Grand Reopening For NS, October 30, 2017

Cutting the ribbon, L/R: Jennifer Giltrop, Dr. Brenda Simmons-Hutchins, Kathleen Krizek, Mrs. Sharon Coon, CM Sam Newby, Mr. Philip Mobley and CM Jim Love. 

NS Branch Manager Kathleen Krizek and her staff had some special guests and customers, October 30, 2017.  She said, "The Brentwood Library’s Grand Reopening had activities for adults and children throughout the day, with remarks from Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop, Mrs. Sharon Coon, Founder of the Friends of the Brentwood Library, Councilman Sam Newby, Mr. Philip Mobley, former Chair of the Jacksonville Housing and Community Development Commission, Dr. Brenda Simmons-Hutchins, former Chair of the Board of Library Trustees and me. "

The Friends of the Brentwood Library 's fall festival followed the ceremony and they provided hot dogs, a costume contest and trunk or treat for the children, while library staff offered a photo booth, crafts and activities.

NS reorganized its collection during the renovation; the second floor now houses materials and adult services and the first floor serves children and teens.

               Children's area on first floor at Brentwood Branch Library after renovation.

                            Upstairs at Brentwood Branch after renovation dedicated to adult services.

DU Kids Spin A Web For Their Spiders

Highlands Branch has an Arts and Crafts for Young Children every Friday.  Library Associate Beverly Mason said, "Our theme, October 27, 2017, was Spiders and Spider Webs and we read The Very Busy Spider.  Then the children rotated through four stations: Coloring Table, Playdoh, Paper Spider Craft and Spider Web Art where a piece of yarn was attached to a plastic spider and the children dipped spiders and yarn into paint and pulled their spiders around a piece of construction paper to create a web.

SE Brings Stories, Crafts & Candy To Kids At Keiser U.

Carol Bunker reports, "Southeast Branch was asked to go to Keiser University for an Open House/Scare Fair the evening of October 25, 2017, and bring scary stories (but not too scary) to their event and read to the children as they came through the library. We also brought a haunted house craft children could make along with listening to scary stories and songs. And so as not to be 'tricked', we treated the kids with candy. It was a fun night!"

It's Pumpkin Time At UPK

For early release Wednesday, October 25, 2017, UPK hosted an after school Art Club "Halloween edition" for kids ages 5-12 years old. Twenty kids and their parents played Halloween themed Memory, learned about the origins of Halloween, and then painted their mini pumpkins. 

SE Celebrates 20 Years Of Service

                Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop reviews SE's successes over 20 years.

The Southeast Library celebrated its 20^th Anniversary, October 21, 2017.  From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. customers were entertained with robots, dancing, painting, activities for the children, and plenty of refreshments. Thirty community partners presented at tables promoting their contributions to our city. Interim Library Director Jennifer Giltrop (L) gave a brief history of happenings over the past 20 years and Councilman Danny Becton spoke about his tremendous support for the library. Both special guests spent a couple hours listening to the many attendees that day. 

   Carisia Rooney, SE Manager, addresses the crowd. (She also contributed this article.).

Deborah Wainwright displayed a collection of awards and events that have spanned over all 20 years that Southeast Library has been opened including:

• Recognition of most Much Ado About Books ticket sales: 2000-2001
• Recognition for significant increase in services to customers: 2001-2002
• Southeast Library valued partner for 2010 US Census 
• Grand Opening Appreciation to FJPL and Southside Women’s Club: 1997.

Last year alone, almost 306,000 people visited SE and nearly 15,000 people attended various programs!

Kudos From Customers

There were only three branches from all of JPL that had compliments for individual staff.

Pablo Creek Branch:  I want to thank Mandy Elliott for help on Ancestry.com. She was able to find the customer's father and knew what she was doing.  Thanks also to Jason Enoex who watched so he could learn...

Southeast Branch: I want to…give a librarian a comment. Her name is Kimberly Smith. She was such a great help and she had so much patience with us. I really enjoy her. If everyone was kind hearted and caring like her this world would be a better place.

South Mandarin Branch:  Going to the library is always a pleasure. But yesterday I had an especially delightful experience because I asked a question of Angela Richman. Not only did she answer the question, but she went on to introduce me to so many library functions about which I was clueless, e.g., holds, borrowing from other libraries, using the bar codes. Ms. Richman is a wonderful teacher. Now this 83-year-old can stop complaining about the technology in today's libraries and appreciate and use all the functions of the computer age. Please extend my thanks to Angela Richman.

NS Goes 3-D

Students enjoyed a lesson using 3-D pens with E-Specialist Luis Terron after school, October 20,  2017, at the Brentwood Branch Library. They made ghosts, spiders, and a few made original designs. (NS had a "soft" re-opening, October 14, with the grand re-opening planned for October 30.) Thanks to Joanna Nigrelli for input.)

