Author: Eric Melton

Please have your timesheet completed with PARs attached and placed in the green folder outside Eric’s office by Thursday evening at 8 pm.

As always, double-check that the hours on your timesheet match When to Work. If they don’t, please speak with your supervisor. If there are last minute changes, you may always send me an email and tell me that your timesheet is correct or that WTW is correct or whatever.

Libraries are always evolving to meet the changing world and needs around them; however, helping readers is a constant, essential service. Does your library offer a readers’ advisory (RA) service? Have your RA efforts changed over the last year during COVID-19? Do you ever wonder how your RA service compares to that of libraries across the US?

From city hall:

I wanted to let you know, we are planning to officially open the Splash Pad and Patio area of the Johnston Town Center on Friday, July 23^rd.  The splash pad will be programmed to operate between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily.  Unfortunately, the restrooms within the Site Support/Concessions building still have a few minor touch ups needed, so they will not yet be open, but the exterior restrooms on the east side of City Hall will be available.  This information will be pushed out to the public next week.

As you’ve seen, Ripples has also been installed, but still needs scales installed, that work is anticipated to occur next week, but if it’s not completed by Friday Ripples will be fenced off for safety purposes.

See the splashpad and patio on the city’s Facebook page.

The library board discussed a couple of exciting agenda items at last night’s meeting:

Casual Days

The board approved a revision of the library’s Dress Policy that makes every workday a casual day. We’ve been casual throughout the pandemic so nothing is changing for those who started at JPL after March 2020. The updated Dress Policy can be found here.

Drive-up Book Return

The board also approved purchase of an outdoor, drive-up book return that will be installed along the curb in front of the library. This return will be slightly larger than those at Beaver Creek and (soon to be at) Horizon. It should arrive sometime in September or October.

Shade Structure for West Patio

Lastly , we discussed a quote I recently received for a shade structure for the west patio. We’ve received one grant for the project and are waiting to hear about another. For the remainder of the funding, I’ll present the project to the Library Foundation in November for inclusion in their 2022 budget. If approved, the structure should be in place before summer 2022. You can check out the style of the shade here.

We’re excited to announce that Rose Hebron has accepted the Youth Services Assistant Librarian position. Rose is currently Children’s Services Librarian at the Carlisle Public Library. Her previous experience includes running education programs for the Animal Rescue League. Rose graduated with a Master’s degree in Leadership Development from Drake University in 2019 and from Grandview university with a degree in Human Services in 2017. She’ll start her work at JPL on August 9th.

The city’s communications department has started a bi-weekly employee newsletter. The first edition is included below for those that don’t have a city/library email address. If you have news that you think should be included in the newsletter, let me know.

