From Jud:

"The library’s gift policy is a “no strings attached” policy: we have complete flexibility to determine how to use anything given to us. The gift shop coordinator is the one with the responsibility of deciding whether a gift will be added to the collection, put on sale in the gift shop, or thrown away."

Also, in case you hadn't heard, there is a slight update to the library conduct policy:  e-cigarettes have been added to the list of banned items, along with tobacco and alcohol. So-- no, patrons may not have the e-vapors.

Emergency Contact

We're updating the phone tree for calls in case of emergency. (Well, all of us named Brenda are doing that.)  Right now we have numbers only, but we are looking at also sending emails from the Switchboard BPL account in addition to attempting to reach you by phone. If you want to have an email notification, please see Jeanne to be sure that an email you can access at home is in the system for you.

Nicki is a Notary!!

Yes, Nicki is now a notary, too!  Congratulations, Nicki!

Mardi Gras Party Update!

Blackbird Bakery is doing king cakes using a traditional New Orleans recipe complete with baby! There are a couple of traditions about the baby:  one is that whoever finds it in the cake will have good luck the next year.   The other is that the finder has to buy the cake next year, which means good luck for everybody else!  We'll let the finder decide that one. 

Why, yes, that means we do plan to have a King Cake from Blackbird! 

Rumor has it that Don will be frying up Cajun catfish, that Brenda's Cajun deviled eggs will make a probably all too brief appearance, and Melba will bring black eyed pea salsa with chips!!!


So wear Mardi Gras colors (gold, green, and purple) and bring your appetite to the Staff Lounge on Tuesday, March 4 at noon to celebrate!

 

Virginia Retirement Hybrid Plan & Mardi Gras!

 From Jud: 
I encourage all employees being paid through the City (not @Work) to make arrangements to attend one of these sessions. Note:  When filling this out, for “employee type” we are all a “political subdivision employee.” 

This will be very important information for all employees who are in the Virginia Retirement System.  If you register, please let Jeanne or Christy know so we can be sure the desks are covered.  We may have to do a little switching, but we want to be sure everyone has a chance to attend.

 

For those who are in the Virginia Retirement System’s Hybrid Plan or those who may be interested in opting-in, a presentation will be held at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, on Tuesday, February 4, 9:00-11:00 a.m. One Partnership Circle, Rooms 103 & 104, Abingdon, VA 24210 .  You must register for this workshop by clicking the link below or visiting www.varetire.org. 

https://form.varetire.org/s3/Hybrid-Retirement-Plan-Presentations-for-Members-2014

 

The City of Bristol, Virginia along with the Bristol Virginia Public Schools and BVU will host a Hybrid Plan presentation on March 27, 2014 presented by the Virginia Retirement System officials.  There will be three sessions—9:00-11:00, 1:30- 3:30 and 4:30-6:30 held at the City School Board Administration building in the upstairs board room.  

Mardi Gras Time!!

Yep, it's time for food 'n' beads 'n' food 'n' masks 'n' food 'n' -- well, who cares, as long as there's food? We'll celebrate on the real Mardi Gras day, which this year will be Tuesday, March 4.  (It's always a Tuesday-- "Mardi Gras" means "Fat Tuesday," the last day to indulge before Lent.) There will be a sign up sheet in the kitchen so we'll know what folks are bringing.  Cajun food would be nice but not required, especially for folks who do not like things spicy.  Dress in Mardi Gras colors (yellow, green, and purple) and let's have some fun! More details later!

 

 

Adults in the Children's Library, Tax Info, and a Salute to Nancy & Paul Young

Adults in the Children's Library

From Jud:  We have a policy that restricts unaccompanied adults in the children's library.  The policy is based on the principle that unaccompanied adults should only be in the children's library to use materials that are uniquely found there.  If we make any exceptions to this principle, we lose the basis for enforcing the policy.  Please do not refer unaccompanied adults to the children's library unless it is to use the collection.

Tax Info

Just in case you haven't heard, the People Inc. volunteers have begun the free tax preparation downstairs in front of the Adult Learning Lab.  The times are:

Tuesdays 5:30pm - 7:30 pm, sign-up sheet out at 3 pm

Saturdays 10 am- 2 pm, sign up sheet out at 9 am

They are taking 20 names per session, so folks would be well advised to come early. The first couple of weeks are always overflowing and some people may not be able to have their returns done.  There are bookmarks at reference and circulation that alternate free tax prep locations.  If you need more, please let Jeanne know.

