GB Has 50+ For Coauthor Event

More than 50 people came to Graham March 5^th to see Natalie McGriff, the coauthor of The Adventures of Moxie McGriff. She read from her newly released book and signed copies for fans.

At the end of the program, all of the children were invited to create their own graphic novels. Templates and colored pencils were provided so they could get to work right away. (Thanks to GB's Raelyn Wiirre, Youth Services Librarian, for the input.)

Women's History Month At Main

Women’s History Month comes alive on the 3^rd Floor at the Main Library with a display created by Library Assistant Karren Deas.  Karren uses books, book lists, flyers and graphic design elements to shed light on the lives, achievements, and struggles of women

throughout history.  From Sojourner Truth to Anne Frank to Princess Diana, the display highlights the great lives of great women who continue to inspire us today.

Staff Profile - March 2016

In her 18 years with JPL, Kathy Tekin has served in several areas of management and is currently managing Webb Wesconnett Branch. Flexible, quickly responsive to change and challenge, and  ever evolving would describe Kathy's professional life. On the personal side, Kathy is married to Francis Tekin and has a grown daughter, Tara, and Tara and her hubby plan to make the Tekins grandparents soon. As a first time expectant grandparent, Kathy is excited and busy making baby clothes for baby Emma in her spare time.

  

Q: You have an extensive background with JPL. Please tell us where you have served and in what positions.

A: I started full time in July 1998 at the Highlands Branch as Children’s Librarian under Jane Harris, Branch Manager.  In December 2001, I promoted to Library Supervisor of Programming (children’s and adult), which was a new position with JPL, and transferred to the old Main Library. I worked closely with the Jaguar Foundation and the Jacksonville Zoo to create the program ZooTREK (Teaching Reading Exploring with Kids) in the urban core libraries. At the end of the fall session, the children and their chaperons could attend a Jaguar game and sit in the Honor Rows section.

In 2005, I was given the opportunity to work with just the youth portion and my title changed to Youth Services Coordinator.  I worked with two grants—one for summer reading and the second for Prime Time Family Reading Time. I was also able to hire our first Early Childhood Specialist for JPL, Susan Mankowski.

In 2013, I changed positions to become co-Library Supervisor of the Main Library with Erica Brown.  I managed Popular/Fiction, Special Needs Library/ILL, and the Center for Adult Learning.  It was the beginning of new and different responsibilities.

In July 2015, I was transferred to the West Regional Library and came full circle where Jane Harris is once again my supervisor. In November 2015, my next move was to Webb Wesconnett Regional Library.

Q: How would you define leadership versus management and how both can best be used to better JPL?

A: Leadership is working with a team of people to achieve the same goals by providing direction, guidance, and leading by example.

Management is keeping the team moving forward toward the goals through listening, acknowledgement of team progress toward the goals, recognizing the potential stumbling blocks, and following up on individual contributions to the team effort.

As the manager of a very busy branch, it takes both leadership and management for staff to achieve the goals of JPL.  It also means that you need to be visible on the floor for customers and staff. It also means communicating your expectations for BLAST (Believe, Listen, Apologize, Satisfy, and Thank) customer service and reinforcing the positive interactions with customers and co-workers.  It also means dealing quickly with the uncomfortable issues that arise.

Q: Are there any lessons in management and/or leadership that your experience has garnered that didn’t come from a textbook?

A: Good mentors from my past and learning from my own mistakes are two I can think of. My first professional position was in a small library system with one building. Sharing what was happening in the children’s department could really affect the entire building--from the number of customers to the number of items that were checked out in a given day. 

Textbooks also do not teach you how to deal with day-to-day issues with buildings and difficult/challenging customers. These items you learn from your supervisors, coworkers, and from other professionals in the field. In my first position, I learned that I had to plunge the toilet that overflowed as we did not have a custodian on site all day. The men’s room had a clogged toilet and since the public restrooms were on my floor, I was given the task to plunge the toilet.

Q: What are the differences in managing a department versus a branch?

 A: Managing a branch is smaller in size compared to Main. The branches I have managed are just as busy in regards to computer use and DVD checkouts. Webb Wesconnett Branch is busier than West Regional Branch when it comes to computer use and needing assistance. Staff is smaller and more dependent on each other, so everyone needs to know how to fill in at the various desks in a pinch.  At Main, you need to know other departments and their primary functions to fill in during a pinch and you are less likely to fill in for circulation. Having worked both, I do not see a lot of difference. You are still responsible for the building and all the services provided by staff.

