JPL Staff News: Meet Gail Hunyar, New President of FJPL

Monday, August 18, 2014

Meet Gail Hunyar, New President of FJPL

We thought you'd like to meet the effervescent, community minded new President of the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library, who introudes herself in her bio for the JPL Staff News blog, as

"Gail Mary Hould Jewett Hunyar

"During the summer of 1959, my family chose Jacksonville as our new home. My father had just retired from the U.S. Navy and he did not want to return to New Hampshire to shovel snow. Jacksonville was and still is a navy town and we felt at home. My brother and I started school at Hogan Spring Glen Elementary, followed by Southside Jr. High and Englewood High School. I was part of the class of 1968 and after graduation I got a great job at the Federal Reserve Bank counting and sorting currency. This was my introduction to the financial community which became my career for over 30 years.
"In our early days in Jacksonville, my mother was very lonesome. She found the San Marco Branch Library and became a regular patron. She could go to the library twice a month and she would check out 25 or so books each time. She taught us that the library was a safe place with endless possibilities.
In 2008, when the opportunity arose, I took early retirement from banking. I goofed off for a few months, walked daily on the beach and enjoyed being free of the corporate world. I decided to volunteer at the Friends of the Jacksonville Library (FJPL) and started sorting books on Saturday mornings. Slowly I became more involved until this past June when I was elected President of this same group. My love of books, early retirement and wanting to give back have brought me to this place where I feel like I am making a difference while having a really good time and working with like-minded people. My glass is always half full!

"These days, if I am not at the FJPL warehouse, you will find me in Evergreen Cemetery. I am one of the guides for the 14th annual Tales of our City Cemetery Tour. The Pilot Club of the Port of Jacksonville and Evergreen Cemetery will present our historical tour on October 11 & 12, 2014. The proceeds from this tour will go to the North Florida School of Special Education and other community service projects of our club. This will be my third tour as a guide and I am having fun learning & sharing the history of Jacksonville.

"I have a wonderful husband to whom I have been married for over 25 years, two daughters and two grandsons. Eddie and I travel the USA visiting national parks and "the must see places" across our great country. Life is good for me and mine and I am thankful every day for the day my family decided that Jacksonville would be our "home town"."

Gail Hunyar is like a friendly neighbor that you wish you had met a long time ago and we at JPL hope we have the pleasure of knowing her for a long time to come.

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THREE STAFF HONORED AT CW

In December, Deputy Director Julie McNeil presented service pins to Kristi Dorney (middle in pic) for 20 years at JPL; Cassy Manning (left) for five service years; and Helena Davenport for five years serving JPL. Kristi received a congratulatory letter from Mayor Curry, and Cassy and Helena each received a letter of appreciation from Director Tim Rogers. Cassy, Kristi, and Helena also enjoyed a socially-distanced party given in their honor. All of us send our thanks, too, for your years with the library.

MR. MOSELEY: CONGRATS ON 20 YEARS & A JOB WELL DONE!

DON'T NEED TO BE A DUMMY; JUST READ BOOKS FOR DUMMIES

PT shelver with help from Teen Associate Beverly Mason created a “I thought you said Mummy…No I said Book for Dummies” display to transition to fall/Halloween and highlight DU’s For Dummies series of books on a variety of topics. DU Manager Eric Soriano added, “There’s also a new ‘Interactive chess display’ by Librarian Benjamin Smith. Books and DVDs are available for checkout while customers enjoy actually playing the game. Ben is also planning to offer possible chess classes.”

LIGHT BULB GOES OFF IN CREATIVE DECKER'S HEAD

YS Asociate Decker Cavosie hosted EB’s first “Minute to Win It,” April 9, 2019, where 15 teens competed in various challenges under a 60 second time limit. Participants discussed strategies and difficulties throughout the program and exhibited creative problem-solving to gain advantages. Each month at the end of the program, the teen with the most points writes their name on the “Minute to Win It Undisputed Championship” belt Decker made. The belt will be displayed until the following month when the reigning champion will defend their title.

HAIL, HAIL THE GANG'S ALL HERE FOR MELODIE BRUNSON'S 5 YEAR CELEBRATION!

January 17, 2019, Deputy Director Julie McNeil presented Melodie Brunson with Director Tim Rogers' congratulatory letter for her five years of service and her service pin. Melodie also enjoyed a big cheer from West Branch's staff pictured here. Back row: Jessica Carpenter (clerk), Eve Harm (YS Librarian 1), Shannon Buchanan (clerk), Larry Singer (volunteer), John Jessee (Assistant Branch Manager), & Manager Kathleen Brunner. Front row: Latisha Woolbright (clerk), Julie Horton (YS Library Assistant), & Melodie Brunson (YS PT Associate.)

THANKS, MANDY ELLIOTT, FOR 5 GOOD YEARS OF SERVICE

JANICE ADAMS CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS W/JPL

Library Associate Janice Adams received her 5 year service pin from Webb Region Manager Lynne Baldwin, January 31, 2018, along with a letter from Library Director Tim Rogers thanking and commending Janice for her service to JPL, the City and the community. Staff at Webb surprised Janice with not one but two cakes, a card, a bouquet of flowers and a gift card. Branch Manager Kathy Tekin joined Lynne to say, "Congratulations to you, Janice, for 5+ years of outstanding service to the Jacksonville community."

STUDY BUDDY SHARED BY 3 IN MAIN TEEN DEPT.

A Thank You From Denise Thomas

To the JPL Family: I wish to thank each and every one of you for your caring responses during my time of need. For those who were not aware, time was needed for surgery and recovery from breast cancer. I want you to know that all donated leave, words of encouragement, random acts of kindness and those beautiful smiles are appreciated.

I am a breast cancer survivor as a result of God’s Grace and an early detection of the cancer. May I suggest that each of you, if you have not already done so, take time to schedule health screenings of any kind knowing that these can be lifesaving methods for you.

To God be the glory for the things he has done. I am now free of cancer and want to say again that I appreciate what you did for me. Not knowing who my time donors were, I am not able to give individual hugs; collectively to the JPL Family I say THANK YOU a million times over.

Denise Thomas, JPL’s Center for Adult Learning at Main.

MARILYN JORDAN SENDS THANKS TO STAFF WHO DONATED TIME FOR HER RECENTLY

SANTA AND KIDS AT MAIN

Main's Children’s departmemt had a jolly great time with Old Saint Nick this year. We handed out jingle bells, read a sleigh ride picture book and, of course, sang the Jingle Bells song. Next, resident elf, Carisia Rooney, took over and kept the line smiling as they waited to verify that indeed, Santa’s whiskers were real and so was his tummy! Afterward, Jonathan Sandbach held a bell-decorating class (complete with glitter) so the kids could take some of the holiday fun home with them.

MATTHEW TAYLOR, LIBRARIAN I, WITH MAIN LIBRARY 15 YEARS

DENISE THOMAS CELEBRATES 15 YEARS WITH JPL

Denise is a Literacy Program Specialist in the Center for Adult Learning, located on the Conference level of the Main Library. She has done so much good for the community beside all the wonderful things she does for children in her position with JPL. Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop (far left) gave Denise a congratulatory letter from Mayor Curry and her 15 year service pin. Denise is 2nd from left, then CAL Manager Katie Devanny, & Tammy Owens. We join with them in congratulating you, Denise.