Moon Bunny Steals The Show

Maxville Library entertained kids with magician James Songster's Magic and Mayhem program, June 19, 2019.  Mr. Songster used several books of different cultures that spoke of a moon bunny and how people sought it.  He used a balloon as a dragon and slayed the dragon to bring the Moon Bunny to earth. The kids were exuberant to see Moon Bunny's "arrival" and the bunny seemed a bit surprised at the warm welcome.  (Thanks to Elise Fare, Library Associate Sr., for input.)

MAX Red Hot On Educating Kids About Fire Safety

In honor of International Firefighters’ Day, May 4, 2019, Maxville had a Firefighter storytime during their May 1^st Young Children Read, Play and Learn program followed by a visit to the nearby Maxville Fire Station. Although it was a small group, it was fun.  Kara Chenoweth (with the fire hose) sent pics of the event and the basket of goodies they presented to the firefighters to thank them for their service.

 

Double Whammy JPL Promo In Baldwin

L/R are Jessica Serrano, Karen North (President of the Friends of Maxwell Library), Helena Davenport, Darla (Karen North's roommate), and Elise Fare.

The Baldwin Middle-High School Homecoming parade, November 2, 2018, was a wonderful and fun p.r. project for Maxville staff. The parade proceeded down the street in front of Baldwin MHS, then behind the school, through a neighborhood to Mamie Agnes Jones Elementary School and through their parking lot. It ended just past the elementary school. Regional Manager Lynne Baldwin said, "What a great way to promote library cards and our resources.  Giving out candy with library brochures was brilliant.  Jessica really rocked the library card sandwich board.  Helena and Marilyn were everywhere waving, handing out candy – never stopping.  Kudos to Elise for the Harry Potter movie theme, decorations and the HP neckties.  Many, many, many thanks to Kim North for leading the way with her golf cart (pictured above behind staff and left ) and her support. She is simply amazing."

Pictured L/R are Elise Fare and Karen North getting everyone's attention as they drove around in the golf cart unabashedly promoting the value of getting a Jacksonville Public Library card.

Customers Must Love These Smiles & Staff Picks

These bright and smiling faces are Maxville's Elise Fare and Jim Morgan who want to show off their new Staff Pics display.  The selections are: Top Row; Beth Friederich:  Paper Towns by John Green; Elise Fare: The Fireman by Joe Hill; Kim Kirkland: Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Helena Davenport: The Sisters Grimm Series by Michael Buckley.  Second row:  Jim Morgan: Hunter by Mercedes Lackey; Lynne Baldwin: James Dean by George Perry; Kathy Tekin: Vinegar by Anne Tyler, and Jessica Serrano:Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.

Above the Staff Pics are some samples taken from children's creations in the Building with Bricks program.  Staff rotates the samples weekly.  

Ideas To Help Market Books

Above are some of Maxville Branch's displays by Jimmy Morgan, who made these models, and Jimmy wanted to share his eye catching models and thought they might spawn a few ideas for your areas.  At top is some hefty reindeer pulling Santa, second down is for Western fan readers, next: Super Heroes, & Adult Graphics.

MAXVILLE KICKS OFF HOLIDAY SEASON

Region Manager Lynne Baldwin says, "Season Greetings from the Maxville Branch Library.  Library Associate Elise Fare kicked off the holiday season at MAx with a festive bulletin board, story time books and one of her very own quilts.  Elise hosts Quilt Camp at MAX on the third Saturday of each month."

Super Readers/Super Heroes

The Maxville Bulletin Board--'Super Heroes Love Super Readers”--is the chosen theme of Super Heroes for September/ October. Libra-ry Associate Sr. Elise Fare says, "Our scavenger hunt is also a hunt for super heroes and the children’s department as well as the adult display 'Who is your Super Hero?' all feature the theme. Library Clerk Jimmy Morgan has also created 3-D super hero figurines in all of the graphic novel areas for display.

MAX Hosts Zoo For SLP

Summer Learning with the Zoo at Maxville Branch Library, July 17, 2017, afforded 60 kids and parents the opportunity to meet and greet zoo animals, including an armadillo and baby alligator. The program finished with a scavenger hunt throughout the branch. Big thanks to MAX's Jessica Serrano and Jimmy Morgan for facilitating the program.

