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THE LIBRARY
AND ITS FRIENDS
The Newsletter of the Friends of the Library, Gainesville, FL, serving the Alachua County Library District
[email protected]
Volume No. 64
www.folacld.org
Issue No. 2
April 2015
ACLD Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
The ACLD Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon was held at the Best Western
Gateway Grand on April 1st , with the theme “No Foolin’, We Love Our Volunteers!”
The program featured David Ballard, Events Coordinator for the City of Gainesville
and self-styled Fool of Moxie. The program began with a welcome and
introduction of attendees by Library Director Shaney Livingston.
In attendance were representatives from Friends of the Library, the
ACLD Foundation, Board of Trustees, and Governing Board, along
with ACLD libraries’ staff and support personnel. Ms. Livingston
thanked everyone for their service. Ms. Ora L. White, Chair, ACLD Board of
Trustees, and Dr. Leanetta McNealy, Vice Chair, ACLD Governing Board, offered
comments and words of appreciation. During the event, Ms. Livingston and Erika
Henderson, Volunteer Program Specialist, awarded door prizes of gifts and services
donated by numerous community businesses.
The Alachua County Library District is recognized as one of the best in the
state. With this annual event, the library leadership has again demonstrated
its appreciation for the volunteers who support and help maintain that level of
[There are more luncheon pictures on page 8]
excellence.
FOL’s Spring Book Sale
The Spring Sale will be from Saturday, April 25th, through
Wednesday, April 29 th. Choose from thousands of books,
records, art works, CDs, and DVDs in categories ranging
from architecture to zoology. Items in the Collector’s Corner
include Life magazines of the WWII era and issues of Frank
Leslie’s Chimney Corner, newspapers from May 1868 to
May 1869, which have been professionally bound. (These
[One of many sale items. There are
pictures of others on page 8.]
[Continued on page 6]
Save the Date
April 25-29 – Spring Book Sale
October 24-28 – Fall Book Sale
[Click titles or page numbers to see articles]
Letter from the Director ........
Foundation Page ...................
From the President ................
Volunteer Opportunities ........
FOL Spotlights ...................
Library Day
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LPB Quiet Reading Room .....
Special Programs ..................
Dunnellon
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Fandomonium
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New Volunteers ...................
Lima Library
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Added Pictures ...................
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Discover Unlimited Possibilities @ your Library
from Library Director Shaney Livingston
organizations to offer more than twenty
T he A lachua County Library District
programs during “Money Smart Week @
(ACLD) is creating “Unlimited Possibilities
your library.” These programs include free
@ your library.” That is the
credit workshops, identify theft prevention,
theme for this year’s National
life insurance, and financial planning
L i br ar y We e k , A pr i l 1 2 options. T here a re prog rams t o help
18 . Now is a good time t o
children and teens become “Money Smart.”
highlight the changing role of
ACLD tapped into the national initiative
libraries and to celebrate the
between the ALA and the Federal Reserve
contributions our libraries and
Bank (Chicago) to help improve financial
staff make in our community. As we join
literacy in our community and expand
this national celebration sponsored by the
library services.
American Library Association (ALA), we
also thank our Friends of the Library for its
Starting in April, Autism Awareness Month,
ongoing support and its many contributions
we are introducing Sensory Storytimes
that enhance our programs, services, and
at Headquarters on April 19 th , Alachua
facilities.
Branch on May 3rd and Millhopper Branch
Our Friends are sponsoring the 2015 Author
Series. Next on the schedule is New York
Times bestselling author Marisa de los
Santos on April 12th at 2 pm at the Millhopper
Branch. On April 25th at Headquarters,
teen /adult author John Scalzi will be one
of the featured speakers at Fandomonium:
A Library Comic Con Event. The Author
Series continues at Millhopper Branch with
John Searles on May 17th at 2 pm. Searles
has written three novels, Boy Still Missing
and Strange but True have been optioned
for film and his most recent is Help for the
Haunted. This summer (on June 7th at 2
pm), New York Times and #1 internationally
bestselling thriller author Steve Berry will
speak. Jen Lancaster will close out the
series at the Millhopper Branch on August
16th at 2 pm.
