Unique Gift For A Unique Library Director

Highlands Branch employees were quite creative in thinking of an unforgettable going away present for Director Barbara Gubbin. They had a gorilla named for her at the Jacksonville Zoo! Here she holds the certificate affirming the naming and Director Gubbin received a toy gorilla to remember Highlands staff by. She wanted to share this with you on June 30, 2017, her last day with JPL as our Library Director.

Drumming At UPK

"Week three of SLP saw UPK hosting Just Add Rhythm where 75+ school age children learned about drumming, rhythm, tempo and keeping a beat--and about their roots in African culture, said UPK's YS Librarian II Alexis Carter. FUN, FUN, FUN!

Don't Let The Death Cockroaches Loose!

GB Manager Susan Arthur, said, "Animal ambassadors from the Jacksonville Zoo visited Dallas Graham Branch, June 28, 2017, fascinating the children with critters they could learn about and touch. Young 'scientists' had close-up views of an alligator, a turtle and other animals, as well as artifacts from the Zoo. One Iimportant lesson learned:  don’t let the Death Cockroaches loose!

Augusta Savage Sculpture Comes To Main

An unveiling of an Augusta Savage statue owned by the library was held in the Special Collections Department on Main's 4th floor, June 28, 2017. 

A secure wall installation needed to be installed prior to displaying the piece, which is a bust of an African American woman signed by the artist. Director Gubbin said, "There are not many pieces of this late native of Jacksonville in existence as she moved from creating art pieces to teaching art to students, so this is a special work of art for JPL to own."

To the right is Director Gubbin; on the left is Founder of the Dallas Graham Branch Friends. Board Trustee Dr. Brenda Simmons-Hutchins and other JPL supporters were present for the unveiling. (More pictures are in the G-shared folder on the G Drive under Augusta Savage Pictures.) 

Laughter - The Best Medicine & A Really Good Draw!

JB's Terry Welch reports, "We had the Best. Book Club. Ever, June 27, 2017.  JB's Flamingo Book Club discussed Best. State. Ever: A Florida Man Defends His State by Dave Barry.  The book club meeting was especially exciting because the author visited us via Skype for a laughter filled 20 minute talk. Ninety one people attended; some from as far away as Palatka – probably because of the article that appeared in The Florida Times-Union (link below), thanks to CR&M. 

"Most of the stories he told were from the book, but here is an 'original' story, which is awesome on so many levels. Dave has a band called 'Rock Bottom Remainders'. Several authors are also part of the band (the members come and go). Once while Stephen King was strumming his guitar, Ridley Pearson whispered into Dave’s ear 'look at that fan in front of Stephen.' The woman was holding both hands up in front of Stephen and  her fingernails were on fire!  Dave hoped they were false nails!  Ridley then whispered in Dave’s ear 'I hope I never become that famous!'”

"Our Skype visit is the biggest news to hit our beaches community since one or all of the following: Hurricane Dora, The Beatles concert shortly after Hurricane Dora or Story time featuring Dora The Explorer."

http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/literature/2017-06-24/we-are-not-making-dave-barry-live-neptune-beach-and-almost

Mehndi Art At KR

Nine teens attended week two of the teen mini series Go Native! program, June 22, 2017, at KR.  The program is designed to introduce teens to indigenous art forms world wide and explore new mediums. This week KR highlighted India and the art of mehndi--painting elaborate patterns on the skin using henna paste. Henna temporarily dyes the skin for a couple of weeks. YS Library Associate Alison Pulley reports, "They all did a great job for being new to henna."

Director Gubbin Receives ALA's Earnest A. DiMattia Jr. Award

The American Library Association's 2017 Earnest A. DiMattia Jr. Award for Innovation and Service to Community and the Profession was presented to our Library Director Barbara Gubbin, June 25, 2016, in Chicago at their annual conference.

Pictured are the President of ALA, Julie Todaro, on the left, and Mrs. DiMattia and her son.  

Scroll down to see the June 19, 2017, article in this blog about her retirement party and why it is no wonder that Director Gubbin was chosen to receive this award.

Teens Kickoff SLP At SE

SE's Kate Zakharov reports, "Teens at SE made “goldfish bowl slime” at our SLP kick-off party, June 9, 2016. Our theme was Build A Better World: Ocean Conservation. We had 24 happy teens participate in this kick-off to an awesome summer!