 Thank You, Nancy & Paul

We will miss seeing Nancy Young's smiling face each week at the library.  Nancy has volunteered faithfully for us for 13 years; her husband Paul has put in his share of hours as well.  She promised to stop by and see us occasionally. Thank you for all your hours of hard work and friendship, Nancy! We hope to see you back soon.

New W2s coming!

From City Hall, via Jud:

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES CONCERNING W2’S

Please be advised that the W2’s which were distributed to you last week have an incorrect reporting amount in Box 12b labeled DD.  The amount reported does not effect your taxable wages or taxes withheld, as it is forinformational purposes only.

As a result, a new W2 will be issued to all employees.  We anticipate these to be distributed by Monday, February 10, 2014.

Should you have questions, please contact our office at 276-821-6090.

 

Scheduling Update

Schedules

From Jud:
Scheduling update:

·         Starting on Sat., Feb. 1, library assistants working in the Circ. and Ref. departments will be scheduled to work the “phone room”—the Reference office where pre-shelving book sorting is done.

·         Nicki, Christy L., Laurie, and Don will be responsible for scheduling the phone room rotation, shelving, and sick/vacation relief.

·         A new “Saturday rotation” will be in effect: full-time library assistants with Friday as a regular work day will be in a rotation to work Saturday. When scheduled to work Saturday, you will not work the Friday before.

New Phone Message

 Doris has recorded new messages for our telephone, which should make it easier for folks. Most calls will go directly to the "Phone Room" to be dealt with as needed.

Addition to Emergency Policy, Staff News & More!

Early Closing

As the weather becomes more severe, there may be times when the library needs to close early.  Here is the amended procedure for early closing:

Early closing: In the event of bad weather, the Executive Director can authorize the early closing of the library. If the Executive Director is not present, the security officer on duty should contact him/her. If the Executive Director cannot be contacted, the security officer on duty is authorized to make a decision to close early.

This has been added to our general Emergency Policy.

Staff Notes

Brenda reports the wonderful news that her vision is improving after surgery!

Nancy P. is going to continue to undergo therapy.  Laurie and Nicki have been to visit her, so you can get updates from them.  Thanks to Doris H.for the wonderful copies of Hello! magazine! Nancy is enjoying them very much.

Happy Birthday!

Kay (Outreach)   January 29

Tommy W. (Volunteer)  January 31

Becky B  February 3

COOKIES!!!

Yes, it is Girl Scout Cookie Time!  Why this isn't on the calendar as some sort of national holiday is beyond me.  Anyway, for all those who love Thin Mints, Trefoils, Samoas, and other once a year delectables, I'm happy to tell you that there is an order form in the Staff Break Room so you can fulfill your cookie dream.  Remember, this just happens once a year, so be sure and stock up.

Mmmmm.... cooookeeeeeessss!  

 

And...  Happy Chinese New Year!

January 31

Welcome to the Year of the Horse! 

According to some sources, this means the year ahead will see more cooperation and optimism, as well as being an energetic year.  This energy can also be unpredictable at times, and people will gallop ahead without taking enough precautions. There's also a stubborn and/or independent streak to horses. 

Tax Info & Staff Updates

It's THAT time again!  Here are some answers to questions I'm sure we are all getting:

• Yes, we will be getting in some federal tax forms.  They will be shipped in mid-Janaury to early February.  They will be out downstairs in the usual place, on top of the third set of shelves, where the new non-fiction books are shelved.
• Free tax help will be available again this year, courtesy of People Incorporated.  They will start on Tuesday, Feburary 4,  and continue until April 15.  Times are: Tuesdays from 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm.We have bookmarks to give out with a list of items folks need to bring, such as a current photo ID and a copy of last year's return. They will be doing returns back in the computer lab.
• State tax forms have not been available at the library for several years now.  Sometimes they are available at the courthouse.  We can go online and print out a form, providing the patron knows what form is needed.  Copies are 20 cents a page.

As many have heard, Nancy Patterson is having some health issues.  She is making progress but good thoughts and prayers would be appreciated.  Laurie will post updates on the staff bulletin board.

Happy Birthday!

Karen G.   January 15

Melba  January 23 

And just in case anyone's forgotten, we will be closed on Monday, January 20, for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Book Signing

Dr. Mark Lineburg and Rex Gearheart will be at the BPL on Sunday, January 19 at 2 PM for a book signing for their book Educating Students in Poverty:Effective Practices for Leadership and Teaching. There will be copies of the book available for purchase.