Staff Profile

Laura Minnich is JPL's Westbrook Branch Manager and has an astute way of serving customers and teaching computer classes. Laura is pictured here with her husband, Michael, when they were hiking in the mountains. (Click on the photo to get a better view.)

Why did you choose a career as a librarian?

Serendipity, really. I didn’t set out to become a librarian. I was teaching young toddlers in a daycare/preschool and working on my portfolio for grad school, where I was intending to pursue an MFA. But I wasn’t happy with the way my portfolio was coming together, and I didn’t feel like early childhood ed. was exactly where I wanted to be either. So, in a bit of a last minute panic, I applied to two programs at the University of Pittsburgh—public policy and library science. I didn’t even think of library school until the day before the deadline to apply, so you can imagine what a stellar application that was!

You won the 3rd quarter 2008/2009 R&R award as "Good Trouper" and are lauded for dropping everything to serve a customer and providing computer classes. What talents do you use to provide such customer service and your computer classes?

Hmm…I’m not sure that I have any special talents in this area, but here goes:

CUSTOMER SERVICE: One talent, if you can call it that, is being able to remember customers’ names pretty easily. That really goes a long way. Also I think it is important to just genuinely be nice and not let past bad experiences get in the way of how you handle a customer.

COMPUTER CLASSES: The computer classes were developed because we observed a need. Many customers were coming to the library to apply for jobs but didn’t have any idea how to use a computer or find the appropriate website. We decided to use the ASPIRE center because there is almost always a line for computer use at WBK, and taking students to ASPIRE center wouldn’t deprive customers of the opportunity to use the public computers. Again, I don’t think any particular talent is involved—these are VERY basic skills that we tackle, like using a mouse or finding the enter key or creating an email account. Patience is a good quality, as is a willingness to teach the same thing over and over.

Tell us about the kinds of computer classes you provide and a couple of customer successes because they took these classes.

We offer two different computer classes at Westbrook Branch:

OPEN ACCESS is a two hour walk-in session for customers who are working on employment application/skills or applying for various state benefits. We noticed that customers were frustrated at trying to complete food stamp applications or job tests in the 30 minutes allotted by Pharos. Open Access allows customers an extended session and a library staff member available to answer questions.

ADULT COMPUTER CLASSES are one hour sessions with pre-registration recommended. This class focuses more on skill building. It is somewhat free-form in the sense that I often have customers who are varying degrees of beginner. Because these classes are 5 or fewer people, I am usually able to work one-on-one with students. I generally try to determine how comfortable/knowledgeable a customer is before he or she gets to the class so I can prepare some activities/practice bits for him/her to work on while I am with another student. For example, I might have one student starting out on the Mousing Around Tutorial*, another student working on creating an email account and a third using Word to create a resume. This system works well for us because we’re small and it doesn’t bother me to work in a fairly non-linear fashion. I think it would be more difficult to set up a computer class in this manner at a larger branch. On the other hand, I have never been able to offer a class focused on one particular program (Word, excel, email) and have anyone sign up or express interest here, which is one advantage of a larger location.

*Pablo Creek Branch has some great resources for computer classes and one is a page with links to computer related tutorials online.

SUCCESS STORIES: I know that several of my Open Access attendees have found jobs as a result of being able to complete an application. They usually come back in to let me know, which is nice. One customer who attended my adult computer classes was able to polish her computer skills enough to take some online classes and go back to school. A mother and her daughter (who lives out of state) were able to communicate more frequently because the mother came into the library and attended classes until she was truly comfortable using email. One of the things many of my customers are most excited to learn is how to attach a resume to a job application—that’s a little success, but it makes their job applications go so much faster!

What do you believe is your greatest accomplishment in life?

Career wise, two things that I am most proud of are the preschool storytime program I developed at West Regional and the great rapport we’ve developed here at WBK between staff and customers.

What book has most influenced your career and why?

There are many books that have influenced me over the years, but one that stands out right now is The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster. I read this in junior high/high school and it’s a great book about finding & following your direction in life. It’s also one of the many books that sharpened my interest in children’s literature.

Northwest Library's Outreach Program

Gloria Buenavista and Davi Harmon represented the Northwest Library at the Carter G. Woodson Community Day held at the elementary school on Saturday, August 22nd. They had a terrific time talking to parents and students about library services and signing up 66 people for library cards!

Tropical Storm Tracking

Scroll down on the right and find a new gadget that will allow you to track tropical storms in the Atlantic (click on the green square on the right of the map) and in the Pacific (click on the green arrow on the left of the map). Clicking on either one gives you an enlarged view.

Graham Branch Scores Big with Kids in Summer Library Programs

Ron Anglin entertained 22 school age children with his juggling program, July 1, at Graham Branch. This proved to be the largest attended of their summer library programs.

Then on July 22, Cranston Burney, Library Assistant in Main's Digitization area, introduced Pat Morrison, Main Library Supervisor, Special Collections, who presented a program about famous Jacksonville African Americans. She closed her program with a bingo game, which challenged kids to identify as many of the famous people as they could. Here you see Ms. Morrison on the left; Carmen Gregory, age 11, center; and Delores Walker, Clerical Support Aide II, to the right. Mr. Burney is in the background. (Click on either picture to get a better view.)

Goodluck, Marlon!

Marlon's party at Northwest. We wish you all the best!

Kudos from Customers

Main - Children's: I witnessed one of your employees, a clerk whose name I believe is Pamela (Brannon), dealing with a rude member of the public. Yet this young lady was able to put all that aside and acted professionally.

Main-Government Docs: Ms. Kathleen Krizek was most helpful and courteous to me on my visit. I’m working on my family tree and I appreciate her assistance and patience. She is an asset to this department.

