Brentwood Branch Offers After School Programs

Brentwood Branch's Christie Rogers sent this picture of Library Assistant Gloria Armstrong with children participating in Brentwood's after school activities. Gloria helps the children with math, reading, and writing every day after school from 3 pm-6 pm. After school games are also available for the children.

UPK's Lorraine Wilson Is 2011 "Volunteer of the Year"

Marlin Day, Librarian Senior at University Park Branch said, "If you look up the definition of 'hard working' in the dictionary, you would find a picture of Lorraine Wilson, a volunteer at UPK, who has logged more than 1,000 volunteer hours in less than two years. She helps out where and when she is needed throughout the community in a variety of ways. She volunteers at Arlington Community Services, a local food bank. She volunteers at her church and she helps out her friends.

"Ms. Wilson was chosen as JPL's Volunteer of the Year for 2011 and recently she was honored at University Park Branch with a luncheon. Library Director Barbara Gubbin would not have missed congratulating Lorraine and expressing her appreciation, and we thanked Lorraine for all the assistance she has given us over the years. Ms. Wilson has made the library a better place, given us much encouragement and contributed many hours of work pulling weeding lists, finding items on the send list, trapping holds and many, many hours of shelving books, DVDs and CDs. Our library would not be the great branch it is without the assistance of our volunteers, and Lorraine Wilson is a shining example of, as the volunteer's vision statement reads, our volunteers making a difference.  (Ms. Wilson is shown below accepting her award from Mr. Day.)

"One of the wonderful things about Lorraine is that she doesn't do what she does for the accolades. To celebrate her award and express our appreciation, we just had a simple meal and said our thank-you's for all her help and for being our friend.  Per Lorraine's wishes, there was no press, no politicians, or banners pulled across the sky.  We appreciate all that she does to help out.  Her caring, giving nature and dedication to improving the area is inspiring."

All the rest of us wish to add our sincere appreciation, too, Ms. Wilson!

Mystery Shopping FAQ's

JPL's Training Coordinator. Sara Radovic, shares this update with you:  "Thank you to everyone who responded to the Customer Service Satisfaction survey!  We have compiled your questions and below is a list of frequently asked questions with answers for you.  If you have a question that isn’t addressed on this list, please send it to me at sradovic@coj.net.  I will answer it and update the FAQs accordingly.  Again, your participation is appreciated!"

                                       MYSTERY SHOPPING FAQ'S

What will they be looking for?

The mystery shoppers will be looking at four aspects of our services – Circulation, Reference, Customer Service, and Front-line Marketing. The shoppers will be asking routine questions at the Circulation and Reference Desks. They will be assessing:
- the accuracy of the information given out (was the correct policy stated?)
- overall customer service.

What is expected of staff ?  Will I be judged for something I didn't know I was supposed to do or know?

The mystery shoppers will be asking the same kind of questions we get day-in and day-out. You are already doing most of what they’ll be looking for.  Front-line marketing is something new for JPL, and Training will make sure you’re given what you need to know to be successful in a shop.

Will the shopper check phone etiquette?

Yes, we anticipate that the mystery shoppers will evaluate phone etiquette.

Are there disciplinary procedures in place for poor mystery shopping feedback?  Will this have any impact on our performance reviews and in the distant future when we may start getting raises again, will this be a factor?  How is this going to tie into my performance management?  Is this an information gathering tool for training?  Are the above behaviors those that will be "graded" or are there other aspects?

Staff won’t be disciplined for a poor shop. It’s not a gotcha. The purpose of the mystery shopping is to assess effectiveness and determine needs for additional training, not to penalize staff. The shops can be looked at as being just another kind of customer feedback, and it’s up to the manager’s discretion as to how he/she wants to incorporate them into the performance reviews.

Are the mystery shoppers going to be regular customers who are willing to assist or are they people who do this as their job?

The mystery shoppers are professionally trained as shoppers, though they could very well also be current JPL customers.

How in-depth will the circulation questions be for staff who work in a reference department?  Some mystery shopper experiences the staff has had involved mystery shoppers being instructed to act out, be difficult, or ask what we cannot provide. Will this type of testing the staff be used?  Will the shopper ask hard questions or routine questions?  Will they understand that neighborhood libraries may be different than larger branches?

The mystery shoppers will be asking routine questions, the kind we get everyday at the Circulation and Reference Desks. They won’t be instructed to be difficult customers, and they won’t be asking weird or bizarre questions. We understand that the neighborhood libraries are different than the larger branches and have developed specific questions for the shoppers when they are there.

Will the staff be aware when the mystery shopper is coming in?

The mystery shops will start in March and managers will know within a few days when their branch has been shopped.

Will staff have an opportunity to share their experience with this endeavor?

The managers and Administrative staff will have direct access to the shops once they’re completed and will discuss outcomes in their regular staff meetings. There will be system-wide recognition of good shops.

How did this start?

Mystery shopping was selected to support Objective #6 in the Balanced Scorecard – "Practice essential behaviors of customer service excellence" and "Give accurate information to customers."

State Senator Audrey Gibson Visits Brown Eastside Branch's Career Center

State Senator Audrey Gibson visited the Brown Eastside Branch Library January 5 to learn about the library’s Career Center. Library Associate Tony Williams outlined the services offered at the Career Center, including research for those interested in starting their own business. Tony said on average, 57 people visit the center each month and customers use an average of 97 hours of computer time to search for jobs, fill out online applications and work on their resumes. Sen. Gibson remarked at how impressed she was with the center and its offerings and opened up a discussion about the challenges the library faces in providing this much needed service to the community, particularly funding for staffing. A strong library advocate, Sen. Gibson pledged her continued support for the Jacksonville Public Library system.  (Sen. Gibson, standing in above picture, took time to assist a customer during her visit.)

During the Senator’s visit, a customer praised Eastside Branch’s staff for their professional help in her job search, adding if it were not for the library and access to the Internet, she would not be able to apply for jobs or fill out other online government forms.

