Author: Eric Melton

I sent the article linked below about Amazon’s new no-cashier/no-checkout grocery store in Seattle to department heads last week and thought others would find it interesting. Posting this is not meant to suggest that libraries are likely to go this direction anytime soon (or that this is evan a positive development in a world where social isolation seems to be a growing problem). Circ. staff, your jobs are safe. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/21/technology/inside-amazon-go-a-store-of-the-future.html

Please have your completed timesheets and PARS in the green folder by Thursday, February 1 at 8 pm.

Thanks,

Peg

We will be swapping our current credit card terminal with a new one on Thursday, February 1. The new terminal is identical to the old one but it has a color screen and an integrated chip reader (rather than the add-on we currently have). Functionality should be nearly identical but let Molly or I know if you have any trouble with it.

The Lions Club Book Sale will be held March 1-3. Book donations to the library may pick up significantly as the sale approaches. The Lions Clubs donates a significant portion of proceeds from the sale to the JPL Foundation. 

Thursday    March  1                     5 PM  –  9 PM                     $3.00 [Kids are FREE]                                                                                                         

Friday        March   2                    8 AM  –  8 PM                     FREE admission

Saturday    March   3                    8 AM  – NOON                    FREE Admission 

If a patron asks about Transparent Language and you want to show them how to access it. Here are some tips:

• 1. Upon first use, a patron must SIGN UP for an account. This requires a Johnston library card. 
• 2. On subsequent uses, a patron will LOG IN with the username and password that she created the account with.

I have created an account that staff can use to access Transparent Language so that we show patrons the screens, etc.

• username = JohnstonPublicLibrary
• password = 123Johnston
• email associated with the account = info@johnstonlibrary.com
• library card associated with the account = BJOH0000123456

Here is a screen print of the SIGN UP page:

Here is a screen print of the LOG IN page:

Gene Larson left his wallet at the Reference Desk. I spoke to Gene and he’ll be in to pick it up within the next couple of hours. In the meantime, I’ve locked it in the money cabinet.

Peg

The AED has been moved from the staff area to a cabinet above the inside book drop where it is accessible to both patrons and staff. The door to the cabinet is alarmed. We’ll be reviewing use of the AED at Thursday’s all-staff meeting.

W2s have arrived and are in your mailboxes. (Michelle K. and Sierra, yours have been mailed.)

Hey, hey. Don’t miss the fun on Friday night! Times almost over to sign-up for bowling this Friday night.

Please make sure your name is on the “list” by Wednesday so that we notify the bowling alley and have enough lanes reserved. 

Place your payment in the envelope (in Peg’s mailbox) by Friday noon.  

And, don’t stress about the app for The Hall. It is not necessary to use the app to purchase food. You will be able to purchase your meal on-site with no pre-order.

A city hall employee, Teresa Osburne, was terminated several months back for suspicion of theft. The State Auditor recently completed an investigation and released a report (linked below) this morning. A significant portion of the funds taken came from the Library. Citizen questions or comments should be directed to Janet Wilwerding, the Communications Specialist at city hall. 

https://auditor.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/audit_reports/1720-0720-BE00.pdf

Out bi-monthly all-staff meeting will be held next Thursday at 8am

Janet W., the city’s communciations director, has created a webpage with information about the local option sales and services tax (LOSST) that is coming up for a vote in Polk County in March.  The page includes information about how, if the measure passes, the city plans to use the funds as well as a link to frequently asked questions. Although the city would benefit from the LOSST, city employees, including Library employees, should refrain from adviocating for or against it while at work.

http://www.cityofjohnston.com/LOSST

Although the cold weather means fewer kids loitering outside, it will be warm soon…and they’ll be back. Our closing checklist has been updated with a section on handling children left unattended at close. Please check it out via the link below or on the wall by the staff exit.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uBlVE_MgLthgl85zyvynaR6GqLZQllOM/view?usp=sharing

Federal forms 1040 and 1040EZ are now available via https://www.efile.com/irs-federal-income-1040-tax-forms/.  No instructions yet, but at least some forms are available.

In case you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, here is info about the Harry Potter performances:  https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone/.

http://dmsymphony.org/events/masterworks-4-stravinskys-petrouchka/.  Read this link for info about the upcoming Masterworks set!

Please have your timesheets and PARS turned in by Thursday evening this week.

Thanks,

Peg

A cell phone was found on the floor by the cleaning crew last night. It’s locked up in the back with the cash drawers now in case anyone is looking for their lost phone.

Thanks!

A box of shelving was mistakenly delivered today. I’m not sure if we’ll get notice prior to the freight company arriving to pick them up. The box is in the HVAC room. 

Ok all, here are the details:

For those that are interested, meet at The Hall in Valley Junction for dinner and drinks at 6:00ish on Friday, January 26th. The Hall is a large reclaimed railcar barn and iron foundry that serves beer and wine. The restaurant part of this establishment, The Kitchen, is a non-profit commissary kitchen with a social mission to fight hunger, homelessness and provide skills training. Currently food is supplied by food trucks. You order food inside through your phone or through an ordering station inside and it is delivered to you. Vegetarian options are available. 

At 8:00pm we have bowling lanes reserved at Val Lanes in Valley Junction. The bowling alley has asked that we pay all together and can give us a price break to do so. If you plan on bowling, please sign up your name and name of a guest if you are bringing someone, on the sign-up sheet in the staff room. If we have 20 people or more bowling, then they wave the cost of shoe rentals. Bowling will be $11.00 per person for two games. Please put your bowling money in the manilla envelope in Peg’s mailbox. Cash or checks made out to Elizabeth Stevens are fine. 

http://thefoundrydsm.com/
111 S. 11th St.
West Des Moines, Iowa

http://www.vallanes.com/
100 Ashworth Road
West Des Moines, IA

Calls are already starting to arrive regarding Tax forms and assistance in filing. Eric has created a Tax Help webpage under the Services tab on the website. Take a look at the information currently available. When forms arrive, I will let you know.

Thanks,

Peg

Y’all: 

Holiday Staff party will be held on Friday, January 26th. Details are still being worked out, but go ahead and save the date on your calendar. I hope to send out specifics early next week. 

#breakoutthepartycardigan