Author: Eric Melton

I should’ve pointed out in my recent post on privacy that the library’s stance on confidentiality of patron records/personal privacy is not simply motivated by principles but by state and federal law. 

Applicable State Law

Code of Iowa 22.7 “Examination of Public Records (Open Records)”

22.7 Confidential records.

The following public records shall be kept confidential, unless otherwise ordered by a court, by the lawful custodian of the records, or by another person duly authorized to release such information…:

13. The records of a library which, by themselves or when examined with other public records, would reveal the identity of the library patron checking out or requesting an item or information from the library. The records shall be released to a criminal or juvenile justice agency only pursuant to an investigation of a particular person or organization suspected of committing a known crime. The records shall be released only upon a judicial determination that a rational connection exists between the requested release of information and a legitimate end and that the need for the information is cogent and compelling.

Applicable Federal Law

First Amendment: Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…

Fourth Amendment: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Those of you have a Gmail, YouTube, or some other Google account can view what’s being stored about you by logging in then following the link below. 

https://myaccount.google.com/privacy?pli=1#activitycontrols 

You’ll likely see that Google is tracking:

• Places you’ve been
• Audio recordings of searches and other voice commands
• What you’ve searched for
• Videos you’ve watched and searched for
• Your contacts, calendars, and other information

The tracking information you’ll see is distinct from information stored in your browser; clearing history, cookies, and other information in your browser simply clears that information from your PC, not from Google or other companies’ servers.

I’ve known that tech companies like Facebook and Google track their users extensively but, for me, seeing the extent of this sometimes-revealing information about myself being kept outside my control is jarring and has made me more cautious about how I use the web. 

Those that dismiss privacy advocates as paranoids need only look at a handful of recent news articles and reports to see how web tracking and lack of privacy lead to real repercussions for societies and individuals including arrests and censorship:

http://www.voanews.com/content/china-blocks-time-economist-websites/3277926.html

https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/2015/iran

https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-net/freedom-net-2015

Unlike, China, Iran, Russia and other countries, the US has certain legal and constitutional safeguards that ensure personal privacy. However, it would be naïve to assume, particularly given that our own National Security Agency likely collects more information related to personal communication than any institution in the world, that there is not and never will be unchecked and/or undetected abuse of this power in the US.

In public libraries, patron privacy is one way we can ensure that citizens are free to read, watch, or listen to what they choose without fear of repercussions from law enforcement or other government agencies or social censure from neighbors or others. We do not keep a trail of who checks out what beyond the previous borrower. We do not keep logs of who has used our library PCs or what they’ve looked at. We do not track what patrons have searched for in the PAC.  We should all be proud that as other institutions collect more and more information about what you read, watch, and buy (that is what retail “discount” or “member” cards are for, of course), that JPL and most other public libraries continue to ensure that our patrons can read and watch in peace.

If you have the March 1 2016 and April 1 2016 issues of Library Journal, please place them in my basket.  Put a note on it if you want me to return them to you.  TS neglected to get these two issues checked in (or maybe we never received them from the publisher).  Help us solve the mystery!

These informal Q&A/training sessions will take place in the Archive room. Circulation staff are encouraged to attend at least one. All staff are welcome. You will be paid. Please register using the links.

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Bridges / Downloadable Books and Audiobooks

Tuesday, July 19th, 1-2:30

http://events.johnstonlibrary.com/index.php?page=registration&did=23393

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Bridges / Downloadable Books and Audiobooks

Thursday, July 21st, 10-11:30

http://events.johnstonlibrary.com/index.php?page=registration&did=23394

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PAC

Monday, July 25th, 10-11:30

http://events.johnstonlibrary.com/index.php?page=registration&did=23395

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PAC

Friday, July 29th, 1-2:30

http://events.johnstonlibrary.com/index.php?page=registration&did=23397

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Last night’s Library Board meeting was the last for two trustees: Alex Johnston and Heather Schmitz. Alex and Heather served on the board for six years.

Two new trustees will start their terms in July: Dan Marvin and Megan Tooker. Dan has been a regular patron for years and has recently begun volunteer work in Tech Services. Megan is also a regular library user and program attendee. 

Allison asked me to post that the library’s restrooms will be available to the public beginning at 1:00 pm on Saturday.

Set up for Green Days will start tomorrow. Please park in the east lot (where the public usually parks) in the spots closest to the road Wednesday-Saturday. Expect chaos.

The Xerox 7225 WorkCentre in the workroom should no longer be shut down at night.  We’re using it as our fax machine and if it’s shut down, faxes can’t arrive.  The Xerox has an energy saver mode.  It you approach the machine and the display panel is dark, touch the energy saver button to wake it up.

I am not going to be bringing in any new volunteers this summer. Please let people know that our next group of volunteers won’t start until later this summer. Thanks!

The orange extension cords have been relocated to the meeting room closet (under the audio equipment).

When the Xerox 7225 (workroom printer) runs out of 8.5 x 11″ paper in Tray 2, it uses paper from the bypass tray to complete the job.  After using the bypass tray, please remove any leftover paper.

