S.A.V.E. Volunteers

This summer we had 3 volunteers that completed the requirements for the S.A.V.E. program. Congratulations goes to Destiny, Yasmin, and Dontrae for providing us with at least 50 volunteer hours each this summer. I will be having the recognition party for them on August 21st at 4:00 pm.

Tomisha

Guidelines for the Summer Reading Program

Children are designated as ages 0-12
--At registration, each child receives a specially designed fan, clown nose, or tattoo just for signing up while supplies last.

--At 10 books read or 10 hours read, each child receives a pencil case which includes a few items like a pencil, erasor, ruler, and pencil sharpener while supplies last. (Should a child prefer a music download, then please give it to them. No need to ask questions however, there is a limited number and these are meant for teens, ages 13-18 so please encourage the school supplies kit for ages 0-12.)

--At 10 books read or 10 hours read, each child receives a ticket to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus good for one child admission (ages 12 and under only). There is no ticket for the parent accompanying the child. These would have to be purchased. Tickets available while supplies last and HPL will receive a total of 20,000 tickets.

--At 10 books read or 10 hours read, each child receives a sticker with SRP graphics that says "Hooked on Books!"

--At 10 books read or 10 hours read, each child and teen will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card from Barnes & Noble. One gift card per library and all winners selected randomly via Summer Reader. Sandy Farmer will oversee the random drawings. External Affairs will mail out the gift card to winners.

Teens are designated as ages 13-18
--At registration, each teen receives a specially designed fan or tattoo just for signing up and while supplies last. Should a teen want a clown nose, please give to them.

--At 10 books read or 10 hours read, each teen receives a music download while supplies last. (Should a teen prefer the pencil case, then please give it to them. No need to ask questions.)

--At 10 books read or 10 hours read, each teen receives a sticker with SRP graphics that says "Hooked on Books!" if they want one.

--At 10 books read or 10 hours read, each child and teen will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card from Barnes & Noble. One gift card per library and all winners selected randomly via Summer Reader. Sandy Farmer will oversee the random drawings. External Affairs will mail out the gift card to winners.

Adults are designated as ages 19+
--At registration, each adult receives a specially designed fan or tattoo just for signing up and while supplies last. Should an adult want a clown nose, please give to them.

--At 3 books read or 10 hours read, each adult receives a coupon for one free week at the YMCA while supplies last.

--At 3 books read, each adult is entered into a random drawing for a $100 gift card to Barnes & Noble. One gift card per library and all winners selected randomly via Summer Reader. Sandy Farmer will oversee the random drawings. External Affairs will mail out the gift card to winners.
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For clarification on the Barnes & Noble gift cards, each library will have two winners. One winner of the $50 gift card will be randomly selected from the ages 0-18 group. One winner of the $100 gift card will be randomly selected from the ages 19+ group. External Affairs will mail out the gift card to winners.

Marketing the Juvenile Collection

I have created more displays in the Children's area. In order to continue marketing our collection, I have created displays that will hopefully appeal to our patrons. There are 4 new displays: "Hot Off The Press" (new books), "Whodunit?" (juvenile mysteries), "Just The Facts" (non-fiction), and Coretta Scott King Award Books. Take a look when you get the chance and feel free to offer suggestions for books that should be there.

Thanks,
Tomisha

Texas Bluebonnet Award Books

I have moved the Texas Bluebonnet Award books to the shelves that were vacated by the nonfiction VHS tapes. This allows us to display these books more prominently in the juvenile area. I have also included the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners for 2007-2008 on the display. Further, for your information the list of nominees for 2008-2009 are there if you ever need to know if a book is a current Bluebonnet Book. Let me know if you have any questions.

Tomisha

More Changes in the Juvenile Area

More changes have occurred in the Juvenile area of the library:

1. The fiction paperbacks are now on the left side behind the non-fiction books.

2. On the right side, you will find the magazines and comics facing the board books. There are empty shelves in the middle that will be used for displaying new books.

3. The Spanish picture books have been spread out for a cleaner look. Also, the Spanish non-fiction books have been moved to the aisle with the picture books.

That's all for now.

Tomisha

Career Workshop by the Houston Area Urban League

The Houston Area Urban League will be providing a career workshop on January 8th and 22nd at 11:00. Please advertise this event to as many patrons as you can. We want these to be successful workshops that will impact our community.

Outside Contractors and GSD Logging

Hi, please see below for a message from Regina Stemmer, Chief of Neighborhood Libraries:

Effective immediately

Please accompany any outside contractor who needs access to the mechanical room or other controlled areas. Do not hand them any keys.

Attached is a form to use to log visits from outside contractors and GSD staff. Please make sure that any staff who are not a part of your unit log their name, company name, time/date and purpose of visit.

Thank you for your immediate cooperation on this matter.

Regina

I have also emailed this information to all staff members, with the log as an attachment. Since we already use the log, just be diligent in having all workers sign in and out on it.

Thanks,

sb