JPL Leadership Awards At Board Meeting, 8/10/17

The quarterly JPL Leadership Awards were presented at the JPL Board of Directors meeting at the Main Library, August 10, 2017.  Congratulations to all of our winners:

Shown above, flanked by Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop and Library Board Chair Ronnie King, JB Library Clerk Terry Welch receives two awards.

Winner of both the Challenge the Process and Employee of the Quarter Awards, JB's Terry Welch (above) regularly finds creative ways to engage customers in conversation about what they are reading and watching. The most notable example occurred when Dave Barry was Skyped at JB for 91 book lovers as he reviewed his latest book, Best.State.Ever.  

Above L/R former JPL Deputy Director Carolyn Williams, for whom the team award is named; Interim Library Director Jennifer Giltrop, Foundation Development Director Dr. Jamie Self; YS Librarian III Rebekah Mitchell, behind her: Coordinator of Lifelong Learning & Community Engagement Lisa Buggs, Library Clerk Terry Welch, Manager of YS&CO Amber Holley, SE Region Manager Keli Likins, Interim Assistant Director, Facilities Michael Sullivan, and CR&M Manager Chris Boivin.

This was the first presentation of the Carolyn Williams Team Award: Challenge the Process. The award winning team is pictured above (not pictured are Urban Librarian IV Stephanie Miller and CR&M Coordinator Olga Bayer and Graphics Artist Bryan Thomas.) These employees worked tirelessly to make this year's Jax Book Fest a success. Amber focused on recruiting youth authors, working with Stephanie and Rebekah; Lisa focused on recruiting adult authors. Keli was project manager, coordinating the event and she worked with Chris, Bryan and Olga.  Michael worked with Keli coordinating zine programming in Makerspace and with Terry, who pulled together gift items and baskets. On the Foundation's end, Dr. Self did the honors.   

Below are pictured recipients of the Carolyn Williams Team Award: Model the Way.  (Not pictured are PCR's Library Assistant Siu Yam, P/T Clerks Illesa Massline, Arlin Estes and Kristina Mikhedok, P/T Associate Shirley Holcomb.  Stephanie Harley received their awards for them.)                        

 L/R above: Carolyn Williams, P/T Associate Nicole Denton, receiving for absent winners: Library Clerical Supervisor Stephanie Harley, P/T Clerk Alicia Dottery, and Library Clerks Danielle Linnen and Kimberly Washington, then Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop.
At Pablo Creek’s June Turn it Up Thursday event, this "human jukebox" group chose four songs, created props, and set up a table in the lobby. If a customer agreed to make a donation to the High Five for Reading program, the group sang whichever song the customer chose.  

Nicolle Burton, Assistant to the Deputy Director, coordinated the Volunteer Recognition Program held at the Board Meeting during National Library Week, liaising with a wide range of parties. In her absence, Nicolle's Encourage the Heart Award was received by Andrew Herron. 

CW's Library Assistant Dana Curry (not pictured) created posters, characters and displays for the library’s Comic Con, going the tenth mile to ensure the project looked its best.  For this Dana received the Model the Way Award.

King & Giltrop Make JPL's Case Before City Finance Committee

Library Board Chair Ronnie King and Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop were early to rise to the occasion of the August 11, 2017, City Finance Committee meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall to plead the case for JPL's no nonsense budget for FY2018 (October 1, 2017-October 30, 2018). THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

The Finance Committee members are Chair CM Garrett Dennis, Vice Chair CM Danny Becton, and Council Members:   Katrina Brown, Reggie Brown, Reggie Gaffney and Lori Boyer, who is also President of the City Council.) 

IT'S NEVER TOO SOON TO DO GOOD WORK

At the last New Employees Orientation, Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop asked if any new staff had a good customer service encounter to relate and two new staff members had some input.  One was CW P/T Library Associate Jan Fernandez, "I had worked at Webb Library

for only three days when an elderly gentleman from SC came in with his daughter. He was upset and needed to access his G-mail account. He was sailing his boat up to Charleston from the Keys--with his daughter as crew--when his boat broke down near Jacksonville. Since he is retired Navy, they managed to make it into the Jax Navy marina and he began making arrangements for the boat to be repaired. He then got a call that his wife had been hospitalized and became even more anxious to leave the boat for repair and get home. However, he didn’t have his boat’s registration with him and no one would start to work on the boat without proof that it was his! He called the SC DMV and they would not fax his registration, but they would email it to him.

"I helped him get to his account, and then to the site to retrieve his copy of the registration forms. Imagine my surprise when we turned out to be from the same small town in SC! At any rate, we printed the forms he needed and he hugged me on his way out. I believe the Library truly made a difference for him and his family that day!"

A REALLY INTERESTING STORY AND ON A SCALE OF 1-10, A 10 FOR GET TO YES CUSTOMER SERVICE, JAN FERNANDEZ!

Teens On Tour!

