Author: Eric Melton

Our plans for a second gas grill for Saturday’s BBQ program fell through. If you have one you can loan for a few hours Saturday talk to Beth or myself.

Update: The web site is functioning again.

The JPL web site is not working.  I’ve reported the problem to Eric.

In the meantime, you can help patrons by seaching Polaris staff client.

Please complete, print and turn-in your time sheets on or before Noon on Thursday, June 22. I will not be working this weekend, so I need to have them done before I leave on Thursday.

Sorry for the short notice. If you can’t get in turned in before Thursday, just send me a note.

Thanks,

Peg

The Library Foundation’s first 5k for Karen is over. All expenses are not yet accounted for but we’re estimating that the run raised about $8000. Thank you to those who participated and helped spread the word!

Moe/Sherb has a growth on his head. He might appreciate a more peaceful environment–where kids aren’t beating on his cage–for his last few days. If any of you have a hamster cage and would be willing to provide hospice for him or loan the cage temporarily so he could be moved to the staff area please let me know.

The MyList and Checkout History pages of the website now have export/download links to download a file that can be viewded in Excel or imported into Goodreads and other book-centric websites and applications.

At 5:30 pm, Eric Sluwar (age 8) came into the library saying that he left his phone in the youth lounge. I accompanied him to the lounge and I found two cellphones. Eric said one was his and one was his brother’s (Jordan Koilur), however, he couldn’t identify either of them (brand or phone #). The only phone # listed on their Polaris accounts was not accepting calls. So, Jessica and I decided to show him the phones and let him take his home. The other phone, I locked up in the gray cabinet (it’s a black LG and has no charge).

Peg

Paula Martinez attended a meeting at the library this morning. She has lost a plastic sandwich baggie with cords inside and thought it might be here. If anyone turns in this bag, please give Paula a call at 515-669-6812. Thanks!

Brief reminder to turn in timesheets by 8 pm today. Thanks!

Peg

If you are interested in a free Des Moines Symphony concert, come to the State Capitol grounds on July 3rd.  That’s when the orchestra will present this year’s Yankee Doodle Pops at 8:30 PM.  A few of the staff has gone before and highly recommend it. 

Hey y’all, 

I’m writing with happy and sad news. Allison will be leaving us to move to Kentucky at the end of July. While I am very sad to lose her as part of the JPL crew, I am also so excited for the adventure she has ahead of her. 

And of course, we can’t let her leave the state without celebrating her in style. Details about an Allison celebration are forthcoming. 

Thanks!

Beth

From the school district:

Johnston Community School District is participating in the Summer Food Service Program.  Meals will be provided to all children without charge  Meals will be provided, at a first come, first serve basis, at the sites and times as follows: 

Chapel Ridge Apartment Complex

6200 Clark Lane Johnston IA 50131

12:00pm – 12:30pm June 5^th – August 18^th (Meal Service not available July 3^rd – 7^th)

The Library Board met Thursday, May 15th. I’ve highlighted some of what was discussed below.

*Advantage Plus

Overdrive–the vendor for Bridges, the ebook and eaudiobook consortium—has released a new feature that allows libraries to share titles they’ve purchased with their Advantage accounts with patrons from other libraries. Until now, Advantage purchases have only be available to the purchasing library’spatrons. Some important points about sharing titles in this way are included below.

1.  Shared titles will still belong to the Advantage member. Users of any library or school in theshared collection can borrow or place holds on these titles, but Advantage users will have priority for holds.
2. Your Collection Usage reports will include holds and checkouts for all users (shared collection and Advantage).
3. You can edit your plan at any time. However, once a title is shared, it cannot be reversed.

The board liked the idea of sharing our Overdrive titles with the rest of the consortium This feature has activated

For more details, remember that current and past board agendas and documents are located in the Staff Resources. 

Hey all, 

Below are instructions for staff regarding Adult Summer Reading. We attempted to steamline the program this year, so it should be a little more straightforward for patrons and staff. Please ask a Ref staff person if you have additional questions. 

Thanks!

Adult Summer Reading Instructions for Reference Staff

1. To sign up for Adult Summer Reading all a patron needs to do is take an adult summer reading packet, called the Summer Reading Tool Kit. Summer Reading Tool Kits are located at the Public Services desk and Youth Services desk. Patrons do not need to “sign up” in a book like they have in previous years.  
2. Summer Reading Tool Kits contain everything a patron needs to know for Adult Summer Reading, including instructions, summer adult event schedule, JPL e-newsletter signup and activity tickets is included in the packet.
3. Each activity is good for one entry into the prize drawing of a patron’s choice (one activity per ticket please). Activities include:

• *Reading a book of their choice
• *Listening to a book of their choice
• *Completing a trivia quiz
• *Attending an adult program
• *Signing up for the JPL e-newsletter

Note: Patrons may repeat the same activity over and over. Patrons are not required to do all of the activities.

4.      When a patron brings back Summer Reading Tickets, have them put the ticket in the prize bucket of their choice. The prize buckets, (i.e. paint cans) are located at the Public Services desk. The only exception to this is if a patron is returning the e-newsletter ticket. (See #5). 

5.      When a patron turns in an e-newsletter sign-up ticket, please write on the back of the ticket which prize bucket they want their entry to go in and place the ticket in the Summer Reading Drawer behind the Reference Desk. (Emails need to be entered by staff later. After a Ref staff person enters a patron’s email, she will then place the email ticket in the prize bucket of the patron’s choosing).

 
6.    Extra tickets are available at the Reference Desk if a patron uses up the four tickets in their packet and wants to keep earning prize entries by reading or listening to additional books or coming to additional adult library programs. 

7.Don’t worry about checking the answers for trivia quizzes. If a patron completes a quiz, they can put their completed ticket in the prize bucket of their choice. If a patron does want to see the correct answer for their quiz, the answer key is in the drawer labeled Summer Reading behind the Reference Desk. Patrons can either keep their completed quizzes or we will take them and store them in the Summer Reading binder that is in the Summer Reading drawer behind the Ref Desk.

There is new art in the display cases by Lena DeGregory. She is a Des Moines artist who discovered her ability to draw at the age of 40. Check out her prints and her website https://squareup.com/store/lenadartistry.

All the prints are available for purchase for $15, her titles signs do not include the price. Her cards are available at the reference desk.

Hey All,

There is a disc for JPD sitting on the black cart behind the Circ Desk. Thanks!

While the library will not be open for regular service on Saturday, June 17th, all staff will be working their regular schedules and, if needed, will be helping with Green Days activities in the meeting room from 1:00-4:00.  Come in at your regularly scheduled time and work on your regularly assigned activities until you’re needed in the meeting room.  

The library will be closed Sunday, June 18th.

Our bi-monthly all-staff meeting will be held this Thursday at 8am.