Harris County Public Library
Recipient: Hat & Gloves II, Katy
I am proud to nominate the Katy Branch Staff for the Star Program Award for the program Hats & Gloves II, An Old Fashioned Tea & Fashion Hat Stroll. The event was held on Saturday, December 8th from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.
Innovation & Leadership
A staff member brought up the fact that the previous tea programs were successful and that the branch had not hosted one in awhile. Previous tea parties were named Christmas Tea In Old Katy and Hats & Gloves: A Mother & Daughter Tea. For each tea occasion, we try to bring a new element to the program. Therefore, after the manager gave her approval for the program, various staff members began to brainstorm and came up with the idea for a fashion hat stroll coupled with the tea party. Cecillia, the manager, appointed a committee for the program- herself, Debra Smith, Shuh Shya Li, & Usha Kaul. The committee was responsible for securing a speaker (tea expert), visiting local tea shops, creating a color theme, acquiring tea sets (borrowed), creating elegant table settings and hats & gloves (for display) creating a menu, publicity (news releases & flyers, posters), acquiring donations (food & prizes), and preparing cost estimates for refreshments, decorations, giveaways, and prizes.
Customer Service
Every aspect of the program was tailored to provide the best experience that we possibly could for our customers. We really tried to get the word out that we were having the program because we didn’t want anyone to be left out. Therefore, we personally told every customer about the program and provided them flyers and encouraged them to wear their favorite hat to the program. We also created the flyers and posters in pleasing colors with the hope of catching their attention. We asked permission for businesses to post our flyers and posters in their establishments, as well as sent news releases to local papers. We were even able to get our event published in Tea magazine in the calendar section. One of the reasons the tea program was held is because the staff always tries to design programs that inspire reading or further study, as well as educate and entertain. Therefore, we asked ourselves what would our patrons would like? From the tea theme to the décor, down to the refreshments and prizes, our energies were expended with our library patrons in mind. On the day of the event all staff worked. Everyone took turns working the program, as well our normal library tasks.
Teamwork & Job Performance
The entire staff was instrumental in making the event successful. Our goal was to create the ambience of a real tea fete. Everyone contributed their ideas and prepared tea sandwiches and/or deviled eggs at their own monetary expense. The following is a breakdown of other tasks:
Speaker- Cecillia
Donation letter- Debra
Donations (Starbucks, La Madeleine, Wal-Mart, HEB, Kroger, Brookshire
Bros.)- Debra, Shuh Shya, Usha. We also received permission from a tea shop to borrow items for display) La Madeleine donated 2 gift cards. Starbucks donated a gift bag. All others donated cakes/and or tarts.
Hat cake donation- Olga invited a library patron to the program and the patron a voluntary donated custom hat cake and miniature cakes that she made herself.
News releases- Cecillia
Flyers & posters- Debra, Shuh Shya
Tea sets- Shuh Shya, Usha, Debbie, Neela, Teresa
Fabric- Cecillia
Sign-in book, mints (welcoming table) - Cecillia Flower arrangements- Usha Hat displays (2) Angie, Tiffany Gift basket- Debra, Usha Tea shopping for event- Shuh Shya Tea souvenirs (2 tea samples decorated with ribbon & placed on welcoming
table) - Debra, Usha, Shuh Shya
Tea Books (ordering, displays)-Debra, Debbie Cecillia, Shuh Shya Menu place cards- Olga Recipe collection- Usha, Cecillia, Debra, Shuh Shya Miscellaneous Shopping- Shuh Shya, Cecillia, Debra, Usha
Music- Cecillia, Debbie
Decorating- all staff, Donatta, Debbie, Usha, Shuh Shya, Teresa, Tiffany, Angie, Olga, Neela, Cecillia, Debra Tea artwork (for walls)- Tiffany, Angie, Debra Food Service- all Photography of event, Teresa, Debra, Olga
Everyone dressed the part by wearing hats, gloves, & dresses. Everyone went out of their way to welcome our customers & host the event. I cannot possibly mention every job that our staff performed, but they provided excellent service while working as a TEAM! Our customers thanked us and spoke highly of the program. They are anticipating the next one. We are so pleased.