Main - Interlibrary Loan: Highest compliments to Carolyn Hampton, who helped me with an Interlibrary Loan renewal today. She was patient with me in that at first I could not locate my ILL number. She then proceeded to successfully renew my book saving me much needed time today. A+ work on the part of Ms. Hampton!

Main - Popular: Matthew Moyer has exceptional public relations skills + extremely helpful and polite.

Mandarin Branch: The children's programs at the Kori Road Mandarin branch are excellent. Jean Winney and Margo Crafton do an exceptional job each week and have kept us coming back for storytimes during my child's toddler years.

Nominations Open for 2009 Carnegie Corp. of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award

Richard Mott, JPL's Training Coordinator, wants to share this information he received from Florida Library Association's Executive Director, Faye Roberts.

"Deadline for nominations for the I Love My Librarian Award is October 9. Categories include: public librarians; school library media specialists; or college, community college, or university librarians.

"Last year’s winners included Floridians Linda Allen, Director of the Pasco County Library System, and Iona R. Malanchuk, Associate University Librarian and Head of the Education Library at the University of Florida. "

Ms. Roberts can be contacted at PO Box 1571, Lake City, FL 32056-1571; phone 386-438-5795; Fax 386-438-5796; faye.roberts@comcast.net; or: http://www.flalib.org/.

You can email this discussion board: fl-lib@list.dos.state.fl.us

You can use this link to sign up to join the discussion list: https://list.dos.state.fl.us/mailman/listinfo/fl-lib

For more information about nominatons for the 2009 Carnegie Corporation Of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award: http://www.ilovelibraries.org/lovemylibrarian/home.cfm

Southeast Branch Customer Had A Special Need Quickly Resolved

Who says you can't have a hot time at the library? This comment was recently proven at the Southeast Library on Thursday, August 13. At around 12:45 p.m., a customer notified our circulation staff that a car in the parking lot was smoking and was emitting a strong burning odor. Investigation revealed a white automobile in the beginning stages of conflagration. Once the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department was called and arrived, the engine compartment of the car was engulfed in flames. Resolving this event was all in a day's work for the firefighters. Much to the relief of the onlookers and owners of the vehicles in the vicinity, the flames were extinguished in short order. So much for the idea that libraries are not exciting places to be.

Monique GrahamWins Jax Suns Trip to Miami

Monique Graham, CSA II at South Mandarin Branch Library, attended the Jacksonville Suns game, August 2, which closed out JPL's summer library program, and won a round-trip bus trip for two to Miami. It's not just any bus trip though. She and her daughter, Nadia, will travel with the Jacksonville Suns baseball team to attend the Marlins/Mets game there. The trip includes hotel accommodations for September 26-27. Congratulations Monique!

One Hears It; One Doesn't & Nobody Sees It; What IS It?

James Sigler heard a cat crying. That couldn't be possible because he was in a boat in the middle of the St. Johns River fishing with his father, grandfather, and a family friend.

They were having a good Saturday morning. The only sounds Mike Sigler, JPL's Security Guard Supervisor, could hear was the radio playing and the rush of cars overhead on the Buckman Bridge. Nevertheless, his son, James, age 6, was insistent that he could hear a cat crying. So Mike Sigler turned off the radio and then he could hear it, too. Frantically, they started looking around. But where was that cry for help coming from? Click below and enjoy the video that unravels this mystery:

Meet the cat rescued under Buckman Bridge by Deirdre Conner

Mandarin Branch Salutes Artist Extraordinaire

Melissa Tison is a part-time Children’s Library Associate at the Mandarin Branch Library. Melissa is their resident “artist extraordinaire” with her creative artwork enhancing posters announcing Mandarin Branch's adult movie programs. Melissa is pictured with some of the artwork she has done. Her favorites are the giant ants she made for the movie program “Them” and the octopus for “It Came From Beneath the Sea”. Melissa also entered the “Design a Bookmark” contest in 2007 and placed 3rd in the adult division.

Melissa’s favorite author is Michael Ende. Her favorite children’s authors are Mo Williams, Chris Van Allsburg, and, of course, J.K. Rowling. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2005, and Florida State University in 2008. She will be leaving JPL to start a new job as a media specialist. Melissa would like to say that she had a great experience working at the Mandarin Branch Library and will miss her co-workers. Best of luck, Melissa! You will be missed!

Councilman Dr. Johnney Gaffney Revisits Brentwood Branch

At the invitation of Brentwood Branch Manager Tasha Toliver, Councilman Dr. Johnny Gaffney visited their library again, Wednesday, August 29, 2009. Librarian Maude Scott introduced him and the storyteller, Diane Delage, at the branch’s last children’s summer library program.

Councilman Dr. Gaffney gave a brief introduction before the storyteller began, and then he told about his life experiences in college and the role he plays in Africa. He also talked about the

importance of good character and having a drive to succeed in life.

He closed the program by reading Dwayne Dyer’s book, Incredible You. Councilman Dr. Gaffney stayed for over two hours and the children, as well as the adults, really enjoyed his visit. Ms. Toliver said, "Overall, it was a great way to end the summer."

Staff Profile

Luis Flores, Assistant Director, Facilities & Planning, has some notable accomplishments of late. You guessed it; the greatest of all was seeing his first child, Alexis. She was born June 20, 2009, weighed 7.1 lbs and was 19.9 inches! (Click on picture for larger view.) Now you can read on about some other interesting news from Mr. Flores.

Q: You were recently certified as one of four in Florida COJ who has completed Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) training. Please explain how your LEED certification will facilitate JPL’s meeting current national and state building standards.
A: As the sustainability movement takes hold, more and more Federal, State, and Local agencies will require new/renovation projects to be LEED certified. LEED is a building rating system that serves as ‘quasi de facto’ standards for green building. Obtaining the LEED AP certification gives me a basis of understanding for making environmentally friendly facility decisions. Our focus at JPL will be on the LEED EB (existing buildings) standards which serve as a guide for delivering environmentally responsible, healthy, and productive environments. My goal is to systematically change our business practices by implementing a more sustainable lifestyle. The ‘green blog’ is the first of several initiatives geared to make JPL ‘green’. In addition, whenever possible we will procure and specify environmentally friendly products. As an example, the bid specifications for the Main Library walk-off carpet required a secondary backing (Ecologix/Preformance precoat) containing 88% post consumer material. Our efforts will mirror those of the Mayor’s sustainability committee, Executive Order 2008-03, and the Environmentally Preferable Procurement Guidelines.

