Mike Kalil kicks back with the Cat in his cool shades. Mike is the December Melville Dewey winner, most recently recognized for his help – “above and beyond” – during the City-wide records retention purge. Thanks, Mike.

Paul F. – For helping cart the Record Retention boxes up from the basement – you made the job go very quickly. Thanks! Also, for removing plastic magazine boxes and bringing them to the surplus area.

Lia H. – For all the good work on the Holiday Closure schedule.

Mike K. – For staying a little later to help cart the Records Retention boxes up from the basement – you helped to make short work of that task. Thanks

John H. – For picking up books from the book returns and putting the books in bins while the library was closed over both holiday weekends.

Katie M. – For her awesome way of always handling scheduling problems with finesse.

Monica M. – For all her great work with our volunteers.

Kevin M. – For managing our new Brodart project.

Kim W. – For thinking of a creative solution to a patron’s problem with microfilm printing.

Happy New Year, Peeps!

2011 11 Melville Dewey Award Winner

Originally uploaded by hbpl

The ever awesome Danielle won the Dewey Award for taking the time to judge essays in the Reflections writing contest, and for helping out on the last day of the In-N-Out Program. Good job Danielle!! (It looks like she also enjoys reading with Dewey and Ernest…)

10-2011 Melville Dewey winner

Originally uploaded by hbpl

This month Melville visits Kathy Blassingame, the October Melville Dewey Award winner. Kathy was recognized for her problem solving and organizational skills.

Kathy’s favorite book of all-time is “The Stand” by Stephen King (she’s read it over 15 times). Kathy doesn’t have one favorite quote, she has many, but one she likes a lot is: “To be aware of a single shortcoming in oneself is more useful than to be aware of a thousand in someone else.” the Dalai Lama.

Congrats again to Kathy!

Mark A. – For responding to multiple alarm calls and for suggesting ideas on how to make the alarm system easier for staff to use.

Jose A. – For his willingness to step-up and solve problems, or his prompt response to Oak View library when cleaning supplies were needed, and for cleaning and bringing a very nice couch to this facility to be used in Oak View’s staff lounge. Also, for all his hard work in helping with the Children’s area – the study room, the magazine racks and moving the magazine shelving.

Kathy B. – For her problem solving and amazing organizational skills!

Jose H. – For all his hard work in helping with the Children’s area – the study room, the magazine racks and moving the magazine shelving.

Mike K. – For all his hard work in helping with the Children’s area – the study room, the magazine racks and moving the magazine shelving.

Lisa L. – For helping with shifting and merging XAs with X fiction.

Elena L. – For helping with shifting and merging XAs with X fiction.

Bonnie N. – For her help with processing changes, her positive attitude and her willingness to help – she is a pleasure to work with.

Kathy O.  – For showing and teaching patrons how to use the self checkout machine at the checkout desk. Also, for helping with shifting XReference and Newberry’s in the Children’s area.

Janine S. – For helping with shifting and merging XAs with X fiction.

Lyn S. – For helping with shifting XReference and Newberry’s in the Children’s area.

Diane W. – For your outstanding customer service – helping a patron find mystery books she would enjoy reading, and for always being so cheerful and helpful!

 “Individual commitment to a group effort — that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” – Vince Lombardi

Kathy B. – For providing invaluable assistance when a coworker used the fax machine function, and for her amazing organization and handling of the “Free the Files” project.

Richard C. – For dealing, in a calm, direct manner, with an abrasive patron. He handled a potentially explosive situation with professionalism and finesse. Also for ably handling a wide range of customer services challenges, on a daily basis.

Debra G. – For her assistance in preparing the donation fish for their new display.

Connie G. – For her hard work in completing the Facilities records retention/destruction process in RECORD time! Also, for reconciling billing and payment with Affinity Videonet.

Mary K. – For helping a patron in media get online, download information, and look for jobs. Your ‘acts of kindness’ were greatly appreciated!

Elena L. – For her help at the Children’s Desk and shelving on Saturdays! She does a wonderful job helping patrons and keeping the section neat and clean!

Monica M. – For launching the Volgistics Volunteer Database, for assisting with the Records Retention/Destruction organization and still finding time to cover her Public Desk hours!

Kevin M. – For all the work coordinating with Brodart and for his great editorial skill.

Barbara R. – For getting the Homework Club up and running.

Renyan W. – For his hard work and attention to detail doing book repair and in preshelving.

James W. – For helping a patron locate a DVD she had returned, but hadn’t been checked in. Patron left smiling, and James is awesome!

Thank you for continuing to support your coworkers by showing up and doing your job to the best of your abilities.

