SE Program Helps Crowd "Get It All Together"

Southeast Branch hosted a Mindfulness and Stress Management lecture by Dr. Suman Kollipara, president and founder of a non-profit called Peace Tree Innovations Society, March 20 and 21, 2016.  Dr. Kollipara elaborated on the values of meditation and learning how to destress. Twenty five attended the March 21 presentation and 30 turned out for the March 21 lecture.

What Seniors Need To Know Program At SOM

On Wednesday evening, March 23, 2016, South Mandarin Branch held the program “What Seniors Need to Know,” presented by Eddie Malone of Elder Care Resources.  Additional speakers were Connie Robinson Long of Connie’s Tool Box and Lisa Atkinson of Home Instead Senior Services. The event provided information on the services available for seniors wishing to remain in their current homes for as long as possible.  Discussed were topics on upgrading homes to be user friendly for seniors and also how to remain independent by receiving help with personal and medical needs. The program was open to everyone, and specifically for interested seniors and family members of seniors.

 

   Eddie Malone is describing here the facts of aging in place.

   Connie Robinson Long is explaining why seniors need to maintain their homes properly.

 

   Lisa Atkinson is giving pointers on the importance of receiving help with medical needs   and services.

Thank you, Ralph Henderson, for the article and pictures.

Help for Small Business Planners At SOM

Entrepreneurs are excited people.  When you meet a person bent on starting their own business, you can sense their interest and intensity. This was evident at the South Mandarin Branch on the evening of March 30^th, during the Funding Your Dream: Small Business Strategies program where 26 men and women gathered to hear two interesting presenters. 

Presented by Specialists of the Small Business Administration, Donna Padgug and Jay Choi, future business owners were provided with information on financing, research support and given contacts to help them develop their new businesses.  Based on their questions, and answers provided, these future business owners received the advice and direction they needed to proceed to their next step of proprietorship.

Ms. Padgug and Mr. Choi provided another opportunity to meet the informational needs of the Mandarin community.          

 Ms. Padgug responds to a question from a future small business owner.

  

 Mr. Choi is seen here explaining the intricacies of financial assistance provided by the SBA.

Thanks to Ralph Henderson for the input and pics.

Author SKYPE Visit At JB

JB was one of the winners of “A Sudden Light”  Book Club kit which included a SKYPE visit with the author, Garth Stein!  On March 29^th, the Flamingo Book Club enjoyed a funny and entertaining virtual visit with the author, who discussed his writing process as well as books The Art of Racing In The Rain and A Sudden Light. The kit also included swag such as buttons and matchboxes to commemorate the visit.  Another great book club meeting led by Julie Rekow.

NS Celebrates Women's History Month With A Tea

Brentwood Branch Library celebrated a Women’s History Month Afternoon Thank You Tea Party, March 27, 2016. Thirty one ladies enjoyed an inspiring event as they shared their memoirs and gave tribute to women who have greatly impacted their lives. Children and teens also attended and learned how much one person can positively impact their lives and the value an afternoon tea.

A reporter for The Jacksonville Free Press was also there to cover a portion of the event and spoke with Sharon Coon, the Founder/Organizer of the Brentwood Friends of the Library. 

The names for the group photo are:  L/R Seated: Pearl Graham-West, Veronica Y. Njeri-Imani, Nicci Steward, Ivera M. Anderson. 1^st Row Standing: Angela Peterson, Dr. Brewda J. Harris-Green, Annette Hines Dues, Sharon Coon, Helen Giffith. Last Row Standing: Sis. Catherine Cobb, Jocelyn Gaffney, Thelma Frazier, NS Manager Phenessa Gray, and JPL Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop.

Thanks to Brentwood Branch Manager Phenessa A. Gray for the news and pictures.

Two Street Pipe Mobile Mosaics

Guy Adkins, MH Manager, said "This is to announce the temporary placement (between six months and one year) in front of the Murray Hill branch library of two street pipe mobile mosaics: “Children” (foreground) and “Sailboats of the St. Johns River”. The artwork was installed by Kenny Rouh and his wife, the artists of the pieces, on March 26^th."

This little redhead could not wait to relate to "Children".

Library Board Trustee Mario Payne Reads To Kids & Parents At DU

Highlands Branch's LA Felecia Battle, held her first Dads with Donuts storytime with guest reader Library Board Trustee, Mario Payne March 24, 2016. The kids enjoyed stories, songs and donuts with their dads. Mr. Payne began with his favorite childhood song, "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and the kids and parents were pumped up for storytime. Later the kids made a  donut craft with their dads!

