BOLT Thanks Erica Brown for 31 Years of Service

The April 18, 2019, Library Board of Trustees kicked off their meeting with a warm tribute to Highlands (currently) Branch Manager Erica Brown.  Board Chair Ronnie King (R) introduced Erica to the board and guests and said, "Erica Brown has been a source of patience and good management at JPL for longer than most people have been librarians.  She is now retiring after 31 years, having started with JPL in March of 1988.  Her handprint is on many libraries here, having managed six of them--Highlands, Main, Southeast, Webb, San Marco, and Willowbranch. Director Tim Rogers read his letter to Erica, acknowledging and thanking her for her many years of service.  Then she was presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.  Everyone applauded Erica and we all wish her the very best in her future.  Erica Brown will retire May 4, 2019.  She will be sorely missed. 

Lotsa Art, Little Refresh, All Happy

"Brentwood’s DCPS art reception, April 23, 2019, was an evening event filled with some 120 eager artists and proud, happy parents and teachers.  We were happy to serve the enthusiastic crowd  refreshments provided by the Friends of the Brentwood Library," said NS Branch Manager Kathleen Krizek.

Librarian I Jackie Perry added, "Students wore 'Exhibiting Artist' badges so everyone would recognize the honorees.  When the art teacher from John Love Elementary picked up her students’ art she said all of her exhibiting students attended the reception."

Three Happy Birthdays!

Regency Square Branch employees helped celebrate three important April birthdays with a cake in their honor.   Ann Ludke, Shelver; Lauren Lazar, Children’s Associate; and Nicole Atkinson, Adult Associate.  Cindy Mathieson brags,  Ann is a 'shelver extraordinaire,'  Lauren is always on her toes in the Children’s Department, and Nicole mans the REF desk and creates fabulous book displays.  AR is lucky to have each of them here."  (Thank you to  Cindy for sharing the good news and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO EACH OF YOU APRIL BABIES FROM ALL OF US.)

WB's Storytime

Willowbranch’s Youth Services team hosted a special story time across the street at the Riverside Avondale Community Garden, April 17, 2019. Dozens of families enjoyed Mr. Joe’s (Gaskin)stories and music, Ms. Jane’s (Griffo)arts & crafts, and an Easter egg hunt.  Special thanks to Kat Simi, Joe Gaskin, and Jane Griffo for organizing the event, and thanks as always to the Friends of Willowbranch Library for their support! (Thanks to Ryan Reid for input.)

 

JPL At Mandarin Arts Festival

SOM's Julie Fredericks, pictured far right below, and KR's Angela Richman worked a library information table at the Mandarin Arts Festival, April 20, 2019.  Five people signed up for library cards and one card was renewed. Angela said “We have received many compliments from residents and visitors. Most of them were about our new library hours and our library services over all.”

 Keli Likins, Region Manager added, "Thanks Julie and Angela for working the event."

 

Important To Promote Art

The fascinating heart (left) crowned the Friends of Brentwood Library's invitation to their two hour evening kickoff to “Art from the Heart”, April 16, 2019.  The exhibit highlights a gallery of paintings from Andrew Jackson High School students at Brentwood Library.  The gala attracted art lovers from Andrew Jackson High, library staff, Friends of the Brentwood Library, and friends and family of the artists.  Some artists, such as Jordan Buenavista, pictured here with (L) Jeanette Ali, President of Friends of the Brentwood Library, and Marshelle Berry, Regional Manager, provided insight into the students' unique art.  Gloria Buenavista said, "Everyone is invited to visit the Brentwood Branch Library and enjoy the art exhibit until it closes, April 30, 2019."

Below is a very good reason why art is so important in helping youth express themselves.  This closeup of Jordan, 18, who is a senior at Andrew Jackson, with his water and pen painting expresses his grief over losing his paternal grandmother in January:


At the bottom of Jordan's painting is this dedication:

"TO GIVE

This drawing represents that I'd give my life for my grandma who passed away.  The house is how isolated I feel.  The mountains represent the distance that separates me from her.  This painting shows how far I'd go to have her back."

New U.S. Citizen Added

Highlands Security Guard, Albanus Uzoma Dimuna, received his USA Citizenship April 18, 2019.  Albanus is from Nigeria and has been in the USA for over five years.  In Nigeria he worked  as a police officer for 35 years.  He says he is very happy to be a United States citizen now.  Highlands staff helped him celebrate his accomplishment with applause, pictures, and a cupcake.  (Thanks to Marla Roberson for the input.)



