Program reminders & a visit!

Remember  Bob Gibson, our first Discovery Series speaker, will be speaking tonight, Tuesday the 22nd,  at 7pm in the large meeting room. His topic is "Can bi-partisanship still exist?"  There are no reserved seats, it is open and free to the public.  The presentation will begin at 7 pm followed by a short Q&A session. If you have any questions, just call Kathryn.


This weekend is the Bird Club Program!  On Sunday at 3 pm, members of the Bristol Bird Club will be in the large meeting room, talking about bird watching, identification, and attracting.  It should be a lot of fun & very informative.


Happy Birthday to Christine M. on March 23 and to Darlene on March 26!

We had visitors over the weekend!  Our erstwhile security guard Scottie and Jessica brought by baby Allen to visit.  He promises to bring the family by often.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Melon anxiously awaits his corned beef & cabbage.

(Note:  I'd intended to post a nice photo of the Irish display in the Adult Reading area, but my computer has decided not to recognize my photo chip so I can't upload it.  Sorry! You're stuck with O'Melon.)

From Kathryn:

Information for anyone who asks about Buddy Valastro “Cake Boss” Tickets:

 

Tickets will go on sale APRIL 1^st at 10:00am.

 

If anyone is interested in sitting in the first 5 rows, those tickets will be on sale here at the library.  People must come to the large meeting room and line up.  No ticket will be sold before 10 am on the 1^st.  Those tickets will be $100 each. Only the first 5 rows will be for sale here at the library.

 

For all other tickets, people need to visit the Viking Hall Box Office or go online to www.vikinghall.com.  All tickets, except for the first 5 rows, will be available through that site and the box office at 10am on the 1^st of April. 

 

Prices are:

$75 or $50 on the floor, depending on how far back you are.

If you purchase a seat on the floor, you will have the opportunity to have your book signed. 

 

$20 general admission for all the seats around the top.  Anyone who sits up here will not be able to have their book signed.  They will simply have access to the public presentation and demonstration, but they will not be allowed down on the floor for pictures or the booksigning.

 

There are no free seats for this event.

If you have any questions, just ask Kathryn!

Thanks to Serena for letting me know that she's read the book blog  in addition to the staff blog! Remember, we're always ready for other staff members to submit reviews!  Just give your review to me (Jeanne, not Melon) or email it to bplref@yahoo.com.  Or, if you're excited about a book but not too much on typing, just talk with me and we'll get something posted.  By the way, Nancy W. has written a review of "Walking in Circles Before Lying Down."  Check it out at bristol-library-bookblog.blogspot.com/

Patron Surveys

We've been getting some very good remarks on our patron surveys!   We are lauded for our good selection of materials and  for having a well maintained facility (take a bow, Joyce!)  However, most of the comments related to the staff.  We were called "warm, friendly, knowledgeable and helpful."  One patron said he was "treated like family."  You should all be proud of yourselves and we should be proud of each other!  A library is much more than a building with books.

Congratulations, everyone, and keep up the good work!

We did have a few suggestions for improvements.  I'm sure you won't be surprised that "more parking" and "more time on the computer" were two of them.
 
We also had many compliments on the Luau! Most patrons thought we all looked very festive, though Jeanne and Sue blinded at least one patron. Thank you, Janice, for cheering up a dreary day!

Bury Bones shows another side of his personality.

Quite the spread!

Brenda called  for sunshine but it was on backorder.

Christy and Don adorn the Circulation Desk.

Discovery & luau!

The return of winter!

 Just in time for our Hawaiian luau, we had snow! Remember, we'll be dressing up on Thursday, March 10!

I hope everyone saw the news about the Discovery series for 2011!  Please refer people to Kathryn  for ticket information. Tickets are not actually "on sale" yet, but Kathryn is taking names of those who want to be notified when tickets are available.  There's some information our website:  click on Discovery Series, then on "Upcoming Events" on the right.  Or you can click here

Each event has its own page with information so if someone wants to know about, say, the fishing event, click on that to find details. I'd encourage everyone to read these over, especially if you aren't familiar with a presenter.  Then if someone asks, "Who's this James Howe guy?" you can say, "Oh, he's a wonderful children's book author!  He wrote Bunnicula, that funny book about a dog and cat who think the pet bunny is a vampire!"

Information about the Spring Gala at the Bristol Train Station will be coming out soon.  Again, just refer people to Kathryn for more information.

Remember Scottie, the security guard?  We just heard that he's the proud father of a little boy, born in January. Congratulations! 

Happy Birthday 

Linda Alexander on March 8

Program notes, Hawaii & sweet recipes!

 Aloha!  On Thursday,  March 10, Janice wants to decorate the library!  Given our limited budget, the most cost effective way to do this is to have the staff dress up in Hawaiian style.  So break out the leis, grass skirts, and what Ray Stevens referred to as "Hi-warian floweredy shirts" and get ready for a Janice style luau! (If it turns cold, expect me to confuse our 50th state with our 49th.) 

