An Update From The JPL Staff Association

Region Manager Marshelle Berry asked Milicia Thomas, Secretary of the JPL Staff Association, to give us an update on their plans, "We kicked off the annual membership drive, January 15,2016, and have signed up almost 100 members. The drive continues through February 29. As we reminisce on the great fun we had at our holiday social, we are planning other wonderful events for 2016. The JPL Staff Association officers want you to know we appreciate your hard work and support, and the Association would not be thriving without you."

Gloria Armstrong & Kimberly Hamilton Celebrate 30 Years With JPL

Two Library Assistants were accompanied by Julie McNeil, Assistant Director for Public Services (far left) when each proudly received their 30 year pin and congratulatory letter from Mayor Lenny Curry, January 28, 2016.

Gloria Armstrong (2nd from left above) works at Brentwood Branch. Gloria's daughter, Jeaneen Armstrong (far right), wanted to be there for the special occasion.

Kimberly Hamilton (3rd from left below) works at University Park Branch and had her father, Frank Williams, and her husband, Dan, with her to celebrate the big milestone.

CONGRATULATIONS TO GLORIA AND KIMBERLY!

Friends of JPL Hold Bag Sale, 2/19 - 2/21/16

BAGS OF BOOKS, DVDs, AND CDs FOR SALE BY THE FRIENDS OF JPL:

Prices are for Friends of JPL members - Remember you can join at the door.

Friday, February 19: 4-8 pm: $12/bag & get the 2nd FREE

Saturday, February 20: 9 am-5 pm: $15/Bag - Buy 2 bags & get the third bag FREE

Sunday, February 21: 12 noon - 5 pm: $15/Bag - Buy 2 bags & get the third bag FREE 

All sales benefit JPL. If you are not a Friend, please consider joining and encourage others to join FJPL.

Post-It Note Survey At PCR

PCR has a customer survey board that asks, "The Pablo Creek Library is now open on Monday.  How does that make a difference to you?" (It also serves as a not so subtle reminder that JPL works hard to make customer service better.) 

Library Clerk Raquel Soto had a great idea to keep some Post-It notes at the Circulation Desk so customers could write a note as she checked out their items. Then customers could post their notes on the board on the way out.   

PCR Manager Jackie Spiritas sent us this picture of the mother with her little girl, who participated in the survey, and said her.stuffed animal (in her hand) was doing it, too!

The more the better!

Staff Profile - February 2016

Who would think a techy would be a branch manager and an accomplished artist?  Many of us have a much broader spectrum of interests, talents, and gifts than our coworkers know.  Karen Walker certainly does.  Now SST's Manager of e-Services and Digital Access, she is goal driven but well grounded and plays a critical role in meeting internal and external customers' needs. 

Q: As SST’s Manager of e-Services and Digital Access, what are your present responsibilities at JPL and have you worked elsewhere in JPL?

I started in 2003 working as a reference librarian at the Mandarin Branch.  I was the Senior Librarian at Highlands Branch, Manager at Westbrook and Graham Branches and then spent over five years in ILS.   When the E-Services and Digital Access Department was created in October 2012, I moved into that position.  

We have built an extensive technology class curriculum with the E-Library Specialists offering over 500 technology classes each quarter as well as hundreds of available appointments to assist customers with their tech questions.  

Daily content is created or updated on the public website.  We are advertising events and services, notifying our customers on important updates regarding branches and creating new content in support of library programs.  The website team has been working diligently to learn Drupal and assist in the design of the new website we’ll launch this spring.  This has been a massive undertaking and, while managing to keep up with all the work on the current site, the new public website is taking shape.  We will have a navigable, responsive, ADA compliant site that will be a big improvement for our customers. 

Q: How does your position interrelate with other departments of JPL and COJ?

All staffs are welcome to attend our classes, schedule appointments, and use our help sheets and start guides to assist themselves and customers using the services we provide.  It is increasingly important for public service staff to assist customers in using our downloadable media services and apps, help them connect to our Wi-Fi, and so on.   It is also important that staff refer more complex or time consuming questions to E-Services.   If a customer needs individual attention or more time than can be given on a busy reference desk, the open lab or an appointment get them the service they need.  

The information available on both the public website and the Neighborhood is invaluable to customers and staff.  The website is visited millions of times over the course of a year so its value really can’t be overstated.  