Attending the presentation were Library Board Trustee Jackie Perry, Administrative Supervisors Michael Sullivan and Ava Barrett, Library Supervisor Marshelle Berry, Librarian Senior Daniel Kibler, and Assistant Director of Community Relations and Marketing Kathy Lussier.

The Brown Eastside Library Career Center is open Monday through Thursday from 1 p.m.—5 p.m. Appointments may be made for one-on-one assistance. As with all library programs, there is no cost for this service. The library is located at 1390 Harrison Street and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Kudos from Customers

Main – Reference & Periodicals:  "Ms. Karren (Deas) helps me with my website and also she keeps me on track at all times."

Main - Teens:  "Keli (Likins) and the wonderful library staff:  Thank you so much for the wonderful tours you gave our students this past month!  It was incredibly informative and I know the kids truly benefited from the experience.”

Pablo Creek Branch:  “The ladies in the children area (Peggy Crawford, Hongying Song, Delon Rowan, and Julie Rekow) are great and always helpful. I always enjoy going in there to pick out books for my son because I know I can ask for advice and receive help right away with a smile.”

Southeast Branch:  "The circulation staff & Lynne Baldwin are awesome! Someone Who Knows.”

South Mandarin Branch:  “Overall, the staff at S. Mandarin Branch are tops! Especially the children's section (Tracy O’Sullivan, Ann Clement, Pat Dowdell, and Angela Richmond). I've been all around Jacksonville. Thank you for all your services that are available. Living in Duval County is a blessing because of our library system. "  

47 Attend E-Reader Class at Beaches Branch

Sandra Ostroski, Librarian Senior, reports the 1 1/2 hour E-Reader Tips program, January 11, at Beaches Branch was a great success.   Five of the 47 people who attended were JPL employees.  Donna Peretzman, JPL's E-Specialist, designed and delivered an effective PowerPoint presentation on how to use Overdrive to check out e-books from the library and how to download them onto an e-reader device.  Customers and staff were pleased with the program and many positive comments have been received.

BIG Friends of JPL Sale & New Hours

Harry Reagan, President of the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library sent this update to Friends members late afternoon, January 10, which we want to share with all JPL staff: 

"I want to tell you about a special deal we’re offering our members – 50% off on all purchases of used books at our BOOKtique in the Main Library downtown, and at our Saturday Morning Bookstore at University Park Library, 3435 University Blvd. N. The 50% discount starts now, and will end January 31.

"Also, the Saturday Morning Bookstore is going to become the Tuesday Morning Bookstore and the Thursday Morning Bookstore for a while. We’ll be open from 9:00 to noon on Tuesday and Thursday, as well as Saturday.

"As you know, the regular member discount is 20%, so 50% is a very good deal.

"Please tell your friends and neighbors about this and suggest that they become FJPL members. Here are the membership prices: Family, $25; Individual, $15; Senior Citizen and Student, $10."

Pablo Creek's Avant-Garde Automated System Installed

Pablo Creek Regional Library's new automated materials return system, officially called "3MTM Intelligent Return and Sorter System", was installed December 20 and opened to the public on January 5, 2012.  This system instantly checks in materials, then sorts returns into bins for shelving.  Click here and scroll down to get a quick view of how the automated system works:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/pablo.creek.library.

What are the advantages of such an automated system?  Quick, accurate check in of materials, items returned to shelves quicker and available for check out again; holds are available for immediate processing, more staff time to assist customers--and less staff injury and physical strain.  An exclamation point could be added after this impressive list of attributes!

We can again thank The Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library for providing major funding for this system. 

SAT Study Group for Teens at Pablo Creek Branch

Pablo Creek is hosting an SAT study group for teens on Monday evenings at 6:00 pm, January 23 and January 20, 2012.  Apprise teens who visit your library that they can contact teen librarian Curt Beadell to register. 

Classical Guitarist at MH for Holiday Program

Classical guitarist Jeffrey Bianchi played to a filled room of appreciative folks at Murray Hill Branch Library during a holiday program recently.  The Friends of the Murray Hill Library and these local merchants provided refreshments:  The Crazy Egg, Edgewood Bakery, and Moon River.  Many thanks to all of MH's Friends and friends. 

A story time craft for children followed the performance. 

Feast Your Eyes at Pablo Creek Branch

PCR Manager Carol Bailey invites you and your customers to a real treat:  “Oil Paintings by Chen Qitao” are on display throughout the month of January at Pablo Creek Branch.  A couple of samples like these will whet any artistic taste buds one may have (or could create some for anyone who doesn't have 'em.) 

Next month the Pablo Creek Art Gallery will feature a display called “My World Through Impressionistic Eyes: Paintings by Judy Craft”.  Ms. Craft's art will be on display the entire month of February. 

Ms. Bailey is looking for artists to feature for the rest of this year, and if anyone knows any good artists who would be interested in exhibiting at Pablo Creek, please contact her:  phone: 992-7101; or email her.  Your suggestions are appreciated.

Staff Profile

Harry Reagan wrote this introduction for Ricardo Montoya, a dedicated volunteer for the JPL Friends.  We would like to add that JPL could not be as successful in customer service without the JPL Friends and volunteers such as Mr. Montoya (foreground in picture).

“As president of the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library, I recruit and train lots of volunteers. They are an amazing group of people and FJPL could not do what it does without them. Ricardo Montoya is an outstanding volunteer. He came to one of our book sales (as a customer) and we recruited him (as a volunteer). He stayed throughout that sale and worked very hard. He kept on working afterward, helping us sort books at our Book Warehouse and helping organize subsequent book sales. He was chosen 2010 Volunteer of the Year and elected to the FJPL Board of Directors. He now chairs FJPL’s book sales committee. We are very proud of Ricardo and we appreciate this recognition.”

Q: Mr. Montoya, you were recruited as a volunteer for FJPL at a Great Annual Book Sale. How long ago was that and what particularly interested you?

A: It was almost four years ago while browsing through the non-fiction section at the March 2008 Sale that I answered a request for volunteer help, donned a blue apron, and began my volunteer experience with FJPL by assisting with the checkout process. That day was very exciting for me, being of service and also being surrounded by so many others who share my interest in books/knowledge.

