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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Graduation, Insurance & Island Dreams

More Graduation News!

Congratulations to Julie for getting her degree in Criminal Justice from UT-Chattanooga!  And congratulations to Janice for surviving Sarah's AND Julie's school years. Now if she can just make it through Thomas's.....

Insurance
Remember, there will be a meeting in the J. Henry Kegley Meeting Room Wednesday morning at 11 to learn about the new insurance from  the City.  If you are unable to attend, there will be a second meeting May 22 at 3 pm, also in the J.Henry Kegley Meeting Room.You MUST attend one of the meetings. From Trish Henderson:  "You are required to fill out an enrollment application to either enroll or decline participation in the health insurance plan." This can be done at the meetings mentioned above or you can fill out the application at home, but the application must be returned to HR by the end of business day on May 28, 2013.

Surf City, Here We Come!
Mango Salsa , ham, chocolate cake to die for, yams, fruit, a coconut, pudding cakes, and more!
  
YUM!

A bevy of Island belles
 
Musical interlude from a wandering ukele player

Where's the poi?

Imagine the sea breezes!

Don Ho?

Aloha!

Friday, May 10, 2013

Insurance, Party, Congratulations, & Comics!

 Insurance

The City of Bristol, Virginia is changing health insurance providers.  According to a letter from the City Manager, United Healthcare's upcoming price increases were too great, so our new insurance carrier will be Local Choice. There are two meetings scheduled at the library, one on May 15 at 11 am and one on May 22 at 3 pm, both in the J.Henry Kegley Meeting Room.You MUST attend one of the meetings. From Trish Henderson:  "You are required to fill out an enrollment application to either enroll or decline participation in the health insurance plan." This can be done at the meetings mentioned above or you can fill out the application at home, but the application must be returned to HR by the end of business day on May 28, 2013.

Party Time!
It's time to clear out the winter blues and celebrate, according to Janice so prepare to party!  Think warm sands, ocean breezes, Jimmy Buffett, and a day-- specifically, May 14 at noon in the staff kitchen.  There's a sign-up sheet to let us know who's bringing what so we don't all show up with Margaritas and cheeseburgers. (As if there could ever be too many Margaritas and cheeseburgers! ~Anoymous Staff Member)

Another Grad!
Congratulations to Sarah Jayne Hoelscher on earning her degree in Elementary Education from ETSU!  Some of us have known Sarah since she was a baby, so we can feel both proud and old.
Civil War Program

Dave Goetz will be presenting a Civil War program on Sunday, May 19, starting at 2:30.  He's the author of several books, the most recent of which is about the post War friendship between Col. John Mosby and General Ulysses Grant. Please be sure to pass the word along to any Civil War buffs you know!



 Got (Comic) Characters?
In July, the library will be co-sponsoring a visit from the comic strip artist John R. Rose, who draws the Snuffy Smith comic in the Bristol Herald Courier.  We're planning to put up a display for the occasion, so if you have anything featuring a comic strip character-- stuffed animal, statue, cup, etc.-- that you'd be willing to risk, we'd love to borrow it for the display. Note the phrase "you'd be willing to risk," because we have had Unfortunate Incidents in the past.  On the other hand, if you're looking to clear out your stash of old Charlie Brown hats or Garfield flower holders, we have just the way for you to do it!


Thursday, May 2, 2013

Shhhh! Idea Park, Complaints, and Good News

Park Your Ideas Here

Laurie has created a wonderful Parking Lot board for staff to "park" ideas!  It's attached to a cubicle wall near the book sorting area, and it looks great! Very creative, Laurie!  Now it's our turn to get creative and put up some ideas worthy of this most cool board.



Complaints
We've had complaints about the way we handle complaints.  When a patron comes to you with a concern and it's not within your power to address the problem, please let the patron know it will be reported to a supervisor and/or to our director.  The main point is to make the patron feel that we are taking the problem seriously and will see if we can resolve it to our mutual satisfaction.

Shhhh!
In light of the complaints about noise in the library, we are trying to give the computer area and some of the lower floor a more studious atmosphere.  We will be curtailing conversations at the computers and can (and will) end computer sessions for those who fail to comply.

 ConGRADulations!
Laurie's daughter will be graduating on May 24!  Isn't this a great photo for her announcement?? Obviously, creativity runs in the family!

Becky & Ron Update
Becky has sent us a card, thanking everyone for all the support.  It's posted on the staff bulletin board near the staff entrance.  Becky says Ron is going back to therapy and she hopes to be able to come in again soon.
  

Friday, April 26, 2013

Visitor Protocol Revisited & Poetry

Visitor Reminder From Jud

"I would prefer that Security be called when someone asks to be let into the Archives. Even if certain individuals are “authorized” to go into the room (as are certain members of Blue Stocking and Bristol Historical), it is better for them to be accompanied at least as far as admission into the room.

Also, please remember that any visitors to the library staff work area need to be accompanied by a staff member."

Poetry Month
There will be a poetry reading and book signing by Chrissie Anderson Peters, Nancy Fisher, and Rose Klix in the J.Henry Kegley Meeting Room on Sunday, April 28, at 2 pm. Pass the word!

The staff picks for poetry will be posted on Friday.  Be sure and check out our blog to see the choices!  http://bristol-library-bookblog.blogspot.com/  

SHHHHH!
We are getting complaints from patrons about noisy STAFF as well as noisy patrons.  Please help keep the library a quiet place.


Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Becky Update, Poetry, Library Snapshot

Authors & Poetry 
Remember, we're having authors in to sign books!  They will be in front of the William C. Burris, Sr. room at the foot of the stairs from 4:30 PM until 6 PM.  

