Monday, January 24, 2011
Miss Ewe Wants You!
Some library peoples came up with the idea to promote me... I mean the library and all its wonderful services through puppet plays. Thus a library committee is being formed to make puppet plays. They would be used to teach patrons about services, be used as tutorials and get the word out about the library using their most wonderful, fuzzy, brillant.....
Hello, my fellow library staff. This is JaxCat, one of the puppet performers. I play the helpful library worker who handles the challenging patron i.e. Ms. Ewe. She is currently occupied with describing how great she is. It will take her a while so I thought I would share with you the video that WE all made (Miss Ewe, JaxCat, Al Gator, and Officer Ruff) as a staff commerical to give you an idea of what we were looking for:
Basically we are needing people to create scripts, handle the puppets, make props, film, edit video and help promote our puppet plays. If you are interested, please send an email to Eve Harm or Rita Vernon (our current helpful humans). Help us tap into the creativity and imagination within JPL. Thank you.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Main Library Children's Staff Acquires Masters Degree
Jamie Ann Sanborn, Library Associate Senior in the Main Library Children's Department, reports that she graduated from Florida State University with her Masters in Information and Library Science, Specializing in Youth Services and School Library on December 11, 2010.Thursday, January 20, 2011
Kudos from Customers
Bradham Brooks Northwest: "Mrs. (Maude) Scott was very good and the children were very attentive to her reading. ... We loved her and look look forward to our next time."
Pablo Creek Branch: "Kim (Greenwood) in Reference has helped me enormously - she is always full of knowledge & patience.
University Park Branch: "Michael (Rouse), Marlin, (Day), Mina (Figuerrez), Kim (Hamlton), Mary (Calcagni), Leanna (Trail), and Jerry (custodian's last name unknown) are extraordinary professionals. Each one is always at-the-ready to assist me with requests from boooking a room to holding books. I love UPK. ..."
January 2011 Kudos from Customers:
Beaches Branch: "Many of your library staff is very nice and professional. ... Terry (Theresa Welch) and others are extremely friendly and it is appreciated."
Brown Eastside Branch: "... Howard (Williams) over here at Brown (Eastside) has shown me how to copy and paste as well as update my résumé. And sweet little Ms. Valerie (Govan) has been here for what seems like forever. If she has a day off when I come and I don't see her face something just seems off about that visit until she returns."
Main - Teen Department: "Keli Likins and Mia Clark are my favorite helpers. We have built a friendship over the years..."
South Mandarin Branch: "David Foster is the best! He can always give you the information you’re looking for without even looking it up. Title, author or suggestions, whatever...he cannot be stumped! He is always very eager to help. "
West Regional Branch: "The librarians (Mrs. Chris Caven and Ms. Sara Mills) do a wonderful job of involving the children and teaching them. Both of them are very kind and caring towards the kids and moms. I am also very happy with the cleanliness of the library. James (last name unknown) does a great job keeping the facility up to par. He is also very friendly and greets me by name each time I visit."
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Shivon Rockward Receives MLS
Lynne Baldwin, Mandarin Branch's Library Supervisor, sent this picture of Margo Crafton (right), Librarian Senior, congratulating Shivon Rockward, Library Associate, on graduating from library school with a Master of Library Science degree.Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Staff Profile
Julie McNeil is the Main Library Supervisor over Reference, Periodicals, Nonfiction, and Children's Departments. She received awards for Employee of the 4th Quarter and Model the Way. Julie was credited with buildng cooperative relationships, creating and offering in-house training, including Tutor.com staff classes. Julie also keeps detailed records of various funds and knows how collection funds are spent. She had well thought out recommendations for FY2011 goals. Her immediate supervisor is Ava Barrett. Among her many accomplishments, Julie is also the proud mother of a beautiful teenage daughter, Kyra.1. What is special about supervising the Main Library’s Nonfiction, Reference, Periodicals and Children’s Departments?
I love this department because we deal with such a diverse population. There’s lots of variety and we have things here that none of the branches offer, such as newspapers and magazines on microfilm and the Foundation Collection. We have an extensive nonfiction collection so we can usually find something on our shelves for everybody. I love working at the Main Library because I learn so much from all of my colleagues and the other Main managers, and we always have interesting incident reports. In the past year I took over supervision of the Children’s Department. I started my career with JPL as a Children’s Librarian at KR so I enjoy helping out in the children’s department as needed.
2. What issues would Main Library Nonfiction, Reference, Periodicals and Children’s face that branch reference desks might not encounter?