Melville visits a celebrity storytime with his feline friends, the celebrity being Children’s Library Clerk, Ms. Debra! Debra Garcia is the August Melville Dewey winner, recognized for her generosity and team spirit in making homemade chocolate chip cookies for the teen volunteers party at the end of the Summer Reading Program. Debra’s favorite book is the Bible, her favorite story in it being about King David, and her favorite quote is “I dwell in possibilities” by Emily Dickenson. Congrats to Ms. Debra!!

Kathy B. – For helping the Friends of the Children’s library with their insert in the water bill for their Books for Kids campaign – Thank you!

Marcos C. – For his exceptional knowledge of the library’s policies and practices, hard working nature and friendliness

Amy C. – For her support to Oak View summer reading programs, not only encouraging patrons to participate, but also donating various prizes/gifts to distribute among the participants – Thanks!.

Maria S.F. – For her dedicated work and assistance with the various reading programs that were offered during the summer at Oak View, and for being flexible and accommodating your work schedule to the times and dates that Oak View needed more help.  It is a pleasure to work with you.

Debra G. – For baking chocolate chip cookies for our teen volunteer party!

Marina I. – For her dedicated work and assistance with the various reading programs that were offered during the summer at Oak View, and for being flexible and accommodating your work schedule to the times and dates that Oak View needed more help.  It is a pleasure to work with you.

Janet J. – For compiling booklists for the FOTCL on short notice.

Mike K. – For being helpful at Oak View assisting with the hanging of various plaques and photo frames on the wall – Thanks! Also for building a special BIG BOOK shelves for Children’s, and for always being helpful.

Susan K. – For her exemplary balance of professionalism and warmth toward patrons and toward me as a volunteer. She provided excellent  and thorough training to me, which was a big help and made me comfortable in doing my job as a volunteer, and enthusiastic about continuing my service. She’s a real gem.

Kevin M. – For taking over when I was asked to deal with a confrontational patron.  Kevin was calm and quiet and diffused the situation. Thank you, for taking the task and for showing me how it’s done!

Barbara R. – For her outstanding job of overseeing another successful Summer Reading Program.

Danielle W. – For her dedicated support to the various Summer Reading Programs. Every time I let her know we were running out of supplies and prizes, she immediately sent more to Oak View!

 As fall approaches, I want to thank everyone who took up the slack, and filled in where needed.  Together we help this department run smoothly.

07-2011 Melville Winner

Originally uploaded by hbpl

July’s Dewey caretaker is Cynthia F. Even vacation couldn’t stop her from coming in to do a craft storytime when a colleague was unavailable.

Her favorite book is The Kitchen God’s Wife, by Amy Tan

Her favorite quote: “I’m not young enough to know everything” – Oscar Wilde

Congrads Cynthia!

Mark A. – For correcting the problem with the air conditioning system in the Library Theater.

Jose A. – For his hard work in helping to remove the large planter in Administration and adding a smaller one, for helping move the furniture into the Children’s new storage room and for moving furniture and setting up work stations Technical Services; Also, for his dedication in seeing these tasks through from start to finish.  Jose can always be counted on to get the job done, correctly and on time!

Marcos C. – For helping move the furniture into the Children’s new storage room.

Cynthia Flores – For volunteering to come in and do craft storytime when it was her vacation week.

Debra G. – For helping to arrange the new puppet and read-a-loud books room.

Teresa G. – For being a wonderful family literacy staff member who made our awards night excellent.  Thank you all for your help.

Jose H. – For helping move the furniture into the Children’s new storage room, and for his help in setting up workstations in Technical Services.

Becky I. – For being a wonderful family literacy staff member who made our awards night excellent.  Thank you all for your help.

Mike K. - For his hard work in helping to remove the large planter in Administration, for helping move the furniture into the Children’s new storage room and for moving furniture and setting up work stations Technical Services. Also, for promptly installing painted tiles on the wall in Children’s.  Mike is also recognized for arriving promptly at the Banning branch to do some specialized cleaning when it was desperately needed.

Mary K. – For her amazing job in shifting the collection in Media and creating a more welcoming space where it is easier to find materials.

Norma L. – For being a wonderful family literacy staff member who made our awards night excellent.  Thank you all for your help.

Claudia L. – For supporting the family literacy program and for helping with the Awards Night!

Monica M. – For arranging the UCI volunteers to help at the Festival of Folktales.

Katie M. – For her cheerful help in all areas of the library.

Diane M. – For being so supportive and for having a fun sense of humor!

Margarita R. – For being a wonderful family literacy staff member who made our awards night excellent.  Thank you all for your help.

Danielle W. – For helping to arrange the new puppet and read-a-loud books room.

Thank you all for your dedication to the success of the library.