Recipient: Hat & Gloves II, Katy
I am proud to nominate the Katy Branch Staff for the Star Program Award for the program Hats & Gloves II, An Old Fashioned Tea & Fashion Hat Stroll. The event was held on Saturday, December 8th from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.
Innovation & Leadership
A staff member brought up the fact that the previous tea programs were successful and that the branch had not hosted one in awhile. Previous tea parties were named Christmas Tea In Old Katy and Hats & Gloves: A Mother & Daughter Tea. For each tea occasion, we try to bring a new element to the program. Therefore, after the manager gave her approval for the program, various staff members began to brainstorm and came up with the idea for a fashion hat stroll coupled with the tea party. Cecillia, the manager, appointed a committee for the program- herself, Debra Smith, Shuh Shya Li, & Usha Kaul. The committee was responsible for securing a speaker (tea expert), visiting local tea shops, creating a color theme, acquiring tea sets (borrowed), creating elegant table settings and hats & gloves (for display) creating a menu, publicity (news releases & flyers, posters), acquiring donations (food & prizes), and preparing cost estimates for refreshments, decorations, giveaways, and prizes.
Customer Service
Every aspect of the program was tailored to provide the best experience that we possibly could for our customers. We really tried to get the word out that we were having the program because we didn’t want anyone to be left out. Therefore, we personally told every customer about the program and provided them flyers and encouraged them to wear their favorite hat to the program. We also created the flyers and posters in pleasing colors with the hope of catching their attention. We asked permission for businesses to post our flyers and posters in their establishments, as well as sent news releases to local papers. We were even able to get our event published in Tea magazine in the calendar section. One of the reasons the tea program was held is because the staff always tries to design programs that inspire reading or further study, as well as educate and entertain. Therefore, we asked ourselves what would our patrons would like? From the tea theme to the décor, down to the refreshments and prizes, our energies were expended with our library patrons in mind. On the day of the event all staff worked. Everyone took turns working the program, as well our normal library tasks.
Teamwork & Job Performance
The entire staff was instrumental in making the event successful. Our goal was to create the ambience of a real tea fete. Everyone contributed their ideas and prepared tea sandwiches and/or deviled eggs at their own monetary expense. The following is a breakdown of other tasks:
Speaker- Cecillia
Donation letter- Debra
Donations (Starbucks, La Madeleine, Wal-Mart, HEB, Kroger, Brookshire
Bros.)- Debra, Shuh Shya, Usha. We also received permission from a tea shop to borrow items for display) La Madeleine donated 2 gift cards. Starbucks donated a gift bag. All others donated cakes/and or tarts.
Hat cake donation- Olga invited a library patron to the program and the patron a voluntary donated custom hat cake and miniature cakes that she made herself.
News releases- Cecillia
Flyers & posters- Debra, Shuh Shya
Tea sets- Shuh Shya, Usha, Debbie, Neela, Teresa
Fabric- Cecillia
Sign-in book, mints (welcoming table) - Cecillia Flower arrangements- Usha Hat displays (2) Angie, Tiffany Gift basket- Debra, Usha Tea shopping for event- Shuh Shya Tea souvenirs (2 tea samples decorated with ribbon & placed on welcoming
table) - Debra, Usha, Shuh Shya
Tea Books (ordering, displays)-Debra, Debbie Cecillia, Shuh Shya Menu place cards- Olga Recipe collection- Usha, Cecillia, Debra, Shuh Shya Miscellaneous Shopping- Shuh Shya, Cecillia, Debra, Usha
Music- Cecillia, Debbie
Decorating- all staff, Donatta, Debbie, Usha, Shuh Shya, Teresa, Tiffany, Angie, Olga, Neela, Cecillia, Debra Tea artwork (for walls)- Tiffany, Angie, Debra Food Service- all Photography of event, Teresa, Debra, Olga
Everyone dressed the part by wearing hats, gloves, & dresses. Everyone went out of their way to welcome our customers & host the event. I cannot possibly mention every job that our staff performed, but they provided excellent service while working as a TEAM! Our customers thanked us and spoke highly of the program. They are anticipating the next one. We are so pleased.