Q: Who are one or two of your mentors or heroes and why?

A: Kathleen Zaenger, Director of Howell Carnegie District Library taught me a lot about working in a public library. Previously, I had worked in school media centers for two school districts. I communicated with a library board and Friends group and learned the importance of knowing members of your community and other city departments, i.e. police and fire. I was delegated with the task of meeting with a team of community volunteers to construct a float for the local Melon Fest Parade to provide the library’s request for an independent millage to support the library. The children from the summer reading program already participated in the annual parade each August. The millage rate was passed by the voters for the library to become a District Library with the necessary funds to expand the Howell Carnegie Library. Ms. Zaenger provided me the opportunity to use some of my knowledge from previous work experience in the construction industry when we expanded the Howell Library. I was the liaison with the architect and contractor representing the library and library board.

Carolyn Williams was another mentor. I wish I had her poker face when dealing with some situations. Those of us who have worked with Carolyn over the years know exactly what I am saying. You never knew what she was thinking while explaining some idea or situation until she was willing to share her thoughts.

VIP's Hear Murray Hill Friends' Big Plans

The Friends of the Murray Hill Library had some big plans for their annual meeting, February 16, 2016, and not a few VIP's attended the event at Maple Street Biscuit Company. Beside announcing new MHF board members and their main goal to see Murray Hill Branch open seven days a week, President of MHF Bill Brinton addressed an audience of forty-five about the founding of the Murray Hill municipality in 1916.  He noted some businesses that subsequently opened and that the Murray Hill Library was dedicated in 1968.

      Mr. Brinton, Director Barbara Gubbin, and Judy Kline, outgoing President of MHF. 

City Council President Greg Anderson attended and other CM's included Jim Love, John Crescimbeni, and Samuel Newby. CM Love made a few remarks praising the many opportunities found at the Jacksonville Public Library.  He added a brief description of how an extension of the period that the City of Jacksonville collects a ½ cent sales tax could be dedicated to the resolution of funding issues with the City pension.

The Friends group awarded Library Hero Awards to CM's Love and Crescimbeni.

Beside Director Gubbin, other JPL VIP's who attended were Deputy Director for Public Services Jennifer Giltrop, Manager of Strategic Initiatives Richard Mott,  CR&M Manager Christian Boivin, Manager of YS & CO Amber Holley and Highlands Region Manager Marshelle Berry.

Try It With Chopsticks

SE Teen Library Assistant Anjelica Bencomo shares, "SE Teens participate in our monthly program, Teen Book Mixology. Our theme in February was Chinese New Year, where we book talked five novels/teen graphics by Chinese American authors. The teens had a great time with their icebreaker activity: grabbing ingredients using only chopsticks.

DCPS Posts JPL Flyers

Main Library Manager Lynne Baldwin noticed flyers for JPL Programs are being posted in DCPS classrooms. She said, "I was a judge at the History Fair at Atlantic Coast High School, Saturday, February 27, and the teacher had a section of her white board posted with library program information for the students. This photo shows part of the white board. It was rewarding to see a JPL program was being promoted for students." 

(In the upper left is JPL's flyer announcing the "I want the Wide American Earth" exhibit.)

Super Heroes At UPK

Eve Harm, Children’s Librarian at UPK said, "We helped our future superheroes with a super hero Fandom Fun, February 24. Over 25 superhero hopefuls proved their skills with web training, a tunnel crawl, and the most popular: our laser maze. Upon completing their training, the children had a chance to create their own emblem, add to their disguises with gauntlets, and celebrate super hero pairs with super hero friendship bracelets." 

A Little Change - A Big Help To Customers

Beaches Branch Manager Theresa Rooney has a double high-five for 1) a customer with a bright idea and 2) Lynn Jacobson, who promptly implemented it.  

Theresa said, "Our customers are so smart! Beaches Branch customer Karen Bock-Losee suggested JPL include our hours of operation in e-mail reminders to customers. Staff and I thought this was a good idea and passed the customer's suggestion to Lynn Jacobson, who handles such matters.  

"We want to thank Lynn Jacobson for recognizing the value of Ms. Bock-Losee's idea and acting quickly to implement it. I wanted to share this with everyone. 

