Author: Eric Melton

The breakroom microwave has bit the dust. Until the new one arrives, you can use the microwave in the East Meeting Room kitchen.

Just a reminder that the library will be closed Monday, February 15th in observance of Washington’s Birthday.

Installation of the teen space wall will start next Tuesday. I’ve moved the wood music CD bins to make room for the installers to bring in the walls for the teen space. Once we’re done shifting the south/nonfiction stacks on the adult/YA side of the library, the music CDs will live in bins where the playaways/audiobooks are now.

We have signed up for a new online resource called Weiss Financial Ratings Series Online that includes ratings for banks, credit unions, insurance companies, stocks, and mutual funds, plus financial planning and investment tools including medigap plan comparison.

I’d like staff to attend a one-hour training/demo on this new resource. Our rep is available everyday next week at either 9am or 1pm. Please indicate what times/days work for you via the Doodle poll linked below. I know not everyone will be able to attend. I’ll try to record the session for those that can’t make it.

https://doodle.com/poll/w82awz2h4k2s8ctk?utm_source=poll&utm_medium=link

I’ll be watching the webinar described below in the Archive Room on Wednesday, February 17th at 1:00 pm for those who would like to join. If you’d like to join from your own PC, register here. A recording will be available after.

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Social Work in Rural and Small Libraries

Many libraries across the country now have an additional yet untraditional resource to provide patrons – a social worker.

Whether full time, part time, or through a partnership the presence of a social worker can be beneficial to both patrons and staff alike.

Join Tiffany Russell, LMSW, the Social Services Manager at Niles District Library (MI) to learn more about the Social Workers in Rural and Small Libraries project and the work being done to promote this initiative.

This webinar will explore this emerging field, the role social workers play, and how libraries can find creative ways to utilize social workers.

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

https://drive.google.com/file/d/100VF5D12vdqhp9nd_iX3Q-pAK3Ywo5mT/view?usp=sharing

Council member Scott Syroka has announced that he’s taken a position in the Biden administration and that he will resign from the Johnston City Council. I assume a special election will be held or the mayor will appoint an interim replacement.

If you missed-out on any hours due to the recent weather and would like to make them up, talk to me about the nonfiction shifting project.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87481107075?pwd=TjRXdmUxdWY5OFNCTE80VEFET0dOQT09

To make some space on the shelves while circulation is down, several YA graphic novels have been moved to “storage” in the East Meeting Room. These can be circulated if requested by a patron.

We will close at 2pm today due to the predicted snow storm. If your shift starts at 2pm or later, stay home. If your shift starts earlier and you’re scheduled to work past 2pm, you are welcome (but not obligated) to stay to the end of your shift.

Good Morning and Happy Monday!

I realize that the subject line in this email probably made you think it was junk mail.  But it isn’t!  If you’re looking for a program to help you meet your health related goals, be sure to check this out! This is our second go round with this program, and those who participated in the first session had good things to say about it.

The City of Johnston is offering you the chance to lose weight and improve your health—at no cost to you—with a program called Naturally Slim^®.

Unlike diets, which rely on your willpower and “eat this and not that” advice, Naturally Slim teaches you simple, repeatable skills to help you lose weight, keep it off, and improve your health in the real world, without giving up the foods you love.

You can access the program via computer or mobile device so you can complete it at a time and place that is convenient for you.

To be considered*, you must complete the online application by February 5^th, 2021. Don’t wait. Space may be limited!

Visit www.naturallyslim.com/CityofJohnston to apply and learn more.

*Employees over age 18 are eligible to apply to the program.

Please let me know if you have questions.

Thanks!

Cyndee

I’ve blocked-off this afternoon’s remaining PC and browsing slots in case we need to close early. The day’s remaining holds pickup slots have been blocked off as well.

The sign outside the entryway is locked to the bench–there’s no need to bring it in at close.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87481107075?pwd=TjRXdmUxdWY5OFNCTE80VEFET0dOQT09

The annual Innovative Libraries Online Conference will be held next Thursday. Registration is not required. If you attend a session (or multiple sessions) from home, you can put that time on your timesheet. More information about the conference can be found via the link below.

https://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/ld/c-d/continuing-ed/iloc/iloc2021/ilocschedule20?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

As we look forward to reopening, please take a look around your public desks and the public areas this week to ensure they’re tidy and presentable. YS & PS staff, when we reopen please be sure to turn on catalog PCs in your area each morning and ensure pencils and paper are available there. We will have 5 PCs be available starting Tuesday: 3, 7, 9, 16, and print express. Patrons can use the Tech Lab if they don’t need assistance. Browsing appointments are spaced every 20 minutes. We will allow walk-ins for all services if space allows. In short, we’re reopening with the same services we offered prior to reducing services/capacity before we closed. Let me know if you have any questions.

The library homepage has been updated with a link for patrons to create PC/Fax/Notary appointments for next week when we reopen. To prevent confusion, the link for notary-only appointment scheduling that we’ve been using while we’ve been closed has been removed. If you need to make a notary appointment for a date between now and when we reopen use this link > https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/notary-scheduling/

Tax forms are on order. Once they arrive, we’ll offer curbside pickup. Our Tax Form page, which is linked at the top of our homepage, will be updated when our forms arrive. The page also includes information about where else patrons can pickup forms and where they can find tax prep. assistance.

Every couple of years the city’s Communication Specialist organizes a survey of Johnston residents. I’ve linked to the results below. The summary of library-related findings is as follows:

• Library Services. Residents were generally satisfied with the overall quality of library services provided. Ninety-four percent (94%) of the residents surveyed, who had an opinion, were “very satisfied” and “satisfied” with the Johnston Public Library; 90% were satisfied with the quality of library materials, books, DVDs magazines and etc. and 88% were satisfied with the quality of library programs, story hours and book discussions.
  • Sixty‐three percent (63%) of respondents indicated they had visited the Johnston Public Library in the past year.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PyuemFgo4885UKnXUvL4PHQ1_IM8OZce/view?usp=sharing