State Rep. Assistant Learns About Storytime

"Ms. Jennifer Contreras, Legislative Assistant to State Representative Clay Yarborough, joined us at Pablo Creek Library for Storytime, August 29. 2017," PCR Manager Jackie Spiritas reports.

"Ms. Contreras obviously enjoyed being with the children (and parents) as the kids listened to stories about the color blue, ate blue snacks, painted and played with blue play dough. Never mind learning how to say blue in Spanish (azul) and sign language – the kids just thought they were shaking their sillies out and playing with bubbles.

"Ms. Contreras (left below) is also a teacher and is expecting a child of her own. She was very impressed with the Storytime led by Children’s

Librarian Tristan Denmark (R). She asked me several times, 'Do they do this at every library?!' She is looking forward to trying out our Storytime for Babies program which begins in October.

"Ms. Contreras said she will propose some dates that Representative Yarborough can attend one of our sessions in the future." 

Tammy Crotts' Retirement Lunch

One "subtle" way you can tell when someone has employees' "thumbs up":  food comes in by the drove for lunch honoring that staff person.  So it was for Tammy Crotts, August 29, 2017, when Main staff came together in a very crowded room to lunch with Tammy, share memories and wish her the very best.

Assistant to the Director of Public Services Julie McNeil praised Tammy for her service and loyalty to JPL these 24 years. Tammy told us of her plans to improve her own health, help care for her aging parents--and enjoy life every day.

You deserve the very best, Tammy, and we certainly appreciate all you have done for us.

Run, Tone Up, Get Discounts: LOOK GOOD!

Richard Mott is JPL's City Wellness Team rep (and our go-to for Go365) and he wants to share the link/list of upcoming runs scheduled for the rest of the year. Additionally, the owner of 1st Place Sports will extend a City discount to participating employees for all the runs they sponsor through the end of the year:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByxAAGMXbZKoSUFsZWx4aGFDcEU

Everything to gain and plenty of lbs. to lose.

State Rep. Tracie Davis At DU Story Time

State Representative Tracie Davis visited the Highlands Regional Branch Library, August 26, 2017. Children explored books and activities that were “all about me”. In addition to assisting Felecia Battle by reading stories, Representative Davis also helped the children make crowns with their ages and “favorite things” on them. Following story time, families enjoyed sharing mini-muffins and juice with Representative Davis.  (Thanks to DU's Michelle Petrin, YS Librarian III, for the input.)

GED Grads Celebrate

Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop (far right) and CAL Program Manager Katie Devanny were cheering the happy high school graduates at Main, August 23, 2017, and Katie proudly reports, "The first JPL GED Graduation ceremony was held and eleven of the 20 graduates walked across the stage and received a certificate of achievement from JPL. (The students already had their high school diploma from the State of Florida.)  Al Emerick, the keynote speaker, delivered a great message on 'their value' to the graduates. Ja’Markis Daniels, the student speaker and new EWC student, shared his story."  See more inspiring pictures:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cityofjax/albums/72157685460267490

400 At WST Eclipse Program

P/T YS Associate Melodie Brunson said, "It was eclipse madness at West Branch, August 19, 2017. A few folks in lawn chairs were in front of our library by 6 am. With about 400 showing up, Bill Figletti, our Teen Associate Librarian, led a great program on solar eclipses. Pinhole viewers were made as well as flip-books that showed the phases of a solar eclipse.  Free-hand eclipse art was created and at the end of the program, if you were among the lucky 100 that had tickets, you received eclipse glasses."

Terry Welch Wins $1000 Grant For JPL

Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop and JB Branch Manager Theresa Rooney were on hand, August 23, 2017, for a very special day for JB and Library Clerk Terry Welch.  For the last four years Terry has entered the Sisters in Crime (SinC) "We Love Libraries" contest. This year, thanks to Terry's persistence, JPL was randomly selected as the February 2017 winner and received a $1000 grant to purchase materials for our collection. Terry said, "Each item purchased with these funds will include a bookplate indicating the purchase was made possible by the SinC grant. Debbie East, President of the Florida Chapter of Sisters in Crime, presented the check to JB Branch Manager, Theresa Rooney. Forty four people--many of them aspiring writers--attended the grant presentation and author panel, including FOJPL President Margaret Smith, who was one of the founding members of the Florida SinC Chapter.

