Friends of the Westside Branches of the El Paso Public Library Bookmark Newsletter January 2012

Its Annual Board Meeting Time!

The Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Westside Branches will take place on Tuesday, February 7, at 5:30 p.m. in the community room of the Westside Library. All members, readers, and interested citizens are urged to attend. Your input regarding our libraries and the Bookmark is truly appreciated. The meeting agenda includes election of new officers for this year and an informative presentation by El Paso Library Director Dionne MackHarvin on the citys proposed bond ballot election that could be held in November. Citizen input has been requested on quality-of-life issues such as libraries. For example, our own Westside Library needs additional space for a computer room and a childrens area. Additionally, the Dorris Van Doren Library staff has proposed enclosing the patio between the main building and the fireplace room, providing more square footage for library purposes. Comment cards for citizen input are available at all libraries, and will be available at the annual meeting. The Friends annual financial and year-end reports on 2011 activities will also be presented. Please put this date on your calendar: February 7, at 5:30 p.m. Well see you there!
A REMINDER TO READERS The Westside Library Book Club meets every third Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at the Library, located at 125 Belvidere. The February read is Crossers by Philip Caputo; its available at the Westside Library.

Westside Library Staff Room Grand Opening

The festivities began at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, and included balloons, refreshments, kids activities, and music by the Duel Tones Jazz trio. What was the event? The grand opening and showing off of the new much-needed staff room at the Westside Library. C h e r y l F e l d ma n , Westside Branch Manager, welcomed a roomful of visitors and wellwishers. In addition to brand new space, Cheryl listed improvements made to the entire library in its first facelift in 23 years: walls were painted, carpeting was replaced, a thorough cleaning accomplished, creating a new environment for library staff and patrons alike. Library staff wore new bright orange golf shirts with blue logos - very handsome! City of El Paso Library Director Dionne Mack-Harvin welcomed visitors and announced that, for the first time in 33 years, all El Paso libraries would be open six days a week!

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Ann Morgan Lilly, District 1 City Representative, greeted visitors with good wishes and good news: the city has received an $8.4 million grant for computers and training. A new mobile computer lab was purchased to provide onsite instruction around the city. Friends board members Thelma Campos, president, and Gretchen Trominski, vice-president, accepted a plaque of recognition on behalf of the Friends of the Westside Libraries for raising funds for the library improvements and expansion. As promised the new space was christened with a ribboncutting and much cheering! Music, games, and refreshments followed. The Friends of the Westside Libraries was able to contribute the $135,000 cost of the project to the library and the city. Funding included $81,000 previously deposited with the El Paso Community Foundation by the Friends, and the remaining $54,000 from the Friends budget. Please stop in to see all the improvements at the Westside Library.

Correction: The last issue of the Friends newsletter (September 2011) inadvertently missed Janet Weber on the list of volunteers. Janet has been one of our faithful and relied-on book stockers for well over two years. We apologize and we thank you!.

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HAVE YOU BEEN YELLOW SLIPPED? If youve purchased one of the Bookmarks special collection books, youve been confronted with a small yellow sticky note headed also INTERNET LISTED just inside the book. Instructions read PLEASE GIVE TO CASHIER. The book youve just bought is also listed on Amazon.com (see Bookmark) and, when purchased in the store, must be removed from its listing on Amazon. This little yellow sticky note is notification that the book is no longer available. So please make sure the cashier gets the yellow note. Thank you! INTERNET SALES We are very pleased to announce that Bookmark internet sales, under the watchful eye of volunteer Joe Diamond, totaled $6,194.31 in 2011! WAY TO GO, JOE!! MANY, MANY THANKS to Shawn Blake of S & S PLUMBING for coming to our rescue when plumbing problems appeared. at the Bookmark recentlytwice! Shawn said, No problem, no bill. Thanks, Shawn!

FRIENDS RECOGNIZED In December the Friends of the Westside Libraries was honored by the City of El Paso Mayor and City Council with a proclamation of Westside Friends Week in recognition of the more than 600 members and 60 volunteers who provide donations, hours of work, and guidance throughout the year. As one of 11 Friends groups in the city, it was a true honor to have been so recognized. Board president Thelma Campos stated, Everyone involved in this organization works very hard for the libraries and the community.
2011 BEST FRIEND AWARD The Bookmarks former Co-Manager Annick Dellman-Schafer has been named the Friends 2011 Best Friend. Annicks outstanding contributions to the Bookmark as volunteer, board member, and Co-Manager for nine years made her the number one choice to honor with this award. Congratulations, Annick!

NEW ASSISTANT MANAGER HIRED Carole Aspinwall, volunteer and former Board member, has been hired as the new Assistant Manager at the Bookmark.

THE BOOKMARK 7348 Remcon Circle El Paso, Texas 79912 Return Service Requested

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid El Paso, Tx. Permit N. 2700

New volunteers are needed and always welcome at the Bookmark! Call Friends today at 833-2342 and ask us how you can help!

THE BOOKMARK 7348 Remcon Circle Just down the street from Westside Post Office

Store Hours:

Wed. 3-6 p.m. Thurs. & Sat. 9-3 p.m. Fri. 3-8 p.m. Become a volunteer-call 833-2342!

The Bookmark is operated by Friends of the Westside Library. We sell used books, magazines, music cassettes, CDs, puzzles, videos, DVDs & games.

Donations gratefully accepted during store hours! Just drive up to the side door and ring the doorbell! Yes, its that easy!