JOB WELL DONE: TRISTAN DENMARK

Having only been employed at Pablo Creek Branch seven months, YS Librarian I Tristan Denmark was nominated for a Job Well Done Award by Hongying Song. Hongying said, "Tristan chose a wonderful 'I Survived the Library' theme for our SLP kickoff and invited Chick-fil-A cow to the party. Chick-fil-A not only brought the big cow, but the little cows with coupons and cow hats. The store manager was willing to support PCR because Tristan built an excellent partnership with the store. She brought stories and books to the store for their monthly family night since February. Tristan represents our library and brings the library to the store and now the store has come to our library.  Our party rocked with 164 attendees."

Kudos From Customers

Highlands Branch:  Cassy (Manning) was wonderful! Many thanks.

Main – Circulation:  I would like to commend Mr. (Corey) Scott, the African American gentleman at the front desk, who assisted me getting a library card. I recently relocated to Jacksonville and he showed exemplary customer service skills by explaining the requirements for obtaining a card and providing me with a temporary use card. I have been to several branches and he is the first person to educate me on the options. Congratulations to Jacksonville Public Library for having an experienced and knowledgeable employee.

Murray Hill Branch:  I would like to say how much I appreciate and enjoy making use of your Hold System which allows me to request an item from any of your libraries and pick it up at my wonderful local branch in Murray Hill within a few days. The system works perfectly, from ease of use to reliability of notification. I am sure people have worked diligently to make it a reliable system, and they have succeeded! It also appears that your employees on both ends of the process perform their responsibilities pronto, because I am amazed how quickly I get the items I request. Please tell the responsible and helpful staff at Murray Hill, including Mr. Douglas Fair and others whose names I haven't learned, that you heard from a very satisfied customer.

San Marco Branch:  A hand printed  note from a young child:  Dear Mr. M. (Monte Latham), Thank you so much for always being so nice and helpful!  Thank you for being so thoughtful and picking out a book for me!  I can’t wait to read it.  You make coming to this library so much more enjoyable.  Thank you for your time!

Webb Wesconnett Branch:  Brenda (Johnson), Dana (Curry), and Ayesha (Turner) are efficient and friendly. ... 

Job Well Done: Martha Smith

Laura Minor, Librarian III in Main's Special Collections, gave Martha Smith a Job Well Done Award, June 21, 2017. Laura said, "Special Collections and Makerspace hosted a Local & Community history themed Art Walk event recently. Martha envisioned a 'History Fair' component for the event. She contacted nine local community history organizations and invited them to join us and all did. Martha kept in constant contact with them, communicating details of our expectations, load in, setup, and breakdown of each table. Consequently, the event was very organized and ran smoothly. Martha’s efforts strengthened our relationships with them and feedback from our community partners was positive. Adrienne Burke of Riverside Avondale Preservation commented, 'I had a great time and appreciate being invited… If there is anything else we can do to partner, let me know.' Rita Reagan of Norman Studios commented, 'It was a good event... Got some fun pictures.'  

Zoofari At KR

Mandarin Branch Library hosted "Zoofair Outreach", June 21, 2017, affording many children an opportunity to see, handle, and learn about different animals for the first time.

Isabel Moreno-Santiago, YS Librarian I, said, "Mr. Andrew and Ms. Susan from the Jacksonville Zoo Educational Program mesmerized the kids, kept the audience of 115 engaged during the entire presentation, and the event was a total success!"

The Bright & Beautiful

SE Branch Manager Erica Brown (center, 1st row) will be coming back to Main (date TBA) and Lenora Stuckey is leaving. So SE staff gathered together, June 21, 2017, for this photo--and Erica and Lenora will have something to remember staff by; they will be sorely missed.  
Glad you asked who the children are in the back; they are the subjects of a wonderful mural done in the Children's Department by Nancy Floyd. The  other beautiful, real people are SE staff (L/R, front to back row):  Paul Schaffner, Gina Scott, Andrea Markle, Erica Brown, Sandy Ostroski, John Manahan, Mayor's summer helper Kiara Ryan, and Mia Brack.  2nd row:  Deborah Wainwright, Alfreda Whitfield, Lenora Stuckey, Arielle Kellam, Erika Knapp, Abby McGeathey, Kate Zakharov, Carol Bunker, Hunter Alley, Anna Brown, and Blake Hudson.  3rd row back: Sally Doherty and volunteer John MacRae.

