Author: Eric Melton

We have a few new learning tools in our collection. Check them out!

Wildlife Camera:  ours does not include wall mount shown on Amazon

The wildlife camera is a surveillance camera with an infrared sensor. The sensor can detect changes in temperature. The sensor can also switch on the camera, activating either picture or video mode. It is weatherproof and can take images in complete darkness. How cool is that?!

http://tinyurl.com/zbkptjd

Arduino Uno R3:

The Arduino microcontroller is a beginner tool for those who are new to coding and electronics. If you are someone, like me, who is not electronically inclined. Check out these websites.

https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardUno

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/microcontroller1.htm

And a Compass:

So if you are like my husband and you cannot find which way is north, or you are lost in the woods. This will be a big help.   

Raise your hand if you love manually calculating your total time worked on your bi-weekly time sheet. Yeah, I thought there might not be many hands in the air. Guess what? You can now let Microsoft Excel do it for you! Woot woot.

Dreama has created a time sheet template using Microsoft Excel.  This template will allow you to enter your time into a spreadsheet which will automatically calculate your total hours worked per day and the pay period.

You may get started using this new approach immediately. 

Instructions for locating this electronic file, entering data, saving it, etc. are located in the Printables section of the Intranet. If you need help getting started, please see Dreama or Peg.

Hey all, 

2 updates for the Holiday Party:

• Twisted Vine, our original location for an after-dinner drinks location was not able to reserve a spot for us and I think with the number of people we have we need to have reserved tables if we want to sit by each other–which is kind of the point. So… we are going to change the second location after dinner at Persis to Global Brew Tap House in Waukee. It’s located at 9500 University Ave #1118, West Des Moines, IA 50266. I have also been told they also have house wine for non beer drinkers. 
• Secondly, if you haven’t already, please email Beth (stevens@johnstonlibrary.com) your menu choices at Persis. The restaurant has requested we order in advance so they can get all the food out to our large group in a timely manner. The menu link is below: 

http://www.persisbiryaniindiangrill.com/menu.php 

Thanks! Ask Beth if you have questions. 

The luddites have prevalied! There will be no TV in the breakroom. There will, however, be some new lounge chairs, a new table and chairs, and possibly some new paint.

Until this week, star ratings for titles on our website came from Amazon. Displaying Amazon rating information in this way is a violation of their terms of agreement so I’ve switched our rating and review source to Good Reads (an Amazon company :/). Good Reads ratings, of course, are limited to books, audiobooks, and e-books–we will no longer have music or movie ratings and reviews.

From the Avaya phones you can dial 911 or 9-911. From the portable handsets at the Reference Desk or Youth Services Desk you would just dial 911. 

Hey all!

One of our favey patrons, Chuck Rinkel is turning 90 and his family wants to help him celebrate with a card shower. If you know Chuck and feel so inclined, I am quite sure he would appreciate receiving a b’day card from all of his library buddies. His address is:

5815 Winwood Drive Apartment 310

Johnston, IA 50131

Molly and I are looking for some help selecting adult books. I’ve listed a few of my weak spots below (if you have a different area of interest and want to participate let me know). All staff are welcome. The time commitment will be minimal/as time allows. Contact Molly or myself if interested.

• Christian/Inspirational Fiction
• Romance
• Sci-FI
• Fantasy
• Adult Graphic Novels

Eric

Hey all, 

Deepa has a couple other helpful ordering tips for us before you place your Persis order (via email to me at stevens@johnstonlibrary.com by this Fri, Jan 13). 

Food at Persis is served family style, so the portion size for many dishes is apporpriate to be shared between 2 people. 

Deepa spoke to the owner who is very familiar with customers with american taste buds and these are some of things he recommended: 

Vegetarian Appetizer:
*Samosa is really good but cannot be made mild because it is made in advance

*Onion Pakora–very good and can be made mild

Gobi Manchurian–very good and can be made mild 

Breads/Naans

These breads are a form of flat bread that can be used as a spoon with some dishes. The Roti will stay fresh the longest–Deepa said the other types of bread need to be eaten almost immediately when they come out of the oven, but Deepa said don’t let that discourage you from trying Naan–also very good. 