From April 18-25, ACLD is partnering
w ith lo ca l f i na ncia l i nstitutions a nd
on May 9 th. This new Storytime program is
designed for all children, but it is especially
for those children with sensory integration
challenges. Sensory Storytimes were
created to add another learning option and
to help address autism. This is the fastestgrowing serious developmental disability in
the U.S. One in 68 children in this country
has an autism-spectrum diagnosis. ACLD
collaborated with the University of Florida
Center for Autism and Related Disabilities
to develop gentle Storytimes, using various
techniques and support supplies to help
more children enjoy library programs.
Space is limited, so call Youth services at
334-3941 for information.
This spring, ACLD continues its energy
conservation program with the installation
of a new energy-efficient cooling system at
Headquarters. ACLD is replacing a portion
of its 25-year old system with a Thermal
Energy Storage (TES) system, the first to
be installed in Alachua County. The project
includes replacing the existing 195-ton
chiller with a high-efficiency 130-ton chiller
and five TES ice tanks. The system works
with a water chiller, located on the roof of
building, turned on during off-peak hours.
During this time, the chiller freezes the
water stored in the tanks. At 6:01 am , the
chiller turns off and the system melts the
ice in the tanks, creating chilled water to
circulate through the building’s system. The
majority of the energy use will be during
off-peak hours when energy consumption
costs less.
Another project underway is the renovation
and expansion of our Newberry Branch
in West Alachua County. We are nearly
doubling the floor space to keep pace with
growing needs for service. New features
include a teen room, large meeting room
and, funded by our Friends, a quiet reading
room. Other improvements include a newly
designed children’s area, with a farm and
tractor theme, and a Snuggle-Up Center
with two Early Learning Computers. Our
dedicated staff is working to ensure that
the community has access to educational
resources and programming as they remain
open during all phases of this construction.
Please look for our completion celebration
and join us in June as we unveil the
beautiful Newberry Branch.
We i nv ite you explore the Un l imited
Possibilities @ your library as the fun
heats up with Summer Reading adventures
for children, teens, and adults starting
June 4th.
[To Table of Contents]
The Foundation
The Alachua County Library District Foundation
providing long-term support to the Alachua County Library District
through major gifts and bequests since 1989
ACLD Foundation recognizes Guy Hudspeth Award recipient
and nine others in annual Katherine’s Tree award ceremony
O n S u nd ay, M a r ch 2 2 n d , t he
Fo u n d at i o n h e l d i t s s e c o n d
annual ceremony to recognize the
previous year’s Katherine’s Tree
leaf recipients. Anita JenkinsMcCarter, manager of the Library
Partnership Branch, was the 2014
Guy Hudspeth Award recipient.
She joins past Hudspeth Award
recipients Guy Hudspeth (2007),
Hunt Davis, Jr., Anita Jenkins-McCarter, and
Shaney Livingston
for whom the award is named,
Memree Stuart (2008), Martha
Roberts (2009), Phillis Filer (2010), Ike Welch (2011), Darba
Owens-Simmons (2012), and Bruce Stewart (2013) with having
a leaf placed on the Tree in her honor.
The Friends of the Library
honored two of its members with
leaves. They are Becky Davis,
recog nized for her twenty
years of FOL volunteering,
and Past-President Peter G.
Roode, MD, in appreciation
for serving as president of the
FOL 2012-14.
Also honored with leaves placed on the Tree were Foundation
Board Chair Hunt Davis, Jr. and Board member Jeanne G.
Davis, along with Arlyn Lee Austin and Matilda Hudnall
Cockrell (daughter and mother of
Board member Mitzi Austin).
Hallie and Ted McFetridge and
the Q u i n n Fa m i ly C h a r it able
Foundation gave a leaf in memory
of Te d ’s mot her, Net a Fa l l a s
McFetridge. Valerie M. D’Ortona
provided a leaf in memory of her son,
Kenneth Anthony “Tony” D’Ortona.
Lynne and Robert Holt gave a leaf
in memory of Lynne’s mother, Ilse
G. Weissmann.
Bob Holt pointing out leaf for
Ilse Weissmann to Lynne Holt
“Katherine’s Tree is a wonderful and fitting way to recognize
the generosity of so many individuals, the Kosman Foundation,
the Quinn Family Charitable Foundation, and the Friends of
the Library in support of our mission,” said Foundation Board
Vice Chair Pushpa Kalra. “Libraries have played a meaningful
role in the lives of the individuals these gifts have honored or
memorialized with leaves on the Tree.”