I continue to feel that same excitement at each sale and through our sorting process. That coupled with the camaraderie of my fellow volunteers, makes all of the work we do worthwhile.

Q: You are FJPL's 2010 Volunteer of the Year. Could you tell us about the different types of volunteer activities you have done with the Friends?

A: Currently, as Sales Committee Chair, my major focus is the logistics and planning to create a better customer experience at our book sales by having on display as many categories of books as possible, highlighting categories for quick search and to maintain an accessible path for everyone. In between the sales, I continue to participate in the book sorting process (mostly in non-fiction) where I began. And, whenever I visit the Main Library, I make time to assist as needed in the Friends' Booktique store, and at times bring books and media from our warehouse to re-stock the store.

A couple of years ago, I also began volunteering weekly at my local Willowbranch Library, where I do receiving and re-shelving of books and assist the many great library associates and members.

Q: You also joined FJPL's board this year and must believe FJPL provides an important service to to this community. What value do you think FJPL brings to the library and the Jacksonville community as a whole?

A: Yes, our main goal in relation to the Library is to provide additional funds to assist them in fulfilling their mission and achieving their goals. To the community, we provide the opportunity for Jacksonville residents to purchase books at a much discounted price.

Q: You have a myriad of experience in industrial, manufacturing, service in the U.S. Marine Corps, and now you are an emergency planning consultant. Of all these pursuits, which one proved most rewarding and why?

A: I feel that my life’s experiences have been rewarding and believe that they have led me to this point in life to incorporate and funnel those traits back into the community. I like the independence that being self-governed provides me, and it allows me the flexibility to continue my volunteer activities. My experience in the Marine Corp provided me with a global perspective, the self-discipline, and the awareness of the importance of maintaining a state of preparation, which eventually brought me to my current endeavor as an Emergency Planning Consultant, which, by the way is not about beans, bullets, band aids and bottled water; it is the ability to create as an event unfolds.

Q: Do you have leisure activities other than volunteering?

A: Absolutely; keeping physically fit is an imperative in my mind and also allows me to express my competitive nature. Right now, I’m focused on improving my handball game to compete again at the national level and at the same time promote this sport that I love playing here in Jacksonville. I’m a longtime competitor and teacher in both handball and racquetball and I am very good at both. Running is also an integral part of my fitness regimen, and I make time each year to run in both the Gate River Run and the Marine Corp Half-Marathon.

And, of course, I enjoy reading and collecting books.

4th Annual Polar Express Movie Party at CW

Webb Wesconnett's customers enjoyed their 4^th annual Polar Express movie and party.  They were treated to cookies, popcorn, hot cocoa, candy and prizes. Special guest--and former Administrative Supervisor, now retired--Margaret Smith came by and read The Night Before Christmas.  Then everyone jumped on board "the train" and sang Christmas carols, snacked, and then played games.  They concluded with the movie and candy canes with Santa bells attached were passed out to the 62 in attendance. 

Elves, Humans, and Santa at CW

Ninety six elves and other humans of various sizes were hosted by Webb Wesconnett Branch staff for breakfast, December 19.  Santa Claus arrived right on time, as usual, and everyone enjoyed their breakfast even more as they listened to Christmas music played by Al the Banjo Player and sang Christmas carols.  Then they went on a parade singing to the customers. Kids wrote letters to Santa, played games, and all received a book from Santa. (Attendees were asked to dress like an elf or wear red and green.  Mark Preston, CW's part-time shlever, obviously was pleased to play Santa.) Laurie Mills, CW Library Associate, reports that everyone enjoyed the program and it was a huge success.

A Christmas Carol at CW

December 1 saw the first of a series of Christmas programs at Webb Wesconnett Branch.  Here you see a picture of Hampstead Stage Co. actors keeping the avid attention of the audience of 41 during the play, A Chistmas Carol.

Mrs. Claus Visits West Regional Branch

West Regional Library had a grand style celebration, December 21, hosting a holiday party for 40+ attendees.  They were treated with a storytime from Mrs. Claus, who borrowed Santa's sleigh for the long trip from the North Pole--just in time for this event. After storytime, everyone enjoyed a sing-along accompanied by Justin Keiser on the tuba. Then, kids of all ages made edible holiday trees and cards, gingerbread ornaments and candy cane reindeer. (Who didn't appreciate tasting the fruit of their labor?)  To top it off, partiers had one lucky stocking winner and everyone loved their present from the library: books of their own to keep.  (Inside tip: that's Eve Harm in the red outfit.  WST's Chris Cavan, in lavendar below, was charmed by Mrs. Claus' storytime, too.) 

Brown Eastside Branch Customers Spread Cheer

Eastside Branch brightened up their library with decorations. Two of their young customers added their talent and bright smiles to bring Christmas cheer and took time to pose for these photos. Patricia Brown (left) and Zaryuana Williams showed off their front desk decorations and Zaryuana stands beside the Christmas tree she and Patricia decorated. How's that for (heart) your library? 

Kudos from Customers

Main - Center for Adult Learning: “We would like, through the teacher, Florinda Martinez’s bilingual ability, to thank God that gave us the strength and desire to get to this great country. To all of the Center for Adult Learning employees that have taken a part, in one way or another, in introducing us to this society and learning the English language. ... Our most special gratitude to our teachers that have tended to us as students, as people and why not say it, as family. Thank you for being patient with us and for putting all of your effort into helping us. Happy Holidays! Hoping that next year will bring to all happiness and the required health to continue being who you are: EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN BEINGS. ..."

Main - Interlibrary Loan: “Over the past two years I've been the beneficiary of the most conscientious, courteous and diligent service imaginable. I'm therefore taking this opportunity to write to let you know that Carolyn Hampton in Inter-Library Loans has been simply superb. … She's so excellent at tracking down articles for me and keeping me informed as to the status of her search. … When my book gets completed I will owe her a debt of gratitude that I could never repay. …”

Main – Reference & Periodicals: “I received excellent and very speedy assistance from Greg (Royce). He went above and beyond by emailing me an obituary from an archived paper. I am most appreciative and cannot thank him enough for his wonderful assistance and devotion to his job.”

