More shameless promotion for my day job. If you have a teenager or know one, let them know about this opportunity to win a laptop.

Library of Tomorrow Teen Essay Contest

Describe your dream library of tomorrow

Who Can Plug In?

Houston-area Middle School and High School Students (Ages 11-18)

What is the Essay Question?

The future offers opportunities for technological advances and global interconnectedness. Describe what the library of tomorrow should provide to help you succeed in a world of fewer boundaries.

Requirements

• Be no more than 500 words typed in 12-point font and double-spaced
• Must be participant’s original work
• Include complete contact information for submitting student
• Include teacher’s name and complete contact information
• Must be postmarked or emailed by March 28April 4th, 2007
• Entries must include the following information:
  • Name
  • Age
  • Street Address
  • City
  • ZIP
  • Phone Number (including area code)
  • E-mail Address
  • Student’s School
  • Phone Number of School (including area code)
  • Student’s Homeroom Teacher

Important Dates

• Essay Deadline • March 28
• Awards Ceremony • April 28

Prizes

• 1st Place: Laptop with WiFi + $25 Bookstore Gift Card
• 2nd Place: iPod + $25 Bookstore Gift Card
• 3rd Place: iPod Shuffle + $25 Bookstore Gift Card
• 4th Place: $25 Bookstore Gift Card
• All Winners: Published on http://www.houstonlibrary.org/
• All Winners: Invited to the June 9th Hip Hop Cafe

How Many Winners?

• One Middle School and One High School Winner in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place categories.
• 10 Middle School and 10 High School Winners receive 4th Place Honorable Mentions.

How Do I Apply?

• Submit application and essay by email to libraryoftomorrow@cityofhouston.net
• Enclose application and essay in envelope and drop off at any Houston Public Library
• Mail to: Houston Public Library, c/o Library of Tomorrow Essay Contest
  500 McKinney St., Houston, TX 77002

For more information, call 832-393-1313.

My father was self-employed. He ran a successful business and taught me quite a bit about how to treat the people who work with me. He taught me a lot about delivering what I promise and always doing my best. But it was my mother who taught me about public relations.

In no particular order:

1. Be nice.
2. Smile.
3. Don’t lie.
4. If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all. (In PR, that means don’t volunteer the bad stuff.)
5. Don’t let them see they’re getting to you.
6. Use your inside voice.
7. Don’t gossip. (Also known as “there’s no such thing as off the record.”)
8. Remember your company manners.
9. Pay attention when people are talking to you.
10. Don’t fidget.

There’s more, of course, but that’s what came to mind this week as I juggled my to do list.

In my day job I am the Manager of Public Relations for the Houston Public Library. What that means is that, among other things, I work on content and promotion of the Web site (at least that’s the important part, for this post). Today, Aaron Long wrote a nice post about the downloadable audiobooks we offer at HPL.

Thank you, Aaron.

And thank you, Katie, for sending the post my way.

More shameless self-promotion:

An Evening With…
You Are Cordially Invited To
“An Evening With…”

Great Books
Well-known Authors
Inspiring & Entertaining Topics

The Houston Public Library invites you, your friends and your neighbors to an ongoing author series where you will meet well-known authors from several genres. Relationships, mysteries and faith are just a few of the topics to be presented in the first programs.

As part of the year-long series, monthly events will be held throughout the city at neighborhood libraries. Attend one, or attend them all. Authors will read from one (or several) of their books, answer audience questions and talk about what inspires their writing. All events are free and open to the public.

“An Evening With Norma Jarrett”
Smith Neighborhood Library
Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.

Jarrett will read from her latest book, Sweet Magnolia, an inspirational novel about two bitterly divided sisters struggling to forgive each other and renew their faith in God.

“An Evening With Victor McGlothin”
Johnson Neighborhood Library
Monday, January 29, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.

McGlothin will read from his book, Borrow Trouble, in which a killer on the run from the law prepares to pull the biggest heist in history.

“An Evening With Charles Rivers”
Stimley-Blue Ridge Neighborhood Library
Monday, February 12, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.

Rivers will read from his book, Heart of the Marriage, a guide to mending a challenging relationship and strengthening the family.

“An Evening With Dr. William July”
McGovern-Stella Link Regional Library
Thursday, February 22, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.

July is a relationship expert whose books include Confessions of an Ex-Bachelor, Understanding The Tin Man, Brothers, Lust & Love, and The Hidden Lover.

For further details, please contact the Houston Public Library at http://www.houstonlibrary.org/ or call 832-393-1313.

From the shameless self-promotion board: