Author: Eric Melton

Thanks to all the staff who hustled today to pull holds. Over 1,600 holds were placed in the last 24 hours!

Items checked out over the next few days will have their due dates updated to 4/16 each night.

If you’d like to take time off while we’re closed–either unpaid or by using your PTO–please talk to your supervisor. I understand that this may be a challenging time to find childcare, that some may feel safer staying home, and that this would just be a good time to take a breather.

Feel free to wear jeans to work starting today.

Some may be wondering what we as staff will do if the library closes. If we close, staff will continue to work their regular hours (when you work your hours will be negotiable). We will spend time doing our regular work, cleaning up, doing projects, straightening shelves, etc.

I attended a meeting with city departments heads this morning regarding the coronavirus. The Police Chief has been in communication with county officials and recommends following their guidelines–not the actions take by schools, other libraries, or other public institutions–when it comes to implementing “social distancing”, like cancelling programs and meetings, and other measures to curb the spread of the virus. At this point, the cases in Iowa can be traced to cruise ship in a foreign country. The point at which health officials are likely to begin recommending that institutions and individuals take more extreme action will be when cases appear where the origin is either local or unknown. According to the chief, Iowa health officials predict that the course of the virus in Iowa will become much more clear before the end of the month. Health department recommendations and our own response will develop accordingly.

https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/health/programs/covid-19/

https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus

I’ve created a Facebook post asking for donations of used J and YA books to give away at outreach events this summer. Until further notice, please put donations of books for kids and teens in the box marked for them next to the food donation bin.

The following was posted on the library’s Facebook page this morning. Donations can be placed in the red plastic bin under the ledge behind the circ. desk. Procedures on lending forthcoming.

We are looking for donations of gently used basketballs, soccer balls, kick balls, and wiffle balls and bats for us to lend for use in the green space around the library. Donations can be dropped off at the checkout desk.

Below is a list of immediate actions and future plans related to the Coronavirus. Your supervisor will be in touch if she would like you to be responsible for anything in the list. 

Immediate Actions

• Begin wiping public desks, the Exploration Station (including touch screens), the Imagination Station, and the self-check and print release screens with disinfecting wipes once each day.
• Make a final delivery to home-bound patrons before suspending home delivery services temporarily.

Actions If the Virus Comes to Polk County

• Bag and store all puppets
• Put away puzzles, Imagination Station toys, YS tablets, and the Lego and train tables

Actions Based Upon Health Department Suggestions

• Initiate “social distancing” measures including:
  • Cancelling all library programs
  • Cancelling public meetings scheduled in the East, West, and Archive Rooms
  • Encouraging the use of the self check 

Today, the notice below was sent to patrons who have checked something out within the past 3 months:

We wanted you to know that the library’s restrooms are currently closed for renovations through April 6^th. We hope to have the children’s restroom reopened sooner. Portable toilets are available outside and a changing table is available in our Youth Service Area. Let me know if you have any questions.

• removing unnecessary items in children’s areas such as toys, puzzles and other playthings that are difficult to clean and sanitize.
• cancelling programs
• cancelling meeting room reservations
• regularly cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and equipment

Note that they are not wiping down books.

I underestimated patrons’ revulsion towards porta-potties. Even so, please do not allow patrons to use the staff restroom–don’t lie if asked, but it’s best not to bring up the fact that we have one. Don’t tell them this either,  but I believe 100% of patron porta-potty users will come out of their experience stronger, more capable people.

A reminder that you can now add staff picks via the website. If you’re logged in, you’ll see an “add to staff picks” link below each book (books only). Click the link to add your favorites to the staff picks page. Your first name will be shown on the staff picks page and patrons can limit the staff picks to a particular staff member.

https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/pac/?pac_page=browse&item_type=book&genre[]=21

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is increasingly in new reports and the situation continues to evolve rapidly in China and globally with a growing number of countries/jurisdictions affected. Cases in Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea are concerning and have sparked speculation about whether this epidemic may become a pandemic. The overall risk to Iowans continues to remains low at this time. There are no cases in Iowa. The CDC, Iowa Department of Public Health and Polk County Health Department continue to monitor the situation in the United States and in Iowa.

To help educate our community about COVID-19, the Polk County Health Department has created a comprehensive website containing information, resources and tools including:

• Situational Update
• COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
• COVID-19 Organization Specific Resources (schools, businesses, healthcare providers, first responders, community events)
• Communication Resources

Please visit this website often as we will be updating it to provide the most up-to-date information about COVID-19. https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/health/programs/disease-prevention/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/

If you have any additional questions, please contact Nola Aigner Davis by email at nola.aigner@polkcountyiowa.gov or by phone at office: (515) 286-3848 cell: (515) 782-7236.

The plumbers have shut off the building’s water temporarily while they remove the restroom fixtures.

The programming that turns a driver license scan into a Polaris account has been updated to accept the newer IDs. In addition, you’ll no longer hear a sound on a successful or unsuccessful scan. Instead, you’ll see a message letting you know whether or not it worked. The ID scan screen at the checkout desk has been moved next to the book sale iPad. It can be left on at all times.

Repairs to the concrete along the front of the library and in the parking lot will begin next week. Each repair is relatively small so there shouldn’t be too much disruption of parking or foot traffic.

The green piano connected to the video synth is not working. I’ve put an out of order sign on it. I’ll keep you posted.

[UPDATE] Our email notifications don’t include the video so I’ve included a link below. Otherwise, you can watch it at work via the intranet.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iYvEneZVjXC5khKlCm6Dm6F3wwfdGZTd/view

The police chief forwarded this video on the coronavirus for me to share.