Here Come The Kids!

"A local school unexpectedly arrived at Brown Eastside Library,September 25, 2018, with 20 lively students--in addition to our local DCPS early release kids who were there to attend EB's Art and Stem activities. Christina Gasull led the kids through designing and making their own buttons with assistance from Cheyla Scantling and some of our regular kids. The rest of the branch staff pulled extra tables and chairs out of storage and the students played with Legos and board games once the room was at capacity, keeping boredom at bay… Way to adapt!" said Manager Shawn Norton, Branch Manager.

Great Back To School Give Away At EB

The Better Dads Society and the Ice Foundation partnered to host a book club and back to school bash, August 11, 2018. Supplies, bags, and books were given out to over 50 youth at the Brown Eastside Library.  Mentors from BDS were there with breakfast and lunch--and to act as reading coaches. State Representative Tracie Davis and District Executive Secretary Kiaira Nixon also came to share in the fun. 

Job Well Done: Eastside Branch Staff

EB Branch Manager Shawn Norton brags, "Staff at Brown Eastside went above and beyond expectation for youth services and customer service at the end of the school year and beginning of summer.  All EB employees actively registered and helped customers log their reading and we were over half way to our goal two weeks into SLP.  We registered 170+ children! Staff actively engaged with children and teens at all times, even if unscheduled or prompted. When regular duties were done, clerks read or colored with children; associates played board games and the entire building hummed with positive energy. This team is extremely flexible helping each other do extra for our community every step of the way."

"For their efforts, Christina Gasull, William Figlietti, Karen Lewis, Cheyla Scantling, Stephanie Huderson, and Patricia Mull received the Job Well Done Award, August 1, 2018."

EB Engages 22 For Teen Tech Week

Brown Eastside Library observed Teen Tech Week with a “Make It Snappy” program, March 7, 2018, featuring Snap Circuit sets for 22 teens who participated and took turns utilizing the sets in teams. Bill Figlietti said, "Most teams followed the Snap Circuit guide for a couple of activities, then explored electrical circuits on their own. I think there are a number of future electricians and electrical engineers at EB."

ArtRAGEOUS: Mardi Gras at EB

"Sixteen school children learned about the history of Mardi Gras, January 31, 2018.  They listened to music from New Orleans and decorated hats for the upcoming celebration with Maja Williams at the Brown Eastside Library. Laissez les bons temps rouler!" EB Branch Manager Shawn Norton reports--and translates the French: "Let the good times roll!"--a popular theme around this time.

EB Off & Running With SLP

EB's Shawn Norton, YS Librarian II, said, "We started our children’s program series, Building Better Worlds, designed by Chris Tabur, June 16, 2017. In our first adventure, we read part of The Little Prince and built our own spaceships out of recycled supplies such as cardboard and paper towel tubes. E-Specialist Luis Terron joined us and demonstrated some 3-D printing techniques by adding plastic flourishes to children’s space crafts.

EB Kicks Off SLP With Party

Shawn Norton, Linda Griffin-Foresto, and Stephanie Miller hosted the Brown Eastside Library's kickoff party, June 5, 2017, for JPL's Summer Learning Program.  The room where the party was held featured a coloring table, bean bag toss, and “Truth or Jenga".  A variety of refreshments were served for the 25 youths who attended.  Shawn said, "We were the three staff  in the room; however, all of EB's employees helped prepare for the party--a well planned, successful event.

EB Flies With Women's History Month

Brown Eastside Branch celebrated Women’s History Month by exploring two of the most famous female pilots ever in Fly Like a Girl. YS Librarian II Shawn Norton said, "Sixteen school age youth came to build, test, refine, and compete with their own paper airplanes. In the picture, you see our ‘ring of fire’ for their stunt planes to fly through. These pictures were from a brief celebration after everyone completed their first test.” 

EB Draws New Customers

Brown Eastside hosted Santa, December 22, and Shawn Norton (above center) , YS Librarian II, shares, "Sixteen  parents and children came to our Santa Stops and Photo Ops program. For some, this was their first visit and because they had fun, they plan to come back every Thursday for more stories (sans Santa, sadly to say.)”

                          Shawn Norton's daughter, Robin, had her time with Santa, too.

Masks For Halloween

After a short presentation on African and Mexican masks and traditions, twelve children and two adults made masks for Halloween (and Dia de los Muertos!) at the Brown Eastside 

Library’s Art Club, October 21, 2016.  (Thanks to EB's Shawn Norton for the blurb and pics.)