L/R: Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop; authors Susan Kiernan-Lewis and Nancy Quatrano;  JB Manager Theresa Rooney; Debbie East, President, Florida SinC; author Kathy Bain and Terry Welch (wearing the Nancy Drew vest she made.)

"Following the presentation there was an author panel about the craft of writing crime fiction. The SinC authors were Nancy Quatrano, Susan Kiernan-Lewis and Kathy Bain and the moderator was JPL Coordinator of Lifelong Learning & Community Outreach Lisa Buggs. Each of the authors also donated books, which will find a home in JPL’s upcoming Florida Authors Collection.

"Killer snacks were served and it was a fun filled evening. (The event was also live streamed on Facebook.) "

Library Clerk Terry Welch (L) and Teen Volunteer Ilyssa Ward in the photo that won the February 2017 SinC "We Love Libraries" contest.

Eclipse Program Was Sunshiny Day For Main

Main Manager of POP & Makerspace Kathleen Brunner said, "We’re excited about the success of the eclipse program done in the Makerspace recently! We had a gate count of 1,100 people between 10 am and 1 pm, August 19, 2017, and the line was wrapped around the entire perimeter of Makerspace.  Over 300 people completed the program stations, even though we only had 185 solar glasses to give away."

Alex Shares His Toys With Others

"Last week, Alex Hood (pictured here) and his mom kindly donated his train table and some toys to the Argyle Library Children’s Department. The children have been excited to have a table to play at and use in the Play and Learn Center," reports YS Library Associate Kimberly Bennett.

Kudos From Customers

Argyle Branch:  The teen summer reading program was outstanding! The book review where all the kids got a chance to talk! The craft that went with the book! The snack that went with the book! So much fun was had by all! The program was well put together. My son had so much fun! Always left the program talking about the book and started talking about the next week’s book. Well done, Mrs. Kim (Bennett)! You make reading fun!

Main Library - Circulation: Received Excellent Customer Service from Tammy (Billings) when I got my new library card. Thank You!

Main Library – Circulation:  We visited the Main Library as a birthday wish of my 13 year old. While checking out, Erin Tuzuner noticed my daughter likes teen mysteries. Erin grabbed some books for my daughter to try. She showed me the digital library. We are Clay residents who now pay $100/year for library usage. She helped seal how great a deal it is. We've been with you since 2006 and will continue on; especially thanks to Erin. Thank you!

Mandarin Branch:  the Mandarin Branch group seemed professional, well trained, and knowledgeable.  (Mark Hohnadel, Margo Crafton, David Foster, Robert Moseley, Isabel Santiago-Moreno, Alison Pulley, Frances Wickes, Caitlin Ruvolo, Diane Lewis, Jessica Bayne, Shukti Banerjee, Ysabella Banta, Tammy Hilbert, Patricia Henderson, Patricia Klingler.)

San Marco Branch:  We have been attending the story time at San Marco Library for a couple of years and met several teachers, but recently we started attending more regularly and my daughter has fallen in love with Ms. Crystal (Kadkhodaie.) My daughter is super bright and silly, but very shy. Ms. Crystal sang “Skinny Marinky Dinky Dink” and my daughter was asking for me to sing it all week! Since then, she pretends that she IS Ms. Crystal and refers to herself in 3rd person all the time. (What would Ms. Crystal do?) This has helped us in so many ways.  It is like a new super hero has entered her life. We told Ms. Crystal about this love affair and she said, "That warms my heart". When I remind my daughter of that story she blushes for a solid 5 minutes. I am so grateful for this safe place to go and learn and play and for Ms. Crystal who has defined this season for us! We will always cherish our days at the library.