Internal News Update

City of Johnston Employee Newsletter Welcome to the first employee newsletter. This newsletter will be sent twice a month, the day after the Johnston City Council meetings. We hope you find the information useful and a way to stay connected. Thank you! Kari Allen (Parks Department) took this beautiful photo. She captured the image over the holiday weekend by the Simpson Barn. Send your pictures of the city to mvanderlinden@cityofjohnston.com to be featured in an upcoming newsletter! Find out what’s happening within our city Doug Sandvig retired yesterday after 26 years with the City of Johnston as a Building Official. We thank Doug for his years of service and dedication to the City. He will be missed! Congratulations! City News Bryan Burkhardt was sworn in as newest council member at the City Council meeting on July 6. His term will expire Dec. 31, 2023. To check out our latest infrastructure, parks and trails, and other city projects click the photo above to visit our projects page. The projects with an update this week include; NW 54th Ave., NW Beaver Dr., and NW 62nd Ave./Merle Hay Rd. Sign up for the Mayor’s Run for the Trails. The annual Mayor’s Run for the Trails will be Saturday, August 21 at 8 a.m. starting at Terra Lake Park. To register click the photo above to be directed to the site. Movie in the Yard City Council, staff, friends, and family enjoyed a test run of movies in the Yard last week. We look forward to many more to come! Private Development Projects Update The City of Johnston, in partnership with Hansen Companies, is redeveloping the Norwest quadrant of NW 62nd Avenue & Merle Hay Road into a mixed-use entertainment/shopping/office development. Initial Site Improvements are scheduled to be completed in July/August 2021. The initial improvements include parking for the overall site, site utilities, a central green space named “The Yard,” which will include a splash pad and ice/rink, and the new Johnston City Hall. Additional commercial buildings will follow the completion of these initial improvements, with the first building anticipated to break ground in the fall of 2021.  Employee News Teresa Rotschafer’s granddaughter competed at the National United States Tumbling & Trampoline Association Championships last month. She placed 2nd overall in trampoline in her class (National runner-up) and 11th overall in mini-trampoline (in which she had won State here in Iowa). A new resident called to thank our Public Works team (specifically Denny and Brady) who were very polite and professional while changing a battery on his water meter. He mentioned how they went above and beyond to answer all of his questions. He had nothing but great things to say. Thank you for all the work you do to keep our city running and residents happy. Teresa Rotschafer’s newest grandbaby, Waylon Ray Merriam, was born on May 3rd. What a bundle of joy! Congrats! Birthdays and Anniversaries Birthdays July 7 Christine Kane-Finn, Library July 8 Tyler Hardenbrook, Fire July 10 Daniel Schneider, Fire July 10 Ryan Wheeler, Fire July 18 Michael Gaskins, Public Works Work Anniversaries July 11 Elvir Hasanovic 16 yrs., Parks July 11 Kari Allen 16 yrs., Parks July 11 David Croll 16 yrs., Comm. Dev. July 13 Adam Hoffman, 7 yrs., Fire July 14 Craig VerHuel 13 yrs., Fire July 15 Sarah Gerke 2 yrs., Library July 17 Travis Wuebker 15 years, Fire July 17 Shawn Benberg 15 years, Fire SAVE THE DATE Save the date! The Johnston Town Center Grand Opening will be on Saturday, August 28! There will be food, fun and live entertainment. We hope to see you all there! Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks. As a reminder, please send any news you would like to share in our employee newsletters to mvanderlinden@cityofjohnston.com. Thank you! Upcoming City, Community Meetings and Events Johnston Farmers Market: Tuesdays, 3:30-6:30 p.m. Lunch and Lures: July 7, 18, 24, 11:30-1 p.m. Fishing Buddies: July 7, 5-6:30 p.m. Yoga by the Lake: July 10, 8-9 a.m. Planning and Zoning Meeting: July 12, 7:00 p.m. Yoga by the Lake: July 17, 8-9 a.m. Library Board Meeting: July 15, 5:30 p.m. Intro to Kayak Fishing: July 18, 3-5 p.m. City Council Work Session: July 19, 6 p.m. City Council Meeting: July 19, 7 p.m. Beginner Fishing Workshop: July 24, 4-6 p.m. Sundae in the Park: August 8, 6-9 p.m. Mayor’s Run for the Trails: August 21, 8 a.m. Johnston Town Center Grand Opening: August 28 Johnston City Hall 6221 Merle Hay Road Johnston, IA 50131 Phone: 515-278-2344 Fax: 515-278-2033 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

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The new card reader is now connected to the Foundation book sale ipad. Refer to the cheat-sheet next to it for information on swiping, tapping, and inserting cards.

The film scanner is back up and running. As I’ve mentioned to a couple of you, keep an eye out for Tech Lab reservations where the patron notes that they’re coming in to use it. I’ll try to be available to help them get started.

Just a reminder that on July 1st our access to several State Library provided online resources will expire. The resources, which are linked on the Research page of our website, that are going away include all Gale resources (including Opposing Viewpoints), Transparent Language, and Credo Reference. We’ve already replaced Transparent Language with Mango Languages. The State Library will begin accepting bids for replacement resources, including a general reference resource to replace the Gale offerings, soon. I’ll keep everyone posted.

