Bold Ad At AR

"Dawn Brock, Regency Square Library Clerk, recently created a highly visible Graphic Novel sign that customers can see from almost anywhere in the department.  It affords a quick find for graphic novel fans," said AR Manager Mia Brack.

 

Spirit Of Christmas Thrives At AR

"Regency Square Branch's (L/R) Dawn Brock, Ann Ludke, and Sandra Lockley display gifts for staff's adopted angels, including a brand new bike and tablet.  These Christmas surprises are a result of staff's generous donations for two young ladies during the recent JaxCares Adopt an Angel program. "Thanks to the entire staff for helping with this effort," added Mia Brack.

Monster Mash Bash

"Our annual Halloween lunch at Regency Square, October 29, 2020, put staffs' culinary talents to the test," said Cindy Mathieson with a smile.

"With Mummy Poppers (shown above) taking a stroll by Graveyard Dip, then on to Monster Mash Eggs and Skull Pizzas, we filled our plates. (Everyone had mixed, wrapped and baked to create the scariest lunch possible.) Our breakroom was full of food, so we dined at our desks to stay socially distant and AR staff were 'stuffed' better than a scarecrow!

"Sandra Lockley and Dawn Brock came dressed as identical witches, causing us to cackle our way through the day."

Adult "Take & Make" Craft: Pumpkins Of Cork

JPL offers “take and make” art kits for children and AR's Cindy Mathieson had a light bulb moment and created adult "take and make" craft kits, October 29, 2020.  Cindy said, "The idea was in the works for a year. (Previously, I offered one craft per quarter, usually in sync with a holiday or a systemwide theme.) Gathering the corks was key and a basket full of wine corks came to me via a virtual yard sale ad. Then the project was a 'go.'  Kits are now ready for any Regency Square customer who asks for one. We advertised in-house with quarter sheet fliers placed at our circ desk. (Two customers have already reserved a kit.) The only real cost was a tube of E6000 adhesive. The corks were free and the silk leaves were left from last year’s fall craft (and there are leftovers for next year.)

" I would never have managed to paint 450+ corks yesterday without the help from our Shelver, Ann Ludke, pictured here on the left."

Wanna be a creative copy cat?  Here's Cindy's recipe:

"The plastic bag craft kit contains 26 painted corks, 3 silk leaves, one tube of E6000 adhesive and the directions. It takes 26 wine corks to make a large pumpkin, 20 for a medium, and 15 for a small. Since we had plenty of corks, I packed 26 corks in each pumpkin kit. We pre-painted the corks for customers; however, you could leave them natural."

Shown at the top of the article are two wine cork pumpkins Cindy made--one natural; one pained orange.  The two sided directions (included in each kit) can be requested from Cindy, if you like her idea. (Directions would have been posted here but print would appear too small to read.)

JPL Starts Reopening

The Main Library resumed customer service inside the building, June 3, 2020. Nine other branch libraries began curbside service only the same day--Beaches, Graham, Highlands, Mandarin, Pablo Creek, Regency Square, Southeast, Webb Wesconnett, and West.

 

Deputy Director Julie McNeil said, "Presently, the Main Library is open to the public to come in, Monday-Saturday, 10 am-6 pm.  Curbside service at the above branches is Monday-Thursday, 10 am - 7 pm, and Friday and Saturday, 10 am - 6 pm.  No Jacksonville Public Library Sunday service is available right now.

 

"Argyle, South Mandarin, Willowbranch, and University Park branches will add curbside service later this week, although the date has not yet been determined. Brentwood Branch Library will begin curbside service, June 15, 2020."
 

Terry Welch, a library clerk at Beaches Branch, coined a new word when she reported Theresa Rooney Nicole Saville, Dylan Franke, Robbie Crabtree, Amber Pierce, and she are the original JB "curbies." Terry said, "At first, service was slow but has picked up steam. Customers are happy to see us and we are happy to be back and serving them again." 

