Are U Smarter Than A 5th Grader?

LAS Marcie O’Dell created this pulchritudious display and offers a challenge: "Are you smarter than a 5^th grader? If so, you should be able to locate at least 10 differences in these pictures, which comprise our January 2021 interactive bulletin board display at Main Children’s. Give it a whirl! 😊"

CW Staff Visit StoryWalk

 

Webb Youth staff visited Springfield's Klutho Park, January 16, 2021, to see the recently installed StoryWalk. Passhunate Payams, CW's YS Associate, said, "We were joined by two former staff members, Noah Thomas and Kim Bennett, on that beautiful, clear, and chilly Saturday. Each staff member took turns reading different pages, while others were doing actions found in the book. It was amusing to see the looks we received while clapping, counting, and wiggling our fingers. It was fun and going there provided us with hands-on knowledge as to what StoryWalk is and its location. We will use the experience to improve ways we promote and explain StoryWalk to patrons." 

 

Job Well Done: Tricia Larrabee

SE's Tricia Larrabee was presented a Job Well Done award, December 15, 2020, for the process changes she made at the Southeast Library. SE Manager Carisia Rooney said, "Tricia has created a system of book truck organization that has made ‘what is this cart?’ or 'I can’t find a cart’ issues of the past. Tricia also streamlined scheduled duties and enabled Southeast to function smoothly during staff shortages that previously crippled the schedule. By combining duties on the schedule, such as Scanning & Sorting, Phone & Holds, and Staff Screening & Delivery, she has created teamwork and enabled staff to stay productive during downtimes." (Notice of presentation of award received January 19, 2021.)

Need Your Photos, Please

Mandarin Library is putting together a Memory Photo Book for Margo Crafton, former KR Librarian II. She retired at the end of December 2020. If you have photos to share, we'd love to include them in her Memory Photo Book. You can email pictures to arichman@coj.net The deadline to e-mail photos is Tuesday, January 26, 2021. (Angela Richman made this request and your help is deeply appreciated.)

And Baby Makes Three

Zoe Carr, JPL's Community Resource Manager, expects a baby boy, Micah, Jr., in February. She and Micah, Sr. are excited and Admin staff are happy for them.

Nicolle Burton and Donna Crowther hosted a baby shower for Zoe, January 8, 2021. Everyone enjoyed an array of goodies spread on a table with a layered "cake" centerpiece, which consisted of tightly rolled-up diapers bordered with ribbon and bedecked with small toys. Zoe was amazed at Nicolle's creation, delighted in opening each gift, and could not thank everyone enough for their thoughtfulness.

Bold Ad At AR

"Dawn Brock, Regency Square Library Clerk, recently created a highly visible Graphic Novel sign that customers can see from almost anywhere in the department.  It affords a quick find for graphic novel fans," said AR Manager Mia Brack.

 

JB Remembers & Reminds

 

To raise awareness of the dwindling population of monarch butterflies, the Beaches Library atrium was transformed by Julie Rekow's creation of 150 flying paper monarch butterflies, paper representations of pollinator plants, and two book displays. The theme: “Save the Monarchs, Plant Milkweed.”

 

Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico every fall and their culture celebrates the return of the monarchs with the Day of the Dead.   

 

Additionally, in memory of FOBBL members who had passed away in recent years, JB's Teen Advisory Board members made photos of the FOBBL members and placed them around a table decorated with tissue paper flowers and 3-D printed sugar skulls.  (Thanks to Hongying Song for submitting pics and article.)

A Welcome Kudo

Joanna Nigrelli, shares this child's note and said, "Savannah read several books with her mom while she was in the Children's department, checked out several books, and also wrote a story for our story wall.  She handed me this note before she left."

Job Well Done: Crystal Kadkhodaie

SE's Crystal Kadkhodaie was presented a Job Well Done Award, January 6, 2021.  As her nominator, Tricia Larrabee, said, "Crystal is always positive and brings a great attitude to every work day.  She is competent, always takes the initiative to help others, and her customer service is outstanding.  She is cross training several part-time staff and encouraging them to increase their skills.  Crystal gives attention to detail while processing new books, often locating minor errors that were missed and reporting them so they can be corrected system wide."

JB's Invite From The Bees & Mr. Snowman

YS Associate Dylan Carl created the two children's displays pictured above with the assistance of P/T Associate Lana Carlson. They reflect the talent of JB's staff and resulting attention customers give to new displays at JB. Dylan said, "The first display features our favorite fuzzy insect and states 'I’d rather BEE reading!' It boasts color-filled, 3-D flowers to help our young customers feel warm and fuzzy.

 

"The second display was JB's Assistant Manager Nicole Saville's idea.  It portrays a jolly snowman who, while holding up some holiday lights, says 'Reading makes you BRIGHT!' This display is accompanied by real twinkling lights and book stacks in the shape of the Grinch (the customer favorite so far), Rudolph, and a snowman." 

 

Two Celebrations In One

WST Manager Carol Bunker marked two JPL milestones in December 2020. She received both her five year and ten year service pins from Director Tim Rogers.  He also presented two congratulatory letters to Carol--his  own for five years served and Mayor Curry's for ten years of service. Carol had recently applied for a time connection from a layoff in 2012 and her rehire in 2015. COJ/JPL approval recently arrived and, Voila! a double celebration was made possible!

All of us at JPL appreciate your dedication and cheer you on to many more years with JPL, Carol.