Job Well Done: Bobbie Knight

Webb Wesconnett Branch's Beth Friederich (above left) presented Bobbie Knight, YS Library Associate, a Job Well Done Award, August 22, 2017. Bobbie wrote CW's first solar eclipse program, August 1, utilizing process art, which was fun for families with children of any age. Minutes before the program, Bobbie learned that a local news crew would be filming part of it. The crew arrived mid program to set up while Bobbie was preparing attendees for the art activity. During that time, she checked on the class' progress while fielding questions from the news crew. Beth said, "She balanced conducting her program and ensuring the participants’ engagement while checking with the news crew, making sure they received all information needed. Bobbie accomplished all of this brilliantly."

Main Teen & Children's Staff Promote JPL Resources

Alexandra (Alex) Bishop is a new Library Associate in Main's Teen Department and shares news about several of their staff outreach programs. Alex said, "The Teen and Children’s departments have been visiting Eugene Butler Leadership Academies to talk to them about the solar eclipse and promoting JPL resources. We talked to them about student cards, Brainfuse, and Science in Context and did science experiments about surface tension as an example of what to do for science projects. These outreaches were made daily from August 14-18, 2017 and will continue on August 21-25." 

A Dark and Cloudy Day

For those who could not view the solar eclipse, August 21, 2017, Richard Lamb was thoughtful and sent these views, which he was able to get despite the cloudiness.  Per Google, the solar eclipse began at 1:16 pm, peaked at 2:47 pm (with a 92% coverage of the sun) and ends today at 4:11 pm. Many thought it would get much darker than we experienced.

This just in:  The City's James Croft forwarded some pics of the eclipse for our enjoyment, too, adding, "I hope all of your eyes are intact after that eclipse! If the cloud cover was too much for you to catch a glimpse, we posted a few photos on the City’s Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram – but they’re a little cloudy too." 

S'mores & Eclipse Top SOM Program

SOM held a Solar Oven S’mores program, August 18, 2017, in recognition of the solar eclipse. Christie Rogers reports, "We had 80 participants between the ages of 5 and 18. The children learned what a solar eclipse is and why it is important not to look at the sun. Then we made solar ovens using pizza boxes (thank you to Dominos and Al’s for providing the

boxes!), and went outside to test the ovens by making some s’mores. The result was the chocolate started melting immediately--the 90 degree heat probably helped--and the marshmallows needed more time to cook. At the end of the program, the 80 participants received eclipse glasses to view the eclipse, August 21."

Brentwood Prepares To Close For Renovation

NS/EB Manager Kathleen Krizek sent us a picture of Brentwood Branch Library staff and two SST VIP's (Charlene Adkins and Jill Haile) busy packing NS' collection, August 14, 2017, in preparation for NS getting its long overdue redo:

Aboive, L/R: Aquilla Stewart, Charlene Adkins, Linda Smith, Jill Haile, Diane Willman and Tammy Billings are busy packing Brentwood’s collection. Not pictured are David Stevenson, Milicia Thomas and Veronica Galman, who were packing elsewhere in the building.

Kathleen said, “Boxes are ready for storage and the workrooms have been emptied.

"Renovation, here we come!"

200 Backpacks For Students Given Out At NS

Kathleen Krizek, Manager of  NS and EB , volunteers and staff enjoyed a rewarding day at NS, August 11, 2107.  Kathleen said, “The Friends of the Brentwood Library sponsored the 4^th annual Back to School Bash at the library, August 11^th. Over 200 backpacks, filled with school supplies, were distributed. 

"JSO provided officers to block the street and JFRD had a fire truck and fire fighters on the scene. Food and activities were provided by the Friends, volunteers and library staff. Larry Roziers, former DCPS Executive Director, was the guest reader.

"Cranston Burney took many pictures, which are now in G:\Share\NS. 

