National Library Week, Avoca, & "Block" Party!

The theme for this year's National Library Week is Lives Change@Your Library.  Laurie & Kristin came up with this great display!

In Other Artistic News...

Abingdon is having a Block Party!  Only these blocks are quilt blocks, and the quilts will be hung around in establishments all over town.You can find more information here:

Abingdon Block Party

Let's see, do we know someone who quilts?  Hmmm. Someone did make all those lovely little "sheets" for the bookdrops, one for every holiday and season (and a few just for fun.) Here's a hint:

Yes, indeed, our own Joyce has entered seventeen blocks!  She doesn't know which venues will display her artisty yet, but we'll keep you posted!

Avoca News!

April is going to be a busy month at our branch library!  Starting on Thurday, April 11, the Avoca Friends will be hosting a humongeous Book Sale!  The sale will run Thursday-Saturday; come early for best selection.  The hours are:

Monday & Friday  10:00 am- 5:00 pm

Saturday 10:00 am- Noon 

Then on Thursday, April 24, the Avoca Branch Open House will celebrate the rededication of the Children's Area. Stay tuned for details!

Harrison, Teamwork, & More

It was wonderful to see Harrison when he stopped by for a visit! We continue to get very good reports on his progress. He's doing very well, and plans to be back with us next month.  Harrison, the staff sends all their best wishes to you, and want to let you know that many patrons have asked after you.

THANKS!

This is a special thank you to all the staff members who have pitched in and helped us get through some rough days with so many folk out due to illness.  Everyone here did what needed to be done.  It was great teamwork, and it is very much appreciated by both the library and its patrons.  Thanks!

 National Library Week

National Library Week is April 13-19 this year, and we will be having some special events. Details will follow. This year's theme is Lives Change@Your Library.  

 

Happy Birthday!

Nancy T. (Avoca)  April 5

Richard (Security) April 8

Fat Tuesday, Indeed!

The Mardi Gras celebration was one to remember! 

We got to eat, drink, and be merry!

 

Brenda looked quite festive...

As did Melba!

Thanks to catfish chef Don & all those who helped with food & decorations!

This masked woman found the baby in the king cake!

This party was the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of folks.  Janice would have been proud! 

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.