Kudos to Murray Hill staff for setting up this catchy display for early voters as they walk in and wait online.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Best Wishes to Kathy Graw!
Wishing much happiness and very best wishes to Kathy Graw and Frank Tekin who were married October 10, 2008!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Ready Reference Information
Thanks to Greg Royce at Main for the following reference information:
If you haven't already had a customer ask for "free phones," you will soon enough. According to this story, Safelink Wireless is now offering a free phone program for low-income families.The service is designed for those who are already on government assistance, such as Medicaid, food stamps, etc., though Florida's Public Service Commission offers rebates for qualifying applicants through their Link Up and Lifeline programs.
If you haven't already had a customer ask for "free phones," you will soon enough. According to this story, Safelink Wireless is now offering a free phone program for low-income families.The service is designed for those who are already on government assistance, such as Medicaid, food stamps, etc., though Florida's Public Service Commission offers rebates for qualifying applicants through their Link Up and Lifeline programs.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
We did it!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Go to ALA Free!
A grant is available for new ALA members to attend the 2009 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago for FREE. You must be a member of their New Members Round Table. See their announcement for more information (http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/nmrt/initiatives/applyforfunds/3mawardinformation.cfm).
Thursday, October 16, 2008
LE@D -- Great New Training Resource
NEFLIN is providing a great new resource this year -- Free access to a whole bunch of relevant, self-paced on-line classes in a program called LE@D. Looks like most are worth about 3 hours credit. Here are a few course topics:
Weeding: It's Not an Option
Reaching Reluctant Readers
Reaching Teenagers
Serving Multi-cultural Customers
Info-Age Ettiquette
Various Microsoft Office Classes
To sign up, please request classes by e-mailing jpltraining@coj.net w/ a "cc" to the supervisor. PLEASE DON'T CONTACT NEFLIN DIRECTLY.
ADD THEM TO YOUR PDP -- These classes are not yet in the TMS so please use the "Seminar" feature. (Contact the Training Office w/ any questions.)
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
NEFLIN Golden Apple Awarded to JPL
Richard Mott, Barbara Gubbin and Kate Holmes accept NEFLIN's Golden Apple Award.
The Golden Apple is awarded to the public library with the best NEFLIN training record during the year.
Congratulations Richard, Kate and Barbara!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Book a Librarian
Book a Librarian new feature at JPL
Get one-on-one time with a specialist for any genre
For several months, the Main Library has offered a new service to customers: Book a Librarian.
Customers are able to schedule an appointment with a subject specialist for a one-on-one introduction to resources available online
and at the Main Library.
“This will give our customers who need a little extra time and help the attention they deserve,” said Gretchen Mitchell, Administrator
Supervisor for the Main Library. “Our librarians keep very busy, and it’s hard to get 5-15 minutes with them. Book a Librarian allows
customers to book up to an hour, and more later if they need.”
Book a Librarian was developed to provide its customers with the best possible service the library can offer.
“We looked at this service from various angles; we wanted to provide our customers with the opportunity to get one-on-one face time
with a librarian for an extended period of time, and utilize our librarians’ knowledge base and skills.”
The library also wants to maintain its customer base.
“With the status of the current economy, we know that our customers are extremely
important to the vitality of the library system. We want to show them they’re important
to us.”
By focusing on its resources and their customer base, JPL can continue to provide helpful and knowledgeable services that not only
informs but educates.
Librarians can provide answers about how to use the internet, research a school project or family history, locate a favorite book,
and provide demonstrations.
Laura Minor from special collections has seen the popularity of the service and the benefit for both customers and librarians.
“We’ve had several people asking for the service in order to get help with extensive research they’re doing,” Minor said. “With this service, we’re able to do the research and find ways to help them with their topic and search before their sessions even begins, which allows us to make the most of the appointment.”
Customers can call 630-2665 to make an appointment or go online at http://jpl.coj.net/lib/bookalibrarian.html.
Get one-on-one time with a specialist for any genre
For several months, the Main Library has offered a new service to customers: Book a Librarian.
