Flex spending and we did it!! And a fare thee well...

Flex Spending

Both Jud and Brenda sent me reminders about this so it must be important!  From Brenda:

 

"Flex spending enrollment will be November 12 from 8 – 1 and November 13 from noon – 5.  Flyers are attached so you can get more information from them.  I will post the memo and application on the bulletin board.  If anyone wants the enrollment kit I will have a copy in my office which can be copied."

If you need to see copies of the flyers, Jeanne has them or you can check the bulletin board.

 

 We Did It!

We surprised Christy with the baby shower disguised as a Halloween party!

Or at least she seemed surprised!

And pretty happy!

There was plenty of food...

 

...but Brenda's spider eggs were a definite favorite!

There were presents, too!

Great job, everyone!

  Thanks to all who contributed food, time, and effort to make this a success!  You are what makes the library such a great place to work!

  

Goodbye

We must all bid a fond and sad farewell to Christian, who is leaving us.  A patron bestowed the nickname "St. Christopher" on him soon after he joined our staff and it wasn't long before we realized that was the perfect name.  Thank you, Christian, for all your years of service, friendship, kindness, patience, and rushing to our rescue.  We'll miss you terribly, but we sincerely wish you all the best life has to offer.

United Way, Gateway Dedication & Avoca!

 United Way

 

 United Way campaign season is here!

Friday,  Oct. 24: first deadline. Everyone who turns in pledge cards by this date will be entered into a drawing for tickets to the spring race at BMS. (Note: Jeanne won last year, so it IS possible for a library employee to win!)

Friday, Nov. 7: final deadline.

The department with the highest average giving will receive “siesta leave” (2 hours off) for all employees.

Please turn in pledge cards to Brenda! And note the reward for the department with the highest average giving:  two hours off!!

Arch Dedication

The reception for the new sculpture was quite the event!  Many thanks to all our staff members who helped to pull it off.  There were some nice news stories on the event from WCYB

http://www.wcyb.com/news/bristols-cultural-heritage-sculpture-unveiled/29305994

and from the Bristol Herald Courier

http://www.tricities.com/news/local/article_d978dd8a-5b2c-11e4-a261-0017a43b2370.html

Last, but certainly not least, here's a link to a recording of part of the musical portion of the ceremony, courtesy of Don and Jud:

https://soundcloud.com/waltermabuse/wildwood-flower

Photos of the even have been posted on our Facebook page. 

Avoca is Golden!

 The Avoca Branch Library is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year!  There was a grand reception with refreshments provided by those fabulous Avoca Friends. Avoca is the Little Library That Could, and it proves its worth every day.  It inspires so much love and loyalty!  The Friends have been the bedrock.

Thanks from Jud, Party news

From Jud: 
 "Thanks to everyone for the boss’s day card and gift. The best gift, of course--as I hope all of you know—is to have you as my colleagues."

Halloween Party!

As has become our custom, the Staff Halloween Party will be the same day as Michelle's party for the children. So on October 28, bring in your favorite foods to share! Dress up in costume if you wish, and we'll try to scare up some fun!

 

 

ALL Schedule change, Phones, & Sculpture

 Adult Learning Lab Schedule Change

Per Karen, the Adult Learning Lab will now close from 11:30 am until 2:00 pm Monday through Thursday.  Fridays they will close at 1:00 pm.  Please keep this in mind when directing patrons to the ALL. Hours will now be:

Monday-Thursday:  10:00 am until 11:30 am; 2:00 pm until 6:00 pm.
Friday:  10:00 am until 1:00 pm.

Phone Outages

From Jud: 

"Front-line staff are hereby authorized to contact BVU with a service call if the phone system goes down." 

Brenda says, "The BVU help desk number is 276-821-6169.   Phone outages or problems can be reported to them.   If they can’t help they will make a work order and get in touch with Mark Fields who works with our type of phones.   During the week you can call Mark Fields directly to report problems at 276-821-6202."

Jeanne is compiling a list of contacts for emergencies; that should be available by the end of the week if not before. 

Sculpture Installation:  Parking

From Jud:  "I heard from Val Lyle, who is going to be putting up the new sculpture in the plaza next week. She says that library-side Goode St. parking will be blocked off on Tuesday, 10/21, from Piedmont “up to the side entrance” in order to enable access to the sculpture site by heavy equipment. Depending how things go, that might also be the case on Wed., 10/22."