Main – Teen Dept.: "Fashion – Origami Ring facilitated by Angela Gaines.  This program was nice and worth the time. I hope to have future programs similar. I had a good time."

Southeast Regional: “Anita Haller is wonderful! I enjoyed story time and can't wait to see and hear Anita again. She filled my heart with joy! She put a huge smile on my face and heart.”

State Senator John Thrasher Speaks at Southeast

Southeast Branch's Children's Department had a sensational Holiday Storytime on Saturday, December 17. State Senator John Thrasher, pictured right of the door, was the guest storyteller.  (Anita Haller, Librarian Senior, stands right of the window, decked out in red for the occasion.)  Library Board Member Christina Stallings was present to help get the popcorn ready for the 169 parents and kids in attendance. 

Lynne Baldwin, SE Branch Manager, said they were honored to have Senator Thrasher and Ms. Stallings' support.  Everyone enjoyed the stories, doing crafts, and refreshments. 

Councilman Don Redman Reads to Kids at the Main Library

City Councilman Don Redman shared The Mitten, by Jan Brett, with children on December 10 in the Children's Department of the Main Library.  This was part of the Festival of Trees program. About 25 parents and children listened to the story and then went to the art room for a related craft. Junior League volunteers helped the children decorate their own pair of felt mittens. CM Redman is the City Council representative for District 4, which includes the Downtown area. The children and parents enjoyed his reading and we really appreciate his participation and the volunteers who helped make this a successful event. 

E-Reader Class in January for Customers and Staff

Sandra Ostroski, Senior Librarian at the Beaches Branch, and Donna Peretzman, E-Specialist, will present an E-Book Tips program, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm, at JB on January 11, 2012.  JPL staff, as well as customers, can pre-register by calling (241-1141) or staff can email Ms. Ostroski.  Seating will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.  JPL staff can receive City training credit.  Staff should not register in the Time Management System.  Staff (and customers) must pre-register and staff must sign the sign-in sheet that will be provided by Ms. Ostroski at the program.  After this program, Ms. Ostroski will fax the sign-in sheet to Sara Radovic, JPL’s Training Coordinator, and she will see that each employee who completes this 1½ hour E-Book Tips program gets training credit.

Ms. Ostroski thought E-readers would be a popular gift this Cristmas and planned this class--another good customer service idea from our creative staff.

2011 Employee Survey Results

Here is the PowerPoint presentation made by Deputy Director Carolyn Williams today at the Library Leadership meeting at West Regional Library.  Library Director and Mrs. Williams encourage you to read the results of the Employee Survey (please click on link in blue) made this year, and if you have questions, please email Mrs. Williams.

Just In From The Friends of JPL Chair Nitya Iyer

Nitya Iyer, Membership Chair, Friends of Jacksonville Public Library, Inc., stated recently, "This year, we decided to bring our book sales home to our warehouse at the University Park Branch Library. These warehouse sales, held in June, September, and December, were a first for us, and judging from the enthusiasm we saw, they will certainly not be the last. With the proceeds from the sales, as well as the efforts of BOOKtique and the Saturday Morning Bookstore, we have donated $250,000 to the library in 2011."  She added that the Friends would not have been able to do that without the interest and support of Friends members.

A new year begins soon and Ms. Iyer invites all Friends members to renew their membershps and, if you have not yet joined the Friends, please consider doing so soon. Ms. Iyer said, "We look forward to continuing to promote public interest and support for the services and special needs of the Jacksonville Public Library."

Friends membershps for a year are:  $10 for student and senior; individual, $15; family, $25.  You can also volunteer with the Friends.  Please mail your check to Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library, Inc., 303 N. Laura St., Jacksonville, FL 32202.

Staff Profile

As Argyle Branch recently faced the possible loss of children’s programming staff and reduced programming options for preschoolers, Noah Thomas, Library Clerk, according to her branch manager, Amber Holly, “…took the initiative to ensure that AYL remains an important destination for those who are seeking quality preschool programming…” How did Noah do that? She sought preschool programming training, consulted with Susan Mankowski, JPL’s Early Education Specialist, JPL children’s librarians, and attended many preschool programs around the city. Ms. Holly says Noah knows the importance of providing programs that address all six critical areas of pre-literacy development and infused her training into a successful toddler program that she produces weekly. 

No wonder she won awards for the JPL Employee of the Quarter and Inspired A Shared Vision for the fourth quarter.

Q: What inspired your interest in preschool programs?

A: I was inspired to do preschool programs because I saw with my own two daughters how the concept of teaching them things at a young age has a tremendous impact on them. Children want to learn. They are so curious and we, as parents and teachers, must be willing to give them the tools to explore and opportunities to use their imaginations.

Q: How does preschool programming help prepare kids for first grade?

A: When children go to a preschool setting—apart from everyday surroundings—it exposes them to valuable life skills, which can only be found in this kind of environment. It also prepares them academically because they will be familiar with the content that is being taught in school. As a result, they will have a “jumpstart”, which is a building block for children, their teachers, and parents.

Q: What are the six areas of pre-literacy development that you have infused in all of your programs?

A: During my program, I try to offer (1) a variety of concepts for the parents and children to learn. To me, it doesn't matter the age of the child; (2) it matters how you present the skill. (3) When I introduce letters and numbers, we go over the sound and I use it in a word to show the children how it relates to something else. With our numbers, we count with our fingers and sometimes relate that number to something they can see or touch. The children in my program are a bit young (18 months – three years and most are younger than three) to write, (4) so I will sometimes write or draw whatever I am talking about so they can see it. (5) I always wrap it up by showing the parents books and coloring pages that I have prepared in relation to the lesson so that (6) teaching and learning can continue at home.

Q: Are there additional things you have learned that would help other staff improve preschool programs?

