Great P.R. Work At MH

Murray Hill Library's Cheyla Scantling reports on her recent outreach, "Vagabond Flea is affiliated with Vagabond Coffee, a coffee shop located less than a block away from MH. They are a community organizing group and market place, open to artists, buyers, and sellers in the area. (They also set up at Art Walk.) The event was located in the large parking lot between the Murray Hill Theater and the library. I used the outreach to further open the doors of MH to our immediate community, especially since we rarely have access to that many people at a close location. We had 85 attendees and about 10 vendors. One mother with two children signed up for JPL cards. I informed them of upcoming MH events, including SLP, adult programing, how to get a library card, Hi-5 and more." 

Greg Pierce: Job Well Done

PCR Librarian II Gregory Pierce received the first  “Job Well Done” award, May 17, 2016, at a staff meeting attended by Region Manager Sara Roberts. PCR Manager Jackie Spiritas credits Greg with "having created customized Emergency/Evac/ Lockdown manuals for each desk (Ask Here, Customer Service, Children’s Ask Here, PDS, Staff Workroom) with instructions and detailed maps for handling Code David’s, Bomb Threats and Emergency Evacs and/or Lockdown events. The manuals are tailored to each desk. No matter where staffs are working, they know what is expected and where the quickest safety routes are located. Greg’s teamwork attitude and creation of the customized manuals go above and beyond what is expected. By consolidating the forms, maps, and instructions at each desk, Greg has provided a way for us to be more efficient during an emergency. Staffs can read the manuals at leisure and ask Q's, and practice the route and instructions until they are habitual rather than process “new information” at the time of an emergency. The manuals represent a complete and comprehensive, as well as, visual explanation - appropriate for all levels of staff. The clearly labeled and easy to find information communicates the importance of knowing what to do quickly to save lives and prevent incidents from escalating.

"Greg understands the importance of security and safety and models that intensity for staffs. His work on this project may help staffs feel confident in situations when there is little time to waste looking for the proper form and procedure."

339 Attend Jewish Program

The Radical Jewish Culture program presented at the Main Library, Sunday afternoon, May 15, drew 339 attendees and featured Grammy-nominated pianist Uri Caine (above).  After the dedication ceremony, Mr. Caine performed and discussed the idea of Radical Jewish Culture - a term coined by John Zorn describing the reimaging of traditional Jewish music with influences of classical, jazz, world and undefined musical genres. 

Keith Marks,  Laura and Peter Bailet and Avant – program producer and sponsors - presented the library with a

donation of 244 items: five DVDs, seven books, and 232 CDs. 

Library Director Barbara Gubbin, seen Hi-5ing Mr. Marks' daughter, asked the audience to give a Hi-5 for the Summer Learning program, drawing $178 in donations. Attendees checked out some of the newly acquired materials immediately following the program. 

Jill Sherrod, Theresa Barmer, Patricia Dowdell, Carolyn Woods, Raisa Grigoryeva, and Pertoria Kennedy were thanked for their contributions to the event. Lisa Buggs, Coordinator of Lifelong Learning and Communication said, "The program, acquisitions, and checkouts would not have been possible without their efforts. Their support of Lifelong Learning is greatly appreciated." 

Trip The Light Fantastic: JB's Comic Con

Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop would not have missed Comic Con.

Theresa Welch is one of the proud staff at JB who participated in Comic Con and sent us this blurb and pics with this report, "Avengers and more assembled on Saturday, May 7, at JB for our 4^th Comic Con. Over 2,000 people visited us and were treated to a:

Performance by the Fletcher High School Band

Light saber demonstration by Jedi Academy of North Florida

Makeup demo by Special Effects artist Jay Woodley

Team Trivia Team Trivia Contest

Costume contest

The trio below: Main's Stephanie Miller, SST's Tony Miller (you need some sun, Tony), and their son, Tristan. 

 

And as you can see below, many staff were on hand for the big event:

The group picture includes Beaches Branch staff, Teen Volunteers, Main's Eve Harm, Mandy Elliott (PCR) and Region Manager Sara Roberts (blue wig in back).  The Comic Con devotee herself (Theresa Welch) is the "cook" on the far left. 

Mother's Day At West

West Branch Library held its second annual Mother's Day photo shoot, May 5th, and 60 attendees enjoyed having their pictures made in WST's specially designed Mother's Day setting.  They placed their pictures in frames they made to take home.  

Some Youth Services staff joined in the fun and had their picture made, too: L/R Carol Bunker, Julie Horton, and Melodie Brunson.

Thanks to Melodie for the blurb and pics.

104 Years Of Service Honored By JPL Board

Three of JPL's employees, who, collectively, have made JPL their careers for 104 years are retiring soon!  They were honored by the Library Board of Trustees at their meeting, May 12, 2016.

Two Library Clerical Supervisors--Cynthia Simmons (SE) and Beverly Brown (PCR)--and SE's Librarian III Cheryl Callavini received a JPL gold card, floral bouquet, and a letter of appreciation from Director Barbara Gubbin.

Cheryl, pictured above with Board Chair Erin Skinner and Director Barbara Gubbin,, celebrates 37 years with JPL this year.  Read more about her in the May 2016 Staff Profile.