"Pictured below, advertising those wonderful backpacks, are L/R: Main/Urban Region Manager Sara Roberts, unidentified person (if you know, email Sara Gunter); Sharon Coon, founder of Friends of Brentwood Library and longtime advocate for JPL; Jeanette Ali, Friends Board member; Joyce (last name unknown); Urban Librarian IV Stephanie Miller; and Acting Assistant Director, Facilities & Planning Michael Sullivan."

75 Learn About Eclipse At Kite Elementary Thanks to NW Staff

Library Associate Sheenae Nelson and YS Librarian Andy Gallegos visited Henry F. Kite Elementary, August 16, 2017, to do a Solar Eclipse program they completed the week prior at NW.  Andy said, "The students have been excited about the upcoming solar eclipse and Principal Biannca Hill thought this program would be a perfect opportunity to bring the library to the school. We learned a lot about solar eclipses and why the Great American Solar Eclipse is so significant. Then the students had fun while testing their knowledge of what the phases of the eclipse will look like. There were a total of 75 students and we all had a blast!"

Interim Director Giltrop Praised By Friends Of MH

Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop is flanked by Friends of Murray HIll: (L) Florence Rando and (R), Judy Klein; both are strong advocates for JPL.  

Everyone appreciates a kudo for a a job well done and JPL Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop shares this note of appreciation from a VIP for her presentation, August 11, 2017, to the City Finance Committee at City Hall.

Hi Jennifer,

Just wanted to let you know again what a great job you did advocating for our Jacksonville Library System at the Finance Committee meeting on library funding! The Friends of the Murray Hill Library are happy to stand with you along with all of the Friends groups in Jacksonville and push for increased funding for materials and hours.

Thanks,

Judy Klein 

KR SLP Winners

Isabel Moreno-Santiago, YS Librarian I, proudly announces, "We had some beautiful children, who were 2017 SLP prize winners at KR, collect their well earned loot recently. They are: Avery Brown - Guinness World Records 2017 Book; Ann Marie Wilkerson - Movie Night Goodies; Lilly Phillips (pictured with Newfoundland dogs, Diva and Tenor) - Fast Food Erasers and Pen; Claire Minnich - Dr. Seuss Book and Giraffe; and Luke Thompson (pictured) - Outdoor Fun pack."

Congrats To JPL Achievers

Tracy Pigott, JPL's Training and Development Manager, sent this picture of graduates from the NEFLIN Management Training Institute 2017, August 8. Interim Library Director Jennifer Giltrop and Tracy congratulate these graduates for their professional development accomplishments. JPL staff pictured include: Mia Clark, Alison McCarty, Stephanie Miller, Hongying Song and Raelyn Wiirre; (Shawn Norton, not pictured.) 

Tracy added, "Looking forward, we congratulate Shirdellah Groulx, who was chosen to participate in Year 14 of the Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute (SSLLI) which begins in early October."

All of us add our High Fives to you!

Tammy Crotts Retires After 24 Years At JPL

Many of us know Tammy Crotts, P/T Library Clerk at Main, whose last day, unfortunately for us, will be August 30, 2017. We express our appreciation for her many ways of helping us through the years and pray for happiness and the very best success for her in the future. 

  

                Tammy, above left, received a Job Well Done Award in November 2016. 

Tammy wanted to leave you a note:

Hi, Everyone,                                                                                                                                                             

I appreciate and have enjoyed working for the Jacksonville Public Library.  I am sad to let you know it’s time for me to go after 24 years. I first worked at Highlands Branch, then Tech Services, ILL and now at Main's Circulation/Dock. I hope I have touched everyone’s lives and made a difference. My 24 years have been fulfilling, fun, frustrating and hard work.

Now it’s time to leave; it’s time for a new adventure Tammy’s way because every day is a new adventure. I have good memories of my years with my friends at JPL and I’ll miss you all. 

With love, kindness and God’s Blessing,

Tamara (Tammy) Crotts

JPL Supporter and Friend

JPL: Tied For Gold & Platinum In Go365 Race

Some things bear repeating and if you missed Richard Mott's latest e-mail updates on Go365, you can get essentials here:

Richard created a new Go365 step challenge for JPL staff called I Survived Summer Learning; it started August 10, 2017, and lasts for a month.  Richard wants you to join him for some healthy competition. As he says, "Earn some Bucks. What’s not to like?

