Brentwood Goes Hawaiian

Phenessa A. Gray, NS and EB Manager reports, "In recognition of Asian-Pacific Heritage Month, Brentwood hosted A Taste of Hawaii program, May 26, 2016. Betty Williams, Library Associate, did an amazing job teaching us about the history of Hawaii, the hula dance, and she created some delectable Hawaiian delights, such as pulled pork sandwiches, pineapple-watermelon salad, and macadamia nut cookies. The final count was 23 with a mix of adults, teens, and children. We had an awesome time." 

Amber Holley: Job Well Done

SE Region Manager Keli Likins presented Amber Holley, Manager of YS & CO, with a Job Well Done Award, May 27, 2016, at the Administration Team meeting.  

Ms. Likins said, "Amber is committed to team work and excellence.  She always works hard to coordinate training of new and current YS department staff and public service staff.  Amber knows that providing quality training results in excellent service."

Abstract Art AT NS

 "Our young customers had an awesome time at Brentwood Library, May 31, learning how to paint abstract art with renowned artist, Michael G. Bush. We had 11 in attendance," said Phenessa Gray, NS & EB Manger.

Beaches Branch Celebrates 30 Years of Service

Beaches Branch Library celebrated its 30^th Anniversary on Saturday, May 21, 2016, with a Community Open House. Library customers visited with the many elected officials and representatives from local community organizations.  Kathleen Krizek from Special Collections did genealogy database demonstrations and also showed off the newly digitized portions of The Florida Times-Union indexes. CAL Manager Katie Devanny and JB staff also manned tables. E-Specialist Randy Manapoo did 3D Printer and tablet demonstrations.

JB Manager Theresa Rooney said, "We were amazed at the support for the Beaches Branch by elected officials. Library Director Barbara Gubbin provided opening remarks for the noon program. Katie Ross, Regional Director, Senator Bill Nelson’s Office, read a letter from the Senator. Jackie Smith, District Director, U.S. Representative Ander Crenshaw’s Office, also spoke enthusiastically about the many things the library offers. 

Brian Sexton, former Voice of the Jaguars, was the keynote speaker; however, the hit of the program was 94 year old Scotty Thornton, who shared some of her experiences, beginning in 1979, in mobilizing support from elected officials and community organizations to replace the 3,000 sq. ft. library in the old Jax Beach City Hall with a new branch. These experiences were documented in a timeline lovingly prepared by  FOBBL members Pam and Steve Ubl, based on primary sources contained with several early Friends scrapbooks, and installed on the Community Room wall to celebrate the anniversary. In addition to Ms. Thornton, Special guests included: Sallie Pickard and Ann Winfree, the librarians who opened the Beaches Branch in 1986, and the family of Eloise Claiborne, a Beaches resident appointed to the Board of Library Trustees in 1979, who served as President from 1983-84.

 

Mayor Harriet Pruette declared Saturday, May 21st as “Beaches Branch Library Day” by Mayoral Proclamation. Other elected officials who spoke during the program were Councilmember Bill Gulliford and State Representative Aaron Bean. Bryan Sexton was the Keynote Speaker and Tim Anderson, Secretary, Board of Library Trustees, gave closing remarks. Also attending were: State Representative Lake Ray, Kara Tucker and Scott Wiley from the Neptune Beach City Council, and Phil Vogelsang and Bruce Thomason from the City of Jacksonville Beach City Council, as well as  Mitch Reeves, Mayor of Atlantic Beach.  

The event was also well attended by JPL Administration, including Deputy Directors Jennifer Giltrop (Public Services), Mark Merritt (Administration), Assistant Director of Public Services Julie McNeil, Assistant Director of Support Services Gretchen Mitchel, Regional Supervisors Sara Roberts (PCR), and Keli Likins (SE), and Karen Walker, Manager of E-Services & Digital Access, as well as others.

Beaches Watch, Jacksonville Beach Life Guards, Sea Turtle Patrol, BEAM, Beaches Museum & History Park, Bennie Furlong Senior Center, Beaches Photography Club, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Jacksonville and  the “Seams Beachy”chapter of the American Sewing Guild were some of the local organizations represented.  

