Announcing SJPL Volunteers of the Year!
Every year, each of our twenty-two branches and units selects its Volunteer of the Year. From these nominees one volunteer is selected for system wide recognition as San José Public Library’s Volunteer of the Year. This year, we had a tie for the top honor! We congratulate Chris Bunz and Ellen Hill who share the award for 2012.
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Chris Bunz Chris Bunz created and implemented a delightful children’s arts and crafts program at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library that uses recycled materials to create art. Some of her programs included turning empty audio book boxes into Mother’s Day jewelry boxes, transforming toilet paper rolls into incredible creatures, and recycling book covers into bracelets. Chris is a video editor by profession. When the library collected footage for “Snapshot Day,” Chris offered to edit the footage into two videos—one featuring King Library’s docent program and the other highlighting testimonials from customers and civic leaders. Her skills and talents in video editing and design also contributed to promotional materials for this year’s Children’s Faire. |
Ellen Hill Ellen Hill began tutoring ten years ago with Partners in Reading (PAR), the library’s adult literacy program. With a background in Special Education, Ellen offers her adult learners additional insight into ways they can progress with their learning. She is one of the founding members of the Tutor Support Group, volunteers who are deeply involved with PAR and provide leadership for the program. Ellen oversaw the creation and coordination of a cataloging system for thousands of resources used by tutors and learners. This year, Ellen was instrumental in the success of the Together We Read book drive, which will bring over 2,100 books into the homes of families in San José. She visited every branch library, delivering collection boxes and explaining the program. |
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San José Public Library salutes all of the Volunteers of the Year who have made such positive contributions to our community. We are truly grateful that you choose to volunteer with the library!
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Patty Karabatsos
Almaden Branch Library
Patty Karabatsos is responsible for various library services activities. She has been an energetic, enthusiastic volunteer for years, and her reliability is a significant asset. Patty’s hard work has contributed greatly to a positive library experience for Almaden Branch customers.
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Sarah Kishler
Alviso Branch Library
Sarah began volunteering at Alviso Library in August 2010 as a Computer Training Instructor and substitute ESL Conversation Club Facilitator. Sarah encourages her students by offering instruction appropriate to their skill level. She also increases community awareness about library services, programs and resources by sharing her knowledge of these areas with customers.
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Urvi Gupta
Berryessa Branch Library
Urvi Gupta, a 10th grade student from Harker school, began offering her OneInMath program last November. She delivers a great service to the community teaching math skills to young children using face-to-face tutoring as well as digital technology.
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Hector Garcia
Biblioteca Latinoamericana Branch Library
Hector Garcia is an inspiring, faithful, and popular computer instructor for the monthly Internet Básico program at Biblioteca Latinoamericana Branch Library. Hector’s programs are very popular – he is a natural teacher who is genuinely interested in his students and is able to assist people with a variety of skill levels.
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Lee Hornberger
Cambrian Branch Library
Lee Hornberger has been a wonderful asset to the library in her role as a Reading to Children volunteer. Her ability to make the pages of a book come to life has endeared her to the children, and she has quite a fan base among the participants!
Sandra Gillespie
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library – Administration Unit
Sandra Gillespie has been volunteering at King Library for nine years performing a variety of administrative duties with Volunteer Services and the docent program. Sandra manages correspondence, schedules docent tours, prepares training packets, and assists with events. Her professional demeanor and pleasant personality are an asset to the library, and her dedication is much appreciated.
Minh Nguyen
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
Access, Children, and Youth Unit
As a Summer Reading Celebration volunteer, Minh Nguyen did a great job of promoting the program and interacting with children and their parents. Minh also volunteers in teensReach and library services and has strengthened the library’s teensReach group.
Avina Ramnani
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library – Public Reference and Resources Unit
Avina Ramnani volunteers with Social Workers in the Library, a program that provides free information and referral services from a social worker. Avina prepares the room, welcomes the customers, and gathers evaluation surveys after their appointments. The warmth of Avina’s personality and her kindness and hospitality add much value to the program.
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Larry Tilbury
Dr. Roberto Cruz - Alum Rock Branch Library
Larry Tilbury is the President of the Friends of Alum Rock Library. Larry has been very active in fundraising for the branch and assisting with the community’s annual holiday program. Additionally, Larry is active in community beautification through cleaning up graffiti around the library area.
Maria Centeno
East San José Carnegie Branch Library
Maria Centenostepped into the role of the knitting club leader at the East San José Carnegie Branch Library last June. Her impact was immediate and lasting. Though Maria moved out of the area earlier this year, the club continues to meet and her efforts are much appreciated.
Lindsay Dorais
Edenvale Branch Library
Lindsay Dorais coordinates the Edenvale Branch Library’s homework club, “Tutor Time.” Lindsay recruits, trains, and supervises the homework coaches, who assist students with their homework. Over sixty students in the Edenvale neighborhood benefited from “Tutor Time” in the past year.
Talia Venancio
Evergreen Branch Library
Talia Venancio is a member of teensReach and has great ideas and suggestions about library programs. She also helps prepare for craft programs, tidies the picture book area, and staffs the Summer Reading Celebration registration table.
Isidro Jimenez
Hillview Branch Library
Isidro Jimenez is an active member of the Friends of Hillview Library and is the leader of the branch’s weekly Guitar Practice program. Additionally, Isidro has inspired the guitar ensemble to perform at library events such as the annual holiday program.