Q: Did you have previous professional experience prior to coming to JPL?

I worked as a Law Librarian in Los Angeles after I graduated from UCLA.  After my husband and I moved from LA to Jacksonville, I spent nine years working in IT installing, maintaining, and supporting Windows and Novell networks, conducting training on network administration and desktop applications and supporting accounting and document management programs popular at the time.       

Q: Is there new technology on the horizon that your department will soon add to help employees and/or customers?

We’ve added a lot this year including coding, Photoshop, MAC, Windows 10, 3D printing and Linux.   *We’re always looking for new technology to bring to our customers to help them learn and transition to the next relevant upgrade or innovation.  That’s the nature of technology.  We’re also, through LEAP, offering a number of outreach computer classes throughout the Urban Core.  We will have, by March 1, twelve classes in four different outreach locations each week. 

Q:  Would you share something about yourself that most of us don't know?

  

A: Most people don’t know that I paint-- watercolor almost exclusively.  Here is a photo of one of my watercolors and a photo of me on a cruise ship vacation “pretending” to be the

ship’s reference librarian. 

_______________________________
*Scroll down (3rd article below) and see the article about Justin Keiser's trip to the Consumer's Electronic Show in Las Vegas.

Do Yourself A Favor & See This

On display through February 28, the Smithsonian traveling exhibition, I Want the Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story, debuted Saturday, January 9, 2016, with 100+ attendees greeted by two keikis (Hawaiian for children) bearing leis. The program began with remarks from Library Director Barbara Gubbin and the Mayor’s Asian American Advisory Board Chair Wen Raiti. Classical Chinese songs were presented by vocalist Lijia Zhang and pianist Yue Yang. 

Children and adults interacted with Prince Pele's Polynesian Revue during dance demonstrations from Hawaii, Tahiti and New Zealand. After the program, customers were directed by Keli Likins, Lynne Baldwin and JPL Friends volunteer Janet Guerrero to the fourth floor to see the exhibit. The displays - filled with personal items loaned by many JPL staff members – drew visitors' attention. The ephemera includes clothing, handbags and accessories, tableware, musical instruments, book marks, books, teas and other items from Hawaii, the Philippines, China, Indonesia, Japan and Taiwan. Many thanks to staffs, who loaned their coveted items and to Arthur Finley and volunteer Patricia McCullough.

                                 Fiction Asian American display at Main

The Asian American Experience in Northeast Florida: a panel discussion on education, was moderated by Dr. Mei Zhao, Director of the Master of Health Administration program at the Brooks College of Health at UNF. Panelists included Rajiv Gupta (IT professional/robotics leader), Dr. Indrani Sindhuvalli (professor of Natural Sciences, FSCJ/Florida Master Naturalist/Reiki instructor) and Dr. Suze Weng (professor of Social Work, UNF). The panel and audience discussed the importance of education, the Model Minority Myth (all/most Asians excel academically and professionally) and disparities in health and wellness outcomes for Asian Americans.

The last programs (both will be in Main's Hicks Auditorium) are The Asian American Experience in Northeast Florida: a panel discussion on business and civic engagement, moderated by Sabeen Perwaiz on Sunday, February 7 at 2 p.m. (before the Super Bowl) and the finale on Sunday, February 28 at 2 p.m. featuring Japanese koto (string instrument) and Indian dance, music, and presentations.

Thanks to Lisa Buggs, Coordinator of Life Long Learning and Communication, for the article and Main Manager Lynne Baldwin for the pic of the display.

Staffs Give Board View Of JPL Services & Meeting Customer Needs

Andrew Herron, Executive Assistant to Director Barbara Gubbin, gives this report about a very important annual planning meeting, "At the 2016 Library Board Work Day, 8 am - 3 pm, February 4^th, Library Trustees, Friends, and Foundation members got an in-depth, up-close-and-personal look at library functions/activities for which they advocate.  Members attended different classes where Jennifer Giltrop, Ed Murray, Gretchen Mitchell, Luis Terron, Amber Holley, Carisia Rooney, Marie Myers, Charlene Adkins, Jill Haile Katie Devanny and Sergio Lagman gave presentations about Small Business Assistance, 3-D Print Design, Children’s Programs, ESL classes, and E-Resources offered by the Library.  At the end of the Work Day, trustees expressed awe at the breadth of services offered by JPL and agreed that they were better prepared to advocate for the library to those in the community."

