Great Outreach, Julia and Saima!

Hello,

I would like to announce that on 5/14/08, Saima and Julia a database training/Power Card outreach for the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants at the Terrace They had 100 % participation on Power Card signups!!

Thanks for planning this outreach--getting out into the community and sharing our great resources! This is exactly the kind of Outreach that we should be doing.

Wonderful, wonderful work Julia and Saima.

Weekend Outreaches

We had a great weekend of Outreaches this past weekend. On Saturday, we had a table at the American Lung Associations annual walk. This was held at the Aquarium downtown. Kathleen and I signed up 18 Power Cards. Diane Durbin of the Friends joined us at the table as well.

On Sunday, we did an Outreach at the Museum of Fine Arts. In addition to our traditional Outreach Table, we also had a special Bookmark Craft. Kathleen and I worked the table, while Sondee, Leslie, Mercedes, and Melanie Scurlock helped to run the craft room. Also, special thanks to Saima and Sarah for putting together a great list of HPL Resources to accompany the Pompeii exhibit at MFAH. These were very popular!
Pictures coming soon.....

FYI-Outreach Opportunity

Please work with Marlana Mitchell if interested in volunteering for this event.


Greetings to All:

The Houston Public Library will have a booth at the City of Houston Wellness Fair! The Wellness Fair is Thursday, April 24, 2008 at the George R. Brown Convention Center Exhibit Hall A. I sent an e-mail and copy of this poster regarding the Wellness Fair on March 26, 2008.

I am now asking for staff support to assist at the Houston Public Library Booth. The volunteer shifts are:

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (I will discuss this shift with the volunteers)

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (I will also need help to pack up materials)

I would like to have 2-3 additional volunteers for each shift.

Please contact me via e-mail by 12:00 p.m. on Monday, April 21, 2008 regarding your participation. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me.

Thanks so much for your consideration and participation!!

Thanks so much for all that you do!!!!

Sincerely,

Marlana

International Festival Volunteers

Hello,

We are looking for volunteers for the International Festival for next weekend (April 26th & 27th). This year’s theme is “Out of Africa!”
Please join us and help to promote HPL’s great services!
Shifts:
Saturday – 12-3 (2-3 people)
Saturday – 3-6 (2-3 people)
Sunday – 12-2:30 (2-3 people)
Sunday – 2:30-5 (2-3 people)
http://www.ifest.org/en/cms/?23#dates

Central folks: We may be in need of more volunteers for this weekend (tomorrow and sunday). Please see me, Mike, or Mary Frances.

Author confirmation

Pleased to announce that Stella Rimington will be joining us the evening of Thursday, July 17th.

http://www.randomhouse.com/author/results.pperl?authorid=25591

Authors for summer

I haven't had much time to update this blog lately, but I am going to start finding the time! Let me take a moment to update you on authors. I'll write a separate blog tomorrow about the many other exciting cultural programs, lectures, technology, business (and much more) that we've got in store.

We have several authors visiting us this summer and lots of great prospects for the fall. the confirmed authors for fall are:

Robert Leleux, author of "Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy." Robert will be the first author in our new LGBT series. Robert is terrific. Here is a link to a Chron article http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/books/5509762.html

Laura Dave. Her new book "The Divorce Party," is being made into a major motion picture. http://www.lauradave.com/

Sarah Bird
http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/authors/bird/
Her new novel is "Weightless"

Dayna Steele --Local Celeb with a fab new book
http://www.amazon.com/Rock-Top-Learned-Success-Greatest/dp/1934812064/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207699981&sr=1-1


There are still several great things pending for both Summer and Fall. More soon!

Partnership With Alley

Hey everybody,

Just wanted to let you know about a new program that I'm really excited about. We are going to be partnering with the Alley Theater to do a play/book club that I think will be called "Pages and Stages." This will be a monthly discussion group that will meet at the Alley about once a month (or once during the run of a show) to discuss a play or book that relates somehow to the play being shown. We are working with Murder by the Book on this project is well. They will promote it in store, assist with book sales, and perhaps even facilitate the first meeting for us. Our first book will be "The Body in the Library," by Agatha Christie. The Alley will be showing a Christie play for their summer chills in July, and our first meeting will be on July 15th, from 6:30-7:15. The Alley will serve refreshments, and then members will attend the play (the Alley prefers that members purchase tickets to the show). We will, when possible, have guest speakers for these events. Laura Wingfield and Karen Luik are the liaisons/facilitators for the group. Kudos to them for picking the first title.

