Holidays, Aflac & Happy Birthday, Harrison!

The holidays are fast approaching!  As most of you know, we will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, December 24 & 25.  We will also be closed on New Year's Day, January 1.  City offices will be closed on New Year's Eve, December 31; if the Library Board approves, we will follow suit.  Otherwise, we will be open until 5 pm that day.

Christmas Posts

Already up:  Nicki's Swedish Christmas, Doris on The Story of the Other Wise Man, and Jeanne's Christmas song picks.  Check every day this week for a new holiday post!

http://bristol-library-bookblog.blogspot.com/ 

Aflac!

The Aflac representative will be here on Thursday, starting at 10 am.  There are some appointments already scheduled, but if you want to talk to a rep you may have a chance then.

Happy Birthday!

Harrison Gilley  December 17

 

Christmas Favorites Wanted

Many thanks to Michelle for hosting the Staff Christmas party!  A grand time was had by all as you can see from the wonderful photos posted outside Janice's office.Thank you, Michelle!

The bookblog is going to have a festive air beginning this week. I thought it might be fun to post staff (and friends, of course!) favorite Christmas books, TV shows, songs, and movies as chosen by the staff.  If you have favorites, please let Jeanne know.  You can drop by and tell me, leave me a note or email the reference department. I'd especially like favorite Christmas books or just recommended Christmas books since I've gotten fewer book recommendations than anything else.

Staff Party news & More!

 Thanks to Michelle for hosting our annual Christmas party!  It will be on Saturday, December 8, at Michelle's house.  We'll meet at 6 pm and eat at 6:30.  There is a sign up sheet in the Staff Lounge so we'll know what everyone is bringing.  Janice is worried someone may bring kidney beans and she wants a chance to nip that notion in the bud. See Michelle or Janice for further information.

Happy Birthday

"Granny" Sue Morrell (Avoca)   December 2

 Welcome, Nancy!

Nancy Turner has joined the staff at Avoca! Stop by and say hello!

 

Some of you may remember Gail Rose, a long time Circulation staff member.  Gail's father passed away last week.  You can read the obituary and post a message here.

City Christmas Party & Turkey Trot

City Christmas Party

 Are you ready for the big Bristol Virginia Christmas party?  They want to be ready for you, so they need a count of the number of people attending.  Please let Brenda know ASAP!!  Remember, the party will be at the Holiday Inn at Exit 7 on Friday, December 7, starting at 6:00 pm.

Congratulations, Joyce!

Joyce not only completed her 5K race, she came in at #72 out of 125 finishers! 

City Christmas Party, Joyce Trots, and Laurie Celebrates!

City of Bristol Virginia Christmas Party

Just an FYI to “save the date” of Friday evening, December 7^th, for our Annual City Christmas Party.

 

It will be at the Holiday Inn at Exit 7, and will start at 6:00 p.m.  This year the doors will not open until 6:00 p.m. and will be City worker and spouse only.

  

Happy Birthday!

 
Laurie W.   November 13

GO, JOYCE!

Our own Joyce will be running in this year's 5K Turkey Trot sponsored by the Bristol YWCA!  If she finishes in the top 100, she'll have her name listed online.  Look for her making a lap down Anderson Street this Saturday morning.  You go, girl! 

 Great Programs!

 We had a very good turnout for Chuck Todd.  Congratulations, Anita and Sarah! We continue to hear compliments about what a great program that was.

Also,  King College's Buechner Institute presented Leonard Pitts, Jr. at a program in the J. Henry Kegley Meeting Room Monday night.  It was standing room only.  

It was very nice to see the library represented at both, as well as so many of our regular patrons.

   

Meet Trixie! (And other stuff)

Smoking Cessation Class

If you signed up for the free Smoking Cessation Class offered by the City of Bristol, VA, the program will be held next Wednesday, Nov. 14, at the Public Works Street Division Training Room located at 2103 Shakesville Road.

United Way

Thanks to those who have contributed to United Way .  There is still time to make your contribution of any amount. You can still make a pledge or a one-time gift—remember your one-time gift can be deducted from your paycheck; it won’t come out until January. Brenda has forms if you need one. Please share your thankfulness.

Here's Trixie!

 This adorable little Yorkie girl was adopted from Sullivan County Animal Shelter by Sarah.  Welcome to the BPL Fur Family, Trixie!

 

Veterans Day

Have a safe and happy Veterans Day!  Remember we have two programs over the holiday weekend, Chuck Todd on Saturday at VI and Leonard Pitts in the J. Henry Kegley Meeting Room on Monday at 7 pm.  The ONLY entrance will be through the meeting room doors in the parking lot.  These should both be outstanding programs.

Note:  If anyone wants a Melon Halloween or Thanksgiving card, see Jeanne.

Leave Applications, Many Events & Malachi

 Leave Applications

There have been some questions about leave applications lately, so here's the word directly from Jud:

"Sick leave: Applications must be turned in to supervisors immediately upon returning to work after taking sick leave. Supervisors should then sign and turn in the form to Brenda as soon as possible. Any delay will result in the refusal of the sick leave request.

Vacation leave: Vacation leave must be requested in advance from your supervisor. Approval depends upon the work requirements of the department. Supervisors have the final say as to the approval of all requests for vacation leave. As with sick leave, signed applications for vacation leave should be turned in to Brenda as soon as possible.

The memo is also posted on the staff bulletin board."

This will not only make life easier for Brenda, it will ensure you are paid.

Upcoming Events

We have a number of upcoming events which may bring questions.  In order of occurrence:

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2:  TIM KAINE     10:30 am???

Former Virginia governor and Senate candidate Time Kaine will be here for an event on Friday.  This event is being hosted by an outside group and we do not have an exact time but best guess is 10:30 am. 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10:  CHUCK TODD   1:30 pm

This Discovery program will be held at Virginia Intermont College at the Kegley Auditorium at 1:30 pm.  Tickets are required.  Reserved seating is $50; general admission is $20.  Sarah is the contact person.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12:  LEONARD PITTS    7:00 pm

Yes, the Library IS closed on Monday, November 12 but we WILL be opening the Meeting Room doors at 6:30 pm for this special presentation. It's part of King College's Buechner program.  Mr. Pitts is a columnist whose work appears in the Bristol Herald Courier, so it's possible you'll be asked about "some newspaper person" who will be here.  Please keep this in mind when people call to ask if the library will be closed on the 12th:  the answer is, "Yes, but there is a program at 7:00 pm."  If the caller is calling about the program, be sure to say that the ONLY way in to the library will be through the upstairs Meeting Room doors. The rest of the library will remain closed.

Malachi's home!!

Linda shared this photo of her great-grandbaby, all dressed up in the Karate outfit Linda made.  He's now 6 pounds, 12 ounces, and getting round the clock attention.