One of the classes on Board Work Day was attended by Library Board Trustee Guy Anderson (center, end of table), Dr. Ann Harwood-Nuss, member of the JPL Foundation (right of Mr. Anderson), and Julie McNeil (right of Dr. Nuss).  They sat in on an actual ESL Level II class, taught by part-time instructor, Sergio Lagman, who teaches regularly at Main, UPK, and CW. In this class, students learn every day conversational English, such as planning trips and vacations, and review irregular verbs.

Here Mr. Lagman is pictured teaching at a smart board (an electronic touch screen). He is using Ventures, a curriculum component that works with the smart board and allows the book to be interactive.  Katie Davanny, CAL's Manager, recognizes the importance of smart boards and her goal is to have one in every classroom.  Katie emphasized, "The smart board will not replace a hand-held book but interacts with it."

From this one example, one can see the VIP's experienced some real needs of customers and library staffs, who are diligently working to make a positive difference in their lives.

SST's Justin Keiser At Huge Tech Show

Justin Keiser, Support Services Librarian I, attended the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January to see what technological advances JPL might use.  He said, "The size of it was daunting: 50 football fields of exhibits where 170,000 people saw what future technologies will avail.  I went to a few education sessions and was reminded about an app called Elements4D.

"I looked at products and tried them out. I went to a few education sessions and was reminded about an app called Elements4D.
http://elements4d.daqri.com/
http://elements4d.daqri.com/documents/elements-blocks-all.pdf
It teaches chemistry using Augmented Reality. Print the six blocks and glue them together. The sides of the blocks correspond to an element. Put the app on a Smartphone or Tablet. It works with Apple or Android. Open the app and use the camera to "read" a side of the block. The block will turn into that element on the screen. Combine elements that react with one another like Hydrogen and Oxygen to make water.

"There is also an Anatomy4D app.  A trend I saw was 360 degree photography. The cameras are used for creating virtual reality. They are also what Google uses to create Street View in Google Maps. The library could create virtual tours using them with the click of a button. I purchased one of them. Take a look. https://theta360.com/s/gbS1r4nDw4lnJPOXwBmc2DBdg

"I used the 360 camera to upload library photos to Google Maps.  Folks all over the world can see inside the library.

"There were also lots and lots of drones. From what I've seen this is an area that libraries have not entered. If we had ad advanced model classes could be taught on flight, complying with the FAA, using it for photography, and I am sure, lots of other topics.

"If the library ever has a space for music creation, I saw a product that should be seriously considered. It was a company called Roli. https://roli.com/ First they have an app called noise. It is great by itself and there is a small keyboard that goes with the app called the Seaboard Rise. It is so much more than a keyboard though. The sounds that come from it are unlike anything that I had seen before. I was able to hear it played first hand and play it myself. It was a worthwhile experience.

"Ultimately, I went to the show with the mindset of trying out new technologies so we could get them for library customers to use. I came back with many ideas. If I had the opportunity to return, I would probably attend more conference sessions.

"As one can imagine, I was a bit overwhelmed as a first time attendee--with the size of the show, the enormity of exhibits, and the number of people at the show."

First 5k Run To Benefit JPL Is A Winner

   Jamie, far right, with eight of JPL's staff. Deputy Director Giltrop & other staff also ran.  

JPL Foundation Development Director Dr. M. Jamie Self, reports, "The event was the first effort at a community 5k fundraiser sponsored by Fun 4 First Coast Kids to benefit the Library. Specifically, the monies raised were designated to enhance the Summer Learning program this year whose theme is Ready! Set! Read!

"The community responded well -- especially for a first time event. There were two dozen vendors and half as many paid sponsors. Additionally, the Avenues Mall provided the 5k winners with personal gift certificates.

"The weather cooperated and the venue was excellent. The 200 registered runners made two laps around the mall, which equalled about 3 miles. The runners were a good mix of ages and included pros to novices. The organizers recognized several categories for winners and even had a separate children's Fun Run following the main event. 

"Medals were awarded to each participant crossing the finish line and certificates were awarded to the winners. The Foundation accepted a check for a 'gazillion' dollars for the fundraiser (as the total had not yet been calculated), which was more than enough motivation to get a slow walker like me to do a couple of easy laps on a cool January Sunday. 

"Many thanks to all who participated in one way or another!"

