Author: Eric Melton

Self Evaluations

It’s spring which means…it’s evaluation time. Part of the process is the self evaluation. This is your chance to tell your supervisor what you think you did well in the past year, how you’d like to grow going forward, and what could be done to help make your work or your experience at work better. The self evaluation form is linked below. Please have it to your supervisor by Friday, May 10th at midnight.

http://catalog.johnstonlibrary.com/share/self%20evaluation%202019.pdf

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Star Wars in June update

An extra performance of Star Wars: A New Hope has been added.  Performances are at 7:30 on June 7th, and at 1:30 and 7:30 on June 8th.  Again, this could be a one-time event, so please make plans to attend!  All performances are at the Civic Center downtown. 

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WEBINAR: Should I Report This? How Librarians Can Work With DHS

I’d like to invite all staff to attend (on the clock of course) an upcoming webinar titled “Should I Report This? How Librarians Can Work With DHS”

Thursday, May 31st, 10am – 11:30am in the Archive Room. 

What should library staff do about seemingly neglected children, supervised visits that don’t appear to be supervised, or other situations that cause concern? Are library staff mandatory reporters? Does calling DHS violate library privacy aspects? State law librarian Mandy Easter will moderate a Q&A webinar with Maureen Barton from Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) which will address these and other questions often asked by library staff.

 

Please register via the link below:

https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/events/?event_page=registration&did=31891

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Building Temps

I know the building has been hot lately. The box that takes readings from the little thermostats around the library is old and is getting bogged down with error messages and other garbage. Once it’s out of memory, it can no longer take readings of the outside air temperature or the thermostats. I’ve been resetting the system every couple of hours which seems to help for a time. At their meeting tomorrow, the board will be voting on purchase of an upgrade which should fix things.

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black i phone with charging cable found

A black  i phone with charging cable was found in the Archive Room.  It will be on the cart behind circ until close of 4/16/19. It will then be in the locked cabinet.

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Book Bike Book Donations

Our AmeriCorps staff member will be doing A LOT of outreach this summer. She (only women applied) will be handing out free donated books at most of the stops so I’ve created a Facebook post asking for donations. Until further notice, please put donations of books for kids and teens in the box marked for them next to the food donation bin.

Thanks.

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Stop Motion Station

The Stop Motion station doesn’t much get used for what it’s intended. I’m removing it from YS for now. Jessica is going to try it out with clay in teen scene.

 

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Des Moines Symphony remix

A 21 and over symphony remix will take place on Friday April 26th at 5:30 PM at the Civic Center downtown.  Come and enjoy free Fongs pizza and beverages (which may require a purchase), and an open rehearsal.  No reservations required, and it’s free!  Program will feature Festive Overture by Shostakovich, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, The Promise of Living by Copland, and selections from Porgy and Bess by Gershwin.  Iowa native Simon Estes will be singing with the orchestra as well as the Luther College Choir. 

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Polk County Libraries Circulation Per Capita

Some numbers I came across that I thought I’d share:

 

Polk County Libraries – Circulation Per Capita

Libraries 2016 2017
Johnston Public Library 18.76 16.05
Urbandale Public Library 15.08 14.43
Altoona Public Library 13.48 13.21
Polk City Community Library 12.82 13.18
Grimes Public Library 12.1 12.42
Clive Public Library 12.01 11.23
Pleasant Hill Public Library 11.64 11.12
West Des Moines Public Library 10.79 10.85
Kirkendall Public Library 10.68 10.74
Carlisle Public Library 10.54 10.57
Bondurant Community Library 6.27 7.69
Des Moines Public Library 6.09 6.03
Mitchellville Public Library 6.8 4.94
Runnells Community Library 5.1 4.85
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A-to-Z World Food

Each use of our A-to-Z World Food database in the past year cost about $12. In other words, it’s not getting used. We will not be renewing it. Links to it have been removed from the website.

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Time Sheets Due Early this Week

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Emergency Procedures Cheat-sheets

Each desk now has a collection of plastic cheat-sheets that say what staff at that desk should do in different kinds of emergencies.

  • Circulation cheat-sheets are next to the book sale cash drawer.
  • YS cheat-sheets are on a magnetic hook on the staff room window frame.
  • PS cheat-sheets are under the counter opposite the PC.

Please let me know if you have suggestions for improving them.

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Notice to patrons about food for fines

This afternoon, patrons with over $5 in fines will receive a message like the one shown below. You may receive calls from patrons with questions about their fines and about food-for-fines.