"When a customer suggests something that you think is a good idea, please encourage them to follow up with a comment and/or suggestion (and show them how to do it).

 "If you have an extra minute while assisting customers with placing holds, please remind them that our hours of operation are now listed on all of our e-mailed and printed notices (holds, friendly reminders, overdue and lost), and let them know this is something we recently started doing as a result of a customer suggestion. I think it’s a good way to let our customers know we value their input."

Special Collections Hosts Jax History Consortium

The Special Collections Department hosted the quarterly meeting of the Jacksonville History Consortium (JHS), February 23, 2016. Historical societies from around the city meet to discuss upcoming events and potential partnerships. The meeting was concluded with a tour of our special collections. (Although he did not address this meeting, Coordinator of JHS and Former President of the Friends of JPL and longtime member of the Jacksonville Historical Society is seen center back.) 

Thanks to Kathleen Krizek, Librarian III, Special Collections, for the blurb and pic.

BIG Jazz Concert Celebrates PCR's Open Mondays

   Terrance Freeman, City Councilman Aaron Bowman’s Executive Council’s Assistant

PCR Manager Jackie Spiritas proudly reports, "The Pablo Creek Library hosted a Jazz concert in the Children’s department, Monday, February 22, 2016, featuring music from the award winning UNF Jazz Ensemble III led by Dr. Marcus Dickman. Seventeen Jazz musicians entertained a crowd of approximately 40 children and 52 adults, including Board of Library Trustees member Ronnie King. 

The program began with a story about 'Jazz Cats' and then the band cut loose with jazz music that could be heard throughout the library. In between music sets and bluesy vocals, Dr. Dickman narrated the program with bits of jazz history as it related to black history and the songs being played. 

Customers who ordinarily may not have come into the Children’s department wandered in, drawn by the community style concert which was improvised outside of the meeting room. The jazz program, geared toward children ages 6-12

and their families, concluded with a jazz scavenger hunt where all of the children searched the department for different pictures of instruments. All in the all, the program proved to be a success with everyone enjoying the atmosphere and entertainment. 

"This program is just one of the many educational and cultural events offered at PCR. A special thank you to the Newcomer’s Club whose members fund children’s programs in the Pablo Creek Region.

"Although the program was held on a Monday afternoon, it was well-attended. I took the opportunity to take a picture of Terrance Freeman (pictured first above), City Councilman Aaron Bowman’s Executive Council’s Assistant, in front of the Post-it Note survey board as more evidence that Monday hours add value to library customers' lives."  

Staffs Man JPL Pit Stop At Friends Booksale

 

JPL promoted library resources at the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library Book Sale on Saturday, February 20,  2016 at UPK.  Cynthia Simmons and Robert  Moseley (below; sorry their faces don't show) manned the Library Card Pit Stop and helped customers with their library card accounts.  

Margaret Morford and Jane Griffo conducted 16 Intake Surveys as part of the AARP50+ FoundationGrant Program.  Retired Librarian Eleanor Baldwin (along with her daughter Main Library Manager Lynne Baldwin) made a special trip to UPK to take the AARP survey and support the Friends Book Sale by buying a bag of books for her great grandchildren. (Thanks to Lynne Baldwin, Main Library Manager for the blurb and pics.)

Ummm, Ummm Good; That's What Customer Appreciation Is!

WBK's Library Assistant Antoinette Walker said, "One of our regular customers at Westbrook, Ms. LaDonna Nesmith, dropped by with Valentine’s Day surprises for us. Can you imagine our delight at receiving these cheerful hand-crafted bouquets! Not only is Ms. Nesmith one of our favorite customers, but apparently we’re her favorite too."  (L/R: Kimberly Cherry, Library Associate, Ms. LaDonna Nesmith, Susan Williamson, Library Clerk and Antoinette.)  

Kudos From Customers

Beaches Branch:  Gail (Blumberg) at the Beaches is so nice!  She had a wealth of knowledge about what I needed and was so wonderful to talk to! A great asset.

Main – Circulation:  Alicia Dottery in Circulation helped me with a problem that required her taking more than a few minutes to investigate to get answers to my questions. Each time that I asked her to investigate further, her attitude/work ethic was one of excellent customer service. At each question of mine to which she did not know the answer, she asked if I would mind holding while she found the answer. Her voice tone conveyed an attitude of helpfulness. I wish I encountered workers like Ms. Dottery any time/every time I needed help. She's a "keeper".

