(JKPL) — Joeten-Kiyu Public Library celebrated Public Service Recognition Week by recognizing long standing and outstanding employees, leadership award, and JKPL’s overall employee of the year on Friday, May 10, 2024.
The PSRW Committee visited the JKPL for the award presentation. Special thank you to the Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, OPM Acting Director Joseph M. Pangelinan, CNMI Civil Service Commission Chairman Raymond M. Muna, CNMI Civil Service Commission Vice Chair Patrick Fitial, PSRW Chairperson Marie Muna, PSRW General Committee, Commonwealth Library Council George Camacho, PSRW-JKPL representative Kaleina Reyes. Thank you to the Northern Marianas Library Association for sponsoring the ceremony. Thank you for your time, your hard work, and especially for your relentless efforts in making this celebration possible for our Team JKPL. During Public Service Recognition Week, we recognize the accomplishments and contributions of all the hardworking and deserving public employees of the CNMI government.
The theme for this year’s Public Service Recognition Week is “United We Serve for a Greater Commonwealth.” People are and always will be our greatest asset. The Length of Service award reflects our appreciation for your dedicated years of service and is a symbol of your personal and professional achievements.
Team JKPL recognized the following employees for long standing or length of public service at Joeten-Kiyu Public Library:
• 3 years – Shianalyn Lizama, Library Outreach Assistant
• 5 years – Carrie Mae Camacho, Library Assistant II
• 5 years – Kaleina Reyes, Library Assistant I
• 6 years – Caitlyn Joan Lieto Crisostomo, Library Assistant I
• 7 years – Beth Barcinas Demapan, Technical Services Librarian
• 8 years – Gerard Borja, Library Assistant III
• 8 years – Bergitt Maratita, Library Assistant I
• 10 years – Joey Songsong, Computer Programmer II
• 10 years – Leoralynn Sablan Terlaje, Library Assistant III
• 12 years – Silverio DLC Balisalisa, Library Services Coordinator
• 16 years – Ray Jr. Deleon Guerrero, Computer Specialist I
• 18 years – Celina Camacho Foreman, Librarian II
• 28 years – Omar Tababa Manacop, Systems Librarian
• 30 years – Vincent Donald Palacios Sablan, Administrative Officer III
• 33 years – Erlinda Cabrera Naputi, Library Director
The Leadership Award was given to Library Assistant III/ Bookmobile Supervisor, Ms. Leoralynn Sablan Terlaje.
The overall 2024 Joeten-Kiyu Public Library Department/Division Employee of the Year was awarded to Library Assistant I Caitlyn Joan Lieto Crisostomo.
JKPL’s Employee of the Year Caitlyn Crisostomo shared, “I was an intern in July 2018 right out from high school, stayed for three months, and got recruited to become a full-time employee of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library. Thank you to my mentor and my library hero Erlinda Cabrera Naputi for believing and keeping me onboard. Thank you for fighting for me and for inspiring me to love the work I do, be passionate for my community, and to always stay humble. I would also like to thank Gerard Borja or ‘G’ and Ray Deleon Guerrero for teaching me about the Front Circulation when I started working there. You both helped me to learn about the Dewey decimal classification system and the fine art of shelving and the ILS Horizon system. Thank you, Joey Songsong and Omar Manacop, for teaching me about Information Technology. Thank you, Vincent Sablan, for teaching me most of the administrative tasks I perform daily. Thank you to our incredible team who continue to help me on this amazing library adventure! I appreciate and thank you all and I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for you all. Thank you.”
Library Director Erlinda C. Naputi shared, “It is with great pleasure that we nominate Library Assistant I Caitlyn Crisostomo for Employee of the Year. She has consistently exceeded expectations in her role as Library Assistant I and has made significant contributions to the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library. Caitlyn Crisostomo is a highly motivated and dedicated employee who is always willing to go the extra mile. She is a team player and is always willing to help out all her colleagues.”
“Caitlyn is an amazing asset to the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library,” Naputi added. “When she was recruited as a high school volunteer in July of 2018, she conducted herself exceptionally! We were so impressed that we hired her full-time after she graduated from high school. Caitlyn has proven herself time and time again by volunteering to put in hundreds of hours after the devastation of Super Typhoon Yutu. As a volunteer, she helped Team JKPL clean, sanitize, sweep, paint, mop, waterblast, vacuum, etc.— to get our library ready to open and serve thousands of displaced families apply for FEMA Emergency Assistance.”
“Since securing a full-time position in the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, Caitlyn continues to astound us with her strong work ethic,” Naputi said. “She is a valuable member of our Team. She is humble, hardworking, friendly, respectful, and a consummate professional. Her training includes the following: She is a certified Instructor of the Motheread/Fatheread CNMI Adult and Children’s Story Exploring curriculum; Director of Events and Programs for the Northern Marianas Library Association; experienced in Train the Trainer: Transforming Teen Services (T3); and a co-facilitator of the Great Stories Club; official JKPL timekeeper; and the JKPL’s official Cashier. Because of her stellar achievements, Caitlyn was awarded the Employee of the Year for 2023 by the library. This year, we nominated her again, because she truly continues to surpass our expectations!
“Caitlyn does so many tasks at the library from staff birthdays, special event planning, front circulation, IT — she moves everywhere and anywhere. She monitors inventory for supplies for all our event programs and divisions (e.g. Children, Teen/Adult, Pacific, ITC, Bookmobile, Front Circulation, etc.) and reorders our books and supplies where needed. In addition to her Library Assistant duties, Caitlyn also manages the McREL Room, which will be reaching more than two thousand patrons annually. Because of the library’s limited funds, McREL International sponsors the Video Tele-Conference Room for the community. She sets realistic and attainable goals when it comes to work. She projects a positive work attitude and is ready to tackle any assignment or tasks given. She always seeks opportunities to produce more work even if it means working extra hours or coming to work before the reported time.
“We are so proud of her that we believe and wholeheartedly nominate her for Employee of the Year. Biba, Caitlyn!”
Naputi added, “Thank you especially to our hardworking Team JKPL —
from our Front Circulation (Adult and Teen Services), Our Children’s Library, our Information Technology Service, Pacific Collection, our Bookmobile/Technology Mobile Express, our public library branches — Fernando M. Benavente Memorial Library in San Antonio, the Antonio C. Atalig Memorial Library on Rota, and the Tinian Public Library. Congratulations! Biba, Marianas! Happy Public Service Recognition Week! Thank you all! As Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. Biba, Marianas!”
Enjoy your public library’s free resources by visiting www.cnmilib.org/. Like/follow JKPL’s Facebook page @joetenkiyupubliclibrary, Instagram @joetenkiyupubliclibrary, TikTok @jkpl670, X (Twitter) @JoetenKiyu, and You Tube: joeten kiyu public library.
For more information, call (670) 235-7322/7318.
The Public Service Recognition Week ceremony at JKPL with the PSRW committee.
Employee of the Year Caitlyn Crisostomo and Acting Director Vincent Sablan.
Public Service Recognition Week at JKPL group photo.
Public Service Recognition Week group photo in front of JKPL’s Children’s Library.
Library Leadership Awardee Leoralynn Terlaje