CW CIRC TEAM HONORS BOSSES

The Circulation Team at the Webb Wesconnett Regional Library celebrated National Bosses Day on October 16 by awarding certificates to their bosses – Kathy Tekin, Marilyn Jordan and Lynne Baldwin. Pictured are Ramona Jay, Sandra Fahy, Lynne Baldwin, Helena Davenport, Eric Cusaac, Ayesha Turner and Brenda Johnson.  

Bosses Are Special

Alex Bishop was proud to report what some employees at Main did to celebrate Bosses Day, October 16, 2017, which became Bosses Week for them, "Kelli Heath (PT LAS) organized a Bosses Week celebration and we showered Raelyn Wiirre (Librarian II), Joanna Nigrelli (Librarian II) and Chiquita Powell (Librarian III) with cards, roses, candy, s’mores, and a pasta potluck all week long. We appreciate all their hard work and dedication to JPL!

"Pictured left are Joanna and Chiquita. Raelyn had the day off because she ran MakerCon on her regularly scheduled day off. (Photo courtesy of Anjelica Bencomo (LAS)."

Inaugural Maker Con At Main

Several hundred customers enjoyed the events at the Main Library's first Maker Con, Saturday, October 14, 2017. Attendees learned about 3-D printing, robotics, zine-making, and cosplay. A group of Jedis read to the younger crowd, while a team of Ghostbusters entertained people of all ages. The most popular events were the Cosplay Contest, a presentation called “The Art of the Animatronic” by Sally Corporation, and the Lego Robotics workshop by Renaissance Jax Lego Robotics League.  (Thanks to Raelyn Wirre for her input.)

Treat yourself to the link and see the fun everyone had:   https://flic.kr/s/aHsm5R1T3r

Pirate Fun & Community Partnerships at Highlands

Pictured left are New Berlin Elementary Principal Crystal Lewis and New Berlin teacher, Cynthia Sanders-Smith, and one of several teachers who attended, posing with two children wearing book character costumes in preparation for the school's Storybook Character Parade later this month. DU staff dressed as pirates for the event, which was open to all families, and 72 attended. 

They were there for DU's second annual Family Night with New Berlin Elementary on the evening of October 9, 2017. After visiting with their teachers, children and their families were treated to fun activities supporting New Berlin’s theme of “Learning Is A Treasure”. Activities included a  themed scavenger hunt, two pirate story times, a pirate treasure craft and an E-Resources Petting Zoo. (Pictured right is Lorna Reid, DU’s new YS Librarian, who introduced families to E-resources, with her parrot and two happy kids.)  Later, DU received a letter from one of the teachers:

L

"I wanted to once again give Highlands Branch a huge THANK YOU for a fabulous New Berlin Family Night. We are thankful to join forces with one of the most important partners of literacy! Our students had a blast and the parents were extremely complimentary. We appreciate your support and ...the opportunity for our school. Please continue to communicate...future endeavors that will strengthen us with our surrounding communities. You and your wonderful staff are to be commended for a Great Job. New Berlin always has a 'BEAR HUG' for you.!"

What’s next?  Highlands staff is currently planning a Family Night with Highlands Elementary School and other area schools and organizations.

Thanks to Michelle Petrin for the input and pics and CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STAFF AT DU FOR A TERRIFIC PROGRAM!

Brentwood Gets Fabulous Facelift

NS/EB Manager Kathleen Krizek boasts, "Brentwood Branch Library had a 'soft' reopening, October 14, 2017, with a few regular customers--and staff--admiring the changes. We’re still shaking out the kinks in preparation for the October 30^th Grand Reopening and annual Fall Festival."

STEM At Its Best

Children and teens at Highlands Library joined E-Specialist Luis Terron and YS Librarian Lorna Reed, September 11, 2017, for a fun hands on experience with Sphero robots. They were challenged to make it through a robot obstacle course. In addition to the exposure to 

technology, engineering, math, and science, these curious kids gained a better view of their capabilities and had an opportunity to see themselves as programmers, problem-solvers, leaders, and potentially part of a future STEM work force. Everyone is looking forward to the next robot derby! (Thanks to Michelle Petrin for the input.)

NW Presents 100% Of Teachers At Henry F. Kite With JPL Educator Cards

NW Librarian Andy Gallegos reports, "Henry F. Kite Elementary teachers--100% of them--received a JPL educator card, September 11, 2017! Regional Manager Marshelle Berry told me that, to her knowledge, up to this point there had not been a DCPS school that had achieved 100% of teachers with educator cards. I brought the idea to Principal Hill of Henry F. Kite and she thought it was fantastic to have all of her teachers with an educator card."

                            SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT:

Andy Gallegos (front, center) with 100% of the Henry F. Kite Elementary teachers holding their shiny, new JPL Educator cards.