Q: What experience do you believe best fitted you to your position with JPL?
A: I obtained valuable public sector work experience working for Broward County Public Schools and Broward County. I’ve had the privilege of being involved in every level of the public sector construction and building maintenance process. I feel I can communicate with all levels of staff within an organization and have the ability to expedite projects. I bring a no nonsense, pragmatic approach to management.

Q: Is there a particular book or two that impacted your life goals?
A: I can not single out one or two books, but I can refer to my MPA degree courses as having a significant impact on my career outlook. Coming from the private sector, I enrolled in the MPA degree program to gain a better understanding of public sector policy and administration. Once I learned about the intricacies of the public sector process, I was hooked and knew that I could make a significant impact with my work ethic and ideas. I am committed to maximizing efficiencies, improving outdated business practices and finding more cost-effective methods.

Q: What is something that most people don’t know about you?

A: I love watching food shows and enjoy cooking.

Q: What are your favorite pastimes or hobbies?

A: I love to play sports and try to lead an active lifestyle. I enjoy indoor rock climbing, scuba diving and golf.

FLA Accepting Conference Proposals

Proposals for concurrent or poster sessions are now being accepted for the 2010 Florida Library Association conference. This event will be held at the Rosen Plaza Hotel, April 7-9, in Orlando.

Spread the word to colleagues who may be interested in applying.

See the right sight of the FLA home page for an application form and more information.

The proposal submission deadline is August 24, 2009.

Notes from Collection Development:

Recent DVDs set in the realm of the fantastic:

Knowing



Fifty years after a time capsule was buried at a local school, teacher Ted Myles (Cage) examines its contents and discovers that it holds many shockingly true predictions. Soon, Ted is convinced that his family will play a role in an impending apocalypse. Diana Whelan (Byrne) is the daughter of the woman who first buried the capsule. This tense blockbuster thriller is from ace sci-fi auteur Alex Proyas.

Push



On the run from the Division, a dangerous government agency that uses people with psychic abilities to do their bidding, telekinetic Nick Gant (Evans) and clairvoyant Cassie Holmes (Fanning) team up to find a third psychic who can help them destroy the organization. But when the Division picks up their trail, it sends a powerful agent (Hounsou) to stop them at all costs. Paul McGuigan directs this thriller.

The Unborn

Tortured by frightening dreams at night and the ghost of a young boy during the day, young Casey (Yustman) turns to a spiritual adviser (Oldman) for help. Together, the two uncover and try to stop a powerful family curse dating back to the Nazi era. David S. Goyer writes and directs this supernatural thriller.

Argyle Children's Program Creates "Baby Bot"

Here is a photo of the results of the School Age Art Program that DeLon Rowan, Library Assistant at Argyle Branch, led children to create last week. They used recycled foam packing from light fixtures, parts from a keyboard, and other materials to create a baby "robot" and dubbed it “Baby Bot”. DeLon designed the program to conform with the Florida Library Youth Program theme, "Be Creative @ Your Library". In this program, children developed pre-literacy (cognitive and physical skills) while creating three dimensional pieces such as Baby Bot. (Click on the picture to get a larger view of "Baby Bot".)

Marie Boyer Will Retire from Southeast Regional Branch

After 21 years with the Jacksonville Public Library system, Librarian Marie Therese Boyer will retire, August 1. On Wednesday, July 22, Southeast Regional held a luncheon to commemorate her many years with JPL. Marie noted she has seen a great many changes with the JPL system during her time with the library. Specifically, she described the completion of the new Main Library as one of the most significant accomplishments of the Jacksonville system as a whole. Marie said her enjoyment of many years with the library was primarily due to the wonderful people she has worked with and the variety of work tasks to be completed each day. With the tasks changing hourly, there was never a boring moment.

Marie spent her early childhood in France, has family there, and even after living in America for many years, still has a distinctive French accent. Therefore, a French theme was used for the gathering, with a menu comprising of many common French delicacies such as fried chicken faire un bide (to make a big belly), Laissez-faire (let it be) sausage and green peppers, and Pret-a-porter (ready to wear) macaroni and cheese.

To assist Marie in her future retirement endeavors, she was presented with a personalized floating pool chair. In the picture above, Marie is displaying the chair box after removing the wrappings. You may notice that the person on the picture of the box has a very familiar appearance.

We at Southeast wish Marie the best of luck and a great retirement.

Notes from Collection Development

Zombies: The New Vampire?!

You may have noticed a lot of Zombies appearing in fiction recently. A few titles customers can find and devour at JPL—


Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Booklist Reviews

This may be the most wacky by-product of the busy Jane Austen fan-fiction industry at least among the spin-offs and pastiches that have made it into print. In what's described as an "expanded edition" of Pride and Prejudice, 85 percent of the original text has been preserved but fused with "ultraviolent zombie mayhem." For more than 50 years, we learn, England has been overrun by zombies, prompting people like the Bennets to send their daughters away to China for training in the art of deadly combat, and prompting others, like Lady Catherine de Bourgh, to employ armies of ninjas. Added to the familiar plot turns that bring Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy together is the fact that both are highly skilled killers, gleefully slaying zombies on the way to their happy ending. Is nothing sacred? Well, no, and mash-ups using literary classics that are freely available on the Web may become a whole new genre. What's next? Wuthering Heights and Werewolves? Copyright 2009 Booklist Reviews.