Touch, Feel, Gasp!

Brentwood  Branch’s “Wild Wonders” program, June 20, 2017, allowed many children an opportunity to see and handle a snake, if not their first time with a snake, for most it was their first encounter with a YELLOW python.   NS Manager Kathleen Krizek said, "A day care brought their kids, too, so we had over 50 people in attendance. I was covering the desk and could hear the screams of excitement as the presenter kept asking, 'Do you want to see a bigger snake?' I was very happy to be on a different floor."

Kids also enjoyed experiencing an encounter with other reptiles, a small alligator, etc. Look at that wonderment!

Director Gubbin Reads At KR

Director Barbara Gubbin (L, standing) is welcomed and introduced to children and caregivers in Mandarin Library's Children's Department, June 19, 2017, by KR Manager Mark Hohnadel (R) and David Foster (to Mark's right), 

  

Director Gubbin was there for Mandarin Library's Drop Everything and Read program and read from the book, Below by Nina Crews.  

Director Gubbin Honored At Retirement Party

Library Director Barbara Gubbin was honored with a retirement party at the Main Library, June 15, 2017. Deputy Director Jennifer Giltrop, who MC'd the event, and other JPL executives made sure it was a memorable occasion.  A video was played of Mayor Lenny Curry and ALA President Julie Todaro enumerating Director Gubbin's many outstanding accomplishments. Library Board Chair Ronnie King, Chair Emeritus of the JPL Foundation Betsy Lovett, President and CEO of WJCT Michael Boylan and Dr. Jamie Self, Development Director of the JPL Foundation, followed suit. 

For an array of pictures of this event, click here:   https://flic.kr/s/aHskXjrBEW

The Resolution passed by City Council, copied below, covers Director Gubbin's many accomplishments not only with JPL but serves as a bio of her profession as a librarian and a Library Director, and includes what the speakers honored her for at the event.  One star in her crown, which should be listed is FLA named JPL as 2017 Library of the Year.

Introduced by Council Members Hazouri and Crescimbeni and Co-Sponsored by Council Members Brosche, Newby, Love, Bowman, Wilson, Anderson, Becton, Dennis, R. Gaffney, Morgan, Carter and Gulliford:

RESOLUTION 2017-330

A RESOLUTION HONORING AND COMMENDING BARBARA A.B. GUBBIN FOR HER EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP AS DIRECTOR OF THE JACKSONVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FROM 2005 TO THE PRESENT ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

            WHEREAS, as repositories of literature, history, the arts and many other facets of our culture and heritage, libraries are the intellectual and cultural anchors of great cities; and

WHEREAS, for the past twelve years, Barbara A. B. Gubbin has been the Director of the Jacksonville Public Library, providing widely recognized leadership that has made Jacksonville’s library system an invaluable resource that  provides City residents access to a great collection of books, art, film, children’s projects, the information superhighway, various educational courses and more; the Jacksonville Public Library has 21 branches, employs about 400 employees, had 3.4 million customers in 2016, and has a $33 million budget; and

WHEREAS, born and raised in India, Barbara Gubbin has lived in England and West Africa; she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors at the University of Birmingham in England; a Master’s degree in Library and Information from the University of London followed; while teaching for a short period of time in West Africa, she worked in the school library where her interest in library work was piqued; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Gubbin’s first job in the United States was as “teen services” librarian at the San Antonio Public Library in Texas, 1977-1979; she subsequently served as Assistant Director and Director of the Houston Public Library from 1989 to 1995; and     

WHEREAS, innovation has been the hallmark of Barbara Gubbin’s tenure at the Jacksonville Public Library since her arrival in 2005; she is credited with leading the library into the technology age; under her watch, digital materials are now as much at the core of the library’s resources as traditional books; self-service checkout has replaced long lines; in 2015, the library partnered with the Duval Public Schools to introduce “virtual library cards,” a program that provides over 130,000 students with access to the Jacksonville Public Libraries; with its G.E.D. program, the library has become a center for adult learning, community interaction and work force development; in 2015, Project LEAP – the Library Enhanced Access Program – was created to send librarians, armed with computers and other materials, to community centers in underserved neighborhoods to promote literacy for all age groups; in 2016 the library won acclaim for its Careers On Line program that enables high school students to earn their high school diploma; and

