Branching Out: Mandie Invades JPL 2020

I live in the largest land-mass city in the United States - Jacksonville, Florida. Over the past five years, I've been setting reading goals and working through book challenges which I couldn't accomplish without the use of the Jacksonville Public Library system. I read novels and graphic novels, I listen to audiobooks, and I borrow in physical and digital formats, which includes ample use of reading apps provided by JPL like Overdrive and Hoopla.

While planning and considering my 2020 Book Challenges and wandering our Main Library around mid-January, I realized that I've only visited a handful of our 21 library branches throughout Duval County. I may have visited one here or there to pick up a book on hold or to early vote, but I haven't actually taken the time to walk through and browse the shelves at each location. Nor to just take in each individual branch. This thought was just a tiny spark though, as moving into my first apartment EVER in what's considered New Springfield, took priority for the rest of January.

Once the task of moving in was complete, I took a look at the locations page on JPL's website to calculate the distance to my nearest branch. It seems as though I may be equidistant between two or three branches, but I decided to make the Brentwood Branch my library of choice for picking up holds. A side effect of the move was that my regular reading was interrupted, so I had to renew a few books at the branch itself, rather than online. Renewal limits are a real thing, y'all.

Upon one of my first exploratory drives in my new neighborhood, I took a ride north on Pearl Street to the Brentwood Branch. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it resides in a re-purposed movie theatre. I only had enough time to go in to renew my books and leave, but I can't wait to go back and explore this two-story wonder. It was at this point that the spark to visit all of JPL's branches was rekindled.

I've been taking the time to put together a plan of attack and an idea of how I want to chronicle this expedition. I'll be writing my thoughts via my blog (where you are reading right now), as well as using my new #bookstagram account - @branchingoutinjax . Please bookmark both!

As I've said previously, I've already visited a handful of branches, but through 2020, I will be going back to revisit each one with a new set of eyes and perspective. I'm going to take the time to wander the shelves and come home with a book stack from each location. This is a two-part goal of finding books that I wouldn't think to put on hold via the website and discovering what resides in the nooks and crannies of each branch. I invite each of you to journey along with my Branching Out series.