Overall, I think we deal with many of the same issues that the branches deal with; however, I think our customers' expectations are high because we do have such a large collection. They’re disappointed when we don’t have an item they need. Customers are often surprised that we don’t have every magazine and newspaper out there but thankfully we can usually fulfill their needs with the online resources.
3. What changes in technology—or other outside influences--do you see that will affect Main’s Nonfiction and Periodicals?
While we still have an extensive reference collection, the online databases are quickly replacing the need for many of these items. We continue to weed the reference collection, moving many of the books to the circulating collection. A challenge for the Periodicals Department is the ever-changing access to magazines via our online resources. We’ve stopped binding periodicals due to space considerations, relying on our online resources for access. However, our online databases change content regularly with no warning, leaving us without access to some key resources.
4. What experience prepared you for your current library supervisory position and how do you stay abreast of things in this Information Age?
My four years as a Children’s Librarian at KR gave me a good foundation for supervising. At that time there were no Children’s Librarian Senior positions but from day one I supervised two full time and three part time employees. Gretchen Mitchell was the Page Supervisor in KR's Adult Department and I learned how to interview pages with her. I promoted to Librarian Senior over the Periodicals Department at Main in 1999 and learned most of what I know today about supervising from Gretchen, who was the Library Supervisor of BSD. To stay in touch with the issues, I try to read library literature and follow a few library blogs.
5. What is your favorite pastime or hobby?
I love reading, doing yoga, and I’m a big football fan (Jaguars and Gators).
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Peggy Glasnapp Retires from FTE at Main Library
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
"Polar Express" Comes to Webb Wesconnett
Pictured right above are Merikris Boado, Laurie Mills, and Victoria Hill, some of the staff that made this program a grand success.
Friday, December 17, 2010
THANK YOU, DONORS TO UNITED WAY--OR ANY WAY YOU GIVE
May all your giving and caring for others come back to you a thousand ways--each and every one of you.
In addition to UW donors, JPL's branch, Main, and SST United Way representatives are to be commended for their dedication and seeing that funds were turned in on time.
Special fundraisers at the library occurred for the first time. Center for Adult Learning Manager Sharon Jaskula brought in numerous items and Jennifer Martinez helped with CAL's raffle; they raised $200. Hazzel Sutton, Special Collections UW rep, raffled a beautiful vase with glass flowers and raised $70--on one vase! And we had the usual City wide Staff Sale in Hemming Plaza that garnered about $100, and most of that was on cookie sales.
Jim Patterson and Pam McClellan worked hard to get all the donations together and we turned it all in just in time to enjoy and wish Y O U Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Capacity Plan Status Report
Key Information
The Board Capacity Plan Committee has requested three sets of capacity recommendations:
1. 10% budget reduction
2. Status quo operations
3. Ideal operations
Capacity Plan Components
Communications Plan - Four public meetings were held, and online comments were accepted, to introduce the capacity planning process, and gather community input about the library’s priorities and services for the future.
Received: 1) Stakeholder Interview Notes Summary, 2) Summary of Comments from Four Community Meetings, 3) Website Comments Summary
Expected: 1) Four additional public meetings will be held to report the key findings and recommendations, 2) Communications Plan to market the capacity plan and specific capacity plan elements, and to help ensure that staff, stakeholders and the community are familiar with the outcome of the planning process and understand how it impacts them, 3) Action Plan with timelines to achieve recommendations.
Reduction, Status Quo and Ideal Scenario Recommendations
Draft Reports Received: 1) Reduction Scenario - JPL Schedule Option, 2) Status Quo Scenario - Services & Facilities Functional Assessment, 3) All three scenarios – Alternative Model Libraries (defined as less than a full-service facility, with minimal staffing).
Expected: 1) Ideal Scenario – White Paper based on Buxton data for ideal library locations if starting “from scratch”, 2) A presentation from the consultants that ties all of the data together to present a clear, transparent plan to present to the Mayor and the Council.
Facilities
Received: 1) Space Planning Guidelines and Preliminary Standards, 2) Physical Assessment of Library Buildings, 3) Building retrofit costs, 4) Functional Assessment of Facilities (includes manager and staff input)
Expected: 1) Long Term Facilities Plan
Information Technology
Received: 1) Information Technology Report Draft
Services
Expected: 1) Service Capacity Report
Market Segmentation
Received: 1) Mosaic Descriptions of Customer Profile Groups, 2) Model Draft Report (includes drive time, trade areas, segmentation profiles by branch, customer profiles by material category and branch, and score sheets that indicate branch materials use compared to JPL average use).
Expected: 1) Cross Over Charts, 2) Computer use data added to score sheets
Funding
Expected: 1) Sustainable funding plan
Next steps
1) Capacity Plan Committee Meeting – December 17, 9-12, Conference Center, Room G4. Consultants will share key findings and recommendations.