A: One thing I have learned while doing my programs is to just have fun. You must see yourself as a child all over again and look at things through their eyes. Everyone likes a special treat or something unique that will make the storybook come alive. I try to include a lot of hands-on items. That way the children will see and understand the story a lot better.

Q: What is your favorite spare-time activity?

A: My favorite spare time thing is hanging out with my two daughters. Whether we are going to the park or making up a game at home, that is where I find my joy.

Engendering Future Adult JPL Customers w/Engaging Kids Programs Today

On November 14, Tiger Scout Group, Den No. 5, met at San Marco Branch for a prearranged library tour, tiger-themed storytime and scavenger hunt.  The den leader sent a note afterwards to Youth Services Librarian Michelle Petrin, "I can't thank you enough for the wonderful evening you gave to the Scouts and us parents.  I can see that you put a lot of time into your preparation and I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate it.  We all had a great time and I learned so many things as well.  I can clearly see that you chose the right profession!..."

Forty two children attended SS's Movie and Craft Afternoons in November.  School age programs included After School Music Club meet-ups, and their ASMC program consisted of several music activities and fun outlets for creative expression.  Family preschool storytimes and preschool craft themes for November included "Mind Your Manners", which included a table setting craft/activity, as well as a special Thanksgiving and "Winter Is Almost Here" storytime.

"Principal" Eve Harm Starts Her Day w/A Bang

There's always a way to promote JPL and bring something back from the community.  Eve Harm, West Regional Branch Librarian, reports a unique day's experience, November 7:  "I participated in the 2011-2012 Principal for a Day Event with the Duval County Schools. It is a program where community members are allowed to become a "principal" for a day. I was assigned to shadow a principal, Marie Antoine, at Whitehouse Elementary.

"Our day started with a bang. Literally. There was an accident in which a school bus was rear ended and the car drove away without stopping. Everyone was fine but just like us, they had a ton of paperwork to fill out. There were also parents to call, children to get breakfast and send to class and calls to the district to be made. It made for an interesting start of the day. But that ever changing day to day situations, I found out, was what Ms. Antoine liked best about her job.

"In addition to this incident, I also had the chance to sit in an observation, meet with teachers about changes in policy and procedure, tour the school, review the principal's very busy schedule and ask all sorts of questions. She also shared with me information about Read It Forward Jax to share with library patrons.

"Our day ended very much like it started with heading out to the bus loading area to make sure students left school safely. It was a truly enlightening and educational experience. I learned that, like us, they are dealing with major cutbacks in budget and, like us, they are still striving to do their best with less."

8th Fall Teen & Adult Poetry Jam - Let's Do THAT Again

What can a dozen performers, 56 attendees, and a few hard working staff do?  Create a real hit at the Main Library.  Mia Clark reports that the 8th Fall Teen & Adult Poetry Jam, October 1, was just that. On the staff side, Mia, Lisa Buggs, Joe Gaskin, and Keli Likins contributed their fair share to this success.  Lisa was responsible for finding the show host, Lydia Stewart of The Ritz, and Lisa kicked off the event, made the official introductions, managed the front stage, etc.  The new host kept the poet performers engaged and interactive with the audience with her smooth, seasoned style.  Joe came with prior Conference Center experience and his good technical skills were utilized in the sound room and behind the camera. He also assisted with the general set-up and break down. Mitesh Sangani arranged for the Poetry Jam to be held in the Hicks Auditorium and made sure it was ready for the event.  Good participation and attendance, positive program evaluations and verbal feedback resulted in JPL considering hosting this event quarterly.

You can view one of the teen participants, Jazmine, on this video; please click here:
http://youtu.be/DF6gn0CzvaQ

New JPL Interlibrary Loan Procedures at 12/5/11

ILL's new manager, Jerry Reynolds, thought it would be a good idea to give JPL staff a heads-up on the new ILL policy and procedures that will be listed in a leaflet (copied below) that Wally Bowden is preparing for distribution.  JPL cardholders will soon be able to pick up this leaflet at all JPL locations and everyone should use the procedures listed below as of December 5, 2011.  (An abbreviated outline of the new procedures was given in Administrative Supervisor Ava Barrett's Novembaer 28, 2011 email.)  Florida Navigator can be accessed at: http://floridanav.worldcat.org/ 

What is Interlibrary Loan?
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) offers Jacksonville Public Library cardholders in good standing the opportunity to request and receive materials that are not owned by the library. Through Interlibrary Loan, you have access to the circulating book collections of library systems in Florida, as well as universities and public library systems throughout the United States. Through ILL, cardholders can also request photocopies from books and periodicals that are not owned in JPL’s collections and databases. ILL services are available to anyone holding a valid JPL card. Interlibrary Loan services are not available to JPL e-Card holders. Requests for books can be placed electronically from any JPL branch via the Florida Navigator. If you are uncomfortable placing your own requests, the staff at any JPL branch can place requests for you. Please be aware that your Personal Identification Number (PIN) will be changed to a default PIN in the process to allow staff to place requests for you. If you don’t have a PIN or have forgotten it, library staff can provide a new PIN either in person or by calling 630-2665. You can also request your PIN online using the form found at http://jpl.coj.net/lib/replaceform.html. You’ll use the same PIN to access your library card account, Overdrive, and Florida Navigator.

What can I request through Interlibrary Loan?  Customers may have a total of ten (10) per month.

Requests for photocopies from books or periodicals are requested using the ILL Photocopy request link on the JPL ILL Policy page and are limited to 15 pages per request.

Material Which May Not Be Requested through ILL: Items currently owned by Jacksonville Public Library
Newly published materials (materials less than one year old)
Audio-visual material (Mixed media, CD-ROMs Videos, Audio-Cassettes, 16mm Films, Microfilm, etc.)
Textbooks
Books copyrighted or dated prior to 1920
Entire issues of periodicals
Rare books or non-book materials
E-books or e-documents/articles

Important Notes: Every ILL book has a lending label on it with the due date on it. The one-time renewal of ILL material is dependent upon the restrictions set by the lending library. If you desire a renewal, you must contact Interlibrary Loan (904-630-2986) at least three working days before the material is due. Fines will be incurred for overdue materials. Overdue materials can not be renewed. There are costly replacement fees for lost or damaged materials. You are responsible for paying any fees incurred.