Getting To Know You; Getting To Like You

Tara Connolly, LEAP grant employee in the Urban Core Region, brought a group of women that she is working with through the City Rescue Mission to the Main library for a tour. Kathleen Brunner escorted them through the building and spent almost two hours with them. They asked Q's as they toured and Kathleen said, " We ended our time together at the CIRC desk applying for library cards."  Thanks to KB for the news and pic.  Great p.r. work, Kathleen.

Easter Fun At San Marco Branch

The bunny theme at Stories for Young Children program at San Marco Branch saw 16 children painting while another 10 played with early literacy blocks.  After reading three books about bunnies, the children (assisted by their parents) created a "tape resist" painted Easter egg." They learned about mixing colors and "resist art".  Parents enjoy talking with each other after the programs and often visit with each other at the nearby park when they leave SS. 

Female Pilots WOW Kids W/Visit At EB

Lt. Lara Bzik and Lt. Lindsey Asdal visited Brown Eastside Branch, March 16, along with the Navy's P.R. representative Julie Lucas. They fascinated customers with their talks about being female pilots.  JPL's May Kramer and the Navy personnel swapped JPL and Navy literature.  Navy stickers were given to the children and they assembled small planes and several tried on a flight suit and helmet. They also presented the pilots with interesting questions, such as, "Have you ever flown at night?",  "Will the Navy pay for pilot training and further education?" and "What countries have you flown over?"  Pretty mature questions, don't you think!

The Navy team wants to return to JPL and JPL is looking forward to more sessions for our customers.

Kudos From Customers - March 2016

Main - Children's:  Kelly (Heath) was very polite and helpful. She was empathetic to me finding my flash drive and ensured I knew where to pick up and search for lost and found.

Main - Talking Books:  Carol Michael, manager for Vision Education and Rehab Center FSCJ, was setting up a presentation appointment with Katie Devanny at CAL when Talking Books and Cris Eaton were brought up in the conversation. Carol praised Chris on the work he has done with VERC's clients. She talked about how great the service provided is but more about what Chris himself has done. It was great to hear such wonderful praise about a colleague. CAL witnesses every day Chris's great work and it was great to hear that he is appreciated outside in the community. Thanks Chris for being a great JPL representative! 

Murray Hill Branch:  I wanted to commend your librarian, Doug Fair, on his outstanding customer service. ...There was an incident with a patron that made me feel uncomfortable leaving the building. Doug went outside to assess the situation and to put my concerns to rest. He went above and beyond his duties @ the desk. I want to thank him. ...

SST:  Personally, I feel very satisfied with the personnel that work in this library.  In general, they are very professional and friendly.  Standing out with those virtues is instructor Flory (Florinda Martinez, E-Library Specialist, SST.)

Webb Wesconnett Branch:  LOVE the audio class w/Mr. Josh (Jubinsky).  We can’t make it every week, but always enjoy it when we come. 

Cuties In Cats In The Hat

Bradham Brooks Northwest Branch delighted kids who were invited to make a  “Cat in the Hat” for Dr. Seuss'  birthday, March 2. ( NW's Storytime and  Craft participants didn't care that the program was a bit of a belated birthday celebration held on March 15.)

Outstanding Employees Receive JPL Leadership Awards

The JPL Board of Library Trustees was introduced to seven JPL Leadership award winners for the first quarter FY 15/16 at the Board's March 20, 2016 meeting.  Director Barbara Gubbin (R in first pic below) and Chair of the Library Board Erin Skinner (L in first pic) were on hand to congratulate the winners.

Two Main Librarian III's were winners of the  "Encourage the Heart" award: Tamera Branam (2nd from L above), Main/Pop, and Kathleen Krizek, Special Collections (2nd from R). Both teamed up to have "5 Days of Sweet and Savory Delights" for Main staff during the holidays. Five departments hosted and decorated their workrooms and organized the food. Whoever could get by enjoyed seeing different locations in the Main Library, meeting other staff, and all enjoyed some great holiday food.

Laura Minor, YS Librarian III at Main, won a "Model the Way" award AND the "Employee of the Quarter" award for the effective, rewarding work she did for the Main Library's 10th Anniversary Teen Battle of the Bands program, November 7, 2015.  After six months of advanced planning that included a host of people 's efforts, the event saw over 500 customers attend to hear ten bands (some had to be turned away for lack of time.)  Laura did not have her picture made.