Customers are able to schedule an appointment with a subject specialist for a one-on-one introduction to resources available online
and at the Main Library.
“This will give our customers who need a little extra time and help the attention they deserve,” said Gretchen Mitchell, Administrator
Supervisor for the Main Library. “Our librarians keep very busy, and it’s hard to get 5-15 minutes with them. Book a Librarian allows
customers to book up to an hour, and more later if they need.”
Book a Librarian was developed to provide its customers with the best possible service the library can offer.
“We looked at this service from various angles; we wanted to provide our customers with the opportunity to get one-on-one face time
with a librarian for an extended period of time, and utilize our librarians’ knowledge base and skills.”
The library also wants to maintain its customer base.
“With the status of the current economy, we know that our customers are extremely
important to the vitality of the library system. We want to show them they’re important
to us.”
By focusing on its resources and their customer base, JPL can continue to provide helpful and knowledgeable services that not only
informs but educates.
Librarians can provide answers about how to use the internet, research a school project or family history, locate a favorite book,
and provide demonstrations.
Laura Minor from special collections has seen the popularity of the service and the benefit for both customers and librarians.
“We’ve had several people asking for the service in order to get help with extensive research they’re doing,” Minor said. “With this service, we’re able to do the research and find ways to help them with their topic and search before their sessions even begins, which allows us to make the most of the appointment.”
Customers can call 630-2665 to make an appointment or go online at http://jpl.coj.net/lib/bookalibrarian.html.
Staff Profile
Larry Butler is a new CSAII at the Pablo Creek Branch Library.
Q: How long have you worked at JPL?
A. I've worked here for about ten months.
Q: What's one of your favorite books and why did you like it?
A: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is one of my favorite books. It's fun to be completely mystified by some situation and then find out the explanation, and Holmes is a fascinating character.
Q: What are your hobbies or favorite pastime?
A: Gardening and reading.
Q: What's something that people may not know about you?
A: I once worked for the Post Office as a mail carrier.
Q: What do you like most about working at the Library?
A: I like being part of an organization with positive values. When you're working for the library you're doing something special.
Friday, October 10, 2008
JPL Learning "The 23 Things"
JPL Learning “The 23 Things” will be back on Monday. If you think you might be interested in learning about some Web 2.0 tools, check out About JPL Learning 2.0 which will give you basic information and has a FAQ sheet to answer your questions.
The lessons will be posted every Monday morning by 9:00. When there is news about or an update to the program, I'll be posting it here.
To make it easier for you to communicate with fellow participants, we have put a “Chat Here” gadget on the “23 Things” blog. You can log in to the chat room using any name you like or using the default which will be a default “guest” username that will look like “guest77891”. Here you will be able to talk to each other about the lessons, help each other with tips and discoveries, and ask for assistance if you get stuck. If you don’t have participants in your branch or department to collaborate with, you can still find others to work with and help each other along. Those who have already finished the program are very welcome to come in to the chat room to help new participants with problems or just impart your wisdom.
Remember you get 9 hours of training credit for completing this program which is a great way to start off your training for the new fiscal year. If you still feel like you don't have all the info you need just email me at kwalker@coj.net, and I'll answer your questions. Karen
The lessons will be posted every Monday morning by 9:00. When there is news about or an update to the program, I'll be posting it here.
To make it easier for you to communicate with fellow participants, we have put a “Chat Here” gadget on the “23 Things” blog. You can log in to the chat room using any name you like or using the default which will be a default “guest” username that will look like “guest77891”. Here you will be able to talk to each other about the lessons, help each other with tips and discoveries, and ask for assistance if you get stuck. If you don’t have participants in your branch or department to collaborate with, you can still find others to work with and help each other along. Those who have already finished the program are very welcome to come in to the chat room to help new participants with problems or just impart your wisdom.
