JPL Friends of the Library reach more than 10,000 volunteer hours

The Friends of the library donate their time year round to several major revenue generators to raise funds for the library including two annual Great Jacksonville Booksales held during the fall and spring at the Fair rounds where great literary buys can be discovered for a just a a few dollars.

The Booktique owned and operated by the Friends, and staffed entirely by volunteers, is located in the Laura Street entrance of the Main Library. Booktique offers great buys on books for readers of all ages. The Saturday Morning Bookstore, also staffed entirely by volunteers, is open each Saturday and oeprated out of the University Park Library ranch. Volunteers sell, sort and organize thousands of books in prepration to seel by Friends volunteers.

"I've always enjoyed working with people who enjoy the library and reading just as much as I do," Joyce Patten, Booktique volunteer said. "I love that the Booktique offers such affordable books for everyone and it all benefits the library!"

Great turn out at "How Can I Afford Retirement?" seminar at Jacksonville Public Library

What a great turn out! More than 300 people attended the "How Can I Afford Retirement?" seminar held at the Jacksonville Main Library during the last 5 weeks .

Each session began with an introduction of a retirement related topic and was expanded upon by volunteer financial planning experts provided by the Financial Planning Assoc. of Northeast Florida.

Following the main session, participants were divided into smaller breakout groups to exchange knowledge and discuss and answer questions among their fellow attendees.


Each breakout session was monitored by a volunteer facilitator to generate ideas engagement among each group.

Library Director addresses Rotary Club of Jacksonville

Library Director Barbara Gubbin attended the Jacksonville Rotary Club chapter meeting this week to share how JPL is meeting the needs of today's library customers.


Gubbin elaborated on the Center for Adult Learning (CAL) and its aid to help its literacy students acquire their U.S. citizenship as well as computer resources for those searching and applying for jobs and government services and the recent contract approval by City Council for Learn to Read.

Colonial sword fights and musical mania at JPL

Families enjoyed an afternoon of free musical performances by period dressed performers at the Main Library presented by Friday Musicale, a non-profit organization that offers music programs to youth in Jacksonville.


Musical works by Afro-French composer JOSEPH BOLOGNE, LE CHEVALIER DE SAINT-GEORGES, the leading French composer and swordsman of his day, known as "The Black Mozart" filled the Hicks Auditorium.

New Panama City Beach library almost ready for furniture

Panama City News Herald
by Pat Kelly/News Herald Writer
January 27, 2010

PANAMA CITY BEACH — The new $1.8 million Panama City Beach library is nearing completion and getting ready for new furniture.

Doug Gilmore, the chairman of the library’s fundraising committee, met recently with head librarian Frank Walker to plan for the unique needs of the new 10,000-square-foot library, including shelving, furniture and computers.

Preliminary estimates for the furnishings are $103,000, and the Northwest Florida Regional Library System already has pledged $30,000, Gilmore said. He will ask the City Council during its regular 2 p.m. meeting today to amend its budget and match the $30,000 amount.

“We are getting close, and we are ready to order the furniture,” Gilmore said Wednesday. “It’s getting down to the exciting part.”

City Manager Richard Jackson said construction for the new facility should be completed near mid-March with a grand opening near mid-April.

“That could be a bit optimistic, but they are moving along pretty good,” Jackson said.

The new facility is at the corner of Hutchison Boulevard and Lyndell Lane near the Senior Center and Lyndell Community Center. It will replace the current 4,500-square-foot building near U.S. 98 and State 79 that has outgrown its space.

Library officials said the existing library is used more than any other branch in the Northwest Regional Library System, which includes Bay, Gulf and Liberty counties.

Local groups of citizens and civic organizations have worked on the planning and fundraising for the project, for which a $500,000 state grant was awarded.

Gilmore said Wednesday his committee has raised about $300,000 for the project, with $60,000 more coming in pledges, but more is needed.

“We are starting another campaign right now,” he said. “I know that this is a really tough economic climate, but what we really need are corporate donations, even if they are just letters of commitment.”

City officials have said the total cost of the state-of-the-art library could reach $2.23 million after architectural, engineering and survey costs are included.

Seniors visit state legislators @ the library

The Main Library Conference and Events Center hosted its sixth annual Legislative forum for Seniors on January 28, 2010. Each year the forum brings hundreds of senior citizens to hear the members of the Duval Delegation speak.

Over 280 seniors attend this year's forum at the Main Library. The legislators each gave talks on issues important to seniors and participated in a question and answer period.

JPL nominated for 2010 National Medal for Museum and Library Service

JPL nominated by U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. The medal honors institutions that make exceptional contributions to their communities through programs that address the ever-changing needs of the communities they serve.

2010 National Medal for Museum and Library service