Community Relations and Marketing does SO MANY things for all of us.  One "grain of sand" in the ocean of those was July 27, 2017. Main's Teen Department  wanted to do something different, educational and fun with teens to fulfill the SLP video challenge. So CR&M organized a trip to WJXT and 17 teens attended a tour of Channel 4's studio on Adams Street. They learned about the control room, how the meteorologist uses the green screen and met one of the anchors. 

Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop, who is ever advocating for youth education, did not miss out on this occasion--she is pictured fourth from left in the back.

Jenna Hassell, CR&M's Coordinator said, "Who knows -- we might have inspired some of these young people to have a bright future in journalism and broadcast!"

Laundry Day at DU? No!

Highlands Branch Manager Pat Morrison reports, "Staffers got in a little cardio while helping the children’s staff prepare the Parachute Game for story time recently.  The ladies raised and lowered the parachute and circled and swayed left then right to the Jamaican rhythms of Harry Belafonte’s Banana Boat Song.  I think the smiles tell the whole story."  Pictured L to R:  Felecia Battle, Chanika Kimbrough, Beverly Mason, Ruth Guyton, Eve Harm, Michelle Petrin and Barbara Fritz.

Improv At DU

A four day project/challenge was enthusiastically participated in by teens at DU's Mad Cowford Presents: Intro to Improv Mini-Camp recently. Presented by Amy Angelilli from the Adventure Project, each day began with activities that taught essential skills for improv.

Superhero Circle, the first activity of each day, involved teens creating a superhero name for themselves which included their first name and an adjective that described them.  They would take turns going around the circle introducing themselves.

Yes Circle required each teen to walk up to another teen making eye contact.  The teen he/she looked at would say yes and walk towards someone else while the first teen took their place in the circle.

Teens learned the two magic words of improve are “yes and”. There were other various games that encouraged improve skills.

Each day ended with a Paper Clip which required the teens to form a “Tableau” as they chose to become an object in a scene.  The scene was not planned.  One teen named their object and took their place.  The next teen had to decide how to add to the scene by becoming an object.  (Thanks to Beverly Mason for the article and pics.)

Healthy Is Delicious At NW

Bradham Brooks Northwest Library hosted a nutrition and health program, Publix Aprons Cooking School, August 5, 2017. It was presented by Chef James Carlin, who gave a one hour demonstration on how to select and cook healthy foods. There were two sessions during the day and attendees received good tips on the benefits of cooking the right foods--and NW customers received a few free samples. (Thanks to Andy Gallegos, YS Librarian for the pic and news.)

Space, Stars & Solar Eclipse At WST

Melodie Brunson, WST's P/T YS Associate announced, "We kicked off the month of August on the 5th at West Branch with the subject of space, stars and solar eclipse as a big hit with the children at our Stories for Young Children and Art. We read stories, sang songs and created the Big Bang theory with inflatable balls representing planets on our parachute--what a hoot! In Art, we painted suns and stars with toothbrushes as part of an interactive art of a solar eclipse and participants thought we rocked our eclipse

sun glasses!"

KR Telling Shoppers About JPL's Services

Above are Mandarin Branch Manager Mark Hohnadel and KR's Children's Library Assistant David Foster, who manned a table at the Avenues Mall, Saturday, August 5, 2017, as part of the Sheriff's Watch Safety Fair. Mark said, "During this event we talked to many people about the library and the varied services JPL's 21 locations offer."  THANK YOU for being good advertisers for all of us.

Special Exhibit Celebrates 75 Years Of Service To Mankind

Pictured are Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop and Library Board Trustee Dr. Brenda Simmons-Hutchins at an exhibit, "75 Years of Service - The Gamma Rho Omega Story" on the 4th floor of the Main Library, August 5, 2017. The exhibit provides an overview of significant events in the existence of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated from its founding in 1908 by coeds at Howard University. Mrs. Simmons-Hutchins was President of AKA Sorority, 1996-1999. It was a special event for her to celebrate 75 years of service of the sorority. The exhibit, which will be up until September 1, shares the history of Gamma Rho Omega Chapter's commitment to the sorority's creed, "to be of service to all mankind." 

Trustee Dr. Brenda Simmons-Hutchins has served previously as Chair of the Library Board of Trustees and participated in other community services and has certainly fulfilled her sorority's creed.

SLP Winners Come And Get It At SOM

SOM's Christie Rogers--so far--is the only one to report on SLP winners picking up their grand prizes. 

Christie brags, "The first picture is of Nehal with his Outdoor Fun pack and his brother Gauvonv shows off his Superhero Pack, they are giving their best superhero look! 

"The second picture is of Teen winner Julia who was excited about her VR Glasses prize."

Main Wraps Up SLP

Main Children’s department held its SLP closing party and art exhibit, July 26, 2017. Marcie O'Dell shares, "Guests enjoyed Hop Scotch, puppets, magnetic building blocks, texture tables and refreshments while viewing some awesome art created during the Collaborative Art Six-Week SLP.  Pictured are aluminum foil sculptures and sibling artists at the One World Wall Art Collage.  There was also a texture table with star-shaped crayons where kids could spell their names. It was a terrific end to a great summer at Main."