Remember you get 9 hours of training credit for completing this program which is a great way to start off your training for the new fiscal year. If you still feel like you don't have all the info you need just email me at kwalker@coj.net, and I'll answer your questions. Karen
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
"Unshelved" Comic Strip on RSS Feed in JPL Staff News Blog
JPL hosted Bill Barnes, creator of the "Unshelved" comic strip, as one of the speakers at our Staff Training Day this past spring. His comic strip is now available on the RSS feed to the right of this article.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Kudos from Customers
Good service is appreciated by Jacksonville Public Library customers, and several compliments for staff will be listed from different library locations each month:
Main Library – E-Library Reference: Christa Snow was extremely helpful in showing me a new world of data bases full of information!
Regency Square Branch: Lucy Harris has great people skills and is always willing to go the “extra mile” for all of us.
San Marco: Willis Brown was very helpful; a wonderful employee, who went the extra mile. Thank you.
South Mandarin: I frequent this library daily. Not only are the managers polite but every employee I have met. I would like to especially compliment Aracelis Diaz; she greets every customer with a smile and patience.
Willowbranch: My granddaughter, Izzy, and I have attended Arts and Crafts at WB for three years and have been ‘regulars’ ever since due to Isabelle Pierre. Last February, Izzy’s two year old sister joined us for our weekly visit. Ms. Pierre knows children’s needs, is a cheerleader for older children and handles grownups with as much aplomb as she does children.
Main Library – E-Library Reference: Christa Snow was extremely helpful in showing me a new world of data bases full of information!
Regency Square Branch: Lucy Harris has great people skills and is always willing to go the “extra mile” for all of us.
San Marco: Willis Brown was very helpful; a wonderful employee, who went the extra mile. Thank you.
South Mandarin: I frequent this library daily. Not only are the managers polite but every employee I have met. I would like to especially compliment Aracelis Diaz; she greets every customer with a smile and patience.
Willowbranch: My granddaughter, Izzy, and I have attended Arts and Crafts at WB for three years and have been ‘regulars’ ever since due to Isabelle Pierre. Last February, Izzy’s two year old sister joined us for our weekly visit. Ms. Pierre knows children’s needs, is a cheerleader for older children and handles grownups with as much aplomb as she does children.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Annual Benefits Re-enrollment
Important information about Annual Benefits Re-enrollement is available on the COJ Employee News site, link below. During the re-enrollment period of October 1 through October 31, employees can add or delete dependents from their existing insurance coverage; switch plans; or, enroll in various plans, e.g., Employee Supplemental Life (will require Medical Evidence of Insurability), Dependent Life, Vision, Dental, or the Flexible Spending Account ( includes medical reimbursement, dependent care, transportation, and parking). All changes will be made effective January 1, 2009.
Employee News
Employee News
Monday, September 29, 2008
Inmate Literacy Classes
CAL staffers Jenny Mooney and Karen Wishart provide adult literacy classes for inmates of the Matrix House drug treatment senter.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
FY 2009 Library Budget
The City Council approved the budget for all City departments last night at their regular Council session. The vote was 13 in favor and 2 opposed. No changes were made to the budget which the Mayor recommended for the library. The good news is that all of our services will stay as they are this year, with staffing and operations at the same level. Unfortunately, the reduction taken in the library materials budget also still holds. This represents $1M fewer General Revenue dollars for materials. I anticipate we will spend some of our state appropriation dollars on materials but there are not sufficient funds available to "make up" the $1M reduction and so there will be fewer titles and copies of titles purchased in all formats. We also expect to reduce the number of periodical titles we will be able to subscribe to and there will be fewer electronic databases. Unit managers and Charlene Adkins and her staff have been working on what this new, reduced budget will look like and will now move ahead to finalize it.
I want to recognize the tremendous support JPL has received from our Library Board who worked very hard in support of this budget and that of the Friends of the Library who turned in 9,000 signatures to the City Council in support of restoring the "book" budget.
Our customers regularly tell us how important we are to them - in finding a job, keeping up with email or current news in newspapers and magazines, in providing a place to study and a wonderful selection of books, DVD's, CD's and audiobooks (now also downloadable!) for them to read and listen to. As we enter into a new fiscal year it will be important for each of us to retain that community support, to stay customer focused and to become more involved in the communities we serve. Our goal must be a renewed community commitment to ensuring that JPL can continue to be the best it can be!