"You must be a Go365 member to participate. This challenge only works on a mobile device. If you haven’t already, download and install the Go365 App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Using the App, join the Survived Summer Learning Challenge. If tapping the link on the Challenge name doesn't work, copy and paste the following link into your smartphone's web browser. Note: this link will not work from a desktop computer: Survived Summer Learning

   

"JPL Rules Go365 Gold and Platinum! JPL is tied for the most employees in the top two Go365 levels, Gold and Platinum, of any department in the city. With 13 at GOLD and 7 at PLATINUM level, only the Sheriff’s Department (3,000 employees) matches JPL. 

"Congratulations to Jessica Serrano, Library Associate at CW, who crushed the competition in the Go365 city-wide “Summer Step Challenge. With 732,000 steps in one month (around 350 miles, I think), she had almost 100,000 steps more than her nearest competitor. 

"And congratulations to everyone else from JPL who participated. 

"Here’s the thing about reaching higher levels – you get these large Bucks bonuses – 1,500 for GOLD and 5,000 for PLATINUM -- PLUS, you know those random prize drawings they do for everyone who is in Go365? The higher the level you are the better the prize.

NW Eclipses Boredom

Andy Gallegos, YS Librarian. reports, "NW's Solar Eclipse program, August 11, 2017, attracted 40 school kids--all excited to.learn about the upcoming solar eclipse and how it happens. They watched

two short videos on the impact of a solar eclipse on Earth. We then did an art activity where we divided a piece of paper into fourths and painted and pasted the various phases of a solar eclipse and all were happy to receive solar glasses at the conclusion of the program." 

JPL Leadership Awards At Board Meeting, 8/10/17

The quarterly JPL Leadership Awards were presented at the JPL Board of Directors meeting at the Main Library, August 10, 2017.  Congratulations to all of our winners:

Shown above, flanked by Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop and Library Board Chair Ronnie King, JB Library Clerk Terry Welch receives two awards.

Winner of both the Challenge the Process and Employee of the Quarter Awards, JB's Terry Welch (above) regularly finds creative ways to engage customers in conversation about what they are reading and watching. The most notable example occurred when Dave Barry was Skyped at JB for 91 book lovers as he reviewed his latest book, Best.State.Ever.  

Above L/R former JPL Deputy Director Carolyn Williams, for whom the team award is named; Interim Library Director Jennifer Giltrop, Foundation Development Director Dr. Jamie Self; YS Librarian III Rebekah Mitchell, behind her: Coordinator of Lifelong Learning & Community Engagement Lisa Buggs, Library Clerk Terry Welch, Manager of YS&CO Amber Holley, SE Region Manager Keli Likins, Interim Assistant Director, Facilities Michael Sullivan, and CR&M Manager Chris Boivin.

This was the first presentation of the Carolyn Williams Team Award: Challenge the Process. The award winning team is pictured above (not pictured are Urban Librarian IV Stephanie Miller and CR&M Coordinator Olga Bayer and Graphics Artist Bryan Thomas.) These employees worked tirelessly to make this year's Jax Book Fest a success. Amber focused on recruiting youth authors, working with Stephanie and Rebekah; Lisa focused on recruiting adult authors. Keli was project manager, coordinating the event and she worked with Chris, Bryan and Olga.  Michael worked with Keli coordinating zine programming in Makerspace and with Terry, who pulled together gift items and baskets. On the Foundation's end, Dr. Self did the honors.   

Below are pictured recipients of the Carolyn Williams Team Award: Model the Way.  (Not pictured are PCR's Library Assistant Siu Yam, P/T Clerks Illesa Massline, Arlin Estes and Kristina Mikhedok, P/T Associate Shirley Holcomb.  Stephanie Harley received their awards for them.)                        

