July 2017 PCLS Staff News 
You're off for Independence Day!
Enjoy your time off with your loved ones. Thank you for all that you do for the library and Happy 4th of July! Palatka fireworks will be on July 4th at the riverfront starting at 9pm! Other festivities will kick off earlier at 5pm.
 
Online Resources: Let's Make them Less Scary!
 
What's the best approach to learning online resources? Using them!
 
In order for our patrons to best utilize our library, we need to have them accessing our online resources. This is important because we pay for the resources and they're very helpful to patrons - and a lot of our patrons don't know we have them! Try and incorporate using these resources into your regular routines at the library. Here's a few way you can do that:
 
- Have your librarian make a display of recommended books and include an OverDrive book.
- Check our online catalog at check out for patrons who enjoy e-books or audiobooks.
- Set up a "study space" in your teen room with bookmarks for BrainFuse and LearningExpress.
- Ask staff to learn through trial by having them check out a few e-books on their own devices!
 
How-To Fests Going Strong!
Awesome job, everyone!

Jeremy's fantastic idea and everyone's help have really made the summer How-To Fests an amazing event. Communities are coming together to share their wealth of knowledge with one another - branding our libraries as creative hubs. Bostwick and Melrose have already had their How-To Fests, and they had good turnouts and the feedback was positive. At Melrose, one patron said the only problem was that it didn't last all day long! Keep up the good work and enjoy the next fest!
 
Some Commendable Things:

Melrose Library wins Excellence in PR and Marketing at the Annual FLA Awards
"Four Days in Melrose" was a four day, community-wide event throughout the town of Melrose - which involved all of their organizations and businesses -  with the library at the forefront. Volunteers Megan Arenberg and Katy Jordan (now staff at Melrose) organized the event which with the help of the MLA raised over 20,000 dollars for the library expansion effort. Pictured are MLA members Keyna and Pat Ward, volunteers Megan Arenberg and Katy Jordan, and interim library director Stella Brown.
Gift Basket Ideas
     Having a hard time getting gift baskets together?
Are you stuck doing the same baskets time and time again? Try a few of these:
 
Baby's First Library Gift Basket
Make a basket ready to gift with some baby's first reading essentials. Adding a sign that says "Baby's First Library" helps the basket to feel more significant and personal... and gets our parents with baby patrons excited about reading to the kids. Add fun (but certified safe) toys for an added touch!
 
[Your Town] themed Gift Basket
Gather items from your local businesses and organizations to build a gift basket that exudes town pride! It's fun to collaborate with local business and involve them with your library. This helps to build relationships in the community and also educate patrons about what their town has to offer! Include some books written by local authors or that relate to your town's identity.
 
Hobby Gift Basket
Know that people in your area have some core hobbies? OR better yet - know that some kind of hobby items are currently on sale? ;) Build a basket with great books that cater to a widely-enjoyed hobby!
 
Want more ideas?
Try an Instructional gift basket from an expert or author or a timely holiday gift basket!
 

Hobby Gift Basket: Camping
 
Baby's First Library Basket
 
Let's Build a Better Library!


Let's all go to the library!
Aligning our Brand Ambassadors

Brand Ambassadors are our champions in the community. 60% of library "advertising" is word of mouth - and having people love our library is our most valuable resource when it comes to success. Do you know people who would make a great library ambassador? As part of our NEFLIN Marketing Project, we'd like all the branches to start gathering their networks together into lists so that you can effectively assign tasks to your library communities. 
 
Want more information about brand ambassadors? Email Katy at kathryn.jordan@putnam-fl.com
 
Communication is Key
As part of the NEFLIN Marketing project procured by our PCLS Media Team, we are establishing goals which include branding the libraries more as a working system, even among our staff members. Let's rely on one another - keep in touch!
 
Staff Emails:
Jeremy Yates (HQ)
jeremy.yates@putnam-fl.com
 
Kurt Sheldon (HQ)
kurt.sheldon@putnam-fl.com
 
Stella Brown (HQ)
stella.brown@putnam-fl.com
 
Aida Smith (HQ)
aida.smith@putnam-fl.com
 
Joshua Carver (CC)
joshua.carver@putnam-fl.com
 
Marilyn Meetze (I)
marilyn.meetze@putnam-fl.com
 
 
Sheree Sims (M)
sheree.sims@putnam-fl.com
 
Katy Jordan (M)
kathryn.jordan@putnam-fl.com
 
Margaret Arenberg (M)
margaret.arenberg@putnam-fl.com
 
Darlene Walker (B/Arc.)
darlene.walker@putnam-fl.com
 
Vonshell Offord (HQ)
vonshell.offord@putnam-fl.com
 
Carolyn Smith (HQ)
carolyn.smith@putnam-fl.com
 
 
Charles Runnels (HQ)
charles.runnels@putnam-fl.com
 
Blanco Romo (CC)
blanca.romo@putnam-fl.com
 
Kristen Lowrie (I)
kristen.lowrie@putnam-fl.com
 
Martha Bennett (HQ)
martha.bennett@putnam-fl.com
 
Marion Matlock (HQ)
marion.matlock@putnam-fl.com
 
Lonnie Clark (B)
shlonequia.clark@putnam-fl.com
Coming Up... 
How are your summer readers doing? Only 29 days left!
Festive July Reads
Want to help your patrons relax with a good book this holiday?
Send them to the beach with one of these patriotic reads:
 
Day of independence
by William W Johnstone

In Last Chance, Texas, wounded Texas Ranger Hank Cannan leads a fight against ruthless cattle baron Abraham Hacker.
A hiss before dying
by Rita Mae Brown

The popular characters from Tail Gait and Tall Tail return in a contemporary mystery that explores the dangers of a wild animal poaching ring with historical ties to America's post-revolutionary past. By the award-winning author of the "Sister" Jane Arnold Outfoxed series.
Independence day : A Dewey Andreas Novel
by Ben Coes

Sidelined after two operations gone wrong and a terrible personal loss, former Delta and new intelligence agent Dewey Andreas defies his superiors in a race against time to stop a deadly terrorist plot on U.S. soil

Thank you for being a valued member of our staff!
PUTNAM COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
601 College Road
Palatka, Florida 32177
386-329-0126
funinputnam.com/