WHEREAS, in 2017, in recognition of Barbara Gubbin’s outstanding leadership and accomplishments, she was awarded the 2017 Earnest A. DiMattia Jr. Award for Innovation and Service to Community and the Profession by the American Library Association, an award that recognizes a public librarian from among the more than 9,000 systems in the country who demonstrates leadership in anticipating emerging trends, services and technologies that enhance the library’s position in the community; and

WHEREAS,  Jacksonville has been truly fortunate in having an individual of Barbara Gubbin’s caliber and commitment to lead our library system and enhance the library’s image and use in every neighborhood and community of our City, and it is our honor to recognize, commend and honor her for her exemplary achievements; now therefore

            BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Jacksonville:

            Section 1. The City Council does hereby honor and commend Barbara A. B. Gubbin for her exemplary leadership as Director of the Jacksonville Public Library from 2005 to the present and extends its best wishes on the occasion of her retirement.              

            Section 2. Effective Date.  This Resolution shall become effective upon signature by the Mayor or upon becoming effective without the Mayor's signature.

Form Approved:

__/s/ Paige Hobbs Johnston

Office of General Counsel

Legislation Prepared By: John J. Jackson, Council Research Division

Several gifts were presented to Director Gubbin, including a bouquet of flowers from Mrs. Lovett; a lifetime membership in ALA from many well wishers; a wonderful caricature of Director Gubbin drawn by Roosevelt Watson, III; a handcrafted bowl from the Friends of the Beaches Branch, which was made by Mark Wood; and the staff at the Highlands Branch made her an Honorary Zookeeper at the Zoo and named a gorilla for her. Other gifts were also left by some well wishers for her to open later. 

Attendees enjoyed the event, shared good memories over hors d'oeuvres and cake, and everyone lifted their glasses in a toast made to Director Gubbin led by Deputy Director Mark Merritt.

Director Gubbin thanked everyone heartily for coming, the many gifts and acknowledgements, and for an evening she enjoyed immensely and will not forget.  

Deputy Director Giltrop expressed her and JPL's appreciation to the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library, Inc. and the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation for sponsoring the event.

EB Off & Running With SLP

EB's Shawn Norton, YS Librarian II, said, "We started our children’s program series, Building Better Worlds, designed by Chris Tabur, June 16, 2017. In our first adventure, we read part of The Little Prince and built our own spaceships out of recycled supplies such as cardboard and paper towel tubes. E-Specialist Luis Terron joined us and demonstrated some 3-D printing techniques by adding plastic flourishes to children’s space crafts.

JOB WELL DONE: HELENA DAVENPORT

June 14, 2017, Helena Davenport, a Maxville Branch Clerk, was presented a Job Well Done Award.  Beth Friedrich credits Helena with having created a scavenger hunt using old VHS tape cases and the theme for June is Father’s Day. Beth said, "Each case has a themed image and customers are provided with a list of images to locate. The scavenger hunt is popular with children, teens and adults. As a prize, Helena brings in candy for customers. Her engagement with the community using this fun activity is a great demonstration of JPL’s Everybody Serves Youth initiative."

JOB WELL DONE: CHRIS TABUR

PCR’s Youth Services Associate Chris Tabur received a Job Well Done Award, June 12, 2017. Hongying Song nominated Chris for his outstanding service to young customers and noted, "During our Build-a-Story school age (5-12 yrs) Lego program, he observed that most of the students had younger siblings (up to 5 years) with them who needed to be engaged.  Chris up cycled old foam boards, painted them with bright colors and built a wall in the Build-a-Story program that now separates the room with a wall. While the school age kids are enjoying Legos, etc. on one side of the wall, the younger siblings can play with Duplo and Mega blocks on the other side. Chris saw a real need, creatively solved the problem, resulting in a win-win for the kids and staff. 

SOM KIDS BUILD CASTLES & FORTS

Children at South Mandarin Library gathered for an evening of Building with Bricks program, June 14, 2017. Joanna Nigrelli, YS Librarian II, said, "This week the engineering challenge was making forts and castles. Each builder had the opportunity to present their castle or fort and talk about its unique characteristics."