Good Ideas For Gifts At KR

Mandarin Library's Manager Mark Hohnadel invites you to a treat for your eyes and a few of the exeptional paintings are pictured here.  Mark says, "Mandarin is proud to host a display of various local artists.  The display will be up for an undetermined period of time and the paintings can be purchased.  The exhibit has been organized by Ronald Episcopo of the Jacksonville Artists Guild.  Come on out!" 

Nikki Denton: Job Well Done!

Nikki Denton plays a critical role in Pablo Creek Branch's Turn It Up! monthly, one of a kind program as well as in other areas. Although she works only 25 hours a week, Stacey Van Hoy, who nominated Nikki for a Job Well Done Award, says, "She is second to none in innovation and teamwork and is a creative engine, sparking ideas and action. Nikki is not only our photographer for Turn It Up!, she has created spectacular slat wall backdrops, crafts and games for that and other programs.  Her shadow puppets for the African folktale Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock captivated staff and customers, bringing to life an old story.  She created a Harry Potter display, made dragon's eggs and a craft for children. For Build a Better World, she created a seed bomb craft, showing kids of all ages how to add beauty to the world by planting a seed bomb wherever you want flowers." Nikki received her Job Well Done Award, November 8, 2017.

UMMM-UMMM Good

"For the second year in a row, Mandarin Branch Library celebrated our “Holiday Tree Swap,” organized by Library Clerk Caitlin Ruvolo (pictured here.) During this activity, the staff enjoyed hot cocoa and sweet treats. Additionally, they took home boxes full of leftover goodies," said YS Librarian I Isabel Santiago-Moreno  

KR's Santiago Visits Crown Point Elementary

Mandarin Branch Library's YS Librarian I Isabel Santiago attended a Crown Point Elementary Literacy Event, December 18, 2017. During this special activity different persons from all areas of Jacksonville read a book to different classes from pre-K to 5^th grade. Here you see Ms. Santiago with Ms. Carol Turknett, Pre-K class teacher, after reading the book , The Three Snow Bears, by Jan Brett.

Small Kids W/Big Hearts Delight Santa & Quench The Grinch

Santa Visits the Highlands Library:  Stories for Young Children, December 13, 2017, saw small children arrive dressed in their holiday best, mainly sparkly dresses and little dress shirts.  The program was presented by Library Assistant Felecia Battle, assisted by YS Associate Beverly Mason.  “Ms. Felecia”  shared the book, Bears Stay Up for Christmas, and led the families in song.  Next, the children practiced their colors by hanging paper ornaments on a mini Christmas tree.  Afterward, each of the children received a goodie bag filled with “reindeer noses” (chocolate covered raisins) and made reindeer hats while waiting for their turn to meet Santa.  It was a wonderful morning full of Christmas spirit!

Girls of Jacksonville Daisy Troop # 2324 created playful winter decorations for DU's Children’s department.

Highlands Display Highlights Kindness:  

The Grinch’s heart was 2 sizes too small. 

So kids and families at Highlands

Shared their acts of kindness

With good deeds to show love for all.

                                          Grinch display created by Lorna Reid

Deck The Halls With Loads of Cookies

South Mandarin Library had a cookie decorating program and a Santa visit, December 15, 2017. SOM's two elves, YS Librarian III Mia Brack and Part-time Library Associate Carissa Charest, helped at the cookie stations. Eighty children took part in decorating a cookie, face painting, and telling Santa what they want. Some of the requested items were a train track, a baby doll, and a real dinosaur, not a fake one.  (Thanks to  Library Associate Christie Rogers for the input & pic.) 

The More The Much Merrier

Northwest Branch's Vickie Leonard really went all out for Christmas 2017 decorating these trees in different splendor. Isn't this a great idea! 

Betty Person Retires After 40 Years

Pictured center is Library Assistant Betty Person who retired December 8, 2017, with 40 years of service.  Pictured are Margaret Morford (front) and Main POP Librarian III Kathleen Brunner stands behind Betty.  Margaret and Kathleen hosted a retirement lunch and others brought items for the get together honoring Betty the day of her retirement.  Many of her coworkers came to wish her the very best as she starts a new chapter in life. As usual Betty brought her fabulous smile for all of her well wishers.

Manager of the Grand Reading Room Margaret Morford said, "Betty Person began working at the library as a student in Circulation, promoted to part-time and then to full-time. Betty worked in most of the departments at Main and at Graham Branch.  Most recently, she has been a part of the Main Popular Department/Grand Reading Room staff for over a year, and we were glad to have her as a part of our Popular Department team."

Library Board Chair Ronnie King and Interim Director Jennifer Giltrop commended Betty's 40 years of service at the Board's December 14, 2017 meeting and presented her with a bouquet of red roses.

Secret Santa Is Coming To SE

A faux chimney never looked so good as this one at Southeast Library. Carol Bunker said, "We created  the fireplace so we could hang our stockings for Secret Santa this year. A few of my coworkers and I also came up with an adaptation of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas':

"Twas the Week before Christmas, when all thru the workroom,

Not a patron was stirring, not even in the children’s room;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Secret Santa soon would be there;
The workers were working all snug in their desks,
While visions of vacations danced when they rest,
And Ms. Keli in her office, and Carisia in hers,
Had just settled down with all the brochures."