The Zombie Survival Guide

PW Annex Reviews

Website: http://www.publishersweekly.com/In this outrageous parody of a survival guide, Saturday Night Live staff writer Brooks prepares humanity for its eventual battle with zombies. One would expect the son of Mel Brooks to have a genetic predisposition to humor, and indeed, he does, and he exhibits it relentlessly here: he outlines virtually every possible zombie-human encounter, drafts detailed plans for defense and attack and outlines past recorded attacks dating from 60,000 B.C. to 2002. In planning for that catastrophic day when "the dead rise," Brooks urges readers to get to know themselves, their bodies, their weaponry, their surroundings and, just in case, their escape routes. Some of the book's more amusing aspects are the laughable analyses Brooks proposes on all aspects of zombiehood, and the specificity with which he enumerates the necessary actions for survival-i.e., a member of an anti-zombie team must be sure to have with him at all times two emergency flares, a signaling mirror, daily rations, a personal mess kit and two pairs of socks. Comic, though unnecessarily exhaustive, this is a good bet for Halloween gag gifts and fans of Bored of the Rings-esque humor. 100 line drawings. (Sept.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

World War Z

Booklist Reviews

"The Crisis" nearly wiped out humanity. Brooks (son of Mel Brooks and author of The Zombie Survival Guide, 2003) has taken it upon himself to document the "first hand" experiences and testimonies of those lucky to survive 10 years after the fictitious zombie war. Like a horror fan's version of Studs Terkel's The Good War (1984), the "historical account" format gives Brooks room to explore the zombie plague from numerous different views and characters. In a deadpan voice, Brooks exhaustively details zombie incidents from isolated attacks to full-scale military combat: "what if the enemy can't be shocked and awed? Not just won't, but biologically can't!" With the exception of a weak BAT-21 story in the second act, the "interviews" and personal accounts capture the universal fear of the collapse of society--a living nightmare in which anyone can become a mindless, insatiable predator at a moment's notice. Alas, Brad Pitt's production company has purchased the film rights to the book--while it does have a chronological element, it's more similar to a collection of short stories: it would make for an excellent 24-style TV series or an animated serial. Regardless, horror fans won't be disappointed: like George Romero's Dead trilogy, World War Z is another milestone in the zombie mythos. ((Reviewed August 2006)) Copyright 2006 Booklist Reviews.

Monster Island: a zombie novel

Booklist Reviews

This is a zombie novel--a fantastic zombie novel. Most of the world has fallen to the undead, with pockets of survivors clinging to a precarious existence. At the behest of the leader of the Free Women's Republic of Somaliland, a shipload of those makes the ludicrous trip from Africa to New York in a desperate quest for medicine. New York is a wasteland, and everything depends on a small, incredibly dedicated band of teenage girls, armed to the teeth, and native guide Dekalb, formerly a UN arms inspector. Also, in NYC there is Gary, a zombie who, completely unexpectedly, retains live human mental faculties. The questers get ringside seats for some of the apocalypse's finest moments, and no matter how prepared they thought they were, something worse awaits in the depths of New York. When zombies have already overrun everything, that's saying something. There are many layers to this zombie apocalypse, and this book just gets things rolling. Stay tuned. ((Reviewed March 15, 2006)) Copyright 2006 Booklist Reviews.

Cell

Booklist Reviews

/*Starred Review*/ Think horror meister King's gone soft? Try this: Clay Riddell, on top of the world after finally signing a contract that pays off for his years of scrabbling as a comics artist, is fairly bouncing along Boston Common when an awful lot of the people nearby suddenly go berserk, using any weapon that comes to hand, including their teeth, to assault with deadly intent everyone in their paths. Motor vehicles collide or leap curbs to smash through windows and doors at high speed. Planes power-dive into buildings. And, of course, gunfire and explosions punctuate the soundscape. Instinctively, Clay puts his heavy portfolio between a small man about to be butchered by a middle-aged crazy, and thus meets Tom McCourt. Within the hour, they rescue 15-year-old Alice Maxwell, and another of King's many stories of a decent remnant struggling to survive in a world gone mad is off and running. During the course of what must be the most suspenseful, fastest-paced book King has ever written--a 'Salem's Lot without lulls--the trio expands to as many as six, though it is solely from Clay's perspective that King tells the story. Clay is concerned with more than survival, for his 12-year-son is out there, surely by himself, Clay thinks, given the time of day that the Pulse began. The Pulse, keenly perceptive Tom noticed right away, that all the crazies became so while using their cell phones. Tom's was broken that day, and Clay doesn't own one. Exploiting motifs and devices from Richard Matheson's vampire-world classic, I Am Legend (1954), and George A. Romero's living-dead movies (author and filmmaker are this book's dedicatees), King blasts any notion that he's exhausted or dissipated his enormous talent. ((Reviewed January 1 & 15, 2006)) Copyright 2006 Booklist Reviews.

The Living Dead

Booklist Reviews

Die-hard zombiephiles may be disappointed to find only one new story here (the Clive Barker and Stephen King entries are 20 years old), but they have to concede that it s full of good stuff. The real standouts tend to depart from the apocalyptic formula standard to the genre. A bully in Darrel Schweitzer s "The Dead Kid" torments an undead kid in a box that he keeps in the woods. David Barr Kirtley’s "The Skull-Faced Boy" features two teens who discover they re animated corpses after being killed in an accident. In Joe Lansdale s "Deadman’s Road," a gun slinging reverend hunts down a zombie who was a killer when normally alive. It s Dan Simmon’s brilliant, award-winning "This Year's Class Picture," however, that makes the collection worth the price of admission; in it, a teacher clings to her daily routine, teaching her "students" long after the Tribulations. Though it reprints so many oft-collected stories, this volume remains an excellent overview of the zombie genre. Copyright 2008 Booklist Reviews.

