Talented Margaret Fishback's Latest Pursuit

Margaret Fishback did all of the copy setting, cover design and photography for her boyfriend's book, Flag 9, by A.G. Rives, which was recently published. (It is available on Amazon etc. for download and had a limited print run.) Below is is a Times-Union review of Mr. Rives' book with a picture of the cover Margaret photographed/created: 
  http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/literature/2014-12-11/story/book-review-flag-9-ag-rives 

 Mr. Rives is writing part 2 of this series now and it will be out in a few months.  He asked Margaret to do the design/photography on that book as well.

A Cup Of Thanks For WBK Customers

Antoinette has been seeking a way to show customers how much their business and patronage to the Westbrook Library really means.  The staff at Westbrook frequently receive a “thank you” or a treat from the customers—whether it is a smile and a personal greeting or a bag full of oranges.  Antoinette decided she would share back by declaring last Tuesday “Customer Appreciation Day”.  Antoinette prepared more than 20 cups with a packet of hot chocolate and a peppermint stick and distributed them to customers on a first come, first served basis.  Antoinette reported the customers were pleasantly surprised and grateful. 

 While we are public servants and we provide a service to our customers everyday, it is a nice surprise for them anytime they receive more than they expected.  (Thanks to Pat Morrison, ULC Supervisor, for the article.)

Your Friends of JPL Membership Supports Those Who Support Us

Margaret Smith, Treasurer for the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library, is asking JPL to remind its employees of the many benefits of being one of its members and we want to encourage you to become a member, if you have not done so. Friends of JPL memberships expire after a year and maybe you just need to renew. The cost is $5/year and you get a 25% discount on purchases all year!

The Friends of JPL do a lot more than annually supplying JPL employees with cookies during National Library Week. One benefit JPL has enjoyed for years (Margaret was instrumental in getting this for JPL years before she retired) is the REFRESHMENT FUND. (While we're on this subject, don't spend your own money for storytime treats, etc., and don't forget to turn in your Refreshment Fund receipts so you can be reimbursed by the Friends.)

Just this past year the Friends of JPL have paid for the replacement of JPL's Florida Times-Union micro films; computers for JPL's e-classrooms and for e-classrooms at Main, NW and DU; Library Aware EBSCO Database; Early Childhood Learning Center; Children's books system wide and E-Books bought for use by the system; Equipment for Media/Tech Lab; I-pad Mini for Customer checkouts at the Urban Core; several adult programs throughout the year; awards for R&R awardees; several on-line webinars and in person classes for staff at JPL; tote bags for volunteer staff; and CAL Virtual Seats for GED Testing. When State Aid did not come through for CAL, the Friends did. ALL OF THIS TOTALS: $180, 348!

Where would we be without the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library? And where would we be without your support of the Friends? 

Tis The Season To Be Jolly

South Mandarin Branch Manager Keli Likins sent in these photos. The front door display was done by volunteer Gayle Lafser.  The beautiful tree was donated by the Friends of SOM.

(Centered pics do not always display as centered; hiccup courtesy of the blog program.)

Staff Profile - December 2014

Few of us will look so glamorous at retirement after 34 years as Mrs. Carolyn Shehee Williams--known to JPL as Deputy Director of Public Services--as this picture attests.   Seen here at NS' guitar concert last July, she was delighted to present ten young students with certificates for completing a six week guitar workshop. (Honoring others has a special place in this special person's life.)  That's the p.r. side; behind the scenes, Deputy Director Williams has, among her many tasks, revamped library hours and grappled with reassignments, transfers, etc., etc., associated with all the budget cuts JPL has endured in recent years. 

Deputy Director Williams has officiated at honoring many others' milestones and accomplishments through the years, as you have read about for years on this blog, but she is not one to say much about herself.  When asked to give a word to all of us who have been privileged to know her, work with or for her, this is what our esteemed Deputy Director Carolyn Shehee Williams had to say:

"To the JPL family:  It has been my honor and pleasure to serve as an employee of the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Public Library for thirty-four years.  Throughout the years I have had the opportunity to work with the best.  Your dedication and commitment to public service is deserving of applause and high praise.  Be proud of what you do every day.  You are truly appreciated."

We'll hear much more about Deputy Director Carolyn Willliams' many accomplishments at her retirement party, January 16, 2015, at the Main Library, MP-1.  (Exact time will be announced soon.)

Oh, Yes!

Marshelle J. Berry submitted this beautiful picture with an explanation for the happy occasion, "During a Bradham Brooks staff meeting, Gloria Buenavista was presented with the Get to Yes Jaguar because of her excellent service to both customers and staff."

It Doesn't Pay To Be A Turkey

 Gloria Buenavista. NW Library Associate Sr., reports, "We  had a 'Play with Your Food' program before Thanksgiving, attended by 14 teens and tweens.
We made turkeys made out of candies and cookies. And yes, after the program, they ate their turkeys.” (From the look on this turkey's face, he is wary of his future.)

