Teens + Harry Potter Event = Big Success At AR

In July, the Regency Square Branch Library hosted a Harry Potter After Hours event for teens. This event was planned and executed by their Teen Anime & Activity Committee (TAAC), pictured at left. This group of young people worked hard to make this event a success. In addition to planning for the big night, they set up, manned games, conducted activities, monitored themselves and the area for clean-up needs, prepared and served refreshments that included endless cups of butter beer--and then helped clean up after the 37 attendees. Rita Vernon, AR Librarian, reported that they were great about reporting clean-up needs and helping her and other staff members, including those who came from other branches to assist.

Their enthusiasm for this project was so catching that they inspired staff and parents to donate food, time, and attendance at the function. The team's hard work has been recognized with an R&R nomination for a 4th quarter Team Award. Team members included Daniel Jefferson, TAAC President and Vice President, respectively, Devon Quattlebaum and Carlisha Jeminson; TAAC Treasurer Joshua Bertrand, TAAC Advisors Robert Wing and Kathryn McMurtry; Jack Godsey; Donna Leonardy; and DeAngelo Demps.

NW STAFF VISITS ALL ASSIGNED SCHOOLS IN SEPTEMBER

Bradham Brooks Northwest Branch kicked off the school year by participating in a big celebration at the annual Carter G. Woodson Elementary's (CGWE) Community Day on Saturday, August 20. Library Associate Gloria Buenavista (pictured left at a school display table) and Part-time Library Clerk Annie Norris met with 260+ students and parents at the event and promoted library programs and services--everything from Live Homework Help to Zumba classes.

In the month of September, staff attended three open house events at local elementary and middle schools. In addition to CGWE, they visited all of their other assigned schools--16 in all! These schools were presented with informational packets about library events, programs, and services.

Great accomplishment!

Kaherine Day Retires After 23 Years at JPL

Katherine Day, Librarian at Beaches Branch, finishes her long tenure at JPL, September 23, and the Beaches employees honored her with a retirement party on the 14th.

Katherine had this to say about her visions of carefree days, "My plans are to put in a winter vegetable garden (organic, with raised beds) in our back yard; plant some flowers around the place, now that I can tend them; spend time with my husband, kids and granddaughters; read, make jewelry and sew-- and dust off the pressure-cooker because we’ll be eating beans again! I will also grow my healing ministry. And in the spring, Doug and I intend to go to France. It has been a desire of his since he was a kid. So, April in Paris, anyone?"

All of us wish you the very best in all you endeavors, Katherine. We will miss you.

Argyle Programs Are Packed with People and Goodies

Noah Thomas, Libray Clerk II, who started with a 11:00 am Toddler Story Time on Thursdays at the Argyle Branch, has been such a hit with the kids and parents that she now has to offer two toddler times on Thursdays. On average Noah has 60 participants for both programs.

Aracelis Diaz, Children’s Library Assistant, began her weekly After-School Program two weeks ago. The first week she had 20 participants and they played Wii and board games. Last week she had 15 participants and they used their creativity to make candy sushi. They used rice crispy treats for the rice and various candies were put on top of the roll, then topped it off by dipping their candy sushi in chocolate syrup. Ummmm. Does that sound good!

Kudos from Customers

MAIN – CHILDREN’S: “Ms. Laura's (Minnich) story time is well prepared and the crafts are wonderful. She has brought education to her work. My kid began to brush teeth after a tooth story time from her.”

MAIN – REFERENCE & PERIODICALS: “I was helped by a very nice gentleman. … I asked a question and, like a professional, he retrieved the information and handed it to me. I was so grateful. … Mr. Greg Royce, your candor is greatly appreciated.”

SOUTHEAST REGIONAL: “Customer Service: Randy (Mapanoo) was extremely helpful! Thank you.

UNIVERSITY PARK BRANCH: (In response to Counting Opinions Question: “What are you most satisfied with (staff)?” Answer: “Ms. Mina (Figuerrez).”

WEBB WESCONNETT: “Thank you so much for finding and holding my ID and Social Security card. Thank you, Vickie (Leonard)!”

Staff Profile

Graduates of the Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute (SSLLI), Samantha Helfrich, Librarian Senior at Murray Hill Branch, and Laura Minnich, Librarian Senior in the Main Library's Children's Department, each had to complete a project as part of the requirements for graduating from this one year program.

Samantha's project was "to plan a project and write an LSTA grant proposal that will enable the system to evolve a small community library branch from a traditional library space to a learning and information commons. This space will provide the community with greater access to technology, digital literacy training and educational resources. These tools will help customers from a lower socio-econonimic neighborhood bridge the digital divide and promote access and education in the digital age."

Since Laura was the subject of JPL Staff News September 2009 "Staff Profile", we thought it would be fair to ask Samantha to share her experiences as she worked on completing the SSLLI program.

Q: Please tell us about SSLLI and why it is useful to public librarians.

A: The Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute is a year long program offered by the State Library to train library professionals to be tomorrow’s library leaders. It is an intensive series of courses that helps to give meaning to all those leadership practices we hear about on a regular basis, and give library staff a practical tool box for the workplace and community.

Q: Why did you decide to apply for the SSLLI program and how has that benefited you professionally?

A: I had always heard good things about the institute, and when the application was forwarded to me, I decided to apply. Moreover, the mission of the institute spoke to the skills I felt would better equip me to take charge of my professional development. As a new senior in a small branch library, it provided a great deal of insight and perspective to experiences I was having for the first time, and it gave me a greater sense of community with professionals outside the system.

Q: Your project changed as you went through the program; please share with us how that evolved as you worked through it at Murray Hill.

A: When I applied to the institute, I was a teen librarian and the focus of my project reflected a need I saw in young adult services. However, by the time I started the program, I had been transferred to Murray Hill Branch, and as the senior librarian, my focus shifted to needs of the local community and the ways the branch could better address customer needs with online job seeking training and digital literacy skills.

Q: What positive results were effected at Murray Hill due to your efforts on your SSLLI project?

A: Quite candidly, without knowing the outcome on the LSTA grant application, it is hard to tell what the long- term impact will be for the branch. However, working on the grant helped me gain a clearer understanding of what our customers are looking for and what the need is in the community. It helped the branch to identify programs and partnerships we could offer, i.e. personalized computer classes, partnering with WorkSource, and e-government assistance.

Q: What is your favorite leisure time activity?

A: I love all things related to travel. I love to read about it, research places I would like to visit, and agonize over where to go when I have the time to take a vacation.

Southeast Waves Bye to SLP and Celebrates Goin' Back to School

Southeast Branch Library celebrated Going Back to School with their Summer Reading Finale Ice Cream Party, August 17, at 2:00 pm. Over 200 kids and parents enjoyed ice cream with their choice of toppings and sprinkles and freshly popped pop corn from the old fashioned pop corn maker (courtesy of the Mandarin Branch Library).

The party was made even more eventful with three special guests – Library Board Trustee Christina Stallings (top left picture on left facing camera), Deputy Director Carolyn Williams (pictured bottom right, on left facing camera) and our very own Administrative Supervisor Donna Riegel (bottom right, far right, facing camera.)

Trustee Stallings helped Anita Haller (top left, center) give out reading certificates and gift coupons while Carolyn Williams, Carisia Rooney and Volunteer Chelsea Samera served ice cream. Donna Riegel was indispensable handing out napkins and utensils. Volunteer Linda Elmore was in charge of the pop corn, and Paul Schaffner and Pelin Hangul took care of the crowd control. It was team work at its best.