Tuesday:  Lisa Crockett White. Laws of Love
Wednesday:  Tim Rouse & Lightnin' Charlie 
Saddle Tramps and Lightnin' Charlie Off the Record

Thursday:  Kathy Shearer, Tales of the Moonshine Trade
    
Buy your own books!  These are MINE!
 Jennifer Estep will also be in this week to speak to Pam's teens.

Sunday, April 28, we will have three local poets reading from their work:  Chrissie Peters, Rose Klix, and Nancy Fisher. The program starts at 2:00 PM.  And speaking of poetry--

Thanks to Laurie & Nicki for sending me their favorite poems for a blog!  If anyone else wants to contribute, please let Jeanne know!
  
Virginia Library Snapshot Day!

Tuesday, April 23,  is Library Snapshot Day!  The idea is to capture the typical day in the life of a library.  Photos will be taken, statistics compiled, and quotes from patrons collected.  You can see last year's results at http://snapshotvirginia.org/  Click on "Results" to see some amazing stats, then you can check out photos from other libraries.

Ron & Becky Update
Becky called to say that Ron is being moved back to Charlottesville.  She wanted to tell everyone thanks for all that's been done.  She deeply appreciates the care and concern from everyone, as well as the prayers, flowers, food and money.  Please keep Ron and Becky in your thoughts.

Penguin Oops
Ms. Michelle let me know that the Penguin Players will be here the week AFTER National Library Week, April 23. Some of our early paper calendars also had that misprint, so there may be questions from patrons.
 

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

New faces, Obamacare program, National Library Week, & More!

New Staff at BPL!
We have some new folk joining us at BPL!  Please make them welcome.
  • Jessica will be working in Circulation on the weekends
  • Christy H. is working Reference on Sundays. She's been volunteering in Reference for some time now and has done a couple of great reviews on the bookblog.  (Note:  reviews for the bookblog are welcome from any staff members!  Yes, that IS a hint!)
  • Kristin is working part time in Reference, including Saturdays.  She's been volunteering for Janice and has worked in libraries in several different places prior to coming to Bristol.

Update from Becky
Becky says that Ron will be starting therapy soon. She wanted me to tell everyone how much she appreciates all that we've done.  Thanks, everyone!

Favorite Poems
April is National Poetry Month!,To celebrate, Main will be hosting a poetry reading the last Sunday of the month.  The Bookblog is going to feature some posts about poetry, so if you have a favorite poem or want to say something about poetry, please let Jeanne know asap.  Thanks!
 
Health Series Kicks Off with Obamacare
The Bristol Public Library is partnering with the ETSU Family Medical Center and Wellmont to present a series of programs on important health issues.  These programs will be on the second Thursday of every month at 7 PM in the J. Henry Kegley Meeting Room.  This Thursday the topic is ObamaCare, a topic which should interest all of us as more provisions of the act go into effect. There's a lot of information out there, but there's a lot of MISinformation as well.  This is a chance to help our community become better informed about a very important issue, so please encourage everyone to attend.

Future topics will include programs on diabetes and cancer.

And Speaking of Health Care...
From City Hall:

 "The Virginia Municipal League Insurance Program (VML) has updated the City of Bristol Workers’ Compensation Panel of Physicians Form and it is effective immediately.  The attached April 10, 2013 (date located on bottom, right side of form) version of the form replaces all previous forms and ALL copies of the previous form are to be destroyed.  Post the new City of Bristol Workers’ Compensation Panel of Physicians Form in applicable areas to ensure that your staff is aware of the change and that it is used for all future work related injury reporting."

A copy of this new form is posted on the bulletin board near the Staff Entrance.  
  
 National Library Week
April 14-20 is National Library Week!  Michelle is having the Dollywood Penguin Players on Tuesday.  Pam's Teens & YAs will have author Jennifer Estep visit on Wednesday.  Local authors will be signing books from 4:30 PM - 6 PM in front of the Burriss Study Room downstairs.  Authors will include Kathy Shearer (Tales of the Moonshine Trade), Lisa White (Laws of Love), and Tim Rouse (Saddle Tramps).   Monday's author will be Dr. Craig McDonald (An Early Fall.)

More details to follow!
 
 Malachi Update

Malachi & G-Grandma at the Wall of Hope.  His footprint is the green one at the top!
Pre Easter photo




 

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Ron update & staff news

Ron & Becky Update
Good news! Actually, FABULOUS news!  Ron is now back home!  He will go to to rehab but doesn't have to stay in a facility. He's much improved, but prayers and good thoughts will still be appreciated. Janice is going to put together a Care Package for Becky on Thursday, so if you'd like to bring something, just let Janice know.

Thumbs Up for Pam!
After the wonderful article in the Bristol Herald Courier, Pam was the first "Thumb's Up" pick in the Saturday editorial! You can read the comments here. 

Happy Birthday!

Anita (Foundation)  April 2

Staff Changes
 Stormi has finished her stint with us and is off in pursuit of her degree. We'll miss her! Please stop in often.

Jessica will be working in Circulation on weekends now.  Welcome, Jessica! We're glad to have you join our team!

Avoca News From Susan W.
 The Avoca Friends will be hosting a booksale April 4-6, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday until noon. Be sure and pass the word!  This is a fundraiser for the library.
 
 You may have heard about the “Harlem Shake” video uproar at Tennessee High. The young man who taped it is Sue M.’s grandson, Austin Taylor. It was taken off YouTube and is now back up. Austin wants to go into video work as a career. At the School Board meeting this week, they asked him to tape a fundraising video for the Stone Castle project!
 Condolences
Bill at Avoca lost his aunt, Sharon Livesay, this week.  Arrangements are incomplete at this time.  I'll post information about arrangements as it becomes available.