Library Staff Says Farewell to Deputy Director Nancy Sevier

November/December 2011
“Oakleaf” above this line.
Library Staff Says Farewell
to Deputy Director Nancy Sevier
In December Library
staff will say farewell to
Deputy Library Services
Director Nancy Sevier,
who began her career
at the Thousand Oaks
Library as an hourly
reference librarian in
1986. Her last day at the
library will be December
27.
During her tenure
here she has left an
indelible mark on
library staff. “Her
love of this library and
the library profession
is unsurpassed. Her
enthusiasm is just contagious. It
has been a true pleasure to work
with her. Even when tackling tough
issues her positive attitude made it
easier,” explained Library Director
Steve Brogden. “ Her friendship and
professionalism has been a real asset
to us. I have been lucky to work with
someone who is so professional and
personable.”
While at Thousand Oaks Library,
Nancy served as Reference Librarian,
Newbury Park Branch Supervisor,
Reference Supervisor, Division
Manager overseeing Collections,
Children’s/Young Adult Services and
References Services and in February
2000 was appointed as Deputy
Library Services Director. She has
been overseeing the library budget,
personnel and day-to-day operations.
Nancy also serves as the liaison to
the Friends of the Library, and as
a mentor in the City’s Succession
Planning mentoring program.
During her career, Nancy has
been motivated by the belief that
libraries have a grand and absolutely
essential mission in the world. It
has been her privilege to assist
individuals seeking knowledge,
inspiration, solace and community in
the library.
“Nancy has been
simply the best supervisor
and mentor I’ve ever had.
She is always upbeat and
positive and has such a
wonderful sense of humor,”
states Library Division
Manager Nancy Schram
who will step into the
other Nancy’s shoes on
December 28th as Deputy
Library Director.
For more than 20
years Division Manager
Chris Hendel has had the
pleasure of working with
Nancy Sevier. “She has
always given excellent and thoughtful
advice, based on her long experience.
I have taken advantage of that and
valued it many times over the years.”
One of Nancy’s accomplishments
was serving on the team planning
the beautiful 22,000 square foot
Children’s expansion of the Grant
R. Brimhall Library. She admits that
being up to her elbows in architect’s
drawings, construction blue prints,
carpet swatches and library furniture
catalogs was both a lot of work and
a lot of fun. When recently asked
about the experience Nancy said,
The Newsletter of the Thousand Oaks Library
Visit the Library website at www.toaks.org/library
(continues on page 4)
• • • The Oakleaf • • •
LIBRARY
News Notes
8
Are you working on creating
or updating a resume? Do you
know anyone who is doing so?
The Library has a wonderful
online resume builder that you
might find very helpful. It is an
interactive program that allows
personal data to be entered into
a template. There are definitions
and suggestions throughout the
form as well. A very professional
looking resume can be created in
a short time. The service is free.
Please go to the library website
at www.toaks.org/library. Click
on the icon entitled “Online
Research and Homework Help”
and then click on “Jobs and
Career Development” and select
“Job and Career Accelerator”.
It’s fun and very helpful.
8
The Grant R. Brimhall
Library will officially be 30 years
old on January 25, 2012.
A variety of programs celebrating
the first 30 years are planned.
Please watch the library
website and calendars for more
information.
8
For up-to-the-minute
information about the Grant R.
Brimhall Library or the Newbury
Park Branch Library, find us
on Facebook or follow us on
Twitter@tolibrary. See you
there!
8
When buying that nice hot
cup of coffee or tea this winter
at the Grant R. Brimhall Library
coffee cart, don’t forget the kids.
Hot chocolate is also available
for $1.00 a cup.
Page 2
One City One Book 2011
The 2011 Thousand Oaks Reads:
One City, One Book is underway, and
for the fifth consecutive year, it’s the
city-wide reading program that brings
us all together.
This year’s One City, One Book
selection, Hotel on the Corner
of Bitter and Sweet, by first-time
novelist Jamie Ford, has been
embraced by the Thousand Oaks
Library community: hundreds of
copies of the book are currently
circulating, dozens of book clubs
have chosen the novel as their autumn
pick, and patrons are making plans to
participate in discussions and attend
cultural programs during the four
week One City, One Book season.
The author event is the
centerpiece and
grand finale of
each Thousand
Oaks Reads: One
City, One Book
program, and this
year welcomes
author Jamie Ford
to the Thousand
Oaks Civic Arts
Plaza Fred Kavli
Theatre on November 12 at 2:00 p.m.
The author event is open to the
public, but free tickets are required
and are available at the Grant R.
Brimhall Library, the Newbury Park
Branch Library, and at the Kavli
Theatre box office on the day of the
event.
Jamie Ford is the great-grandson
of a Chinese immigrant, who traveled
to California in 1865, worked as a
miner, and eventually took the name
Ford. The author’s own father grew
up during the World War II time
period that inspired the novel, when
American citizens of Asian descent
found themselves the victims of racial
bias. “It really started with the ‘I
am Chinese’ button—this thing my
father mentioned wearing as a kid,”
says the author. His novel recounts
the chaos of the blackouts, ethnic
neighborhood raids and ultimate
internment of 120,000 JapaneseAmericans, through the story of two
young people in 1940s Seattle.
Immediately following his talk
at the Kavli Theatre on November
12, Mr. Ford will be available to
personally greet his readers and sign
copies of his book.
