Mud Tacos

Mario and his sister Marissa.

Story Time By Request

Many sincere and gracious thanks to Megan for conducting STBR for us at DG.

COMBINED MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN

There is still time to participate in this year's CMC.

We need 100% participation from staff at all locations.

In order to qualify as a participant, you can:

• Make a one time donation
  
• A per paycheck donation
  
• Volunteer for the charity of your choice and let us know where you chose to volunteer.
• Participate in this year's THRILL THE WORLD at Discovery Green.
• Donate an item or buy an item on the CMC online auction.

Please report the method you chose to contribute before
FRIDAY OCTOBER 23RD.
Thank you, Carolina
CG.Martinez@cityofhouston.net

Fourth Annual Financial Fitness Expo

Get Financially Fit!
The Fourth Annual Financial Fitness Expo, October 20, 21, 22, 2009 is the annual event for City of Houston employees to learn more about their pension, deferred compensation and social security benefits.

The Expo is held in conjunction with “National Save for Retirement” week, October 18-24, 2009, which is officially recognized by the U.S. Senate and is celebrated in cities across the country.

Dates: October 20, 21, 22, 2009
Times: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm each day (attendees are free to come and go).
Locations:
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009
900 Bagby, City Hall Annex (Public Level)
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009
611 Walker, Garden Level
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009
4501 Leeland, E.B. Cape Center

Cost: FREE for ALL City of Houston Employees.
Presented by: The Houston Municipal Employees Pension System and the City of Houston Deferred Compensation Plan.
For more information: Please call Peter Koops, HMEPS, 713-595-0123.
http://houstonfinancialfitness.eventbrite.com/

Beer Appreciation - September 29

Here are a couple of pictures of the event before it got too dark. It was a great turn out and everyone enjoyed themselves. By the end of the night, we had a total of 30 adults who attended. Some of those who arrived late requested a make up class.

Our New Intern

Hello Everyone

We're here to present and introduce our new intern we got at HPL Discovery Green.

He left us a brief bio:

"My name is Travione Robinson and I'm currently 22 yrs old. I have two handsome sons, Cameron which is 1 yrs old and Kayleb which is 25 days old. I'm not the only child, but I'm the oldest. There's 10 children in the family, I have four sisters and five brothers, which makes me the 10th. I have my High School Diploma and I played football all my life. I have always been the atheletic type, and that keeps me in shape and out of trouble. Throughout my life, i have always set an good example towards my family and friends. Speaking of friends, my mom is my best friend. I am very outspoken person but very respectful to women and my elders. The last thing is I'm a thrill seeker. I love to have fun and is my number one hobby. My ultimate goal is to be the best I can be and make something out of myself."

We are very glad we have him as part of our staff and we welcome him.

Blazing Time @ Discovery Green!!!

Hello Everyone

Today we had our Storytime event at HPL DG and It was really great and all the children and parents enjoyed the fingerplays and stories that was read today. After storytime, we gave them all a Fire Fighter Craft for them to take home and to make thier own Fire Fighter hats. We even asked the Houston Fire Department to come down to Discovery Green. They brought a fire truck, and also let the kids to cool off by shooting out water from the fire truck.

It was a great event and something new for the park and the library to have.

We still have lots of handouts for the event so if any of you want to duplicate this and do this at your library, please let us know

-Anthony

.

Literature

FYI...Please place any extra literature received in the closet. Also, hang up any material that needs to be viewed by the public. Containers from the Print Shop is to be returned to them. Please place it in the bin to go out in delivery. Let us try to keep the counter by the window free of clutter.

Thanks,
Norma

Newspapers

Newspapers were not picked up yesterday. Just as a reminder, please pickup all material (newspapers, magazines. etc.) that are in DG's inbox which is located at DGC front office.

Thank You,
Norma

Miscellaneous IT supplies

Hello All,

If you need any miscellaneous IT supplies that cannot be ordered through the regular supply ordering process please let me know A.S.A.P. Such supplies would be ink cartridges, headphones, etc.

