Library Director Barbara Gubbin was honored with a retirement party at the Main Library, June 15, 2017. Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop, who MC'd the event, and other JPL executives made sure it was a memorable occasion. A video was played of Mayor Lenny Curry and ALA President Julie Todaro enumerating Director Gubbin's many outstanding accomplishments. Library Board Chair Ronnie King, Chair Emeritus of the JPL Foundation Betsy Lovett, President and CEO of WJCT Michael Boylan and Dr. Jamie Self, Development Director of the JPL Foundation, followed suit.
For an array of pictures of this event, click here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskXjrBEW
The Resolution passed by City Council, copied below, covers Director Gubbin's many accomplishments not only with JPL but serves as a bio of her profession as a librarian and a Library Director, and includes what the speakers honored her for at the event. One star in her crown, which should be listed is FLA named JPL as 2017 Library of the Year.
Introduced by Council
Members Hazouri and Crescimbeni and Co-Sponsored by Council Members Brosche, Newby,
Love, Bowman, Wilson, Anderson, Becton, Dennis, R. Gaffney, Morgan, Carter and
Gulliford:
RESOLUTION 2017-330
A RESOLUTION HONORING AND COMMENDING BARBARA A.B.
GUBBIN FOR HER EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP AS DIRECTOR OF THE JACKSONVILLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY FROM 2005 TO THE PRESENT ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT; PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, as repositories of literature, history,
the arts and many other facets of our culture and heritage, libraries are the
intellectual and cultural anchors of great cities; and
WHEREAS, for
the past twelve years, Barbara A. B. Gubbin has been the Director of the
Jacksonville Public Library, providing widely recognized leadership that has
made Jacksonville’s library system an invaluable resource that provides City residents access to a great
collection of books, art, film, children’s projects, the information superhighway,
various educational courses and more; the Jacksonville Public Library has 21
branches, employs about 400 employees, had 3.4 million customers in 2016, and
has a $33 million budget; and
WHEREAS, born
and raised in India, Barbara Gubbin has lived in England and West Africa; she
earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors at the University of Birmingham in
England; a Master’s degree in Library and Information from the University of
London followed; while teaching for a short period of time in West Africa, she
worked in the school library where her interest in library work was piqued; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Gubbin’s
first job in the United States was as “teen services” librarian at the San
Antonio Public Library in Texas, 1977-1979; she subsequently served as
Assistant Director and Director of the Houston Public Library from 1989 to
1995; and
WHEREAS, innovation
has been the hallmark of Barbara Gubbin’s tenure at the Jacksonville Public
Library since her arrival in 2005; she is credited with leading the library
into the technology age; under her watch, digital materials are now as much at
the core of the library’s resources as traditional books; self-service checkout
has replaced long lines; in 2015, the library partnered with the Duval Public
Schools to introduce “virtual library cards,” a program that provides over 130,000
students with access to the Jacksonville Public Libraries; with its G.E.D.
program, the library has become a center for adult learning, community
interaction and work force development; in 2015, Project LEAP – the Library
Enhanced Access Program – was created to send librarians, armed with computers
and other materials, to community centers in underserved neighborhoods to
promote literacy for all age groups; in 2016 the library won acclaim for its
Careers On Line program that enables high school students to earn their high
school diploma; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, in
recognition of Barbara Gubbin’s outstanding leadership and accomplishments, she
was awarded the 2017 Earnest A. DiMattia Jr. Award for Innovation and Service
to Community and the Profession by the American Library Association, an award
that recognizes a public librarian from among the more than 9,000 systems in
the country who demonstrates leadership in anticipating emerging trends,
services and technologies that enhance the library’s position in the community;
and
WHEREAS, Jacksonville has been
truly fortunate in having an individual of Barbara Gubbin’s caliber and
commitment to lead our library system and enhance the library’s image and use
in every neighborhood and community of our City, and it is our honor to recognize, commend and honor her for her exemplary
achievements; now therefore
BE
IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Jacksonville:
Section
1. The
City Council does hereby honor and commend Barbara A. B. Gubbin for her exemplary
leadership as Director of the Jacksonville Public Library from 2005 to the present
and extends its best wishes on the occasion of her retirement.
Section
2. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective upon
signature by the Mayor or upon becoming effective without the Mayor's
signature.
Form
Approved:
__/s/
Paige Hobbs Johnston
Office of
General Counsel
Legislation Prepared By: John J. Jackson, Council Research
Division
Several gifts were presented to Director Gubbin, including a bouquet of flowers from Mrs. Lovett; a lifetime membership in ALA from many well wishers; a wonderful caricature of Director Gubbin drawn by Roosevelt Watson, III; a handcrafted bowl from the Friends of the Beaches Branch, which was made by Mark Wood; and the staff at the Highlands Branch made her an Honorary
Zookeeper at the Zoo and named a gorilla for her. Other gifts were also left by some well wishers for her to open later.
Attendees enjoyed the event, shared good memories over hors d'oeuvres and cake, and everyone lifted their glasses in a toast made to Director Gubbin led by Deputy Director Mark Merritt.
Director Gubbin thanked everyone heartily for coming, the many gifts and acknowledgements, and for an evening she enjoyed immensely and will not forget.
Deputy Director Giltrop expressed her and JPL's appreciation to the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library, Inc. and the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation for sponsoring the event.
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