Let's Keep 'em Hopping

Wow! I can’t believe that it’s been three whole months since I’ve posted anything. Sheesh! But in my own defense, it has been a busy three months! My staff, board and patrons have been kept hopping and I have to say that I kind of like all the hopping!

Just this past Monday and Tuesday, I listened in while our Chief Librarian, Toni McKilligan participated in a virtual workshop on Social Media. The exciting possibilities discussed in the workshop inspired me to take some time this chilly Thursday evening and revive my blogging skills. While Toni jotted down sources and resources for expanding our Social Media presence, I decided to set up a new Facebook account for HPL. It was high time, I thought, to give HPL its own FB page and now Toni is charged with the task of training the staff to use it to promote me! She’s probably thinking that she doesn’t need anything else on her plate at the moment, but she’s a trooper; I’m sure she’ll figure it out. (You can check out the new FB page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=176164105732299&sk=basic#!/pages/Houston-BC/Houston-Public-Library/176164105732299)

The staff are all busy these days. Adele is currently enjoying the creative side of librarianship. She’s making 3D snowflakes to hang from my drop ceiling. They will add a festive touch to the up-coming holiday season that is coming at us faster than Alexander McCall Smith can pump out books! (How many has he published this year?) And she’s keeping up with all the other stuff Assistant Librarians do, too.

Mrs. Erna is busy with Mother Goose, Toddler Time and Story Time. These programs are already in their sixth week and Mrs. Erna is already thinking about the wind-up party that will happen at Story Time on December 17th. She’s also keeping up with the many, many ILL requests that my patrons and other libraries make every day.
If there was a Master Shelver designation, it would belong to my favourite Page, Sara. This girl keeps my collection in perfect order so staff and patrons can easily find what they are looking for. She’s one of the most efficient Pages ever! And she’s pretty handy at covering the circ desk, ILL desk and any other desk when the need arises.

And Toni is busy planning ahead. She’s started working on the January Calendar of Events, getting it ready for distribution in mid-December. I don’t know how she keeps it all straight! Besides the finances and books and programs and scheduling and statistics and reports and e-mails and computer problems and meetings and … the list goes on! ... she somehow manages to lend me a hand (or two) now and then to write this blog.

I must say that I’ve been enjoying all this busyness and bustle. And I’m determined to do my part and keep those in Bloggerland up to date with what’s happening at HPL. My goal is a weekly post. (We’ll see how that goes!)

Anyway, if you have some time and would like to stop by for a visit, I’d be happy to open my doors to you and will welcome the company! There are some great new books on the shelves; some great old ones, too! (And together let's keep Toni, Adele, Erna and Sara hopping.)