Adopt An Angel/Fill A Stocking

Givers are all around us.  I recently turned in the last of United Way donations to Jamie Brooks at Public Works and commented on the Angel packages in her office brought in by their staff.  She said she volunteered last year to work in disseminating the gifts at the Salvation Army, and next to her was a lady whom she stopped to talk to for a minute.  The lady worked part-time at a local business and when they shared why they were interested in donating their time, the lady said her own children were recipients of some of these gifts.  She could not pay all her bills but rather than sit home and worry, she wanted to give what she had: time. 

 

I see people giving who really don't have a lot themselves, and I know their gifts of time, toys, money and love are really what keeps things ticking.  What a pleasure to give what you can to brighten others' lives.  I don't know if it does as much for the recipients as it does for the givers.

   

Thanks to Kim Keen, JPL's Adopt An Angel coordinator, Jamie Brooks at Public Works, and all the angels all over JPL and other city departments who decided to give what they have. 

Make Someone Happy

Thanks comes in many forms as the staff at Brentwood Branch Library found when they received a large bag of fresh okra from customer Lucy Banks as a token of appreciation.  Customer satisfaction doesn’t always come in the form of a note or a comment on Counting Opinions—sometimes it is expressed the old fashioned way.  (These ladies look like they see gumbo in their future. Pictured L/R: Gloria Armstrong, Aquilla Stewart and Betty Williams.) Thanks to Pat Morrison, Supervisor, Urban Library Centers, for the good news. 

Never Thought About That

Westbrook Customer Gives Thanks

Pat Morrison, ULC Library Supervisor, shares a special customer kudo with us, "Mr. James Johns has been a customer at WBK for many years. He regularly stops by the branch to read the daily newspaper and to check out materials.  On November 26, Mr. Johns brought two large bags of navel oranges, handpicked from his trees, and presented them to the staff.  He thanked them for the great service they give and wished them Happy Holidays.  This is not the first time Mr. Johns has shown his appreciation, but it is the first time he agreed to be captured on film.  Susan Williamson noted that the oranges are really aromatic, sweet and juicy. Pictured are Mr. Johns, Antoinette Walker and Susan.  I hope they save a few oranges for Kim McTeer and Rekia Johnson who started giving thanks early."

 

Hope all of your cornucopias were filled with family, friends, good food, and thanks for all of our many, many blessings.

Total United Way Donations for 2014

JPL's total donations were announced last Friday, November 21, 2014, via a JPL Main email as  being $8.954.00. One branch’s United Way donations did not arrive until November 24 and adding that branch’s gifts gives JPL a new total of $9,190.00.  MANY THANKS AGAIN TO ALL WHO DONATED!

 

Kudos From Customers

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

SST: Instructor Eric Soriano is excellent. He knows the material, speaks clearly, and responds to students' questions.

Main: Ms. Annette Paulson was very informative and shared knowledge unknown to the common person desiring to start a business.

Mandarin Branch: Lynn (Baldwin), Thank you, so very much for helping us with our cruise papers. You are so sweet.

South Mandarin Branch:  Mrs. (Margo) Crafton's sweet spirit and her genuine love for children are great. I feel we have a fun, safe place to come and learn and play. The crafts are neat and easy for small children to do. My son leaves with a sense of accomplishment.

Keili Likins Hits The 10 Year Mark

Keli Likins celebrates 10 years with JPL, and Michael Sullivan, her Region Manager, had the pleasure of presenting her with her 10 year pin, November 20, 2014.  She is now the Branch Manager for South Mandarin Library, and formerly headed up the Teen Department at Main.
       CONGRATULATIONS, KELI!

Boxing with Erik Larsen

NW's Erik Larsen, Librarian II, has an interesting history apart from JPL and wanted to share his experience and goals in the boxing world, "I've been involved with boxing since late 1997, when I began my career as a ring official with USA Boxing, the national governing body for amateur boxing in the United States. Most of my work has been as a judge, scoring the bouts from ringside, but I've also served as timekeeper, glover, clerk, and referee on occasion. In the amateurs, I've officiated about twenty national-level tournaments, including both the men's and the women's National Golden Gloves championships.

 

"According to the Florida Statutes, an applicant to become a pro boxing judge in Florida must attend (at his or her own expense) and unofficially score at least 350 rounds of professional boxing. I reached that milestone earlier this year, and last month I was duly licensed by the Florida State Boxing Commission as a professional boxing judge. My pro debut was on October 11^th, at the "Showdown In O-Town III" card in Fern Park, north of Orlando.

 

"I plan to keep working on both the amateur and the pro sides of boxing. My ambition in pro boxing is to one day judge a heavyweight championship fight, and have Michael Buffer (the boxing announcer known for his catchphrase, "Let's get ready to RRRRUUUUUMMMBBBLLLLE!") read my scorecard to an audience of millions."

