Get Your Geek On & Flu Shot Reminder

Geek Poster Head Shots for Staff--Get Your Geek On!!!!!

From Doris:

We'll be shooting staff Geek shots on  Wednesday, October 8 at 11 am in the administrative area. Wear black but you can wear necklaces or a scarf. This is only be a head shot meaning primarily your face so get yourself all spiffed up! The photographer specializes in head shots so he should do a good job.

Be ready with what you Geek, i.e. something you really love. I will put some Geek posters around so everyone can see the look for the posters.

This is voluntary but I hope lots of the staff will participate. If you are going to have your picture taken for a poster, please let Doris know by October 6, by noon.

Also, on October 8 at 2 pm we will do a picture for the fund-raising that will include the whole staff as a group holding up a sign that says "Carving Destinies." By doing the Geek pictures and the CD pictures on the same, everyone will only have to get gussied up one time. 

However, there will be a second individual shoot for the Geek posters on Saturday, October 11 at 1 pm. If October 8 is not convenient for a staff picture, then October 11 is an alternative.

 Flu Shots

Remember, flu shots will be administered next week.  The shots are free, if you choose to get one.  Spouses of full time employees are also eligible. @Work people are also eligible!  Times are posted on the staff bulletin board near the Staff Entrance.  There is also a form which should be filled out to take with you posted as well.  Please make a copy and return the original to the board for others.  Also, folks in LIS should let Christy know which time they wish to get the shot so she can be sure all desks are covered.

Assessment forms, R&R, and more!

Organizational Assessment

As part of an evaluation process, every staff member is asked to fill out an Organizational Assessment form. You will receive a copy along with an envelope to mail directly to the firm handling our Evaluation. Look for them soon!

Rhythm and Roots Reunion

Many thanks to all those who worked so hard to get our R&R booth up and manned! A special nod to Lisa who planned and managed the event. We raised about $290.  Thanks also to those who helped set up and take down as well as those who worked the event.  The library couldn't have done it without you.

Welcome, Chrissie!

Chrissie Peters (nee Anderson) is filling in for us these days! Some of you may remember when she was here before, back when we were all much more fresh faced and a lot less grey. She'll be working where needed, which means we'll be seeing her upstairs and down. We're lucky to have her back! Since she was here last she's gotten married, gotten her Master's, worked at Northeast State, authored two books, and taken the Tour of the Continent, as they used to say.

 

New Shrimp Record!

As many of you may know, Brenda has been the long time reigning champion of shrimp consumption at Red Lobster's Endless Shrimp promotion.  This year she had a challenger who downed somewhere in the vicinity of 130 shrimp, give or take a dozen.  No problem, as Brenda breezed passed him with a total of (are you ready for this?) 170 shrimp! Yes, that is ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY shrimp! Way to go, Brenda!!

Any Opera Fans?

 We've gotten the new list of broadcasts coming to local theaters.  Ask Jeanne about it.

It's Rhythm and Roots Time, News, & GED

It's time to celebrate Bristol's musical heritage with the annual Rhythm and Roots Reunion! 

As everyone should be aware, the Main library will be closed to the public from Friday through Sunday.  We will have a presence on the plaza with items to sell.  Some folks will be working inside and some outside all through the weekend.  Parking is going to be tight, especially as streets will be closed, but folks who arrive early should be okay. For latecomers, we will have four spaces blocked off.

 And speaking of streets closing, here is the official word:

Street closures

Vehicle access to downtown will be limited, beginning Thursday afternoon

.

“Piedmont Avenue from Goode to Cumberland will close at 2 p.m. Thursday for stage construction and we’ll start setting out cones to block on-street parking before that,” said David Metzger, traffic engineer for Bristol, Tennessee. “We’ll close off half of the downtown center on the State Street side so stage construction can begin there about 4 p.m.”

The majority of street closures will occur at 5:30 a.m. Friday and remain in place until about midnight Sunday, Metzger said.

“We will close State Street/Commonwealth Avenue to Martin Luther King Boulevard and all of the side streets a half-block to a full block,” he said.

On the Virginia side, Cumberland Street from Moore Street to near MLK will also remain closed, as will portions of Lee Street and Winston’s Alley.

Downtown banks, including First Tennessee, Wells Fargo and Regions will be accessible Friday on a limited basis.

Because many streets will be closed throughout the weekend, downtown parking is even more limited than normal. For that reason, shuttle buses will again run, stopping at hotels along Volunteer Parkway, Interstate 81, Bristol Mall, Sugar Hollow Park, Linden Drive and Lee Highway, plus the Earhart Campground next to Bristol Motor Speedway.

Buses are slated to run continuously from 4:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. Friday, from 9:30 a.m. until 1 a.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday. A one-time charge of $10 covers the entire weekend or patrons can pay $5 per trip each way. Children 12 and under ride for free.

 

Note that Piedmont is going to close at 2 pm on Thursday.This is something you may wish to mention to patrons who call and plan to come to the library.

R & R Wristbands

Wristbands have been distributed.  To register your band, go to: http://bristolrhythm.siteops.vendini.com/registration.php

Warning:  do not try on your wristband prior to the event unless you intend to leave it on.  They are not designed for removal. For more information about wristbands (and yes, they have to be worn on the wrist) check here.

News Alert

WJHL's Facebook page includes a clip from an upcoming story about the Foundation.  Pictures of BPL are featured in the clip, so I think we can expect some more questions from the public.  The story is supposed to begin on Thursday night on the 6 pm news.  We just want everyone to to prepared.