On a temporary basis there are about 100 YA graphic novels in storage near the check-in area. The shelf location is marked “storage.” Like the holiday music, they are available to patrons.

Piney Ridge Greenhouse donated flowers for our boxes. We have several left outside the staff entrance. Please take as many as you like. Please leave the carrier racks.

Some of the 2015 magazines have been placed on the bottom shelves in the adult magazines area.  We will continue to move some of the 2015 magazines over the next couple of weeks.

For slender magazines, the 2015 and 2016 issues will continue to be stored under the hinged shelf.

Original post:

Lori F. and I rearranged the magazines and newspapers this morning.

• The magazines are now in alphabetical order in columns rather than in rows.
• The weekly magazines only have 2016 issues under the hinged shelf.  For now, the 2015 issues are in TS.  We’re exploring options for placing them upright in magazine boxes on the bottom magazine shelves.
• Some items in the newspaper aisle have been moved to magazines and older issues can now be checked out.  These titles include New York Times Magazine, Road Scholar, and WSJ Magazine
• New titles have been added or moved to the newspaper aisle: AARP News, BookPage, and Johnston Living.  All issues in the newspaper aisle are for in-library use only.

About 20 patrons have won ReCovering the Classics posters through the poster drawing that was up on the Co[Lab].

Yes, people, the stuff going up on the Archive windows is called the #Co[Lab]. Spread the word. 

The posters for patrons are behind the Reference Desk underneath the Ref Desk printer. When someone comes to pick up a poster, please cross off their name on the winner list. 

Thanks!

Beth

If you have picked up your deposit stubs this morning, they are the wrong ones. Everyone’s direct deposit amount is correct, you just received the wrong pay stub. I am reprinting the correct ones to put in your mailbox, but if you have picked them up already please let your employees know that they are the stubs from May 6 pay period.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Thanks!

Ann Wanders

All Staff

A number of the “Recovering the Classics” prints, which were displayed on the Co-Lab, did not receive any entries.  So, Beth and I agreed that staff should have a chance to win one of the remaining prints.  See list below.  

All of the prints are in a homemade portfolio in the staff kitchen.  Please be gentle with the prints as you look at them so they don’t get creased or dented.  Put an entry in the drawing (plastic CD box) for each poster you’d like a chance at taking home.

I’ll draw the winners on June 14 or 15th.

Peg

Just a reminder that while the Library will not be open for regular service on Saturday June 18, all staff will still be working their regular schedules that day as they will be helping with the Green Days crafts from 1:00-4:00.  Come in at your regularly scheduled time and work on your regularly assigned activities until such time as you might be needed in the meeting room.  Circulation staff should empty the book drop and begin check in (Molly will give you instruction about the handling of holds).  

The library will be closed and no one will work on Sunday June 19.

Here is the nitty gritty of the 2016 Adult Summer Reading Program so you can answer questions, if necessary:

Adult Summer Reading Instructions for Reference Staff

1. Have patrons sign-up in the Sign-Up book at the Reference Desk. Patrons must be 18 to participate in Adult Summer Reading Program. Official Sign up begins June 6^th but we may start as early as June 2^nd when kids start coming in.
2. Have patrons take a punch card and the Adult Summer Reading Bookmark with the schedule on back. Tell patrons they can pick and choose what they like to do to earn chances to win prizes.  If they want additional stuff, i.e. quizzes or book reviews they can take those items. They are located toward the left of the reference desk.
3. Each activity is good for one entry into the level one prize drawing.  Activities include:
   • Reading or listening to a book—just take their word for it
   • Completing a book review book mark
   • Completing a Trivia Quiz
   • Attending an adult program—just take their word for it
   • Submitting a name in the Name the Man Contest—just take their word for it.

  4.      When a patron brings Summer Reading Material back, punch their punch card using the punch located in the drawer labeled Summer Reading(beneath the summer reading display). 

  6.    Have patron write name and phone number on a red ticket in the summer reading drawer and place it in the “Tickets Please” glass jar.

  7. When a patron has filled up an entire punch card with three punches, they can put the punch card in one of the Grand Prize paint buckets of their choice. Make sure their name and phone number are on it. Patrons can have as many punch cards as they want.

  8.      Place returned items in Summer Reading Drawer. (book marks, quizzes) Beth will handle these when she works.

  9.      Don’t worry about checking the answers for quizzes. If a patron completes a quiz, they get a ticket. If a patron does want to see the correct answer for their quiz, the Answer Key is in the Sign-Up book.

Please ask me if you have questions. Grand prizes are located behind the Circulation Desk and there will also be 10 $10 dollar gift cards drawn from the “tickets please” jar. 

Thanks, 

Beth and Public Services

The results of Johnston’s 2016 special census are now official. New numbers reveal that Johnston’s current population is 20,460. That is an 18.4 percent increase since 2010 and a 137 percent increase since 2000.

More details at:

http://catalog.johnstonlibrary.com/staff/drupal/sites/default/files/users/emelton/DP-1%20General%20Demographic%20Characteristics%20Johnston%20IA%20-%20Special%20Census%201-9-16.pdf