Please have your timesheet completed with PARs attached and placed in the green folder outside Eric’s office by Thursday evening at 8 pm.

As always, double-check that the hours on your timesheet match When to Work. If they don’t, please speak with your supervisor. If there are last minute changes, you may always send me an email and tell me that your timesheet is correct or that WTW is correct or whatever.

For those who missed it, a link to the recording of yesterday’s all-staff Zoom meeting is linked below.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10EkJqIaqTo-idDkbrTcUoBm8m2_pWQet/view?usp=sharing

Just a reminder that the fitness room at the Public Safety Building is available to all city employees. If you’re interested in having access please let me know.

There have recently been several cases around the state of a man calling libraries and being verbally abusive and making vulgar noises. Any time that you feel a caller is acting in a harassing manner–using profanity, being vulgar, etc.–you are free to hang up. I’ve included some helpful guidelines from a library in Wisconsin below.

What is the requester’s intent? Is it for true research, or an attempt towards the requester’s self gratification? Or perhaps an attempt to waste time, or is it to cause embarrassment to the
librarian? A general rule of thumb is when a patron makes a request that becomes personal, and is outside the scope of your employment, is when the “line” becomes crossed.
• You do not have to answer personal questions, unless you have granted your consent.
o In example: a patron asking about your sexual preferences as compared to a
survey on library services. It is okay to hang up or tell a person no.
• You do not have to provide personal identifying information to a patron.
o Think identity theft. It is appropriate to give a person your first name or contact
information for your particular library.
• A patron has no right to sexualize, harass, or intimidate a librarian.
o If a librarian is uncomfortable with a phone call or an in-person patron contact
they do not have to engage in a conversation with them. It is okay to tell them to
stop. It is okay to hang up or tell a person no. It is okay to report criminal
behavior to law enforcement.
• A librarian can tell a patron that the librarian is busy or unavailable to help them (given
your own library policies). It is okay to hang up or tell a person no.
• A librarian can advise a patron that if they have been assisted you don’t have to continue
to provide the same information day after day.
o In example: calling a librarian asking for sexual references day after day with the
same questions.
• A librarian doesn’t have to listen to a person heavy breath over a phone or make
sexualized noises. It is okay to hang up or tell a person no.

Parts to repair the 8mm film scanner are on the way. They should arrive tomorrow.

The 8mm film scanner is currently out of commission. I believe it’s something I can fix. I’ll keep everyone posted.

From city hall:

Johnston employees,

With the construction of the new city hall we included a stage/entertainment area on the southwest corner of the building. On Thursday, July 1 around 8:45 p.m. we will be testing the movie screen set up at the stage. We would like to invite Johnston employees and their families to the first show.

For the test screening we plan to show Pixar Short Films which will give us an opportunity to test the screen, projector and sound system. These short films are geared toward younger audiences (rated G). Sample titles include: The adventures of André & Wally B. — Luxo Jr. — Red’s dream — Tin toy — Knick knack — Geri’s game — For the birds — Mike’s new car — Boundin’ — Jack-Jack attack — One man band — Mater and the ghostlight.

Bring your children/grandchildren, a blanket, lawn chairs, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy the show.

hope you are able to join us.

Thank you,

Jim

We will offer a Zoom option for tomorrow’s all-staff meeting for those who can’t make it in-person. The link is included below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85866636091?pwd=cnh5MEhjUEtXYmpoNHRtZUJETUdRZz09

The new video conferencing system has been added as an option for the public when reserving the Archive Room. There’s nothing you need to do to prep for a group that has requested it–more just a heads up that the group may need some help getting it going.

I’ve ordered a new card reader for the iPad where we accept payment for Foundation Book Sale items. In addition to swiping cards, the reader also allows payment via chip and tap. Please take a look at the video linked below sometime in the next week or so to become familiar with how it works.