 L/R above: Carolyn Williams, P/T Associate Nicole Denton, receiving for absent winners: Library Clerical Supervisor Stephanie Harley, P/T Clerk Alicia Dottery, and Library Clerks Danielle Linnen and Kimberly Washington, then Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop.
At Pablo Creek’s June Turn it Up Thursday event, this "human jukebox" group chose four songs, created props, and set up a table in the lobby. If a customer agreed to make a donation to the High Five for Reading program, the group sang whichever song the customer chose.  

Nicolle Burton, Assistant to the Deputy Director, coordinated the Volunteer Recognition Program held at the Board Meeting during National Library Week, liaising with a wide range of parties. In her absence, Nicolle's Encourage the Heart Award was received by Andrew Herron. 

CW's Library Assistant Dana Curry (not pictured) created posters, characters and displays for the library’s Comic Con, going the tenth mile to ensure the project looked its best.  For this Dana received the Model the Way Award.

King & Giltrop Make JPL's Case Before City Finance Committee

Library Board Chair Ronnie King and Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop were early to rise to the occasion of the August 11, 2017, City Finance Committee meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall to plead the case for JPL's no nonsense budget for FY2018 (October 1, 2017-October 30, 2018). THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

The Finance Committee members are Chair CM Garrett Dennis, Vice Chair CM Danny Becton, and Council Members:   Katrina Brown, Reggie Brown, Reggie Gaffney and Lori Boyer, who is also President of the City Council.) 

IT'S NEVER TOO SOON TO DO GOOD WORK

At the last New Employees Orientation, Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop asked if any new staff had a good customer service encounter to relate and two new staff members had some input.  One was CW P/T Library Associate Jan Fernandez, "I had worked at Webb Library

for only three days when an elderly gentleman from SC came in with his daughter. He was upset and needed to access his G-mail account. He was sailing his boat up to Charleston from the Keys--with his daughter as crew--when his boat broke down near Jacksonville. Since he is retired Navy, they managed to make it into the Jax Navy marina and he began making arrangements for the boat to be repaired. He then got a call that his wife had been hospitalized and became even more anxious to leave the boat for repair and get home. However, he didn’t have his boat’s registration with him and no one would start to work on the boat without proof that it was his! He called the SC DMV and they would not fax his registration, but they would email it to him.

"I helped him get to his account, and then to the site to retrieve his copy of the registration forms. Imagine my surprise when we turned out to be from the same small town in SC! At any rate, we printed the forms he needed and he hugged me on his way out. I believe the Library truly made a difference for him and his family that day!"

A REALLY INTERESTING STORY AND ON A SCALE OF 1-10, A 10 FOR GET TO YES CUSTOMER SERVICE, JAN FERNANDEZ!

Teens On Tour!

Community Relations and Marketing does SO MANY things for all of us.  One "grain of sand" in the ocean of those was July 27, 2017. Main's Teen Department  wanted to do something different, educational and fun with teens to fulfill the SLP video challenge. So CR&M organized a trip to WJXT and 17 teens attended a tour of Channel 4's studio on Adams Street. They learned about the control room, how the meteorologist uses the green screen and met one of the anchors. 

Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop, who is ever advocating for youth education, did not miss out on this occasion--she is pictured fourth from left in the back.

Jenna Hassell, CR&M's Coordinator said, "Who knows -- we might have inspired some of these young people to have a bright future in journalism and broadcast!"

Laundry Day at DU? No!

Highlands Branch Manager Pat Morrison reports, "Staffers got in a little cardio while helping the children’s staff prepare the Parachute Game for story time recently.  The ladies raised and lowered the parachute and circled and swayed left then right to the Jamaican rhythms of Harry Belafonte’s Banana Boat Song.  I think the smiles tell the whole story."  Pictured L to R:  Felecia Battle, Chanika Kimbrough, Beverly Mason, Ruth Guyton, Eve Harm, Michelle Petrin and Barbara Fritz.