Alden James Born January 30, 2020

Mr. and Mrs. James Ringstaff are obviously delighted to give us a peek at their first child, Aiden James, who was born January 30, 2020.  He weighed 7 lbs., 11 oz., and measured 20 inches long. Proud mama Hannah Ringstaff is an SST Librarian II.  She added in her news, "He is the sweetest baby!"  (Your son looks like he thinks you two are pretty neat, too.)

Congratulations from all of us at JPL, James and Hannah!

The Frozen Globe

How cool can it be to paint an ice globe? At Regency Square Library, kids painted ice globes as an art project prepared by YS Librarian Alison Pulley, just out of their Young Children Read Play and Learn program presented by YS Associate Lauren Lazar, November 19, 2019.  Hongying Song said, "Some children were still painting ice globes after 20 minutes."  (The ice globes ere made by freezing water in a balloon.)  

Music, Colors, & Expression

Regency Square Branch Library hosted ARTrageous: Art, Music, Kandinsky! on August 28, 2019. (Kandinsky was famous for creating abstract art inspired by music.) Participants read The Noisy Paint Box, examined images of Kandinsky’s artwork, and learned about synesthesia. It is believed that Kandinsky had synesthetic experiences, and could see colors and shapes when listening to music. He described the first experience after  attending a performance of Wagner’s Lohengrin: “I saw all my colors in spirit, before my eyes. Wild, almost crazy lines were sketched in front of me.”

 Alison Pulley said, "Participants listened to seven different pieces of music and drew quick, abstract responses to each. We put each work up on the wall to compare – participants noticed that many used the same colors to describe a musical composition, and sometimes similar shapes or lines. A few even came up with stories to enhance the music and artwork. All had a blast finding links between art, music, and storytelling."

"In the photo, each column represents one participant, and each row represents one musical composition."

AR Is Hot On Hi $5 For Reading - Where Does Your Library Stand?

Guy Adkins has a well earned brag for AR staff, "At May 29, 2019, Regency Square Library has passed our $600 goal for 'Give a Hi $5 for Reading' with $624 and counting.  Individual donors' names are posted on the front of the counter adjacent to the 'thermometer ' branch goal sign."

Let us hear from you about contributions at your library for
                        Hi $5 for Reading!

Three Happy Birthdays!

Regency Square Branch employees helped celebrate three important April birthdays with a cake in their honor.   Ann Ludke, Shelver; Lauren Lazar, Children’s Associate; and Nicole Atkinson, Adult Associate.  Cindy Mathieson brags,  Ann is a 'shelver extraordinaire,'  Lauren is always on her toes in the Children’s Department, and Nicole mans the REF desk and creates fabulous book displays.  AR is lucky to have each of them here."  (Thank you to  Cindy for sharing the good news and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EACH OF YOU APRIL BABIES FROM ALL OF US.)

2 Staff, 2 Cards, 1 STEM, 1 Book, One Fun Time

YS Part time Associate Rhanda Hardee at the Regency Square Library reports The Wild Robot by Peter Brown was the featured title at Regency's monthly book club, February 1, 2019.  These kids were "all in" with the subject matter and the results of making their individual robots--out of two index cards yet!  Rhanda and E-Specialist Luis Terron each held a session.  She helped them construct their robots and had a Q:&A with pieces of candy for right answers. For a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) encounter, Luis demonstrated two Spiero robots and held their undivided attention.

AR Doubles Baskets For Daniel Families

Region Manager Mike Sullivan and AR Manager Greg Pierce are proud of Regency Square Branch employees for doubling the number of baskets collected over last year for the Daniel Families food drive.  They have collected 14 baskets in all for  2018.  (All baskets are not included in the photo.).  L/R are:  Ann Ludke, Lauren Lazar, Sandra Lockley, Amy King, Dawn Brock, Jessica Marzulla and Guy Adkins.  Not pictured is AR's Library Clerk Sabrina Whitfield, who shared this photo.