 

Pay your overdue fees with non-perishable food items during National Library Week (April 6-14).

One food item pays $1 in fees.

Fees for damaged or lost items cannot be paid with food.

Please reply to this message with questions. 

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Last Week’s Staff Meeting

The agenda with some notes from last week’s staff meeting is included below. Please take special note of the last item on emergency procedures.

 

 

Agenda – All Staff Meeting 3/28/19

 

  • TS/IT

    • Magazine subscription changes

      • Ceased publication 2018/2019

        • American Girl (Jan./Feb. 2019)

        • Cooking Light (Dec. 2018)

        • Des Moines Northwest Suburbs Business Journal (Dec. 2018)

        • Family Fun (June/July 2018)

        • Glamour (January 2019)

        • Redbook (Nov./Dec. 2018)

        • Seventeen (Dec. 2018/Jan. 2019)

    • No longer providing free issues

      • Road Scholar

    • JPL Photo Archives – http://photos.johnstonlibary.com

    • “NEW” tape

  • Youth Services

    • The Crayon Initiative

      • The Co-Lab this month is a collection spot for donating used crayons that will be recycled into new crayons and donated to children’s hospitals.

    • Sensory Spaces

      • The library is cooperating with other libraries around the metro to provide regular “sensory” hours (outside of regular hours) for those with special needs that prefer to visit when the library is less busy and more dimly lit. JPL’s first event will be held Sunday, July 21st, 12pm -1pm.

    • Summer Preview (dates & performers)

    • Free Comic Book Day (Saturday, May 4th)

      • Free comic books for all on 5/4

    • Scratch Day (Sunday, May 5th 2-4:30)

  • Public Services

  • Eric

 

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Vandalism Last Night

A small group of vandals entered the library last night and knocked all of the books from the adult fiction and non-fiction stacks. Staff have been working today to get things back in order. All departments and shifts will be expected to help put things back. Bring your back braces.

 

 

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Erika’s Going Away Party

Erika is leaving us and I’m sad. I need to drink a margharita–who’s with me? 

Let’s send Erika off in style at El Mariachi on Saturday, April 13 at 5:45 to 6:00pmish. 

Join us for mexican food with your fellow JPL’ers. Send Beth an email if you’re able to make it so we know how many seats we will need. 

Thanks! Beth

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Erika

Erika announced today that she’ll be leaving us April 12th. Best wishes to her. 

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Genesis Youth Foundation 2nd Annual Fundraiser

All, 

Just a reminder that the Genesis Fundraiser is this Saturday 5/30 at Franklin Junior High from 5pm to 8pm. A lot of our kids that we see on a regular basis are Genesis kids and I know it would mean a lot to them to see library staff there supporting them. I went last year and had a great time–I ate delish food, saw some of our kids do African dancing, and made a lot of really cool connections. If you are at all interested, I would highly recommend going. I’ll be there. 😉 It is a fundraiser so it does cost to attend, but $$ goes to support Genesis Youth Foundation to provide programming to refugee kids. Program for the evening is below–ask me if you have any questions. More info and advanced tickets can be found here: https://www.genesisyouthfoundation.org/

 

Program for the evening is below if you’re curious: 

GENESIS YOUTH FOUNDATION 2ND ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

Mix and Mingle

Opening Address by Shekinah Young

Welcome from Sam and Tricia Gabriel

Spoken Word – I Am Africa Alexis Crute and Jazmyn Smith

VIP dance performance

Introduction by Tony Kioko

Keynote Address by Suku Radia

VIP dance performance

Kid speeches from Korto Klar and Ezra Mugabi

Transition to cafeteria

Dinner is served

GYF Board President, Nick Peterson

Stories of the immigrant experience from Mirza Kudic, Otis Sackie, and Sam and Tricia Gabriel

Thank you and wrap up

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Symphony news for April

Come and hear Iowa native Simon Estes sing selections from Gershwin’s opera “Porgy and Bess,” on April 27th at 7:30, and April 28th at 2:30 at the Civic Center downtown.  We will also be doing Shostakovich’s Festive Overture as well as Chichester Psalms by Bernstein. 

 

The 2019-20 season was announced yesterday, and please check the Des Moines Symphony website for more information.  It will include Scheherezade, Dvorak’s eighth symphony, Brahms Second Symphony, Carmina Burana, and much more. 

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Time Sheets due this week

Don’t forget to have your time sheets turned in by closing on Friday this week!

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