Kudos from Customers

Beaches Branch - I just waned to let Charlene's (Ovashak) supervisor know that the 2 times I dealt with her she was AWESOME! It's so refreshing to meet people that are so helpful and so friendly--it's rare these days.

Main - Reference - I attempted to utilize computer services; there was a linking problem w/website chosen. Ms. (Karen) Deas was very helpful to insure my designated computer wasn't at fault. We or she actually had me to view her unit at the service desk which did indicate my website choice was the problem. KUDOS!

Murray Hill Branch - I really enjoyed the personal attention I received from Margaret Esposito. She is outstanding! Keep up the good work!

Pablo Creek Branch - Margaret Crawford's & Kyong Lee's story time is fantastic. They are always enthusiastic & personable as are Padma Subramanian & Stephanie Harley at the checkout counter.

South Mandarin Branch - I brought my two grandchildren to the story hour on Thursday. They loved Mr. David (Foster) and his compassion for relating the stories. They look forward to returning next week.

Movies at Mandarin Branch Are Big Draw

Mandarin Branch Library is the place to be for summer movies! Next Tuesday, July 21, Mandarin is showing the classic summer movie, Jaws. This shark-bitten poster was designed by Melissa Tison (L) and Linda Smith (R), both library associates. Melissa’s artistic talents were put to good use by designing the shark. The movies Linda has shown have been very popular, averaging 10-30 people. Other popular movies, such as Bolt and Hotel for Dogs, were attended by over 50 people! (By clicking on the picture, you can enlarge it.)

Councilman Dr. Johnny Gaffney Visits Brentwood Branch

Councilman Dr. Johnny Gaffney visited the Brentwood Branch Library, Wednesday, April 15. Prior to his arrival, he and Branch Manager Tasha Toliver spoke extensively on the phone and he shared a lot of infomation about the community.

During his visit, Ms. Toliver introduced him to her staff, gave him a tour of the branch, and reviewed Brentwood Branch programs.

Councilman Dr. Gaffney expressed his regrets that his visit would be brief due to a special meeting called by City Council that day. However, he was able to stay about 30 minutes and was very helpful with ideas relating to adult and children's programs and offered to get community partners involved.

Ms. Toliver invited him to visit again and she and her staff look forward to the time--hopefully in the near future--when Councilman Dr. Gaffney can return to Brentwood Branch.

Training Helps in Technology

In the frenzy of our technological world it's easy to lose site of what an important place books still hold. More than that, we often miss opportunities to use that same technology to enhance and promote our collections. Stephen Abram, Vice President of Innovation at SIRSI, has 25 great recommendations for putting technology to work doing exactly that.

Try this shortcut to: http://www.sirsidynixinstitute.com/wordtothewise08.php

Staff Profile

Diane Alexander, Library Assistant, is known to many of our staff because she works in the Training Office at the Main Library. She was the winner of the Employee of the Quarter for the first quarter of 2008/2009. (She preferred not to include a photo for this article.)

Q: How long have you worked for JPL and in what areas?
A: I worked at Webb Wesconnett Branch for about two years before coming to the Training Office in April 2007.

Q: How is it rewarding to you as a Library Assistant to work in Training?
A: I have the opportunity to help employees find classes they need and I help them enroll in those classes; then they can fulfill their training requirements and improve their job performance.

Q: What do you think are two of the most valuable training sessions in the City and why are they important to library staff?
A: Star Service the Jax Way is a class that educates staff in excellent customer service, and Introduction to Personal Computers is a class many employees need to take to do the basic functions required in their jobs.

Q: Who is your favorite author and what do you like about his/her work?
A: T. D. Jakes’ books are very inspirational and I feel that in this day and time we all need some kind of inspiration.

Q: What are one or two things most people do not know about you?
A: I’m not a native Floridian. I have been living in Clay County for 5 years and love it. I was born in Demopolis, Alabama, and I have lived in various cities in the U. S. before moving to Florida.

Chocolate Chip Giveaway and Performance Objectives

Karen Walker, Main Library, Reference, Senior Librarian, reports that the Digital Planet Team has delicious news for the JPL blog. She asks that you please take a look at this and see which of our teammates was the lucky winner—and shared June's Chocolate Chip Giveaway!

http://tinyurl.com/mc6pwh

JPL’s online book club is featured on our website with this description:
Email Book Preview
Join our Online Book Clubs and start reading books in your email. Each day we'll send you a 5-minute portion of a book. By the end of the week, you'll have read 2-3 chapters. If you'd like to finish a book, stop by the library and pick up a copy. Every week we feature new books. Sign up today and start reading tomorrow.

For Goal 2, to enable us ‘To determine products and services that will meet resident’s needs’, The Digital Planet Team members each selected a genre in the ‘Online Book Club’ and chose to learn more about this ‘Resource for Readers’. With 100% participation, co-workers enjoy promoting this resource one-to-one with Customers. To learn more about the Online Book Club, simply sign up today.

Notes from Collection Development

Bored with your hum drum existence? Looking for vicarious excitement? Read a biography and find out about someone else’s everyday life!

Biographies

Longshot: The Adventures of a Deaf Fundamentalist Mormon Kid

and His Journey to the NBA - by Lance Allred
Publisher: HarperOne
Pub Date: 06/01/2009
ISBN-13: 9780061718588
ISBN-10: 0061718580

At 6'11", professional basketball player Lance Allred looks right at home on the ball court. But what sets Allred apart from his teammates is the fact that he is almost completely deaf; in fact, he's the NBA's first legally hearing-impaired player. Add to that Allred's fascinating back-story--he's the son of a Montana polygamist and a grandson of the late Mormon fundamentalist leader Rulon Allred--and you've got one heck of an unlikely success story, the details of which Allred shares in Longshot. If you are a basketball fan, enjoy books about overcoming long odds, or like behind-the-scenes glimpses into polygamist societies, you can't go wrong with this unique and winning autobiography.