AR Promotes Awareness

Regency Square Branch Library has made awareness of breast cancer and domestic violence the themes for AR's October displays.  Cindy Mathieson said, "Sandra Lockley and Dawn Brock collected AR books and related materials for the displays.  Informational materials from various agencies relating to these two topics are also available for pick-up by customers.  

"Sandra and Dawn also created a large 'Honor Wall' (left) where customers could place the names of survivors of cancer or domestic violence, as well as those who have lost the battle with either one."

How Clever Is This!

Regency Square Branch is protecting customers from “dangerous books”.  Staff created a Banned Books Week display using items they personally brought in--a pet kennel, stuffed monkeys representing the classic adage “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil,”--and some of AR's most challenged book titles.  It has garnered attention from library customers and promulgated such questions as, “Why is that book considered challenged or banned?” (Thanks to Cindy Mathieson, AR Library Associate.)

Customers Appreciate AR's Appreciation

Regency Square Branch held a Customer Appreciation Day, Septem-ber 10, 2018. After a long summer hosting a library filled with children and summer learning activities, AR staff wanted adult customers to know they had not been forgotten.  Customers were invited to chat with library staff while enjoying some refreshments and regular and new customers liked the idea.  One gentlemen had just moved to the neighborhood from Ohio.  Staff welcomed him and provided him with information about the library system and the neighborhood.  (A big thanks to Library Associate Cindy Mathieson, for the blurb and pics.)

What a wonderful thing to do!

Ready, Aim, Read

AR's Cindy Mathieson proudly announces, "Regency Square Branch is supporting PBS’s Great American Read.  Lisa Buggs worked hard to get a grant to fund books and speakers for programs to be held at MAIN.  Dawn Brock and I have gathered 99 of the 100 titles that PBS listed.  Unfortunately,#100 is out of print."   

Towels For City Rescue Mission

Regency Square Library staff collected 25 towels to donate to the City Rescue Mission for their annual white towel drive.  Sabrina Whitfield plans to deliver them to Nicolle Burton at the Main Library before the deadline. (Pictured above, L/R are Sabrina Whitfield, Ann Ludke, Dawn Brock, Becky Hatfield, and Tim Marcus.)

PLEASE MAKE YOUR DONATIONS OF WHITE TOWELS BY FEBRUARY 23, 2018, AND PLEASE BRING THEM TO NICOLLE BURTON, 3rd FLOOR ADMINISTRATION AT THE MAIN LIBRARY.  (Should she be out, the towels can be delivered to Andrew Herron or Sara Gunter who also work in Admin.)

Regency Square Branch Hosts Navy Combo & Swings Into Black History Month

To celebrate Black History Month,  AR hosted the U. S. Navy Band Jazz Combo, February 15, 2018.  All ages tapped their feet to jazz, rhythm and blues, as well as popular music by African-American artists.  Library Associate Cindy Mathieson says, "Among others, we

were happy to see a van full of our neighbors from Brookdale Atrium Way there and all of us appreciated the jazz combo playing for us."

Don't Say Cheese; Say Merry Christmas!

Seventy nine people attended AR's story time and Santa visit, December 19, 2017. After Santa read to the little children and heard their requests, he didn't forget the big kids at Regency Square Branch. Sabrina Whitfield shares these photos and wants you to know ALL of the kids enjoyed Santa's visit. Below are some of the staff in the holiday spirit. L/R are Sabrina, Lauren Lazar and Ann Ludke. 

 

What's SSLLI To Me?

Regency Square Branch Manager Greg Pierce wants to encourage JPL staff to attain a goal he reached recently.  Greg said, "I graduated, July 14, 2017, from the Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute.  It is a life changing experience. Mixing with library staff from various types of libraries throughout Florida, you are exposed to a much larger library community.  The instructors lead you through an inspirational journey; you gain insight into yourself and others all along the way coaching and challenging your internal leader.  'The project' is a part of the experience--a way to put your knowledge to practical use. Learning the processes of project management, encouraged thinking 'out of the box', exposure to a much larger sense of community, networking and mentoring; all of these are true rewards."