Author: Eric Melton

Johnston residents and businesses are being encouraged to report damage from the recent storms. 

From the city’s website:

If you are a resident or business owner that was affected by the recent storm damage, we encourage you to report your assessment. In order to qualify for federal funding, Polk County is working to report the extent and severity of damage to FEMA. FEMA then determines our qualification for federal and individual assistance. To meet this threshold, it is very important for residents to report a damage assessment to 211, the Disaster Recovery Center or self-report it to Polk County Emergency Management’s website. Make sure to take LOTS of pictures for damage reports so Polk County can see the physical damage done to your home or property. Polk County and the impacted cities are working very hard to get the damage assessments completed in a timely manner.

http://www.cityofjohnston.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=651

More information about available assistance can be found at http://www.cityofjohnston.com/DocumentCenter/View/5661/How-flood-impacted-residents-can-get-assistance

I’m teaching Learn It: Paper Crafting Techniques on Sunday July 29th from 3:00-4:30. Participants will learn several card-making techniques.  Lori F. and Abbi have agreed to help, but I need one or two more staff members to help.  I’ll show you how to die cut, emboss, or stamp, and you’ll help the participants through that step.  If you’re interested, stop by my desk or send me an e-mail.  You’ll be paid for your time from 2:00-5:00 (including set up and clean up).

As many of you know one of our regular patrons, a ChildServe resident, was recently seen by staff and patrons touching himself inappropriately in the Youth Services area. Today, I sent the message included below to a ChlidServe staff member. In short, the messages says that adult ChildServe visitors should stay either in the Youth Computer Lounge or on the adult/east side of the Library. Keep in mind that not all ChildServe groups are adults–some are under 18. This rule would not apply to them. Please take a look at the message and let me know if you have any questions.

Lori,

We recently experienced a couple of incidents with an adult visitor from ChildServe in the library’s Youth Services area. He likes to use the tablets along the north windows—a popular spot for children to play. Both incidents involved him masturbating.

We typically do not allow adult patrons not accompanied by a child to hang out in the youth services area but, up to now, have made an exception for ChildServe. After this incident and further reflection, we’ve decided it would be best to treat adult ChildServe visitors—those 18 and older—like we do other adult library visitors and limit use of the Youth Services area to the Youth Computer Lounge—a glass-walled room with computers on the northeast side of the Youth Services area.  This still leaves the east half of the library—the adult area–open for use.

To accommodate ChildServe visitors who like to use the tablets in the Youth Services area, we will be purchasing 3 tablets for the adult area that will be kept at the Information Desk.

Please pass this along to staff and let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

A new synthesizer is available in the YS area. It’s fun to play with. Try it out when you get the chance.

Here’s a video of it in use. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT11qr_9CSI

One of our regular patrons and volunteers, Fathi, made the library cookies yesterday. She was very, very excited to hear if we enjoyed them. I can attest that they are good. They are on the back table.

If you see her, and you think of it, I know she would appreciate some praise for her baking skills. 

Wow – how does this happen? We’re nearing the end of another pay period. 

Please have completed timesheets and PARs turned into the green folder outside Eric’s office by Thursday, July 5 at 8 pm.

Remember that we’ve got a holiday tomorrow and the library will be closed. Ask your supervisor if you’re not sure how to record your hours on a holiday. As always, please confirm that the hours recorded on your timesheet match When to Work.

Thanks,

Peg

It is with tremendous sadness that I share the news of Shelia Prociw’s passing. Shelia was one of JPL’s power users – an avid reader, volunteer and delightful participant of the Thursday evening book club. I received notice from her husband just minutes ago that she passed unexpectedly on June 27.

Here is a link to her memorial https://memorials.henrywalser.com/sheila-prociw/3546556/obituary.php.

Peg

Due to this morning’s power outage, the buidling clocks will need up to 24 hours to re-sychronize with the master clock.

Johstonlibrary.com e-mail accounts are now back in service.

Staff with johnstonlibrary.com e-mail accounts will find that e-mail is not currently available.  City Hall is working to restore service.

Hey all!

I was wondering if any of you would happen to have an old boombox (or other recording device) that would allow me to record my voice onto a cassette tape. If you do, I would be most grateful if you could bring it to the library for me to use. I’d probably only need it for one day.

Thanks so much!

Jessica

4th of July pie in the breakroom.  When library closes, please put in fridge.

Yankee Doodle Pops tomorrow night at 8:30 on the State Capitol grounds, and it’s free!

Hey all you staff members that use Facebook, could you help promote our upcoming Our Stories: The African Community in Iowa program by SHARING the event to your Facebook newsfeed? We love it when you Like (or Love or Wow) a post, but we get more exposure when posts are shared.

We’re really excited about this new series and the impact it can have on the Johnston community and beyond. With your help we can spread the word about this opportunity farther and faster.

Thanks,

Peg

A Samsung phone with a black leather case was lost in the YS Area on Wednesday, June 27th. If found, please contact Kim at 858-231-4921

Thanks!

Another new collection, Hot Picks, is coming today or tomorrow! The display is right next to the New Books section. There is a limit of two books and two movies from this collection per card. The books circulate for 2 weeks and the movies for 3 days. There are no holds and no renewals. 

The books are clearly labeled with this information, but I anticipate you will get a few questions about why it won’t renew.

When someone gets an item from the Hot Picks Collection, it will delete the hold for the regular item. So if I have my name on the waitlist for The Great Alone, that hold will be satisfied or deleted if I am able to get a copy from the Hot Picks collection. 

Ask me if you have any questions!

Updated Report from Polk County Emergency Management – 06/28/2018

City staff are preparing for the possibility of flooding on the southeastern edge of Johnston over the next several days. The areas most vulnerable are near Beaverdale Little League and nearby along Beaver. See the map below for areas most likely to flood when Beaver Creek overflows.

http://catalog.johnstonlibrary.com/share/LocalFloodingwDSMRiver.pdf

From Polk County Emergency Management:

Widespread flooding potential is forecast for the next week in the Des Moines and RaccoonRiver basins. Projections show that the rivers will hold at the current levels until Sunday June24th or Monday June 25th. Saylorville Lake is projected to rise significantly over the nextweek cresting on Jun 30th.

Other Flooding News

• http://whotv.com/2018/06/26/flooding-concerns-as-water-levels-in-saylorville-lake-climb/
• https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2018/06/25/saylorville-reservoir-iowa-flooding-high-water/731322002/

My son’s hamster, Fluffy Muffin, will be staying at the Library for a week while we’re in California. His cage has just been cleaned. Please feed him and don’t let him die before I get back.

Thanks!

Des Moines Symphony Yankee Doodle Pops on Monday July 2nd at 8:30 PM on Iowa State Capitol grounds.  Free and feel free to bring lawn chairs, food, family, and friends!

Please check your mailboxes. I’ve placed a memo there that details your wage increase for FY19. 

Last night, the Library Board approved an update to our Meeting Room Policy that changed how far in advance the public can book rooms from 6 months to 3 months. This is effective immediately. I’ve included the rationale presented to the board below.

The current Meeting Room Policy allows the public to make reservations 6 months in advance. Public Services and Youth Services generally plan programs and figure out which meeting rooms they’ll need about 3 months in advance. This has led to a clunky practice where PS and YS staff reserve meeting rooms more than 6 months in advance to prevent public reservations in case they need the rooms for programming. When the public ask to book rooms several months out and a room is reserved by library staff (in case it’s needed for a program), staff often don’t know yet if the room will be needed. Changing the policy to allow the public to book 3 months out instead of 6 will make it much easier for staff to only reserve the rooms they need and less confusing for the public who sometimes can’t make reservations for rooms books by staff that, in the end, may not be needed.

Oops – forgot to send out a reminder earlier this week. My apologies.

Please have your completed timesheets and PARs turned into the green folder outisde Eric’s office by 8 pm Thursday night. 

Make sure you’re double-checking your timesheet against your hours in When to Work. If you’re unsure of how to do this, speak to your supervisor.

Thanks,

Peg