Improv At DU

A four day project/challenge was enthusiastically participated in by teens at DU's Mad Cowford Presents: Intro to Improv Mini-Camp recently. Presented by Amy Angelilli from the Adventure Project, each day began with activities that taught essential skills for improv.

Superhero Circle, the first activity of each day, involved teens creating a superhero name for themselves which included their first name and an adjective that described them.  They would take turns going around the circle introducing themselves.

Yes Circle required each teen to walk up to another teen making eye contact.  The teen he/she looked at would say yes and walk towards someone else while the first teen took their place in the circle.

Teens learned the two magic words of improve are “yes and”. There were other various games that encouraged improve skills.

Each day ended with a Paper Clip which required the teens to form a “Tableau” as they chose to become an object in a scene.  The scene was not planned.  One teen named their object and took their place.  The next teen had to decide how to add to the scene by becoming an object.  (Thanks to Beverly Mason for the article and pics.)

Healthy Is Delicious At NW

Bradham Brooks Northwest Library hosted a nutrition and health program, Publix Aprons Cooking School, August 5, 2017. It was presented by Chef James Carlin, who gave a one hour demonstration on how to select and cook healthy foods. There were two sessions during the day and attendees received good tips on the benefits of cooking the right foods--and NW customers received a few free samples. (Thanks to Andy Gallegos, YS Librarian for the pic and news.)

Space, Stars & Solar Eclipse At WST

Melodie Brunson, WST's P/T YS Associate announced, "We kicked off the month of August on the 5th at West Branch with the subject of space, stars and solar eclipse as a big hit with the children at our Stories for Young Children and Art. We read stories, sang songs and created the Big Bang theory with inflatable balls representing planets on our parachute--what a hoot! In Art, we painted suns and stars with toothbrushes as part of an interactive art of a solar eclipse and participants thought we rocked our eclipse

sun glasses!"

KR Telling Shoppers About JPL's Services

Above are Mandarin Branch Manager Mark Hohnadel and KR's Children's Library Assistant David Foster, who manned a table at the Avenues Mall, Saturday, August 5, 2017, as part of the Sheriff's Watch Safety Fair. Mark said, "During this event we talked to many people about the library and the varied services JPL's 21 locations offer."  THANK YOU for being good advertisers for all of us.

Special Exhibit Celebrates 75 Years Of Service To Mankind

Pictured are Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop and Library Board Trustee Dr. Brenda Simmons-Hutchins at an exhibit, "75 Years of Service - The Gamma Rho Omega Story" on the 4th floor of the Main Library, August 5, 2017. The exhibit provides an overview of significant events in the existence of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated from its founding in 1908 by coeds at Howard University. Mrs. Simmons-Hutchins was President of AKA Sorority, 1996-1999. It was a special event for her to celebrate 75 years of service of the sorority. The exhibit, which will be up until September 1, shares the history of Gamma Rho Omega Chapter's commitment to the sorority's creed, "to be of service to all mankind." 

Trustee Dr. Brenda Simmons-Hutchins has served previously as Chair of the Library Board of Trustees and participated in other community services and has certainly fulfilled her sorority's creed.

SLP Winners Come And Get It At SOM

SOM's Christie Rogers--so far--is the only one to report on SLP winners picking up their grand prizes. 

Christie brags, "The first picture is of Nehal with his Outdoor Fun pack and his brother Gauvonv shows off his Superhero Pack, they are giving their best superhero look! 

"The second picture is of Teen winner Julia who was excited about her VR Glasses prize."

Main Wraps Up SLP

Main Children’s department held its SLP closing party and art exhibit, July 26, 2017. Marcie O'Dell shares, "Guests enjoyed Hop Scotch, puppets, magnetic building blocks, texture tables and refreshments while viewing some awesome art created during the Collaborative Art Six-Week SLP.  Pictured are aluminum foil sculptures and sibling artists at the One World Wall Art Collage.  There was also a texture table with star-shaped crayons where kids could spell their names. It was a terrific end to a great summer at Main."