Main - Special Collections:  I want to let you know that Betty Person goes above and beyond the call of duty. She took her time to help me on the computer and it resulted in me getting a job. She should be promoted.  She always has a smile on her face. And I might be the only one who took the time to put it in black and white, but I'm sure everyone who meets her feels the same way, too.

South Mandarin Branch:  Ms. Angela Richman was great offering extra information and her bilingual story time was beyond my expectations. …

Webb Wesconnett Branch:  LOVE the audio class with Mr. Josh (Jubinsky).  We can't make it every week, but always enjoy it when we come.

Luis Terron Winner of Innovator Award

Luis Terron, e-Specialist, was granted a JPL Innovator Award, February 19, 2016, by Talking Books Librarian II Chris Eaton. Chris said, "Luis has been busy designing and producing prototype library public restroom accessibility 3-D models. This project started at the Main Library’s 10th anniversary where he learned from staff members at the Vision Education and Rehabilitation Center about the need for tactile accessibility aids when conducting mobility training for their clients. 

"Mobility in restrooms was a concern due to the lack of standards in fixture arrangement and privacy issues. When Luis realized VERC’s need at the FSCJ downtown campus, he expanded it to the library’s need for such models. By the time of the 2016 North Florida Regional Braille Challenge, Luis had produced two working models with one of the library's 3-D printers for the men's and women's restrooms on the Conference Level of the Mai Library. The models debuted to a great reception from the children, young adults, and vision educators who participated in the event. They seemed excited about the prospects of this new tactile mobility aid. Media outlets, WJCT, and the Daily Record aired/published stories about the models and the reaction of those using them. 

"Building on this early success, Luis has been working on further development of the models and cooperating with a couple of local 3-D printing businesses to produce them in larger, more durable versions in time for our Information and Technology Symposium where we are expecting a number of attendees in the adaptive technology field, as well as media coverage from CNN."

Hats off to Luis Terron!

SE Matches Two Great Days For A Fun Display

With Valentine's Day and President's Day back to back this year, Southeast combined the two to make one display. During February, customers are asked to connect the presidential couple with the fact stated about them. In addition, paired biographies of the Presidents and their First Ladies are available for checkout. Though customers have tried, so far this month, no one has correctly matched all of the facts with the presidential couples. *Do you know which president  and first lady were distant cousins? (Thanks to Beth Friederich for the blurb & pic.)

*(Answer:  32nd President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor were fifth cousins, once removed.)

Rock-N-Roll Night At SE

Southeast Region Manager Keli Likins said, "Fifty people attended the Beatles program at Southeast Branch, February 16.  Many thanks to Lisa Buggs for setting it up and Erica Brown for hosting it."

This was a 90-minute multimedia program that illustrated the influence of Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and other 1950's American recording artists using side-by-side comparisons and musical analyses of Beatles covers and original recordings.

Teen Advisory Board Busy At SE

SE's Teen Library Associate Anjelica Bencomo reports, "One of Southeast Regional Library Teen Advisory Board's favorite jobs is changing out the displays in the lobby. Inspired by the theme "Lift Every Voice" they incorporated a rainbow of birds in flight to welcome visitors to the library.

Main Library Front & Center

Beautiful nocturnal view of the Main Library and downtown Jax (copied from Mextro Jax).

35 Years For Revondolyn Dubois'Means A Big Retirement Party

Main Library Manager Lynne Baldwin sent these pictures of  Revondolyn Dubois' retirement party, February 10, 2016 at the Main Library.  Lynne said, "Friends, family and colleagues gathered to congratulate Revondolyn on 35 years of customer service with the Jacksonville Public Library and the City of Jacksonville."

As you can see, greetings on the cake came from around the library system for Revondolyn. JPL lost a full-timer but Revondolyn will continue as a part-time Library Associate at the Main Library. 

Happy Day, Valentine's Day At Mandarin Branch

David Foster, Alison Pulley, and Frances Wickes made sure as many folks were wished Happy Valentine’s Day as they could (and hope all of you did, too).   Frances Wickes said, "The Mandarin Branch Children’s Department gave our budding artists the opportunity to make cards and pictures using celery stalks and an ink pad.  What fun we had Saturday, February 13, just in time for the big day."