 

FOBBL raffled 18 book-themed gift baskets and the Children’s Department offered face-painting, balloon sculptures, and two “beachy” crafts. The event wrapped up around 2 p.m. and staff estimated that 500+ patrons had walked through the gate and most had participated. Everyone enjoyed Italian Ice from Rita’s, which donated 25% of their profits to the Friends of the Beaches Branch Library, and special beach-themed cookies provided by Cinnoti’s Bakery and Publix.  

                                     Barbara Sperbeck, FOBBL                    

Comin' Up: Maker Space At Main

Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop, Main/Urban Manager Michael Sullivan and an audience of about 40 were excited to hear Sara Radovic's "Maker Space" presentation, May 23, at Riverside's Unity Plaza.  

What's that all about? JPL will be moving Main's Popular media collections and romance books now shelved on the first floor to the second floor. (Browsing will remain on the first floor.)  This will avail about 4,000 square feet to be used for a collaborative space that will include furnishings. This project will amplify and complement smaller-scaled spaces which are already being developed and they will bring together resources for small business owners and entrepreneurs in a way that has not been done before. The spaces will also afford library customers the opportunity to enjoy musical presentations, view artists' works, learn low to high technology, use 3-D printing, work on their inventions, etc. 

Collaborative spaces have done well in other libraries and Admin is looking forward to having Main's new venture ready by August 2016. Both the Orange County library system and Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative have collaborative spaces featuring a variety of programs and services.  

STEAM At Graham Branch

Graham Branch had a fun school age program, May 18, where kids focused on making buildings using marshmallows and spaghetti.  As you see, the kids were creative--and afterward enjoyed eating the marshmallows.

GB's Youth Services Librarian, Alexis Carter, said, "These STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) programs engage children in specific projects that can explore concepts such as cause/effect, creative interpretation and expression, and involve experimenting with different art mediums and tools to achieve a desired effect.”

Proud Day For Padma

May 17, 2016, is a day JB's Library Assistant, Padma Subramanian, will never forget; she said, "My daughter Sangeeta earned her doctorate degree in bio medical engineering from Rutgers New Jersey, and my son-in-law, Ani Abraham, received his doctorate degree from New Jersey Technical Institute in chemical engineering. They both attended the ceremony at NJIT together. 

SST Team Awarded Job Well Done

SST''s Mary Johnson, Librarian III in Cataloging and Digitization Services said, "The awards have been presented for a Job Well Done in recognition of the SST team responsible for cataloging and processing all of the Radical Jewish Culture Project items in time for the program held May 15th." 

Pictured are employees who worked on this project: (L/R): Front row: Carolyn Woods, Raisa Grigoryeva. Second row: Pertoria Kennedy, Patricia Dowdell, Jill Sherrod. Theresa Barmer was absent.

(Read more about the Radical Jewish Program and the large collection donated to JPL in the "339 Attend Jewish Program" article posted on May 17, 2016, on this blog.)

Kudos From Customers - May 2016

Argyle Branch: A customer attended the new Knitting and Crocheting program and spoke to the manager afterwords. She was very pleased with the program and excited to attend the next one. She said staff running the program did a great job (Robin Cumby and Laura Norman).

Main – CAL:  As a student at the Library, I receive the most respect, love, kindness and concern about my education from the best staff team members. These team members are the best of the best; they all are Awesome:  Ms. Katie Devanny, Ms. Tammy Owens, Mr. Mike Carey, and Ms. Katie Bark. ,,,the staff of the Center for Adult Learning helped me successfully reach my goals. Thanks.

Main – CR & M: I frequently receive the Public Library Newsletter (email) and do take the time to read it as it has very interesting information, events, and is a great resource. (Olga Bayer, Editor.)

South Mandarin Branch:  Leslie (Patterson) puts you at ease, keeps a smile and answers clearly. You guys rock.

SST – Collection Development:  (from a JPL vendor, Baker & Taylor): …the staff (especially Jill Haile) is to be thanked for this smooth transition. This has been one of the easiest and most enjoyable migrations I’ve done to date. I’ll miss working with you all and I want to thank you for your patience and great attitudes.

JPL Friends Book Sale

The Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library are having another popular Bag Sale, May 20 - May 22, 2016--an opportunity to bag your favorite books, DVDs, and CDs:

Please remember: These sales help support JPL.