Cynthia has spent 32 years at JPL. She began with the Summer Youth Program in 1984 and was hired as a part time page in the Children's Department. She went on to work full time for the Florida and Genealogy departments,  AR, KR, DU, and as Clerical Supervisor at the new Main Library and then transferred to SE. (Cynthia could not be present; Main/Urban Region Manager Michael Sullivan accepted for her.)

Beverly (middle lady below) began with JPL in 1981 and she has been with JPL 35 years, first serving as a clerk at WBK, then Main. Later she worked as an assistant at AR and Tech Services, then became a supervisor for Collection Development. More recently, she worked at JB and PCR.

Cynthia and Beverly were also subjects of the JPL Staff News Staff Profile--Cynthia in November 2013 and Beverly in August 2014. 

ALL OF US AT JPL WISH YOU, CHERYL, CYNTHIA, AND BEVERLY THE VERY BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT.  WE APPRECIATE YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE.  

WB Spreads The Fun W/Comic Con

Over 350 people of all ages turned out for WB’s first Comic Con, modeled after JB’s popular annual event.  WB offered customers the opportunity to interact with local artists and authors, play board games with a local game store, participate in a judged costume contest, meet local superhero *Moxie McGriff (pic to left) , take pictures at a greenscreen photobooth (manned by Margaret Fishback from CR&M), make superhero masks and wristcuffs, explore the library in a trivia scavenger hunt, and take photos with Jacksonville’s own Ghostbusters (below).  Thanks to Best, Alison McCarty at WB for the news & pic.)
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*Moxie Mcgriff won a One Spark contest last year with her first book, The Adventures of Moxie McGriff, and read her second book, Moxie McGriff Saves the Library, for kids at this event.

SST's Beverly Brown Plans To Retire

Beverly Brown is a calm, cool, and collected lady with a stately charm--the kind who can hold things steady when the "winds are blowing"; she will be sorely missed after 35 years at JPL.

  

Beverly said about her tenure with JPL, "I started May 19, 1981, at the Westbtbrook Library as a Clerk I.  I was promoted and worked at Main circulation as a Clerk II  and later transferred to AR, then promoted to Library Assistant and later transferred to Technical services which is now SST. Later, I promoted to a Clerical Service Supervisor over Acquisitions. After many years in SST, I was transferred to JB.  In October 2012, JPL libraries were divided into regions and I was transferred to the PCR Region as Clerical Supervisor and was the liaison to the managers and clerical staff at AR, JB & UPK in the region.  I will officially celebrate 35 years of service on Thursday, May 19, 2016.  As I retire, I certainly will not miss working nights or weekends J, but will certainly miss all the staff I have had the privilege of working with through the years. 

"My last day is May 27, but I will be back after vacationing in Maryland for the summer to help train staff on our new POS system."

Teens & Cherry Blossoms Bloom To Celebrate A Special Month

Even though Teen Library Associate Anjelica Bencomo recently transferred to Teen Main, she is still working (temporarily) with the SE Teen Advisory Board. Anjelica said, "This month SE changed out the lobby display to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with a beautiful cherry blossom tree."

Here's to Moms!

Mandarin Branch finished a busy week by honoring mothers.  Over 40 children and parents were treated to “Muffins with Mom” and juice in mini champagne flutes, and created Mother’s Day cards at the craft table.  One little boy, with flute in hand, turned to his mother and said, “Cheers!”  Frances Wickes said, "Priceless."

MAX Bridge Building Challenge.

Tweens and teens recently spent three weeks constructing bridges of popsicle sticks and glue at Maxville Branch. Then the completed bridges were put to the test: holding multiple water bottles.

Nine boys and girls participated, constructing two bridges. Both bridges successfully passed the test, as their smiles and the bridges attest!

They  thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and look forward to Bill's future adventures during SLP. (Thanks to William Figlietti, WST Library Associate, for the blurb and pics.)

KR's Once Upon A Time Party

It was party time at KR, May 4. Kate Zakharov, KR's YS Library Associate said, "We offered storybook-inspired food and decorations for the 58 students and parents from Beauclerc Elementary who attended. Students were treated to mini cupcakes adorned with fairy tale book covers, Little Red Riding Hood's basket of bite-sized white cakes, and Rice Krispies bars adopted from Alice in Wonderland. Organized by the Mandarin Youth Services Team, the children created origami crowns and dressed in costume to have their pictures taken at the Once Upon a Time photo booth.

Staff Profile - May 2016

Cheryl Callavini, Southeast Branch's YS Librarian III, has served in several positions and locations with JPL.  

Where best to share your love of reading, story telling, and a desire to enrich people's lives than as a librarian. Cheryl has served her family, JPL, and its customers for almost three decades and is now ready to expand her life in new ways when she retires soon.  We will miss her and hope she checks in with us occasionally after she checks out of JPL. 

Q: You have 37 years with JPL. What motivated you for so long?

A:  Every day I learn something new, whether researching a question for a customer, or in training to keep up with all the libraries' great new services.  

Q:  What professional attributes helped you the most along your career path?