Bruce Stewart, Phillis Filer, Guy Hudspeth,
Darba Owens-Simmons, and
Anita Jenkins-McCarter
Each leaf on the tree represents a gift of $2,000 to the Alachua
County Library District Foundation to help advance its support
of the Library.
[To Table of Contents]
Opportunities to Help
Friends of the Library has become a large
organization with multiple needs on many
fronts. We ask our volunteers to step up
for opportunities and needs that keep the
organization running smoothly. Currently
there are several positions that await
energetic and dedicated volunteers. To
respond to any of these needs, send e-mail
to [email protected] or speak to the
individual named with each item.
1) Coordinator /Chair of our annual
meeting. There are many resources to
assist you, and the meeting does not need
to be an expensive or catered event. [John
Ritter]
Message
from the
President
Thoughts on Books
Every so often, someone tells me that
books made of paper are on the way
out. I guess they have never been to
one of our book sales. If they had,
they’d have seen crowds of readers
buying books – lots of books – books
made of paper. From the smiles on
their faces, it is easy to see that they
2) Publicity Chair. There is an extensive
file of all deadlines, contacts, and everything
needed to step into this office. The previous
chairman is available to train and assist. [Sue Dudley]
3) Trainer – New Volunteers. Training for
new member volunteers occurs approximately
every three months, sometimes more often.
[Margaret Wagener]
4) Table Coordinator. Coordinators
focus on a single category when organizing
a table. There are many resource people
to assist you and provide answers to any
questions. [Bill Watson]
can hardly wait to get home and open
their recently acquired treasures.
Yes, I must confess to owning a Kindle
and to having read several books on
it, but something was lacking. To
have a book with two covers propped
up on my lap is special to me. To
be able to go back and refresh my
memory about Fred, Bill, or Agnes
after not seeing their names for many
pages is an attribute that my Kindle
doesn’t have, at least not easily. And
technical books must remain on my
library shelves because it is so much
easier to dig out facts from their
pages.
5) Treasurer. The Treasurer prepares
and banks most deposits, pays bills, files
official annual documents, and chairs the
finance committee. Anyone interested
would shadow the current treasurer and
learn the position before the next election
of officers. [Beverly Bartlett]
6) In addition to filling specific offices,
volunteers are needed on :
a. Thursday, April 30 th – to help direct the
unloading of the category boxes by the Job
Corps students from the trucks to the tables.
b. Monday, May 4th – to help ARC dispose
of unsold books. Sign-up sheets will be
posted in the office as we get closer to the
sale. [Bill Watson]
In no way am I trying to disparage
e-books. They have their place, but
so do paper books, which, in my
mind, will always have a passionate
following. Recently a study came to
the tentative conclusion that e-books
may be bad for our health by causing
sleep deprivation, especially to those
who read them in bed. I doubt that
paper books could ever be accused of
this.
Since this is an FOL publication, I
feel I’m preaching to the choir, but I
want you to know that we appreciate
you book lovers and your support of
our book sales.
[To Table of Contents]
Spotlight on Library Staff
Getting to Know You
Keith Harmon
Doris Harvey
Position: Hawthorne Branch Manager
Position: FOL Recording Secretary
Background: Raised in Arizona, I received my
Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Arizona
State University. After several years of travelling,
I found myself in Alaska working as a library page
in the Anchorage area and wondering what to do
next. A colleague at the library recommended the
MLS degree, which led to my degree in Information
Studies from the University of Arizona. I came
to Alachua County to be closer to family and,
hopefully, to eventually live on property in the
Earleton area that has been in my family for a few
generations.
My interests include reading, of course, primarily
nonfiction and literature. Music is my major
diversion; I enjoy playing guitar both alone and with
friends. I also do a lot of composing and recording
at home. My other hobby is travel. I have been all
over the US, Mexico, and Canada, as well as several
excursions to Europe, Central America, and South
America.
