Retiree Update - Elaine Kitchings

 

Thanks to ULC Supervisor Pat Morrison for this update on a stupendous retiree:

 

Mrs. Elaine Fears Kitchings retired from the Jacksonville Public Library in the year 2000 after decades of service to the youth of our community in her job as children’s librarian and storyteller extraordinaire.  She began her career with JPL at the Myrtle Avenue branch and she also worked at the Eastside branch, Regency Square branch and the Northwest branch libraries.

Elaine is quoted as saying, “I thought I had the BEST JOB in the public library because I worked with children … instilling in them a love of reading and learning about authors and illustrators.”  Despite all the wonders and information available via electronic resources, Mrs. Kitchings declares “The book is still the greatest source for learning.  Enjoy the printed page.”

Post-retirement, Mrs. Kitchings continues to promote literacy, storytelling and the joy of a good book.  She has worked as an adjunct professor at Edward Waters College teaching Children’s Literature to education majors, and she is the Tale Tellers coordinator for the RSVP program at Mary Singleton Center. Volunteer activities include a 14 year engagement reading stories to pre-K students at George Washington Carver Elementary school on a weekly basis. Mrs. Kitchings also continues to work with the group she co-founded 26 years ago – The Northside Storytellers League.

 

Most recently Mrs. Kitchings began the “More Than A Book”  discussion group for young girls at the Brentwood library.  She hopes to share the joy of reading with the young ladies and promote grammar, diction and writing skills.  Mrs. Kitchings chose the first title for the group, The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes.  The older title is still relevant and the lessons in the story and the situations were very relatable when placed in a modern setting.  The young ladies did a great job relating to the book and a lively discussion ensued.  Pictured with Mrs. Kitchings are Miss Kezia Weston and Miss Anna Williams.  The group selected Lois Lowry’s The Giver for the next discussion in August.

There have been a number of milestones in Mrs. Kitchings’ life since retirement.  In 2009 her husband and notable high school coach Earl Kitchings passed away.  Mrs. Kitchings is still surrounded by her loving family and proudly shares their accomplishments.  Her son W. Earl was the recipient of the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission’s 2014 Preservation Award in the Heritage Education-Books category for his book The Perfect Ending.  Oldest grandson Cemal is a postal inspector in Pittsburgh; while her youngest grandson William Earl, II is a doctoral candidate at the Florida State University.  Her daughter in-law Angela continues to teach at Mandarin Oaks Elementary school.