My Remarkable Journey - by Larry King
Publisher: Weinstein Books
Pub Date: 05/19/2009
ISBN-13: 9781602860865
ISBN-10: 1602860866

Since his first radio broadcast on May 1, 1957, Larry King has talked--and listened--to tens of thousands of people, both famous and not-so-famous. In My Remarkable Journey, King looks back on his storied life, from his humble roots in Depression-era Brooklyn to his success as the host of CNN's long-running Larry King Live. Candid and revealing, King also doesn't shy away from discussing potentially sensitive topics like his multiple failed marriages and his 1971 arrest for grand larceny. Fans of King and his humorous, good-natured attitude shouldn't miss this memoir, which Kirkus Reviews describes as "vintage King."

Clara's War: One Girl's Story of Survival - by Clara Kramer
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pub Date: 05/01/2009
ISBN-13: 9780061728600
ISBN-10: 0061728608

When Clara Kramer, now president of the Holocaust Resource Foundation at Kean University, was 12 years old, her Polish hometown was overtaken by the Nazis and all Jews were ordered to relocate to the ghetto. Desperate to escape, Kramer's family--along with 17 other Polish Jews--hid in a grimy and cramped underground bunker. Aiding the Kramers and their companions in their struggle to survive and remain concealed was the most of unlikely of allies: their former neighbor, Mr. Beck, a drunken anti-Semite. "Both a gripping thriller and a heartbreaking drama of human kindness, this is sure to become a classic of Holocaust history," says Booklist.

Crazy for the Storm: A Memoir of Survival - by Norman Ollestad
Publisher: Ecco
Pub Date: 06/02/2009
ISBN-13: 9780061766725
ISBN-10: 0061766720

In February 1979, 11-year-old Norman Ollestad was aboard a small plane with his father and his father's girlfriend when they crashed into the side of the San Gabriel Mountains. Both the pilot and Norman's father were killed (and the female passenger was too injured to walk) so young Norman had to find his way down the 8,500 foot mountain alone. Luckily for Norman, his father--who had pushed Norman to excel at surfing and competitive downhill skiing--had prepared him well for the physical and emotional challenges of this seemingly impossible trek, which Ollestad chronicles in Crazy for the Storm. Readers who liked Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air won't want to miss this engrossing and poignant survival memoir.


Samuel Adams: A Life - by Ira Stoll
Publisher: Free Press
Pub Date: 11/04/2008
ISBN-13: 9780743299114
ISBN-10: 0743299116

Though often overshadowed by other Founding Fathers, Boston-born Samuel Adams was one of the first in the American colonies to call for independence from Britain. In fact, his pivotal roles in nearly every aspect of the American Revolution led Thomas Jefferson to later declare that Adams was "truly the man of the Revolution." In this illuminating biography, journalist Ira Stoll details Adams' life and role in United States history, including his work as a newspaper editor, Massachusetts governor, and statesman. Check out Samuel Adams to learn more about this most underrated of American revolutionaries.

Webb Wesconnett Branch Participates in Awareness Campaign

Webb Wesconnett announced the winner of their Library Card Campaign drawing, June 25: Edith Marroletti. She is pictured holding her prize, an MP3 player, donated by Branch Manager Erica Brown. Ms. Marroletti is a longtime customer there. Pictured at right (L/R) are Jackie Smith, Edith Marroletti, Tia Samuels, and Sandra Lockley. (For enlargement, click on the picture.)

Accolades to the Webb Wesconnett clerical staff. Their steadfastness and diligence is geared toward excellent customer service, which they provide daily to their deserving customers.

FLA Intellectual Freedom Committee Appoints Laura Minor As New Chair

Congratulations to Laura Minor, a JPL Librarian Senior, who was appointed chair of the FLA Intellectual Freedom Committee for 2009-2010. The committee responsibilities are:

To investigate cases of censorship involving libraries in the state and to take appropriate action when warranted and requested.

To inform FLA members and others in the library community about pertinent intellectual freedom issues and censorship cases through programs, workshops, and publications.

In conjunction with the FLA Legislative Committee, support efforts that oppose passage of legislation and ballot initiatives that attempt to undermine First Amendment rights.

To maintain a manual of procedures for all Florida librarians concerned with promoting intellectual freedom and fighting censorship in the state.

To learn more about intellectual freedom, please see the FLA’s Intellectual Freedom Manual, available for download at http://www.flalib.org/int_Freedom_Manual.php.

Cruisin' Down the St. Johns River On A Friday Afternoon

Images captured from the S.S. Marine boat on June 12, 2009, during the “Sunset Artist Inspiration Trip on the St. Johns.”



Seventy-five people, including Jim Selzer, Library Board member, and Barbara Gubbin, Library Director, listened to poetry readings and songs and learned little known facts about the St. Johns River. Everyone enjoyed the sunset, skyline and each other's company during this two-hour cruise in partnership with the St. Johns Riverkeeper.

Kudos from Customers

Main - Popular - Donna (Peretzman) was very helpful with computer skills.

Main - Special Collections - Arthur Finley and Cranston Burney are 2 of the most helpful and courteous people I have met in awhile. I was new at the library but I feel as if I've been coming here a long time. Thanks and keep up the good work.

Mandarin - I just have to tell you again what a great staff of people you have at the Mandarin Kori Road Branch. Professional, competent, well-trained, and very, very helpful. The list is enclosed. Names included: Lynne Baldwin, Don Carpenter, Margo Crafton, Elizabeth Garnett, Jeff Geiger, Cheryl Gilmore, Brittany Gonzales, Skyler Williams, Marjorie Herron, Tammy Hilbert, Josh Santiago, Robin Kowalski, Sarah Miller, Mary Mlady, Shivon Rockward, Pamela Sherrer, Cynthia Simmons, Linda Smith, Latanza Sutton, Melissa Tison, & Jean Winney.

