Inside Bristol, Library Website & FB Page, Book Photos

Inside Bristol

This is a program that highlights people, services, and events around Bristol.  They asked for a video segment on the library, and Tonia, Rita, and other staff members rose to the occasion.  You can see the video here.  The library video starts at about 14:20. You'll see a lot of familiar faces!  Kudos to Tonia and Rita for putting this together, and sincere appreciation for everyone who appeared--including those of you who may not have known you were going to appear.  Thank you!

Library Website

If you haven't visited the library's homepage in awhile, you will be in for a surprise!  T.J. and Don have been re-vamping and updating it so that we have a fresh new look and it is easier to get to information.  More links are on the front page to help our patrons find the Bristol Herald Courier, Tumblebooks, Code Club, Transparent Languages, and more.  There are new photos as well.  Check it out!  Bristol Public Library

T.J. has done a great job of keeping our Facebook Page up to date with links, information, and interesting things to keep people checking back for more. Take a bow, T.J.!

And speaking of our Facebook Page...

The videos have been a success at drawing attention to our page.  Great job, Rita! And thanks to those who participated!  Since videos aren't an option at the moment, we have been trying something new:  a photo hint to a book.  Check out our page to see  what we did for Alice in Wonderland and for Laura's hint!  We need more ideas, though.  You don't have to appear in a photo if you don't want to, but we do need you to come up with ideas to represent a book.  Just let Jeanne know what you'd like to do and we'll try to make that happen!

https://www.facebook.com/bristolpubliclibrary/

Open Enrollment, Picture Day, Online Services, and Many Thanks

 Open Enrollment

 From City Hall:

All,

Unfortunately, we were unable to hold the Employee Benefits Fair this year.   However, there is bright news as Open Enrollment is set for April 13 – May 8, 2020 and there are no rate increases this year to health insurance!   Due to the coronavirus,  HR is asking that you please follow the instructions in the attached Open Enrollment notice.  A TLC fillable insurance form is attached should you need it as well as a LD & B flexible spending enrollment form.

Also, a contact list is provided should you want to reach out to one of the representatives and speak to them about any questions you may have.   Any enrollment forms received by HR or Payroll outside Open Enrollment period of April 13 – May 8  will not be processed.     No exceptions.

Thank you for all you do and please wash your hands frequently and be even more conscious of 6-feet social distancing.

Stay safe and healthy,

Trish Henderson

(This info is also on the staff bulletin board.)

Book Photos

As mentioned in a previous blog, we are hoping to have some folks who are willing to dress up to illustrate books for Facebook posts.  One should go up today on the BPL website if you want to take a look.  I am thinking about doing one for Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The idea is to give clues to the book, then on the next day we post the answer.  At this time I am planning to come in tomorrow (Friday) and take photos as we will have fewer people in the building.  Just send me an email if you want to participate.  Laura has picked out a book already!

Also, I have an idea for a Romeo and Juliet scene on the stairs, if anyone will volunteer to play a role.

This is just something to let our patrons know we are still here and to try to give everyone-- staff included-- a smile.  These are frightening and uncertain times, and we all need all the help we can get.

Social Media

T.J. says that the videos and photos are creating some interest, drawing people to our social media where he can also plug our online services such as the Bristol Herald Courier, Tumblebooks, and the online activities the JCC has lined up.  Thanks to those with FB accounts who have shared our posts to help get the word out.

Special thanks to Rita for her expert filming and editing!  The videos have been charming and I think very professional looking.  Rita and Tonia teamed up to do a three minute video about the library at the request Anne Dunham from Bristol, Tennessee City to show what departments are doing during this pandemic.  Ms. Dunham wrote that ours was the best video so far.  Take a bow, ladies! The video will be added to our site and other social media so everyone will be able to see it.

Also thanks to T.J. who has kept our social media up and running.  One look at our Facebook page will show  how hard he has been working, and that is in addition to keeping programs going.  Check out and share the wonderful program offerings available online!  There will be some Zoom events as well that could be very interesting and possibly count toward Continuing Education.

And if you haven't checked out our FB page in awhile,  take a look:

https://www.facebook.com/bristolpubliclibrary/

Not to mention all the great posts by the Children's and YA Departments about things to do while staying home, including celebrities reading children's books and a teen photography contest.  Avoca even had Mrs. Nancy reading a book and Joan's grandson reading poetry!  Check them out!

https://www.facebook.com/avocabranchlibrary/

https://www.facebook.com/bplteenreaders/

https://www.facebook.com/bplchildrenslibrary/

Thanks

I hope everyone knows how proud Tonia is of you all; she has said it over and again what a great crew we have here. And we do.  I know I consider myself fortunate to work with this staff.

Clean Up & Dress Up

Clean Up Time!

While we are closed to the public is the perfect time to get everything spruced up, including our kitchen at Main.  This includes the "Eww, what smells?" refrigerator.  Be sure to label and date any of your food by end of day on Monday, March 30, because on Tuesday unmarked food the possible Petri dish containers will go away.

Dress Up Time!

