Author: Eric Melton

Please turn in your completed timesheets and PARS by Thursday, March 29, 8:00 pm.

Thanks,

Peg

The Library is seeking a new board member to begin a six year term on July 1. The vacancy will be posted on the library’s website, the city website and Facebook.

Applications are available on the city website, the library website, and in one of the blue folders in the plastic folder holder (the one with volunteer applications) at circ. 

Please refer questions to Molly or myself.

The public Internet is working again.  The server still needs a new hard drive, though, so there will be some down time on Tuesday or Wednesday to install it. 

We’re having some hardware issues with the public server, so we’re not likely to have public Internet this weekend.

This also means that Wi-Fi won’t work.  Patrons can still use the copier to make copies or to scan to a USB drive, but scanning to an e-mail address won’t work either.

Royal Family Kids are using the large meeting room on Saturday, March 24. Darcy Cowan, the organizer, has extended a lunch invitation to JPL staff working tomorrow. Darcy said they are having pizza and salad at Noon, staff are welcome to stop in and take a lunch.

Peg

Megan made two TV appearances last week to promote 1,000 Activities Before Kindergarten! Videos linked below. (If you only watch one, watch the first one. )

1,000 Activities Before Kindergarten interview – We Are Iowa

Johnston library helping kids participate in 1000 activities before Kindergarten – WHOtv

All, 

If you receive an email about the Outook Web App updating today, do not click on the link. This is spam. 

The upgrade to Polaris 5.6 is now complete.

This Tueday, we will be upgrading to version 5.6 of Polaris.  We’ll start the upgrade around 7 a.m., and we hope to be finished by 11:00 a.m.

I reset the system clocks this morning, but it will take up to 24 hours for them to reflect the correct time.

Eric has ordered 10 cell phone chargers to accomodate the increased number of requests we receive. In an effort to help the chargers stick around for awhile, we are asking people to sign the loaned chargers in and out on a log sheet. The adaptors, cords and log-in sheet are kept behind the reference desk in a drawer labeled adapters and cords. Also, a reminder that there are USB ports that people can use to charge their phones on the plug-in things on the tables throughout the library, as well as below the couches in the youth computer lounge and in the commons. 

Thank you for helping pilot our survey! This survey is being conducted by the Iowa Library Association Committee for Diversity & Inclusion. Our committee’s goal with this survey is to:

• gather baseline demographic information from library professionals in the state of Iowa,
• collect information regarding library staff experiences and interests in relation to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This information has never before been collected by ILA.

The Iowa Library Association will benefit from your participation, as the responses will help create a foundational basis of understanding regarding librarianship and libraries in Iowa, which will, in turn, be aggregated, anonymized, and shared with the ILA membership with the goal of improving library services state-wide, providing new resources for professional development, and providing tools to improve recruitment to the profession.

We are actively seeking the input of all voices within the library, including part-time staff, full-time staff, trustees/board members, retired professionals, and administrators, as we value bringing all perspectives to the table, including those who are not ILA members.

Link: http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ef4fnko9jdkr78ob/start Please submit no later than March 20, 2018.

We realize that taking this survey is an investment of your time, but this data has not previously been gathered and this participation will help shape the future of libraries in Iowa. Because you are in the pilot group, we are unsure how long the survey will take. Your participation will help us learn more about this, too.

While we prefer electronic submissions via the link, we recognize that sitting down to complete the electronic survey all at once may be a barrier for some. I have linked a PDF version of the survey for preview purposes in order for respondents to reflect on the questions, or prepare their responses, prior to electronic submission (making it easier to quickly click through the electronic version when they feel prepared to submit their responses).

If you have any questions or concerns, please ask me. 

Molly
ILA Committee for Diversity & Inclusion Committee Member

The Des Moines Symphony will have an open rehearsal on Friday March 23rd at 7 PM at the Civic Center.  If you would and others would like to come, please let me know the first and last names of all who are interested by the evening of the 22nd.  We are playing Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto with Christopher O’Riley (host of From the Top) as soloist, a world premiere work, and Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony in A Major.  My phone number is 402-730-7668, and e-mail is cellistandrew@gmail.com. 

The 1,000 Activities Before Kindergarten program encourages parents and caregivers to complete 1,000 early literacy activities with their child before he or she reaches kindergarten. 

1000 Activities Before Kindergarten will begin with a 4-day Kick-Off event starting March 12 to March 15. Families can enjoy coffee, donuts, and donut themed activities in the Storytime Room and in the Youth Services Area from 9-11:30AM each morning. They will also have the opporunity to pick up a folder that includes an activity log, instructions, and tips in completing the program and a free book.

If patrons have questions about the program please direct them to our 1000 Activities page on the website or a YS staff member. 

1000 Activities Website:

https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/kids/thousand-activities/

If you have any quesitons, please let Megan know!

Guess what? I’m out of town again through March 19 and I’m leaving the double-checking of timesheets to Eric. So…..please compare the total hours worked on your timesheet to the total hours worked in When to Work before you hand in your signed timesheet. See your supervisor for any descrepancies. If you take time off, make sure you complete and submit a PAR with your timesheet.

Thanks!

I’m heading to Las Vegas. See you on March 19.

A job posting for a Youth Services Intern went live today. I’ve included the posting language below. Questions can be referred to Megan or Eric.

The Johnston Public Library in Johnston, IA is seeking applications for a Youth Services Intern position. The Youth Services Intern will gain practical experience in programming, collection development, and reference and reader’s advisory services for children and teens in a bustling, forward-thinking library in the Des Moines metropolitan area. Applicants must be pursuing a graduate degree in library and information studies.

The intern will be expected to work approximately 20 hours weekly including Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings and all day Friday from mid-May through July (orientation schedule may vary).

Starting wage: $12.25/hour

Pre-employment drug screen required.

Close date: 3/23/18

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cityofjohnston/jobs/2008758/library-youth-services-intern?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

The HTC Vive, our virtual reality headset, is setup near the circ. desk. There’s no need to shut it or the monitor down at night. This “sample” only includes the headset for looking around the virtual space (London), not the controllers that are used for navigation and interaction within the games as we have in the VR open houses. 

The next VR open house will be held Tuesday, March 13th and requires registration. https://www.johnstonlibrary.com/events/?event_page=event&did=28350

We have a new bluetooth conference phone available for use in meeting rooms. Instructions for patrons to connect their phone are attached to the phone. The phone will show in the list of reservable equipment when patrons request the Archive, East, or West meeting rooms.

The POD in the parking lot will be picked up Friday. Leave a few spaces open around it on Friday morning.

I saw Kinney at the Franklin Library in Des Moines this morning, and she says hi to everyone.  She enjoyed her birthday and the wishes from all!

Book displays in the library are back again. During check-in, if an item comes back with a shelf location of Adult Displays, please place it on the Public Services display shelf and a member of PS will grab it. 

Thank you!