Staff Profile - August 2016

As our YS Department’s Early Childhood Specialist, Susan Mankowski doesn’t have a “9-5 job”.  She does have a passion for Early Childhood Literacy (ECL) that is apparent to even a casual observer.  Her own work, as well as her success with JPL’s

partnerships, prove she gives much of herself and makes us all proud to know Susan. 

You will see how United Way's partnering with JPL has put your contributions to excellent use and those who contribute to worthwhile causes always make a huge difference.

Q:  You’ve been involved with ECL for eight or nine years at JPL.  What progress has been made in educating parents about this critical need?

      A:  Over the past nine years, it has been a pleasure to see staff embrace early literacy and become advocates for our youngest customers.  Youth Services staff are more aware of early literacy and are now confident to speak with parents and community members about this area.  As a result, JPL is becoming a beacon in the community for people who want to know more about early literacy and early learning.  Our story times have always supported the development of literacy skills, but now we can say why we do what we do.  This also helps when developing partnerships with other early childhood agencies, which ultimately goes back to supporting our families.  So the progress I’ve seen?  Knowledge, confidence, and the ability to share information about early literacy with the community. 

Q: Recently (June 1 – 20, 2016), JPL successfully partnered with United Way in the ReadingPals program.  What other partnerships are planned to advance ECL?

A:  We have wonderful relationships within the early learning community, and I’m excited to see how the partnerships continue to evolve.  Since the successful summer book drive, we are working with ReadingPals to update and distribute the ReadingPals read-alike recommendations (check out a copy in your Children’s Department), and provide training for in-coming ReadingPals volunteers on how to read and engage young children.  Tours for pediatric residents from UF Health will continue, as literacy levels directly correlate with addiction, incarceration, and health outcomes.  The pediatricians are always amazed at how much the library offers to support their families and they speak so highly of the staff they meet.  We will continue attending Early Learning Coalition board meetings, New Town Success Zone, Read It Forward Jax, and Community Action Network partnership meetings to promote and answer questions about JPL services and resources.  Meghan Parkinson is gearing up for a second year as the Early Childhood Specialist with JPL’s LEAP program.  She is working hard with staff from the Urban Core to bring youth programs and resources into neighborhoods in Health Zone 1.  We are about to start year 2 in the Duval County Public Schools partnership!  Early childhood covers birth to 8 years, so Kindergarten field trips and Student Library Cards will play a big role in advancing early literacy opportunities for school children in Duval.  I’m sure other opportunities will present themselves as the year progresses.  

      Q:  What is your favorite part of your job?

 A:  The relationships. I love going out and being with staff.  Collaborating on projects, rearranging furniture, creating early learning spaces in the department, hearing funny stories about programs, or brainstorming challenge: I love it.  I also love going out to community events and bragging about what we do as a library system.  It’s so rewarding and fun to connect a customer with a library resource they did not know existed.  The best are the active users who love my JPL resource challenge and turn it around to try and stump me.  

Q:  You won the Sherwood Smith Children’s Champion Award in June. What is this about and what did you do that resulted in you receiving this award?

      A:  The Sherwood H. Smith Children’s Champion Award is an annual award given by United Way of Northeast Florida.  Two awards are given, actually.  One for service and one for advocacy, and I am honored to have received the Children’s Champion Award for Advocacy: “A community advocate whose efforts have resulted in positive change in policies or conditions that impact the well-being of children and youth in Northeast Florida”.  In a nutshell, I was nominated for my role in working with staff to enrich their early childhood programs and resources, as well as creating research-based training and materials for parents, teachers, and community members. 

Q:  What personal plans are on your horizon?

   

 A:  I have a few personal goals I’d like to accomplish.  I live in an older home and enjoy learning how to do many of the fixes and improvements myself (except electrical, I don’t do electrical), and my yard needs a major overhaul.  I’d like to become Florida landscape certified and/or a Master Gardner, so I can address not just the beauty but the actual problems in a way that are eco-friendly and that I can upkeep on my own.  However, a short-term goal is to use my passport again this year.  I traveled with my church and the Jacksonville University choir on a singing tour of Italy in May, which was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  Then I went to celebrate my friend’s birthday in Canada in July.  So I’ve got the travel bug, and want to go somewhere else by next April.  I don’t have any idea where that will be, so I am open to suggestions!