The March 1 book signing by Lil' Jess has been postponed by her request.  Should anyone ask, tell them to go to her website www.kidrocktherealdeal.com.

The winning recipes from the Candy Contest are posted on our website!  Directions:  scroll to the bottom of the front page. Under "Other Information," click on "Special Events."  This will take you to a page with a description of the contest and a link to the recipes.  That's the easiest way to tell patrons how to access the winners. If you're reading this blog, the easiest way is to Click here!

The painting from the gallery show by Mr. Brinkley and Mr. Jessee was won by Tom McConnell.  The next show will be the paintings by the children from the home school group. Their previous exhibitions have been well received.  They're a talented group!

The program about water was a great success!   73 people attended.  David St. John did a super job, with some magic tricks, some amazing physics lessons and lots of good information.  I wish I'd known some of this before I got my new faucets.  At least I have some good ideas about what to look for in my next refrigerator...

The audience was entertained and informed!

Some young volunteers help Mr. St. John with a demonstration.

A patron tries the amazing ancient Chinese water bowl!

Yes, these are actual water pipes that were used for drinking water....

 

Policies, Programs and Staff News!

Mr. Barry and the Library Board, along with input from staff and security, are making some tweaks to our policies.  We want the library to fulfill its mission of being a great community resource.  To that end, we need to be sure that the library is being used for its intended purpose. We've had several compliments already from people who have noticed a change.  If you want to review the changes, you can do so from our website.  Policies are posted here
http://www.bristol-library.org/about-us/mission-policies.

To go directly to the Conduct policy click here
http://www.bristol-library.org/site/files/Policy_conduct.pdf.

If you want to read the minutes of the Board meetings, you can do so from our website.  I'll post the link, but just in case you want to check from our site, this is your path:

Go to www.bristol-library.org and Click on "About Us" at the top far right.  On the next screen go to the left under "Department Links" and click on "Board Minutes."  The next screen will give you a list of the minutes posted. New minutes should be listed soon.

Or you can click on this link to go directly from this post:   Board minutes

 Staff News

As many of you may have heard, Janice's husband Bill has been hospitalized.  I'm pleased to report that he is home and doing much better!  Janice would still appreciate good thoughts and prayers.

Welcome, David Erik Hutton!

Proud grandmother Joan writes, "We have a baby.  He was born Thursday at 4:30.  He has red hair and blue eyes.  He weighed 6 pounds and 13 ounces and was 20 inches long."

Rebecca & Baxter

Rebecca took pity on a stray kitty!  Baxter joined Belle & Chessie last week.  Best wishes to them all!

I hope everyone got to see Saturday's Bristol Herald Courier with the front page article on the Candy Contest!  Just in case you didn't, click here:  Candy Contest

Remember, if you want something in the blog, just let Jeanne know!

Valentines, chocolate & water!

It's almost Valentine's Day!  You should know that the Blackbird Bakery, sponsor of The Nevermore Book Club, will be open on Valentine's Day.  (They're usually closed on Mondays, but they're getting in a new oven on Tuesday so they will be closed that day. )  The good news is that they'll be open for those last minute Valentine treats for your sweetie-- even if that sweetie is you.

Melon says, "Cupids like chocolate too!"

Next week we have some fun events at Main!  The annual candy contest will be on Friday the 18th. Be sure to encourage folks to enter!  Remember, more entries may translate into more samples being left in the break room!

On Sunday, Feb. 20, at 3 pm we'll have David St. John doing a presentation on water.  He does some magic with water too!  Plus he'll talk about bottled water, dangers in water, and water and health. Ever get one of those forwards about the dangers of bottled water?  Or been told you need to drink eight glasses of water a day?  This is the man to ask!  Plus, he should do a great show!  Refreshments will be served-- including water!

Remember, Avoca is having a wonderful book, DVD, & Good Stuff Sale on Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week.  Stop by and check out the bargains!


We're having a great turn out for the free tax help!  Here was the scene last Saturday:

Yep, the folks sitting in the Burris Room were also waiting for taxes, and there were folks at tables on either side of the stairs.

Staff Stuff

Everybody looked fabulous on Wear Red for Women Day!  Check out the photo on the library Facebook page, too! 

Emily E. is doing well in Charleston!  She had an eye exam recently and the doctor was Jeanne's nephew John.  Chorus of "It's a small world" now!

Crowe has a new hobby:  beading!  She stopped by the library to stock up on books before bad weather.

Joan is still awaiting that grandbaby!  He's due any day now. She and DJ visited the library on Wednesday.  DJ is growing up fast!

Art in Security is expecting a new addition too-- except his has four legs.  He and his wife are adopting a teacup chihuahua!

Of course, chihuahuas always remind me of Tonia and her Thor.  Tonia's library, the Glade Spring Branch of Washington County Public Library, will be having its Grand Opening this Saturday 1-5 pm.  After you've shopped at Avoca, stop by Glade! Congratulations, Tonia!

Have any news to share?  Just pass it on to Jeanne!