Webb Wesconnett: Off & Running W/Read 66

Kathy Tekin has good reason to brag on her staff; she said, "Jessica Serrano created the display for the adult area with books found on the website under Read 66. Bobbi Knight and Noah Thomas created the bulletin board and book display.  I really love the phrase 'blue us away!' found in the children’s dept.on the book display,'These books blue us away!'" 

WHAT'S ON YOUR DISPLAY?

11th Battle Of The Bands Winners Named

The 11^th Annual Battle of the Bands, postponed to November 19, 2016, due to Hurricane Matthew, saw  five teen bands gave it their all! The winning band received a $100 cash prize from the JPL Foundation, professional recording session and CD from Green Team Media, gift cards to George’s Music Superstore, an official Battle of the Bands Gold Record and trophy, and an opportunity to perform at the January 2017 Art Walk.  All participating teens received a CD single with their band’s entry to the competition. 

1^st Place and 11th Annual Battle of the Bands Champion: The Allie Rhorer Band (pictured below L/R: Evan Mayo, Allie Rohrer, Gabriel Pfaffman, Gianluis Hernandez:

2^nd Place: Thee 2 Be

3^rd Place: Modern Monsters

Holly Amber, Manager of YS, said, "We really appreciate the  participation of the following people for their hard work:

Judges:  Stephanie Miller (Urban Core Manager) , Jay Brasfield (Special Collections), and Phil Green (Owner, Green Team Media) 

Event Stage Manager:  John Wilson (POP/MAKERSPACE) 

Others Who Made This Event a Great Success:  Jonathan Sandbach (Children’s), Amber Holley (YS Admin), Rebekah Mitchell (YS Admin), Susan Mankowski (Early Childhood Specialist), Laura Minor (Special Collections), Anjelica Bencomo (Teens), and Bryan Thomas (CR&M)."

(L to R): Laura Minor (Special Collections), Angelica Bencomo (Teens), Susan Mankowski (Early Childhood Specialist), Rebekah Mitchell (YS Admin)

(Thanks to Angelica Bencomo for her input for this araticle.)

SOM Hosts CM Schellenberg

Region Manager Keli Likins reports, "Council Member Matt Schellenberg (third from left above) attended the Gingerbread program, December 27, 2016, at South Mandarin Branch Library.  He read the narrator part of the Gingerbread Boy play.  Afterwards the kids made their own gingerbread boy cookie. 

"Thanks to the SOM staff for a good program."

EB Draws New Customers

Brown Eastside hosted Santa, December 22, and Shawn Norton (above center) , YS Librarian II, shares, "Sixteen  parents and children came to our Santa Stops and Photo Ops program. For some, this was their first visit and because they had fun, they plan to come back every Thursday for more stories (sans Santa, sadly to say.)”

                          Shawn Norton's daughter, Robin, had her time with Santa, too.

DU's Minute to Win It: Holiday Edition

Youth enjoyed fun games, December 22, including: Snowman Stack – Each team had to see how many snowmen they could create in a minute by stacking marshmallows, and then making the faces with candy corn and chocolate chips.

Candy Bar Game - Teens tried to dress with a scarf, winter jacket, and mittens, cut a piece of candy in half and eat it before the next teen rolled a 6.

Winter Weather Watch – an online scavenger hunt that included information about winter and winter storms Grab Bag –The teens created Human Christmas trees by wrapping their teammates in crepe paper, paper chains, and adding a bow on top.

Present Time – Teens unwrapped a present while wearing a pair of gloves.

Snowball Toss – One teammate held a wreath on a string while another teammate attempted to toss snowballs(marshmallows) through the hole in the wreath.

Unwrap a Kiss – Each team had to see how many Hershey's kisses they could unwrap with one hand in a minute.

After the games, the teens decorated and ate gingerbread men and washed them down with hot apple cider.  (Thanks to Beverly Mason for the input.)  

"Noon" Year At DU

Eve Harm, Youth Services Librarian II at the Highlands Library,  surprised children with a special “Noon” Year  celebration after a special storytime and noise-maker craft.  In the style of a traditional balloon drop, the children tossed the balloons into the air using a tablecloth “parachute”.  (Thanks to Michelle T. Petrin, Youth Services Librarian III, Highlands Region, for the news.)

SS Hosts Santa & His Fans

       SS staff, Kevin Douglas(L) & Robbie Crabtree, welcome Santa.

Santa Claus came to San Marco Branch, December 17, 2016, and brought candy canes and good cheer for all--and 75 parents and kids came out to meet him.  

Each child either waited in line to tell Santa what he/she wanted or stood to the side to make collage Christmas trees out of colorful strips of paper.  After all the children had a chance to talk with Santa, he soared away on his bright red sleigh, off to spread holiday cheer elsewhere.

Hooray For Friends of SOM

Thanks to Library Associate Christie Rogers for this photo of the new learning panels at the South Mandarin Library. The panels were purchased by the Friends of the South Mandarin Library for the Children’s Department. Christie said, "The panels will help children work on their fine motor skills and we are very grateful to the Friends of SOM for their support."

Job Well Done: Martha Smith, Jay Brasfield & Margaret Morford

Martha Smith, Jay Brasfield and Margaret Morford received Job Well Done awards, December 5, 2016.  Beth Friederich said, "Recently, Main Children’s began offering schools the option for a complete Main library tour. The Special Collections team located resources that highlight their collections and excite the children.  Jay introduced me to the oldest map in the room and some with fun features that children would find interesting.  Martha pulled books from the collection, such as the Sanborn maps that show Jacksonville’s streets before the current Main Library was built. Margaret gave me a tour of the department to further my understanding of the resources.  All of their input enables me to answer students' questions.