WJHL

Adult Learning Lab

The mission of the Adult Learning Lab is evolving, due in part to changes to the GED test.  They will no longer be offering GED classes, but there are still several options in the area.  One is the Mount Rogers GED program which does meet here in the library on Monday and Wednesday evenings in the ALL classroom.  Karen has made a list of local Virginia contacts; there are copies at both Circ and Reference at Main, and a copy has been sent to Avoca. The general contact number for Mount Rogers GED is 1-800-322-7748 or 276-739-2547.

 

Flu Shots, Acupuncture, & Happy Birthday x 3!

Flu Shots

It's that time of year again!  If you want to take advantage of the free flu shots for City Employees, then show up at City Council Chambers on one of the following dates:

Wednesday, October 1  from 1-5 pm

Friday, October 3 from 8 am until 12 pm

All About Acupuncture

If you've ever been curious about Acupuncture as an alternative heath treatment, then this is the program for you! Dr. N. Anton Borja is the Director for the Integrative Medicine Clinic and  an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine at ETSU.  In additon to his other degrees, he holds a Master's Degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Traditional Medicine. The program will be on Thursday, September 11, starting at 6:30 pm. Encourage people to come out and support our Health Education Program!

Happy Birthday!

September has three BPL birthdays all in a row!  Best wishes go out to:

Jud       September 8

Nicki  September 12

Laura  September 14

(Just wait until October!  Lots of birthdays!)

 

 

Name tags, New Faces, Book Sale, & More!

 Name Tag Reminder

We've had a complaint about "anonymous" staff members.  Please, please remember:

Employees should wear name tags when working in public areas. 

Library vests are appreciated but not mandatory. If you need a new name tag or lanyard to attach it to, please see Michelle. Thanks, Mrs. Michelle!

Welcome, Kim & Meygan!

We have some smiling new faces here in the library!  Kim is working weekends in circulation while Meygan will be joining us downstairs.  

New Soap Dispensers!

 Thanks to Joyce, we have spiffy new soap dispensers in the public bathrooms.  These work a treat, and look very nice indeed.  She's still trying to figure out what to put over the holes where the old dispensers were, so you have any good suggestions, please pass them along.

 

BIG Book Sale!

We will be having a gigantic book sale the weekend after Labor Day.  Proceeds will go toward the Teen Program and the Adult Learning Lab.  Great books, great deals, great cause!  There are photos of some of the available books on the library's Facebook page:

Library book photos

Also, our library Facebook pages are a good way of keeping up with events in the various departments.  Just in case you haven't checked them out, here are some of the others:

Avoca has the return of its Crafty Book Club!

BPL Teens keeps everyone up to date with new YA books and with movies and TV based on YA books.

BPL Children's Library  has all sorts of news about children's event.  See the Summer Reading Program winners at the Bristol Pirates game!

Of course, there's the BPL main page from whence I swiped the image above.

 

And Speaking of Labor Day...

Hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday!     

BPL in the news & Fond Farewells

BPL in the News

As everyone should have noticed, we've been in the news a lot lately, sometimes for good reasons and sometimes not so good reasons.  Anita Foster-Machado has been charged with felony embezzlement while she was director of the Bristol Public Library Foundation.  Unfortunately, some in the public don't understand that the Foundation is not the library.  A very good way of explaining it:  the Foundation is to the library as the PTA is to the school.

Here are links to some of the articles.  Everyone needs to be informed as to what is being said and written so as not to be taken by surprise when someone brings it up. Keep in mind there are some inaccurate statements in these reports.

Kingsport Times News 

WCYB

Bristol Herald Courier

WJHL 

On the plus side, there has also been some nice publicity about the sculpture which will be installed in the fall.  It's in the shape of an arch and will be located near the Piedmont entrance.  Artist Charles Vess did the design, which will reflect the area's heritage and culture.  Here are some links:

WCYB Art 

Photo of concept drawing 

Fond Farewells & Thanks

  Thanks to all those who contributed to the luncheon:  Christy L., Judy, Laurie, Pam, Kristin, and a special thanks to Doris for the watermelon, baked beans, flowers,  and BBQ! We owe you big time!  If your name isn't listed, it's because you didn't sign up. That's the only way we know who is bringing what. Thanks also to Rebecca and Christy for doing the set up and to all who helped with clean up.

It's time to bid goodbye to Kristin and David.  We will certainly miss you both.

And a very, very happy birthday to all our August folk!

New Rules, Adult Learning Lab, Picnic & Melba

Children's Library Rules

We've had a problem with using the cutting machine, the one that cuts out shapes.  It's very useful! However, Michelle asks that if anyone wants things cut out, to please submit the request via email a week in advance so that staff or volunteers will have time to do them when convenient.  They'll bring the cutouts to the requesting department when done. Thank you for your cooperation.

Adult Learning Lab

The Lab is doing a Career Building class again this week, which means it will be closed to the general public from 10 am until 2 pm Monday through Friday. Lab will reopen from 3 pm until 6 pm Monday-Thursday.

Picnic!

The sign up sheet for the luncheon is on the refrigerator in the Staff Lounge.  If you plan to contribute, please sign up by Wednesday afternoon so things can be purchased before the lunch on Thursday.  Thanks!

  Melba

Good news!  All went very well, Tommy reported.  We'll pass along more news as we get it.  Hope to see you soon, Melba!