Customers wanting photocopies or loans from fee-charging libraries must submit a check or money order made payable to the lending library before the loan request can be submitted. If the item is not filled by the lending library, the check or money order will be returned to the customer.

Most materials acquired through ILL may be circulated. Occasionally the materials you request may be designated by the lending library as restricted. This means that this material must be used in the library and cannot be checked out. For example, any items borrowed for you from the Library of Congress must be used in the library. You can, however, use the material in the Jacksonville Public Library location of your choice. When you receive the restricted materials, you will be asked to relinquish some form of identification. This identification will be held until you return the material to the desk.

ILL Books may be returned to any JPL branch. Please do not put ILL books in the book drop. To insure that you receive credit for returning ILL books, leave the lending labels on the books.

How do I place an Interlibrary Loan request using Navigator?
Jacksonville Public Library uses the Florida Navigator to request loans from Florida libraries and other libraries throughout the United States. To use Navigator you must have a valid Jacksonville Public Library card number and a Personal Identification Number (PIN). If your library account is blocked or barred due to unpaid fines or overdues, you will not have access to Navigator to request items or track your requests.

Go to the Interlibrary Loan page on the Jacksonville Public Library website: http://jpl.coj.net/ill/ill-policy.html .
Click on the Florida Navigator button.
Search for the item you wish to borrow using search box. The Florida Navigator shows the holdings of libraries throughout the Florida and the US. The item you wish to borrow must be listed in the Navigator.
When you locate the item you want to request, click on the title of the item.
Click on the Request via ILL button.
Select Jacksonville Public Library from the list of libraries in the drop down box.
If the log on screen appears, log-in by typing in your Jacksonville Public Library card number and PIN in the spaces provided.
Fill in additional information in the spaces provided. Providing a current e-mail address allows us to contact you faster. Using the drop down list provided, select the library you want to use as your Interlibrary Loan delivery location. Staff at your pick-up location will contact you when the material is available for pickup. If the item can be checked out and is not picked up within 7 days, it will be returned to the lending library.
In the space titled “More Information About My Request”, submit any additional information you think will help us locate the item and the maximum amount you are willing to pay for your loan or photocopy if there isn’t a free ILL lender available.
Submit the request. You will see a screen confirmation indicating that the request has been sent.

The My Requests link is featured on the Florida Navigator main page located under the Florida Navigator Libraries drop down box. This link allows you to view the status of your current book requests. Log-in to My Requests by selecting Jacksonville Public Library from the drop down list, then logging in using your Jacksonville Public Library card number and PIN in the spaces provided.

How can I find out more information about this service?  Please call Interlibrary Loan at 630-2986; Fax: 904-630-2734. Interlibrary Loan hours are: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. 

Placing requests using Navigator is the quickest way to obrtain ILL materials.  You can also place your requests by phone.  We can accept up to 3 requests by telephone at one time.

Volunteer/Artist Lafser Adds Fall Touch at SOM

Volunteer Gayle Lafser made good use of her artistic talents to create a 'pumpkin patch" running across South Mandarin Branch's children's room doors, and soon she will paint a winter season scene for SOM. 

City Open Enrollment for Employee Benefits

The City's annual Open Enrollment period runs from November 14 to December 7. Visit http://EmpSelfService.coj.net to enroll for your 2012 benefits. Visit www.coj.net/benefits for up-to-date rate information.

View the flyer here.

Kudos From Customers

Main – Call Center: “I spoke with Tony Miller in call center – he was helpful, kind, polite and didn’t rush me. He let me take my time and I appreciate it.”

Main – E-Library: “Instructor Eric Soriano is excellent. He knows the material, speaks clearly, and responds to students' questions.”

Pablo Creek Branch: (In Counting Opinions Q: What are you most satisfied with staff? A: “Carol (Bailey) at the reference desk.”

Webb Wesconnett Branch: “…I simply wanted to find a place to praise the staff at Webb Library for the outstanding job they did today with the children…(Laurie Mills, Mia Brack, and Merikris Boado). They are always enthusiastic and go much beyond the ordinary. I wasn't a participant but I watched the delight on the children's faces."

West Regional Library: “Thanks to Justin Keiser. He is a great asset for the library; he was great in helping me with e-books.”

Fine Time At Prime Time--Again

Kathy Tekin, Youth Services Library Supervisor, gave this report today on Prime Time, "We have just completed another successful six week session at the Charles Webb Wesconnett Branch Library where we ran two programs two nights per week. This would not have been possible without the support of branch staff and Prime Time Team staff.

"We started on Tuesday, September 27, and Wednesday, September 28, with two sets of scholars and storytellers. We had 17 families participate on Tuesdays and 10 families participate on Wednesdays.

"This was our fourth and fifth sessions of Prime Time Family Reading Time. We have worked with 59 families encouraging them to read with their children and to ask questions regarding what has been read. We also encourage the families to relate the reading to the experiences the children have.

"We will hold our next session beginning in late January 2012 at the Highlands Branch and in the spring we will hold our last program for this grant period at the Dallas Graham Branch.

"Some of the comments we received from the families include more reading in the home; turning off the television more frequently; the child is doing better in school. This last time we had several families indicate on their entry survey that they rarely use the library or read aloud with their children. On the exit survey, they indicated they will use the library more often and would like to participate in similar programs offered at the library."

Credit and three cheers for the success of this series of Prime Time go to team members: Emily Gideon, Tenesha Anderson, Diane Alexander, Mia Brack, Erica Brown, and Kathy Tekin. Storytellers and scholars were Robert Kelly and Lisa Wells on Tuesdays, and Debra Keels (pictured right above) and Dr. Elizabeth Furdell (pictured left) on Wednesdays.