UPK's 10th Anniversary - A Community Event

UPK Manager Theresa Rooney recovered from University Park Branch's 10^th Anniversary Celebration and reports on this successful event, October 4., "We wanted to celebrate not only our 10 years of community service but invite the organizations – some of which are our community partners -- that serve many of our Arlington customers, so we developed the idea of a Community Open House for our 10^th anniversary program. It proved to be useful to the community, as well the community organizations themselves, gathering as many of the organizations as possible in the same room and encouraging them to network, learn about what other organizations were doing and developing connections among themselves while also doing outreach with the public. Ten organizations staffed outreach tables: Arlington Community Services, Arlington Family Resource Center, CareerSource, Arlington Senior Center, Friends of the JPL, Greater Arlington/Beaches CPAC, Learn to Read, Old Arlington, Inc., Tree Hill Nature Center and U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. Katie Devanny opened the CAL classroom and E-Specialists Randy Mapanoo and Luis Terron manned a table and conducted demonstration classes in the computer classroom.
 
Council President Clay Yarborough, Councilmen Bill Bishop and John Crescimbeni and BOLT member Dr. Brenda Simmons-Hutchins spoke to over 300 attendees at the short noon program, moderated by Director Barbara Gubbin, and 222 participated in door prize drawings. Forty-five children participated in the craft project, a refrigerator magnet covered in tin foil and decorated, which was facilitated by Children’s Librarian Mary Calcagni.

We discovered during our event planning that tin is a pliable material and the traditional symbol for a 10^th anniversary, and tin symbolizes the ability to weather life’s ups and downs and to bend but not be broken -- skills at which JPL staff excel.

 

The fun part of getting ready.

 

Visitors consumed 20 dozen donuts from The Donut Shoppe and gallons of coffee and apple cider. Library Associate Mina Figuerrez, assisted by PT Library Clerk Zavonna Robinson and volunteers Angel de la Torre, Stephen Gonzalez and Josh Schuz, did an awesome job of decorating the Community Room and the entire lobby. Library Clerk Roz Smalls was our Mistress of Ceremonies/Announcer and kept the event moving smoothly and gave away all of the door prizes with style. Leona Cain, David Humphries, Midge Roton, Sandra Smith and Tony Williams were great team players who helped the day go smoothly.  Gretchen Mitchell and Lynn Jacobson were a great help during the planning stages, getting prizes donated from our contractors and suppliers, including a pair of Jaguar tickets from TC Delivers and a beautiful fall-themed gift basket from Midwest Tapes.  Margaret Fishback provided beautiful banners, posters, flyers and special coloring pages for the kids. Marsha Blasco and Kathy Lussier were great partners during the planning stages and beyond. Bob Silkett and Julie McNeil were very supportive in helping us to keep the branch running during the day. The whole event, from the earliest planning stages to event cleanup, personified JPL teamwork at its finest and would not have been so successful without the contributions of everyone.               THANKS EVERYONE!

No library celebration is complete without a book and Theresa's granddaughter, Rivers, two years old and Emily Matchett's daughter, took a book break.

You can view some of the photographs taken by Theresa’s daughter, Emily Matchett, at: 

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B3B-CPBprCBFSFZpUlhPcmpMUUk&usp=sharing

Final Farewell to Marjorie Gibbons

On August 27, 2014 Jackie Spiritas, Branch Manager of Dallas Graham Library, submitted a write up for the staff blog about Marjorie’s last work day at JPL. (You can scroll down and click on "older posts" to review the article. The picture of Marjorie with Mayor Brown is repeated because that was a big dream come true for her.) 

Pat Morrison, Urban Library Centers Supervisor remembers, "Marjorie began her library career as a gangly teen working with the LOOP at the Eastside library.  Those of you who have  worked  with Marjorie over the years will probably recall how she would respond to a query--first she would smile, then sigh, then she would preface her response  with, 'Well …'.  In the 20+ years of working with Marjorie I never heard her raise her voice or speak in anger to anyone.  She had a quiet yet deliberate way of letting you know when she did not agree with you.  She could be animated and excited when she talked about her interest in family history, genealogy, and ‘who was related to who’.  The joke amongst those who knew her well was that Marjorie was related to everybody.  If you gave her a few minutes of your time, she would try to find a family connection.

 

"Although Marjorie was plagued by a few ailments towards the end of her career, she still spoke about traveling and taking time to do just what she wanted to do.  I can only hope that she was able to do some of the things she wanted to do during her brief time away from us.