Thanks,
James

Summer Youth Employment Project - Manager Resources

Project Information for Managing Contractors and Worksites

Policies and Procedures
	Summer Jobs Project Overview can be found here: http://www.wrksolutions.com/2009SummerJobs/ProjectInfo.html

MISSION POSSIBLE

Hello Everyone

This sunday @ HPL Discovery Green, We are having an event called "Mission Possible" where kids in teams must view nature plants and wildlife and much more.

This sunday we are having kids of finding birds and doing at least 3 objectives for them

The first objective is that a child must find a actual bird then draw and describe what the bird does.

The second objective is that the children must go to the playground where there are metallic birds all over the playground set and count them all.

The third objective is that the children will have to do a word puzzle and once they have found all the words, they must use the unused letters and reveal the secret message.

If there is anyone that needs to make up their hours, or would like to come to and participate, please feel free to come on Sunday @ HPL Discovery Green.

The event starts by noon and ends at 4:00 P.M.

Call us for more information

Thanks

Anthony

FWDED EMAIL--Post Request by Edward

PLEASE BE INFORMED OF THE FOLLOWING:
*****************************************************************************

Good Afternoon Team,

This email serves to inform you of some important updates regarding the WeCAN Works Track II training schedule. Phase II of training for Track II is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 6, 2009. Per the initial course schedule, sessions were to commence at nine additional sites: Stella Link, Family Road, HPL Express Frank, Scenic Wood, Flores, Park Place, Carnegie, Kashmere, and Blueridge; however, after conferring with our partners at HCC, we have decided to postpone implementation of the courses at these sites until the September session, scheduled to begin September 8^thand resume training at HPL Central, HPL Express Southwest, and Burnett Bayland for July. This strategy will allow us to concentrate our efforts on recruitment for the three locations holding sessions in July to ensure maximum participation. Additionally, it will allow more time to engage in an aggressive recruitment strategy for the September sessions, at which time, the additional HPL locations and WeCAN Centers that can provide accommodations will begin offering the Adult Basic Education/GED courses. Thus, if you are one of the additional sites scheduled to begin classes in July, you may resume your normal training schedule and/or consider additional training opportunities presented as part of Track III for the months of June and July.

I will forward the recruitment flyer to you once it has been finalized so that you may distribute it to your patrons and persons who inquire about the program. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the updated course schedule, please do not hesitate to contact either myself at 832.832.3123 or Nicole at 832.393.1559.

Thank you for your understanding and flexibility. We will follow up with you accordingly as recruitment begins for the September session.

Best regards,

Jolea T. Bryant

Community Involvement Coordinator

Office of Digital Inclusion/HPL

Ph: 832.393.1623

Jolea.Bryant@cityofhouston.net

www.houstonwecan.org

It's ben awhile for a Storytime @ HPL DG

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to post up a blog about my first time experience of doing a Storytime and I have to be honest, I really did enjoyed it a lot. I was able to express somewhat of myself as a goofy and spontaneous way and the kids and adults enjoyed the whole entire time.

Not only that, but they followed me to the library and all of them got a Power Card, so this means that HPL DG is getting back to it's feet and becoming more productive.

Let's keep up the good work everyone

Anthony

Butterfly Project

The Houston Holocaust Museum is currently working on a project that I think everyone should participate in. Its called the Butterfly Project. Basically, they are trying to collect 1.5 million butterflies. Each butterfly represents a child that was lost. Ultimately, the butterflies will be part of an exhibit that will occur the Spring 2012. The following is a link for those who want more details.

http://www.hmh.org/minisite/butterfly/index.html

STORYTIME TOOL--- International Children's Digital Library

Browse this site when you get a moment---

USER NAME: HPLXDG
PASSWORD: green

The ICDL collection was created with two primary audiences in mind: 1) Children ages 3-13, as well as librarians, teachers, parents, and caregivers who work with children of these ages. 2) International scholars and researchers in the area of children's literature.

