Get A Load Of This

SST participants in the 2019 ugly sweater contest L/R: Hannah Ringstaff, Stacey McClain, Alisha Levasseur, and Lynn Jacobson.  (Thanks to Hannah Ringstaff, SS Librarian II in Acquisitions, for sharing the results of their creative talent.)

P.S.  Alisha won the contest.

Games, Games, & More Games

DU's Beverly Mason inundated two teens with games, December 19, 2019.  Though there were only two in tow, Beverly and P/T shelver Joshua Long made sure the teens' time was entertaining and a little challenging during the program, Game On:  Minute to Win It Holiday Edition.  Beverly said, "Joshua and I served as human Christmas trees and the teens decorated us.  They competed to see who could use all their supplies first; it turned out about a tie and they enjoyed bedecking us in less than splendor.  You may want to use some of the games we played so I'm sharing those:

"White Elephant - Book Style! – Teens introduced themselves and familiarized themselves with different teen fiction books.  They took a few minutes to preview the books involved and shared a brief summary of a few of the books.

"House of Cards – We discussed Brian’s Winter by Gary Paulsen.  Then the teens had to see how tall of a shelter they could build with a deck of cards in one minute.

"Progressive Snowball Balance Relay – Teens ran a relay race while balancing paper snowballs.  They started with a snowball between their knees.  Then they added a snowball under their chin.  Then they held a last snowball between their elbows.

"That’s a Wrap! – Teens competed to see who could unwrap the most Hershey kisses with one hand in a minute.

"Present Time – Teens competed to see who could unwrap their gift first while wearing a pair of ski gloves.

"Snowball Stack  - Teens competed to see who could build the tallest tower with their marshmallows(snowballs).

"Christmas Pictionary –  Teens used their drawing skills to see if they could draw a picture well enough for other teens to guess the word or phrase.

"Then the teens enjoyed Gingerbread Cookies."

Santa Stop & Photo Op At Argyle Branch

Council Member Randy DeFoor (District 14) and Library Board Trustee Jill Dame came to Argyle Library to spread cheer at the Santa Stop and Photo Op, December 13, 2019.  CM DeFoor (L center) read T’was the Night Before Christmas by Daniel Kirk. Afterwards, Janelle Pornovetz read 10 Trim-the-Tree’ers by Janet Schulman while Branch Manager Carol Bunker decorated a tree to match the book.  CM DeFoor also helped the children count each thing put on the tree all the way up to 10. Carol said, "We sang 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' and then CM DeFoor read Who Will Guide My Sleigh Tonight? by Jerry Pallotta, followed by our singing 'Jingle Bells'. Justina Lockley then escorted in Santa and 90 little and big children came to visit and some took part in the photo op, as you see in the pictures.  CM Defoor and Trustee Dame were treated to a tour of our library"  (Pictured top right are L/R Trustee Jill Dame, CM DeFoor, Carol Bunker, and Brooks Dame, Mrs. Dame's daughter and CM DeFoor's assistant.)

Mr. Stork Beats Santa In Delivery

For P/T E-Specialist Larry and Becky Cahill, the Stork beat Santa in delivery this year! Mr. and Mrs. Cahill welcomed the best Christmas gift of all:  their first grandchild, beautiful Stella Primrose McKnight!   Stella was born December 8, 2019, weighing 7 lbs., 15 oz., and 19 1/4 inches tall!

Congratulations to the parents and grandparents from all of us!  

SOM Santa Stop

Seventy-six customers came to SOM's Santa Stop, December 12, 2019.  District 6 CM Michael Boylan and his wife and grandchildren joined other kids and caregivers to enjoy a family program with Librarian II Isabel Moreno-Santiago reading The Gingerbread Boy.  Topped off with crafts, cookie decorating, hand painting and pics with Santa, it was a joyful time for all.

(Whip cream on the Christmas cupcake for Isabel was a hug from Santa.)

Go365 Discounts for COJ/JPL Staff

Matthew Taylor, JPL's spokesperson for Go365, asked for these discounts for Camp Gladiator and First Coast YMCA programs to be shared with you:

Camp Gladiator https://campgladiator.com/cg-fit-challenge
Use discount code CGCOJ2020

YMCA:  https://fcymca.org/
You’ll receive:
• 20% savings on a Branch Specific or the Florida’s First Coast (FFC) Membership. (FFC allows access to all locations of the YMCA of Florida's First Coast.)
• No Joining Fee for COJ Employees
• No Annual Contracts and No Annual Fees
• Membership includes: Group Ex Classes (Zumba, Body Pump, Cycle, Yoga, ETC.), Pool, State-of-the-Art Exercise Equipment, Kid Zone, and Fast Forward Fitness.
• Savings up to 50% for sports programs, summer camp, swim lessons, and more!

Should you have questions, Matthew's contact information is: 

O: (904) 630-2445

E: matthewt@coj.net

Yes, Kids Like Old Maps

Jay Brasfield (standing at front) gave a tour of the Special Collections department, December 12, 2019, with an emphasis on the Ansbacher map room to 28 5th graders from San Jose Episcopal Day School.  John Wilson (standing left) took pictures along the tour and noticed how Jay interacted with the kids, "The students were here for nearly two hours and they were very engaged.  Jay presented information in a way that was fun, age appropriate, and easily assimilated.  The students listened attentively and kudos to them!  Afterward, they had time to explore on their own, chat, and compare observations with their peers, then move on to a new portion of the collection."

Here's Looking At You, Kids--With Cheer!

Hongying Song, East Region YS Manager, shares, "Pablo Creek Library staff and 105 customers enjoyed holiday cheer spread by Santa when he slid down the chimney for PCR's Santa Stops program, December 11, 2019. 

"And before he left, Santa shared candy canes and joy with staff in the work room.

 

"Pablo Creek took a group photo with Santa in our Winter Wonderland so all of us could share a smile and cheer with all of you in JPL."

Welcome Baby Winter

Isabel Moreno-Santiago, Library II at South Mandarin Branch shares, "We celebrated our Children 's Library Associate, SeBria Milton, with a beautiful baby girl shower complete with gifts and great food, December 10, 2019.  All of us at South Mandarin wish SeBria great joy, blessings and health, both for her and baby Winter.”

And the rest of us say "ditto", SeBria!

FOBL & NS Staff Entertain 200 Kids

The  Friends of the Brentwood Branch Library sponsored a Children's Christmas program at NS, December 6, 2019.   NS Friends Founder Sharon Coon (above) happily introduces Santa Claus to an excited bunch of about 200

youngsters, plus caretakers, who gathered at the Brentwood Branch and heard Tenikka Hughes (below), anchor for TV 30/47, read I Got the Christmas Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison.  Each child received a Christmas gift bag stuffed with a book and a toy from FOBL.

These effervescent JPL elves assisted Mrs. Coon and Santa Claus in making everything merry and bright:

L/R Aquilla Stewart, Pam Beaton, Victoria Price, and NS Manager Kimberly Kirkland.

FOJPL BOOK SALE - DECEMBER 2019

Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library

December In-Store Sales! 

All DVDs are buy one get two free,
All teen books: Buy one get 2 free (including books on CD)
And all holiday themed books are buy one get two free!
Gift certificates are available for purchase!   

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Our store hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from
9:00 A.M to 12:00 PM and
Saturdays from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

Please note: The Bookstore will be CLOSED on the following dates for the holidays, December 24, 26 and 28, 2019, and January 2, 2020.