Happy Holidays from Collier

Merry Christmas 2014

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas from everyone here at Collier.

Collier Regional Library presents : Build a Gingerbread House

This past Saturday we had a blast making gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. The adults enjoyed it as much as the children. Our Youth Librarian, Jayla Parks, did an impromptu story time for the crowd as well! Check out the pictures below!

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December - Celebrating Christmas around the World

Best of 2014: Collier Regional Library

NNMD Award: Best Booth at National Night Out

The Near Northwest Management District, who coordinates National Night Out in the area, awarded Collier Regional Library with the "Best Booth" award on Thursday, 12/4/14. Collier Staff requested Community Engagement to assist in setting up at National Night Out on 10/7/14. The newly wrapped HPL van was used and gained quite the attention from hundreds who visited the booth. Clementina Nunez, Community Engagement, provided info to customers and registered customers with library cards. Jayla Parks, COL Youth Librarian, provided craft activities to all youth. Manager, Marcos Martinez, was also present assisting with library card registration. The award was accepted by Community Engagement and Collier Regional Library staff. Thanks to Community Engagement's efforts to partner with Collier to deliver to the community in Collier's service area. The award sits proudly in Community Engagement's Office signifying their partnership with Collier.

 

Civic Eng. Project: Food Drive @ COL

Food Drive at COL was the Library's first civic engagement project/activity. The Book Drive box was repurposed with the help of COL's volunteer, Judith, who decorated the box to serve as the collection bin for non-perishables. A total of three full boxes of food was collected in the month of November.

November - Travel the World through books

November: Citizenship Month

This month is citizenship month!

Check out our Teen Display featuring several books about diversity and culture that the youth can possibly relate to or gain insight from. We are celebrating the many faces of Houston!

See excerpt below from CitizenshipMonth.org

WHAT IS CITIZENSHIP MONTH?

"Citizenship Month is an annual volunteer-driven celebration that celebrates Houston’s civic diversity.  In November 2014, the City of Houston will join other educational, community, faith-based and corporate organizations to host events throughout the city that celebrate the many social and economic contributions and accomplishments of all people who call Houston home." 

For more information visit CitizenshipMonth.org

Team Meeting: November 2014

Collier Team Meeting
 11/5/14 11:15AM
Notes Prepared by: Marcos Martinez

 SELF-CHECK (CHECKOUT MACHINES): September Circ reports are out and show another great success of this team's efforts to informing/educating/assisting customers with use of the checkout machines. September stats show 79% of checkouts were done using checkout machines. That's another 20% increase from August, which was at 58%! July report indicated an estimate of 37% use. The goal is to reach 85% by the end of 2014.

FOOD DRIVE @ COL: A collection bin for the food drive will be placed out in the lobby area. COL's food drive will begin Friday, 11/7/14, and run all month of November. All items will go to help support the local food pantry at Pathway Church of Houston. Only non-perishables will be accepted (ex. box foods, packages, cans, etc.). The idea behind this is to help support members of the Collier community who lack food. A community member lacking food cannot fully utilize the resources at the Library or focus on becoming an engaged citizen (ex. employed, volunteering, civic engagement, etc.). The Library is conducting this drive to help provide food to those who need a helping hand. FAQs sheet and flyer to follow soon.

STAFFING AT CSD:  Many customers have shared comments stating staff don't look busy or are holding conversations while redirecting customers to checkout at machines adjacent to desk. For the summer season, 3 staff were needed at the CSD, but with a reduction in traffic there may be times when only 2 staff are needed at the CSD. A short discussion took place with good ideas of possibly having 1 staff member at the checkout machines, 2 at the CSD, and 1 roving/roaming the floor. A sheet was provided to each staff member asking to indicate whether 2 or 3 staff are needed at the CSD for every hour we are open. Responses received from staff, observations made by manager, and statistical reporting will all be used to formulate a plan to use staff resources efficiently and effectively for this slow season (Nov-Jan).

Monthly Meeting: October 2014

Collier Team Meeting
October 15, 2014
Note Prepared by: Marcos Martinez

JULIA BRADLEY: All of us in this team must work together to help our newest team member, Julia, become well equipped on the service floor. You may see on the schedule “CSD – TR” which means Julia will either be shadowing you at the desk or you will assist with her hands-on training. Julia will be taking on the computer classes and open job lab, serve as volunteer coordinator, provide staff training of online resources, and maintain laptops/desktops to check for issues.

SIRSI & PLACING HOLDS: A few customers have reported their request for items, made with COL staff, have been sent to CEN for pick-up. Ensure the appropriate pick-up location is selected when using SIRSI “Place Holds” wizard. To assist customers, please utilize the online catalog to place holds for customers. Before confirming the hold request, ask the customer their preferred pick-up location.

“OP/$”: If you running to the bank to break big bills, you must transport the money in an envelope from the Library and back to the Library. This is for your safety and to not draw attention when you are transporting. Also, it is best to run to the bank prior to opening time to ensure we have change ready then. Have another team member witness how much you are transporting by counting the bills to them and again when you return.

CUSTOMER COMMENTS: Customer comments are greatly appreciated. They tell us when we are doing a great job and when we are not doing a great job. If we are falling short on something, we want to know that we are. Receiving customer complaints is a good thing in that we become aware of something is amiss and we can work to improve or correct it. Listen attentively, apologize if necessary, assure them comments will be passed and thank them. Use customer comment forms (found in CSD drawers and at front lobby area) to gather feedback. Let customer know they may fill out later and drop/mail to us.

INFORMATION DESK & CHECKOUT: Customers have filed complaints stating we, staff, are not wanting to assist customers when stationed at the desk. They’ve stated they have been given a paper with call number and pointed the direction to go. Another was when we informed customer(s) we no longer check out and we are only reference.

The CSD is the information desk. Please be mindful of the word choice used when informing and assisting customers on transactions at CSD and self checkout. Also, the word “self-checkout” should not be used on the public floor with customers. This may give the wrong message of us stating “do it yourself”. The word to use is “checkout area/desk”. When directing them to use the checkout machines to checkout materials, please offer assistance. My expectation is that we go out to the floor to assist customers where and when needed. The chairs at the CSD are not designed for using the full hour(s) you are assigned at the CSD. You will be moving often as customer need assistance.

TEAM WORK: Work together to assist customers and address concerns. All of us have a basic understanding and skills to deliver customer service, but we each have special expertise and skills to contribute to the team in order to deliver exceptionally to customers.

October: Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Check out our teen display this month.

October seems to be the month of awareness.

We have Breast Cancer Awareness, Domestic Violence Awareness and Down Syndrome Awareness. With so much attention on breast cancer awareness and domestic violence, I gathered some fiction novels on the subject and came up with this display on Down Syndrome which is also prevalent in our community.

 For more information of Down Syndrome visit DSAH.org.

National Night Out @ Yes Prep!

Community Engagement and Collier Regional Library partner to represent HPL at this annual event in the Collier service area. Pictured below are Jayla Parks, youth librarian and assistant manager at COL; Marcos Martinez, manager at COL; and Clementina Nunez, Community Engagement.