Julia D. Did a Great Outreach......

Greetings all....
Kudos to Julia for the Power Card outreach that she held at Bayland Community Center for the Houston Genealogical Forum April 5th, 2008. She signed 14 people up for Power Cards!!!!!!!
Great Job!

Outreach Opportunities

Sorry to be out of the Blog loop for so long. I promise to resume frequent posts very soon.
Here are a few upcoming Outreach Opportunities:
May 3rd 2008, HPL Booth at Downtown Acquarium for American Lung Association Walk
8 am - 11 am
Looking for three volunteers

HPL table at Friends of the Houston Public Library Book Sale:
May 16-18 (Hours below are subject to change slightly.)
Friday, May 16
4:30-7:00 pm
6:30-9:00 pm
Saturday, May 17
9-11:30 am
11:30 am-2:00
2:00-5:00 pm
Sunday, May 18
2:00 -5:00 pm

WorkSource

Hello, and thanks for your patience on this Outreach Event. We have finally scheduled a date. We will visit the WorkSource Thursday, February 21, from 10:00 am-2:00 pm. So far, I have two volunteers. I can use two-three more, depending on the shift times. Please inquire as soon as possible.
Thanks.

Outreach Opportunity this Weekend

Hello! Marlana Mitchell is requesting volunteers for the 2008 Lunar New Year Celebration this Saturday. Let me know if you are interested, and I will coordinate with Marlana. This is an opportunity to get your Outreach hours.
Details below:

The 2008 Lunar New Year Celebration will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at the Chinese Community Center (CCC). The Chinese Community Center is located at 9800 Town Park, Houston, Texas 77036. The event is 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The volunteer shifts are as follows:

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (2-3 additional persons)

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (2-3 additional persons)

2:00 p.m. – 4::00 p.m. (2-3 additional persons)

The attendance for this event is projected to be approximately 9,000 to 10,000 participants. Last year, there were 8,000 participants.

Central Programming

Less than four months from opening day! Now that we are all back together, I would like to get everyone’s input on planning for adult programming. I’ll need to have all summer programming submitted by April 4th, so we have just a couple of months to work on it. One of the new Programs we are really excited about is the “Brown Bag Lunch Series,” which consists of a variety of programs that take place over the 12-1, and then the 1-2, lunch hours. We will be doing book clubs, DIY, Cooking, and anything else that we think might be of interest. We’re going to be very ambitious with this series, hosting programs every day, possibly at both lunch hours. This is an opportunity for you to host the program you have always wanted to host. Particularly interested in a certain genre? Host your own book club!
Other programs series that will be featured include a new senior series with an emphasis on technology, a combination book/movie club, and a Young Professionals series. Most of the film programs will be held in the evenings, and we will host some of the DIY programs on Saturdays.
I think that we can figure out a way to turn your dream program into a reality, so please see me or any member of the Central Programming Committee (Darcy, Saima, Sarah B., or Marcia) to share your ideas.

Worksource

Is being postponed until the third week in February. More details to follow.

Report on Beacon Outreach

Yesterday, Martha, Sarah, Debbie, Rachel, and I, held an Outreach at the Beacon Day Center of Christ Church Cathedral Downtown. The Beacon provides hot meals, showers, laundry service, clothing, and social services to Houston’s homeless and low-income persons. There were also representatives from voter registration on-site that day, and we were able to get a table right next to them. When I planned this outreach, I was unsure as to how much interest clients would have in signing up for library cards. I have volunteered at the Beacon for a few weeks now, and have observed that the primary concern of those who frequent the Beacon is, quite simply, and quite understandably, to eat. Therefore, I assumed I had brought far more volunteers than needed, but thought it would be a nice experience for everyone. I was so wrong! We had a line of people eagerly waiting to sign up before we were even done setting up, and I don’t believe that any of us stopped hustling until we closed up shop. Many of the clients talked to me about how important reading is to them, and how they were very excited at the prospect of being able to borrow books. As expected, many were unable to provide proof of Texas address, in which case we issued cards with a block, to be removed upon proof of address. In all, we signed up 69 people in two hours, and handed out many bags full of library literature. That’s a lot of new library users!!!!!
Before the lunch meal was served, an announcement was made (as is always the case here before meals) for all to join hands and give thanks for all that we do have, and a reminder that, however little we have, we must always extend a hand to help others. The minister who gave the prayer also made a lovely announcement given the occasion, about the power of a library card, and the power of having the right to vote. Everyone joined hands together, both clients and visitors, and it was quite a special experience for all of us.