Urban Core Staff Meets

Urban Librarian IV Stephanie Miller reports, "On August 9, all of the Urban Core staff came together at GB for a combined staff meeting. We celebrated this year’s changes (added hours and new staff) and successes, especially Project LEAP outreaches and DCPS student computer usage in the UC libraries. We also talked about new opportunities coming to us this year with the added grade levels for the DCPS student cards and Kindergarten and 4^th grade class visits to GB. We discussed the Search Institutes 40 developmental assets, coming up with places where the library and library staff can stand in the gap for the kids we see each day by providing safe spaces and positive adult interactions.  

"A special thanks to Jonathan Sandbach, Donna Crowther, Sharon Whitt, Charlene Ovshak, Sara Radovic, Stephanie Harley, Beth Friedrich, and Diane Alexander for covering the UC library desks so that staff could leave their locations and the Main staff who covered extra desk shifts that day to make this possible!"

Eastside Educates & Entertains for SLP

On July 6, Brown Eastside Branch's SLP hosted a guest reader from the St. Johns Riverkeeper. She read The Raft, had puppets and stuffed animals representing wildlife found in and along the river, and she had a life sized cutout of a manatee. Eighteen kids enjoyed the educational program.

For EB's June 29 SLP program, Cotton Candy the Clown told a variety of jokes and performed magic tricks, including making a live bunny appear for the 32 attendees. (Thanks to Raelyn Wiirre, EB's YS Librarian II for the input.)

May's Happenings At EB

Raelyn Wiirre, YS Librarian II at Eastside Branch reports, "We held a raffle during our school celebrations recently to promote the student cards. Every child that used his or her student card to check out a book received a raffle ticket. Shareef Bryant (first pic) was our winner!

     

       

May Kramer conducted a Mail Art program for children on May 27^th. Participants used  a     variety of materials in their creations, such as used stamps, colored pencils, and scrapbook paper to create the mail art. More importantly, they learned how to properly write a letter. Each child received a postage stamp to mail their art to a friend or relative. Fifteen children and teens attended.

 Linda Griffin-Foresto hosted a Taste of Asia on May 23 in observation of Asian and Pacific Heritage Month. Egg rolls, white rice, and stir-fried vegetables were served. A film was shown that demonstrated traditional Chinese dances and taught viewers some of the language.

Female Pilots WOW Kids W/Visit At EB

Lt. Lara Bzik and Lt. Lindsey Asdal visited Brown Eastside Branch, March 16, along with the Navy's P.R. representative Julie Lucas. They fascinated customers with their talks about being female pilots.  JPL's May Kramer and the Navy personnel swapped JPL and Navy literature.  Navy stickers were given to the children and they assembled small planes and several tried on a flight suit and helmet. They also presented the pilots with interesting questions, such as, "Have you ever flown at night?",  "Will the Navy pay for pilot training and further education?" and "What countries have you flown over?"  Pretty mature questions, don't you think!

The Navy team wants to return to JPL and JPL is looking forward to more sessions for our customers.

Chris Cavan Retires

 Chris Cavan looks pretty happy at the retirement party given to her by fellow employees, January 13, 2016.  Chris retires as a Librarian III and Branch Manager of Brentwood and Brown Eastside Branches. We wish you well, Chris, in all those fun years and hope once in a while you will stop by and give us a heads-up on how sweet retirement can be. 

Poinsettias For EB

Brown Eastside's Manager, Chris Cavan, sent this picture of May Kramer, their new part-time Associate. May is standing next to some Christmas poinsettias planted outside the library.

Looks like they brought a literal ray of sunshine.

EB Creates Yummy Houses

Brown Eastside Library's Karen Lewis stands with one of the gingerbread houses decorated by the kids at EB during their December 10 session. Karen created the houses and 14 youths stuck on the various candies and sweets.

(Nobody's telling if the gingerbread houses will last till Christmas.)

Eastside Branch Brags New Hours & New Flag

Chris Cavan, the new manager of both Eastside and Brentwood Branches, is proud of the new flag flying over EB and the new hours. She waves beside a sign, which she says was "a spur of the moment sign placed outside to announce that EB is now open on Saturday."

  
May Chris and that wonderful flag wave forever! 

Scarecrows Don't Scare But Do Make Kids Smile

Eastside entertained 25 students during the “Fall Into Eastside” program, October 23. EB welcomed the fall season as students engaged in poetry reading with expression, a candy corn race, a candy apple craft, and a scarecrow building competition while sipping apple cider.  The scarecrow competition winner was Scarecrow Freddie in the purple attire. (Thanks to  Sharon Whitt for the blurb and pic.)

EB Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Jumpstart

Sharon Whitt, Library Associate Lead at Brown Eastside, sent this recap of a milestone, "October 22, 2015, EB participated in the 10^th anniversary of Jumpstart’s Read for the Record global campaign to generate public support for high-quality early learning and encouraged 32 patrons (accounting for 13% of visitors to EB that day) to read Not Norman: A Goldfish Story. The readers were able to post a signed picture of Norman the goldfish on the promotional poster after reading.