Meet Beauty

November 8th was the opening night of Beauty and the Beast, presented by the Florida State CollegeArtist Series. They launched their 46th season with this performance and Family Night at the Times Union. There was a reading of fairy tales before the performance and during intermission by our own Susan Mankowski. She was dressed as Belle (the Beast was not able to attend.) There was bracelet and crown making, pin the rose on the vase, make your own paper rose, and photo opportunities. Olympic gold medalist Shannon Miller also stopped by the JPL table to promote her health and fitness programs for girls. JPL provided a selection of books that were available for check out, and provided a recommended reading list of fairy tales for elementary children and teens, which also featured future library activities on the back. By the end of the evening, everyone in attendance was given the I (heart) JPL sticker. This was an amazing event due to the tremendous effort and support of Alisha Levasseur, Julie McNeil, Ron Block, Lanette Jackson, Susan Mankowski, Wally Bowden, and Angela Vigil. We had a great time and hope to continue with the Artist Series in the future.

Comin' Up: Friends of JPL's Book Warehouse Sale

Talk it up!  The next FJPL Book Warehouse Sale for early December is almost here.  The schedule is listed below.  The Sale will be in FJPL's warehouse located at University Park Branch, 3435 University Boulevard, North, south end of the building.  Dates and times are:

Thursday, December 1: 5 pm - 8 pm (members only; you can join FJPL then)
Friday, December 2 : 5- 8 pm - come one; come all Friday-Sunday
Saturday, December 3: 9 am - 5 pm
Sunday, December 4: 12 pm - 5 pm ($10 bag special)

               AND:
Saturday, December 10: 9 am to 1:00 pm ($10 bag special)

Gaming Day At Regency Square Branch

On November 12, 2011, Regency Square Branch Library participated in  National Gaming Day Activities by hosting three gaming events.  Family gaming was presented by the Children’s Department.  The 38 attendees played DDR, Wii games and assorted board games, including “The Greatest Day Ever” and Loaded Questions Jr., donated by Familyandpartygames.com.   Fourteen teens played video games and had chopstick races during Anime Club, and a Wizards Duel with 13 Teens and Tweens was presented by Mr. T. J. of Magilus.

National Gaming Day is brought to public libraries by the American Library Association to highlight the importance of gaming in  bringing people into libraries, developing partnerships, highlighting libraries as community hubs and building family and community relationships.   Go to http://ngd.ala.org/2010/11/23/final-ngd10-numbers/  to see comments from some other participating libraries to see how they benefited from hosting these events.

Westbrook Has You Covered

Improvements to Westbrook Branch Library were celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony under their new canopy, November 1. Funding was provided by Project Safe Spaces, a multi-year library facilities infrastructure improvement program.  The new canopy will increase the safety and security of library customers and staff.  Pictured left to right: Michael Sullivan, Administrative Supervisor; Jackie Perry, Library Board member; Kimberly McTeer, WBK Library Associate; Councilman Warren Jones, Barbara Gubbin,Library Director; Tia Samuels, WBK Library Assistant; Camilla Cooper, Human Services Planner Supervisor, Housing & Neighborhoods Department; Luis Flores, Assistant Director, Facilities & Planning; Robbie Tiedeman, Executive Assistant, Facilities Manager; and in the back is Marjorie Gibbons, GB Library Assistant.  (Thanks to Angela Vigil, Community Relations & Marketing, for the beautiful picture.)

West Regional Branch Celebrates Dia de Los Muertos

Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican three-day festival that begins the last days of October. It is a time to honor and celebrate loved ones who have passed away. 

One of the customs is to decorate sugar skulls. Since West Regional Branch did not have sugar skulls, kids were offered plastic skulls to decorate in an Early Release craft program.  For their snacking pleasure, candy replaced the traditional sugar skulls.

Eve Harm said there were about 30 participants who demonstrated a lot of creativity. Mexican music played during the program and a small display of Day of the Dead books made it easy to find out more about this Mexican tradition.

Staff Profile - November 2011

Bob Silkett, former Southeast Branch Librarian Senior and now manager of NW, was one of the 3rd Quarter “Challenge the Process” award winners. He is a big supporter of DESNINATION: Leadership and has completed 64 hours of LDA training. Theresa Barmer, former SE Branch Manager, asked him to implement and oversee a branch communication plan as part of his DESTINATION: Leadership Action Plan Objective. As a result, Bob, along with a big helping hand from Ralph Henderson, Library Associate, successfully launched SE’s news blog in January 2011, and you can view it at: http://www.selibraryjax.blogspot.com/.

Bob’s former manager at SE, Lynne Baldwin, noted that as a librarian and a leader, he “encourages the heart of his staff every day through his hard work, creativity and dedication to JPL.”

If you plan to develop a branch blog, Bob says it may not be as difficult as it may seem, and you can contact him at NW Branch, 765-5402, ext. 220, if need be.

Q: How did you plan the SE blog and get buy-in from staff?
A: Concerning planning of the SE blog implementation, we benefited greatly from some thoughtful work that Ralph Henderson and I did as part of the DESTINATION: Leadership Action Plan process during the FY09-10 year. Our project that year focused on how and what we were communicating to our customers in terms of library related information. First we identified and defined the various communication vehicles available (posters, plasma screen, blog), listed potential content or topic areas of information (SE/JPL events, Library Resources, What’s new at the Branch, for example) that we thought would be of interest to our customers, and then developed a proposed media schedule allowing for easy management to deliver customer focused information throughout the year. As we moved forward on this project, we focused more attention on our blog. It needed the most help and also represented our best opportunity to reach the most people, if we could provide quality and quantity of content on an ongoing basis. That was the big test.

As for getting buy-in from staff, the best way is to either get staff involved early in the development/planning process or develop an implementation plan that not only tries to anticipate challenges to success but also attempts to help staff succeed. If staff succeeds, so does the plan and everyone wins. In this case, we were far along in the planning, so the focus was on implementation. Here’s what I tried to do:

Gain Management Support: Theresa liked Ralph’s and my work enough to identify it as a key branch objective for FY10-11, and we were also able to tie it into the Performance Objectives (“promote awareness of the Library’s informational and educational resources”).