Big Drum Roll For Jones & Branon

Donna Carroll, Manager of Bradham-Brooks Northwest Branch, proudly announced, "Two of my  competitive employees, Yvonne Jones and Pamela Branon are the first winners of NW's new JPL card sign-up contest.  They signed up 20 new cardholders in a two week period!
 
"Both are holding stuffed toys (similar to the Jaguar Study Buddy idea) that NW winners pass around. They will keep them for a couple of weeks and then pass them on to the next winners.  Whoever holds the stuffed animal the longest through the end of June gets to keep it.  Also, in the picture they are holding trophies filled with chocolate."

Congrats to Yvonne and Pamela from all of us!

National Library Week At SOM

National Library Week was celebrated at South Mandarin Branch, April 13, 2019, with the theme, "Libraries Are for Everyone.”  Twelve children and their caregivers discussed the importance of traditions in families and in Latino culture. Additionally, they enjoyed the movie “Coco”, which is about Hispanic traditions, including celebrating the Day of the Dead and the children made skull masks for themselves. Thanks to Isabel Moreno-Santiago, SOM's YS Librarian II, for the input and picture. 

Ripe Time For A Library Card

JPL fans of DJ Easy E (of "Duuuval Chant" local fame) can cheer Mackenzie Freeman and Illesha Massaline, two astute library clerks at University Park Branch Library.  They were surprised to find during DJ Easy E's recent visit that he did not have a JPL card.  Mackenzie and Illesha convinced him he could have many new adventures with a JPL card and DJ Easy E signed up for his first library card.  (Illesha shared a little background on DJ Easy E: he created the "Duuuval Chant" 25+ years ago and it has rung out nightly on local radio.  He recently released a song, "My City Is Duval", featuring local Jacksonville Jaguars footfall players and a well known local rap group, Quad City DJ's.)

WAY TO GO, MACKENZIE and ILLESHA!

Duo Sets National Library Week To Music

In celebration of National Library Week, April 7 - 13, customers at the Pablo Creek Library enjoyed a live classical musical performance, April 13, 2019, by PT Library Associate and pianist JohnWillard Utuk (R) and cellist Marsel Malolli (L)). The duo played several tunes at the entrance to the lobby. Customers checking out materials, getting their first library card, or working on computers enjoyed the relaxing music.

B Is For Baby Kicks Off

Main Children's department's first B is for Baby event, April 6, 2019, attracted 140 customers ready to celebrate babies.  Fifteen community partners participated with library staff to offer programs and presentations where our customers learned about medicine safety, car seat safety, sleep safety, infant health, lactation, yoga, sign language, financial information, and even prenatal belly dancing,"  reports Joanna Nigrelli, Main's YS Librarian II. 

 

Joanne added, "Thank you to additional library staff who pitched in to make this day successful:  Erionnia Wadley (Main Circualtion), Emma Pancho and Dionne Arline (Main Non-fiction), Kara Chenoweth (YS Librarian II at CW), Paul Schaffner (Main Grand Reading Room), and the JPL Conference Team.

 

"We plan to make this an annual event."

A Fun Feast W/A Win & Learn

YS Librarian I Kate Zakharov shares a win-win for JPL, "YS Librarian III Rebekah Mitchell and I competed in the Duval Literacy Association’s annual 'Table Tales' competition at the dinner meeting, April 11, 2019, held at The Shultz Center. We decorated a table for the Mermaid Tales fiction series by Debbie Dadey, and a table for the Elephant & Piggie reader series by Mo Willems. The mermaid table was voted most creative!
 

"Rebekah served as President of the Duval Literacy Association this year, which is an enormous voluntary time commitment. Last night marked the final meeting of her presidency, and I would like to congratulate her on such a successful term."

When asked what Kate's take away from the meeting was, she said Peggy Campbell Rush from The Bolles School spoke on "The ABC's of Brain Change: Move Your Body; Engage Your Brain".  Kate learned that people disengage after their age plus two minutes. So if she has a program for 8 year olds, she should give them a break after 10 minutes so they can stay engaged for the rest of the program.