Friday, May 20 - 4 - 8 pm:  (FJPL members only but you can join at the door). - $11.25 per bag; BUY ONE BAG; GET SECOND ONE FREE

Saturday, May 21: 9 - 4:  $15 per bag; buy two bags; get third FREE

Sunday, May 22:  Noon - 5: $15 per bag; buy two bags; get third FREE

The JPL Friends are located at the south end of UPK, 3435 University Boulevard North.

Early birds not only get the worms, they get the best selections.

Great P.R. Work At MH

Murray Hill Library's Cheyla Scantling reports on her recent outreach, "Vagabond Flea is affiliated with Vagabond Coffee, a coffee shop located less than a block away from MH. They are a community organizing group and market place, open to artists, buyers, and sellers in the area. (They also set up at Art Walk.) The event was located in the large parking lot between the Murray Hill Theater and the library. I used the outreach to further open the doors of MH to our immediate community, especially since we rarely have access to that many people at a close location. We had 85 attendees and about 10 vendors. One mother with two children signed up for JPL cards. I informed them of upcoming MH events, including SLP, adult programing, how to get a library card, Hi-5 and more." 

Greg Pierce: Job Well Done

PCR Librarian II Gregory Pierce received the first  “Job Well Done” award, May 17, 2016, at a staff meeting attended by Region Manager Sara Roberts. PCR Manager Jackie Spiritas credits Greg with "having created customized Emergency/Evac/ Lockdown manuals for each desk (Ask Here, Customer Service, Children’s Ask Here, PDS, Staff Workroom) with instructions and detailed maps for handling Code David’s, Bomb Threats and Emergency Evacs and/or Lockdown events. The manuals are tailored to each desk. No matter where staffs are working, they know what is expected and where the quickest safety routes are located. Greg’s teamwork attitude and creation of the customized manuals go above and beyond what is expected. By consolidating the forms, maps, and instructions at each desk, Greg has provided a way for us to be more efficient during an emergency. Staffs can read the manuals at leisure and ask Q's, and practice the route and instructions until they are habitual rather than process “new information” at the time of an emergency. The manuals represent a complete and comprehensive, as well as, visual explanation - appropriate for all levels of staff. The clearly labeled and easy to find information communicates the importance of knowing what to do quickly to save lives and prevent incidents from escalating.

"Greg understands the importance of security and safety and models that intensity for staffs. His work on this project may help staffs feel confident in situations when there is little time to waste looking for the proper form and procedure."

339 Attend Jewish Program

The Radical Jewish Culture program presented at the Main Library, Sunday afternoon, May 15, drew 339 attendees and featured Grammy-nominated pianist Uri Caine (above).  After the dedication ceremony, Mr. Caine performed and discussed the idea of Radical Jewish Culture - a term coined by John Zorn describing the reimaging of traditional Jewish music with influences of classical, jazz, world and undefined musical genres. 

Keith Marks,  Laura and Peter Bailet and Avant – program producer and sponsors - presented the library with a

donation of 244 items: five DVDs, seven books, and 232 CDs. 

Library Director Barbara Gubbin, seen Hi-5ing Mr. Marks' daughter, asked the audience to give a Hi-5 for the Summer Learning program, drawing $178 in donations. Attendees checked out some of the newly acquired materials immediately following the program. 

Jill Sherrod, Theresa Barmer, Patricia Dowdell, Carolyn Woods, Raisa Grigoryeva, and Pertoria Kennedy were thanked for their contributions to the event. Lisa Buggs, Coordinator of Lifelong Learning and Communication said, "The program, acquisitions, and checkouts would not have been possible without their efforts. Their support of Lifelong Learning is greatly appreciated." 

Trip The Light Fantastic: JB's Comic Con

Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop would not have missed Comic Con.

Theresa Welch is one of the proud staff at JB who participated in Comic Con and sent us this blurb and pics with this report, "Avengers and more assembled on Saturday, May 7, at JB for our 4^th Comic Con. Over 2,000 people visited us and were treated to a:

Performance by the Fletcher High School Band

Light saber demonstration by Jedi Academy of North Florida

Makeup demo by Special Effects artist Jay Woodley

Team Trivia Team Trivia Contest

Costume contest

The trio below: Main's Stephanie Miller, SST's Tony Miller (you need some sun, Tony), and their son, Tristan. 