The mission of the International Children’s Digital Library Foundation is to excite and inspire the world's children to become members of the global community – children who understand the value of tolerance and respect for diverse cultures, languages and ideas -- by making the best in children's literature available online.
http://en.childrenslibrary.org/

Valina Polka

Thursday Rocks with Valina Polka featuring Brave Combo

Laptop Applications

Laptop applications should be filled out regardless if patrons are regulars. Also, make sure laptops are plugged back when they are not in use.

Art Car Project

Its always fun with paint

Carolina, Norma and Anthony's cars

The youngest of our participants

The setup

Jackson and Emma show off their cars

Art Car Show

The Hippo Car

And its rear

The Zebra Car

And the bunny slippers

No tape was harmed in the making of the display.

Here are pics of Thank you letters written to Lori from Discovery Green staff. She was a tour guide for Kipp Shine Prep's 3rd grade class. If you read the letters it looked like the kiddies really enjoyed it!

Also, thanks to Carolina for her innovative display idea as an alternative to using tape.

Anna Banana

Hold Slips

Hi guys,

While we wait for our printer to be fixed, we can revert back to the old school hold shelf procedure.

The blank holdshelf slips (both small and large) are in the cupboard in a folder titled 'manuals and various forms'. Write the patrons' name on the slips and wrap up their item(s) as usual.

Thanks,
Anna

Laptop

A laptop was left overnight on the counter where the sliding glass windows are located. Luckily, it was not checked out to anyone. Please remember to place and store material in their proper place. Also, remember to put the shades down at the end of the day.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

Everyone up to speed...

1)Door Count starts today! I've printed out the paperwork to keep tally marks on the number of patrons coming in our library. Please be alert and attentive because you know we need those numbers! Every person counts!

2)I just got a call from a Violet with IT and she says Mil Circ is working properly again. I uploaded the transactions made on the offline to the server and then checked a few of the patron transactions that we performed with the offline milcirc but not all. Norma I think you were more familiar with the transactions we did with the offline so could you check and make sure everything's ok?

3)Also, public computers 3 and 4 are not working properly. Last time IT was here he said he would return on Monday (which is tomorrow).


4)Lastly, the topic at the juvenile meeting Norma went to last Thursday was about SRP.

Please be familiar with how to register a patron and how the program is working this year.

Door Count April '09

Hi,



Door Count begins this Sunday, April 19 and continues through Saturday, April 2.

Please email or call me if you have any questions.

When you finish, please submit it to Ana Otto and cc it to Edward.



Thanks



Thuy Vo

Offline MillCirc

Thanks to James!!!

Discovery now has offline milcirc for the times when Millenium is not working.

Go to C drive
Millenium folder
Offline
Offline Circ.exe (has a picture of a blue circle with a blue rocket)

Once the program is open there are tabs on the left side that allows you to check in and out, renew, etc.

Very Important......Do Not close this program until MilCirc is running again!!!

Once it is running go to :
File
Upload Circulation and Patron data

Earth Day Project

Here are some pictures of the Earth Day project last week.

Monthly Reports

As of April, all HPL Express staff are required to provide a monthly report of activities, projects, duties, training, professional development, and any other area of interest to their supervisor. In the case in which you do not have a manager your monthly report should be sent to me, all monthly reports submitted to your manager should also be cc to me. March monthly reports are due by April 5th. All monthly reports are due by the 5th of each month.

If you have not been submitting monthly reports, please forward me a detailed summary of your work since your employment with HPL. Please submit all summaries by Monday, March 23.


These reports are used in your Employee Performance Evaluation. Thanks for cooperation.
Edward Melton

Extreme Wii Opening Day

Hey guys,

I've uploaded pics to our picassa account with pics of the opening night for Extreme Wii! Whoo!!

I'm glad I was able to experience some of it, and especially for opening night too. :)

I hope other HPL staff members can find time to pay our Extreme Wii event a visit. You'll be allowed to compete too! Visit http://www.discoverygreen.com/ for the game of the night.

Also, here's the flyer Anthony composed for the event:

- Anna