Support Services staff racked up three "Model the Way" awards. Jill Haile (middle, pic below) is a Librarian III in Collection Development. Jill worked many extra hours to clean, weed, organize and shift WB's collection prior to its reopening.   

Librarian I Diane Pless (2nd from R above) and Library Associate Linda Smith (2nd from L above), also in Collection Development, assisted Jill Haile in the huge job of weeding at WB.

Two Main Library Associates, Marsha Collins
(Children's) and Marie Myers (Main/POP) suggested a photo contest for Main's 10th anniversary and teamed up to create guidelines for the contest. Their adroit planning won Admin's approval and after working with other Main departments and the Art Walk Committee, they bragged 47 entries and 50 people attended the reception.

San Marco's Library Associate Emily Gideon (below, middle) won a "Model the Way" award for increasing circulation of children's materials. Emily has been aggressively promoting books and reading through programming, outreach and other activities. She developed partnerships with some school principals and teachers.  Emily added a "Holiday Storytime Pajama Party where Mayor Curry's wife read and their three children attended, along with 50+ others.  She also added two other weekly storytimes at SS. 
 
CR&M's Coordinator Olga Bayer could not attend the Board meeting but most know of her dedication to JPL, its staff, and CR&M. Olga managed staff in CR&M when Ms. Lussier left and took on much responsibility before Chris Boivin became the department manager in mid-December.

We owe all of you a debt of gratitude for your unusual abilities, creativity, dedication and hard work.

KR Salutes Dr. Seuss' 112th Birthday, Staff Pics, & The Luck Of The Irish

March madness??  No, it’s Mandarin Branch Library Assistant David Foster celebrating the 112^th birthday of Dr. Seuss on March 2, 2016.  Other March happenings at the branch include our “Staff Picks” in the Adult display case and a Pot o’ Gold to bring the luck of the Irish to the Children’s Department. (Thanks to Frances Wickes for the blurb & pics.)

GB Has 50+ For Coauthor Event

More than 50 people came to Graham March 5^th to see Natalie McGriff, the coauthor of The Adventures of Moxie McGriff. She read from her newly released book and signed copies for fans.

At the end of the program, all of the children were invited to create their own graphic novels. Templates and colored pencils were provided so they could get to work right away. (Thanks to GB's Raelyn Wiirre, Youth Services Librarian, for the input.)

Women's History Month At Main

Women’s History Month comes alive on the 3^rd Floor at the Main Library with a display created by Library Assistant Karren Deas.  Karren uses books, book lists, flyers and graphic design elements to shed light on the lives, achievements, and struggles of women

throughout history.  From Sojourner Truth to Anne Frank to Princess Diana, the display highlights the great lives of great women who continue to inspire us today.

Staff Profile - March 2016

In her 18 years with JPL, Kathy Tekin has served in several areas of management and is currently managing Webb Wesconnett Branch. Flexible, quickly responsive to change and challenge, and  ever evolving would describe Kathy's professional life. On the personal side, Kathy is married to Francis Tekin and has a grown daughter, Tara, and Tara and her hubby plan to make the Tekins grandparents soon. As a first time expectant grandparent, Kathy is excited and busy making baby clothes for baby Emma in her spare time.

  

Q: You have an extensive background with JPL. Please tell us where you have served and in what positions.

A: I started full time in July 1998 at the Highlands Branch as Children’s Librarian under Jane Harris, Branch Manager.  In December 2001, I promoted to Library Supervisor of Programming (children’s and adult), which was a new position with JPL, and transferred to the old Main Library. I worked closely with the Jaguar Foundation and the Jacksonville Zoo to create the program ZooTREK (Teaching Reading Exploring with Kids) in the urban core libraries. At the end of the fall session, the children and their chaperons could attend a Jaguar game and sit in the Honor Rows section.

In 2005, I was given the opportunity to work with just the youth portion and my title changed to Youth Services Coordinator.  I worked with two grants—one for summer reading and the second for Prime Time Family Reading Time. I was also able to hire our first Early Childhood Specialist for JPL, Susan Mankowski.

In 2013, I changed positions to become co-Library Supervisor of the Main Library with Erica Brown.  I managed Popular/Fiction, Special Needs Library/ILL, and the Center for Adult Learning.  It was the beginning of new and different responsibilities.

