JPL Celebrates 100 Years As Member of FDLP

Kathleen Krizek, who heads up Main's Special Collections Department, her team,  Kathy Lussier's CR&M team, and Mitesh Sangani's Conference Center team, and the U.S. Navy band's beautiful music--all made an inviting setting for the bevy of political stars and others attending the 100th anniversary celebration of JPL's participation in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) at Main, August 26, 2014.  One or two pictures would not do the event justice, so treat your eyes to one of the best executed programs ever at JPL.  Every employee who worked on this project can say you spotlighted the library at its best: 
                          https://www.flickr.com/photos/34206377@N08/sets/72157646882793681/
The Navy Band Southeast's Woodwin Quartet, Fair Winds, provided a pleasant backdrop of music while attendees enjoyed refreshments prior to the ceremony.  Ms. Krizek welcomed everyone and invited them to tour the closed stacks housing Government Documents later.  Director Barbara Gubbin acknowledged special guests, spoke about Jacksonville 100 years ago and read a letter from  the Dean of UF Libraries, Judith Russell.  She noted that JPL has the 3rd oldest FDLP collection in Florida. 

Library Board Chair Dr. Brenda Simmons-Hutchins spoke about the value of being a government documents depository and the importance of free access to knowledge, and read a letter from the Superintendent of Documents, Mary Alice Baish. She was pleased her husband could accompany her on this important occasion. 

Congresswoman Corrine Brown underscored Dr. Simmons-Hutchins' statement about the value of access to free information, encouraged everyone to vote this last day of early voting, and credited Dr. Simmons-Hutchins with getting her here and convincing her that she should  vote "yes" for establishing an independent library taxing district for Duval County, which was on the ballot.  She also said she hoped CM Bill Gulliford, who was present, and others would favor it.   

State Senator Tony Hill closed the program by reading the Mayoral Proclamation celebrating JPL's 100th anniversary as a member of the Federal Depository Library Program.

Ms. Krizek said about the tour she conducted after the program, "I took CM Bill Gulliford, Mayor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Michelle Barth and Paul Martinez, Director of Intra-Governmental Services, on a tour of the closed stacks housing Government Documents. They appeared impressed by the types and depth of information in the collection. Two other depository coordinators, Barbara Costello (with Stetson University, which houses Florida's oldest FDLP collection) and Jan Swanbeck (with UF, which houses the second oldest FDLP collection) were special guests and were also taken on a tour of the rest of the Special Collections area.

 "I enjoyed the chance to show our department, its collections, and staff to individuals who are not regular users. We hope to broaden awareness of the depository and the materials we have available to assist reference staff help customers with research."

(The picture above includes L/R: Director Gubbin, Congresswoman Brown, Library Board Chair Dr. Simmons-Hutchins, State Sen. Hill, Senior Librarian Krizek, Ms. Swanbeck and Ms. Costello. .....Ms. Krizek and CM Gulliford on the tour of the closed stacks in Special Collections are seen in the far right picture on the top row on the link above.)