As some of you may have noticed, we are trying to stay connected to our patrons via social media.  Tonia has suggested that staff members may dress up as book characters for photos to be posted.  You can be an obvious character or one for viewers to guess who you are.  April 1 is our target date, and yes, Avoca, we'd love for you to participate!  The Children's Department should have some good props if you need those. A group could do a scene if you wanted to recruit others.  We're now scheduled to be closed until April 24, so if you think of something later we could still probably do it.  Also, if you have ideas for our social media, please talk to Tonia!

Thanks, Congratulations, Tail Waggin' Tutors, Get Well, and More Thanks

 Thanks!

Thanks (belated though it may be!) to all who helped make our Mardi Gras party a success!  The food was fabulous. I appreciate all the hard work that went into this: planning, cooking, and everyone's least favorite part-- the cleanup.   I'd like to give a special nod to Rebecca for setting up all the decorations.

Congratulations!

Brenda D. is now  Director of Finance for Bristol Public Library!  She's already been doing the work, now she has the title to go with it! Well done, Brenda! We don't know what we would do without her-- and we don't want to find out.

Tail-Waggin' Tutors

Just in case you missed the segment on WCYB, here's a link to their report on this wonderful program: Tail-Waggin' Tutors.  Great job on getting this set up, Kayla!

Get Well Wishes!

Thanks to Tonia for keeping us updated on Brenda G.  I am sure that thoughts and prayers would be appreciated, and we hope to see Brenda G's smiling face back with us soon.

Kayla will be out a bit longer than anticipated; she hopes to be back in mid-April. Don will continue to manage meeting rooms until her return.

FYI

We will not have a notary on Sundays or after 5 pm from March 15 until March 24.

Thanks Part II:  The Sequel

Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes and for the to die for pink almond cake!

I promise I did not lick the frosting.  I may have drooled on it, though.

Un-retouched photo of Jeanne post-cake.

Congratulations, Thanks, Mardi Gras, Happy Birthday

Congratulations!

Brenda G. is now the Branch Manager at Avoca. She will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position.

This leaves our new Technical Services Manager, Christina Meade, with some pretty big shoes to fill but we're sure she will do an excellent job.

BPL is fortunate to have two such qualified folks on our staff!

Thanks to Christy H!

Christy found this wonderful photo she took of the old BPL back in the day.  Thank you for sharing this with us!

Happy Birthday! 

Mark (Security)  February 13

 Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is Tuesday, February 25.  If anyone is interested in participating in a pot-luck,please sign up on the white board.  I see someone has already volunteered to bring spices.

Congratulations to Christy & Ian, Tax Update, and Happy Birthday

Congratulations!

Christy and Ian welcomed baby Stella Violet on Monday!  She joins big sisters Florence Blue and Julia Gray.  We wish everyone good health and happiness!

Tax News

We finally have the instruction booklets!  Tax help will begin on Saturday, Feb. 1 and run until April 11.  Times are Saturdays from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm and Tuesdays from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm.  And in related news:

JCC Hours

Because of the Vita tax help, the JCC will be altering its hours in February.  They will be closed on Sundays but open 9-1 on Saturdays. Be sure and check their monthly calendar for exact hours of operation any given day.

Happy Birthday!

Rita (Main)  January 29

Kay (Outreach) January 29

Tax Forms, Congratulations Joyce!

They're Here! They're Here!

Yes, at long last the tax forms and books have arrived! This year the packet contains the 1040 and 1040-SR (for those over 65).  Tax help will begin on February 1 and continue on Saturdays and Tuesdays until April 14.

Congratulations, Joyce!

Joyce earned another A in her Sign Language class this semester!  She has already signed up for semester 4.  We are so proud of you, Joyce!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Remember, the library will be closed on Monday, January 20, for Martin Luther King, Jr.Day. 

Welcome Tonia, Tax Forms, Programs

Welcome, Tonia!

Our new executive director has  been on the job for less than a week but she is already showing her interest and enthusiasm for the library and its staff.  She is in the process of meeting everyone-- if she has not met with you yet, she will

There will be a reception for Tonia on January 23 from 3 pm- 5 pm.  The monthly Board of Trustees meeting will follow. Staff members are welcome to drop in.

Tax Forms

We finally had an email from the IRS saying that the tax forms will start shipping on January 21. They estimate three weeks before all will be sent, and we do not have an exact arrival date.  The Tax Prep program will start on Saturday, February 1, in the JCC.  Exact times will be announced later, but it will be on the usual Tuesdays and Saturdays.

BPL Programs

From Kayla:

"Typically, all of our programs will have a Facebook event page and that is the best place to check for program and contact details.  https://www.facebook.com/pg/bristolpubliclibrary/events/

If anyone is interested in the Family Nutrition Program, but cannot attend the sign-up dates, the contact for that is an employee with the extension office named Siera and she can be reached at 276-676-6309 or speers@vt.edu.  That information is on the flyer on our downstairs bulletin board, but she did not include it in the Facebook event.

The only event that is not on our Facebook page yet is the reception for Tonia, which is happening in the upstairs meeting room from 3:00 pm - 5:00pm on January 23^rd. The FOL is providing refreshments, and the public is invited to attend."

 Events for Children's and YA departments should be listed on their respective pages.

Old BPL

We have been searching for photos of the previous version of the library, specifically the outside.  If anyone has some, we'd love to borrow to scan!  Meanwhile, Joyce shared a shot of the old interior along with some familiar faces. Who remembers when the library looked like this?