Good Idea

Argyle Branch Manager Kristi Dorney (right) awarded Roseanne Takio with an Innovator Award, February 3, 2016.  Roseanne suggested volunteers be added to  KR's daily schedule in the event of an evacuation and the idea was immediately implemented.

Does Roseanne's idea give you an idea?

Braille Challenge, ADA, & A 3-D Printer

Customer service is top priority with Director Barbara Gubbin and that resonates throughout JPL. At the Braille Challenge held at the Main Library, January 28, 2016, students who attended could--for the first time--understand the layout of restrooms before entry. Thanks to E-Services, tactile models were created and fabricated on a 3-D printer.  A tactile sign was placed beneath the men's and women's restrooms.  Read all about it in the Financial News & Daily Record link below:

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=546949

Thanks to Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop for the input.  She thought this was a great use of our 3-D printer. 

Legislative Day In Tallahassee

January 28 was one of the most important days in JPL's annual agenda: Legislative Day in Tallahassee.  Pictured below are members of the Board of Library Trustees and JPL's administrative team who visited Florida State senators and representatives to encourage support for State Aid to libraries before the legislators vote on these funds.

Below L/R: Trustees Charlie Kleeman and Sybil Ansbacher, State Rep. Lake Ray and Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop:

Above L/R: Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop, State Rep. Janet Adkins, Trustees Sybil Ansbacher and Charlie Kleeman. 

Below L/R: Chair of the Library Board Erin Skinner, Manager of Strategic Initiatives Richard Mott, Trustee Jackie Perry, State Rep. Reggie Fullwood and Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop :

Above L/R: Manager of Strategic Initiatives Richard Mott, Trustee Jackie Perry, State Rep. Charles McBurney, Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop and Trustees Charlie Kleeman and Sybil Ansbacher.

The decision on State Library Aid for fiscal year 2018 will be made during the Florida Legislature's current session, January - March 2016. The State Aid to Libraries grant program assists local governments in maintaining and improving free library services for all Florida residents. 

Many thanks to the Library Board Chair Erin Skinner, Trustees Jackie Perry, Sybil Ansbacher and Charlie Kleeman, Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop and Manager of Strategic Initiatives Richard Mott for their hard work on this crucial project.

Big "Get To Yes" At CW

Kathy Tekin, CW's Branch Manager, said, "The Webb Wesconnett team of Josh Jubinsky, Sara Radovic, Sandra Fahy and Nicole Williams covered the DCPS class visit from TImucuan Elementary, January 27.  Their quick thinking and ‘Getting to Yes’  during the power outage caused by JEA before the class visit was outstanding. Their outside the box thinking included: First, photocopying the students' ID’s as a way to make checkout of books possible and easy to process when the computers were back up and running.  Second, they made sure students received a story time.  They used the cover over our entryway as the location. To get started, they had the students get off the bus and join them at the entryway and notified JEA to restore the power, which occurred shortly after 10 a.m.  Because of their 'can do' attitude, the students received a story time, a tour, and a selection time. 

"Additionally, this team kept the students, chaperons, and teachers safe while we were without power and the branch was dark-- and showed how ‘Getting to Yes’ is truly possible."

100 Days

The Mandarin Branch children’s department celebrated the 100^th day of school with 100 Grand candy bars, January 27. The children were given an activity sheet that asked the question “If I had $100…I would buy___.” We had some interesting responses! Frances Wickes, a recent Innovator Award recipient, was on hand to assist with the Early Dismissal program. 

Virtual Cake

SOM's Library Associate Christie Rogers reports, "Angela Richman’s Bilingual Story Time, January 26, had as its theme chocolate cake because January 27 is National Chocolate Cake Day. Angela had 18 participants. By the time this picture was taken, some had left or declined to be in the picture. Angela shared cake stories and everyone sang. But no real chocolate cake--just a pic of one on the screen."  

(Despite the fact there was no REAL chocolate cake to be had, there are some smiles, so that story time MUST be good!) 

Tripping The Light Fantastic At JB

Terry Welch (front in pic at left) said, "The January read for the Flamingo Book Club at JB was Carrying Albert Home, by Homer Hickam. Members were treated to a Skype visit with the author, who explained his inspiration and answered questions.  One of our members (and a member of the Friends of the Beaches Public Library), Virginia Maxted, pictured below, dressed as Elsie Hickam a main character.  We had a delightful time." (Great pics, Terry.)