Pablo Creek - I want to say thanks to Gail (Blumberg) for helping me a lot to find a book for my test. She did not stop helping me until she found the book and it was very difficult to find. Thank you.

Willowbranch - Jason (Brown) stands out in his willingness and friendliness. He always knows who I am and can tell me right off if HOLD books are in for me before I even get to them. I see him interact with other customers in a similar way too.

Notes from Collection Development:

Summer arrived yesterday and summer reading lists abound! Here are a few titles being published during the summer months that have been highlighted on media reading lists. Check them out!

Dune Road by Jane Green

LJ Reviews 2009 June #2

If the financial crisis hit Desperate Housewives' Wisteria Lane, the result would be Green's (The Beach House) latest novel. After a meandering initial 100 pages, the plot involving a group of fortyish girlfriends finally takes shape. Each of the three friends finds herself in the middle of her own soap opera: Kit's newly discovered half sister is sneaking around with her ex-husband, Charlie's silver spoon is yanked from her mouth when her banker husband loses his job, and Tracy's abusive first husband threatens to reveal her past to her friends. Life in the bedroom community of Highfield, CT, can't escape the chaos that the Wall Street crash inflicts. When the town's local celebrity an infamous and reclusive author opens his Dune Road home for a party, the drama of these residents is suddenly out there for all to see. VERDICT Whether you care about these characters or not is irrelevant in this quick, easy beach read. Green's name on the cover will be enough to attract interest.

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe by Randy J. Taraborrelli

LJ Reviews 2009 May #1

Taraborrelli has had a long career writing juicy biographies of celebrities (e.g., Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross, Frank Sinatra, Princess Grace, and the Kennedy women). Here, he promises never-before-told facts about Marilyn Monroe's family dynamic, the identity of her father, and her relationship with the Kennedys. And he delivers. Taraborrelli also reports that Marilyn's mother, Gladys Baker, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and that Marilyn struggled with her own mental deterioration. Taraborrelli's style is sometimes over-the-top as he assumes the feelings and motivations of his subjects, but this device makes his books readable and mesmerizing. He had access to newly released documents that were not scrutinized for other biographies, and he researched family and medical files and personal correspondence and interviewed countless family members, friends, costars, Secret Service agents, and others. He also provides previously unseen photographs. This will probably stand as the definitive Monroe biography; highly recommended for all public libraries.

South of Broad by Pat Conroy

PW Reviews 2009 June #1

Charleston, S.C., gossip columnist Leopold Bloom King narrates a paean to his hometown and friends in Conroy's first novel in 14 years. In the late '60s and after his brother commits suicide, then 18-year-old Leo befriends a cross-section of the city's inhabitants: scions of Charleston aristocracy; Appalachian orphans; a black football coach's son; and an astonishingly beautiful pair of twins, Sheba and Trevor Poe, who are evading their psychotic father. The story alternates between 1969, the glorious year Leo's coterie stormed Charleston's social, sexual and racial barricades, and 1989, when Sheba, now a movie star, enlists them to find her missing gay brother in AIDS-ravaged San Francisco. Too often the not-so-witty repartee and the narrator's awed voice (he is very fond of superlatives) overwhelm the stories surrounding the group's love affairs and their struggles to protect one another from dangerous pasts. Some characters are tragically lost to the riptides of love and obsession, while others emerge from the frothy waters of sentimentality and nostalgia as exhausted as most readers are likely to be. Fans of Conroy's florid prose and earnest melodramas are in for a treat.

Jacksonville Public Library Kicks Off Awareness Campaign

Have you seen the library’s new billboards or heard any of our radio spots on your favorite station? There’s even a page on our website all about the awareness campaign that you can check out.

The awareness campaign is meant to inform the Jacksonville community of all the services and programs the library offers at no cost to the customer. Over the next three months, you will hear our radio spots and see billboard advertisements, newspaper ads and television commercials used to spread the word.

JPL unveiled the new library card design and convenient key chain card to staff, customers, Library Foundation and Library Friends members at the campaign kick off during the June 3 Art Walk. (At left is the new billboard.)

Barbara Gubbin, District Councilman Don Redman and First Coast news anchor Angela Spears talk about the new card design. They shared their experiences of the library and welcomed and encouraged those in attendance to sign up for a new library card. Stories of customers' library experiences were also shared and left the audience inspired by the power and influence of the library on many lives.

At right, Ribault High School drum line exits after performing at Art Walk

See more pix @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/yourticket/sets/72157619197216235/?page=2

Specially commissioned art work was contributed to the campaign by local Jacksonville artists to reinforce the powerful partnerships that develop through community resources like our library. The artwork is currently being used in the advertising. For more info about the campaign visit the web page,
http://jaxpubliclibrary.org/awareness/awareness-campaign-2009.html

MURRAY HILL BRANCH PROMOTES WATER CONSERVATION

Christi P. Veleta, Program Administrator with the Environmental Protection Board, came to Murray Hill Library and presented the Drippy Water Program on Thursday, June 11 at 1 p.m. This was in conjunction with the library's School Age Program. Ms. Veleta came with Drippy, the EPA's water mascot, to talk to the children about water conservation.

Staff Profile

Kudos for Mary Mlady who has been with JPL since 1986! She started working as a Page in the Mandarin Branch. She then worked in Human Resources until 1990. She received her Masters Degree in Library Science and in 1994 went to work at Webb Wesconnett Branch. In 1995, she started working at the Mandarin Branch and has been there ever since.

Mary is the Reserve Guru! She is in charge of ILL’s and periodicals. Mary has a lively adult book club that meets once a month and she is the adult volunteer coordinator.