Thanks to Carol Bunker, SE YS Librarian II for the input.

JPL Wins Honorable Mention In Deck The Chair Contest

CR&M Manager Chris Boivin sent these pictures of the Deck the Chair contest held December 10, 2017, at Jax Beach in which JPL won Honorable Mention, along with four other entries, with its Harry Potter Chair.  At top is the Singing Palm Trees, which won Best of Show; at bottom L/R: Treehouse Chair (Gold Ribbon); Holiday Fishing Bear (Blue Ribbon); and Little Chapel School House (Red Ribbon).  Ballots were distributed to visitors of the JBDTC on two weekend nights and winners were chosen from more than 100 votes that were cast.

Learning & Having Fun At CW

Fight the Blight:

CW hosted a special presentation of Fight the Blight, December 6, 2017. After learning how they can help keep Jax clean, kids turned theory into practice as they took turns shooting trash into cans to win prizes. Everyone walked away a winner.

Marshmallow Igloos:

Bobbie Knight presented a STEM program at CW, December 7, 2017, about building Igloos. After a pretend snowball fight, the kids took turns reading about the construction of real igloos. Participants of all ages had a great time figuring out how to recreate the steps using marshmallows instead of snow. No two people built their igloo in the exact same way! Success never tasted so sweet.

Thanks to Beth Friederich for the input and pics.

Brightly Shining Art

Chanukah or Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) began at sundown December 12, 2017. This menorah in the children’s department at the Mandarin Library was created during children’s story time craft 
THOSE KIDS DO GREAT ART! (Thanks to KR Manager Mark Hohnadel for this pic.)

Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. The Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication,” and is thus named because it celebrates the rededication of the Jews' Holy Temple.

Is There Tuna In Your Tree?

There’s a cat in our Christmas tree! Miss Kelli (Heath),pictured here, themed this year’s tree around the book “My Pet Human” written and illustrated by Yasmine Surovee. In honor of the pet theme, Miss Kelli decorated the tree in the Children’s Department with cat treats, tuna, and olives, of course.  (Thanks to Library Associate Alex Bishop for the blurb and pic.)

True Blue For The Red, White & Blue

Because of December 7, 1942, ushering in WWII, American flags will fly at half mast this December 7, 2017. Because of that, the Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf War and all the other wars and skirmishes and all the blood spilled to afford red stripes in that awesome flag, here is what we honor and salute--a very small THANK YOU for all of those who paid the price for the United States of America:

It Took A Board To Make A Tree?

UPK's Alexis Carter, YS Librarian II, said, "Our Teen Advisory Board created a book tree, December 2, 2017, topped with a  poinsettia. Then ornaments with the teens' names were added to the tree as well as gifts around it to complete the beautiful display. They did a wonderful job."  

UPK's Manager Tamera Branam added, "Many customers and visiting staff are taking pictures of our gorgeous tree."

Friends Of JPL Specials For December

              S P R E A D  T H E  W O R D:
Friends of JPL In-Store specials for December 2017:

BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE:  NON-FICTION BOOKS, DVD's & CD's

CHRISTMAS CLOSING DATES The store will be closed: December  23, 2017  through  January  2, 2018 Store will reopen Thursday,  January 4th,  2018

MAXVILLE KICKS OFF HOLIDAY SEASON

Region Manager Lynne Baldwin says, "Season Greetings from the Maxville Branch Library.  Library Associate Elise Fare kicked off the holiday season at MAx with a festive bulletin board, story time books and one of her very own quilts.  Elise hosts Quilt Camp at MAX on the third Saturday of each month."

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

Lynn Baldwin, CW Region Manager, shares a wonderful time, "The Friends of the Brentwood Library hosted the Santa Stop and Photo Ops Program at Brentwood, December 1, 2017.  More than 80 kids from different daycare centers met Santa, took part in a holiday story time with Shawn Norton and took home a large gift bag donated by the Friends of the Brentwood Library.  State Representative Tracie Davis stopped by right after the children had left the building but she did get her photo taken with Santa and met and spoke with the staff and Mrs. Coon and the rest of the Friends."

                                                          

                                      This was so much fun!  

Fun With Coding At NW

Andy Gallegos, YS Librarian I, said, "NW held an Early Release Fun program, November 29, 2017, enjoyed by our school age kids. Thanks to NEFLIN, we obtained Osmo Coding game equipment to use and the children enjoyed the graphics and building on basic coding concepts with various pieces of the activity. They started with a simple tutorial and soon advanced to more complex coding commands--all the while having a blast!"

November Thanksgiving At WST

West Library's YS Librarian I Eve Harm wanted you to know how they celebrated Thanksgiving, "For the month of November, customers wrote what they were thankful for on our autumn leaves.  The leaves were displayed on a bulletin board tree and owl in the Children's department.  Our owl, inspired by all these great thanks, remarks 'Owl always be thankful for...'  It was a great collaboration between WST's staff and customers. 

"For Ms. Melodie’s last November Music and Movement, we gave thanks for the West Branch Library.  We shared Thanksgiving songs and rhymes and learned about Native Americans.  Afterwards, we enjoyed a yummy feast complete with apple cider, mashed potatoes, veggies and cookies.  (What's Thanksgiving without a feast?  I even caught a little of her storytime via video https://youtu.be/IGaHzRpVkQI ".)