided to HPL first. Services will include checking materials in and out, picking up Holds, basic computer classes that support FEMA assistance, Open Job Labs with Job Readiness, Very Ready Reading program, storytimes, after-school activities and access to online learning resources, such as Brainfuse.

The mini-library will be located at:

Northeast Multi-Service Center, Room 122

9720 Spaulding  Houston, Texas 77016

The Hours of Service will be:

Mon | Wed | Thurs:  10 AM - 6 PM

Tues: 11 AM – 7 PM

Fri: 10 AM – 5 PM

Telephone: Still Being Determined

We will update you as soon as we have an opening date for the mini-library at the Northeast Multi-Service Center. We are still working hard to finalize plans for Kendall, McGovern-Stella Link, and Meyer service areas as soon as possible.  It is HPL’s goal to restore services to all communities affected by Tropical Storm Harvey as quickly as possible. 

Literacy in the Bag

Please join us tomorrow from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Heights Neighborhood Library for the kick off celebration of the third annual “Literacy in the Bag” Book Drive which focuses on promoting family literacy in Houston! Join us for storytimes, 3D animation of “I” The Guy, a station to write and design your own comics, face painting and crafts. Texas Tamale Company and St. Arnold Brewing Co. will provide refreshments. Each guest will receive an “i” The Guy writing journal and a copy of the iWRITE anthology called, “I Write Short Stories by Kids for Kids,” autographed by the young authors. Please check HPL’s Facebook page!

“Literacy in the Bag” was founded by Texas Tamale Company & iWRITE Literacy Organization. Sponsors and partners of “Literacy in the Bag” include the Houston Public Library, Friends of The Houston Public Library, H-E-B and St. Arnold Brewing Co. In December, Literacy in the Bag volunteers will be dropping off empty H-E-B brown paper bags at homes in the Houston Heights and Spring Branch areas. Families of the respective neighborhoods are encouraged to donate new and gently used books by placing them in the bags throughout the week. “Literacy in the Bag” volunteers will then pick up the book donations on the following weekend.

Storms may stall us, but they don’t stop us!  Stay HoUSton Strong!

Happy FY2018 and Thanks for Your Hard Work in FY2017!!

From Liz Sargent, 7/3:

I just wanted to take the time to thank each one of you for the excellent FY2017 we just finished (June 30). Your dedication and devotion to serving Houstonians is appreciated and to be celebrated. I know this Summer is ALREADY bustling at all Libraries! You all are doing an amazing job keeping up!

Here is to an excellent FY2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018) that we just started. I wanted each person in Customer Experience to know what we are working towards in FY2018. Please find the Customer Experience FY2018 Goals below and attached to this email.

1.      After School Zones (ASZ): Expand ASZ locations from 16 to 18, regularly use kits to increase the STEM/STEAM focus of ASZs, and evaluate current structure and format of ASZs internally and through YPQI.

2.      International Services: Continue evaluating and expanding International Services programs (Citizenship, ESOL, Living Room @ HPL, etc.).

3.      Linking to Us: Continue collecting customer videos to help tell Houston Public Library’s story.

4.      Managers/Supervisors Bootcamp: Hold a second Managers Bootcamp during FY2018 with all Customer Experience Managers and Assistant Managers including a component applicable to all Customer Experience Supervisors.

5.      Notary: Expand locations from 13 to 15 and continue evaluating the program during FY2018.

6.      Outreach: Continue providing outreach to area schools in support of Learning Link and connect and partner with other area organizations as appropriate. 

7.      Programming: Evaluate current programming offered at each location with support from Systemwide Programming.

8.      QLess: Launch the QLess software to manage the waitlist for Passports with continuous monitoring and evaluation of the service.

9.      Very Ready Reading: Continue providing story time in the Very Ready Reading format and utilize the story time kits regularly. 

10.   Workforce Literacy: Expand Open Job Labs to 25 locations and continue evaluating and expanding Workforce Literacy Classes (Computer Classes, ESOL, Citizenship, Job Readiness Seminars, Small Business Workshops, Workforce Solutions, etc.)

These goals are aligned with HPL’s FY2018 system goals as well as Mayor Sylvester Turner’s goals specificallyComplete Communities.

Please keep these all in mind during FY2018. Here’s to an excellent FY2018!!