Barbara
I want to recognize the tremendous support JPL has received from our Library Board who worked very hard in support of this budget and that of the Friends of the Library who turned in 9,000 signatures to the City Council in support of restoring the "book" budget.
Our customers regularly tell us how important we are to them - in finding a job, keeping up with email or current news in newspapers and magazines, in providing a place to study and a wonderful selection of books, DVD's, CD's and audiobooks (now also downloadable!) for them to read and listen to. As we enter into a new fiscal year it will be important for each of us to retain that community support, to stay customer focused and to become more involved in the communities we serve. Our goal must be a renewed community commitment to ensuring that JPL can continue to be the best it can be!
Barbara
Monday, September 22, 2008
From the Maxville Branch
Every branch can feel like its own little world, mostly because we tend to make it that way, yet we are all a part of JPL and the even greater COJ.
Here, on the far, far Westside of Jacksonville, the boonies (informal for “boondocks” for you city slickers) if you prefer, we at the Maxville branch have decided to reach out on a more personalized level to our patrons in the form of a blog just for them which also partly entertains us. The surrounding area is somewhat more sparsely populated than other locations, but the community is more closely knit, giving it that our-own-little-bitty-world feel.
On our blog, we post news, upcoming events, closings; basically everything that tends to get lost or buried inside the JPL home page because of the vast amount of information available there. We also post things that our particular patrons want to know about: like new materials our branch has received and riddles of the day. Doing all this allows our patrons to quickly access information relevant to them, streamlining communication between us and our slice of the county (and some surrounding counties).
This blog revolves around our world, and you’re welcome to check it out!
Daniel Kibler
Branch Manager
P.S.: Come visit Granny Alfie! She always adores addressing questions!
Here, on the far, far Westside of Jacksonville, the boonies (informal for “boondocks” for you city slickers) if you prefer, we at the Maxville branch have decided to reach out on a more personalized level to our patrons in the form of a blog just for them which also partly entertains us. The surrounding area is somewhat more sparsely populated than other locations, but the community is more closely knit, giving it that our-own-little-bitty-world feel.
On our blog, we post news, upcoming events, closings; basically everything that tends to get lost or buried inside the JPL home page because of the vast amount of information available there. We also post things that our particular patrons want to know about: like new materials our branch has received and riddles of the day. Doing all this allows our patrons to quickly access information relevant to them, streamlining communication between us and our slice of the county (and some surrounding counties).
This blog revolves around our world, and you’re welcome to check it out!
Daniel Kibler
Branch Manager
P.S.: Come visit Granny Alfie! She always adores addressing questions!
Friday, September 19, 2008
"Virtual World" Online Conference
The following conference has a fee associated with it. If you wish to apply, submit the "Conference Intent Form" (http://jplstaff.coj.net/training/pol_proc.htm#conf ).
Dear Colleague:
I'm very pleased to call your attention to the lastest online learning opportunities produced by LearningTimes and the Alliance Library System.
It’s a Virtual, Virtual, Virtual, Virtual World…
Join us for two days as we discuss virtual worlds and librarianship. We’ll be convening online on October 1 and 2, 2008 to discuss topics such as:
We hope to see you there!
John Walber
The LearningTimes Team
Dear Colleague:
I'm very pleased to call your attention to the lastest online learning opportunities produced by LearningTimes and the Alliance Library System.
It’s a Virtual, Virtual, Virtual, Virtual World…
Join us for two days as we discuss virtual worlds and librarianship. We’ll be convening online on October 1 and 2, 2008 to discuss topics such as:
- -Virtual Worlds Development
- -Scaling Graduate LIS Instruction in Virtual Environments
- -Academic Libraries and Virtual Worlds
- -Building a Library Presence in the Virtual World of Second Life
- -Creating Educational Tools in Second Life for Libraries
A panel of the conference speakers is also scheduled in which your questions will feature prominently. For more information on this first Virtual Librarian Conference please visit:
http://www.thevirtuallibrarian.org/
Enter Discount Code "vlc25"to save $25 on your registration.
----------------
...
We hope to see you there!
John Walber
The LearningTimes Team
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