 

And as you can see below, many staff were on hand for the big event:

The group picture includes Beaches Branch staff, Teen Volunteers, Main's Eve Harm, Mandy Elliott (PCR) and Region Manager Sara Roberts (blue wig in back).  The Comic Con devotee herself (Theresa Welch) is the "cook" on the far left. 

Mother's Day At West

West Branch Library held its second annual Mother's Day photo shoot, May 5th, and 60 attendees enjoyed having their pictures made in WST's specially designed Mother's Day setting.  They placed their pictures in frames they made to take home.  

Some Youth Services staff joined in the fun and had their picture made, too: L/R Carol Bunker, Julie Horton, and Melodie Brunson.

Thanks to Melodie for the blurb and pics.

104 Years Of Service Honored By JPL Board

Three of JPL's employees, who, collectively, have made JPL their careers for 104 years are retiring soon!  They were honored by the Library Board of Trustees at their meeting, May 12, 2016.

Two Library Clerical Supervisors--Cynthia Simmons (SE) and Beverly Brown (PCR)--and SE's Librarian III Cheryl Callavini received a JPL gold card, floral bouquet, and a letter of appreciation from Director Barbara Gubbin.

Cheryl, pictured above with Board Chair Erin Skinner and Director Barbara Gubbin,, celebrates 37 years with JPL this year.  Read more about her in the May 2016 Staff Profile.

Cynthia has spent 32 years at JPL. She began with the Summer Youth Program in 1984 and was hired as a part time page in the Children's Department. She went on to work full time for the Florida and Genealogy departments,  AR, KR, DU, and as Clerical Supervisor at the new Main Library and then transferred to SE. (Cynthia could not be present; Main/Urban Region Manager Michael Sullivan accepted for her.)

Beverly (middle lady below) began with JPL in 1981 and she has been with JPL 35 years, first serving as a clerk at WBK, then Main. Later she worked as an assistant at AR and Tech Services, then became a supervisor for Collection Development. More recently, she worked at JB and PCR.

Cynthia and Beverly were also subjects of the JPL Staff News Staff Profile--Cynthia in November 2013 and Beverly in August 2014. 

ALL OF US AT JPL WISH YOU, CHERYL, CYNTHIA, AND BEVERLY THE VERY BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT.  WE APPRECIATE YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE.  

WB Spreads The Fun W/Comic Con

Over 350 people of all ages turned out for WB’s first Comic Con, modeled after JB’s popular annual event.  WB offered customers the opportunity to interact with local artists and authors, play board games with a local game store, participate in a judged costume contest, meet local superhero *Moxie McGriff (pic to left) , take pictures at a greenscreen photobooth (manned by Margaret Fishback from CR&M), make superhero masks and wristcuffs, explore the library in a trivia scavenger hunt, and take photos with Jacksonville’s own Ghostbusters (below).  Thanks to Best, Alison McCarty at WB for the news & pic.)
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*Moxie Mcgriff won a One Spark contest last year with her first book, The Adventures of Moxie McGriff, and read her second book, Moxie McGriff Saves the Library, for kids at this event.

SST's Beverly Brown Plans To Retire

Beverly Brown is a calm, cool, and collected lady with a stately charm--the kind who can hold things steady when the "winds are blowing"; she will be sorely missed after 35 years at JPL.

  

Beverly said about her tenure with JPL, "I started May 19, 1981, at the Westbtbrook Library as a Clerk I.  I was promoted and worked at Main circulation as a Clerk II  and later transferred to AR, then promoted to Library Assistant and later transferred to Technical services which is now SST. Later, I promoted to a Clerical Service Supervisor over Acquisitions. After many years in SST, I was transferred to JB.  In October 2012, JPL libraries were divided into regions and I was transferred to the PCR Region as Clerical Supervisor and was the liaison to the managers and clerical staff at AR, JB & UPK in the region.  I will officially celebrate 35 years of service on Thursday, May 19, 2016.  As I retire, I certainly will not miss working nights or weekends J, but will certainly miss all the staff I have had the privilege of working with through the years. 