"Additionally, when these wonderful librarians are on the desk, they introduce themselves and present the department to the students and have been available to answer questions." 

Job Well Done: Nicole Evans

Nicole Evans received a Job Well Done award, December 6, 2016, for presenting a spectacular guitar program for the Markrspace.  Beth Friederich said, "Nicole has built a community of guitar students form age 8 to 80.  Each week, she researches a song (selected by the group) and then facilitates its learning as students support and help each other.  The collaboration of this group is fun to watch and it would not happen without Nicole to inspire them."

Job Well Done: Kelli Heath

Nicole Evans awarded Kelli Heath (both are in Main's Children’s Department) with a Job Well Done award, December 13, 2016.  Nicole said, Kelli consistently goes above and beyond whether she is taking on a large project (like planning our monthly celebrations, which always include games, activities and refreshments), or a small project (such as always creating enticing and interesting displays). Her positive attitude is contagious and appreciated by everyone who works with her, and she does the right thing.  She never misses an opportunity to show/tell her colleagues that she appreciates them and to celebrate their accomplishments. Kelli took on the responsibility of buying cards for certain occasions and passing them around for signatures. A birthday, promotion, or new team member is always greeted with a card. One of our shelvers is going to have a baby in February, and Kelli has been bringing her little gifts each week; a onesie, a board book, a baby toy, etc. These are the things that she does that no one ever asks her to do, yet she is overjoyed to do them. She always gives 110% and we all look forward to days that she joins us at the library."

Job Well Done: Stacey Van Hoy

Stacey Van Hoy, Librarian II, was awarded  a Job Well Done Award at the Mandarin Library, December 1, 2016, before she transferred to PCR.  KR Branch Manager Mark Hohnadel said, "The award was for the great job she did weeding, shifting and reorganizing the adult collection at KR.  The customers love the expanded large print collection." 

Kudos From Customers - December 2016

Argyle Branch:  Our children LOVE coming to the Library's story time for the children’s program. Starting on Sunday evening they ask if it's library day! One way they are learning the days of the week is by knowing every Wednesday, we go to the library. They are excited and yell and scream when it's "Library Day." We are incredibly grateful to Ms. Kim (Kimberly Forster) and this program (PASS for Babies) for enriching their lives through social interactions, interactive play, and age appropriate learning.

Main Library:  I wish to praise Amanda (Whaley) and Sara (Radovic)—both at reference desk—for their patient assistance with renewing my library card.

South Mandarin Branch:  Today I came to the library. I am very happy to be here, thanks to Ms. Angela Richman, who helped me with translation; she was great. …

________________________________________________________

(Sorry folks, that's all thus far for December; usually there is less input 

from customers in December.)

Memorial To Gail Marion

Gail Marion was a part of our JPL staff for 27 years as a librarian at the Haydon Burns Library before we moved to the new Main Library.  After she retired from JPL, she worked as a librarian at Everest University here in Jacksonville. She passed away, December 15, 2016, after a months long battle with cancer.

Major Gail E. Marion, USAR, SC, Retired, was most proud of her service to her country for 27 years--as a WAC, in the Florida Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve, finally retiring in June 2000.  

We will miss Gail's astute presence and sharp wit.

Here is a link to the obituary with visitation information and funeral plans:
http://obittree.com/obituary/us/florida/jacksonville/arlington-park-funeral-home/gail-marion/2798053/

Our sincerest sympathy goes out to her family and friends.

Merry Christmas!

SE Region Manager Keli Likins (L) and SST's Technology Services Administrator Lisa Peterson join Santa in wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread Houses At SE

"SE hosted a gingerbread house party, December 17. and 91   participants created their own gingerbread houses out of graham crackers and candies," reports Mia Brack, YS Librarian III, SE Region.

UPK's Hour of Code

UPK held an Hour of Code program, December 7, and kids ages 6-12 were welcome to learn about coding and how to design their own game! Using their own blocks of code, they designed their own adventures. After the 20+ kids finished, they were given a certificate of competition. (Thanks to Alexis Carter, YS Librarian II, UPK, for the input.)

Sen. Aaron Bean Visits San Marco Branch

Kids and parents were treated to a story time program with Florida State Senator Aaron Bean, December 7, 2016, at San Marco Branch Library.  Sen. Bean read Little Blue Truck's Christmas to some 45 children and parents and afterwards the Senator spoke and posed for pictures with the children.

Job Well Done: Kenya Coleman

Kenya Coleman was presented a Job Well Done award, December 9, 2016, for suggesting that Main's Popular department Customer Favorites DVDs, previously shelved near browsing books on the ground floor, be moved to the 2^nd floor with the rest of the DVDs. Sara Radovic said, "And not only did Kenya make the suggestion; she moved them all upstairs herself.  This move enabled staff to be more efficient as there is one less place to look for a DVD for a  "send item" or a customer request.  Additionally, she took the initiative to move the entire shelving display by herself, which was very generous and thoughtful of her.  Kenya is a great team player and her help here was much appreciated by the POP staff."

"Santa" Came To Staff At NS

NS YS Librarian I Billy Allen sent us these pics and said, "The Friends of the Brentwood Branch Library decided to bring a delicious lunch for the staff at NS, acknowledging their work serving the neighborhood another year."  (Must have been excellent service to get this kind of lunch!)