Background: Born in Atlanta, I am an eighth
generation Georgian – my father’s family was given
644 acres in North Georgia for service to King
George III. My mother was second generation
Irish from Cork County, Ireland. With 72 family
members living in the Atlanta area, our family
reunions took up a large area of Grant Park!
Keith Harmon
I began with the Alachua County Library District
in Adult Services at the Headquarters. I was
promoted to Librarian Supervisor at the Millhopper
Branch and, most, recently to Branch Manager of
the Hawthorne Branch. The challenges are always
different in a new location, and I have learned
many lessons from the different environments.
Currently, I am discovering the unique role that
a library branch plays in the life of a small town,
and I enjoy the privilege of having more direct and
personal interactions with the patrons.
I am ver y pleased that the A lachua County
Library District is such a well-developed and vital
institution. The services and materials we offer
are timely, innovative, and always evolving. This
makes it an easy organization to promote and one
that I am happy to be part of.
Spotlight on FOL Volunteer
W hile ma r r ied, I ea rned a Master ’s Deg ree
in English from the University of Wyoming in
Laramie, teaching for several years at the high
school and junior college level in Wyoming, Georgia,
and Florida. My second career began with courses
in floristry. For over ten years, I owned two florist
shops and a large greenhouse on St. Armand’s
Key and Longboat Key. When my family moved
to Gainesville in 1983, I began working as a Child
Protective Investigator, later focusing on foster
care, while earning degrees in Psychology and later
in Social Work from Florida State University. As
a licensed social worker, I spent fifteen years with
Children’s Medical Services, serving families who
had a child with a chronic, serious illness.
A while ago, two friends and I spent two years
brainstorming to find a way to reduce our global
foot-print. Our solution was a home designed
to be environmentally friendly. Among other
considerations, the house has large cisterns that
store up to 4,000 gallons of rainwater and solar
panels that supply much of our electricity and solar
hot water.
Doris Harvey
I enjoy reading, am in a writing group, love to kayak
and camp, and enjoy beading. I really enjoy sorting
at Friends of the Library as I get to see the variety
of items coming in and enjoy the camaraderie with
others. Following in Jane Cotton’s able footsteps, I
look forward to serving as recording secretary and
working in support of FOL and ACLD.
[To Table of Contents]
Florida Library Assoc Legislative Day
On March 18, 2015, Library advocates
and supporters from around the state
attended Florida Library Legislative Day in
Tallahassee, an annual advocacy event at
the State Capitol sponsored by the Florida
Library Association. A lachua County
Library Director Shaney Livingston led the
delegation as they met with Representatives
Elizabeth Porter and Clovis Watson and
a representative of Senator Rob Bradley.
Director Livingston and those attending
thanked the legislators for their support of
the Alachua County Library District and
discussed specific legislative requests and
District projects.
Representing Alachua County were:
• Shaney Livingston, Library Director
• Chris Culp, Public Services Division
Director
• Vivian Alexander, Administrative
Services Division Director
• Beverly Bartlett, FOL Treasurer
• Oebm Bendrah, FOL Corresponding Sec
• John Ritter, FOL President
• Judy Ritter, FOL
• Hunt Davis, Foundation Chair
• Jeanne Davis, Foundation Membership
Co-Chair
• Pushpa Kalra, Foundation Vice-Chair
Jeanne Davis, Oebm Bendrah, Judy Ritter, Hunt
Davis, Pushpa Kalra, John Ritter,
and Beverly Bartlett
[Spring Sale, from page 1]
papers include several stories by Louisa May Alcott.) There is art by Robert Carson and a
first edition copy of Steve McQueen, 40 Summers Ago…Hollywood Behind the Iron Curtain,
signed by six members of the US motorcycle team. Located in Puzzles and Games is a large
collection of Lego Expert Builder Kits, including some retired items, geared toward the
professional builder. From children’s books to Florida themes, there is much to see. Don’t
miss the opportunity to choose from these extensive collections while supporting Friends
of the Library and the Alachua County Library District.
[Pictures of featured items are on page 8]
Quiet Reading Room – Library Partnership
In September, 2014, the Library Partnership celebrated the
completion of a renovation and expansion project that enlarged
its facility to 14,000 square feet. Within its new space, the
Library Partnership now offers a Snuggle-Up Center and a
dedicated Teen Space both sponsored by the ACLD Foundation
and a Quiet Reading Room sponsored by Friends of the Library,
along with additional computer workstations and Early Learning
computers, two study rooms, a large public meeting room.
Special Program Updates
Each year, the Friends support a number of special programs
for children. Here are a few highlights from early 2015:
John Ritter, FOL President, recently
presented Shaney Livingston, ACLD
Director, a check for the Quiet Reading
Room at the Library Partnership
Snuggle-Up & Read
During February and March, Friends volunteers once again joined Library staff in visiting
each Head Start classroom in Alachua County to share their love of books and reading with
the students and to present each child with his or her own copy of 2015 featured book.
In all, 665 children received a copy of Mo Willems’ A Big Guy Took My Ball (An Elephant
& Piggy Book), with a copy also left for each classroom. This year, parents were invited
to attend the programs. In several classrooms, parents brought blankets and really did
“snuggle up” with their child as they listened to stories.
Author Nina Crews a Big Hit
Also in February, with funding provided by the Friends, Nina Crews, the award-winning
author and illustrator of such engaging books as One Hot Summer Day, Below, and The
Neighborhood Mother Goose, visited with students in several local schools. Crews uses
imaginative photos of real children to illustrate her work and makes a strong connection to
her audience. In addition to a program at the Headquarters Library that drew an audience
of around 100, Ms. Crews also visited Williams, Shell, Talbot, and Irby Elementary Schools,
where she talked with approximately 525 students about books and writing.
[To Table of Contents]
Friends Helping Friends
Through the coordinated efforts of Gainesville and Dunnellon,
Florida, Friends of the Library (FOL) volunteers, surplus books
from the Gainesville Bookhouse were donated to the Dunnellon
FOL February book sale. Cheryl Murdock, Dunnellon book
sale chairman, reported that the extra inventory, the support
of local shoppers, and dedicated volunteers led to their best sale
ever. Gainesville FOL members visited during the book sale in
Dunnellon and were introduced to the local library and volunteers.
New Spring Volunteers
Student, retiree, new resident or Gainesville
old-timer, librarian, artist, nurse, world
traveler, bibliophile, power plant operator,
golfer, gardener, RVer, investor … FOL’s
new volunteers are a diverse group. These
new members completed thei r in itia l
training in January and March and are
now working diligently to prepare for the
Spring Book Sale.
Fandomonium Tomiko Kutyna, Librarian Supervisor
at the Millhopper Branch Library
left to right: Ellen Smith, Linda Connell, Lilla
Moye, Holly Prugh, Pat Marshall, Ruby Cox
The Alachua County Library District
is all abuzz for Fandomonium: A
Library Comic Con Event coming to
Headquarters Library
on S at u r d ay, A pr i l
25th , from 10 a m to 5
pm , for fans of comics,
anime and sci-fi pop
culture. Thanks to the
generous support of the
Friends of the Library, Fandomonium
will feature two keynote speakers.
For children, at 11 am , former Disney
animator Christian Slade will speak
about Korgi Hollow, a graphic novel
series that features corgi dogs in a
fantasy setting. Slade will talk about
the creative process, his involvement
with all things geeky, and may give
audience members a sneak preview of
the newest fourth volume in the series. Marty Lawrence
Jean McRae, Bayo Cary, and Judith Comeau
From left: Carl Philip, Marilyn Gresser, Jane Larkin, Shirley
Haberman, Brenda McCue, Barbara Palmer, Paul Coltas, and
Kathryn McGill.
For teens and adults, at 1 pm , science
fiction author John Scalzi will speak
about his work, which includes the
Old Man’s War series. Scalzi has won
the Hugo Award twice, most recently
for Redshirts. His newest novel, Lock
In, won the 2015 Alex Award as one of
the ten best adult books that appeal to
teen audiences.
Both events take place in Meeting Room
A and book signings will immediately
follow. For more information about the
overall event, please visit www.aclib.us/
Michelle Shiver
librarycon
[To Table of Contents]
The library in Barranco,
a suburb of Lima, Peru
Special Items Being Prepared for the Spring Sale
[See the story on page 1]
Some Pictures from the
Appreciation Luncheon
[See the story on page 1]
[To Table of Contents]