In July 2015, I was transferred to the West Regional Library and came full circle where Jane Harris is once again my supervisor. In November 2015, my next move was to Webb Wesconnett Regional Library.

Q: How would you define leadership versus management and how both can best be used to better JPL?

A: Leadership is working with a team of people to achieve the same goals by providing direction, guidance, and leading by example.

Management is keeping the team moving forward toward the goals through listening, acknowledgement of team progress toward the goals, recognizing the potential stumbling blocks, and following up on individual contributions to the team effort.

As the manager of a very busy branch, it takes both leadership and management for staff to achieve the goals of JPL.  It also means that you need to be visible on the floor for customers and staff. It also means communicating your expectations for BLAST (Believe, Listen, Apologize, Satisfy, and Thank) customer service and reinforcing the positive interactions with customers and co-workers.  It also means dealing quickly with the uncomfortable issues that arise.

Q: Are there any lessons in management and/or leadership that your experience has garnered that didn’t come from a textbook?

A: Good mentors from my past and learning from my own mistakes are two I can think of. My first professional position was in a small library system with one building. Sharing what was happening in the children’s department could really affect the entire building--from the number of customers to the number of items that were checked out in a given day. 

Textbooks also do not teach you how to deal with day-to-day issues with buildings and difficult/challenging customers. These items you learn from your supervisors, coworkers, and from other professionals in the field. In my first position, I learned that I had to plunge the toilet that overflowed as we did not have a custodian on site all day. The men’s room had a clogged toilet and since the public restrooms were on my floor, I was given the task to plunge the toilet.

Q: What are the differences in managing a department versus a branch?

 A: Managing a branch is smaller in size compared to Main. The branches I have managed are just as busy in regards to computer use and DVD checkouts. Webb Wesconnett Branch is busier than West Regional Branch when it comes to computer use and needing assistance. Staff is smaller and more dependent on each other, so everyone needs to know how to fill in at the various desks in a pinch.  At Main, you need to know other departments and their primary functions to fill in during a pinch and you are less likely to fill in for circulation. Having worked both, I do not see a lot of difference. You are still responsible for the building and all the services provided by staff.

Q: Who are one or two of your mentors or heroes and why?

A: Kathleen Zaenger, Director of Howell Carnegie District Library taught me a lot about working in a public library. Previously, I had worked in school media centers for two school districts. I communicated with a library board and Friends group and learned the importance of knowing members of your community and other city departments, i.e. police and fire. I was delegated with the task of meeting with a team of community volunteers to construct a float for the local Melon Fest Parade to provide the library’s request for an independent millage to support the library. The children from the summer reading program already participated in the annual parade each August. The millage rate was passed by the voters for the library to become a District Library with the necessary funds to expand the Howell Carnegie Library. Ms. Zaenger provided me the opportunity to use some of my knowledge from previous work experience in the construction industry when we expanded the Howell Library. I was the liaison with the architect and contractor representing the library and library board.

Carolyn Williams was another mentor. I wish I had her poker face when dealing with some situations. Those of us who have worked with Carolyn over the years know exactly what I am saying. You never knew what she was thinking while explaining some idea or situation until she was willing to share her thoughts.

VIP's Hear Murray Hill Friends' Big Plans

The Friends of the Murray Hill Library had some big plans for their annual meeting, February 16, 2016, and not a few VIP's attended the event at Maple Street Biscuit Company. Beside announcing new MHF board members and their main goal to see Murray Hill Branch open seven days a week, President of MHF Bill Brinton addressed an audience of forty-five about the founding of the Murray Hill municipality in 1916.  He noted some businesses that subsequently opened and that the Murray Hill Library was dedicated in 1968.

      Mr. Brinton, Director Barbara Gubbin, and Judy Kline, outgoing President of MHF. 

City Council President Greg Anderson attended and other CM's included Jim Love, John Crescimbeni, and Samuel Newby. CM Love made a few remarks praising the many opportunities found at the Jacksonville Public Library.  He added a brief description of how an extension of the period that the City of Jacksonville collects a ½ cent sales tax could be dedicated to the resolution of funding issues with the City pension.

The Friends group awarded Library Hero Awards to CM's Love and Crescimbeni.

Beside Director Gubbin, other JPL VIP's who attended were Deputy Director for Public Services Jennifer Giltrop, Manager of Strategic Initiatives Richard Mott,  CR&M Manager Christian Boivin, Manager of YS & CO Amber Holley and Highlands Region Manager Marshelle Berry.