JOB WELL DONE: HELENA DAVENPORT

June 14, 2017, Helena Davenport, a Maxville Branch Clerk, was presented a Job Well Done Award.  Beth Friedrich credits Helena with having created a scavenger hunt using old VHS tape cases and the theme for June is Father’s Day. Beth said, "Each case has a themed image and customers are provided with a list of images to locate. The scavenger hunt is popular with children, teens and adults. As a prize, Helena brings in candy for customers. Her engagement with the community using this fun activity is a great demonstration of JPL’s Everybody Serves Youth initiative."

MAX Bridge Building Challenge.

Tweens and teens recently spent three weeks constructing bridges of popsicle sticks and glue at Maxville Branch. Then the completed bridges were put to the test: holding multiple water bottles.

Nine boys and girls participated, constructing two bridges. Both bridges successfully passed the test, as their smiles and the bridges attest!

They  thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and look forward to Bill's future adventures during SLP. (Thanks to William Figlietti, WST Library Associate, for the blurb and pics.)

Maxville Branch Celebrates Ten Years

Director Barbara Gubbin welcomed 125 guests to Maxville Branch Library’s 10^th Anniversary celebration, July 18, 2015.  An official proclamation by the Jacksonville City Council was read recognizing Maxville’s anniversary. 

Festivities included face painting by Elizabeth McConney, a puppet show by Eve Harm, adult crafts by Elise Fare, a visit from the Jacksonville Fire Department, and balloon animals from Balloons R 4 Twisting.  All children in attendance received a new book, and refreshments were served.

Guests had the opportunity to meet City Councilman Doyle Carter, Friends of the Maxville Branch Library President Kim North, and Board of Library Trustees Vice Chair, Guy Anderson.  (Thanks to Mia Brack, West Region Youth Services Librarian III, for the blurb and pictures.)

WST and MAX: Making A Heartfelt Difference

As part of the Summer Reading craft projects in 2014, our teen volunteers were encouraged to take part in creating fidget quilts for a local nursing home.  Fidget quilts allow those who are wheel chair bound to do something with their hands while waiting.  They have different textures, colors, buttons, zippers, and other decorations for the patient to play with and thus calm their fidgety hands.  The West Jacksonville Health and  Rehabilitation Center on Fouraker Road is the proud recipient of the quilts and they will be delivered March 13. 

Additionally, the ladies of the Maxville Library have been crocheting lap Afghans for wheel chair bound patients.  These will also be delivered to the West Jacksonville Health and Rehabilitation Center at the same time.

You've Gotta Have Heart!

Maxville Branch Library enjoyed a Valentine’s Day Extravaganza, February 14, including Valentine munchies in the auditorium (finger sandwiches, homemade cupcakes, heart-shaped red velvet brownies with cream cheese icing and punch (red-of course!)

Four tables were set up for children’s Valentine crafts, as well as a teen craft table for all-day fun, and the highlight of the day was a drawing for a four-pack of family tickets to MOSH!

Who's that behind those "Foster Grants"?  Two West Regional Branch employees:  Melodie Brunson (left), WST Library Clerk, who sent in this blurb and picture, and Chris Cavan, WST Librarian Senior.

From the Maxville Branch

Every branch can feel like its own little world, mostly because we tend to make it that way, yet we are all a part of JPL and the even greater COJ.

Here, on the far, far Westside of Jacksonville, the boonies (informal for “boondocks” for you city slickers) if you prefer, we at the Maxville branch have decided to reach out on a more personalized level to our patrons in the form of a blog just for them which also partly entertains us. The surrounding area is somewhat more sparsely populated than other locations, but the community is more closely knit, giving it that our-own-little-bitty-world feel.

On our blog, we post news, upcoming events, closings; basically everything that tends to get lost or buried inside the JPL home page because of the vast amount of information available there. We also post things that our particular patrons want to know about: like new materials our branch has received and riddles of the day. Doing all this allows our patrons to quickly access information relevant to them, streamlining communication between us and our slice of the county (and some surrounding counties).

This blog revolves around our world, and you’re welcome to check it out!


Daniel Kibler
Branch Manager


P.S.: Come visit Granny Alfie! She always adores addressing questions!