2) Administrative Team visits to branches to share key findings.
2) Four Public Meetings are scheduled in January:
January 11, 2:30-4:00, Beaches
January 11, 7:00-8:30, Highlands
January 12, 2:30-4:00, Graham
January 12, 7:00-8:30, Southeast
3) Final Capacity Plan Committee meeting – February 8, 9:00-12:00, Conference Center, Room G4.
4) When the final capacity plan report has been received by the Board, JPL will have 60 days to provide the Mayor and Council with recommendations for action by the legislative and executive branches of government.
5) COJ Budget workshops will be held February – April.
Monday, December 06, 2010
United Way - Did You Know?
United Way's phone number 2-1-1 offers free, confidential information and referral 24/7 to North Florida and 117,00 referrals to callers were made in 2009; of these, 21,000 to callers who needed food, shelter, and clothing.
In the past two years, the RealSense Prosperity campaign returned over $10 million to low-moderate income families through the Earned Income Tax Credit. Nearly $6 million was saved by tax payers using RealSense free tax preparation over this same period. Clients saved over $3 million using this free tax service, and 23,000+ student hours were logged in all classes for free financial education.
UW's Achievers for Life's Dropout prevention initiative focused on 6th grade students at risk for academic failure. Through 2009, this program achieved a 20% improvement in GPA and 36% fewer absences. Our local economy is affected and the safety of our neighborhoods because dropouts cost all of us big time!
And on and on the help goes: the UW of NE Florida Community Fund invests in 87 programs in 60 agencies, all addressing our community's needs from infancy to the oldest in our five county area.
UW's Community Fund contributions are reviewed, invested and monitored by more than 100 local, trained, unpaid volunteers who themselves are contributors. Got more Qs? Find your answers at: http://www.uwnefl.org/about.asp
Friday, December 03, 2010
Staff Profile
1. What experience prepared you to supervise Youth Services?
I’ve spent many years working in a variety of library settings, starting as an elementary media specialist for Harper Creek Schools and then for four schools in Battle Creek, Michigan.
My first public library position was as a children’s librarian for Howell Carnegie District Library, housed in an 80-year-old building. After four years in that building, we moved to a newly renovated, expanded building. I worked closely with the contractors and architects during the building phase.
My next adventure was with the St. Johns County Public Library in St. Augustine where I served as a teen librarian and later promoted to branch manager of public service.
JPL is the largest library system I have worked for; I was hired as a children’s librarian at Highlands in June 1998, then promoted to Programming Supervisor in 2002. JPL is rewarding to me, working with staff and our community to create awareness of our library's many services.
Working in various library settings I saw how each area of a library can impact and influence other areas and the impact of programming in a branch and in a large library system like this. The Executive Leadership Academy helped me hone my skills with project management--as I worked on a project for JPL--and in communication. As a result of this course, the position of Early Childhood Specialist was created.
My most challenging role was as a branch manager and an Interim Library Director for the Howell Carnegie Library where I was involved in day-to-day operations and the project management aspects of the new building.
2. What programs have you seen JPL develop that have helped our community most?
JPL has had the opportunity to implement a number of youth services programs that have made a great impact in this community. After the Main Library was built, we could hold many more programs because we now had the space. We have dedicated children’s and teen spaces that were not in the Haydon Burns Library, and that has allowed Youth Services staff the opportunity to be creative and prolific with programs. Two of the most recent programs that have been a big success are Prime Time Family Reading Time and Teens Make a Difference.
Prime Time is a 6-week reading and storytelling program for families whose children are struggling to read and develop the necessary literacy skills to perform at their grade level. The program encourages families to read and discuss meaningful children’s books together and enables parents with limited literacy skills to create a home environment supportive of their children and their reading development.
The first stop of the three series program was at Bradham Brooks Northwest Branch, and after the six weeks concluded, we had served more than 26 family members. Each week we served a meal to the families and then had storytime. Families were sad when the six week program ended. All the families had grown close and had a rapport with the library staff, the scholar, and the storyteller. The case was the same at UPK as at NW, even though attendance nearly doubled to 49 family members.
Teens Make a Difference began in spring 2010 with seven teen interns. We are now in our second round of interns and as with Prime Time, we have nearly doubled our numbers. We now have 13 teen interns, who work at University Park, Regency, Webb, Argyle and Main. The teens work in a variety of capacities and in many different departments including, circ, reference, Talking Books, children’s and teen. They handle daily tasks such as shelving, helping customers with computers, finding materials, program planning, support and check outs.