Mary’s hobbies include reading (of course), cooking and playing piano. One of her favorite books is Ahab’s Wife, by Sena Naslund. She has been married to husband Jim since 1991, and has two daughters and two grandsons. Mary is a pleasure to work with and an inspiration (she always has chocolate in her desk drawer!)

Councilman Clay Yarborough Reads To Families at Regency Square Branch

On Thursday, May 28, City Councilman Clay Yarborough read stories to a group of excited families at the Regency Square Branch Library’s Family Story Time program.

“He was fun and very engaging. He included the parents and seemed to be having a great time,” stated Senior Librarian Lanette Jackson, who hosts the monthly program at her branch.

Councilman Yarborough’s interactive style made Dr Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham come alive for the listeners. “I was impressed by the way he incorporated concrete concepts such as numbers and colors into the stories. He is definitely no amateur at reading children's stories,” said Ms. Jackson.

The Councilman also chose another book from the collection to read. However, as he opened the book, the audience and Councilman found themselves glaring at a slight tape repair that had been made to one of the pages. A lighthearted chuckle ensued from both the audience and Councilman as Ms. Jackson announced, “The library always needs more money for books.”
The program included a craft and movie. Ms. Jackson plans to invite Councilman Yarborough to return for an encore presentation.

By M. J. Berry

$50,000 Check From BOOKtique

Our Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library BOOKtique is a profitable operation.

A $50,000 check from FJPL's used bookstore and gift shop was presented to the Library this month. Pictured at left (L to R) are Barbara Gubbin, Library Director; Mark Wood, Library Board Chair; Estelle Vickery, volunteer; Sharon Futch, FJPL Executive Director and Store Manager; Harry Reagan, FJPL President; Margaret Smith, FJPL Vice President for Programs, and in back, Carolyn Williams, Deputy Director; and Barrett King, Deputy Director for Administrative Services. (You can enlarge the picture by clicking on it.)

FJPL President Harry Reagan congratulated Sharon Futch and all of the BOOKtique volunteers. The BOOKtique opened November 12, 2005, when the new Main Library opened.

"The BOOKtique is an important part of our ongoing efforts to raise money for the Library," Mr. Reagan said. "Jeanine Peterson (former FJPL President) and the FJPL Board deserve credit for bold, creative thinking."

Mr. Reagan said the BOOKtique offers a year-round opportunity to find book bargains, as well as unique gifts.

Helping keep the BOOKtique open 53 plus hours per week are: Omari Daniels, Jackie Delk, Terri Hudson, Sally Kenaston, Cynthia Murray, Jackie Nash, Joyce Patten, Marti Pounder, Gara Roberts, Byron Rocher, Jennifer Simpson, Nitya Sivasubramanian, Bettye Stilley, and Estelle Vickery.

Soon, the Library will receive another FJPL check -- money from the Great Jacksonville Book Sale, Saturday Morning Bookstore and online book sales.

Adult Summer Reading Program FAQ's

Adult Summer Reading Frequently Asked Questions:

What is Adult Summer Reading?
For the first time, JPL is participating in the adult component of the Summer Reading Program. This year’s “Express Yourself” theme is all about creativity and “mastering the art of reading”. It is a more grown-up version of the children’s “Be Creative” theme. Anyone can participate. Customers do not have to be artists or performers to join in the fun. More information about the theme and upcoming programs can be found on the Programs & Events page of the JPL site or in the Adult Program Highlights guide.

How do I sign up?
Customers can sign up by filling out a participation form. Copies of this form have been sent to all library locations and should be available at information desks or areas where program flyers are kept. Customers can also sign up by calling 630-0495 or emailing artofreading@coj.net .

The Community Education & Enrichment Office is happy to assist customers wishing to sign up. Please send participation forms directly to the Comm Education & Enrichment office. Staff can also add names to the Excel document used to track participation in G:Shared\Community Education & Enrichment\Summer Reading.

Participation information is being collected primarily to informally gauge the number of adults planning to read arts-related materials and/or attend creativity-based programs. Customers who have signed up for Adult Summer Reading will automatically be eligible for prizes to be awarded at the end of the summer. Each customer is equally eligible for prizes and may not submit multiple participation forms in hopes of increasing their chance of winning a prize.

How does it work?
Customers are invited to read books related to this year’s summer reading theme. They are also encouraged to participate in related thematic programming offered by JPL. There are no reading “requirements.”

To make it fun JPL provides reading logs for customers to keep track of the books they read. Book review forms also allow the customer to give a “Boo” or “Bravo” and comment on the books they read. Staff is encouraged to display book reviews on a bulletin board or other community venue if possible so customers can see what fellow readers have to say about books they’ve read.

Each location received copies of all forms. More are available in PDF format for staff or customers to print on the Adult Summer Reading webpage featured on the Programs & Events page of the JPL site. Branches may also contact the Community Education & Enrichment Office for more copies.

Each branch location has been provided with a copy of the Adult Summer Reading staff manual and has been invited to create book displays, host programs, and otherwise participate in Adult Summer Reading. Each branch will determine its own level of participation. Branches are encouraged to submit information about their programs to the Community Education & Enrichment Office for inclusion in promotion.

When does it start?
Adult Summer Reading takes place from June 1 – August 31. Prizes will be awarded the first week of September.

Where do I take my list of books that I’ve read?
This year JPL is not requesting that adult customers turn in lists of books read. However, we do want customers to submit book reviews for display at the branches. As part of future Adult Summer Reading programs we may collect reading lists or have additional ways for customers to interact with the program.

Other questions?
Feel free to refer customers to Jenny Mooney or Frank Smith in the Comm Ed and En Office at 630-0495 or email artofreading@coj.net.

Jax Reads Ribault Essay Contest Winner

Malik Jackson, pictured left, reads his winning essay during the Jax Reads Finale at the Main Library, May 5. In addition to winning a laptop computer, Mr. Jackson also received a behind-the-scenes tour of the Jaguars Stadium.