I want to give extra special thanks to Martha, Sarah, Debbie, Rachel. You guys did an amazing job of reaching out to the clients of the Beacon. Your caring natures were really apparent from your interactions, and you kept smiling the entire time, and, I think, put smiles on many faces that day. I really, really appreciate that.

February Outreach Opportunity

Hello! I have arranged for us to visit the WorkSource Downtown for an Outreach event on Tuesday, February 5th. We visited the Worksource back in November, had a very successful outreach, and decided that this was a perfect place for repeat visits, as they constantly have new clients.
We will be there from 10-2, so there is a possibility of splitting up shifts, although parking is a bit of an issue, so it might be best for us to arrange to carpool.
Please let me know if you are interested.

Outreach at the Beacon Day Center

Hello Prospective Volunteers,

I will be doing an Outreach at the Beacon Day Center on January 14th. Our visit will coincide with a voter registration drive. The Beacon is not a shelter, but a day center run by Christ Cathedral Church that opens its doors Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays to allow people to receive a hot meal, take showers, do laundry, seek social services, and more.
Please understand before volunteering for this Outreach, that this is not a "pleasant" place to be. I have been volunteering there on Sundays, and I greatly enjoy it, but when I first walked in, I was intimidated. There is an HPD Officer on duty at all times, and I never felt that my safety was threatened, but I was definitely aware of the grimness of life on the street. I think this is an Outreach best attended by people with a special interest in the Homeless in Houston, or homelessness/social services in general.
Now of course, many of the clients will not be able to get access to library services for lack of address. However, Mike Puccio, who runs the center, assures me that many of his clients do have proof of address, and he will pre-announce our visit so that people can be as prepared as possible.
Thanks.

U of H Downtown Outreach Opportunity

Hello!

I have an Outreach planned at U of H downtown for sometime during the week of Tuesday, January 22 – Thursday, January 24. (I have not chosen which day yet).
Please let me know if you are interested in participating. I can probably take up to three people.

Thanks!
Jennifer

Online Outreach

Big thanks to Saima for posting the presentation on Online Outreach. I am in the process of reading the presentation now, but I see a huge opportunity for us to work on making sure that HPL is represented on local city sites, Wikipedia, Mapquest, and many, many others. If anyone is interested in working on this with me, I am sure that it could count as Outreach hours. Well, I'm not sure. Mike?
http://librarianinblack.typepad.com/librarianinblack/files/HLA2007-OnlineOutreachAndMarketing.pdf

On the Horizon

Outreaches planned for near future (details to come soon):

Outreach at Allen Center Food Court

Outreach at U of H Downtown

Outreach at the Beacon of Hope(Christ Cathedral Church)

Another WorkSource Outreach

HISD WinterFest--a huge family festival at the George R. Brown (if I can get the vendor fee waived).

Brown Bag Lunch Series

The Brown Bag Lunch series, which will launch with the opening of Central, is an excellent opportunity to provide programming that works for one of our main target audiences--the Downtown Business Community. We were pleased to hear that Rice University has expressed interest in being involved in our proposed “brown-bag lunch” series. In discussing our implementation plan, we collectively came to the conclusion that designating specific days of the week and time-slots for a particular theme was a more beneficial way to proceed. For example, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-2 are being considered for book club days. This would allow us to use a wide array of genres, and offer something for everyone. The plan may include special, monthly events such as Houston history, genealogy, music, etc. Hopefully, this will allow us to get creative with our monthly ideas and find a way to slot them into this format. We are currently working on the plan, but a proposed lunch-time schedule was put forth:Business MondaysBook Club Tuesdays and Thursdays (possibly fiction Tuesdays, Non-fiction Thursdays)DIY WednesdaysFood Fridays/YA Gaming Friday EveningsSaturday Family/Adult Game DaySome suggested resources for programming ideas were the Charlotte Mecklinburg Library, the Minneapolis Public Library, and the Library Journal non-fiction reader’s advisory.We will need lots of participation from Central Staff to make this series work, so if there is a program you are interested in developing and coordinating, please comment!