3. How do you and your staff of three get all those youth programs ready and rolling?
A lot of planning and even more teamwork. I am so appreciative of my staff and their willingness to work hard to get the job done. Prime Time Family Reading Time is a great example of lots of teamwork within our staff and with our community partners. Planning and developing the path for successful programs is crucial and all players need to be on the same page.
Teens Make A Difference has been successful due again in part to community partners and JPL staff teamwork. The pilot for this program had seven teens working in three library locations that are easy to monitor and establish the criteria for success. This semester we have 13 teens in five branches and again we are successful due to partners and library staff. This Internship Program is reaching out to students who need that first break to obtain job skills that will be helpful in their future endeavors . They have a clear understanding of our expectations and they know they are contributing to their own growth.
4. How will Youth Services play a vital role in JPL’s future?
Through programs that meet the interest and needs of our youth. The interests of today’s youth are constantly changing--something that was new and exciting to them one day, will be out-of-date the next. By evaluating the trends, trying new programs and services, and asking for their involvement in helping determine their likes and dislikes, JPL's Youth Services will remain educational, fun, and relevant .
5. What is something you would like to share about yourself that most of us don’t know?
I thoroughly enjoy gardening and a variety of needlework styles like cross stitch and crocheting.
Mark Ely, Librarian, Southeast Branch, Retires
On December 3rd, Mark Ely, Librarian and resident cataloging expert, retires after 21 years with JPL. Mark has worked at three different libraries during his employment, Regency Square, Charles Webb-Wesconnett, and Southeast. Mark will be sorely missed as he has been the go to guy for difficult cataloging problems at Southeast.Mark plans to begin his retirement by joining a gymnasium to improve his health and also start a gardening hobby. We wish Mark the very best in his future endeavors, and of course, as many as could came to add their personal wishes at a recent party in his honor. Pictured left to right, Theresa Barmer, Manager, Mark Ely, and Bob Silkett, Librarian Senior.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Latanza Sutton organized an employee art show at Mandarin in November. She modeled the way for her fellow staff members to show their artistic side. Congratulations to Latanza for using her leadership skills so creatively.
And check out Mandarin's newFriday, November 19, 2010
Kudos from Customers
Pablo Creek Branch - "Complimentary comment about library associate Kim Greenwood was received 11/15/2010. Original comment card was lost, but comment was along these lines: Librarian Kim Greenwood is always professional, helpful, knowledgeable and pleasant."
University Park Branch - "I would like to let you know what a good job Mina Figuerrez is doing at UPK. She sponsors or heads all of your cultural programs. She does an outstanding job of organizing and setting up these programs. I look forward to attending all of your programs and I appreciate good leadership and organizational skills such as Ms. Mina shows. ..."
Willowbranch Branch - "Jason Brown is an amazing librarian and his customer service is great!"
Monday, November 15, 2010
Award Winners of JPL's 4th Quarter FY09/10
Pictured L/R are Julie McNeil, winner of the Employee of the 4th quarter and Enable Others to Act. Julie is Library Supervisor of several areas at the Main Library: Popular, Teen, Talking Books and Inter Library Loan. Next to Julie is Jill Haile, Librarian Senior in the Collection Development Department, which is housed at University Park Branch. In the center is Sandra Lockley, Library Assistant at Webb Wesconnett Branch, winner of Model the Way. Ashlee Song is a Part-Time Clerical employee at Pablo Creek Branch, and another winner of Model the Way. Greg Pierce, Library Associate at West Regional Branch, is winner of Encourage the Heart award.These exemplary employees were recognized at the Library Board meeting, November 10, when this picture was taken. They are a beautiful representation of JPL's success and all of us congratulate you!
Webb Wesconnett Gets in the Mood of Halloween
Webb Wesconnett took Halloween to a new level on October 29 as kids wandered through Miss Laurie's (Mills) scary forest. She told them a story about creepy things they might find in the forest. Fog and dry ice embellished effects with lights out, candles burning, and outdoor sounds of scary wolves, owls, cats and crickets. Th
ey played "How to Train Your Dragon" in the library children’s department and games like "Sweep the Pumpkin Down the Aisle". Bags of candy treats topped off their event. It was a wonderful turnout with 88 kids attending this program.Friday, November 12, 2010
30 Years? Yes, 30 Years - Congratulations, Carolyn Williams!
Carolyn Williams, Deputy Director, was truly surprised November 9 when staff threw her a celebratory luncheon honoring her 30 years with JPL. Not only did Director Barbara Gubbin pay tribute to her many contributions through the years, but Library Board Chair Jim Selzer also added his words of appreciation.
Barrett King, Deputy Director, Administration, presented Mrs. Williams with her 30 year pin.