A:  My Love of reading and literature and wanting to impart that passion to our customers, through storytimes and finding just the right book for the avid reader as well as the reluctant reader.

I also love the detective work in finding the answer to a customer’s question through the reference interview process and the research using our databases and other multiple sources.

I once helped a customer who was adopted find her birth parents in Germany.  She visited them in Germany and returned to show me the write up in a German magazine giving the library credit in the help of her search. I felt a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of rightness about the profession I had chosen.

Q: In what capacities have you served JPL and what have you learned from your experience?

A:  I have worked as a reference librarian, branch manager, children’s librarian, branch manager again and finally as a Youth Services Librarian III.  

I enjoy that moment when the light bulb goes on and you know the child gets the answer he has asked you to help him find. I have learned how rewarding it is to reassure a parent who is looking for help with a problem their child has, when you can share information to guide them through this stage of development.

Q:  Do you have some suggestions for new librarians?

A:  Each day you arrive at work is a fresh new start. Mistakes made previously can be looked at as stepping stones to your learning experience. Find the joy in each day. I try and live by Mother Theresa’s quote, “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop”.

Q:  What are some future plans you would share with us?  

A:  Travel, Travel, Travel.  Working and raising a family has kept me grounded; now I am ready to fly.  I have a list of places to visit this year, including a Mediterranean cruise (a graduation gift for my niece), Hawaii, and enjoying a New England fall. Next year, I am open to suggestions.

Chess - A Game of Strategy & Critical Thinking

NS & EB Branch Manager Phenessa Gray said, "Brentwood started its first chess club, Brentwood Youth Chess Club, April 23, with 14 in attendance. David Stevenson, PT Library Clerk, pictured above left, thought it was a great idea to teach our students critical thinking and strategy skills. David started several chess clubs in New York before moving to Jacksonville and I said he should start one here. We will be starting an adult chess club in the near future."

Blue Hair and Green Eggs and Ham at SS

SS's Emily Gideon reports, "We hosted the Spring Park Elementary School Celebration Night on the evening of April 28. The school advertised the event on a sign by the road and they handed out flyers and made announcements that students who attended would receive a homework pass. The principal, Mr. McWilliams, and media specialist Mrs. Picray read Green Eggs and Ham together while Mrs. Jesperson, the SAC chair, held up the book and turned the pages.  We had 12 children and their parents enjoying the book, crafts, scavenger hunt  and snack."

Cheyla Scantling Hits Her Own Hi-5

April 29^th, Library Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop awarded a five year recognition letter from Library Director Barbara Gubbin and a commemorative pin to Clerk Cheyla Scantling.  Cheyla works at the Murray Hill Branch. Pictured above (L/R) are MH Manager Guy Adkins, Cheyla, Ms. Giltrop, Regional Manager Marshelle Berry and Assistant Director for Public Services Julie McNeil.  Congratulations, Cheyla!

Here Comes Comic Con

Terry Welch and Julie Rekow from JB once again participated in the Opening of the Beaches Parade, Sunday April 23. They were accompanied by a host of Superheroes courtesy of friends from Superhero Beach Comic Book store. The parade helped advertise JB’s 4^th and WB’s 1^st Comic Con to be held on Saturday, May 7. Advertising never had it so good.

 

The picture below shows (L/R) JB 's Suzanne Neikirk, Julie Rekow, Darlene Boda and Terry Welch advertising their upcoming Comic Con. Terry said, "Since we are multi-taskers, we are also promoting the Hi-5 campaign for JPL’s Summer Reading Program. The Superhero on our shirts was designed  by Tony Miller of SST and JB is holding a 'Name the Superhero' contest."

Who's The Cutest? Now You Know:

YS Librarian II Margo Crafton sent this photo of a child who came with her parents to the reception at South Mandarin on Thursday evening, April 14^th. She said, "We had cookies and lemonade and had 19 customers stop by to admire the works. I do not know how many of these customers were from our four local schools (Loretto, Bartram Springs, Greenland Pines, and Mandarin Oaks) that exhibited a variety of art works, but an invitation was sent to each school advertising the event. 

The child’s name is Mehreesh Shubreen and she is a Kindergartner at Mandarin Oaks Elementary." 

Author Skyped Into JB's Book Club

On April 26^th, the Flamingo Book Club at JB discussed The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway, and The Paris Wife, a fictionalized account of Ernest Hemingway's marriage to  Hadley Richardson. The author, Paula McLain, visited via SKYPE and answered questions and discussed her writing process. She was a delightful person who signed off by saying, “I love book clubs”. Julie Rekow, who leads the book club, prepared the snack table, calling it A Moveable Feast.  (Thanks to Terry Welch for the blurb and very good pics.)

Book Club Good Business For MH

Guy Adkins, MH Manager, forwarded this pic and blurb, "We wanted to share this picture of a meeting of the book club at Murray Hill Library, April 23^rd. The book club is led by Margaret Esposito, MH Library Assistant. The book they discussed was Incognito: The Secret Lives of Brains, by David M. Eagleman.  Margaret is seated on the right with the book (yellow dust jacket) in front of her.  The book club meets monthly at MH."  (Click on the pic to enlarge it.)