Elizabeth Hanrahan
Joyce Ellington Branch Library
As an ESL Conversation Club Facilitator, Elizabeth Hanrahan has developed and led a group of learners in a weekly conversation club. In addition to helping community members improve their conversation skills, she also arranged for the club to participate in social events such as field trips and potluck dinners. Elizabeth recently moved out of the area and will be greatly missed!
Friends of the Pearl Avenue Branch Library
Pearl Avenue Branch Library
Rather than select one Volunteer of the Year, the Pearl Avenue Branch is recognizing all of the active members of the Friends of the Pearl Avenue Branch Library for their generous contributions of time and energy! The Pearl Friends raise impressive funds from their book sales that support library programs. The Pearl Avenue Library community owes the Pearl Friends a giant “thank you” for their continuous and unfailing support.
Sue Farr
Rose Garden Branch Library
Sue Farr is a retired social services administrator who led the Rose Garden Knitting Circle for three years. She is an experienced knitter who coached a number of beginners and led the group in creating a large hand-knit throw that was donated to the Linus Project.
Thanh Tran
Tully Community Branch Library
Thanh Tran began volunteering at the Tully Community Branch Library in 2009 teaching music during story time. He then developed a music class for seniors called Singing Class for Vietnamese Seniors. His teaching has enriched the lives of many and even inspired some members of the group to form their own bands!
John Burnham
Vineland Branch Library
John Burnham has helped hundreds of customers with their computer problems and questions as a one-to-one Computer Tutor. His welcoming, calm manner and technical skills make him very popular with Vineland customers.
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Raheleh Seifoddini
West Valley Branch Library
Raheleh Seifoddini facilitated the ESL Conversation Club at the West Valley Branch Library for over a year. The ESL group enjoyed and appreciated Raheleh’s skill and past experience as an ESL teacher. Raheleh recently began working full-time and retired from her volunteer duties. The West Valley staff and customers wish her all the best!
Helena Martiyan
Willow Glen Branch Library
Helena is an active member of the Friends of the Willow Glen Branch Library. She sorts donations and restocks the Friends’ book sale nook as well as volunteering with library services activities. She has always loved books and literature and enjoys giving back to the community.
Volunteer News
Summer Reading Celebration Volunteer Opportunity at the Alviso Branch Library!
On Friday, May 25th from 4pm - 5pm, there be an important special training event for all interested teens who want to volunteer for the Summer Reading Celebration 2012 program at the Alviso Branch Library.
We are especially inviting members of the Alviso Library's teensReach group to this special training event!
Those volunteers attending this event will learn to sign-up kids for the Summer Reading Celebration program, award prizes and assist Alviso Library staff in summer programs.
Summer Reading Celebration 2012 starts on Friday, June 1st and ends on Tuesday, July 31st.
For more information on this training for volunteers or to become a summer volunteer at the Alviso Library Branch, please contact Adrian Barrientos, Youth Services Librarian at (408) 263-3626 or by e-mail at adrian.barrientos@sjlibrary.org .
Willow Glen Wags (Holly)
Hello, Holly! This gentle seven-year-old greyhound is quiet and sweet-natured. She loves people and other dogs. She is happy indoors, but she also likes to go camping. Holly is a brindle color, which means her fur is a kind of speckled blend of browns, reds, and black. She was never used for dog racing. Sherrlyn works for a greyhound rescue organization, and it was her job to find Holly a home. It turns out the perfect home was her own. Sherrlyn adopted Holly and they are both living happily ever after, right here in Willow Glen. Holly’s big brother, another greyhound named Gromit, lives with them. Holly loves people, so she and Sherrlyn are volunteers with Furry Friends pet-assisted therapy. Twice a month, Furry Friends come to visit the Library on Minnesota Avenue so kids can practice reading to the dogs.
If you want to meet Holly and her friends, come to visit Willow Glen Branch Library at 4pm on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. For the next scheduled Furry Friends visit, as well as other events, see our calendar. See you at WG!
World Book Night
I shared the love of reading as I celebrated World Book Night on my way home from work. Begun in the UK last year, World Book Night spread to the US in 2012. Celebrated on April 23, the anniversary of Shakespeare's birth and death, the goal of World Book Night is to go to a public place where you might encounter reluctant adult readers (not libraries or bookstores) and pass out 20 free copies of a selected title. As soon as I heard about the program I decided I wanted to distribute books on the light rail on my way home from work. Back in January I registered online and was asked to select three possible choices to give away. There were many great possibilities. I asked for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, Because of Winn-Dixie, or Q is for Quarry. I was later notified that I would be receiving Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton.
Libraries and booksellers supported the event by serving as distribution sites. About a week before delivery night, I was notified that my copies had arrived at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library and were ready for pick up. I selected this location since I work there, but other book givers picked up their books at local bookstores such as Hicklebee's or Barnes and Noble as well as other area libraries.
World Book Night books are specially-produced, not for resale paperbacks. There was no charge to me or other book givers for these special editions. Authors gave up royalties to make this event possible, and American book publishers, the American Booksellers Association, the American Library Association, UPS and others paid for the production and shipping.
As I left for my walk to my light rail station I was excited about the books I'd be handing out and the people I'd meet. Volunteers like me from around the country would be giving away 500,000 volumes before the night was done. I even gave out three copies before I reached the station! Not everyone I approached took one, but many did and everyone was polite. One recipient said I'd made her day. Another gentleman recognized the author's name and said the list of selected titles provided on the book's back cover gave him a whole reading list. Check out Facebook to read about the experiences of other book givers. And mark your calendar now for April 23, 2013. I plan to celebrate World Book Night as a book giver again next year. I hope you'll join me and spread the love of reading person to person.
Volunteer Opportunities
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