JPL Represented At Hemming's 150 Year Celebration

Tia Samuels, Christa Snow, Laura Minnich and Benjamin Smith represented the library at Hemming Park’s 150^th Anniversary celebration Saturday, January 23, 2016. They weathered near freezing temperatures to share information about library programs and services. The event was scheduled for 11 am - 3 pm but was halted at 12:30 pm due to the cold.  

Benjamin and Laura

No, Christa Snow didn't have a bad hair day; she just used the opportunity to dig out her cold weather gear.

PCR Manager Spiritas Keeps JPL "Out There"

Jackie Spiritas talks libraries as she mingles with the business community at the Jacksonville Chamber Beaches Division "coffee on the coast" event recently.  She is pictured center-back, just behind the gentleman with blue shirt/tie.

2016 Jacksonville Black History Calendar Unveiling

Some two hundred residents attended the 27^th Annual Jacksonville Black History Calendar Unveiling on January 21 at the Main Library.

                Library Director Barbara Gubbin (2nd from right) and others hail the unveiling.

The 2016 theme, Hallowed Grounds: Sites of African American Memories, highlights American Beach to the north, Hemming Park in downtown, Fort Mose to the south and other spaces significant to Florida and African American history.

This year's dedication of the calendar honors Mr. Ernest J. Vickers, a former general manager of a Burger King for 20 years.   Due to his diligence, Mr. Vickers was later offered an opportunity to own a Burger King franchise and became the first African American to do so.  Among his other accomplishments, Mr. Vickers is responsible for Burger King Restaurants being the title sponsor for the Jacksonville Black History Calendar since 1997.

                      Mr. Ernest J. Vickers reviews calendar's dedication page honoring him.

The calendar is the creation of Board of Library Trustees member and former chair, Dr. Brenda Simmons-Hutchins--who narrated the event--and the late Ms. Clovia Russell of AT&T. JPL staffs Pat Morrison, Arthur Finley, and Cranston Burney are an integral part of the research and support to bring this relevant and popular event to the Main Library for the past ten years.

Beside the title sponsor, Burger King Restaurants, the calendar, is a collaboration with Florida State College at Jacksonville, the James Weldon Johnson Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the Jacksonville Public Library and WJXT4.

Calendars are planned to be available at all JPL locations by February 1.

Travelogue: ALA Midwinter Conference, Boston, 1/8 – 1/11/16

Manager of Strategic Initiatives Richard Mott gives us an interesting recount of his trip to ALA Midwinter Conference, "Jennifer Giltrop, Lynn Jacobson, and I, along with almost 12,000 others, had the opportunity to travel to chilly Boston earlier this month for the annual American Library Association Midwinter Conference. Midwinter is smaller than ALA’s annual conference (which will be in Orlando in June this year, by the way). While Midwinter does have a number of programs and special speakers (Andre Dubus, Chelsea Clinton, Ken Burns, and Cory Booker, to name a few), most people who attend are on committees or have other library business to attend to.

"For example, there is a job placement center, a sort of job fair within the conference, at which we set up shop to talk to potential candidates for jobs at JPL. Among other meetings, Jennifer met with a deputy directors group she co-chairs and Lynn is on a committee responsible for planning programs for the annual conference. I had an all-day meeting on Monday of a task force charged with developing tools to help public libraries measure outcomes, and I had the opportunity to participate in a panel that did a presentation on the topic on Sunday.

"All three of us happened to attend a 3-hour session together on Saturday called “Change Essentials,” based on the eight principles laid out in a book called Our Iceberg is Melting.

"I had little time for sightseeing, but the weather wasn’t exactly right for walking the Freedom Trail, anyway. Even so, the highlights of my personal experience had nothing to do with the conference, I confess:

      1) Being able to put my scuffed shoes in a plastic bag outside the door of my hotel room before I went to bed and finding them in the same place the next morning, only freshly shined.

       2) Watching the Alabama - Clemson college football national championship Monday night in the hotel room with my wife (nothing to do with Boston, but it was a FANTASTIC game).

       3) Good restaurants! (I had my first ever whole lobster at this wonderful hole-in-the-wall seafood market/restaurant on the harbor four blocks from my hotel – lots of locals, order at the counter, plastic flatware. I strapped on my plastic bib while Siri helped Lisa find instructions on her phone for how to eat a lobster.)"