 

 

Special Ed Volunteers Celebrated

Tricia Larrabee, who heads up Talking Books, was joined by Librarian IV Stephanie Miller, April 10, 2019, to thank some valued teens.  Tricia said, "We had fun celebrating our Talking Books volunteers from the North Florida School of Special Education.  We treated them to pizza, drinks, popcorn, cake, gifts, and the decorations made it festive. The students help us with items returned and they shelve and pull items for new customers.  They may volunteer for a few semesters or as much as two years.  Pictured are (L/R) Stephanie Miller, Kaleigh, Austin, Ethan, Tori, Josh, and their teacher Ms. Heather."

JPL Cares About Teens

Library Associate Allison Mason is pictured here (R) with Iman El as they gathered  items donated for the Main Library teen care cart.  Allison said, "We received these gifts from Nicolle Burton that were donated to Jax Cares for our department’s teen care cart, which provides free hygiene items to any teen in our library who needs them. We are amazed at the amount of support shown to us! We have received over 1,000 items to date, and want to give a huge THANK YOU to everyone who donated. We are so grateful for your generosity, and this will be an immense help to our teens who need care items."

 

As usual JPL staff have shown their caring and generosity.

"B" Stands For Big Deal For Little Babies

What is the B?

Coming up, Saturday, April 6, 2019--10:30 am – 2:00 pm--is the first annual “B is for Baby” Event in the Main Library Children’s Department.  This everything baby event is for parents, expectant parents, and caregivers of children from birth to 2 years old.

 

To learn more, check out the great news coverage links below featuring Children’s Main Library Youth Department Manager, Chiquita Powell and Children’s Main Youth Services Librarian II, Joanna Nigrelli.
 

 Here is Joanna Nigrelli’s First Coast Living Show interview on Monday, April 1, 2019:

 https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/first-coast-living/are-you-expecting-b-is-for-baby-is-just-for-you-fcl-april-1st/77-55e84f85-5458-4c3d-a8e6-5ab846fdfb2d

 
And here is Chiquita Powell’s interview on News4Jax Morning Show, April 3, 2019:

 

https://www.news4jax.com/video/b-is-for-baby-event-on-saturday

YOU AND YOUR CUSTOMERS TO COME ON BY!

Candy Land At JB

Nicole Saville, YS Librarian II, reports, "Beaches Branch held a life sized Candy Land game, March 16, 2019.  Lots of children enjoyed jumping around the squares.  We had more than 50 adults and children attend."  (Unfortunately no pictures are available.)

Nicole Saville: Job Well Done

JB's Hongying Song nominated Nicole Saville for a Job Well Done Award because, "Nicole settles for nothing less than the highest quality outcomes. If you visit the children’s department, you will be amazed at the unique and wonderful displays on the wall and window, such as Get Caught up in a Good Book, Get Hooked on Books, real life sized I Spy with questions Can you spy……? In February, Nicole went several extra miles to enlist her sister and mom to decorate the wall to promote all the fun programs and resources our libraries offer to the community.  Under Nicole’s instruction, her sister used a silhouette machine to create all the words (Storytime, kids, JPL, crafts, poetry, books, DVDs, learn, Graphic novels, etc.) in different fonts and styles and colors. 'This is what we do during our family time over the weekend,' Nicole said. Together they created a handsome wall display accomplished by several visits from her sister and mom. A salute to Nicole and her family’s dedication to making a positive difference in children’s lives at JB". The award was made by JB Manager Theresa Rooney, March 14, 2019.

More can be seen in the February 8, 2019 article and pictures about Nicole and her family's talents making the Beaches Branch a place customers want to visit.

SOM Launches DCPS Art Expo

South Mandarin Library held a reception to kick off the DCPS Art Expo, March 26, 2019. YS Librarian II Isabel Moreno-Santiago said, "SOM annually celebrates our students and their exceptional art work from Duval County Public Schools. The event was a great success where 55 parents, teachers, and students admired the art display and enjoyed light refreshments during the reception."

Allegra Young: Job Well Done

San Marco Branch Library Clerk Allegra Young, received a Job Well Done award from SS Librarian II Sandra Ostroski, March 28, 2019.  Sandy said, "One of Allegra’s duties is processing new items received. For the last four months, SS was not on the In Process list, which the branch is on if there are items not processed.  Not being on the list means the branch’s new items are getting out to the customers quickly.  Allegra is a positive influence on other staff and shows by example the Library’s expectations for behavior.  She always follows through on commitments made."