Tandoor (Indian Grill)

Deepa said anything with a cream sauce can be made mild. 

*Tandoori Chicken and Chicken Tikka are both very good

Vegetarian Main Courses

Deepa recommended the following dishes that can all be made medium or mild: 

*Navaratan Korma
*Malai Kofta
*Paneer Tikka Masala
*Paneer Butter Masala 

Non-Vegetarian Main Course Recommended Dishes:

*Butter Chicken
*Chicken Vindaloo
*Chicken Tikka Masala
*Gongura Nutton
*Lamb Rogan Josh
*Lamb Vindaloo

Biryani (Rice Flavors)
Deepa said these dishes are made ahead of time and spiciness cannot be altered. She said these dishes are very spicy. Portion size is also pretty big–can serve 2 or 3 people.  

Deepa said having a dish changed to mild will mean almost no spice–medium will still have some spice to it. Please let me know if you want to order anything medium or mild. Deepa also encouraged everyone to order a Mango Lassi to drink–it’s like a mango smoothie and is very good with spice. 

Ask Deepa if you have questions and please email Beth by Friday with your RSVP and orders. Deepa or I will get the orders to the restaurant. 

Thanks!

She said she would be in around 3 p.m.

Hey all, 

Invites to the JPL Holiday Get Together were just sent out today to everyone’s email; however, given the over-zealous spam filter we have, I thought I would post on the intranet as well. You and a guest are invited to Persis Biryani Indian Grill for dinner then to Twisted Vine Brewery afterwards (sorry shelvers) for drinks. Feel free to come to any or all of the evening that sounds interesting to you. 

The restaurant has asked that we pre-order our dishes. A link to the Persis menu is below: 
http://www.persisbiryaniindiangrill.com/menu.php 

Please RSVP to stevens@johnstonlibrary.com by Friday, January 13 with the number of guests who will be attending (i.e. you or you and a guest) and the dishes that you want. 

I know Deepa is pretty familiar with their menu, so I personally plan on asking her for some ordering advice. 😉

Mark your calendars for the Des Moines Symphony on January 28th at 7:30 and January 29th at 2:30.  We will be playing Brahms Academic Festival Overture, a saxaphone concerto, and Symphony No. 4 by Anton Bruckner.  This may be your only time to hear a Bruckner Symphony live, so hopefully you all can make it.

Hey All, 

It’s Tax Time! Our website (www.johnstonlibrary.com) contains basic info that should answer most patron questions you will receive, including links to printing state and federal forms and physical addresses for picking up state forms (Hoover Building) and federal forms (The Federal Building), both of which are located downtown. There is also information about how to sign up to have forms mailed to you. 

We will be receiving a small quantity of basic federal forms–things like 1040 and 1040EZ and some booklets. We will post the forms that we have available for patrons once we receive them. We do not know an exact date when these federal forms will arrive. Like previous years, the State of Iowa no longer prints out forms, so state forms will not be available here at the library unless patrons want to print forms themselves. 

Thanks! Ask Beth or Peg if you have questions. 

I’m considering purchasing a TV with cable for the staff breakroom but understand that some may find it annoying. Please take a moment to cast your vote via the link below.

http://catalog.johnstonlibrary.com/staff/drupal/index.php?q=content/tv-survey

We found a cell phone over by the public computers at closing time. It is in the grey cabinet where we keep the money drawers.

The cold water from the breakroom faucet is now connected to an undersink water filter. 

All, 

Please take a second to fill out the Doodle Poll below so we can select a date for a January JPL Holiday Get Together. Details are in the Doodle Poll. 

Thanks!

http://doodle.com/poll/bfqd4qv499kmsmqg

The parks department is responsible for snow removal outside the library BUT they do not typically call in staff until we get at least 1/2″ of snow.

If myself or Molly are not here and we have snow on the ground that Parks staff have not yet come to remove, an able-bodied staff member
(or staff members—we have more than one shovel by the staff entry) will need to clear the walkway in front of the handicap parking stalls as well as a path from the lot to the main entrance. If you can’t decide amongst yourselves who should do the job, call me and I’ll pick someone 😉