So be aware that parking may be a problem for those days! The reception for the sculpture will be on Thursday, Oct. 23.

Happy Birthday!

Christy L.  October 20 

   

Dr. W. Dale Brown

 Dr. W. Dale Brown

We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. W. Dale Brown.  He was a delightful person who brought a number of fine programs to Main as part of the Buechner Institute.  His wife Gayle is on our Board of Trustees. This is a great loss to his family, King College, the community, and to the library. The Bristol Herald Courier article is below:

http://www.tricities.com/news/article_4f97dcd4-5180-11e4-9dde-001a4bcf6878.html

The obituary is here.  A service will be held at King College this Thursday at 6:30 pm.  There is a card in the staff break room for those who would like to sign.

Flintlocks, ArtSmart, & Geek

Flintlocks & Book Carts

A gentleman may be in over the weekend with a Flintlock (an antique gun, for those too young to have watched Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett) to do a demonstration for a group.  This has already been cleared by Jud. 

Also, Amanda from Washington County Public Library may be by to borrow two bookcarts for the weekend.

ArtSmart

Mrs. Kistner called to let us know that ArtSmart has been cancelled for the weekend.  Only two children had signed up.  If anyone calls to inquire, please let them know.

Geek Photos 

Remember, Geek photos will be taken near the Delivery Door starting at 1 pm!

Avoca

Reminders for Avoca:  The big Book Sale is going on this weekend as part of their 50th Anniversary celebration!  There will be an Open House 1-3 pm on October 23 with refreshments provided by the Avoca Friends.

 

Happy Birthday

Susan W. (Avoca)  October 14

Becky W. (Volunteer) October 14 

United Way, Evaluations, Geek, Artistic Joyce, Avoca Celebrates, & Birthdays!

 United Way

 

United Way campaign season is here! The City of Bristol, VA, is having some activities to build support:

Friday, Oct.  10: kickoff, featuring a pancake breakfast at Bristol, Virginia City Hall with the city manager and assistant city manager slinging batter. All tips go to UW. Breakfast starts at 7:30 am.

Friday,  Oct. 24: first deadline. Everyone who turns in pledge cards by this date will be entered into a drawing for tickets to the spring race at BMS. (Note: Jeanne won last year, so it IS possible for a library employee to win!)

Friday, Nov. 7: final deadline.

The department with the highest average giving will receive “siesta leave” (2 hours off) for all employees.

Please turn in pledge cards to Brenda (pledge cards will be distributed at the 10/10 kickoff).

 Evaluations

From Margaret Feierabend, BPL Board President: 

"Evaluation tools are never perfect.  Do what you can with the evaluation form that you were given.  Use written comments to complete what you don't think is covered in the survey.

If you have your survey in the mail Friday, that would be great!

If you have questions, concerns, feel free to contact me.  Also feed back for improving this process is welcomed.

Thank you for your time on this and for the work you do."

Remember, envelopes need to be given to Brenda so they can go in the mail by Friday, October 3. 

Geek

We will be geeking next week! The first photo session will be on Wednesday starting at 1 pm.  Staff are asked to decide what they "geek" (love).  You may bring props if you wish.  Photos will be black and white.  Please wear black clothing for the photo.  If you have any questions, ask Doris.

Joyce the Artist

"Forgiven"

 Our Joyce has created a most wonderful quilt!  It took 150 hours of work to produce this masterpiece, which she designed herself.  Isn't it gorgeous??  The colors are so beautiful and the material she selected is perfect.  Well done, Joyce!

 Avoca

The Avoca Branch Library will be having a Book Sale Blowout October 9-11!  Bargains galore. Please spread the word!

 That's just the start of a busy month, as Avoca will also be celebrating the library's 50th Anniversary! There will be an Open House on October 23 with refreshments being served from 1-3 pm.   Congratulations, Avoca!!

Happy Birthday

Lisa (Main) Oct. 6

Ron (ALL) Oct. 10

Bristol Tennessee Fire Dept. Survey

If anyone inquires, the public surveys for the Bristol, Tennessee Fire Department are in a box in our community information area near the fireplace.  There is a separate box for returning the form.