Communications Updates

The Communications Working Group met today and here are some updates.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Sign audit reminder: 
After attending a workshop on library marketing and signage,  Desiree and I instituted this list of procedures for sign usage and placement:

  • Keep the space in front of each service desk as free from flyers as possible.   The flyers create an unnecessary barrier. 
  • Flyers may be added to the lucite boxes at the main entrance near the Call Box. 
  • Limit of three flyers on display at the Express Area Shelving
  • Display flyers for author programs on the small circular table near the Bestsellers/Self Check
  • No handwritten signs!  We have out-of-order/caution signs at each service desk, use when needed.

The PR Observances and Display spreadsheet has been updated for 2023.  Sudseshna also has a DEI calendar if you are looking for more information.

Publicity and Outreach Contact Lists:
It came to our attention that not everyone knows about our list of publicity outlets.  This list includes contacts for the schools,  clergy, newspapers/media and other contacts for outreach.  Please continue to add to this list, and update the date in each tab when you make a change. It is located on the S Drive: S:\Public Relations\Press-Contact-List\Publicity Outlets.xlsx

Canva:  

  • Please go through Canva and remove any unwanted images by January. We will start with a clean slate for the new year.

Taunya, Our Wellness Unicorn

If you were here on Wednesday from 2 PM to 4 PM, you might have seen Taunya, our Public Safety Clinician dressed in a unicorn costume. Why? Because she owns one and wanted to make a TikTok highlighting her services, and we could not say no to that! So here is that TikTok. Enjoy!

It’ll be posted on our socials (Instagram and Facebook) next Tuesday in preparation for our 116th Wellness Wednesday.

New Timesheets!

I have saved new timesheets in the “Library Files – Employees – Staff Time Sheets – NEW” folder for use starting this pay period Monday December 5th – Sunday December 18th.

Please use these timesheets going forward rather than any older versions you may have saved elsewhere. Your printed timesheet should now say “Updated December 2022” in the bottom right hand corner.

The new timesheets are very similar to the old ones with a few minor tweaks and formatting upgrades. Employees and supervisors are still required to carefully review hours worked and exceptions. The changes are small but are meant to help employees and supervisors catch errors and streamline processing in Admin.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I am happy to provide assistance as we navigate this transition together.

Staff Shout Outs!

Are you ready for some shout-outs? If you’d like to submit a shout-out, fill out the form on the Forms page. Don’t be shy! Shout it out!

Shout out to Kathleen Wilcox for going above and beyond and exemplary customer service. Kathleen demonstrated exemplary customer service when helping a new patron applying for a library card. She even came around from the desk and gave the patron a tour of the first floor and explained what was located on the other floors. The patron was absolutely ecstatic about discovering all the wonderful services we offer! A shining example of what a wonderful library we are and the importance of serving our patrons!! From Anonymous.

Shout out to Olivia, Ashley, Lisa and Cate for the fun Instagram Reel announcing the Around the World in 80 Days program. Turn the sound UP. From Michelle.

Assistive Technology

The library has added software and equipment to be more inclusive and accessible to all our patrons. I’ve created a page on the website to highlight this. Please look it over and let me know if you have questions about any of the equipment or suggestions on what else to add. I’ve created instructions for the Community Room Assistive Listening Devices, they are located under Instructions on the intranet, on the S drive under Manuals/Meeting Room Instructions and a paper copy is in the AV closet in the Community Room.

Staff Shout Outs!

Are you ready for some shout-outs? If you’d like to submit a shout-out, fill out the form on the Forms page. Don’t be shy! Shout it out!

Shout out to Michelle, Ally, and Lisa R. for helping a co-worker. Thank you for helping with the Parker 6th grade tours. It wouldn’t have been possible without you! From Meghan M.

Shout out to Dawn for helping a co-worker, leading by example, exemplary customer service and keeping it positive. Dawn keeps a dozen balls in the air simultaneously and makes it all look easy! She keeps the materials flowing: guiding them into their assigned places on the shelves and then gently shepherding them on to their next lives. Then she whips up a stunning display and hunts down a missing magazine while improving our vocabularies with Shakespearean insults. From Tilly.

Shout out to Meghan McCabe for going above and beyond and coming up with a new idea. Judging by the chatter of the 4 attendees I picked up on Saturday, Meghan’s One Night Ultimate Werewolf event was a big hit! The kids had a great time, they said the gentleman running the game was awesome, and they enjoyed the pizza and snacks. My kids even worked together – this is unheard of – to win the game. Great job, Meghan! From Valerie.

Shout out to Cate Z. for going above and beyond. Cate helped facilitate an open house for Reading Public Schools’ Multilingual Learners Department, which brought many new families to the Library. She thoughtfully shared all that the library has to offer and encouraged families to take a tour or stop by for 1:1 help. Cate’s warmth matched the many happy, smiling faces running around the library, bringing some extra life to the library on a Monday night! From Ally.

Friends FOB at Ground Floor Desk

The shelving in the Friends of the Reading Public Library turret is finally ready for use! In addition to the shelving in the turret, there are two bays (a total of 12 shelves @ 3ft wide) in the storage room for overflow books.

At the Ground Floor desk, there is a now a FOB with a sign out sheet for the Friends to access the storage room and staff lounge as they resume the operations of the Second Chapter Book Sale Room.

This FOB is for IN LIBRARY USE ONLY and should be signed out and returned to the Ground Floor desk using the clipboard sign out sheet. I am happy to make more copies if the sign out sheet is becoming full. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.