Mrs. Williams' husband, Vaughn, also joined in the fun (left). Ava Barrett, Main Library Administrative Supervisor, Diane Alexander, CSAII, Tenesha Anderson, Library Assistant, and Stephanie Harley, AR Clerical Supervisor, did the lion's share of planning. Many employees throughout the library system brought an abundance of culinary delights and pr
oved once again that they know how to do it right.Sunday, November 07, 2010
Southeast - Brief Encounters of Some Kind
On October 30, the day of the Halloween Costume Parade put on by the Children’s Department, a number of Southeast employees dressed for the occasion. Pictured from left to right are Barbara Hughes (Library Assistant), Ananth Subramania
n, (CSII), Lauren Banks, (CSII), Carisia Rooney(Children’s Librarian), Melissa Snowden (CSII), Marela Cajic (CSII), and Alan Clark (Librarian). Pictured above are “out of control” robots caught eating mass quantities of candy to be given out to the participants of the Children’s Halloween parade. Staff Profile
Ed Murray currently holds the title of Library Supervisor of South Mandarin Branch Library; however, he is a multi talented man, who has a cram packed experience relating to library management long before JPL days.A: I resisted librarianship when I first graduated college, and worked on Wall Street for several years with American Express. I considered law school, too, but found libraries to be a better fit. I worked at the Brooklyn Public Libraries while attending Pratt Institute and felt confident in that decision. Maybe I never had a chance; my mom was pregnant with me while she worked circulation desks at the Newark Public Library. At first, I never considered the profession to be a very macho pursuit, but I eventually caught librarianship like a disease.
Q: How long and in what areas of library management have you served?
A: I’ve been a librarian for 25 years, initially in New York and upstate. I was a 35-year-old Library Director of the Escanaba Public Library (MI.) There we passed a multiple-million dollar bond issue, built a new building, and automated the collection. I also did things like march in a parade dressed as Clifford the Big Red Dog and pumped free ice cream to kids from a rented truck. I’ve spent much of my career as the Executive Director of the Public Library of New London (CT.) Before coming to Jacksonville, I was Executive Director of Libraries Online, Inc., a 22-member multi-type consortium providing wide area networks, ILS, and Internet services to a region running along the Long Island Sound coast and up the Connecticut River.
Q: What is special about South Mandarin Branch?
A: Pound-for-pound South Mandarin is the Mighty Mouse of the regionals. (I tell the staff we’re like 10-pounds of mud packed into a 5-pound bag. ) South Mandarin was never architecturally designed to be a regional, yet we’re consistently the 4th or 5th busiest location in JPL on a month-to-month basis. We see this through the often filled parking lot, and the painted parking lot lines completely worn from the traffic. The people who work at SoM have much to do with this dynamic, working well with the public and enthusiastically celebrating success. (They know how to party.)
Q: What components do you think are necessary to keep customers coming back to the library?
A: For many of our customers, South Mandarin is another one of many retail outlets available to them on San Jose Blvd. Many of those folks look to us for the “latest and greatest”- particularly in DVD film releases. We hope to maintain those expectations. We continue to also focus on our customer service.
Q: Do you have leisure time interests that don’t include “library”?

A: Many. I’m a long time kung fu practitioner. (I’m admittedly
Monday, November 01, 2010
Halloween Luncheon on BOB in SST
Debbie Moore of Support Services suggested to Cindy Chism a Halloween Luncheon might be a fun activity at the end of October. Cindy revved into high gear with decorations that transformed the BOB area into the “Bat Cave” or perhaps a somewhat scary haunted house for the month of October. Staff signed up to bring delectables such as Witch’s Fingers (breadsticks w/ almond “fingernails”), Hot Dog Mummies and more traditional lunch time goodies. And a new use for the BOB roller/conveyor was found—a lunch time smorgasbord on little wheels.A number of staff went the whole nine yards and clown costumes, vampires, 60s fashionistas and a Victorian Lady Steam Punk (Cindy Chism, top pic) could be seen in SST on
Friday October 29th. Other staff who didn’t dress for the occasion were only able to say, “Wait till next year!” If you had stopped by SST after all of the eating was done you could have found a few staff doing the Electric Slide to work off some calories. Pictures of the dancers were withheld to protect “the innocent”, but this reporter could perhaps be persuaded to reveal who was getting down and maybe even sharing a picture or two for the right payment—say a Halloween candy bar or two! (Middle pic: Gretchen Mitchell's back to camera and Jill Haile admiring the
feast; bottom pic: L/R: Cynthia Byrd, Charlene Adkins, Vondera Brown and Debbie Moore. Sorry, AJ, your full face did not get through.)