Library Board Supports Friends of Libraries Week, October 15-21

There are many efforts made every year by all of JPL's Friends of  the Library groups.  The Resolution below lists some of their outstanding achievements recently made to benefit JPL.  If you would, please familiarize yourself with these accomplishments--or you may remember something done by your Friends at your library that is not included here--and thank the Friends personally when you see them.  Additionally, you could jot a note of appreciation during Friends of Libraries Week, October 15-21, 2017--or anytime is a good time to say thank you.  

Resolution in Support of

Friends of Libraries Week

WHEREAS, local Friends of the Library groups in Jacksonville have connected our libraries with our community, holding popular events, encouraging others to join, and promoting the library as an essential component of literacy and quality of life; and

WHEREAS, local Friends of the Library groups in Jacksonville have devoted countless hours to raising funds that finance programming, events, learning materials, computer technology, e-classrooms, software, staff training, digital access, leadership awards, and the preservation of historic collections; and

WHEREAS, local Friends of the Library groups in Jacksonville have enlightened citizens, community leaders, and state officials to the importance of the library, its potential, and its future; and

WHEREAS, local Friends of the Library groups in Jacksonville joined a successful 2017 advocacy campaign that culminated in the City Council’s approval of $850,000 toward rebuilding library collections and $250,000 toward conceptual design and development of an Oceanway Library,

The Jacksonville Public Library Board of Library Trustees, on this, the tenth day of October, 2017, does hereby declare its support of

 Friends of Libraries Week, to be held October 15^th-21^st, 2017.

________________________________________

Ronnie King, II,

Chair

The Board of Library Trustees

SOM Shares Their Makerspace & Monster Masks

South Mandarin's Makerspace activity for October is *calming jars and it is already a hit! Teens take a mason jar, glitter glue, and water to make their creations. Pictured are two of the teens' projects.  

(*Calming jars are made of water and glitter glue and the colors and pattern are supposed to be relaxing when looked at because of the pattern the glitter makes when shaken, it is like a sensory calming tool.)

SOM is also a monster friendly zone for October. Librarian II Stefa Witt read monster stories and talked about monsters, pumpkins, and Halloween, October 6, 2017. After storytime, 58 participants made monster masks.  (Thanks to SOM's Christie Rogers for blurbs and pics.)

Hispanic Heritage Month Never Looked So Good

 
SOM's Christie Rogers said, "We entertained 38 people, September 30, 2017, when Dancers from Danzas PeruJax performed Peruvian folklore dances in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Everyone enjoyed the colorful dances set to lively music, a Colombian Folk Art exhibition and South American stories. Children and adults played rana (a Colombian game) and the drum with a trompo toy.

GET THE WORD OUT FOR OUR FOJPL

The Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library are always friends to us and we can help them help us by promoting their sales and there are some good deals this month:

October 2017 

ALL Christmas books and Arts & Crafts books are Buy One; Get Two Free!

If all books are not the same price, the highest priced one(s) will be the price that will be charged - the lowest priced books will be the free ones.

FEEL FREE TO MIX  AND  MATCH -The sale runs October 3  thru October 31.

Job Well Done: Stacey MacPherson

PCR Library Clerk Stacey MacPherson was nominated for a for a Job Well Done Award by Clerical Supervisor Stephanie Harley for being a  highly reliable, motivated employee.  Stacey received the award September 20, 2017.  Stephanie said, "She exhibits great ownership and collaboration here at Pablo Creek.  Stacy has gone above and beyond to increase circulation stats. She has created 6 displays and keeps stats on items checked-out from each display; for example: a CD & Music Books display was set-up on June 23 and within 5 days 30 CDs and 8 books were checked-out.  Stacey has set a great example on how to increase circulation stats."

Job Well Done: Sheenah Zamora-Thrasher

Sheenah Zamora-Thrasher, P/T Administrative Assistant in CR&M,  was nominated  for a Job Well Done Award by Sabrina Whitfield, who said, "Sheenah is just a ray of sunshine. She gets so many demands daily working in CR&M and she seems to do it all with a willing attitude and a smiling face. Each month I have to request supplies and she never forgets me or puts me on the back burner. She always tends to my requests in a quick and efficient manner so much so that she personally delivered supplies to me at Regency Branch on her way home from work. I didn't nor do I expect that type of customer service. I just thought that went above and beyond what is expected of her and would like to acknowledge her for the hard work she does every day."

I think we could all ditto that praise, Sabrina, maybe not for delivering orders but certainly for a top-notch positive attitude and a pleasant personality with whomever she sees.

UPK Teens Mark Hispanic Heritage Month

UPK's teens, ages 12-18, celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month, September 23, 2017, and learned about folk art inspired by the cultures of Spain and Mexico. They also learned about intriguing folk artists and made their own Hojalata (tin art). Ten teens participated in the art club and shared their art for the camera.  (Thanks to Alexis Carter, UPK YS Librarian II, for the input.)