Carisia Rooney Gets Good Sendoff From Main

Carisia Rooney’s promotion to SE Branch Manager fostered a farewell BLT and Cookie Dough Cake feast at Main Children’s department, August 1, 2017. Marci O'Dell said, "Now, we'll need to walk more or take the stairs. We all wish Carisia the best in her new role!" (Seated clockwise starting at bottom left are: Anna Covart, Denikka Wright, Raymond Johnson, Melloney Shepherd, Raelyn Wiirre, Alexandra Bishop, Hannah Genslinger and Carisia Rooney.)

MH Replays Nazi U-boat Attack Off Jax Beach & St. Augustine

Council Member Jim Love (left below) knows the value of a good program and attended Murray Hill Library's history presentation, July 19, 2017, about the 1942 Nazi U-boat attack off Jacksonville Beach and St. Augustine.

Local historian Scott Grant (blue suit) addressed the 22 people there and showed a film strip that included footage of the actual submarine and it’s commander.

L/R: Presenter Scott Grant, Margaret Esposito, Camara Bragdon, Doug Fair, Cheyla Scantling, CM Jim Love & MH Manager Janet Ducat.

Both Scott Grant and CM Jim Love found a warm welcome from the audience and MH staff. 

60 Attend Tae Kwon Do At MH

Murray Hill Library hosted a Tae Kwon Do demonstration, July 29, 2017, as part of the Sister Cities programming. (The sister city is Changwon City, South Korea.) Douglas Fair reports, "A total of 60 people attended the event presented by the Murray Hill chapter of Yesha Ministries Tae Kwon Do School. Participants demonstrated forms, breaking, self-defense, sparring, and various martial arts weapons."

 

SOM Teen Volunteers & Staff Do Puppet Show

                        Anne McMullen as Elephant and Maya Nafea as Piggie.

SOM Teen Volunteers Colleen Mackin,  Anne McMullen, and Maya Nafea along with Library Associate Christie Rogers performed an Elephant and Piggie puppet show for children, August 1, 2017. Elephant and Piggie is a book series by Mo Willems. Christie said, "This was the teens' first time organizing and performing a puppet show and it was a success with 29 attendees enjoying four stories. Their favorites: There is a Bird on Your Head! and doing the Hokey Pokey with the characters."

Anne McMullen as Elephant, Colleen Mackin as Piggie, and Christie Rogers/Maya Nafea dancing the Hokey Pokey.

Buffalo Soldiers Historical Society At SOM

South Mandarin Branch Library hosted the President of the Buffalo Soldier Historical Society, Mr. Joe Tillmon, July 26, 2017, regaled visitors with information and stories regarding the history of the United States Buffalo Soldiers.  African Americans have served faithfully and honorably in every conflict America has entered into.  Much of the historical information provided by the presentation is not known by the general public and was well received by the 13 attendees.  Library Associate Senior Ralph Henderson said, "If you ever have an opportunity to hear Mr. Tillmon, or any other of the members of Buffalo Soldier Historical Society, you will certainly be enriched by the experience. 

Rep. Jason Fischer Addresses KR's Last SLP

L/R KR Manager Mark Hohnadel, a dad with child, THE cow, Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop, Rep. Jason Fischer and  Library Assistant David Foster with a group of kids and parents.

For Mandarin Branch's closing celebration of SLP, July 29, 2017, Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop welcomed an audience of 88 and introduced State Representative Jason Fischer, who spoke about the importance of reading. 

Later the children and caregivers enjoyed games, story time by David Foster and ice cream. Librarian I Isabel Santiago said, "Approximately 5,253 books were read during the summer program so we had good reason to celebrate."  (Thanks to Isabel for the photo above.)

NW Says Aloha To SLP

NW held its SLP closing party and art gala, July 24, 2017, where staff had various booths displaying the school age mini-series, Collaborative Art, and teen mini-series, Go Native, for the 45 attendees who enjoyed seeing the kids accomplishments over the summer. 

YS Librarian Andy Gallegos reports, "We celebrated our progress during SLP, had a short Storytime for the young ones and let them choose a simple craft to do as we waited for ice cream to arrive. The kids enjoyed interacting with their friends, making their own masterpieces and taking a photo at one of our summer visuals, such as Maui seen here."

KR Wins High Five Contest

Employees at Mandarin enjoyed a pizza party for winning the High Five Contest, July 28, 2016. CONGRATS TO (L/R): 

Margo Crafton

Jessica Bayne

Standing: Deborah Wainwright

Isabel Moreno

Standing: Keli Likins

Robert Moseley

Diane Lewis

Alison Pulley

David Foster

Patty Henderson

Caitlin Ruvolo

Shukti Banerjee and 

Mark Hohnadel

KR Branch Manager Mark Hohnadel said, "Thanks to Sara Roberts, Chris Boivin, Amber Holley, Karen Walker, Diane Alexander and Donna Crowther, who came out to cover the desk so all the staff could enjoy the party. "

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT!