FRIENDS
Between Friends
FRIENDS
Newsletter of the
Friends of the Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Public Library
of the
JACARANDA
Volume 22 #2 • APRIL-JUNE 2015
of the
JACARANDA
PUBLIC LIBRARY
PUBLIC LIBRARY
THE ANNUAL VOLUNTEER DINNER
SPONSORED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE JACARANDA LIBRARY
Dinner at the Jacaranda West Country Club
Volunteer Honorees L to R: Madeleine Sacchi, Harriet Goldberg,
Dorothy Kardon, Susan Mackenzie
FRIENDS Book Shop Volunteers
Charles Pontious
The Annual Jacaranda Library Volunteer Dinner, sponsored by the
FRIENDS, was held March 8 at the Jacaranda West Country Club. The
setting was lovely, the dinner delicious and, as usual, a good time was
had by all. The Library and Book Shop volunteers attended and the
many volunteers who had served five, ten, fifteen and twenty years were
honored with a certificate and pin. The two twenty year volunteers, Charles
Pontious and Bill Kegel also received a special gift, the new FRIENDS of
the Jacaranda LIbrary Tervis Tumbler. After dinner, in appreciation of their
service, all the volunteers received books presented by the library.
This is an event eagerly anticipated every year by the volunteers and staff
of the Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Public Library. Over 80 volunteers,
library staff and guests enjoyed the opportunity to get together and enjoy
the dinner this year. Also In attendance, was Janet Hansen, head of the
volunteers for the Sarasota County Library system.
*Our thanks to Chad Drobisch for all the dinner photos
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Scott Dowdy, President FRIENDS
Happy spring time to all Jacaranda Library patrons.
We once again had a very successful Volunteer Appreciation
Dinner for our volunteers, sponsored by the FRIENDS. Thank
you to Jacaranda West Country Club for providing such a
lovely setting and delicious food for our dinner.
We thank Linda Wilson, of the Venice Farmers Market,
for providing a booth for us at the Farmers Market on February
7. Our book sale there was a huge success.
On March 18, the Library and FRIENDS hosted “Wake
Up Venice”. The Venice Chamber of Commerce held their
monthly breakfast to recognize current and new businesses in
our community. Some of the attendees had never been in the
library and were very impressed. The FRIENDS provided the
delicious refreshments and gift bags.
Welcome to our new Book Shop volunteers, without them
and our long term, dedicated volunteers, the Book Shop
would not be such a big success. Board member Deanna
Drobisch’s leadership as a liason with the Book Shop is also
greatly appreciated. We are now offering earbuds, flash drives,
coin/card key rings and the newest item, Tervis Tumblers, with
our Jacaranda Friends logo, for sale in the Shop.
We also want to thank board member, Judy Evenson for
hosting the upcoming April 1, 2015 Sarasota County Library
Alliance meeting. The visibility of our FRIENDS organization
is important to the Sarasota County community.
NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY MANAGER
Mary Louise Fischer (Standing in for Andrea Taylor)
This has been a very busy Season, lots of traffic and new
faces, and this is the case at Jacaranda Library too. Our
library manager, Andrea Taylor, is on bed rest and is currently
working from home. Her baby is due any time now. My name
is Mary Louise Fischer. I am the Assistant Manager and will
be covering for Andrea until she returns to work in July.
The search continues for a teen librarian and we have
another interview set up in April. Keep your fingers crossed
that this person will be The One! Additionally, library staff
just concluded interviewing for a new part time Customer
Service Representative; a candidate has been selected and
a conditional job offer has been made and accepted. Now we
just sit back and let Human Resources take over the process.
Hopefully both positions will be filled soon.
Our very generous FRIENDS group sponsored the Venice
Chamber of Commerce’s March meeting, “Wake Up Venice”,
at the Jacaranda Library on March 18. The meeting is hosted
by different local businesses every month and in March it was
our turn. Staff started planning for this event in February and
the evening before, several staff gathered at the library to
begin setting up chairs, moving furniture, etc. In the morning
,staff arrived at 6:15 am to turn on the coffee and start setting
up the food, platters of Danish, bagels, croissants, assorted
cheeses and fruit. Other staff arrived later to help with final
touches and chamber members began arriving about 7:15
am. By 8:00 am the meeting was in full swing and it was over
by 9:00 am. Approximately 80 people were in attendance and
the event was a huge success. Many people pitched in to
help staff clean up and move furniture to get the library ready
to open by 10:00 am. A big thanks to staff, volunteers and the
FRIENDS for all their help and assistance.
“WAKE UP VENICE”
Please use the Amazon link in our Friends of Jacaranda
Library website when ordering from Amazon. Their donations
will help fund Jacaranda Library needs. Wendy’s is once
again committed to fund raising for all of 2015. Please pickup
your 15% coupon in the Library. We appreciate their support!
Your donations are always greatly appreciated! If you are
would like to contribute to our Frances T. Bourne Endowment
Fund, or are interested in creating an endowment of your own
for the FRIENDS of the Jacaranda Library please feel free to
contact the board.
We are looking for new members for the FRIENDS of the
Jacaranda Library!! Please pick up one of our membership
tri-fold brochures in our FRIENDS display and learn what
being a FRIEND is all about.
2 Have a safe trip home to our seasonal patrons!
“Wake up Venice Participants”
Scott Dowdy FRIENDS President
CIRCULATION OUTLOOK
Stephanie Henricks, Circulation Team Leader
YOUNG ADULT SERVICES
Rino Landa, Reference Librarian
& Acting YA Librarian
We have been so busy this winter season!! The snow birds
came back in flocks this year and we were happy to have them
here at the Jacaranda Library. We have been giving out new
library cards like crazy! Thanks to our wonderful volunteers,
we have been keeping up with all the activity.
Please be sure to check out our various book displays
around the library. We hope they will inspire you.
HOLIDAY
The library will be closed, Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day.
VOLUNTEER NEWS
Mary Louise Fischer, Assistant Library Manager
& Volunteer Coordinator
It’s officially Spring! We currently have 116 volunteers
(teens and adults; library and bookshop). If you know anyone
who is interested in volunteering for Sarasota County, at the
Jacaranda Library or the Book Shop, please have them contact
me at 861-1272. Anyone over the age of 14 is welcome to fill
out the online application on the county’s website at scgov.
net.
The FRIENDS of the Library hosted the annual Volunteer
Appreciation Dinner, March 8, 2015 at the Jacaranda West
Country Club. Approximately 80 volunteers, staff and guests
attended and as usual the food and the surroundings were
lovely. This year we decided to honor our dedicated volunteers
who have put in five years, ten years, fifteen years and twenty
years with a pin and a certificate. The two with the longest
tenure, Bill Kegel and Charles Pontious, each received,
in addition to their certificates and pins, a Tervis Tumbler
designed by the Jacaranda FRIENDS of the Library with their
logo. Congratulations to all our volunteers.
As the weather begins to warm up and the winter season
inevitably comes to an end, the teens at Jacaranda have
plenty to look forward to. From National Library Week to Earth
Day and beyond into the summer reading program, there is
plenty going on at Jacaranda for teens.
In celebration of National Library
Week, April 12-18, teens and
tweens (ages 10-17) are invited to
participate in a “Design-A-Cover
Contest”. Inspired by the recent
redesign of the Harry Potter
covers and many other fan-made
creations, the contest challenges
participants to design a new cover
(or covers) for their favorite book.
Two workshops for inspiration and
drawing supplies will take place on
April 3rd and the 15th; the winners
of the contest, for “Most Artistic” and “Most Creative” entry,
will be voted on by staff and selected on April 17th at a party
with a movie screening of Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 1
to follow the celebrations.
There are several other upcoming events for teens. One
event will be a pixel celebration of Earth Day on April 22.
Teens will be able use fusion beads to create earth-related
decorations, characters, and fun keychains. Our Teen Advisory
Board (TAB) members are also working to start up an Anime
Club at Jacaranda library. Additionally, teens can continue to
attend XBOX Nights on the second and fourth Thursday of
the month.
Jacaranda library’s youth and young adult services are
getting ready for the summer reading program. This year’s
theme for teens will be “Unmask: Discover the Hero Within”.
Teens will be able to use an online reading log to gain points
and earn (yet to be determined) prizes throughout the summer.
Special book clubs and events are being planned.
Finally, I have to mention that the search for a permanent
Young Adult Librarian continues. The search continues, but
it seems likely that we’ll have someone before the start of the
summer in late May.
21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY OFFERED
AT JACARANDA LIBRARY
To our Library Volunteers: Remember to leave a note in my
mailbox or a phone message (861-1272) if you have vacation
plans or will be unable to come in and work your shift.
Thanks again for all your hard work and dedication.
Free e-Help Classes are held on
Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and
Thursdays at 10 a.m.
Rino Landa
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YOUTH SERVICES NEWS
Sheila Kaufer, Youth Services Librarian
SPOTLIGHT ON VOLUNTEERS
Aly Surma was born in Artem, Russia but grew up in Chicago,
Illinois. She moved to Florida, after her parents retired, when
she was 13. She has volunteered, as a Teen Volunteer at
Jacaranda Library for almost a year. She currently attends
Venice High School, where she is a sophomore and plays on
Venice High School’s softball team as center fielder or second
baseman. In her spare time, Aly likes to watch hockey, read,
play softball and hang out with her mom. Here at the library,
she helps with craft preparation, shelving books and is a part
of Techno-Teens. She initially started to volunteer here at the
library for Bright Futures, for a scholarship, but says, “Now
I like to volunteer at the library because it’s fun, simple and
keeps me busy with something I like to do”.
WE LOVE POLICE OFFICERS
As a special tribute to our Sarasota County police officers,
Storytime on February 13 was “We Love Police Officers”.
Sergeant Tom Laipply, read a police book and then spoke to
the children and their families about safety in the neighborhood.
He also answered questions from those in attendance. We
are grateful to Sergeant Laipply for this educational and
informational presentation.
NEW COMFY ZONE AND NEW RUG
Thank you FRIENDS for providing funding for our new Comfy
Zone near the entrance to the Youth Department. Children
and families love it and it is a wonderful addition to the Youth
Department. Also, we now have a brand new rug in the Youth
Activity Room with all things underwater. If you have not yet
had a chance to see these new FRIENDS’ purchases, please
stop by and have a look.
SUMMER READING PROGRAM PLANNING
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Spring is upon us and summer is around the corner. It is the
time of the year for planning for our annual Summer Reading
Program. This summer’s theme, for elementary school age
children is “Every Hero Has a Story”. Katie Adams and John
Storms will be returning again. In addition, Gladys Varga will
not only be doing her Acting Up Workshop for ages 5-8, but
also will be doing an Acting Up Workshop for tweens and will
be a special Wednesday afternoon guest. New this year will
be The Giving Tree Drumming Circle. Look for a complete
schedule at the beginning of May, for these wonderful summer
programs, funded by the FRIENDS of the Jacaranda Library.
NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK
This year, National Library Week is April 12 - April 18.
This year’s theme is “Unlimited Possibilities”. Local wellknown children’s author, Joan Hiatt Harlow, will be here
to culminate the week. She will be doing a Powerpoint
presentation featuring her newest book, The Watcher on April
18 at 2:00 pm. A book signing will follow her presentation.
NATIONAL POETRY MONTH
April is National Poetry Month. In observance of the month,
Paula Timpson, Poetess and Teaching Artist, will share how
she writes poetry every day and will read some of her poetry
books. She will inspire the children to feel poetry and to write.
The session will include time for writing and sharing. Children
will form pairs and write together. Haiku poetry will also be
included. Ages 7 - 10. Limit of 10. Registration is required
online.
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY
Join us to celebrate FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! That's
right free comics will be given out to everyone on May 2 from
1-4 pm. Celebrate and discover the amazing world of comic
books on Free Comic Book Day! Children, tweens, teens and
families are all invited for this annual event.
FRIENDS Display at the entrance to the library
INFORMATION SERVICES
Kathy Hickey, Librarian
Reference library staff has been busy these past few
months revamping the way magazines and newspapers
are documented for the public on the libraries’ catalog. The
digitizing of these many items allows the public to see online
whether anything, from Artists magazine to Yoga Journal and
more, is available at one of Sarasota’s eight public libraries.
Not only is this a convenience for the public but it gives library
staff a much improved way of record keeping. This change has
also resulted in another big shift. Jacaranda Public Library will
no longer circulate its magazines or newspapers nor will the
other two libraries, Venice and North Port, that still circulated
these items. In general, these items will remain available
within the library for seven days, weeks, months, or quarters
depending on how often they are published. Exceptions will be
Consumer Reports and Value Line which will be held longer.
Jacaranda’s Reference librarian Rino Landa has also
been at work adding exciting new computer classes such
as “What to Know: Buying a Tablet” and “What to Know:
Buying a Computer,” as well as a perfectly timed “Vacation
Planning Online.” Get April’s Free Technology Classes flyer at
Jacaranda to see more. Reference Librarian, Kathy Hickey,
is teaching a Flipster class and Access Video to highlight two
of our new library databases. The Flipster database gives
patrons free access to many popular magazines and is well
timed with the change in our magazine circulation changes.
With money still on everyone’s mind, Sarasota County
Libraries will be presenting Money Smart Week from April 2025. Every library will host special programs to raise awareness
of important financial issues. Jacaranda Library will be hosting
three programs: “Rent or Own” on April 21, “Money Smarts”
on April 22, and “Senior Scams and Identity Theft” on April
23. Sandee Rains, a Financial Education Specialists, will
present on how to decide which housing option is right for you
(rent or own) and how to prevent senior scams and identity
theft, including a discussion on credit problems.
Join psychologist and internationally published author Dr.
Paul Powers who will share his findings as to how you can use
psychological savvy to achieve your financial and life goals in
his “Money Smarts” program. Don’t forget to see what other
Money Smart Week events are taking place at other Sarasota
County Public Library locations!
Adult Summer Reading Club is also ready to launch.
Beach book and La-Z- Boy book lovers will be eligible to enter
drawings for yet to be announced prizes. Do check in with
Jacaranda in the coming months to find out what awesome
prizes might be available to you. Don’t forget, though, to
check out those page turners at Jacaranda first!
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FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES
NEW ITEMS FOR SALE IN THE FRIENDS BOOK SHOP
WENDY’S COUPONS
The FRIENDS and Wendy’s have joined together, in 2015,
to raise funds for the FRIENDS of the Jacaranda Library.
Wendy’s is donating 15% of each purchase when you present
this voucher. The vouchers are available at the FRIENDS
Book Shop and on the FRIENDS display table at the entrance
to the library. Please eat at Wendy’s (a lot!)
Please enter
order total here
Please enter
order sub-total here
$ .
$ .
Bring this voucher when you visit
the Wendy’s (Dine In / Drive thru)
located in Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Manatee and
Sarasota Counties (Belle Glade & Clewiston)
and 15% of your purchase will benefit:
Friends of the Jacaranda Library
Group
Bring this voucher when you visit
the Wendy’s (Dine In / Drive thru)
located in Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Manatee and
Sarasota Counties (Belle Glade & Clewiston)
and 15% of your purchase will benefit:
Friends of the Jacaranda Library
Group
Valid thru
December 31, 2015
December 31, 2015
The FRIENDS are now offering 1GB Flash Drives at $6.00,
One coupon per person per visit at participating
Wendy’s restaurants.
Cannot be Card-Coin Holder Key Rings at $1.50 and
Earbuds
at $2.00,
combined with any other offer. Offer ends per expiration date above.
our NEW Tervis 16 oz Tumbler at $16.00.
PRESENT VOUCHER AT
TIME OF ORDER
Valid thru
One coupon per person per visit at participating Wendy’s restaurants. Cannot be
combined with any other offer. Offer ends per expiration date above.
PRESENT VOUCHER AT
TIME OF ORDER
Bob Evans FUNDRAISER
Please enter
order sub-total here
“SPRING HAS SPRUNG” SUPER BOOK SALE
Please enter
order sub-total here
Once again,
.
$ Bob
. Evans Restaurant at 4312 S.$ Tamiami
Trail in Venice generously donated 15% of each sale to the
FRIENDS of the Jacaranda Library on two days-in the months
of January, February
and
March.
FRIENDS appreciate
Bring this
voucher
whenThe
you visit
Bring this voucher when you visit
the Wendy’s (Dine In / Drive thru)
the Wendy’s (Dine In / Drive thru)
Bob Evans support!
located in Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Manatee and
located in Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Manatee and
Sarasota Counties (Belle Glade & Clewiston)
and 15% of your purchase will benefit:
Sarasota Counties (Belle Glade & Clewiston)
and 15% of your purchase will benefit:
www.friendsofjacarandalibrary.org
Friends of the Jacaranda Library
Friends of the Jacaranda Library
To celebrate this month’s National Library Week, we will
Group
Group
have a “Spring Has Sprung” Book Sale. Watch for details at
December 31, 2015
OUR WEBSITE
our FRIENDS display by the front door. Special pricing will be
Valid thru
Valid thru
on
some
books and other items in the month of April.
One
coupon
per
person
per
visit
at
participating
Wendy’s
restaurants.
Cannot
be
One
coupon
per
person
per
visit
at
participating
Wendy’s
restaurants.
Cannot be
Since we established
our website, with the assistance
of offered
combined with any other offer. Offer ends per expiration date above.
combined with any other offer. Offer ends per expiration date above.
the Library Foundation for Sarasota County, we have had
PRESENT VOUCHER AT
PRESENT VOUCHER AT
an increasing amount
of OF
visitors
each month. The website
TIME
ORDER
TIME OF ORDER
features News and Events about the FRIENDS and the
FRIENDS OF JACARANDA LIBRARY
Library. Andrea Taylor posts the monthly calendar of library
FRANCES T. BOURNE ENDOWMENT FUND
happenings. There is information on FRIENDS membership
opportunities and our history. We also partner with Amazon,
The endowment is the vehicle by
so you can order items by clicking on the Amazon banner ads
which
Fran’s passion for library services
on our site and we receive a donation to the FRIENDS.
continues. For more information about
planned giving, memorials and other
endowment donation options, call the
Community Foundation of Sarasota
of the
County at 941.955.3000 at, or visit
Jacaranda Library
https://www.cfsarasota.org/Default.
We invite you to
aspx.
become a FRIEND
Help support our library!
6
December 31, 2015
FRIENDS
BOOK SHOP VOLUNTEER MEETING
A meeting of the Book Shop Volunteers was held to introduce
Deanna Drobisch, new Book Shop Liason with the FRIENDS
Board of Directors.
THE BOOK CLUBS
Giving & Growing HELP & HOPE
Deanna is doing an excellent job helping to organize the
Book Shop and have it run in a most efficient manner. She
is working on an automated scheduling procedure for the
volunteers. We have needed someone to step up to the plate
and Deanna has done so! Thank you for all your efforts.