"My last day is May 27, but I will be back after vacationing in Maryland for the summer to help train staff on our new POS system."

Teens & Cherry Blossoms Bloom To Celebrate A Special Month

Even though Teen Library Associate Anjelica Bencomo recently transferred to Teen Main, she is still working (temporarily) with the SE Teen Advisory Board. Anjelica said, "This month SE changed out the lobby display to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with a beautiful cherry blossom tree."

Here's to Moms!

Mandarin Branch finished a busy week by honoring mothers.  Over 40 children and parents were treated to “Muffins with Mom” and juice in mini champagne flutes, and created Mother’s Day cards at the craft table.  One little boy, with flute in hand, turned to his mother and said, “Cheers!”  Frances Wickes said, "Priceless."

MAX Bridge Building Challenge.

Tweens and teens recently spent three weeks constructing bridges of popsicle sticks and glue at Maxville Branch. Then the completed bridges were put to the test: holding multiple water bottles.

Nine boys and girls participated, constructing two bridges. Both bridges successfully passed the test, as their smiles and the bridges attest!

They  thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and look forward to Bill's future adventures during SLP. (Thanks to William Figlietti, WST Library Associate, for the blurb and pics.)

KR's Once Upon A Time Party

It was party time at KR, May 4. Kate Zakharov, KR's YS Library Associate said, "We offered storybook-inspired food and decorations for the 58 students and parents from Beauclerc Elementary who attended. Students were treated to mini cupcakes adorned with fairy tale book covers, Little Red Riding Hood's basket of bite-sized white cakes, and Rice Krispies bars adopted from Alice in Wonderland. Organized by the Mandarin Youth Services Team, the children created origami crowns and dressed in costume to have their pictures taken at the Once Upon a Time photo booth.

Staff Profile - May 2016

Cheryl Callavini, Southeast Branch's YS Librarian III, has served in several positions and locations with JPL.  

Where best to share your love of reading, story telling, and a desire to enrich people's lives than as a librarian. Cheryl has served her family, JPL, and its customers for almost three decades and is now ready to expand her life in new ways when she retires soon.  We will miss her and hope she checks in with us occasionally after she checks out of JPL. 

Q: You have 37 years with JPL. What motivated you for so long?

A:  Every day I learn something new, whether researching a question for a customer, or in training to keep up with all the libraries' great new services.  

Q:  What professional attributes helped you the most along your career path?

A:  My Love of reading and literature and wanting to impart that passion to our customers, through storytimes and finding just the right book for the avid reader as well as the reluctant reader.

I also love the detective work in finding the answer to a customer’s question through the reference interview process and the research using our databases and other multiple sources.

I once helped a customer who was adopted find her birth parents in Germany.  She visited them in Germany and returned to show me the write up in a German magazine giving the library credit in the help of her search. I felt a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of rightness about the profession I had chosen.

Q: In what capacities have you served JPL and what have you learned from your experience?

A:  I have worked as a reference librarian, branch manager, children’s librarian, branch manager again and finally as a Youth Services Librarian III.  

I enjoy that moment when the light bulb goes on and you know the child gets the answer he has asked you to help him find. I have learned how rewarding it is to reassure a parent who is looking for help with a problem their child has, when you can share information to guide them through this stage of development.

Q:  Do you have some suggestions for new librarians?

A:  Each day you arrive at work is a fresh new start. Mistakes made previously can be looked at as stepping stones to your learning experience. Find the joy in each day. I try and live by Mother Theresa’s quote, “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop”.

Q:  What are some future plans you would share with us?  

A:  Travel, Travel, Travel.  Working and raising a family has kept me grounded; now I am ready to fly.  I have a list of places to visit this year, including a Mediterranean cruise (a graduation gift for my niece), Hawaii, and enjoying a New England fall. Next year, I am open to suggestions.

Chess - A Game of Strategy & Critical Thinking

NS & EB Branch Manager Phenessa Gray said, "Brentwood started its first chess club, Brentwood Youth Chess Club, April 23, with 14 in attendance. David Stevenson, PT Library Clerk, pictured above left, thought it was a great idea to teach our students critical thinking and strategy skills. David started several chess clubs in New York before moving to Jacksonville and I said he should start one here. We will be starting an adult chess club in the near future."