Friends Of WB Light Up The Night

The Friends of Willowbranch Library arranged this luminaria for the holiday enjoyment of all who passed by.

Please Get The Word Out!

The Friends Bookstore reopened, January 2, 2021, and they send JPL employees and customers a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"Our hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-12, and Saturdays, 10-3.

"2021 Memberships will be: $20 per individual/family and $50 for a company. The member will get BOGO on all store items all year and BOGO bag for Big Bag Sales. January Monthly Special: Popular Authors - Buy 2 and  get 1 free. Look through MANY boxes of books sorted by author name. Hardback: $2 and Softback: $1

"Thank you for your support, David Smith President, FJPL"

Location and mailing address is: 3435 University Blvd. N Jacksonville, FL 32277

Five Years Of Service & Job Well Done: Lan Nguyen

Lan Nguyen was honored, December 17, 2020, by Deputy Director Julie McNeil, Branch Manager Mark Hohnadel, and her teammates for Lan’s five years with JPL. Julie presented Lan with her five year service pin and a letter of appreciation from Director Tim Rogers.

 

Lan also received a Job Well Done Award because, as Mark Hohnadel said, "She is always working to make Mandarin Library a better place with her creative displays and decorations.  Lan always jumps in and is a true team player." 

Congratulations from all of us, Lan!

Terry Welch: Job Well Done

JB's Terry Welch was nominated by Hongying Song for a Job Well Done Award, which was presented to Terry, December 15, 2020. Hongying said, "Terry consistently exhibits behavior that supports JPL Core Values. She is dedicated to providing the best customer service and making a positive difference in people’s lives, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since we opened to the public in September, Terry has created all kinds of bookmarks and flyers to go with her displays to help customers find what they want. Examples of her display themes are: True Crime, Tea-riffic, Staff Pick with bookmarks, Staff Best books of 2020, Seasons & Reading, and In Memoriam. Library Aware created a memorial flyer and bookmark templates inspired by Terry’s “in memoriam” display flyer and bookmark. Terry seems to know every customer by name at JB. Customers will ask for her to recommend books and movies for them. You can see how happy they are from their high pile of books and ear-to-ear smiles after they’ve talked with Terry. Because of Terry’s close relationship with JB’s customers, she can notice problems with our hold call list first and notifies SST. When the branch manager receives the hold phone call list, Terry is usually half way through or through her calling system. She wants our customers to be notified as early as possible so they can get to read what they want quickly. How can you beat that for customer service?"

Holiday Door Decor @ Pablo Creek

The challenge at Pablo Creek was to think beyond the typical wreath on the door and design holiday doors instead.  The challenge was accomplished with team work, creative expression, and fun.  Needless to say, it is a morale boost during this stressful time of COVID-19.

During the winter months when various cultural and religious days of significance are observed, PCR's decorated doors depict popular book and movie titles, as well as being inclusive to all holidays.

PCR staff has extended an invitation to school Advisory Committees, JPL Facebook members, customers, and to all of you: 

Come out and see our Holiday Doors! 

Thank Y O U, JPL Staff

                     Click once on pic for a better view.

Administrative Assistant Nicolle Burton has again collected, stuffed many Christmas stockings, donated, and packed up for delivery to COJ the many gifts JPL employees gave in response to JaxCares Adopt an Angel program. Above are Abel Flores and Jessica Glenn waiting for Mandie McKenzie to get this wonderful shot of all your gifts before taking them over to the Ed Ball building, December 7, 2020.  There your gifts will join other COJ departments' gifts and soon many children will be much happier this Christmas because of your big hearts.

Nicolle said, “Due to the generosity of JPL staff, eighteen Salvation Army angels were adopted and over 30 stockings were filled. The JaxCares representative and I sincerely thank each of you who participated in this worthy cause to brighten the season for needy children in the community. Have a happy, healthy holiday season.”

Job Well Done: Alison Halkovic

Alison Halkovic received a Job Well Done Award from SE Manager Carisia Rooney, December 4, 2020, at SE's staff meeting.  Carisia nominated Alison for the award for initiating and implementing the use of a Microsoft teams platform for creating and saving the daily schedules at the Southeast Library. Carisia said, "With three departments needing to work on creating and updating the schedules each week, we were having a number of 'I thought I saved those changes' glitches and the dreaded 'Read Only' access.  Alison created a SE scheduling team and make sure all schedulers were trained on saving, editing, and printing the Excel docs in Teams.  This new process not only removed the schedule-making problems, but also effected different departments helping one another confidently."

Spirit Of Christmas Thrives At AR

"Regency Square Branch's (L/R) Dawn Brock, Ann Ludke, and Sandra Lockley display gifts for staff's adopted angels, including a brand new bike and tablet.  These Christmas surprises are a result of staff's generous donations for two young ladies during the recent JaxCares Adopt an Angel program. "Thanks to the entire staff for helping with this effort," added Mia Brack.

Adios, Aaron

"A sincere thank-you to LIB I Aaron Neff, who was a HUGE help to the Main Library Children’s Department during his displacement from Westbrook Branch over the last many months. This photo features LAS Kitty Maschan, LIB I Aaron Neff, and LIB 2 Joanna Nigrelli at Main Children’s this past week as we all shared some laughs, which we all did many times while Aaron was here. We’re missing you, Aaron, and hope you’re enjoying your new temporary home at Highlands Regional Branch," said Marcie O'Dell.