FRIENDS BOOK SHOP
Please visit our Book Shop for very special bargains. All
magazines are 25 cents, paperbacks are 50 cents, large
paperbacks, just $1. Most hardback books range from $1 to
$3 and we have many best sellers as well as an extensive
collection of non-fiction. We also have DVDs, CDs and
puzzles. The Shop is staffed with very friendly, helpful and
knowledgeable volunteers. We are always happy to accept,
and appreciate donations of all the above (in gently used
condition) to keep our Shop well stocked. The funds raised
are our primary source of income to help support the library
activities.
.
The Jacaranda Book Club, which meets the first Tuesday of
every month, decided last year to support a local group, Selah
Freedom, which offers help to young victims of sex trafficking
and exploitation in the Sarasota and Tampa areas. The group
was inspired to help, after reading Nicholas Kristof and
Sheryl WuDunn’s Half the Sky, which described atrocities
to females around the world. The group gives a donation at
each meeting and to date has raised over $800 (with matching
funds provided by Selah Freedom.) If you would like more
information, or would like to make a donation, please contact
Bonnie Stanbro at [email protected].
JACARANDA LIBRARY HOURS
TUES. WED. THURS.• 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
MON. FRI. SAT.• 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The FRIENDS of the FRANCES T. BOURNE JACARANDA
LIBRARY would like to encourage you to become members
in order to help support our library activities in so many areas.
The FRIENDS provide new books, DVDs and CDs, fund
community programs for all ages, buy new computers and
equipment and furnishings for the library. We also operate
the FRIENDS Book Shop (which is one of our chief sources
of income, along with our membership fees). Please fill out
the form on the back of this newsletter, mail it or bring it to
the FRIENDS Book Shop with your check. Membership runs
January to December. With your membership, you will receive
our quarterly newsletter and a membership card which
provides a 10% discount on all hard cover books in our Book
Shop.
FRIENDS BOOK SHOP HOURS
MON.-SAT. • 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
PHONE NUMBERS
Jacaranda Library • 861-1260
Reference Desk • 861-1270
Youth Desk • 861-1275
FRIENDS Book Shop • 861-1283
FRIENDS WEBSITE
www.friendsofjacarandalibrary.org
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FRIENDS
of the
FRIENDS of the Jacaranda Public Library
4143 Woodmere Park Blvd.
Venice, FL 34293
JACARANDA
PUBLIC LIBRARY
FRIENDS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Scott Dowdy • President
Jerry McGreevy • Vice President
Nancy Festa • Treasurer
Sally McGreevy • Corresponding secretary
Deanna Drobisch • Book Shop Liason
Jennifer Fowler • Board member
Emma Quintero • STAR Member
Bonnie Stanbro • Newsletter Editor & Website Manager
Judy Evenson • Alliance Representative
Please visit our website
www.friendsofjacarandalibrary.org
FRIENDS of the JACARANDA PUBLIC LIBRARY MEMBERSHIP FORM
Make checks payable to:
Friends of the Jacaranda Public Library, Inc.
4143 Woodmere Park Blvd. • Venice FL 34293
NAME
FRIENDS
ADDRESS
CITY/STATE/ZIP
PHONE
Seasonal Resident
EMAIL
Year Round
Would you like to be a volunteer for the FRIENDS Yes
Yearly Membership runs from January to December
of the
JACARANDA
I would like to donate to The FRIENDS of Jacaranda Public Library
A MEMORIAL
or TRIBUTE
in honor of:
Name
Amount
The FRIENDS of the Jacaranda Public Library receives 100% of all contributions
made to our organization. We are a non-profit 501(c) 3 tax exempt corporation,
and contributions are deductible to the extent allowed by law.
8
MEMBERSHIP
Individual $10.00
Family
$15.00
Patron
$50.00
Donor
$100.00
Corporate $150.00
Legacy * $200.00
and up
PUBLIC LIBRARY
* LEGACY SOCIETY *
All Legacy Members will
receive special recognition
at The Jacaranda Public Library