Other upcoming One City,
One Book events, all designed to
celebrate the themes and enhance
understanding of issues in the book,
include:
• A California Lutheran
University Faculty Panel Discussion
on November 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the
Lundring Events Center. Professors
will offer unique perspectives and
thoughtful responses to many of
the issues in Hotel on the Corner of
Bitter and Sweet; the public is invited
to attend this free program, and pose
their own questions
• SUMO! A fun afternoon
of inflatable sumo suit wrestling on
November 5 at the Grant R. Brimhall
Library, beginning at 12 noon.
(continues on page 3)
• • • The Oakleaf • • •
Information Advantage
When you need reliable information, take advantage of the
powerful research tools available at your library.
Featured Resource:
Home Improvement
Reference Center
The Home Improvement Reference Center is the definitive online
tool for house repair or remodeling projects. It offers clear, practical advice
on just about anything you can think of, improvement projects of all kinds,
inside and outside the house.
Covering everything from decorating home and garden, electrical
work, maintenance, plumbing, remodeling, woodworking, etc., the
Home Improvement Reference Center has full-text articles from home
improvement magazines and major reference works, plus nearly one hundred
videos and thousands of images of popular projects.
Do-it-yourself enthusiasts will find this database extremely helpful.
It is comprehensive and detailed, providing step-by-step instructions and
photographs that guide you through a complete range of interior and exterior
projects you can tackle with confidence.
(One City One Book continued from
page 2)
• A kimono fashion show is a
opportunity for an up-close look at
the beautiful fabrics and colors of
Japan’s traditional costume; presented
by renowned Japanese cultural expert
Fumi Akutagawa on November 6 at
1:00 p.m. at the Grant R. Brimhall
Library
• “The ‘Stuff’ of Life” Essay
Contest: Write about a memento,
souvenir or a collectable that has
meaning in your life, and prompts
thoughtful reflection. Go to www.
thousandoaksreads.org for complete
information and an entry form
• A Community Book
Discussion on Wednesday
November 9 at 7:00 p.m. at the
Grant R. Brimhall Library is free and
open to the public, with no advance
registration required.
There’s much more on the
calendar, so please visit www.
thousandoaksreads.org for the details.
Swingin’ with Dean
Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at Grant R. Brimhall Library
Enjoy some rousing swing tunes,
songs from Sinatra and Anka,
and more from the amazing Dean
Ratzman. This touring musician
from San Diego will entertain from
the keyboard with love songs and
show tunes from the 40s through
the 70s. Travel back to another
era when crooners were king and
dancing was a way of life. This
program is free and open to the
public courtesy of the Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library.
NEW
Arrivals
The Thousand Oaks Library
has recently added these materials
to its collection:
NON-FICTION
551
Catastrophes!
Earthquakes,
Tsunamis,
Tornadoes, and
Other EarthShattering
Disasters by
Donald R.
791.4309 Prothero
A History of
American
Movies: A
Film-by-Film
Look at the
Art, Craft,
and Business
of Cinema by
Paul Monaco
791.4575
Why?
Because We
Still Like
You: An Oral
History of
the Mickey
Mouse Club
by Jennifer Armstrong
917.9494
Secret Stairs:
A Walking
Guide to
the Historic
Staircases of
Los Angeles
by Charles
Fleming
Page 3
• • • The Oakleaf • • •
(Farewell continued from page 1)
“It was an opportunity that I could
never have imagined when I started
my career as a reference librarian at
the UCLA undergraduate library in
1972.”
A California native, Nancy and
her husband, Jeff, love to travel and
are looking forward to seeing their
two adult sons and daughter-in-law,
who all reside in New York, a little
more often now. Bon voyage, Nancy.
Music @ the
Library
Take a break from holiday stress
and enjoy a selection of holiday and
classical music presented by
The Silver Strings
Saturday, December 10 at 1:00 p.m.
Grant R. Brimhall Library
Community Room
Dancing Tehani presents
A Glimpse of Polynesia
Dancing Tehani presents a
“Glimpse of Polynesia” dance
program on Saturday, November
26, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the
Newbury Park Branch, and 2:00 p.m.
at the Grant R. Brimhall Library. The
whole family will enjoy learning
about and participating in some of the
beautiful dances of Polynesia in this
hour long program.
Jennifer Tehani Sarreal began
her dancing career at age 8 with her
cousins in a family dance group at
small festivals. Today her dance
repertoire includes Polynesian
dances, International-style Ballroom
and Latin dances at the silver level,
Classical and Tribal belly dance, Filipino and Muslim folkdances, hip hop, and
West African Dance. This program is free and open to the public courtesy of the
Friends of the Thousand Oaks Library.
Winter Break Free Family Films
Bring the family, your own snacks and enjoy!
Monday, December 19 at 2:00 p.m.
Grant R. Brimhall Library
GNOMEO and JULIET
Animated Feature, Walt Disney Pictures,
2011, Rated-G, 84 minutes
Tuesday, December 20 at 2:00 p.m.
Newbury Park Branch Library
CARS 2
Animated Feature, Walt Disney Pictures,
2011, Rated - G, 113 minutes
The Oakleaf
Thousand Oaks Library • Volume 11, Number 6 • November/December 2011
Director of Library Services: Stephen R. Brogden
Grant R. Brimhall Library • 805-449-2660
1401 East Janss Road • Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Hours: Monday - Thursday:
11:00am - 8:00pm
Friday:10:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday:
10:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday:12:00pm - 5:00pm
Page 4
Newbury Park Branch Library • 805-498-2139
2331 Borchard Road • Newbury Park, CA 91320
Hours: Monday - Wednesday:
12:00pm - 8:00pm
Thursday - Friday:
10:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday:
10:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday:CLOSED