 

"Marjorie’s last anniversary pin was more than a year overdue because Marjorie had requested to be placed on the list to have her pin presented by the Mayor.   After the long delay, the pin was sent out to the unit and I presented it to Marjorie.  Marjorie was disappointed but she graciously accepted the pin and talked about her years with JPL.  The fact that the photograph with Mayor Brown in Wal-Mart was taken the week of her retirement could be considered coincidental, fate, weird, kismet or it could exemplify Marjorie’s determination to clear her bucket list.  Whatever it was, I am glad Marjorie got to experience that moment of joy during what turned out to be her final days on earth."

 

A lovely lady, Marjorie Gibbons, will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

Funeral Services for Marjorie Gibbons:

Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 11:00 a.m.
Trumpet in Zion Fellowship
6007 Seaboard Ave at 110^th St.

Viewing:

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
A.B. Coleman Mortuary
5660 Moncrief Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32209
(904) 768-0507

From 10 Library Associates In 2004 To 42 in 2014

Julie P. McNeil , Assistant Director for Public Services, announced today, " This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the Library Associate position.  This position was created in 2004 and the following people were hired in August and November of that year as some of our first Library Associates:  Curt Beadell, Gloria Buenavista, Mina Figuerrez, Brenda Javier, Josh Jubinsky, Linda Smith, Gail Blumberg, Marie Myers, Jessica Serrano and Tony Williams.

"We currently have 42 Library Associates working throughout the system in a variety of roles, from youth services to adult services to support services, and we’re thankful for their contribution to our JPL team!"

1st & 2nd Recipients of SST Owly

Congratulations to E-Specialist Randy Mapanoo the first recipient of an SST Owly. The Owly, given to SST staff from SST staff, is given to someone who deserves an extra pat on the back or someone who deserves special recognition.  Randy was selected because he “always goes the extra mile in supporting the e-volunteers assigned to his branches. He is likewise enthusiastic in working with the rest of the team in making a number of programs successful…Additionally, Randy has also been instrumental with the smooth transition of new computer classes in Spanish at UPK and PCR. He has assisted some of our customers from these classes in one-on-one appointments with translation help from our new part-time staff (Flory) who has also benefited with Randy’s informal mentoring.  ..... The second Owly was given to Cynthia Byrd.  Cynthia was nominated because she “has stepped up and taken over the duties of the Staff Association. Getting those registrations filled out and collecting the money is a great example of 'stepping up and helping out'.” Congratulations Cynthia!

 Thanks to Gretchen Mitchell, Assistant Director for SST, for apprising us about Owly, who purches nicely on the first recipient, Randy Mapanoo.

4th Quarter Award Winners

Library Assistant Cranston Burney won the Model the Way Award and is the Employee of the 4th Quarter.  Cranston works at the Main Library and he is the unofficial staff photographer for library events. On September 20^th, when a donor presented the children’s department at Main with a check, Cranston was the only photographer on hand to capture the event. Cranston also participates in producing the annual Black History calendar by selecting, editing, and digitizing the photographs with the committee. Cranston also reacts well in a crisis. Just one amongst many examples of his Knight in Shining Armor feats: Recently the power was off on the 2^nd floor and he helped with the breakers and everything was working before the building opened.

Library Associate Alison Pulley works at the Mandarin Branch. Alison Pulley also won a Model the Way Award. She was promoted to Library Associate in the Children’s Department. With no experience in children’s services it was a struggle at first. Alison stepped up and took charge of the department. She started having weekly meetings with children’s staff and she asked for their support and help. She organized a Kick Off party for Summer Reading Program, which was a big success with over 200 customers in attendance this year. Alison and her staff have not missed a program, outreach, open house, SAC meeting or community event since December 2013.

Susan Mankowski, Early Childhood Specialist, calls the Main Library "home".  Susan won the Encourage the Heart Award.  When the Children’s department realized they were short staffed due to staff changes, they were scrambling trying to make sure that work and programs could continue. She volunteered of her own accord to help out. This support was unexpected but greatly appreciated. It is one thing to empathize but quite another to step in and help solve the problem.

Library Assistant Kathy Lynch won the Inspired a Shared Vision Award.  Kathy maintains the community “candy jar” in SST. Anyone can take a piece of candy in exchange for a donation. The donated funds are given to various charity drives throughout the year. She oversees the collection and delivery of donated items and money for various charities.

Region Manager Marshelle Berry identified the need to revitalize JPL’s Staff Association and she won the Challenge the Process Award for her hard work on this project. Marshelle contacted other libraries with staff associations and patterned her plan after best practices that she found in a number of other public libraries.  She challenged staff to join the team and share their ideas. The new association will have by-laws, dues, regular events, service projects, elections and a number of other new features.

Deputy Director Carolyn Williams (left) and Library Board Chair Erin Vance Skinner(right), as you see, congratulated all of the 4th Quarter Award winners and presented them with their certificates at the Library Board of Trustees meeting, November 13, 2014.  AND ALL OF US ADD OUR CONGRATS AND HURRAHS!