Sell the Vision: If SE was to be the center of the community long term, there was a lot of information that we could share and we needed everyone to participate. So the challenge was to convince staff that with a little effort, each person could make an impactful contribution. The effort would be too much for one person, but manageable if everyone participated--plus it would count towards everyone’s performance objectives.

Make Participation as Easy As Possible: I asked staff to submit one blog article a month. They could choose from nine possible topic areas ranging from SE/JPL programs, library resources (such as databases or services), to highlighting new titles at the branch or even staff interests, that could be tied into library resources. (One staff shared her favorite Spring Roll recipe and it was put in our Cookbook section). Employees could choose their own topics. To participate, staff articles did not have to be lengthy but did need to have quality.

Appoint a Staff Coordinator to Manage the Process: To increase our chances for long term success, I asked Ralph to manage and coordinate the whole process. He received blog submissions on Word Documents, got branch management approval and then posted them on the blog throughout each month. He also kept track of the number of submissions and who was participating and the number of page hits the blog received each month. Ralph did a great job and helped us maintain momentum on this project while he was with us.

Q: Do you personally write articles for the blog and what have you written?
A: I had written six articles through March but was unable to sustain my own output during the second half of the year due to ongoing staffing challenges at SE and new priorities caused by the recent budget process. For some, I took the press releases generated by our Marketing Department and turned them into articles that (if possible) had a SE connection. I wrote an article about the 2011 Black History Calendar, developed a list of titles available at SE that tied in with the calendar’s theme, and set up a display of those books. Sharon Kirkes (Librarian Senior, CW) was also working on a program offering Student Financial Aid Workshops, so in support, I wrote a short article noting the purpose of the workshops and where/when they would be held. I also wrote a detailed article about AARP Tax support at SE.

Q: Who else regularly contributes articles and what criteria are used for submitting articles?
A: The goal was to have all reference staff, Adult, Teen, and Children contribute articles on average of once a month. We also looked for opportunities to gain other contributors. One of our Circ staff contributed an article and one particular volunteer did a series of book reviews called “Book Notes from a Shelving Cart”. In terms of criteria, the article needed to be of reasonable length, with a subject that easily fit within the nine topics that had been established for content. All articles were reviewed by branch management before being posted.

Q: What do you believe the SE Branch blog has accomplished for staff and customers?
A: A big challenge for any new idea or process is sustainability – can we maintain momentum long enough so the program becomes the “new normal”, or in effect becomes part of the branch routine? Here the results are mixed but positive. During FY10-11, we added 77 blog articles which average 6.5 blogs per month. Our goal was to generate 8-10 blogs/month, which we achieved from January - April. Everyone contributed multiple times. We have good content although some topic areas do need more focus. Ralph found a metric that measured page hits, and we have been averaging around 300 page views a month.

Conversely, we lost some momentum over the summer. Ralph was transferred to another branch in May, so we lost his coordinating skill. The credible threat of a deep budget cut presented to staff in the spring forced the branch to a back-to-the-basics strategy.  We stressed more cross training and focused on maintaining operations in the midst of significant staff losses occurring during the summer. Staff has done a wonderful job of continuing to add content in this environment, but at much lower levels.

In terms of impact on customers, the jury is still out. Our focus this year was to determine whether the branch could add a certain number of articles month end and month out. I think we were largely successful, but reassessment is needed based on current staffing, which is not expected to change soon. Once we proved that we could sustain the blog and keep it fresh, the next step in the process was to approach the Marketing group and get their help to publicize the blog and start building readership with our customer base. I had some positive discussions with Orin Heidelberg; however, this phase has not started.

Q: What is something about you that most of us probably do not know?
A: I lived and worked for a couple of years in Australia, penned an unpublished manuscript on Civil War military history and avidly collect Old Time Radio shows. I also have owned and managed a community bookstore for four years before doing library work.

Webb Is Keen on Halloween

Webb Wesconnett Branch’s Halloween party, October 29, hosted 97+ customers. A pumpkin drawing contest was held for children and candy was the treat for little and big kids. Customers were photographed in CW’s pumpkin patch and later copies were emailed to them at home. Grandparents, parents, and kids danced to "Ghost Busters” and “Monster Mash”. For the grand finale, everyone joined in dancing several times to “Thriller”.

Staff who wished wore costumes for the October 29 party and all staff came decked out on Halloween in their horrorble best.

 

Feeding Dreams Program in Northwest

Bradham Brooks Northwest was selected to host a General Mills Feeding Dreams Program.
We had 47 ladies in attendance and Reverend Yvette Williams was our special honoree.
The program is designed to empower African American women in health and education.

Operation Christmas Cards at CW

Webb Wesconnett Branch is involving children in Operation Christmas Cards. Michaels Arts & Crafts sponsored CW by providing stickers and cards. Children make the Christmas cards and then staff gives them back to Michaels to be sent to the soldiers in Afghanistan. CW has offered this program three times a week. Interest has grown and CW now has about 125 kids who participate. Operation Christmas Cards will culminate the end of October.

Princes and Pirates Party at CW

Webb Wesconnett Branch hosted a Halloween party, October 27, with 90 kids (and some adults), who came to show off their costumes.  Before they could ask, "Trick or treat?", CW offered plenty of candy, food, and other goodies.

How DO You Get 500+ Kids To Your Library?

On October 25th, Urban Library Center staff, including Garland Wilson, Anthony Williams, Joshua Wise and Library Supervisor, Marshelle Berry, welcomed a parade of over 500 students from R. L. Brown Elementary School. Students, teachers, and parents, as well as the Principal and Vice Principal, made their way through the Brown-Eastside Branch Library dressed as book characters. Those who did not have JPL cards, completed library card applications, which were handed to staff as students chanted, “We love to Read”. Each student was given a colorful bookmark to take with them.

In upper left photo, students file into Eastside Branch as Joshua Wise holds the door, and Garland Wilson passes out bookmarks to students in lower photo.

The event was followed by a Family Learning Night at the school and staff also participated in that.